Questions about Zenith

Most of the reviews and posts on this board indicate that Zenith has great food, as well as service, and offers an excellent itinerary from NJ to Bermuda. At the same time, I've read a number of reviews about its condition that make me reluctant to sail on it. Based on your experience, what is your opinion of Zenith's cabins/bathrooms, and public areas of the ship? If you are use to cruising with a balcony, did you miss not having one on Zenith?

Don't be worried! I was before our May Bermuda cruise and it turned out IMO for no reason. She is a great ship and I feel has the best lay-out of the entire fleet. Her public rooms are more intimate as opposed to the large open areas. We especially loved the martini bar in the back corner by the window! To be honest we missed having a balcony for about a minute when we first boarded, but you get over it in about 30 seconds. Our cabin was in very good condition, I didn't notice any mold, though I don't look for it either, our bed was comfortable and the service cannot be topped! Go, you will have a great time.

I've sailed Zenith 3x most recently in June. Zenith is a lovely smaller ship that is cozy and easy to navigate. The public rooms are all in very good condition. The dining room has recently had the carpeting replaced and they were/are in the process of reupholstering the booth type seats. The dining room is on one floor and has windows on both sides.

The carpeting has also been newly replaced in the Wind Surf Cafe as were the booths. They also put new outdoor carpeting around the pool deck (11) and the Sun Deck (12).

We always book the Florida Deck (4) and the rooms have not been refurbished there. I know some rooms on other decks were refurbed with new carpeting and soft goods. All of our 3 rooms were in good condition. We had our steward take away our bed spread... we didn't need it. Your blankets are tucked in between 2 sheets. The bedding is a bit hard for me (bad back) and so my steward padded it and it was just fine.

The room is spacious enough (we were 3) with lots of storage. The bathroom is a good size and our shower and curtain on our last trip were very clean and new (curtain). The sink had a small chip in it. Carpeting and furnishings were in very good shape. One of our cabins last year had a worn out chair but it didn't bother me.

With four days in Bermuda you will rarely be in your cabin so it's much less important than say a TA cruise or a longer cruise with lots of sea days. All 3 of our stewards have been excellent and kept our cabin clean.

In my opinion Zenith really shines in the dining room. We have always had wonderful tables and the absolute best service there. I think the smaller dining room assures hotter food as well. We have enjoyed every meal there and have always been well taken care of. It was always the highlight of our cruise. We also mostly eat in the dining room for breakfast and lunch. It is open seating at that time and it gives us the opportunity to meet and mingle with other pax.

The theater is two levels with not a bad seat in the house. The shows are very good...I've seen them 3 times LOL. The casino is small and smokey...I don't gamble so don't care. There are some nice shops and a favorite place of mine is the Cova Cafe. If you sail X you know about the delicious pastries there.

Both the library and Michael's club are cozy and comfortable. The Fleet bar is a great place with a great view and usually empty during the day if you need a place to hang out and read or relax.

Zenith is the absolutely best way to see Bermuda. I'd be happy to answer any other questions you have. Also, if you want to give me your email addy I can send you some recent pictures (from June) of the cabins and public areas of the ship. I really don't think you will be disappointed if you go in with the right attitude. Zenith is not a mega shopping mall, ice rink, rock-climbing kind of ship. She is quietly elegant and classy with a lived in look.

My husband and I had a great time on Zenith last Sept to Bermuda and even booked it again for this Sept.

Host Doug just gave an excellent and in my opinion, accurate review regarding his recent Zenith to Bermuda cruise.

I found the service and food to be great. Yes, some of the cabins looked a bit tired, mine was an outside on Europa and was in fine condition. I will have an outside this fall on Bahama deck and hope that will be in good shape. This ship is the oldest in the fleet and some of the basics were not as state of the art as perhaps other lines newer ships--I am specifically thinking lay out of pools, but this certainly did NOT detract from a wonderful cruise.

On past cruises, we always had a balcony, so this was our first cruise without a balcony. Like Brooklyngirl mentioned, you are in Bermuda for 4 active days. I was seldom in my cabin to miss the balcony. :p Because Zenith has a longer Bermuda itinerary and larger cabins than Empress (not to mention in my opinion better dining/food) I would never consider another ship for THIS itinerary.

Good luck!

We just did the Zenth to Bermuda the week before last and we had a very nice time. The cabin was nice as were the public areas of the ship. I did not see any broken furniture or threadbare carpets that some people have alluded to. The food and service were very good. The standard cabins are 170 square feet and include the above average size showers that you find on all Celebrity shiips. Only smaller ships can enter the harbor at St George and Hamilton which is the reason the smaller, older ships sail this route. Of those ships the Zenith is definitely the best choice. You also need to keep in mind that on the 7 day trip to Bermuda only the first and last day of the cruise are at sea while all the remaining days are in port so you will be off the ship the majoority of time anyway. The only thing I did not like on the Zenith was the gym which is small and poorly equipped.

You can sail on the Explorer or the Grandeur to Bermuda but then you only have two days on the island so the 7 day trip on the Zenith is a better idea. If I wanted to go to Bermuda again I would not hesitate to go again on the Zenith.

She is not in bad condition. Great, no, but not bad.

The main issues I noticed were worn carpeting in the corridors and stairwells, somewhat faded/worn carpet and soft furnishings in cabins, bedding in need of replacing (hard, cheap foam mattresses - until recently used on all Royal Caribbean and Celebrity ships), stained tile grout, cracked shower surrounds, etc.

Outside the cabins, corridors and stairwells the ship was generally in very good condition with the exception of the deck furniture which also really ought to be replaced (it is older furniture which has been retro-fitted to take pads - but the furniture is not designed for pads so the thick padding causes the chairs to feel very, very small). The public areas were all in very good condition.

BrooklynGirl2,

I'd love to see pics of Zenith. We just booked while onboard Mercury for next May and we're really looking forward to the experience. How rough were the waters on the way to Bermuda? Any suggestions for must do things for first time visitors. Any info will be very appreciated. My email is below. Thank you

I'd sail her again in a heartbeat. It's an older ship without all the glitz of the larger, newer ones, but that's what gives her her class. Our cabin was fine, the bathroom clean and in good shape as were the common areas. We did have a chuckle every evening when we all met in the front desk lobby area...the brown leather sofas had seen better days, but apart from that, I thought the ship was in very good shape. We like having a balcony, but didn't really miss not having it. We sailed in May and it was quite windy so I don't think we'd have been able to use it much on the days at sea anyway. Give Zenith a chance...I don't think you'll be disappointed...it's a great way to see Bermuda.

Lynn

Shelia,

I sent you email to answer some of your questions.

BTW--I enjoyed your review on your most recent Mercury cruise! Sounds like you had a great time.

We sailed the Zenith to Bermuda last month and also had concerns since our previous three sailings had been on the Connie (twice in aft cabins with huge decks). But the Zenith worked out very well for us. Yes, I did miss having a balcony, but we spent a lot of time travelling around Bermuda and being docked in Hamilton and St. George was great for touring. I got over it. We were on deck 6 (Caribbean?) and our cabin was in very good shape. Looked like new carpeting and soft goods. There was a tiny amount of mildew in the bathroom, but basically it was fine. The only big problem was our friends' cabin next door smelled like an ash tray when we checked in. Yuck! But the cleaning crew worked on it right away and it became bearable by nighttime. The public areas all looked good to me - but I live in an old Victorian, so maybe my standards are not so high :-).

We just returned the 22nd on Zenith to Bermuda. Like all of you, weeks before we left I was nervous over hearing the conditions. All for naught! We had the best cruise of our lives, missed the balcony for 2 seconds when we entered the room but forgot about that quickly. Fasted embarkation/debarkation ever. The service and the friendliness put us at ease the moment we walked onboard. Our cabin on deck 6 was in excellent condition. Clean and plenty of storage. It did remind me of home, comfy and a bit lived in but not a complaint on the entire cruise. Little extras made the trip memorable! After 15 cruises on Princess, our first on Celebrity will not be our last. The Zenith is the best ship to do bermuda. You will truly enjoy yourselves.

Thanks to everyone who responded to my questions about the Zenith and shared their experiences. Your input is very helpfull :)

if my husband & I are on the bike path at Sandy Hook- we see the cruise ships leaving for Bermuda & look for the Zenith.

We just came back from the Zenith on July 1st and we plan to return again and take our three kids this time.

The cabin furniture was in fine condition. So much storage space!!!

The bedspread was reminicent of a spread ya might use down the beach.

I'm sure I have pictures of the room if anyone wants to see- BratDet@aol.com.

We had an outside on the Europa Deck.

The service was outstanding.

The 5 course dinners were great. I am the worlds most picky eater

and I was quite content.

We only made it to the dining room for one breakfast and one lunch.

Plan to be more organized in the morning next year and go more there more often. So nice to be so spoiled.

I have warned him- I might force him (haha) to go back this year...

but waiting makes it something to really look forward to next summer.

Oh my, if I noticed one thing- most of the chocolate in the desserts used a heavy dark chocolate- even those famed chocolate croissants from Cova cafe. I prefer a lighter chocolate.

So....on the last day- we had gone to the Caravelle for lunch. I had a wonderful Apple Streudel for dessert. YUMMMM. no chocolate, but it was the BEST dessert...so I asked if I could also have it at dinner...and they arranged it.

We just truly relaxed and enjoyed ourselves......the best ever time!!!

Brooklyn Girl- you going ealry June again next year?

Bernadette

BratDet,

Thanks to your comments, my husband doesn't want to wait until next year :) Told him the bank says that we must!

Very good info and just what we wanted to hear.

Thanks

Hi,:) I sailed her earlier this year for the 1st time back in February.

I went back in April....she is marvelous. As much as I have

enjoyed every single X cruise, those 2 stand out big time for me.

The ship is small and intimate (and I do enjoy the M class too)

but the crew and staff for those 2 sailings were unmatched.

The ship looked fine to me. My cabin attendant and asst were

fantastic. Gabrial and Felix both outstanding.

The dining room staff just as wonderful. Milan and Budi, Waiter

and Asst were fantastic.

I don't miss a balcony because I don't book them to begin with.

Would I sail her again? You bet. But I guess I am one of those

odd birds....I have had 9 out of 9 excellent cruises and would

sail any of the ships again..or Infinity and Galaxy which I have

have yet to step on.

We are thinking about it Bernadette. Depends on my son's school schedule. Some people go down the shore every summer...we take Zenith to Bermuda. It's becoming a tradition :D :D .

Sounds like a wonderful tradition to me. I keep reminding our friends who rent beach houses that they could cruise for just a bit more and not have to cook and sweep sand off of the floors :)

Actually, we booked our cruise to Bermuda on Zenith last year because it WAS cheaper than our normal 6 nights at the shore! We used to go yearly for a week with our kids.

This year we booked for a week later in Sept than last year and even though the cruise had not gone on "sale" mode we got a cheaper rate than last year!

It's not easy finding a room at the shore for less than 200-250 a night. Add in meals and entertainment--way more expensive than going to Bermuda via Zenith. However, we still love the shore!!

I've been reading so much about the condition of the Zenith, that I am begining to wonder if I made the right choice in traveling on her for our 30th anniversary. Does anyone have information about the condition of this cabin?

I have also been reading the local papers, www.theroyalgazette.com and www.bermudasun.org, the seems to be alot of trouble there lately.

Thanks for you help.

We just returned 7-22 from Bermuda on Zenith. Cabin 6046-very clean, excellently maintained throughout the day. Right by the elevators and never had noise. As far as trouble in Bermuda, three times there and never felt safer in my life! Took buses and ferries, toured sights, walked at night and never saw or had a problem. Have fun.

We would love to see your pictures. We sail on the Zenith August 5th and my folks are sailing for the first time. Thankyou in advance.

Peace, Anna:)

1goochie@cogeco.ca

We thoroughly enjoyed Zenith.

Here is a very detailed review of Zenith to Bermuda. We were there for a week. We stopped in Hamilton and St. George. Hints and tips about the ship, island transportation, beaches, caves, forts and sea glass. http://www.lavasurfer.com/info/bermuda.html

Enjoy your trip.