Celebrity is understandably very proud of this ship. It is truly an engineering marvel, highlighted by a large main pool, an outside track with a ramp, a beautiful theater and graphics, the usual excellent crew, great dining, an amazing stateroom and an outdoor seating area aft on an upper deck with a great screen. The ship has some fundamental issues that decrease this rating from 5 star to 4 star and that issue is because of Celebrity Corporate and not anything the customer facing crew can do much about. Let me explain.

Last June, when the cruise lines were begging customers to take a chance and book, we responded to a Celebrity Promotion. We are Celebrity Captains Club Elite, and we were dying to cruise again. So we booked our first ever suite in the Retreat. We didn't realize it at the time, but we paid top dollar for our suite, and many retreat Customers booked in the month before sailing got their rooms at a substantial discount. When I noticed this was happening, I found out that I was paying $3000 more than people who booked last minute. When I called, Celebrity said too bad, its too late and they would not offer a penny of onboard credit despite the $3000 differential.

I accepted that decision -- albeit I was disappointed by Celebrity's rigidity. Our suite was absolutely beautiful. So well designed and so comfortable. When we went to use the Retreat pool, we quickly learned that this area in the front of the ship was poorly designed and super over crowded. I also heard several people talking about how they booked at the last minute and how great a deal they got at substantially reduced prices. Starting on Day 2 through Day 8, this same group of about 8 people (I think at least part of them were from Philadelphia from what they were saying), took over the Retreat pool, all day every day. The were continuously loud, well hydrated with alcohol and they took over the pool. They never got out, they never stopped drinking and they never made room for anyone else to get in the pool. Who would want to anyway -- they were so loud, you count carry on a conversation with anyone else, because they would just keep the volume up way higher. The Retreat was anything but a retreat. It was a small, cramped space that was much louder than the main pool area on the main pool deck. how Ironic! I checked the retreat pool at least twice every day. It was full of this same group of people, taking over the pool, drunk and loud. I count hear myself think or speak or order a beverage. By day 5 I complained to our Retreat Host, and he said he'd escaped;ate to his superiors. Nothing was done for the duration of the cruise, and I found myself incredibly disappointed. At dinner, a couple of times, customers near us were voicing the same complaint about the same group of people. I spoke to the host at Lumunae as well and asked that they not seat this group anywhere near where I was eating. I saw plenty of officers in the Retreat pool area while this behavior was taking place, and never once did they ask the people to behave in a more considerate, adult like manner. I felt like I moved next door to the frat house in the movie Animal House with this group of people and celebrity did nothing to ensure my satisfaction -- despite their attempt to position themselves as a premium cruise line. Next time, I might just go on Carnival for a fraction of the price. Read more