Let me preface this by saying that this was only my third cruise - I had done a week-long cruise to Alaska and four-day quickie to Mexico, both with Royal. This was my first Celebrity cruise, although I know they are sister lines. So this review won't have the in-depth "compare and contrast" detail that some of the other reviewers can provide. Also I haven't been on a cruise in the last four years. And I also know that some of the things I'm complaining about below, might be a result of the recession, and perhaps all the lines are succumbing to this behavior (upselling everything!).

I have long wanted to visit the Panama Canal and this sailing fit with my schedule, so we took it. My only disappointment in the itinerary is that we did not stop in Panama - I thought a stop in Panama City would have been more interesting than two stops in Mexico.

We flew from Los Angeles to Orlando and spent a few days at Universal and Epcot, then took a 6-hour train trip to Fort Lauderdale. We stayed at the Hampton Inn Cruise Port in Fort Lauderdale. The Hampton Inn picked us up from the Amtrak train station and also took us to the cruise ship the next day in their very cool shuttle van - this is a complimentary service. The hotel is also right next to a Winn-Dixie grocery store, a Big Lots, and Dollar store and a really good Thai restaurant called 84 Thai. We'd stay there again if we ever had to leave out of Fort Lauderdale. The stores are convenient for any last minute purchases. Read more