This was our 4th cruise and our 2nd TransAtlantic, all with Celebrity. We have previously sailed on Galaxy and Infinity. We have always traveled with our 2 children, currently 11 & 12 years of age, and another family member, this time our sister-in-law. This was her 1st cruise.

We stayed in Barcelona for 2 nights pre-cruise, arranged on our own. Our hotel was the Hotel Continental, which was the only hotel that would let us have 4 people in one room. The room actually turned out to be 2 bedrooms and 1 1/2 baths, and besides being quite quaint, it was very sufficient for us. My sister-in-law had her own room directly across the hall from us. There were quite a few Millennium cruisers at this hotel, as well as a number of cruisers from other lines as well. It was conveniently located, only a stone's throw from Plaza Cataluna and right on Las Ramblas. The staff at the hotel were very friendly and helpful, and they provided free drinks, including soft drinks and beer, and a variety of "snack food" options 24 hour a day. Our stay in Barcelona included visits to Montserrat, La Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, and the Picasso museum. We used the "HOHO", or hop-on, hop-off bus for sight-seeing one day, which proved to be very useful.

We used a private taxi service for transportation to the port for embarkation, and it was extremely reasonable for 5 people and about 20 pieces of luggage. Yes, we still have not learned how to pack after 4 cruises! The taxi service was very prompt, arriving when they told us they would, and the driver took care of all the luggage. We arrived at the pier mid-afternoon and boarding was very easy and quick. Our rooms, 7199 ( a corner aft family view ) and 7195 ( CC ), were ready so we dropped off our carry-ons. Both rooms were clean and had the "new bedding", and the flowers in the CC room appeared to be fresh, as did the fruit. Read more