Celebrity offered a well organised cruise on an outstanding piece of modern hardware. Food and service were uniformly of a high quality. However a number of facilities were very under-utilised creating a number of real dead spots around the ship. Eg the Sky Lounge, Bistro on 5, the Porch. These could easily draw people with music aimed at the baby boomers and some attractively priced alcohol. The later prices were "stings" that I am sure reduced overall spend on board. Many passengers commented on the eye watering price of booze and said at least it was good for their pocket and health as they reduced intake dramatically. Celebrity needs to test different price levels in different locations around the ship to ascertain what will maximise their gross profit. The mix of good music and fair booze price would fill some of the dead spots.

Poor destinational information (except for trying to steer you into shops where the Line got a kick back ) just makes independently minded experience cruisers cynical. Solution is to get off as soon as you can in each port (after the priority shore excursions - accepted as reasonable practice) head for the nearest internet cafe and get all the local transport info to enable you to get to see the port highlights. Alternativly negotiate with the local taxi drivers and often you beat the shore excursion bus to the attraction and see the site before the lumbering group clogs it up.

The international mix of both passengers and crew was wide ranging and a real positive element of the experience. Read more