We embarked in Sydney with our daughter and husband and two kids. A very smooth embarkation process (better organised than princess) The cruise was to the Pacific for 12 days. We settled into our cabin after exploring the ship and having lunch in the buffet. After waiting till 7.00pm that night I contacted Guests Services to ask for my luggage. (everyone elses had been delivered). I was told they were busy delivering luggage. After looking outside our cabin and seeing no cases anywhere i again rang and asked, only to be told the same story. So off to dinner in rather untidy casual clothes I went. Feeling rather untidy and a little self consious I need not have worried. Shorts T shirts and back to front caps seemed to rule. Very dissapointed to the dress standard worn by 50% of the passangers in the dining room. The dress standards set by the ship might as well not been there. Even in the Nouvo steak house, Tshirts were allowed. After an average dinner I went back to my cabin to find a message from the security asking me to go down to their office and open my case. They had found a small power board inside and needed to confiscate it. I queried that the web site stated they were allowed subject to inspection. No go. So far a bad start to our holiday.

I found the main dining room food to be way below what i expected, in fact we choose to eat in the Lido on a couple of nights. Far better variety and tasty food. Maybe the food was designed for the class of passengers, most of whom had probably never been to restaurant with more than a plastic knife and fork before. What made up for lousy food was the staff, they were excellent in their job and very friendly. Great coffees at a good price (compared to WA). I just wish the security personell would be a little more friendly and maybe smile once in a while.

Would I sail with Celebrity again, highly unlikely, especially in Australia, this ship is more suited to the "Bogan" element. Read more