The Best of Cruise Critic: Celebrity Eclipse…The Definitive Review With Photos Part 1

Finally found time to jot down some thoughts about our recent cruise on Celebrity Eclipse. So, find a comfortable seat...it's a long review with photos. Enjoy!

The Best of Cruise Critic:

Celebrity Eclipse…The Definitive Review With Photos

One of the best things about Cruise Critic

is how remarkably it enhanced our ability to find the quintessential cruise consistent with some high expectations. As well, Cruise Critic helped to foster a few really congenial new friendships along the way. This review will tell you how Cruise Critic helped with the inside info we needed to pick the right cruise. Cruise Critic also provided the introductions to making some delightful new friends both before and during the cruise...all of which made for a great cruise experience.

We’re just returned from a few weeks of fun in the sun aboard Celebrity Eclipse on her Canary Island itinerary from June 1-12, 2010 and wanted to share some insights with you about this superb vessel. We are two from St. Louis and have sailed most of the major cruise lines over the years and without a doubt, Celebrity Eclipse was the most superlative cruise we have ever experienced…just about every aspect of this trip was brilliant and we do not make that statement casually. We’ll also tell you about some of the minor things that could be fine-tuned, but overall this cruise gets our highest ratings of any of the many dozens of cruises we have been on.

We arrived in Southampton the day prior to embarkation and had a relaxing afternoon in this historic seaport city doing a self-walking tour along the Titanic memorial trail...definitely recommended for those interested in the historical connection between Southampton and RMS Titanic. More details can be found by googling Titanic Trail Southampton.

Next morning, we arrived by taxi at the Southampton City Cruise Terminal. Check-in was efficient but there was a delay boarding as Celebrity was using Eclipse's onboard single-entry point to take individual identification photos of every embarking passenger. This slowed the queue of hundreds of passengers down to a virtual snail's pace. If Celebrity is going to be using Southampton as a departure point for the foreseeable future, installing digital photo ID equipment inside the terminal would significantly help to streamline this part of the embarkation process.

Otherwise, we were onboard around noon and were just stunned by the visual beauty of Celebrity Eclipse. It is difficult to put into words just how exquisite this magnificent vessel is. Everywhere were tranquil colors and fine art works with beautiful public spaces accentuated by elegant furnishings...it was simply breath-taking! We spent some time marveling at the atrium and the various gathering spots around the center of the ship. Bars, shops, lounges are all within close proximity and the ship just has a nice fluid feel to how all of these venues flow together. Even the library was a work of art !

The food quality in the buffet was generally superior to what we have found on other cruise lines. We meandered up to the Oceanview Cafe on deck 12 and were impressed by the spaciousness of the buffet and the tasteful presentation of appetizing food at a large variety of serving stations. Rather than the standard grazing herds being corralled together to feed (as is often the case in other mass-market cruise ships), Celebrity has managed to give each buffet station a uniquely open feel and theme that kept queues short and moving...staff service in the buffet was quick, efficient and always with a genuine smile. As this particular cruise was popular with a mostly older demographic of British cruisers who favored traditional lunch and tea times, the busiest time in the buffet seemed to be mid-day and finding a vacant table was occasionally challenging. However, in the best seafaring spirit of British tradition, people would universally offer to share their table space with a couple of friendly Yanks, and we were delighted in turn to get to meet many new friends unexpectedly while dining in the buffet.

An announcement was made that the cabins were ready for passengers at around 1:30PM. The cabins were fairly comfortable and nicely equipped...finishing materials were generally better than those found on other ships. The use of contours throughout the cabin gave it a pleasant rounded feel. Bedding was excellent with high quality sheets and duvets. The clothing closet was spacious enough although drawer space was definitely at a premium for just the two of us. There were two large storage cupboards over the bed which easily handled the extra clothes. The bath was among the largest we have found in most veranda-class cabins. The shower had a nice residential rounded glass enclosure and glass tiles gave a finely finished touch to the area around the vessel sink. Glass cabinet doors complimented the bath but it was important to watch from striking your head on the sharp glass edge of the upper cabinet while accessing the lower cabinet. Another cruising friend had mentioned this caution after she split her head open with the same configuration on Celebrity Solstice. This issue can be easily resolved by installing clear rubber edge guards on these cabinets. Otherwise, the cabin was superior in every aspect and special kudos for the outstanding large plasma flat-screen TV which provided a wide range of entertainment and access to information on excursions, dining and activities. Very well done indeed. Our cabin attendants, Alfredo and Ricardo were great...personable, efficient and always with a beaming smile. They kept the cabin immaculate and they did it invisibly. We thought that the laundry service was a bit over the top charging $82 for laundry by the piece. Celebrity needs to reinstitute their all-you-can-fit-in-one-bag laundry special for $20 that we have seen on other lines. Otherwise, all cabin services were excellent.

Smoking was a problem in the vicinity of our veranda cabin. We were located on the port side in veranda cabin 6243. The location was convenient in the aft hump of the ship. It was described as a “obstructed view” veranda although the lifeboats were located to the left and below the actual veranda, so the line-of-sight view to the sea and horizon was just fine. However, nowhere in Celebrity’s description of the cabin location did they mention that this block of cabins was located directly above on of the few outdoor designated smoking areas of the ship. As a result, the area directly under the veranda was constantly belching clouds of smoke and nicotine as the hundreds of smoking passengers migrated to this location all day and night. This functionally made the veranda useless as it was always encased in a smoky fog which would not dissipate even while the ship was underway due to the hump design of the ship. Even simply opening the veranda door slightly resulted in the cabin reeking of cigarette smoke for hours. Apparently this issue has been raised on some of the Cruise Critic threads previously but the magnitude of the problem wasn’t apparent until we actually encountered it.

To the credit of Celebrity’s excellent Guest Relations staff, the day after we discussed this issue with them, they were able to relocate us to veranda cabin 8172 on the non-smoking starboard side in an upgraded location. We subsequently enjoyed the veranda for the remainder of the cruise in the fresh ocean air. The port side designated smoking section of deck five probably needs to be permanently relocated to a section of the ship that will provide more ventilation such a stern deck area where it can be carried away rather than stagnating in the protected hump section of the vessel.

Also, on the subject of other designated smoking areas, the port side covered area of the main pool forward on deck 12 was another designated smoking area. Unfortunately, it is positioned directly in front of the automatic doors opening into the non-smoking Solarium indoor pool and its adjoining Aqua Spa Cafe. This configuration funneled the smoke inside the Solarium every time the doors would automatically open. This designated smoking section would be better positioned on the covered area on deck 14 port where it could be blown away by the ocean air rather than fumigating the interior of the Solarium. Oddly, there was also a designated smoking area by the starboard side bar forward above the pool area on deck 14. This should also be repositioned to the forward covered section of deck 14 to provide uniformity that the port side of the vessel is the smoking side. As well, the Sky Observation Lounge was a mixed-use venue for many events including evening dancing, karaoke, late-night drinks and snacks, and just watching the ocean during the day. Again, because it was heavily frequented by smoking passengers, the entire room permeated with smoke, hence it was useless to us during the entire cruise. Conversation with the staff indicated that our request to relocate the karaoke for one night to a non-smoking venue was difficult as the equipment was apparently not readily portable.

Overall, Celebrity seems to be trying to accommodate the needs of their smoking and non-smoking passengers...just requires a bit of fine-tuning to “clear the air” on some of these issues.

(Continued on the next posting...)

Kind thanks for your note !

Think you will really enjoy 8172...

excellent location, nice quiet area,

cabin staff top notch!!

The balcony was average size

but quite comfy for two

with room for a pair of

semi-lounge chairs.

Here's a look...

Celebrity is

unsurpassed for the

overall cruise experience.

If you need any more

info about Eclipse,

or Celebrity in general,

our Cruise Critic

friends Lisa and Andy

(CC Name: abbafan)

have done about a dozen

Celebrity cruises and they

have lots of photos of

their travels as well.

They actively post

information on Cruise Critic

all the time, so they may

be able to give you

some more insights.

You can find their

CC contact details

at

Cheers,

Gary & Carol