Embarkation in Civitavecchia was smooth and efficient. I was onboard in less than 15 minutes. But I wish I had been advised in advance that the port (not Celebrity) provides a free shuttle bus from the town to the ship. At the gangway, I was met with staff who welcomed me with a glass of champagne, a nice touch.
My category 1A balcony cabin was nicer than expected. It was spacious enough, functional, and attractive. The bathroom was larger than on other cruise ships. I would suggest the addition of a retractable clothes line in the shower.
At first impression, the ship was beautifully decorated, clean, large, and spacious. However, a very large amount of space is dedicated to extra-pay restaurants and stores. Extra-pay venues are squeezed in everywhere, even on the outside decks. As a result, the 3000 passengers onboard were confined to a much smaller space. The ship felt crowded and noisy throughout. There was even a request in the daily program for guests not to linger at the lunch buffet to free tables for waiting guests! It was also difficult to find a place at the pools when the weather was nice; and jogging track was like an obstacle course. The two elevator banks were insufficient for the number of people on board.