Although Celebration Cruise Line's Bahamas Celebration is not the first choice for veteran cruisers accustomed to all the bells and whistles provided by large cruise lines, it can be a great choice for first-time cruisers or those who just want a quick getaway aboard a charming older vessel which was previously a European cruise ferry.

With a helpful, friendly and efficient staff who could serve on the best of the "mega-ships," the Bahamas Celebration features scaled-down versions of most of the amenities found on larger ships and the food found throughout the ship is equal, if not better, than the fare we've found on those better known cruise ships.

That being said, this is, after all, a budget cruise aboard a 31-year-old vessel and one must make some accommodations. The main elevators on this cruise became temperamental and were out of order for a time. And while the snug cabin featured a larger shower than we get on much larger ships, the low-slung bed was not very comfortable despite soft linens. Read more