Review of June 22, 2012 Millennium

[cinderellen]

Will post on the review board but thought I'd share here first. A little history on us. We are early 50’s from the Chicago area. We began cruising 7 years ago on the Millennium. This was my 11th cruise, my husband’s 10th and our 9th on Celebrity. We traveled with another couple from Illinois who have cruised on Princess and Disney. This was their first Celebrity cruise but their 3rd time to Alaska (our first). We chose the Cruise Tour #1, Fairbanks to Seward and a 7 night Southbound cruise on the Millennium, Seward to Vancouver.

 

As there are limited flights from Chicago to Fairbanks, we opted to fly in the day before and spent an additional night at Pikes Lodge. We landed at about 1:00 a.m. Fairbanks time, 4:00 a.m. Chicago time. It was warm and sunny. A little weird.

 

Needless to say we didn’t sleep much the first day. Pikes Lodge is very pretty and homey. The rooms a little dated but comfortable enough. We took the shuttle to the downtown area and did some sightseeing and stopped at the Fudge Pot for lunch. Very good. We took the shuttle back to the hotel as we were to meet with our tour guide at 3:00. The one criticism I would have in doing this type of vacation is although you leave home with every bit of information you need for your cruise, there was very little information about the land cruise portion. We met Patricia, our guide and she was able to answer all of our questions. All I can say is that Royal Celebrity Cruise Tours hires top-notch people. She and our driver, Jeremy, made this experience so special. The rest of the evening was spent getting to know fellow cruisers, having dinner at Pikes Landing (next door) and finally getting some rest.

 

The first day we went on the Riverboat Discovery Tour (fabulous) and spent a little time in downtown Fairbanks. We boarded a beautiful motor coach and made our way to Denali National Park. We stayed the next two nights at the McKinley Village Lodge. We were fortunate to be in their brand new building which was beautiful and a step up from Pikes. Super comfortable beds, free laundry, amazing views and a lovely deck to sit out on and have cocktails in the evening (even though it was still light out). My husband signed up to do a flyover of Mt. McKinley this evening. It was something he will never forget.

 

The next day we were spending the day at Denali National Park. Although they provide water and a snack, they encourage you to bring a lunch with you. At this point, you’re a captive audience so the only option is a bag lunch from the Starbuck’s in the lobby. Although it’s very convenient, $15.95 for a sandwich, bottle of water and piece of fruit seemed like highway robbery to me. The 8 hours or so we spent in Denali was beautiful but maybe a little long on a re-furbed school bus. We saw caribou, bears and Dahl sheep. Amazing.

 

In the morning we left Denali for Anchorage. A wonderful drive which included a stop to see Mt. McKinley in all its glory. Beautiful. Arrived in Anchorage and had a nice dinner at an Irish pub before retiring to the Marriott.

 

The next morning we left for Seward by way of the Wilderness Express. Patricia had told us this would be the highlight of the trip and it did not disappoint. The glass domed Royal Celebrity car was outstanding. Huge comfortable seats, amazing views, bar service, wonderful breakfast. Again, top-notch. I think the common opinion was that if it was possible to get back on the train and ride it again, we would do it. Now that we were in Seward, it would be a couple hours before we could get on the Millennium. We went to the Seal Life center and walked around a bit downtown. After a very short drive we were at the ship terminal.

 

Check in was very quick. As I mentioned, this was our friend’s first Celebrity cruise. We were excited to find they were extended the same “Elite perks” as us. We were escorted to our rooms by officers. Our room 9038 and their room 9040 were on the 9th floor directly under the spa area. Really nice location and very quiet. Our stateroom attendant, Laurence and his assistant Pablo, were outstanding. The rooms were well appointed with tons of storage (unlike the Solstice class ships). The bathrooms were remodeled to include the new shower panel and new doors (yes, they leak). The bedding was new and very comfortable.

 

The refurbishment of the ship is in general very nice. Yes, there are areas that need some attention but you do need to look for them. The only thing I really didn’t like was the way they chopped off part of Cosmos for the kids club. It seems a little disjointed.

 

As we were in Aqua class, we ate in Blu. Joval, the Maitre de was very good as were our servers Milan and Juan Carlos and Sommelier, Red. We had read on CC to ask about the Chef’s table on the first night and so we did. The second night, the Food and Beverage Manager, Oswald Harbrecht (great guy) stopped at our table and we discussed the Chef’s table. As no one else had signed up, he arranged for us to have dinner in the wine cellar of the Olympic. It was pretty amazing. The food and service in Blu was impeccable. We never made it to the Bistro on Five but did enjoy Café al Bacio several times. The Ocean View Café was similar in setup and food selection to other ships. No complaints. We did frequent the grill outside for the best hotdogs and fries on a ship. A big shout out to Kean, our favorite bar server at the Sunset bar.

 

We did attend the Elite breakfast in the Olympic a couple times and it was very nice. In addition, the Elite cocktail hour that was held in Michael’s club was well attended but never too crowded.

 

I need to mention that the Captain’s Club hostess, Juliana Charles, was one of the best we’ve had. She was friendly and helpful and it was a pleasure to meet her.

 

We did dine with Sheldon Thompson, the Hotel Director on the second formal night. We’ve met him before and it was a wonderful evening.

 

The officers on this ship were very personable and stopped to chat with us at the Martini Bar in the evenings. Koray Savas, the Bar Manager was a hoot. Speaking of martinis, Wid was very entertaining and no, I don’t recall any intrusive music there. Although we were drinking martinis so maybe I just don’t remember. The premium beverage packages were a good investment.

 

My husband did have a massage and said it was the best he’s ever had on a cruise.

 

Cruising through Hubbard Glacier was spectacular. We did need to put our down vests over our fleeces while we were on the upper deck. The pool butlers brought blankets and had hot chocolate with Bailey’s. Not a bad way to spend a day. We did eventually meet our friends in the comfort of Cosmos where the view was just as good.

 

In Juneau we had arranged for a whale watching excursion with Harv and Marv’s Outback Alaska. Outstanding! The highlight was a Mom with her baby who was playing with the sea lions. So cool!

 

The White Pass Railway tour in Skagway was also through Celebrity and pretty amazing. We dropped some hikers off at a stop, which you can arrange to do in advance, only to see a bear about 20 feet from the tracks a couple seconds later. Yikes. One glitch was that my husband woke up ill during the night and could not go on the excursion. I went down to the desk at 7:00 and turned in his ticket. I know there are times people are put on a waiting list. After several days of playing phone tag with the Shore Excursion desk and Captain’s Club hostess, I was told I would be refunded the $225.00 when I turned in the ticket. They didn’t seem to get that I already had. We let it go. Certainly not anything worth losing sleep over but it would have been nice to get it resolved.

 

Icy Strait Point found us at a cooking experience through Celebrity. We’ve done a couple of these excursions before and this was just as good. Our chef prepared 3 samples of salmon dishes and then filleted a salmon and halibut which we seasoned and cooked ourselves outside on a large grill. Afterwards we took a shuttle to the town of Hoonah where we met our drivers’ Mom, Grandma and Son. Do go if you have a chance and ask the locals anything. It was a very charming town of about 700.

 

Our weather was nothing short of amazing. The only day of rain to mention was in Ketchikan where it poured buckets. We jumped off the ship to pick up some souvenirs and came right back. It was pretty but not worth getting soaked.

 

This was a trip of a lifetime. Celebrity treated us and our friends like royalty and I’m pretty sure they have some new repeat customers.

[mahdnc]

Very nice write up and it was good to hear that you enjoyed your cruise.

[TeaBag]

Sounds like you had an amazing time. That's the way every cruise should be. Thank you for your excellent review.

[Phxazzcruisers]

Thanks for the review. I must agree 100% and give an extra shootout to Joval, one of the very best maitre de's ever and Julianna, the best CC hostess !!!

[portofrome]

Thanks for your review.

[emcee207]

Wow, sounds like an awesome time, didn't know you were doing a land portion prior to the cruise. Very nice review, LN but "in our early fifties" ??!! C'Mon Man!!!;)

 

your buddy,

 

Luigi oh yeah and Margo Grigio also:D

[Patrick IL.]

Wow, sounds like an awesome time, didn't know you were doing a land portion prior to the cruise. Very nice review, LN but "in our early fifties" ??!! C'Mon Man!!!;)

 

your buddy,

 

Luigi oh yeah and Margo Grigio also:D

But we are in our lower 50s!

[tampacrew]

Glad you enjoyed it, haven't been on this ship myself, but now I might consider doing the same cruise you did!

[sallywingate]

Thank you so much for the great review. We will be on the Millie in 3 weeks doing the northbound in Alaska. Your review certainly got us excited to read what we are going to be experiencing.

[CruisinNole]

We were on the same cruise and land tour #1. Agree 100% with your review. The weather was terrific.

[vivavegas]

Sounds like you really enjoyed your cruise! Thanks for your review!:)

[phoenix_dream]

Nice review. Of all the Captains Club hosts I have had, the only one that really sticks in my mind is Juliana. She was awesome! Some are better than others, but she was the only one in all of our 20 Celebrity cruises who really made us feel like one of the family. On a recent cruise, I swear the main job of the host was to stand guard at Michaels Club to make sure no one who was not Elite got in. Now, I do think they need to maintain the integrity of the event so to speak, but he never, ever mingled with the guests until the very end of the cruise (tip time??? oh come on, am I being too cynical??). Anyway.....Juliana is wonderful and I hope to sail with her again soon.

[CodyGeorge]

Cinderellen - thank you for the great review. We are leaving for a southbound cruise on the Millennium in a few weeks and your review has me more excited than ever. I have a few questions and would appreciate any response. What evenings are the formal nights? I am not sure what type of stateroom you had, but is it true that the formal nights on Alaskan cruises and "less formal"? We are in an Aqua class stateroom and understand that the dress code is smart casual, even on formal nights. Did you find this to be true? Were there any days where a brunch was served in the main dining room? Lastly, do you have any restaurant recommendations or hints for the land tour portion (we will be in Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali, and Alyeska)? Thank you for any input you may give.

 

Larry

[sallywingate]

Cinderellen - thank you for the great review. We are leaving for a southbound cruise on the Millennium in a few weeks and your review has me more excited than ever. I have a few questions and would appreciate any response. What evenings are the formal nights? I am not sure what type of stateroom you had, but is it true that the formal nights on Alaskan cruises and "less formal"? We are in an Aqua class stateroom and understand that the dress code is smart casual, even on formal nights. Did you find this to be true? Were there any days where a brunch was served in the main dining room? Lastly, do you have any restaurant recommendations or hints for the land tour portion (we will be in Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali, and Alyeska)? Thank you for any input you may give.

 

Larry

 

Hi Larry

We will be doing the northbound Alaska at the end of July 2012. We are also in Aqua and am assuming from what I have read that Alaska is less formal. We will be following s.it as to what CC members have discussed about the attire at dinner

We will adventuring out on our own after the cruise by taking a first time RV trip from Anchorage to Denali with three nights in Talkeetna and 6 nights in the Denali National Park. We are booked at the Cabin Nite Dinner Theatre in Denali. It is a delicious buffet along with a theatre play. We have the tour Saver Coupon book which we have been able to take advantage of on certain events. Usually a two for one. In Talkeetna, the Roadhouse is the place to try in that area.

 

Your first day at sea will most likely be your first formal night. Don't know about the other one.

 

Hope this helps. and have fun!!

[tallcva3344]

Thank you so much for the great review. We will be on the Millie in 3 weeks doing the northbound in Alaska. Your review certainly got us excited to read what we are going to be experiencing.

 

Yes, that was a very positive review. We are on the northbound then southbound B2B in a little over 4 weeks. Sounds like they just took it easy and played it by ear. Our main reason is to get out of the hot!!!! It was just booked last week. 100 again tomorrow in Charlotte. H

[tallcva3344]

We were on the same cruise and land tour #1. Agree 100% with your review. The weather was terrific.

 

The weather is a coin toss as I understand it. But we are planning about 6 tours. Our friehnds that have gone, told us to wing it. I can do that in the caribbean. I was hoping to get familiar with the tours going nothtbound then finalize toup plans whether it be to add or cancel some. H

[PathfinderEss]

Enjoyed your review, glad you had a good time.

[Keith1010]

I enjoyed your very well written review.

 

Keith

[C 2 C]

Thanks for writing such a detailed review.

Do you perhaps still have your "In the Spotlight" with the names of the captain and cruise director and perhaps the executive chef as well?

[gymjudge55]

Cinderellen - thank you for the great review. We are leaving for a southbound cruise on the Millennium in a few weeks and your review has me more excited than ever. I have a few questions and would appreciate any response. What evenings are the formal nights? I am not sure what type of stateroom you had, but is it true that the formal nights on Alaskan cruises and "less formal"? We are in an Aqua class stateroom and understand that the dress code is smart casual, even on formal nights. Did you find this to be true? Were there any days where a brunch was served in the main dining room? Lastly, do you have any restaurant recommendations or hints for the land tour portion (we will be in Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali, and Alyeska)? Thank you for any input you may give.

 

Larry

 

Sounds like we are on the same cruisetour. I would love to have more information about the tour portion. We are also in Aqua on Deck 11. We are not planning on bringing any formal clothes, just button down shirts and dress slacks for the guys on "formal" nights and polos the rest of the week. I would be interested to know about the brunch also, I assume it's on the last sea day.

The one restaurant recommendation I have heard is the Seven Glaciers in Aleyska.

[cinderellen]

Cinderellen - thank you for the great review. We are leaving for a southbound cruise on the Millennium in a few weeks and your review has me more excited than ever. I have a few questions and would appreciate any response. What evenings are the formal nights? I am not sure what type of stateroom you had, but is it true that the formal nights on Alaskan cruises and "less formal"? We are in an Aqua class stateroom and understand that the dress code is smart casual, even on formal nights. Did you find this to be true? Were there any days where a brunch was served in the main dining room? Lastly, do you have any restaurant recommendations or hints for the land tour portion (we will be in Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali, and Alyeska)? Thank you for any input you may give.

 

Larry

 

Good Morning Larry,

We were in Aqua class also and although it is smart casual in Blu on formal nights, you will see a mix of tuxedos, suits, jackets and sport shirts. My husband and our friend had tuxes and did not feel out of place. The formal nights on our cruise were the first full day (Saturday) when cruising through Hubbard Glacier and the following Wednesday when we stopped at Ketchikan. As far as recommendations for dining, of your stops the only one we did was Denali. We took a shuttle to the downtown area and it dropped us at the Chalet which as I understand is owned by the same people who own the McKinley Village Lodge which is where we stayed. We ate in their restaurant and it was outstanding. There was a brunch in the MDR on the last sea day (inside passage cruising). Hope you enjoy your trip. I'll look forward to hearing about it.

Ellen

[cinderellen]

Thanks for writing such a detailed review.

Do you perhaps still have your "In the Spotlight" with the names of the captain and cruise director and perhaps the executive chef as well?

 

The captain was Zisis Taramas and the cruise director was Caissie Stafford. Executive Chef was Jason Banyon. I knew there was a reason I kept the "In the Spotlight"!

Ellen

[C 2 C]

The captain was Zisis Taramas and the cruise director was Caissie Stafford. Executive Chef was Jason Banyon. I knew there was a reason I kept the "In the Spotlight"!

Ellen

 

Thanks Ellen :D

[emerald29]

Thank you so much for taking the time with this review. I appreciate all of it since we are leaving on July 14 for a six day land tour then southbound in aquaclass. When exactly were the formal nights? Thank you in advance.

Sylvia and Jeff

[emcee207]

Didja win any dancing queen medals?????:D