This is difficult. I am reviewing not any old cruise ship, but the spanking new Celebrity Eclipse. Am I guilty of over expectations and swallowing the hype? Is 'excellent' for any other cruise line only 'average' for Celebrity as excellence is what is expected?

I'll start at the beginning and we'll see where it goes.

The check-in not long after 11.00 was over in less than three minutes and it was on to the ship. Or it would have been had not a photographer insisted that my picture was necessary for the sea pass - I think not. However, unlike Celebrity's parent co (RCCL - where the only place I never encountered a photographer was my cabin bathroom), the photographers were not overbearing. Personally I prefer the blue stripe on the older Celebrity ships to the all white of this one, but there's no need to go on about the outside as everyone has seen pictures. A glass of something sparkling was offered as we boarded and then it was off to the cafe for lunch. The 'islands' approach to serving instead of single file queues is much better. But did Celebrity set out to have the heaviest crockery afloat? With no trays to hand, carrying a plate single handed was not easy. There was always plenty to eat at breakfast and lunch and also plenty of space in which to eat it. The only minor irritation was the number of wine waiters that were plying their trade - but they had a job to do of course. What we never had that you get on RCCL was the constant touting of freshly squeezed orange juice at breakfast. I am a meat eater, one of my friends is not and he'll go into greater detail another time the problems this caused. Read more