After many sailings on RCL and NCL (including several sailings in the NCL Haven) we decided to try Celebrity. We were led to believe the Retreat was an exclusive area that was better than NCL’s Haven. It was not even close!

Despite being told there was priority embarkation and disembarkation, we were herded like cattle. Compared to being a Haven guest where we were escorted on and off the ship via private elevator, there is nothing special or exclusive about the Retreat. Our Celebrity Suite cabin, like all suites, were on the same floors as non-suite guests sailing in inside cabins. The Haven suites themselves are on card key access floors.

The food and service on this ship were horrific. Other than Raw on 5, the buffet food far exceeded all other options, including specialty restaurants. Despite paying exorbitantly for the Retreat, our concierge was useless. She used the same app we had on our phones to check for reservations. We were told none were available prior to 9 PM. She didn’t even attempt to call the restaurants to get us in. Our Haven concierge was always able to call and get us seats in the specialty restaurants for us and our friends that were sailing with us but not in the Haven. The Retreat lounge only ever had a single bartender on duty, and was busy running drinks to customers that had to go to the bar to order because no one was walking around offering service. The appetizers in the lounge never changed and were mediocre. Read more