Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Liz Scarnati
Email: bnee99@aol.com
Age: 47
Occupation: Senior Administrator
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Zenith
SailingDate: May 8, 1999
Itinerary: Bermuda
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 65
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 65
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 0
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 75
LoungeService: 65
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 65
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 65
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 65
CruiseActivities: 65
Casino: 65
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 65
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 22 May 1999
Time: 18:27:41
Remote Name: spider-wm031.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:

Comments

Well, overall Zenith was nice but after crusing with Holland America twice, I would not book on Celebrity again!!!

Embarkation was smooth and effortless. As we ventured toward our welcome buffet, we were greeted with staff
offering welcome drinks - Bahama Mama's - but for a charge of $6.25 (including the glass)!! Never would H.A.
charge for a welcome cocktail.

Next, lifeboat drill. While definitely a necessity, on previous cruises we were directed right to our lifeboat - just where
I would want to go; not to a bar (musterstation) where Celebrity had us go first before going to the lifeboat -- it was
hot, crowded and unnecessary! Then, when the engines started, we were on the deck getting smoke in our faces.

The cruise director gets a 65 because you never saw him -- either he was introducing an act at the evening show or
rushing through the hallway going somewhere; on H.A. the C.D. would always stop and talk to you, even for a minor
question. Plus, on the port talk, he gave erroneous information about the cost of bus passes (even tho, I have to
admit, he sent a bottle of champagne to our room for bringing this to his attention).

The cruise staff gets a 65 for their indifference. When two activities were listed in the same lounge at the same time
and it was brought to their attention, the female staff member brushed off my (and 20 others) concern about where
the event would be held; her reply, oh, we just had it in the show lounge...sorry!

Casino: OK but watch out; those machines are real loose the first night and then tightened up tighter than a clam!!
My mother-in-law won $960 on a $1 slot the first night and then nothing the rest of the cruise and believe me, she's
a player!!!

Good for families: we don't have children but I did not see many activities geared toward kids!

Lounge service: sorely lacking. The waitresses were good but if you've ever been on H.A. this is one of their stellar
areas. On Celebrity: no hot hors d'ouvres served at all -- no bands to dance to. In one lounge, there was a piano
player (OK), another lounge had a male/female duo (OK) but no 3 or 4 piece bands where the dance floors were
crowded like H.A.

Food very good but dinner selections a little wierd. Excellent bread. Desserts OK.

Nightly shows: very good. The Matrix dancers are excellent although we did tire of the same highlighted male/female
singers.

Best food: pizza at 3 and burgers at 12. Afternoon tea at 4 in the Windsurf Cafe!!!

Baris (from Turkey), our waiter at Table 31, very funny and cute!!!!!

If anyone has any questions, pls. don't hesitate to e-mail.

We did like our cruise but will stick to H.A. in the future!!!!!

Name: Michael Johnson
Email: mikej@adamsmulford.com
Age: 28
Occupation: Purchasing Manager
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Zenith
SailingDate: May 1 - May 8
Itinerary: Bermuda
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 88
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 80
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 87
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 88
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 88
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 83
EntertShowLounge: 86
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 81
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 97
EmbarkDisembark: 92
DiscoNightclubs: 81
DeckSpace: 91
Stabilization: 50
ShopsOnBoard: 78
SpaceRatio: 86
OverallCruiseValue: 92
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 02 Jun 1999
Time: 14:55:53
Remote Name: 208.243.41.136
Remote User:

Comments

My wife and I took a cruise for our honeymoon and decided to do another for our 5th year anniversary.
We looked at several cruises, but decided on Celebrity Zenith to Bermuda for several reasons: It’s Pink
Beaches, Warm Climate, Friendly people, Celebrity’s reputation is some of the reasons. I will begin with
embarkation. My wife and I had no problem of a long wait in line, approximately 20 minutes to do
everything. However, we did arrive an hour before we were supposed to start boarding they did not make
us wait. When we were on the boat we were shown to our room and told our luggage would be placed
outside the room as it arrives.

We then proceeded to the upper decks where they were serving lunch.
They also were serving drinks, which they say are ’complementary’. The drinks may be ‘complementary’,
but they charge $6.25 for the glass. Overall my experience with embarkation was pleasant. The trip to
Bermuda was a little rocky, thus the low rating for stability. I can say however, it was not the fault of the
boat or crew, we ran into a storm that produced 27 foot swells. The crew and staff were exceptional at
handling the rough seas. They kept us posted as to the reason for the rough ride and tried to help where
possible. I was told after the swells subsided that the trip between New York and Bermuda could be one of
the roughest anywhere. On the trip back to New York the sea was mild my guess 2-4 foot swells. It was like
riding on glass. Arriving at Bermuda is an experience I advise you not to miss; some of our best pictures
were taken from the boat as we were coming in.

The boats dock in the downtown area of Hamilton and St.
George’s I personally believe that is the best location anywhere on the island. We arrived in Bermuda and
immediately got scooters, which I highly recommend. Scooters can be dangerous but allow you absolute
freedom to go anywhere you want. They were our favorite part of the trip, just riding along seeing the
island with nowhere in particular to go. We felt safe everywhere we went and everyone was more than
happy to help us when we got lost. The island has many attractions and beaches. Our favorite attraction
was Gibb’s Lighthouse and our favorite beach was Turtle Bay. Be aware that when you are at Bermuda
the casino and shops on the boat are closed. Bermuda is, as Mark Twain said, ‘Heaven on Earth’. One
word of advice, do not buy anything especially liquor on the boat in the duty-free shop until you check out
pricing on the island.

An example is Johnny Walker Blue Label was $139 on the boat and $95 on shore.
The boat says they will match any price you see on shore, but require you to have too much proof, my
advise is buy on shore. Disembarkation was slow but easy. My wife and I joined the Captains Club ($35)
which allowed us to have priority. They have you exit by number we were number 2 the rest of our floor
was 12. I recommend joining the club even if you never use it again you avoid waiting in the line to
disembark. Celebrity’s food is second to none and the buffets are lots of fun. The shows were good but
did not excite us as we thought they would. I will return to Bermuda again in my life and would seriously
consider Celebrity as my means to get there. I enjoyed the boat as a whole and the crew was superior. If
you would like to ask me any questions please email me I will answer the best I Can.

Name: S.Celano-Hansler
Email: sncIII@aol.com
Age: 50
Occupation: Controller
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Zenith
SailingDate: 5/29-6/5/99
Itinerary: Bermuda
FoodDiningRoom: 100
CruiseDirector:
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 100
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 100
DeckService: 80
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff: 80
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 80
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 100
CruiseActivities:
Casino: 100
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 100
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 29 Jun 1999
Time: 11:46:10
Remote Name: 216.213.95.8
Remote User:

Comments

This was our first cruise and it more than met our expectations. The food, ambience and service were impeccable. We
traveled with two other couples(first cruise for all), and we all had a grand ole time. I especially liked St.George's---it was
very charming and old world. Hamilton was nice, but I can shop the finest stores in the states, and with better prices. None
the less, Hamilton had alot to offer.

On the ship itself---Zenith was a beautiful ship, with a fabulous crew. Our Cabin Steward, Armando and his assistant,
Sandy, seemed to be everywhere at once. I wet a towel, and as if by magic, another one appeared! As for the Dining
Room--I'm still waiting for someone to peel my shrimp again for me! I felt very pampered and spoiled and overall, it was one
of the most incredible experiences of my life.

My husband and I were celebrating our aniversary (and honeymoon!) The rose on the pillow, box of chocolates, flowers and
breakfast in bed, were really great. Not to mention the 2 robes--more than worth the money we paid.

All and all, we had a great time and are looking forward to another one next year. Our only problem, is where to go? Alaska
or the Carribean!!

Name: Karen Webster
Email: kweb0903@aol.com
Age: 51
Occupation: Business owner
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Zenith
SailingDate: July 31, 1999
Itinerary: Bermuda
Cabin: 5067/Cat. 5
FoodDiningRoom: 70
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 78
DiningRoomService: 85
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 80
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 75
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 80
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 85
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 92
OverallPortsofCall: 88
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 88
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 75
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 75
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 65
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 12 Aug 1999
Time: 11:19:26
Remote Name: spider-th061.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:

Comments

My husband and I recently sailed on the Zenith’s July 31st sailing to Bermuda. We selected the Zenith primarily for
the Bermuda ports of call, Hamilton and St. George. Based on the previous reviews that we had read, we chose to
avoid the ships that docked at the Naval Dockyards because of its isolated location. This turned out to be a good
choice, as we did visit the Dockyards and found that there really was not much to offer at this location. Hamilton and
St. George, however, both offered a variety of things to see and do.

This was our fourth cruise and our first experience with Celebrity. We had a wonderful time in spite of some
shortcomings on the part of Celebrity. First time cruisers seemed to be quite happy with Celebrity, but we had
experienced three other cruiselines that we would rate higher. We would possibly book another cruise on Celebrity,
but it would not be our first choice.

Our two primary complaints were first, that the ship was far over capacity, which resulted in long lines and very
crowded public areas. Secondly, we felt that we were always on the crew’s schedule, and not on our own schedule.

As is probably true with any summertime cruise, there were lots of children on board. Celebrity indicated that there
were 300 children on board, bringing the total number of passengers to 1700. The brochure for the Zenith lists
passenger capacity at 1374. This resulted in crowds everywhere. There was a tremendous shortage of lawnchairs
by the pool, a shortage of chairs in the lounges and in the showroom, early sell-outs of the shore excursions, long
lines at the buffet breakfasts and lunches, and dining room staff that was spread way too thin to give attentive
service, although this certainly was not their fault. If there was a problem with any of the dishes that were served, it
was impossible to request a different one because the waiter would be busily serving other tables until he
reappeared with your next course in hand.

We found that in order to get breakfast at the buffet we had to be up by 9am to get there before they closed it at
10am. One morning shortly after 10am we were still eating and the crew literally took the trays from under our
unfinished coffee and then removed the linen napkins from our laps. I guess we were imposing on their schedule to
clear the buffet and prepare for the luncheon that is offered from noon until 2pm. We were good natured about it
and laughed about it to ourselves but it did demonstrate that their schedule was inflexible and took priority over ours.
We did miss having a 24 hour buffet where we could choose what time we wanted to eat.

Positives: There were many positive points that we enjoyed on this cruise. Cleanliness-- The ship was immaculate.
We were always avoiding someone vacuuming or cleaning brass on the ship. Stateroom-- Our stateroom was quite
adequate for the two of us and there was lots of closet and drawer space available for our clothes. This ship offered
no cabins with verandas, which we did miss. The room seemed to be quite soundproof with the exception of the
bathroom. When I was in the bathroom I could have easily had a conversation, using a soft voice, with someone in
the bathroom in the cabin next to us. Entertainment--We had been warned that in Bermuda the entertainment
aboard ship was quite hum-drum due to the fact Bermuda controls this. Apparently they do not want competition
keeping passengers on the ship at night, rather than frequenting their clubs. However, we were pleasantly surprised
by the entertainment on the ship. The Matrix Dancers were quite entertaining, however by the third night that they
appeared we were a little tired of them. Russ Merlin’s comedy act was hysterical and we would rate it as a must-see.
The musical group Voltz could be found throughout the ship performing a variety of music, mostly Reggae, but also
some country and some of the oldies classics. They were very good and we sought them out wherever they were.
The Fleet Lounge on deck 11 was very nice for a pre-dinner or late evening cocktail. We were sorry we just
discovered it on the last night on the ship. It appeals to the yuppie crowd, and is very good for drinking martinis,
people watching, watching a sunset, or just listening to the group playing dance music. Exploring--As far as shore
excursions, we chose to explore on our own. As I mentioned earlier, Celebrity shore excursions sold out very quickly,
but we found some great things to do on our own. One of our favorites was the Crystal Caves. We took a taxi from
St. George and visited the most beautiful caves, with crystal clear lakes, we have ever seen. Also, while in St.
George there is a re-enactment of a public dunking in the Town Square that was entertaining. When we were in
Hamilton, we enjoyed browsing through the shops, but beware, there are no bargains. A bus pass came in handy for
transportation while in Hamilton. We spent some time at Horseshoe Bay, which was a beautiful and clean sandy
beach with public changing rooms. It was crowded but one of the best beaches we have visited. Also while in
Hamilton we went to Gibb’s Lighthouse and climbed 185 stairs to the top, which gave us an incredible panoramic
view of Bermuda. It was not too bad of a climb and worth the trip to the top.

Negatives: In addition to my prior comment about crowds everywhere and the inflexible schedule we were on, there
were some minor negative points. Embarkation—There were long, slow lines with too few agents available to process
the amount of people boarding the ship. Laundry--we missed the availability of a self service guest laundry. We did
send our laundry out one day and were quite satisfied with the quality and the professional way they pressed all
items, but we missed being able to do it ourselves. Water quality--There seemed to be a problem with the water from
the taps aboard the ship. On the starboard side of the ship the water often was a dark reddish-brown color, possibly
caused by rusty pipes. One mother, observing her child washing his hands, saw the dark reddish water and at first
thought that he had cut himself. Food-- One of the biggest disappointments was in the quality of the food. We had
heard that Celebrity exceeds other cruiselines in this area and we were prepared to enjoy excellent food. I would rate
most of my meals as poor to fair, although my husband rated his as fair to good. The problem seemed to be a lack of
flavor as well as some dry entrees. The meals were not excellent by any means. We did have the late seating, a
strong recommendation, at a table for eight and we found our tablemates to be most enjoyable.

Overall, we had wonderful vacation, in spite of the negative aspects. Bermuda is a very clean and beautiful
destination. The local people and friendly and helpful and for the most part we felt safe wherever we were. We had
heard that Bermuda was virtually crime free. Unfortunately, we heard on the news while we were there that recently
there have been some violent attacks on mostly tourist, but also on some of the locals, so be aware of this. Also,
there was a purse snatching from a tourist who was on a carriage ride in the crowded streets of Hamilton. There
were a few pan-handlers and indigents on the streets, which we were told we would never see in Bermuda.

The negative points on this cruise by no means were that significant, and although Celebrity did not become our
favorite cruiseline, we have no regrets about selecting this sailing. We are now looking forward to a millennium cruise
to Mexico aboard Princess, which is one of our favorite cruiselines.

Please feel free to email me with any questions you may have. If you are already booked on this cruise this summer,
expect crowds, but have a wonderful time.

Name: Kathy
Email: kasperk@acleadbetter.com
Age: 49
Occupation: Executive Secretary
NumberOfCruises: 16
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Zenith
SailingDate: 8-28-99
Itinerary: New York - Bermuda
Cabin: 9045 - Category 7
FoodDiningRoom: 97
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 100
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 100
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 100
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 100
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 100
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram: 95
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 100
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 07 Sep 1999
Time: 13:13:37
Remote Name: ce-1.tol.glasscity.net
Remote User:

Comments

EMBARKATION - We flew to Newark and were met by the Celebrity rep. We went to baggage claim where she got us a
cart for our bags and directed us to an area to wait for others on the air-sea package. We were then put on a bus to
the NY pier. The traffic was terrible but the driver managed to make it through and we arrived at the pier in about 45
minutes. Our luggage was taken by the longshoremen (small tip for them) and we headed towards the ship. We are
Captain's Club members but it wasn't marked where we to go but after asking several people in the area, we made our
way to the Captain's Club check-in. They had several people manning that desk so check-in was relatively quick. We
were also able to activate our on-board charge card right at the Captian's Club check-in area, rather than having to do
it on board. We quickly proceeded on board and were escorted to our cabin.

CABIN - We had taken a guarantee Cat. 12 on our cabin but were upgraded to a Cat. 7, midship, #9045. It was an
outside cabin with an obstructed view from the lifeboats, but that didn't matter, as we were used to an inside cabin. It
was an adjoining cabin but the door was locked and we experienced no problems. The configuration was an L-shape
for the beds. At the foot of the beds was a cabinet with 4 drawers, the TV, lamp, water pitcher, ice bucket and glasses
and radio (3 stations available). A bottle of Evian water was also there with a note that if opened, you would be
charged $2.95 and you could have it replaced at that cost whenever necessary. There was a guide for the TV, first
run movies were shown and also had a kids type channel with movies like Mulan and a Bug's Life. Also had CNN, a 24
hr.view from the bridge and shore talks and disembarkation were also available on the TV. In-room gamlbing, shore
excursion ordering, wine orders and your on board account balance were also available via the TV. On the other wall,
was a desk with 4 drawers, a chair and a large wall mirror. A small glass table was beside the bed. There were two
large closets, plenty of sturdy wooden hangers, a full length mirror on the inside of one of the closet doors, 8 drawers
in the closet cabinet and a safe. The bathroom was standard but with a glass storage shelf above the sink and a
cabinet underneath. Also had a shampoo dispenser in the shower and a hand lotion dispenser by the sink. A
retractable clothes line was also available in the shower. Towels were good sized and a built-in hair dryer with 2
settings was also in the bathroom. 2 heavy terry cloth robes were in the closet for use during the cruise. If you were
interested in purchasing them, they were available for $45, charged to your account and a fresh one delivered at the
end of the cruise. All rooms are a standard 172 sq. ft., inside or outside, until you get into the mini and regular suites.
Card keys are used to open the cabin doors. We found our room to be very quiet and even during the rocky weather,
we found most parts of the ship to be very stable.

SAILING - We left on time from NY and sailing past the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline is always a
wonderful sight. The reggae band was playing, drinks were flowing and we were on our way. Thanks to Hurricane
Dennis, the first night out was a bit rocky but it didn't bother us. The sea bands were a big seller in the drug store,
though! Lost of people wearing them and the patches so no one seemed to mind too much. We were bucking a head
wind so we arrived in Hamilton a couple of hours late.

FOOD - We had 2nd seating and as usual felt the food (especially the fish) and the presentation was outstanding. We
had a table of 8 and had great service. Service was smooth and barely without a hitch. Breads and desserts were
great, soups lacked a bit but the food selection in the dining room for dinner was always excellent with at least 4-5
entrees every night. The only time we ate breakfast was on Sat. when we were back in New York and never ate lunch
there so can only comment on dinner, which was first rate. Food in the Windsurf Cafe and The Grill on deck was good
for breakfast and lunch. Quite a selection and perfect for those days you don't want to get out of the sun or just
grabbing a quick bite after being in town. Burgers and hot dogs were THE BEST. During breakfast, they were making
omelets and you could get anything else imaginable for breakfast. Lunch were both hot and cold entrees, salads,
breads, desserts and the Grill with burgers, fries, hot dogs, ribs, chicken. Didn't do midnight buffets, just looked at the
Grand buffet, which was pretty to see but didn't partake. The fruit and dessert and Tex-Mex outdoor buffets were well
attended and heard that the food was great. Instead of midnight buffets on several nights, they had Gourmet Bites,
which is white gloved waiters passing all types of finger food through the lounges and casino. Seemed to be enjoyed
by those too active to stop for a buffet. This way, the food comes to you! There's no way you could EVER be hungry
on this ship - between the 3 meals in the dining room, late risers continental breakfast, tea, ice cream, pizza and
cookies and pastries in the afternoon, buffet breakfast and lunch on deck, midnight buffets, gourmet bites and 24 hr.
room service. Oh, the only free beverages at meals in the dining room were iced tea, coffee, juice, lemonade and milk.
On deck, you had your choice of juice, milk, iced tea, lemonade, coffee and fruit punch. Soft drinks were extra but daily
cards for kids for soft drinks were available to purchase.

SHOPS ON BOARD - Usual array, small drug store, good size logo shop with liquor and smoking products also
available, jewelry and some ceramic and glass items. Also a small shop with perfume, evening wear and a line of Liz
Claiborne resort wear, scarves, etc.. Lots of ads in the daily newspaper on sales, seemed to push it quite a bit. Also,
the usual watch and gold by the inch sales which seemed to go over very well. Always crowded on those days. Shops
all closed on the days in port so had to make up for it when we got to sea.

ON-BOARD ACTIVITIES - Bingo, trivia contests, fashion show, wine tasting (extra charge), massage and different
types of skin and beauty classes. movies. Felt this was one area that was lacking. Not a lot going on on sea days. Felt
they could have planned more movies, indoor activities for inclement outdoor weather days at seas. We had one of
those and people who they thought would be outside couldn't be and were wandering around looking for something to
do. They did offer an art auction on several different occasions. I am a BIG fan of art auctions from other cruises and
have purchased several very fine quality pieces but I have to say this art auctioneer was TERRIBLE and the quality of
the art was far below that I have seen on other cruises. He seemed to be just going through the motions and
generated no interest in the paintings. Seemed to be a lot of animation art and even that quality and the frames they
offered were below previous cruises. This is an area that definitely needs work.

BEAUTY SALON, SPA, HEALTH CLUB - Did not use the beauty salon or spa but table mates did and felt the service
was good and the prices reasonable. The health club had the usual machines and weights plus staff there at all times
to work with you if necessary. The hot tubs (2) were outside of the gym and seemed to get used a lot but there were
quite a few kids on board so they tended to monopolize it and made it hard to enjoy a relaxing dip.

SHIP CLEANLINESS - Although I felt the ship is showing some wear in upholstery and carpeting in some public areas
and cabins, they are constantly cleaning and polishing and the only place I ever saw room for improvement in this area
is in the public restrooms. Our cabin was always immaculate and I heard the same from the other 3 couples at our
dinner table. With the constant abuse the ship takes week in and week out, I'm sure this is an on going battle and they
seem to be winning the war.

ENTERTAINMENT - I felt this is another area that could use some improvement. The comedian, Jim McDonald was
outstanding and VERY funny. I thought the lead singers in the production shows were good but thought the production
shows themselves lack much of a theme. Just seemed to be music thrown together and the dancers were often off and
costumes occassionally came loose or off altogether. The show room orchestra was very good, as was the deck band,
Voltz. The lounge acts were also very good. The disco music was good when the younger kids were kept out.

SHORE EXCURSIONS - Don't do shore excursions in Bermuda, as we have been there several times and find it just as
easy and usually cheaper to get around on your own. Heard from others that some shore excursions were late or
cancelled but I'm sure much of that was due to some inclement weather and we were several hours late arriving in
Hamilton and had to leave St. George a little early due to the weather. They did offer quite a different variety of shore
excursions in both Hamilton and St. George that seemed reasonably priced but since I don't usually do shore
excursions, I can't offer first-hand knowledge. Whenever the ship docked in port, towels were available right at the
gangway, which you could sign out as many as necessary for the beach. Also, they had bottled water available for
sale, but much cheaper to purchase in town.

CRUISE DIRECTOR AND STAFF - Felt the cruise director was rather stiff and felt he was always just reading info off
cards, not very animated. His staff was very helpful and always willing to stop and chat or answer any questions.

LOUNGE AND DECK SERVICE - We found the service to be very prompt and someone was always around if you
needed something; however, we did talk to several people who encountered problems with being billed for drinks that
they had not ordered. Good reason for always keeping your receipts and checking them against your bill. Guest
relations always checked them out and if an adjustment was necessary, it was readily made.

PORTS OF CALL - We LOVE Bermuda so it's hard for us to be very objective in this area. It is so much cleaner, safer
and friendlier than the Caribbean and the quality of shopping is far superior. The beaches are absolutely glorious and
because it's so small with a wonderful public bus/ferry system, it's so easy to get around.

CASINO - Usual machines and tables, $5.00 minimum on blackjack. Also had slots, video pocket, Caribbean stud
poker, roulette and craps. People seemed to be doing well and heard no complaints. We made some contributions
and also got some payoffs so it was fun. Kids are kept out.

DISEMBARKATION - Early in the cruise we were asked to fill out a card with info as to whether we were on an air-sea
package, motor coach, local, etc. so they could arrange disembarkation according to this information. We were given
numbered cards(1-14), telling us the order in which we would disembark. We were to be out of our rooms by 8:00 a,m,
Saturday. Late seating breakfast was 8:15 so our tablemates met for one final goodbye. After that, we headed for the
Rendez-Vous Louge to wait. We were only there about 15 minutes before our number (3) was called. Since we were
flying out, we were among the first to get off the ship. We claimed our bags by tag color and transported them to
waiting buses to take us to the Newark airport. For most, customs was nothing more than handing the agent your
customs form and passing through. The ride to the airport was without a hitch. The disembarkation process seems to
have been smoothed out from when we were on the Zenith 3 years ago. Things can get congested in New York but
they seem to have overcome earlier problems and confusion. All went very smoothly.

Overall, this was another wonderful cruise on Celebrity. They definitely have a top notch product and are hard to beat
for the price. They run a very classy and elegant organization and although we encountered a few small problems,
nothing like those on other lines and certainly nothing that would keep us from sailing on them again. This is a quality
product that has spoiled us and we LOVE it!

Name: Billy Wood Jr.
Email: billy.wood@mindspring.com
Age: 30
Occupation: Insurance Vice President
NumberOfCruises: 6
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Zenith
SailingDate: August 28th-Sept 4th
Itinerary: New York-Hamilton Bermuda, St. George Bermuda, NY
Cabin: 5133 Europa Deck, Inside
FoodDiningRoom: 99
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 98
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 97
CabinAmenities: 98
FoodLidoDeck: 99
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 79
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 96
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 99
DeckService: 99
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon: 99
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 99
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 69
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess: 70
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 99
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 99
CruiseActivities: 99
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 99
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 89
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 88
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 75
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 09 Sep 1999
Time: 10:34:46
Remote Name: 208.248.107.157
Remote User:

Comments

In reviewing the Zenith, I do hope that you take advantage of this great site. We have studied it before booking every
Cruise we have taken and have found it extremely beneficial. We should have paid more attention to the facts people
were telling us about the Zenith. I want to start by saying that no Cruise is a bad cruise in my opinion. I just cannot
imagine how spoiled one would have to be to be blessed enough that they can afford a Cruise and yet find nothing but
negatives about that Cruise. I do, however, believe there are good and bad aspects that can be beneficial to the
reader and extremely helpful in them making the decision on the ship and ports of call. If you will notice above I gave
some rather low marks in some different areas. That is not to say that I was totally disappointed in my Cruise, it was
great, but there are some things that I thought was lacking and I think Celebrity could do better. Overall, my Celebrity
Zenith cruise did not, as their slogan promises, exceed my expectations. In fact, it fell below some of the other Cruises
that we have taken. This was our sixth cruise and I am an absolute Cruise freak, so I study and monitor these sites
closely with a keen interest on the ships and ports. Notice, that is the second time I have said Ships and Ports (now
that is three). I do this because I feel like these two things should be the deciding factor on a cruise. You can have
equal enjoyment on the ship as you can the Port of call. Embarkation- Embarkation was as normal. A short line, (the
earlier you get there the better), and the normal registration of the credit cards, a quick picture, etc. No frills here
although they did have punch and/or water for those who wait in line. Norwegian makes a practice of that as well. New
York is a fabulous Port to sail out of as you must take advantage of doing a city tour before getting in line for the ship.
They do not start boarding until 12:30 or so anyway, thus take an early flight in and do an overview of New York.
Sailing out past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island etc, is also a memory I will not quickly forget. The Ship- Negatives
first. Zenith is not elegant at all. Not ugly, but not elegant. In fact, it looks like it was designed two decades ago.
Moreover, if you are expecting or wanting to be overwhelmed by the ships beauty, it will not happen on the Zenith.
Nothing about is that spectacular. It is clean, but really needs to have some brass touchups and some color scheme
adjustments. I love ships. That is my main reason for cruising. We have so far tried to sail on different lines every time,
as to experience what each line and each ship has to offer. We have sailed before on Norwegian's Leeward and
Norway. Carnival's Imagination. Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Sea, and the Big Red Boat. Feel free to email me
about any. I found that even the Big Red Boat is more elegant than the Zenith. Again, I was not disappointed in the
Cruise, but the Zenith itself did not excite me. The pool deck was boring, and the carpet out there probably needs to
be replaced. Again, I make that boring statement, just to say that there seems to be no imagination put to the color
scheme selections. One pool had to be closed at all times except when at Port, due to it's design (going the same way
as the ship) caused it to look like Tidal Waves coming out of the pool. It was dangerous and a smart move for the
Zenith to close it while at Sea. Yes, we did catch a few swells from Hurricane Dennis, but it would be a problem no
matter what.

The elevators were the worst at Sea that we have experienced. If you are of senior age, you will be waiting a long time
for these extremely slow elevators. We tended to take the stairs every time and that for sure was a work out. It was not
that there were not enough elevators, there are as many as can be, but these work at a snail's pace, even the
opening and shutting of the door. If you are of bad health or of an older age, do not take this ship for this reason. That
also applies to impatient people, it will ruin your trip. More negatives before I get to the positives, yes there are
positives as well. Long lines at any feeding time in the Marina Café'. This is where you would eat meals while at the
pool, when they had Midnight Buffet's etc. The food was fantastic, but yes the lines were long. No singing by the
waiters in the dining room. I know some people think this is annoying, but my family and I find it extremely entertaining
and fun for all. We had some first time cruisers with us on this trip and I really would have liked for them to have seen
some of the dinner presentations we had on the Grandeur of the Sea and other ships. No public announcements.
Celebrity does this on purpose and bills this as a plus in respecting peoples privacy, but I found that it kept people
uninformed of events on the Ship and thus the events were not well attended. For instance, the Talent show only had
three people in it, two of which were kids, and had maybe 100 people attend. Having it at 4:30 also was not smart, as
this on past cruises has always been a large draw and a very fun time. Positives of the ship- It's size is good I think. I
have been on the Big Ships and small, I like them all, but you will not get lost on this ship. The Celebrity show lounge is
nice and always spacious enough for those wanting to see the entertainment. The food is everything they say it is.
The best at sea we have had so far. I say so far, because we are to cruise Holland America next. The food whether it
is for breakfast, lunch or dinner was just FABULOUS! I cannot say enough about it. Large portions, exquisite
presentations, and splendid quality. It could not have been better, and the variety of foods was great. You will not be
disappointed at all for the food, and if food is your main reason to cruise, then this is your ship. The staff was the
nicest we have ever had afloat as far as service goes. Here is where you see the Celebrity difference. Waiters on pool
deck, escort any lady to their seat with their trey. The staff is always at your service and this was very noticeable. On
the previous reviews we had read, this had all been said of Celebrity, but I thought it might be hard to live up to. It was
not, and the Port, food and service made this a great trip, despite the negative facts. The Cruise Director was ok, but
his staff was GREAT! They really went the extra mile to make sure they were the passenger's best friends. Best Cruise
staff we have seen. Friendly, not snobbish, and really interactive. Many games at poolside and hard workers all
around. In addition, they took time to do the extra little things. I saw them getting grease off a kids hand, helping some
parents who had a kid get seasick and yes the kids was throwing up. I say that not to gross anyone out, but to show
the dedication of this staff. Helping someone else's kids with this sickness is not something many would do. Chris, the
Asst. Cruise Director, did not find it belittling at all and we found this most impressive. Stabilizers- By the way, before I
forget this ship is loud and does rock. Most reviews you read will say this and I thought it was just people complaining,
but they were right. If you are easy to get sea sick, this is not your ship. However…you must see Bermuda. Bermuda-
Bermuda was great! The people drive terrible and I recommend the Bus and Ferry Pass as the only way to travel once
there. Do not get a moped as we seen what seemed like dozens of accidents on them and some quite serious. No
matter your expertise on them, it is the Bermudans you have to watch out for. They do not use their brakes very much
at all.

St. George is much nicer than Hamilton, but neither is a disappointment. Yes Bermuda is expensive but there are
some deals. Take a horse and buggy ride, they are quite reasonable. The Caves are very much so over rated, as is
the perfume factory tour. Snorkeling is great, especially at Tobacco Bay, but still not as nice as the State Park in
Cozumel. Thus I would shop in Hamilton, go see Gibbs Lighthouse, which has an unforgettable view, and go to Elbow
Beach. In St. George, snorkel at Tobacco, and visit the nice shops in the town village. The deals are in St. George
although the variety better in Hamilton. Mark Twain said Bermuda is the "biggest small place on earth", I would have to
agree. It is only 21 miles long and 1 mile or so wide, but the two stops (Hamilton and St. George) seem as different as
Cozumel and Grand Cayman. Entertainment- The Broadway usual, but I felt these shows had superior singers and
dancers than on some. The best shows at Sea to me have been on the Norway, but this ranked up there with them.
Every lounge has talented musicians in them and the Poolside and Rainbow Room band called Voltz was the best I
have ever seen. A Reggae band that had the ability to sing well, jazz, country, pop, and rap. They did it all and it was
great. Kudos to Voltz, they are a must see. Kareoke is also a great time on this ship. Room- The room is very spacious
and the bathroom as nice as the one I have at home. Unbelievable to be able to say that about a bathroom onboard a
ship, but truly the rooms on this ship were very spacious and complete with Stereo, Movies, and Safe. And we had an
inside cabin. Dissembarkment- As easy as we have ever had. Everyone knows the annoyance of sitting at your port of
dissembarkment and having to wait as all the cash payers and others get called to come pay their bill. Zenith does
something unusual. They give you your bill on that Thursday night so that you may clear up any discrepancies then.
You can still charge on that Friday but this narrows down any potential problems later. In addition, they let encourage
the cash payers to start paying on Friday night, 8pm as opposed to waiting until Saturday morning. Overall, not an
extravagant ship, not a quiet ship, but great food, a great staff, a great itinerary. Please email me with any specific
questions and I will be glad to help.

Name: Pamela Yaeger
Email: PByaeger2@aol.com
Age: 36
Occupation: Manager for a global non-profit trade association
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Celebrity-Zenith
SailingDate: 8/21/99
Itinerary: Bermuda
Cabin: 4009/GTY8
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 70
CabinComfort: 80
FoodRoomService: 60
CruiseStaff:
CabinAmenities: 70
FoodLidoDeck: 25
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 60
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 50
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 100
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 75
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 92
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities:
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 60
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 50
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 60
OverallCruiseValue: 80
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 11 Sep 1999
Time: 01:01:41
Remote Name: spider-tk051.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:

Comments

This was our first cruise, and my husband's idea, so I was a bit cynical. For the most part, I was pleasantly surprised.

Cabin: Efficient layout, but the porthole was pathetic. Our travel agent urged us to do a category 8 and hope for an
upgrade--but we ended up in category 8, on the Florida deck. Two twins, which the cabin steward didn't offer to make
into a king. No big deal, really. Both hubby and I are big people, but the cabin worked for us. I appreciated the grab
bars in the bathroom.

If we cruise again, we'll pay for a real window, if not a suite.

Our cabin steward was Antonio. Other than introducing himself and showing up on tip night, he pretty much ignored
us. The room was often not cleaned until dinner--even when we went out for 3-4 hours. Towels would disappear, so we
knew he'd come in, but cleaning service was disappointing. Yes, we still tipped him, but I'm not sure why.

Noise was tame the first few nights, and then the teens next door began going berserk, cursing and throwing furniture.
What an obnoxious lot they were. The parents were quite lovely, and obviously didn't know how horribly their kids
behaved. They were abusive to the room service waiters and cabin steward--perhaps that's why he hid from us.

Water was often brown, toilet didn't always flush, and the card we dropped near the door (about robes, I think) stayed
on the floor for the entire cruise.

Air conditioning worked great.

Food and Drink: We love to eat. That said, we were very happy in the Caravelle on most nights. Carlos our waiter and
Caje our busboy took wonderful care of us, often bringing my husband a second dinner--and Carlos was delighted to
bring me extra pastry cigars--oh yum! We had a table for two, next to a noisy table of 10 that had 6 birthdays. Yeah,
right. How good is that chocolate cake anyway? We loved the Celebrity Duo and were racking our brains to figure out
something to celebrate so they'd come to us. Victor tried to help us out, but we're honest. We weren't celebrating
anything, so we enjoyed just watching.

The Windsurf Buffet was dreadful. Long lines for cafeteria quality food. One day, the menu promised gyros, so I went
flying up--and no gyros. We ate there on embarkation day for lunch, and my husband went up for breakfast a few
times, but otherwise we avoided it.

We only made one midnight buffet--Tex Mex, which was muy tasty. We got there at 12:15, got a plate, and were
stunned when they tore the whole thing down at 12:30. Boom, gone, goodnight. Excellent ribs.

Room service was generally slow. Pizza was salty, with no sauce and gobs of cheese, yuck. Turkey on sandwich was
low quality lunchmeat-- and no mayo, mustard, or anything. Yuck. However, the ice teas were terrific and no one
complained that I ordered them 6 at a time. Room service breakfast was a mistake. Powdered eggs. Ugh.

John the wine steward, a tall guy from India, was delightful, even though we never had wine. He did magic tricks for us
every night and always stopped to chat. Our bar server in the Caravelle didn't always come round, sadly, as I was
completely ready for many fruity concoctions.

Other bar servers were terrific--remembered our names and our drinks. Excellent lime daiquiris, and hubby went ga-ga
for the banana.

Getting On and Off: What a colossal pain. Long lines. Hot. No place to sit. Endless waiting. Misery. Sweat. Yuck. It
didn't help that it was raining. Getting off, we waited in the Show Lounge. I had a good novel, and my husband amused
small children by throwing his head back and snoring. We were 13 for disembarkation, so we waited from 8 until after
10:30. And, our luggage was in the farthest possible corner, we couldn't get a porter, and our driver was a creep. Not
only that, I had a terrible cold, so I was a sneezing mess. One major screw-up: Celebrity's newsletter said that drinks
could be purchased in the Rendezvous Lounge. Another woman and I went to buy water. Sorry, sold out. Soda? Nope.
Anything? Sorry. This was before 8 am. Finally I whined that I had to take medication, and they produced two bottles of
Pellegrino. She had only a $20 bill, so they couldn't make change and wouldn't give it to her. I bought both bottles (I
had change) and scuttled away. I was so glad I had them.

Entertainment: Surprisingly good. We thought the comedian was wonderful, the Matrix dancers were terrific, and the
singers were fair to good. Richard the pianist in the Rendezvous was excellent.

Size Issues: Being big (fat) people, we were disappointed by many things on the ship. I had no trouble anywhere, but
my husband couldn't use the chairs in the Fleet, Rainbow, Harry's, or the Rendezvous Bars, or the Library and
Cardroom. This greatly cut his access to activities. He also had trouble with the deck chairs and lounges. Ugh. There
were some loveseats in the Rendezvous, so when those were available, he sat there and I took a chair. The seating in
the Show Lounge was wonderful, with plenty of room in the armless banquettes. That was a blessing. Elevators were
often slow and packed, and always hot, so I took the stairs most of the time.

We were told the pools had steps, but they didn't, they had ladders, so the pools were out for us. Needless to say, our
days on the ship were pretty boring. Not that I minded, as I brought and read five new novels, including one of the best
I've read in ages, The Fall of A Sparrow. But, hubby was more than bored.

Kids on Board: The ship was fully packed with 1700 on board, including 300 brats, I mean children. Enough said. But a
note to the blonde bimbo with the three screamers under 5: no one paid to listen to your demons howling every night
at dinner. If they can't behave, take them OUT. She giggled at their antics, but they really destroyed the mood. On
disembarkation day, one of them tried to jump off the balcony in the show lounge--I was almost hoping it would.

Bermuda: We liked St Georges lots more than Hamilton; we went to St Catherine's beach which was a bit too secluded,
and we kept sinking in the sand getting out of the water. Thank God for the wonderful young guys who pulled me up
when I fell and then assisted my husband. We did Horseshoe Beach in Hamilton--no sand problems there, but the surf
was rough, and we burned like lobsters. No place to lock our things, so I worried about my bag, but all was fine.
Horseshoe was extremely crowded. One hilarious moment--we were bodysurfing when a sunshower hit--and howled as
tons of people ran from the water, yelling 'We're getting wet!'

Overall, a good cruise, but we don't know if we'd cruise again. Perhaps with a group. We would do Celebrity again, but
would go for a larger, newer ship, and try to sail another season--no kids, please!

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