Cabin Review

First things first, however, and to our cabin. Number 1249, located at the stern, on the sports deck above the aft bar. This, overall, is an excellent cabin and a very nice place to stay. We did request an outside cabin on a higher deck of the ship and we were rewarded. There is a good amount of space inside, with ample storage for regular-sized suitcases (we put ours into the wardrobe and made use of the many drawers and shelves inside the cabin). There is an in-room safe (which was somewhat temperamental), a compact, no-frills bathroom, and a useful air-conditioning system. In terms of sleeping options, 1249 is probably one of the most flexible cabins aboard. Two twin beds, a fold-down single bunk, and a sofa that easily converts into a fourth bed. The beds are comfortable, although taller passengers may find them to be a little on the short side. There is also a handy curtain that can be used to divide the cabin into two, so those sleeping on the fold-down sofa bed can gain a little extra privacy. There is a single power-socket as well, which worked perfectly for us when we needed to charge our electronic equipment. The in-room TV allows you to check your onboard account, view shore excursions, and also view the current location of the ship on what I christened 'The Map Channel'. Other channels available for us included Sky and Fox News, although the TV channels are subject to the varying strength of the signal when at sea.In terms of housekeeping, the staff are efficient and polite. They cleaned our cabin to an excellent standard and were also kind enough to fold down the sofa bed before we returned to our cabin each evening. This was a nice bonus and something unexpected. Also, the housekeeping staff do take the time to remember each of your names, which adds a personal touch, though you may find the daily greetings a little odd if you are used to hotel-style room service. So, lots of space, a neat layout, and comfortable beds. Is cabin 1249 the perfect haven for passengers each night? No. Firstly, the cabin does feel like a room that has been welcoming passengers for almost twenty years. There are various scuffs and marks dotted around the cabin, and the bodged repair job on the shower support handle was more than a little obvious. While you may be thinking 'but that doesn't matter!' I don't feel that expecting high standards, even on a ship as old as the Century, is wrong. These things are not deal-breakers, by any means, but they are worth pointing out. It is obvious that with the launches of their newest ships, Celebrity have pushed the Century to the bottom of their priority list. These issues merely confirmed that to me.