We are seniors, Alan and Allyn; this was our 16th cruise (19th if you count b2bs as 2). We are Elite on Celebrity (as a result of Diamond status on RCI) and have sailed on HAL, Princess, and Crystal, as well. We flew in late two nights before the cruise and stayed at The Embassy Suites, just a few blocks from the pier. Their full breakfast and evening cocktail party helped us smooth over the 3-hour jet lag. We had dinner the night before the cruise with a couple we met on Cruise Critic.

Allyn had injured her foot and was unable to walk very far. So, at the last minute, we arranged for a rental wheel chair, (delivered to the hotel and picked up from the cabin on the ship by Care Vacations, one of two companies recommended by Celebrity). The hotel arranged for a van for us and another couple ($4 per person, including luggage and the wheel chair).

Embarkation was relatively quick. The only problem was that I apparently missed the place that would get me help and I ended up pushing the wheel chair up the long steep ramp to the ship. (Several staff promised to get help, but it never arrived.) Read more