Celebrity Eclipse Review

Hubbard Glacier Cruise-September 2019

Review for Alaska Cruise on Celebrity Eclipse
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Gal2324
2-5 Cruises • Age 60s

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Sail Date: Sep 2019
Cabin: Concierge Class 1

We were a party of 4. Two couples, one couple in their 60s(husband and wife) and one couple in their 20s(daughter and boyfriend). A cruise of the Inside Passage of Alaska had been one of our "bucket list" must dos so off we went. We selected Celebrity Cruises primarily because they offered an Inside Passage cruise that left on a weekend day and returned to the same port on a weekend day. Great schedule for working adults. Hindsight being 20/20 we would definitely select this cruise company again regardless of schedule. With the help of a local travel agent, we selected Concierge class cabins(1670 and 1676) AFT of the ship. Knowing that the primary purpose of an Inside Passage cruise was the scenery, these cabin offered up views encompassing both sides of the ship. Although we were NOT the first to see the scenery, we saw both amazing sides of the cruise. The location of these cabins afforded us quiet uninterrupted sleep. However, they were a good distance from the elevators, and we did experience some feelings of motion sickness on the last day of the cruise during the open-water portion of the cruise. Nothing that some motion sickness pills did not help cure. Our cabin steward Jaime was the absolute best, always there when we needed something, and extremely quick to respond. He insured that the cabins were always clean and well maintained. Celebrity is lucky to have him. The cabins were just the right size and had sufficient storage for our large and full suitcases(each weighing about 50 pounds). Celebrity is known for its dining, and the dining did not disappoint. My husband and I dined(breakfast and lunch) in the Ocean View Cafe. There was always a wide assortment of items available, both fresh and cooked. Busy time at the Cafe occurred starting around 8:30am for breakfast and noon for lunch. These times required the need to "hunt" for table space, as other passengers tended to linger, watching the scenery go by. But once the individuals departed, cafe staff were on the spot cleaning the table off for other guests. The only food item we did not enjoy were the desserts. They were beautiful in appearance, but lacked flavor. However the ice cream was good. As Concierge Class guests we did take advantage of room service for breakfast, several times to avoid the crowds. Our daughter and her boyfriend did the same. Room service was very timely, but on a couple of occasions, an item or two were missing. One call to our cabin steward Jaime and it was quickly resolved. We ate dinner most nights at the Moonlight Sonata, 8:30PM seating with a reserved table. The food was excellent, including the desserts, with a wide variety of selection. The experience was made Superior by the service of Marvin, Lawrence and Demi. Having elected to purchase non-alcoholic beverage plans, because we are not big drinkers, we were given the opportunity at dinner to purchase cards for alcoholic drinks, which was perfect for us. A $30 card got you 5 drinks up to $9 per drink value and a $60 card for 5 drinks up to $15 per drink value. These cards were accepted at all dining and bar facilities, but must be fully utilized by the end of the cruise(no refunds). Most nights we went to the early show, and then proceeded to dinner. We had two specialty dining experiences between the 4 of us, one night at Murano's, and one night at Sushi on 5. Both were excellent and well worth the surcharge. The entertainment was good, with the best shows being the Beatles night and the comic. We did take advantage of many of the games, with guests and crew, which were fun and afforded laughs for all. The only "Celebrity" sponsored excursions we took advantage of was the Hubbard Glacier excursion. With a hefty price of $279 per person, we decided to take the gamble and yes it was worth it. The Glacier was amazing and we witness much calving. Both beautiful and alarming(climate change) at the same time. We arrived for Embarkation at 11:00AM and were met by lines. Being Concierge Class allowed us to zip through the Celebrity guest check-in, however US Customs caused for some delay in boarding. The whole process took approximately an hour to 1 1/2 hours. Very much like passing through security at any major US airport. Canadian and US citizens were segregated from the others, so I am uncertain as to how much time for guests who were not Canadian or US Citizens. We did not take advantage of any of the enrichment activities on board. My husband utilized the fitness facilities and found them excellent and clean. Overall the public rooms of the ship were well maintained and clean. It appeared that staff maintaining these areas were diligent in their work. Many a time, I spotted the Captain and/or other Officers moving about the guest areas insuring that guests expectations were met. Would I sail with Celebrity again. Absolutely!

Cabin Review

Concierge Class 1

Cabin C1

Very good size and the view was perfect for an Inside Passage cruise. Cabin location afforded a quiet spot for sleep and relaxation. The cabin whose furnishings were a little worn, was well maintain by our cabin steward Jaime. I would not recommend this cabin for someone with mobility issues as it is a long way to elevators, especially if upon entering the walk way area, you do not pick the shortest route. Each one of our party picked the long route at least once on the cruise, in error.

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