Our first Celebrity Cruise, but not our last. We had heard good reviews but must say that the Celebrity Eclipse cruise EXCEEDED our expectations. Maybe it is because the ship is new and the crew are excited and grateful to be posted on her, or maybe it is because Celebrity knows how to do the little things well.
Our cabin and table staff were exceptional and we felt more like family (we always try to relate on a human level with the crew) and it resulted in a very relaxed, informal relationship.
The ship is amazing, full stop. The decor is tasteful and elegant without being 'overboard'. Even with 2800 fellow passengers aboard, we never felt crowded as the ship layout accommodates the flow of passengers very well. The food in the main dining room was very good and our servers alerted us to items that were sub-par in advance. The dining experience in Qsine was great. I called it Tapas dining on steroids, a VERY unique experience and one not to be missed. Many areas of the ship sat nearly vacant during sea days, and made great sanctuaries for quite meetings with friends. THe martini bar is midship and well worth a stop, if for no other reason than to witness the bartender mix and pour up to 13 different concoctions in unison. The production shows rank right up there. NCL's Jean Ann Ryan troupe have been favorites of ours but Celebrity's version of Cirque de Soleil, at sea, defies belief. One Chinese performer, among other feats, rides a Unicycle upside down with his HANDS while balancing on a slack rope line!