We are regular Celebrity cruisers, about every 18 months. We have seen Celebrity evolve over the years. The one thing that remains unchanged is the excellent, caring service of the staff. Everyone we dealt with, from our room "butler" to the "Pool Butler" seemed genuinely caring and interested in our welfare (more on that later). As you walk the ship you are constantly greeted by the staff. Even the young Captain was often seen around the ship, including on disembarcation, on the dock, saying goodbye. The ship is clean and comfortable. The food is above average over equivalent restaurant food. The only non-positive comment is that there seems to be some cutting of corners to save a nickel here and a nickel there. (No saucers for coffee on the buffet. Seems small, but every morning I walk laps {which are shorter because of the addition of new Aqua-Class rooms on Deck 11, during the Solticzing process}, and have tea outside on the rear of the buffet area, and then provide "room service" to my wife, in our cabin, with a cup of coffee and a small pastry. Now no saucers to carry the spoon or the pastry. Small but an unnecessary inconvenience. [The saucers appeared at dinner as bread plates]). The pitchers of water in the cabins, formerly changed daily, have been removed and replaced with bottles of Evian for purchase. We never purchase drink packages, but were told that for alcoholic drink packages the "included" ones were limited to those costing $8.00 or less, and if you wanted an $8.50 drink you paid full boat, not the difference. On the other hand a "specialty" restaurant, Bistro 5, was an incredible bargain. $5.00 for custom made crepes or paninis which were of excellent quality, the usual good service, but also included dessert of a higher caliber then in main dining room.

All in all this was a last minute cruise, well worth the money and I would recommend it.

One final embarrassing comment, which you usually do not see. On the last night of the cruise, I tripped going down some stairs, fell and cut my head open. I was taken to medical which promptly cared for me, with stitches in my scalp. The care, concern, and treatment were without reproach. Hopefully you will never need such service, but it is reassuring to know its there if you do need it.