I chose the cruise because it went to new places I haven't been to before: Belgium, Bilbao, Gibraltar, and Cartagena. i also had the opportunity to visit Pisa. Just seeing the Leaning Tower of Pisa "in the flesh" was something I could not fail to miss in my lifetime. Ditto for actually seeing the Rock of Gibraltar.

I chose a Concierge Class cabin on Deck 12 so that I could be closer to the Solarium pool. Because I'm a heavy sleeper, I didn't hear any of the noises that other guests would have heard from the Ocean View Cafe above me, e.g., vacuuming, scraping of chairs, etc. I was offered afternoon snacks but I did not partake of the welcoming champagne because I'm not fond of that beverage.

Before boarding the ship in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, I had a 2-night pre-cruise package I booked w/Booking.com because Celebrity did not offer a 2-night package. Because I was not on that package, I did not have a complimentary transfer from the hotel to the pier nor did I have my luggage transferred from the hotel to the pier. Also, although the Celebrity was supposed to have made himself/herself available to hotel guests, that did not happen. I did like how the luggage was taken into individual tubes by deck numbers to be inspected and placed aboard the ship. Embarkation was smooth, and my table reservation card was on the room number holder. One new benefit offered to Concierge Class guests was complimentary lunch in the dining room, which enabled me to avoid doing battle with other guests in the Ocean View Cafe buffet venue. Disembarkation was also an OK experience, but I think that RCI and Celebrity should construct a better venue to retrieve one's luggage than they have right now in Rome: a huge tent-like structure. RCI and Celebrity have the money and tech knowhow to build that facility; have they ever thought of approaching the Rome cruise terminal authorities about a proposal to build this structure? If Barcelona and Miami ports can have luggage claim facilities, why not Rome/Civitavecchia? Read more