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The cruise from Valparaiso to Buenos Aires was one my wife and I had always wanted to do. Rounding the Horn was an epic and dangerous voyage in sailing days before accurate chronometers were invented. It was also Darwin's 'voyage of the Beagle' in reverse; very appropriate in his bicentenary year. An added bonus - calling in Puerto Madryn allowed us to meet a distant family line (third cousins) of Welsh adventurers who sailed to start a new life in Patagonia in 1865. A poor cruise could have spoiled all these aspirations.
Once again Celebrity did us proud and the holiday lived up to all expectations. We have no significant criticisms only a few points Celebrity might want to consider.
The whole world of science is making a 'big thing' of 200 years since Darwin was born (Feb, 1809) and his account of the 1831 - 1836 voyage of HMS Beagle is one of the world's great classics. Yet not a mention on board! And the 'enrichment' lecture series was truly dire. Sadly, Celebrity apparently firmly believes its passengers have few interests beyond learning to fold dinner napkins in novel ways.
It was clear the company has had to reduce its staffing - fewer waiters in the cafe and the cabin attendant had more rooms to cover. Nonetheless overall service was as good as ever and the dining room staff were superb.
We think it is high time Celebrity gave up its formal dining nights. I enjoy a little elegance and took my DJ (tuxedo) along, but few others did and for some, wearing a sports jacket plus jeans seemed to count as formal! Give up the formality - only us traditionalists, a vanishing breed, want it!
However, a great cruise and we will certainly sail with Celebrity again.
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