NEW to CELEBRITY Not new to cruising, tell me everything

[rucruizin]

I just booked our first Celebrity cruise. Can you tell me what to expect? All the raves please.

 

We love to cruise, we are active, but also like to realx and be pampered.

 

We are/will be early 40's, how will we fit in? Is there dancing, and entertainment that will suit us?

 

I'm really excited! Thanks in advance for all your help.

 

Here we are...from one extreme to the other!

 

Formal Night

 

Sailing with our friend Elvis in St Kitts

[Leela]

We are/will be early 40's, how will we fit in?

It depends on the itinerary and time of year you are sailing. In my experience, though, you will be toward the younger end but DEFINITELY not so unique that you'd be out of place. In fact, depending on the itinerary and time of year, you may find lots of other couples in your age group sailing.

 

Is there dancing,

Yes, every night before and after dinner! Plus there's a nightclub that plays DJ style music. Plus there are theme parties in the various lounges and on the pool deck (different things for different nights). In the course of a cruise there's a good chance you will find something you like!

 

and entertainment that will suit us?

Well, that's a personal taste question. For instance, I hate the "production" shows and think they are horrifically cheezy. But another gentleman I know loves them and complained that there weren't enough of them on the 2-week cruise I just took. However, that same cruise had performances by three different classical musicians, which I thought were great and really appreciated. There were other things going on besides -- string quartets, a capella performances, a harpist, karaoke, a dance contest, movies in the cinema, movies in your cabin...I'm guessing that in the course of a cruise there's a good change you will find something you like!

[rucruizin]

Thank you,

 

that was a very fair assessment. Anyone else?

[rebeccalouise]

You will absolutely fit in!

I am 42 (yesterday was my b-day) and have sailed Celebrity five times. It is my favorite line and I have two more cruises scheduled on the Millenium (7/24/07 Med. and 3/23/08 Caribbean)- that's how much I like it!

 

You will come away feeling relaxed and pampered and wanting more!

 

I ballroom dance- so I was hanging out with the older passengers in the Rendevous Lounge before dinner and then with younger passengers after dinner in the same place.

 

There is also a Disco but I only went there once or twice. So can't attest to the fact that it is action packed at night. My tablemates have always been my age and they loved Celebrity also.

Have a wonderful time!:)

[momofmeg]

I checked you priofile an dI see you have sailed Carnival, RCI, and Princess.

 

Now I have done only one Celebrity cruise so far but I feel Celebrity is more like Princess in age or PAX but more upscale then Princess-little things like there are helpers in the lido to carry your tray and seat you-you are offered a drink upon boarding and escorted to your stateroom and the steward leaves you ice water in your stateroom without your requesting him to do this.

 

Just little nicities like that-but they mean alot.

[chessbriar]

It will be comparable to your Holland America experience. Just a younger crowd

[momofmeg]

It will be comparable to your Holland America experience. Just a younger crowd

 

So better! My guess is the average Celebrity age would be 45-50 instead of 65-70 like HAL!

[6502programmer]

I ballroom dance- so I was hanging out with the older passengers in the Rendevous Lounge before dinner and then with younger passengers after dinner in the same place.

 

Can you tell me a little bit about the dancing? We're both into ballroom, latin, and swing, and are looking forward to dancing on our cruise (it was one of the BIG reasons we went with Celebrity). I'm interested in venues, crowds, and types of music that you may have experienced on M class ships in Alaska. Thanks!

[rucruizin]

Very COOL!

 

Thanks for all your replies...

 

I'm not really worried about anything, we are pretty diverse. The main thing I didn't like about HAL was, there was NO good dance music ANYWHERE. It was definately geared towards the older generations. Thank goodness for my MP3:D I danced a lot to the music that no one else could hear.

 

But we can hang with any age group and have a good time.

 

I am so looking forward to the pampering, high class service you all have been talking about.

 

Does anyone have menu's posted anywhere? Tell me a little about the room service menu, is it??? I can't think of the term I'm looking for... Well, say on Carnival...it's pretty much just continental breakfast, basic sandwiches. Princess and HAL both had pretty decent offereings. Ok, there we go, offererings how about the room service offerings?:)

[Lois R]

Hi, music varies but every cruise I have been on there are always

people dancing in the lounges located forward of the Dining room.

(Everything is forward of the Dining Room;) ). The Rende-Veux

Lounge usually has a duo or quartet that plays every night

and I have seen plenty of couples dancing. When you enter or leave

the dining room you will pass through this lounge on Deck 6....yes it is 6.

 

The DJ is in the Navigator Lounge on Mercury and what he

plays is dependent on the crowd. It is located all the way forward

on the ship.....upstairs and is the disco at night.

I was on Mercury in March and some evenings the disco was quite busy

while other nights not so much. The DJ (in my opinion) was pretty good...

the dance floor was crowded more often than not...and even when it wasn't

I enjoy that lounge.

 

As for room service, in 11 cruises I have never used it:eek: but from

everything I know about it, you can order whatever you want.

I know for a fact it is more than continental breakfast. You want

bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, oatmeal, bagels and lox? You

can order it all:)

[bobbyleduck]

I won't try to reinvent the wheel here. See my review of our recent Panama Canal cruise aboard Infinity at:

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=28065

 

The bottom line is this: I think you'll find plenty to enjoy on your cruise, and enough people that you'll enjoy meeting.

 

We never used room services, but from what I understand the entire evening menu from the dining room is available during dinner hours.

 

Whatever you do, don't miss the waffles (7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. aft on deck 10 of the Millennium Class ships).

 

Bob

[rebeccalouise]

Can you tell me a little bit about the dancing? We're both into ballroom, latin, and swing, and are looking forward to dancing on our cruise (it was one of the BIG reasons we went with Celebrity). I'm interested in venues, crowds, and types of music that you may have experienced on M class ships in Alaska. Thanks!

 

At the Rendevous Lounge you will see lots of couples waltzing, fot trotting and cha- chaing. No samba or salsa. But it is really fun. The dance floor isn't huge but big enough to have five couples dancing in simulateously. I had a wonderful time. I was traveling solo and went to the ballroom dance lessons (very beginner lessons of course) and met the two dance hosts on board. I made sure to meet up with them every nite in the Rendevous lounge. It was great- between the two of them I danced every dance and really improved my waltz and cha cha! I was on the Constellation but I am sure it is the same on every ship.

[Leela]

Tell me a little about the room service menu, is it???

The standard room service menu has pretty basic stuff on it: hamburger, pizza, a very good club sandwich, a chicken breast sandwich, salads, 4-cheese lasagne, minute steak, cheesecake, something called the chocolate caramel seduction which is awesome, cheese plate, fruit plate. That's all I can recall off the top of my head. If it is regular meal hours in the main restaurant, you can also order off that meal's menu (just ask when you call, or ask your cabin steward).

 

There are three different "pre-order" breakfast menus, depending on if you are in are booked into a regular cabin, a concierge cabin, or a suite. Regardless, you can still ask for what you want, and if they can get it to you they will. I've had french toast fingers, blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs, cold cereal, yogurt and fruit, croissants, salmon and bagels, danish, OJ, cranberry juice, tomato juice, and omelettes delivered for breakfast (not all at the same meal!!!).

[newmexicoNita]

here is my assessment of Celebrity: It isn't quite HAL, we really felt HAL offered better food, larger cabins (quite a bit larger) and a little more professional service, but this isn't to put Celebrity down. The average age for Celebrity cruisers is 54 compared to 59 for HAL> Again, we all know you can do what you want with the word "average" Celebrity will not offer nearly as much night time fun as Carnival but will offer night time activities, dancing and late night comedy. I think you will have a great time, especially if you like to relax. I have clients younger than you who put Celebrity at the top of their list or near the top. Very rarely do you get complaints. Be prepared to have a good time. Every line offers what you are looking for, just some offer a little more than others. NMnita

[Lois R]

Hi Nita, nice to see you again:) its funny how we all have different

experiences.

My one HAL cruise had less than professional service. My cabin

was no better or worse than on Celebrity either.

Where your opinion is "Celebrity isn't quite HAL", I have no

desire to sail HAL again.

Its good there are choices for all of us:D

[iramack]

I just viewed your photos.

 

I would say that you are pretty classic looking cruiser types.

I dont understand the fear of not "fitting in" on Celebrity. It's a nice mass market cruise line. Not Seabourne, or Crystal, etc.

 

Just go and have a nice time, and enjoy being in your "early 40's" !! LOL

[6502programmer]

met the two dance hosts on board

 

Was this on an Alaskan itinerary that there were dance hosts on board? Thanks for all your valuable information! While I understand most ships have some form of ballroom, it's nice to get insight from someone who's been on the same line and itinerary.

[Janet Foster]

After being on Carnival, RCCL and Princess.. we have to say we liked Celebrity the best so far.

 

What type of cabin did you get? Don't know if I missed that or not. We had a Sky Suite and it made all the difference to us. We are looking to get back to Celebrity.

[rebeccalouise]

Speak for yourself. I am not a travel agent. I am not a stockholder and do travel other lines. I have done NCL (4), Princess (3), Holland America (2) Costa (1) Disney (1) Royal Caribbean (2) and Celebrity (5) and Oceania (1). I have had great experiences on Celebrity and want to share my experiences. All have been postitive- otherwise why would I continue to sail Celebrity. Its not like they offer a good repeat passenger program. In fact, they don't. But they product has exceeding my expectations each time.

 

If you have had a problem- feel free to share but don't lump everyone on these boards as somehow being a biased "cheerleader". I am just a happy cruiser!:)

[rebeccalouise]

Was this on an Alaskan itinerary that there were dance hosts on board? Thanks for all your valuable information! While I understand most ships have some form of ballroom, it's nice to get insight from someone who's been on the same line and itinerary.

I was on the Constellation 10 night cruise out of Cape Liberty NJ. There were two dance hosts. One from upstate NY and one from England. I don't know if they still offer dance hosts- but I hope they do. It was great dancing with men that know how, without feeling like you were getting picked up. These guys were great. John and Ken if you are out there- thanks for the memories!

[6502programmer]

I was on the Constellation 10 night cruise out of Cape Liberty NJ.

 

My understanding is that Celebrity and HAL only staff with hosts on sailings of longer than 10 days. I know a guy who does the dance host thing all the time, and he says he loves doing it. Easy to understand why, getting to cruise, dance, and pay a pittance for the privilege.

[Janet Foster]

Am I missing something????

[Lois R]

I have sailed 11 times on Celebrity in the last 4 years and

have never been on cruise with a Dance Host.

I will say all the cruises have been 5, 6, 7 or 8 nights so maybe

they are only on 10 nights or longer.

 

I think the previous poster meant they get to sail for free and

get to dance. I hope that is what was meant:eek:

[rebeccalouise]

My understanding is that air is not included. They get the cruise for free and if they buy a lady a drink- the cruise line reimburses them for that kind of thing. John and Ken really enjoy doing it. I rewarded them for their trouble with bottles of cologne that I gave each of them as a thank you. They said NO ONE has ever done anything like that for them in the past. I think that it is a great service provided to single ladies who love to dance and don't have a partner. I think that they would feel funny getting tips but little gifts are a nice gesture that I am sure is appreciated.

[6502programmer]

Pete never related any tales of gifts, but considering the natural charm he's got, it wouldn't surprise me if he's received a few. He did tell me about a time on a Cunard ship where there was one particularly attractive young lady utilizing the services of the dance hosts. While the rules of being a dance host preclude excessive fraternization or showing favoritism towards any one guest, they were all falling all over themselves to get to dance with her. :)

 

Air is not included, and they do have to pay a small amount, somewhere in the neighborhood of $20 per day. Like I said though, to have the opportunity to sail by day and dance all night for just $20 per day seems like a bargain to me.