CRUISE CRITIC REVIEW FOR CELEBRITY MILLENNIUM SAIL DATE: March 28, 2011My name is Kim (tikigal, for those who know me on cruise critics), and I live in the Orlando, Florida area. I have been a professional mystery shopper for 7 years. In my previous career, I was a flight attendant for 20 years, who spent time both check riding other flight attendants and their service, and on quality and service volunteer boards to make our cabin service the best in the skies during the 70's thru the 90's. I do not work for Celebrity, (though it might intrigue me). I pay particular attention to detail, service, attitude, promptness, cleanliness, staff coordination, and all around appearance.EMBARKATION AND DEBARKATION PROCESSWe arrived early, around 10:00 AM, but boarding did not take place until 12:30(due to no fault of their own), there was a customs delay. They separated the priority boarding to a different waiting area, and the group indeed goes first for check in. The agents were respectful, and hydrated us often with drinks while we were waiting. It was not a very pretty boarding terminal, (comparing it to Fort Lauderdale) but served its purpose. You could also buy duty free there, and they would hold it for you until the end of the cruise, and deliver it to your stateroom. We dropped off our carry-on at 12:45 onto the ship, and immediately went to lunch at the Ocean Cafe buffet on deck 10. We had plenty of time afterwards to get to know the ship, or take a small nap.The debarkation process was simple and efficient. Once our number had been called at 8:30 AM, we left in an orderly fashion, picked up our luggage and went thru customs. Although the two lines looked endlessly long, and we were at the end, we were through the whole process in 10 minutes (baggage claim, customs, and out to the real world). Our family was on a tour by the ship, so we proceeded straight to the tour bus for the rum factory, while our luggage went in a separate truck for the airport. Once our tour was complete, we found our luggage guarded for us at the airport terminal building.FOODThe Celebrity Millennium cruise is my 3rd cruise for 2011 on Celebrity, with two more booked ahead before year's end, and I am feeling more and more able to compare apples to apples, rather than to oranges. Celebrity is streamlining their food to be comparable with other ships in their fleet, and although some specialty restaurants still do a better job cooking than others, the menu's are basically the same, and have been taught by one executive chef system wide, teaching the other chef's on each ship his dishes, and how he likes them prepared. Each ship's executive chef seems to put a little twist of his own into the menu, and for that I am grateful, or else I would be bored with an identical taste in cuisine on each cruise. For this year at least, I know the menu. I do not know how long the particular head executive chef for Celebrity will be under contract, or know when the menu will be totally replaced. I would like to highlight a few areas of both compliment and concern:1) The left hand side of the main dining room menu has items that are available every night of the week and seem to have been long standing favorites of past guests. I no longer have to ask the matri de for a standing order of escargot, I can just order it. These include: Chilled jumbo shrimp cocktail, Escargot, antipasti platters, French onion soup, lobster bisque, Caprese and Caesar salad, king salmon, grilled chicken, NY steak, cheesecake, apple pie, and Crème Brulee. All outstanding, and being with family, we were able to try each other's dishes without having to order extra.2) The right hand side of the menu varied so differently each night from beef Carpaccio or frog legs as appetizers to the Chilean sea bass, and quail for dinner. Each dish was expertly prepared and served picture perfect. If you didn't want the sauce, just ask your waiter! I think my waiter was a genie granting my every wish or whim. I was in heaven not having to cook for 11 days, and having gourmet food nightly. Honestly, it was a wonderful experience.3) I did find that the portions have been downsized, which I found positive. After cruising for the past 20 years, I noticed how much waste there was in food (passengers unable to finish large portions of their meal). It truly was sad to see so much waste. Now, you are always able to double order if you wish of anything, or order it again, or just order a little bit, and in a few minutes, it will arrive from the galley. Happily the waiter will serve you another portion, and never will question your judgment. It is a much better system than discarding plates and plates of food. It has also helped Celebrity keep the costs lower on food on the cruise, thereby keeping my total price down for the cruise fare. My hats off to Celebrity for this. Next time someone says, the portions seemed smaller than last time; think of what I have just stated.4) Excellent presentation of service. Each waiter we had, no matter where we were on the ship, were skilled in service, presentation, table set up, and clean up. Their mannerisms were consistently friendly and respectful. I was never ignored, like I have been on other cruise lines. The Waite staff was there to please. I never saw any crew member act disrespectful towards a guest. 5) The complimentary appetizers served in the room truly need to be updated. Mostly pieces of bread with a cream cheese of sorts on top or an occasional shrimp. I think humus, and the more modern appetizers would work better in our rooms, with pita crisps, rather than bread, keeping in the "healthy theme" that the ship often touts. So what constitutes healthy appetizers? Maybe some new evaluation would be good in this department, as I have seen the same, year in and year out, to where I finally tell my stateroom attendant, not to bring them anymore, that part is sad.6) Complimentary champagne, ummm... I know it's a cost issue, but maybe it's time for a little finer champagne.7) Wines: the wine seminar I attended as Elite did not feature any fine wines. As a matter of fact, the sommelier asked us how we liked each wine, and most replied they didn't. I prefer a good French, Italian, California, or Down Under wine, but the elite seminar, should have been just that, their elite wines, so that we would buy them with dinner. I know there is also a paid wine seminar to attend, but shouldn't the Elite guest (more than 10 cruises) be given the finest of wines... we are really dedicated cruisers to the company. That being said, I did share wine with my friends and a few martini's that were exceptional, but not given tastes of their better wines, I didn't know if there would be a good value in choosing a nicer wine of their list at dinner.CLEANLINESS AND HOUSEKEEPING: Grade AHand sanitizers everywhere, and in constant use, as instructed by the staff before entering many events or for the dining hall. I also noticed them constantly disinfecting the hand railings coming on to the ship from the island. Now, that is attention to detail, my friends!The restrooms were always spotless, no watermarks on the sinks or mirrors. There was plenty of paper products or towels in each public bathroom. Commodes were consistently sparkling clean, with a nice pleasant smell. Doors and trash cans were always clean and emptied often.We had a Celebrity Suite of over 450 square feet. My carpets were clean and not soiled. There was no odor in the room. There was ample closet space to hang or store all of our belongings. We had fresh towels and linens on the bed daily, and my sofa bed (there were 3 in the room) was made for "The Princess and the Pea". I asked my stateroom attendant to make it to these specs for a comfortable sleep. 2 foam crates on mattress, followed by one blanket, and bottom sheet. Then add top sheet, and blanket, 2 pillows, and I never woke until morning. I am a light sleeper usually, so I was very impressed with the comfort of my sofa bed! My parents had a beautiful bed in their bedroom, made into a king nightly with absolutely no complaints.Our butler, John, brought us fresh fruit daily, and attending to our every need, including shoe shining. He was truly a professional butler. He never complained, and came promptly every morning with breakfast at 7:00 AM.Our stateroom attendant was named Mike. Once he had figured out we wanted fresh soap and a shower cap daily, he provided us everything we could have hoped for. He was clean, and paid great attention to straightening up things, and even folding an occasional piece of clothing left behind. Occasionally I left money or a piece of jewelry out. Nothing was touched. They were very honest gentlemen. Both Mike and John did a wonderful job in stateroom 9096.ATTENTION TO DETAIL: GRADE AOur windows had not been cleaned upon check in from the outside (it had been raining earlier) and we did not have a balcony, just 5 large floor to ceiling windows. Now, I know that feat must not be easy to do, but I gently let our hotel director, Andrew Harris know about it. Before I could finish my next meal, he had accomplished the impossible, and my windows were sparkling! My hats off to the hotel staff on this issue alone.LAUNDRY SERVICE: Grade DMy only suggestion to come in line with Princess cruises: We had unlimited laundry and dry cleaning with Princess, where I am also Diamond (clothing came back ironed and hung up, and not shrunk). I sent out quite a few cotton items, with clear instructions for cold water wash. Every item of laundry was wrinkled, and stuffed into one bag, including my blouses, and shirts, and skirts. I would never do this at home, why would they do that on the ship? I found it an inappropriate way to clean clothes and I was extremely disappointed! The coupon indeed states 30 articles, cleaned and folded. It does not tell you they will shrink them and wrinkle them, and stuff them back in a bag for you as well. RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES: Grade ASome people remark that Celebrity doesn't have a lot to do aboard ship, but I found that to be quite the contrary. Activities for free included morning stretch and relax class, trivia, pool aerobics, ping pong tournaments, basketball challenges, line dance classes, napkin folding, golf challenges, a lesson in facial rejuvenation and acupressure, pool games, listening to strolling A Cappella, more trivia, a nightly movie in the cinema, piano music, nightly shows in the Celebrity Theater, a lovely string quartet, dancing in different venues including Cosmos, galley tours, art auction events, shuffleboard tournaments, Zumba classes, cards, and the library if you are really stuck.For fees there were Mega Slot Tournaments, Chilates and body sculpting classes, champagne cocktail, martini or wine tastings, spa treatments, Texas Hold'em Cash Tournaments, and the Champagne High Tea at Sea. These are just a few, but I know there were more, I just couldn't get to all of them.DRESS CODE ENFORCEMENT: GRADE A: We were glad to see so many people dressed for dinner each night, even on casual night. The guys looked great on formal nights in their tuxes and the ladies looked lovely in their dresses and gowns and fine jewelry. I never saw anyone in jeans the entire cruise, and on one occasion my father accidentally wore shorts when he it stated no shorts. He immediately went back to change. Our fellow cruise passengers seemed to be on whole, experienced cruisers, who knew what to expect, and how to dress. As well, I saw the officers, and crew with buttons polished, shoes polished and clean, and faces and hands scrubbed clean, and uniforms spotless without Wrinkles! A very professional image constantly, including the dining room, and maintenance staff. Well done!CAPTAIN'S CLUBDelightful! I can't say enough good things about this program. The benefits far exceeded my expectations, from complimentary Michaels Club nightly functions, to the Seniors Officer's party. Juliana, our Captain's Club hostess was outstanding, paying particular attention to every detail, to make the event perfect for all members.STAFF INVOLVEMENT: GRADE AFive stars on this one! I always believe the Captain or leader of the pack sets the tone for the voyage and I believe our Captain Alevropoulos ( who is drop dead gorgeous!) to the Food and Beverage Manager, Michael Bramlett...the whole staff was totally involved in the guests activities and there was always an officer present around the ship that we could speak with. They made themselves readily available, were friendly, professional, personable, and genuinely interested in me as a person, who was comforting more than once, while at sea. The staff participated in a Dancing with the Stripes show, an officer slot pull, officer card tournament against the guests, a volleyball tournament against the guests, and more activities than I could count. We knew who our officers were, how different from other cruiselines, that I won't mention. Our assistant Hotel Director, Jamie Petts, became one of our closest staff friends on board along with Our Captains Club Hostess, Juliana, who was an expert in juggling our programs, giving us access to meeting the staff, and hosting numerous events on the ship for us to enjoy. She also led the Macarena dance with all the ships officers down the main central staircase, much to the delight of hundreds of ship's passengers! My mom, dad, and I loved meeting all of the ship's officers of the Millennium, and were so sad, when we had to leave on the eleventh day of our voyage! They were all family to many of us. I have put together a slide presentation if you would like to see it please copy this site: http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/tripwow/ta-0147-be6e-7aec?lm