Back from Millie Feb 13 - 20

[Kathy & George]

Home now after a wonderful week of great food and great service. Did notice some differences between m-class and c-class, some good some less good. Loved the T-pool, spa and Olympic. Welcome aboard (we got there around noon) was not as grand an affair...champagne in short supply, only one wait-staff to distribute and she was not there for all passengers. Buffet areas had very few waiters to take your tray to your table and coffee servers in the buffet areas was non existant. Clean ship with beautiful private retreats hidden all over the ship. The clearing for immigration was very smooth...no lines, quick and efficient. Skip the wine auction at sea...they were very pushy and almost yelling when they did not receive bids. The wine blending offered for select & elite was wonderful, held in the Olympic and was very informative. Shows were fantastic, commedian was hilarious. Service in dining room at dinner was exceptional, however at open seating it was a bit slow. Bar service and casino service was great. There was a medical emergency that cut our Casa De Campo day short, but thankfully the passenger was air-lifted near Bahamas and was reported to be in stable condition at the hospital ashore. Weather could not have been nicer. not too hot and no rain during the day! Booked again for April 16, 2006 can't wait to go again.

[mari10]

Hi Kathy and George,

Happy to hear that you had a good time. We're leaving in 5 days and was hoping to hear a good report.

You mentioned the Olympic. We are booked there on Tuesday night. How was the menu? Have been reading conflicting reports about the wine menu vs the standard menu.

Last year on the Infinity, except for the boarding lunch, we never used the buffet, so I won't be able to compare.

 

Mari

[Desertbelle]

Every time someone mentions the Millennium my heart does a little pitter patter...I am getting so excited and we still have 4 months. :)

 

It's great to hear you had a wonderful time and that the Millennium is in as fine of shape as always. Even though my last cruise was only 3 months ago, it seems like forever, and I can't wait to get back to my favorite activity......cruising!!

 

Thanks Kathy and George for my heart jump-start this morning!! :)

[Kathy & George]

Regarding the Olympic menu... We did the standard menu due to the fact that we brought our own bordeaux wine. The head Matre D' knew we would not be interested in the optional wine with dinner menu. We took his suggestions for dinner & we were not disapointed. The goat cheese souffle is out of this world. The filet was magnificent - best steak I've ever had & the presentation and color lived up to it's magnificent display. We also did the surprise 6 desert plate....the creme brule' included in that plate is a real surprise and a heavenly way to end the meal. Lots of other little surprises included in the meal..well worth the indulgence. The optional wine list is very good and the service staff were very knowledgeable including the proper temperatures at which to serve your selections.

Enjoy, we'll be wishing we were there with you.

[ddl]

Kathy...

 

Thanks for the mini review. We will be boarding on 3/6/05.

 

How were you notified that your trip was to be cut short in CDC? I hope it was a head of time. If not, and you do an excursion on your own, how would you know? That's something to consider.

 

Dreaming of cruising, while I'm looking at 8" of snow...

 

Denise

[Ma Bell]

They usually can't notify you of a medical emergency ahead of time, can they?:confused:

[mferranti]

How were you notified that your trip was to be cut short in CDC? I hope it was a head of time.

We arrived at CDC late, we didn't leave early. I think we were told the evening before that the new arrival time would be 5 PM. We had planned do do the Catalina beach excursion, and our refund was credited to our shipboard account right away.

[Kathy & George]

That is right, we had to turn around to go back towards the Bahamian waters to get close enough for the helicopter to air-lift the passenger, which caused a delay in arriving at Casa De Campo. Sorry for the poor choice of words causing the confusion. We did get credited right away for the excursions that had to be cancelled as well. Still had a good time there and learned from the shuttle bus driver first hand about donkey polo - he said it was donkey hockey. I don't know if you could have contacted any private tour if you could not reach them by internet.

[passaporta]

Hi Kathy & George, we sail Sun on Millie, our lst sailing with Celebrity. You mentioned bringing your own wine onboard, I don't understand. Also, you mentioned beautiful private areas, can you share with me??? Thank you for the review. Suzanne

[Kathy & George]

You can bring your own wine and pay the corkage fee ($15.00per bottle) in either dining room. You send it with your cabin attendant (make sure you give them time to get it down there for dinner) marked with your table number and which seating you are at, I always include our cabin number as well, in case of a mix up. If you drink it in your cabin and you open it, there is no fee. Your not allowed to bring it on deck to drink. If you have a favorite it may be worth it to you to bring your own. They do have a nice selection of wines at fine restaurant prices. I usually buy about half of my wine from them and bring the rest. As for the private areas, they are quiet areas open to the public. The conservatory has a great little room with two lounge chairs on the upper floor...take the winding staircase to a small retreat area. Deck 8 has a very quiet Library, nicely furnished near the forward elevators. The spa area surrounding the T-pool has cussioned wooden deck chairs shielded from the main traffic pattern. The bar area in Michael's Club is seperated from the main lounge and is very intimate especially in the day time.

[passaporta]

Thank you Kathy & George for the info -- you guys are awesome.

 

We can't wait!!!

 

Suzanne

[mferranti]

Thank you Kathy & George for the info -- you guys are awesome.

We met Kathy & George on the Millie & they are indeed awesome—but I have to correct one thing: the library on the Millie is near the Main (midship) lobby, not forward.

[Kathy & George]

Thanks Mike, I need more time on board, I'm still lost like the first day, but I'll gladly do it again to get it right!

[mferranti]

Thanks Mike, I need more time on board, I'm still lost like the first day, but I'll gladly do it again to get it right!

Irene & I have spent more than a month on the M sisters now—we can almost navigate them blindfolded. ;)

[PeterandCori]

"How were you notified that your trip was to be cut short in CDC? I hope it was a head of time. If not, and you do an excursion on your own, how would you know? That's something to consider."

 

Well, the ship rapidly slowed down, the captain made a PA announcement and the following sorta clued us in:

 

 

 

And click here for video.

[Kathy & George]

Thanks for the photo Peter & Cory. We were not on deck & missed seeing the helicopter come into the ship area. Isn't it amazing that a ship can be so big that you aren't even aware when something that huge is happening. It truely is like being in a city at sea. I love cruising.

[Longboysfan]

Kathy...

 

Thanks for the mini review. We will be boarding on 3/6/05.

 

How were you notified that your trip was to be cut short in CDC? I hope it was a head of time. If not, and you do an excursion on your own, how would you know? That's something to consider.

 

Dreaming of cruising, while I'm looking at 8" of snow...

 

Denise

 

The Captain came on the speaker to inform us we were going back to the Bahamas.

The U.S. Coast Guard sent a helicopter to take the patient away.

We lost about 2 hours going back to the Bahamas into their fly range.

They did not land on the front of the ship - but dropped one person down and a carrier for him. They basket airlifted one of the nursing staff into the helicopter first. Then the patient then the Coast Guard person hooked up and was lifted back in. Was quite a show at sea.

 

I had asked some of the activities staff on board when we would arrive - 4 hours late. Most of the tours were cancelled. The Schuttle bus service was overwhelmed when we arrived with people just wanting to go into town to look around. The last person in the long lines did not get away till after 6:45pm. There were not enough busses to take everyone at one time. About the first 500 plus were sent to two different towns. Then as the first wave was finished the busses started to filter back to finish off those who remained. Some people took Taxis to town to avoid the crush.

 

Me - I just walked out and got some great pictures of the ship from the park next to it.

[lakelodge]

when in Casa de Campo, where do you dock? Is it at the charming Marina area? If not, is there anything to do "on your own"? thanks, Martha

[Kathy & George]

I believe the dock is called La Romana, there were two free shuttles that you could take to either Marina or Altos De Chavon. There were taxis available if you wanted to venture out to other locations. Our time on the island did not permit much more exploration, you may be able to find out more from other threads.

[tired of cold weather]

Hi Kathy & George,

It was really great to meet you at the CC get together. It's amazing how during 7 days you don't see each other again....

We loved our cruise, being our first I think we were very spoiled. Yes, it was unfortunate about missing some time in CDC but we decided to stay onboard and we enjoyed roaming the ship and getting our 'sea legs'. I posted a short review on a posting looking for feedback about the Millenium.

 

It is really hard sitting at my desk looking out at the snow after the beautiful weather we had! I can hardly wait to do it again ~ hopefully don't have to wait for another 5 years.

 

We would definitely get another cabin with a verandah. It was very tranquil sitting out in the evening, enjoying a glass of wine listening to the waves and watching the stars and moon ~ and other ships go by.

[badger71]

we are just back from the constellation and have booked millie for 2-19-06 one point of clarification re oceanliners and i suspect on millie as well is that if you have a table of moire than 2 then all at the table must have either the wine tasting menu or the 4 course one without the wine we had 8 in oceanlines and were not allowed to do it differently:)

[Kathy & George]

Hi Tired! We are missing the Millie too. I booked her again in April of next year and have also booked a Holland cruise in Aug. of this year. The snow here, just keeps on comming....we may have to move to a city closer to the ports to get away from all of this. There were several people we met and never saw again, due to the size and variety of activities on the ship. Just means we have to do it more often so that we can get to know our new friends better. My husband is a teacher and we found out the last day while on board the plane that one of his students had been on board all week and we never knew it. While on an excursion to the Everglades post cruise, we met one of his old high school classmates who had also sailed with us and had also sailed on the Galaxy the year before with us aboard and did not find one another until that excursion. Small World, Big Ship!

[firsttimecruisin]

Hi Kathy and George,

I see you went on the post cruise excursion to the everglades. We also booked that excursion for the end of April since our plane does not leave until late afternoon that Sunday. How did you like it? Is there anything in particular we should be prepared for-ie clothes, bug spray and such? Thanks for the info.

Kathy and Keith

[tired of cold weather]

Hi Tired! We are missing the Millie too. I booked her again in April of next year and have also booked a Holland cruise in Aug. of this year. The snow here, just keeps on comming....we may have to move to a city closer to the ports to get away from all of this. There were several people we met and never saw again, due to the size and variety of activities on the ship. Just means we have to do it more often so that we can get to know our new friends better. My husband is a teacher and we found out the last day while on board the plane that one of his students had been on board all week and we never knew it. While on an excursion to the Everglades post cruise, we met one of his old high school classmates who had also sailed with us and had also sailed on the Galaxy the year before with us aboard and did not find one another until that excursion. Small World, Big Ship!

 

Yes, I am a secretary with the Board of Education in London, Ontario and there was another secretary with the Board on the Millennium at the same time. I only saw her once and asked her if she was Canadian 'cause I saw her "tim horton's" mug. She said she was from London and I couldn't believe what a small world.

 

Yes, the snow just keeps on coming. I tried to bribe the crew on board to drop the anchor outside of Nassau and just stay there for another week but they didn't seem interested (LOL). It is really hard to get back into the swing of things. I am finding that I am still a little dizzy and haven't completely got my land legs back. Perhaps it was 'cause I had a cold before I travelled and still had the remnants during the cruise. Anyways if I could get back to the cruise and the weather we had I'm sure I'd be much better.

 

Lucky you going on the Mille again! I am really going to save my money to do it again soon. I hope we see you again on our next trip ~ we'll have lots to talk about. I think that the 'cc get together may be better towards the end of the cruise and then we could compare notes.

 

Take care,

Brenda

[Kathy & George]

Hi Kathy and George,

I see you went on the post cruise excursion to the everglades. We also booked that excursion for the end of April since our plane does not leave until late afternoon that Sunday. How did you like it? Is there anything in particular we should be prepared for-ie clothes, bug spray and such? Thanks for the info.

Kathy and Keith

Bring extra ear protection! They give you ear plugs, but it is still very loud and many people complained of ear pain, I didn't know that that little drum in your ear could be felt beating out HELP. The overall experience was OK and we did see 3 gators in the wild. There is a walk through area at the site that has some local indian information and an area with caged animals including a Florida Panther and they also had a new cub that was adorable. The ride itself carries a busload of passengers and is swift. You may want to bring a wind breaker style jacket and forget about Hair...it will never be the same. There are a lot of busses that stop there and it is a bit confusing as to where to meet your bus upon return, be sure to check in with your tour host for info. The Gator exhibit sports a guide with a real RED NECK attitude (former Gator Wrestler). There is a small shop for souveniers and a place you can get a lunch meal or snacks - Hot Dogs etc. Over-all I would not do it again, but I'm glad I have the experience to say I did it once.