This was our fourth cruuise with Celebrity and our second cruise on the Millennium. I will start by saying that we seldom write a review as this is only one person's opinion and those that enjoy will always read of those that do not and vise versa. We found the itinerary to be interesting, informative, and a chance to see another part of the world and it's cultures. The ship was refurbished in 2012 and we did not see anything that would be a result of a reworked vessel. Our stateroom (9056) was very, very "tired", as the "new shower doors" leaked with every use, the vanity desk drawer on the left side had a crack in the vaneer from top to bottom , the carpets deffinently revealed it's age, and the sliding door to the balcony did not seal when in the lock position, letting cold air out into the hot and humid climate. The mirrors had voids of the silver backing, in need of replacement. The location of the cabin on deck nine, is directly under the outer portion of the pool deck, and thus the mornings started early (05:45) with the movement of the chairs and such by the pool butlers. This was my fault, I should have known better. Our stateroom attendant was thoughful and curtious, cleaning and straightening the room daily. We had the Premium Beverage Package that we always get and found that Drago from Macedonia,on the pool deck to be friendly and highly attentive. Drago would know exactly what beverage we wanted after a long shore excursion and immediately prepared them upon our arrival at the end of the day. We had the Aqua Class again this cruise which gave us access to the Blu Dinning room that we have enjoyed on previous cruises. This was perhaps the most disapointing aspect of our cruise. We found the service to be overly slow, and much confussion among the servers. The food was not to the standard that we have come to expect from Celebrity, which after three sittings, we opted to move to the main dinning room where we found the food quality was improved as well as wider range of selections on the menu. Our waiter Cedrick, and wine steward Mylaida (spelling I am not sure of) were attentive and prompt. Although we did not use the Aqua Spa, we did not think that the Aqua Class premium was worth the price on this cruise. We will sum up our review to say that although this particular cruise we found more negative aspect than others, I still expect to sail on Celebrity again or the parent company Royal Caribbean. My intent of this review was to state what we saw and in the case of the food quality and service our opinion. Bottom line Celebrity is still a good cruise line with good overall service. Happy cruising. Read Less

The Celebrity Millennium was a nice boat to cruise on with wonderful destinations. However, it was the first cruise for a lot of the crew and there was definitely a language barrier. It took four nights for our waiter to understand the difference between medium rare and well done. We elected to have breakfast in the dining room most mornings as the buffet lines were unorganized and people were attacking it from any direction they pleased, breaking into lines and causing confusion amongst the fellow passengers and servers. Our breakfast orders were correct about one out of every four orders…again language barriers. It was our Cabin Stewarts first ever cruise and we were on the concierge level. Not good planning. After a couple of days we ran out of soap and shampoo and had to instruct him to replace those items on a regular basis. We also asked that fresh ice be in our room each day at 4 PM. It rarely happened. On a better note, the Captain was highly visible and we were able to speak with him on several occasions on a personal level. He was a great guy, highly knowledgable, and his management staff listened to our concerns and made every attempt to see we were satisfied. Read Less

We did 3 back to back cruises aboard the Millennium: from Honolulu to Sydney; Sydney to Singapore; and Singapore to Hong Kong. The greats: 1.The Elite Club was fantastic: great happy hour each day (ok two hours) with complimentary adult beverages and hot and cold hors d'oeuvres. The hostess, Rose , was especially good. 2.The itinerary was good (that's why we choose the cruises). One recommendation is that in the ports of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) and Hanoi, it is really time effective to do the overnight in the cities. They are reasonably priced and it avoids as least one long bus ride. 3. The staff is very good - overworked perhaps, but very upbeat and attentive. I think this line does personnel very well. The mediocres: We've sailed with Celebrity quite a bit and the quality of food has slowly diminished from "Wow" to pretty good. The buffet has come up a bit thanks more choices and the Asian section, but the dining room food is a little less than it was. Having said that, the wait staff was good. Celebrity seems to be coming down to the level of Royal Carribbean and there is beginning to be a lack of brand differentiation between the two lines. The Millennium's décor is a little tired but the cabins are good and very clean and we were on the 2000 level. I think with the cost of airfare going up all the time, back to back cruises are the way to go.   Read Less

After a wonderful experience on the Solstice last year we booked - at more money per day - on the Millennium from Ensanada to Hawaii and then on to Sydney. What a disappointment and its not the ship. The Cruise Director was on an ego trip, he failed to properly direct his staff and only wanted to tell everybody that they were having a good time we had a small issue which , frankly he wasn't interested in and suggested "Perhaps this Product doesn't suit you" We also noted an elderly German couple where the old gentleman had been knocked off his chair by another passenger trying to get a photograph. They received little 'Proactive " care and attention despite their ages and it was only after I spoke with the Guest relations manager that anyone regularly checked on them. The man walked on the ship and went off in a wheelchair. The individual activities staff were pleasant but not given proper direction and consequently often failed to come up with the goods. Our cabin and the food were both acceptable to good , it basically boiled down to the fact that the forward facing staff were not as good as the Solstice, it is not about the ship its about the staff We will not support Celebrity in future, they've demonstrated a lack of concern or interest in any issues - only trying to convince one and all in a superficial manner that - You're having a Great time !!!!!! Read Less

This was a bucket list cruise for my wife which included our wedding anniversary so a lot of thought and planning went into it or so we thought. It turned out our anniversary was on the day we crossed the international date line and thus disappeared! We rented a house in Honolulu for 8 days before boarding and for those who say the island is not worth spending time on I would refute that. We traveled about the island every day swimming at different beaches, snorkeled Hanauma Bay twice. We climbed Diamond Head, ate off food trucks had Moco Loco, attended a Hawaii University football game shopped the flea market at the stadium hunted down Macadamia pie and generally had a great time. We did not venture into or have time for Waikiki. We booked an Aqua Class A1 deck 11 aft cabin after careful consideration of a number of factors from being on the top aft of the ship in potential rough seas to the price of the cabins in addition to reviewing some truly frightening reviews of the ship and itinerary on CC. In hindsight we were smugly happy with our choice. We boarded in Honolulu on Nov 2nd at 12:30pm since it is a smaller and older port the vehicle line to get to the boarding area was slow. Once out of the vehicle boarding went smoothly, one of our friends was with us as her husband was returning the rental car. She soon realized she did not have her boarding information but did have her passport. In spite of this we navigated the boarding with few problems. We were told she could not drop her luggage without her boarding info. We simply placed luggage tags for our cabin on their bags and the problem was solved. They allowed her to proceed and enter the que after verifying her on the passenger list with her passport. Once she made it to the check in counter it was clear sailing. From drop off to walking on the ship and receiving a warm welcome and glass of champagne was all of 15 minutes. Our cabin was ready at boarding and our luggage was in our room by about 3 a bottle of sparkling wine chilling in ice awaited us. We met our Cabin Steward Mario who did an exemplary job and his service was impeccable for the length of our cruise. An A1 cabin on deck 11 is like having the run of the ship to yourself. It is quite and convenient the deck below with the bar and outside dinners never intruded and truth be told it was voyeuristic at times to stand at the balcony rail and look down unobserved. Each morning we would walk out on the balcony and greet the day and if not a port day and weather permitted we would dress and head down the corridor and and walk the 11th deck for a half hour then slip down to the 10th deck and swim for a bit then hot tub for a short while before heading to the spa for a steam or sauna then shower. On the way back to the cabin to dress for breakfast I often picked up a muffin at the Aqua Spa Cafe if open. Their muffins are a 3rd the size of those offered in the coffee shop so slightly more responsible. One negative point with Aqua Class is we found the house coats supplied too thick and had our room Stewart supply us with waffle ones which were lighter. We would then face the day by going to Blu for breakfast were the service was prompt, friendly the food prepared and portioned correctly for our taste. I am not a big orange juice drinker and will not drink processed juices of any type. The fresh squeezed orange juice offered at Blu became part of my morning routine as well as the Mango Madness smoothie. After breakfast we would go to the Olympic restaurant and I would have a coffee Americana and my wife would have a Cafe Mocha offered to Captain's Club Elite passengers. We did try the MDR for breakfast once as it does have a diverse menu but the service was not as prompt. They do have kippers not offered in Blu due to the smell I was informed. We enjoyed the Gala brunch that is offered in the MDR once during the cruise, much better use of food and resources then the old Midnight buffet. We also enjoyed the buffet offered at breakfast a few times on port days and thought it better then Princess which we cruised just 9 days before boarding. One does have to walk all the way around the buffet before making a selection as the 2 sides are different. The fish and chips offered every other day at lunch were excellent and the burgers at the outside grill were also very tasty. The ice cream they offered at the counter was very difficult to pass up in addition I have a mild addiction to peanut M&M's which they also offer. During the 18 days we dined in Blu every night we were on the ship save one night for dinner at the Olympic on our pho - anniversary. Olympic as always was fine dinning with the expected impeccable service. We did prefer dinning in Blu as the service was always excellent the Waite staff always attentive and efficient the Maitre'd ran an excellent service. We adjusted our dinning times to avoid the crowds and were always seated upon arrival. Those who say they prefer the MDR should spend time to compare the menu offerings between the two. Blu's offerings are superior in quality. Blu would have Halibut while Talapia would be offered in the MDR, Blu offered appetizers like soft shelled crab. What one prefers and how it is cooked can be a personal preference but when it comes to quality and cost it is not up to debate. If something appeals to you in the MDR arrangements can be made to eat there for the evening. The Blu venue is more intimate then the MDR and as such is quieter since we traveled with another couple we usually ate at a table for 4. The odd time we dinned alone we sat a table for 2 in Blu this means the adjoining table for 2 is about 10" away. As others have commented it feels awkward if one wanted an intimate dinner however we always enjoyed the company and conversation with the adjoining table. We found the ship to be in excellent condition after her recent dry dock, yes there are a few spots of rust to be found but considering her age she sparkled. She was always clean and the carpets and upholstery were fresh. Staff were observed painting, wiping down banisters, cleaning elevators and prepping public washrooms. We enjoyed strolling through her in the evening listening to the string or Jazz group and the entertainers preforming in the atrium were very good as well. To us the ship had an understated and refined feel of elegance, so nice. Not eye popping just a feeling of satisfaction from her warm glow. We did talk with people who were disappointed in her after recent sailings on S Class or a gentleman who tried to disparage her in comparison to a newer build HAL ship. Apples to oranges they are not the same and one needs to be aware and set their expectation appropriately. We have sailed all the M class ships multiple times in the past and are aware of their advantages and limitations compared to S class thus our choice. We had not sailed an M class ship for about 4 years and our last X cruise had been in AC on Eclipse. We chose Millennium because we thought she would fit the venue better then an S class ship with less people when we hit small ports that required tendering, she did not disappoint. The tendering process worked flawlessly for us, X seems to be working hard on streamlining the process. We booked private tours at all the ports save Cairns and had no problem meeting with our group on shore. Of coarse we heard of complaints but how one can hold X or the Captain accountable for rough seas in a port is beyond me. Much better to bob in a tender then miss a port. How one can be shocked or enraged that they may be caught in a line or face a delay while boarding or disembarking a cruise ship is beyond me. We enjoyed the entertainment but having not sailed X for a few years most shows seemed fresh to us. Some of the small acts were very good some not so much, it is to be expected. Many had an Australian influence which is understandable as they had a strong presence on board and we were heading there. It was nice after cruising Princess that one could arrive just 10 minutes before a show and still get a reasonable seat. They changed show times a few times due to port days and such so having flexible dining at Blu was a nice advantage. The entertainment director did an excellent job, I do not envy him his job when it seems so many only find satisfaction in complaining. The activities staff were always up beat and did an excellent job and my wife really enjoyed the Zumba instructor and also did Bollywood dance classes with him. We enjoyed our interactions with all the ships staff and since this was the 1st leg of a 35 day cruise we can say they are always personable and their professionalism did not waver. Our interactions with Guest Relations desk always had a positive out come, we required a few charges to be reversed and Shore excursions reversed a mistake on a shuttle charge with no issue. Concierge was also very helpful with information on ports. Ships officers were very visible and often had time to engage in conversation. Any interactions we had with staff throughout the ship were always pleasant and the bar staff were always courteous and prompt with our orders. Though this was my wife's bucket list cruise it was not what she expected when it came to ports like Tahiti and Fiji her 2 must see destinations. In spite of some disappointment in what she had envisioned we enjoyed all the ports and had memorable days at each fortuitously the weather was always with us. I did not attend the meeting for cruisers who were not disembarking but my wife did. She reported it was chaotic but we encountered no problems in getting our new boarding card and leaving the ship for our 9:30AM climb of the Sydney bridge. All in all a most satisfying cruise.   Read Less

I cruised on the Millennium for a Transpacific cruise that departed Honolulu at the end of October 2013. I can't talk highly enough about this ship. Absolutely loved dining in the main dining room, the quality and variety of food was fantastic. Wait staff were attentive and friendly. We ate twice in the Olympic restaurant (divine!) and I celebrated my 40th birthday on the last night of our cruise and we chose Qsine (which my children absolutely loved). We travelled with our 3 children aged 9, 16 and 17 years. Although the ship was a floating nursing home due to the duration and time of the year, my children still had a great time and loved the shows in the theatre (in particular Joka and Maria and the comedians). My 9 year old loved the kids club, not wanting to swim in the pool but instead rush back to the kids club to finish playing Monopoly. The staff in the kids club were wonderful and attentive, allowing me to relax and enjoy my cruise with hubby. The martini bar was great, very entertaining late at night. We loved watching people dance in the bar areas. Hamburgers in the pool area are a must, so yummy, don't miss them! The gym was great for a workout, plenty of equipment and great views at the front of the ship. My only criticism of this cruise was the day spa. I found it ridiculously overpriced (I knew it would be expensive but not THAT expensive), the quality of my massage was not very good, the spa had the kids club above it, so not much peace and quiet hearing kids running around. To add injury to insult, my therapist cut my massage short by 15 minutes and when I asked her why she denied it and said I was mistaken (I was not). All in all, I think a cruise is what you make it. I've read other reviews where people have complained about ridiculous things, I think I can spot those people on cruises, they are the ones who never look happy. My advice is keep and open mind, you are on holidays, don't let the little things bother you, life is never perfect. In saying that, there really was nothing to complain about on the Millennium, great cruise , beautiful ports (Bora Bora and Moorea were AMAZING), tenders were well organised, staff very friendly. I'd cruise the Millennium again in a heartbeat and I was certainly impressed with Celebrity overall (I've previously cruise with Royal Caribbean). Read Less