Celebrity Millennium Review
Rating by category
Additional details
Due to a last-minute change in work/vacation schedule, we had two weeks to fill in early March. Living in the far east, we looked at several relatively nearby options, including Indonesia and Myanmar, but then taking personal considerations into account, ultimately decided to book this cruise. We had been to several of the destinations before, which allowed us to explore more at our own leisure, but there were also some new places that we would see for the first time.
We flew into Hong Kong the day before embarkation, and stayed at a hotel in Central for just the one night - we booked this outside of Celebrity. We checked out at noon the next day, took a taxi to the cruise terminal, and were completely checked-in less than 45 minutes after leaving the hotel. We actually had to wait in a lounge for about 30 minutes until the readiness of our room was confirmed.
Having read some reviews about the aging Millennium, I have to admit we had some concerns, but having been on a run-down Norwegian boat recently, how much worse could it get? Although there is no doubt the Millennium is getting old, we found it to be in pretty good condition - better than the old Century from our cruise last year. All of the public spaces were in very good condition, dated, sure, but everything was clean and in working order. Maintenance crews were frequently seen repairing worn-out hinges, changing light bulbs, etc.: a good sign that Celebrity is doing their best to maintain an aging ship - a big, big difference from what we experienced on Norwegian Epic.
Cabin Review
Sky Suite 1
Due to a change in work/vacation schedule, we were looking for a good, relaxing holiday and found this cruise just 13 days prior to embarkation. I am 99% certain we booked the last room on the boat - which happened to be a handicapped access Sky Suite.
We found the cabin to be in pretty good condition, considering the age of the ship. Certainly plenty of room to move about inside, although the balcony was a bit small, particularly if we wanted to get out there in a wheelchair. Ample storage space, plenty of seating room - all items looked good and were clean, although dated. Lighting in the room was fine, although lighting in the bathroom could definitely use improvement. Air conditioning didn't seem to work very well - we had it cranked all the way down, but it was still well above 20C in there.
The bed seemed comfortable at first, but we quickly grew tired of it, and eventually even had trouble sleeping on it towards the end of the trip.
Overall, we were pleased with the room, but for future cruises, I would prefer to go with a higher level of suite class where the rooms are definitely better appointed and better maintained (we were able to compare our Sky Suite with the Penthouse).
Port Reviews
Hong Kong
Hong Kong: one of my favorite cities in the world. We have visited multiple times, so are comfortable with getting around the city on our own. Hong Kong island certainly has a more British feel, while Kowloon and Tsim Tsa Tsui have the more "bustling Asian city" atmosphere.
Hanoi
Hanoi: definitely worth visiting; it is a bit more communist and subsequently has a more run-down feel than HCMC in the south. Plenty of Ho Chi Minh propaganda, if that's your thing, and of course the Hanoi Hilton is there. Street markets are fun and unique - there were plenty of things I wanted to try, but I chickened out as it was a bit too early in the trip to potentially get sick.
Please note the bus ride to and from Hanoi is quite lengthy....it is what it is.
Hanoi
This is truly a unique experience that everybody should do once. Sailing around the rock formations of Ha Long Bay is incredible, but it has gotten a bit touristy now, with many boats seemingly swarming around the main rocks. Weather was hazy for our day out, but what can you do?
Bangkok (Laem Chabang)
Bangkok: the epitome of a giant Asian capital. Crazy traffic, people everywhere, all sorts of delicious-smelling things sold right there on the street (I even found a young girl that had set up her "kitchen" on either side of an ATM). We had done the touristy things before, so this trip was a long stroll through a section of Bangkok; found some fabulous Thai curry down one alley, stumbled upon the knock-off clothing market in another, and eventually to the night market (although it wasn't open at the time....). Bangkok is a city you can visit time and time again, and always find some new, exciting, erotic, tasty, or whatever you can think of.
Singapore
Singapore: one of the best destinations of southeast Asia, and a good starting point for those not familiar with southeast Asia to get a "more organized" taste before the madness of Bangkok, HCMC, or Hong Kong. Singapore has everything: Little India, Chinatown, tourist-friendly Clarke Quay, high end shopping/dining on Orchard, Raffles City for the original (and most expensive) Singapore Sling in the world....A great city for sure, but also one of the most expensive you could ever visit. We'll keep going back regardless, though, as Singapore really is just that nice.
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Ho Chi Minh City: the Paris of southeast Asia. Old Saigon is a very charming part of town, with good architecture, plenty of restaurants, and easy-to-walk streets. The Cho Ben Thanh market is worth a visit - a bit touristy and pushy up at the front, but some of the best food in Vietnam towards the back. Shopping of all sorts abounds, from the cheapest street knock-offs to ultra-luxury shopping (where virtually no Vietnamese people can afford to shop).