The Celebration Is Wonderful!!! Enjoy !!!

[MOMMY "J"]

:) This is just a quick review to anyone who is looking to sail on the Celebration out of Jacksonville...We just got back on 3/17 and had the time of our liVes...we went for my daughters 12th birthday leaving on 3/12...before we left we read alot of reviews that broke down the POOR LITTLE ship, food and staff (THE REVIEWS ARE WRONG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)... i have to say "any vacation is only going to be what you make it to be"...if you dont like spring breakers, dont travel during this time of the year...we have been on several other ships, but this ship was the best...the staff is wonderful and very laid back...the rooms and the boat are very clean...we did bring beer and liquor with no problem...getting off and on the boat was fast and very easy...i went with my husband, daughter and my best friend not expecting so many springbreakers...we danced, party, shopped, got sun, enjoyed the casino, drink and enjoy everything the boat had to offer...the food was just like every other cruise boat "NO big deal"...BUT try the prime rib, it was great...we never got sick like others before us or did we hear of anyone else getting sick other than drinking to much...there were mainly springbreakers on the boat but we joined in with them (it was fun being kids for a week, thats why they call carnival the "fun ship")...i rec'd the name "MOMMY J" by several of the college kids...the springbreakers and staff sung happy birthday to my daughter several times on the cruise...she was in heaven...the boat did "NOT" rock that much...I have been on bigger boats that rocked more than this one...the staff was always cleaning the boat day and night...for a 18 yr old boat, it is holding up great...the boat is just small enough to meet and talk to passagers and staff over and over again...i have been on several different vacations to the bahamas, jamaica, mexico and on other cruise liners and ships, but this boat and trip was one of the best...we took the booze cruise "yellow boat" with about 200 spring breakers in the bahamas...it was different, but fun...if you have already been to atlantis like we have save your money & skip it ... enjoy other things on the island...we went to the keys and had a great time...we have been there before also...if you go there, see the area on your own...bar and shop hop...wear GOOD shoes...there is alot of walking...

 

SO for those people who are looking to cruise on the celebration enjoy...treat the staff with respect and they will show you the same...make the best out of your trip...myself=mommy j (38 yr old business woman), my hubby=poppy j (34 yr old business man), my best friend (34 yr old business woman) and my daughter (12 yr old pre teen) hung out for 5 days with maybe 800 college kids and had the time of our lifes...remember the boat is a little small and of age, but it and its staff are wonderful to sail on and with...happy sailing from "mommy j":p

 

' THIS IS A NOTE OF THANKS TO THE CELEBRATION STAFF AND CRUISERS FROM 3/12 TIL 3/17 FOR HELPING MAKE MY DAUGHTER HAVE A UNFORGETTABLE BIRTHDAY':D

[kdickers]

Momma J

 

Thanks so much for the great review!!!! Since your DD is "about" the same age as mine (she will be 14 at cruise time) . . . how were the teen activities??

 

If you have any pictures I would LOVE to see them!!!!

 

Glad you enjoyed yourself now . . . start resting up and saving up for your next one!!!!

[sheree23]

See? There is nothing wrong with college kids! :-) Thanks for the great review. I'm glad you had such a great time. It's refreshing to hear someone talk in a positive way about those who like to have fun :-)

[MOMMY "J"]

there was not many kids on this boat...mostly s/breakers...most of the s/b were girls from the ages of 18 to 25...my daughter hung out with most of them...i did not worry to much about her due to there was not many guys around on this boat...the girls had her dancing, singing, involved in pool side games and laying in the sun...they were calling her their little adopted sister...i did keep an eye on her with them...the boat is small enough to do so...try to find when you go the pool side bar guy "YAN"...he had a great time hanging out with everyone...thanks mommy j

[Tashaf]

Thanks for the review. I'm saing on Celebration Sept 10th and it's nice to hear something nice for a change. Did you guys use the parking at the port? I know it it $10 a day but was wondering if they count it as 5 or 6 days? Were you guys by any chance ina qaud room?

[MOMMY "J"]

well, we knew it might be like that...so we made the best out of it...which ended up being a great trip...the s/breakers were on better behavior than some of the other passangers...thanks mommy j

[kdickers]

Ok . . . knowing what you know now (you know that hind sight is 20/20). . . what would you "recommond" for ppl about to sail . . . (i.e. cabin selection, food selection, which bars etc. which shows)

 

I want the good AND the bad . . . I'm just a tad OCD and want to know as much as possible before I board the ship!!! :p

[MOMMY "J"]

i do not know what a quad room is...we were in to different cabins next to each other on the empress deck...we did not park in the parking lot...we stayed at the holiday inn and had them bus us to the terminal...i believe you are charged any where you park by the day...we paid at the holiday in for 5 days...

 

trust me everyone "forget the past reviews about this ship...i am a VERY experienced crusier ...sometimes smaller is better and old is not so bad"...please, please remember to respect the crew...they work their asses off all the time on these boats months at a time not seeing or talking to their familys...yes by their own doing, but still be nice to them...i saw alot of people treat them poorly...if you are nice to them and talk with them they can give you pointers and serve you fast and friendly

[MOMMY "J"]

as for the shows, i do not like any shows of any kind, anywhere...i dont even go to the movies ...i can not sit that long...i did see the comedy show and my hubby liked it...if you can get on the empress deck near the stairs is the best area for the cabins...the cabins are the largest i have been in...rccl and norweign are much smaller...the food is like all cruise lines, no big deal there...we ate in the dinning room and made new friends we hung out with on the last day...they help us sing to my daughter...what made our trip so fun was talking to the crew, getting involved in the pool side games, dancing and just spenting a great time with good friends, family and new friends

[kdickers]

Since I'm just a little ol' country girl . . . I don't treat ppl any differently than I'd like to be treated myself . . . meeting other ppl from other parts of the country and world will be SO MUCH FUN . . . I can't wait!!

 

This experience will be wonderful for my DD also . . . as she'll get to meet and talk to all kinds of ppl from different areas.

 

My main problem is . . . my DH isn't necessarily as thrilled about this vacation as I am so . . . I'm trying to collect as much info as possible so he doesn't feel lost and left out for the first few days trying to orient himself. He too is a good ol' country boy and doesn't take very quickly to an new environment!!!!

[MOMMY "J"]

i am not very good with the quick ways of talking on this thing...so i am thinking DH means hubby...please and advise and i can tell you more on how to keep him happy

[kdickers]

Yes . . . Dh mean dear (or darling) husband

 

DW dear (darling wife

DD dear daughter

DS dear son

[MOMMY "J"]

well if he drinks take him alot of beer...we took alot for my hubby and he did fine...my hubby is a HUGe Duke basketball fan and it was killing him he could not see them when the acc tournment...but he lived ...the biggest thing is he got to look at 800 college girls in bathing suits for 5 days...we have a very trusting marriage, so i dont really get care if he looks just NO buying...so find him a chair in th shade with a beer looking a pretty girls and dont get mad at him...let him see the eye candy and he will be ok...you get to enjoy to cabin with him later

[sbinsc]

MommyJ, so glad you had a wonderful time. My family leaves this Saturday (3/26). How much beer/liquor did you bring on board? Did you carry it on, or pack it in luggage? I plan to fill up a suitcase with beer, water, and soft drinks.

[suseg]

Thank you so much for the review. We'll be on a family vacation (it was supposed to be a wedding but that's been postponed) in October and it is WONDERFUL to hear nice things said about the ole girl! I don't mind an older ship but some people seem to think that in order to have a good time one needs to be on the newest and the brightest. I'm so happy that you had a nice vacation.:)

[MOMMY "J"]

25 beers and two bottles of liquor ,water bottles, oj and pineappple juice...but one thing you can do is the buy from the stores on board or the ports...the cruise people will bring it to your cabin on the last afternoon...we drank ours that night in their cups walking around the boat...dont feel sorry for carnival...we still had a large bill at the end

[BallanceKris]

What room where you in? Did you hear alot of noise from your room? We are on the Empress deck room E128.

[MOMMY "J"]

i have been to alot of places and vacations in my life..."my hubby and i are vacation junkies"...old, new, big, little, cheap and costly...but everyone i have been on was as only as good as we made it

[MOMMY "J"]

off and on...but we still slept fine...

[MOMMY "J"]

:eek: we were in e166 and e162 empress

[kdickers]

well if he drinks take him alot of beer...we took alot for my hubby and he did fine...my hubby is a HUGe Duke basketball fan and it was killing him he could not see them when the acc tournment...but he lived ...the biggest thing is he got to look at 800 college girls in bathing suits for 5 days...we have a very trusting marriage, so i dont really get care if he looks just NO buying...so find him a chair in th shade with a beer looking a pretty girls and dont get mad at him...let him see the eye candy and he will be ok...you get to enjoy to cabin with him later

 

After 16+ years of marriage I think he DESERVES to enjoy a little eye candy!! :D

 

I just hope there's enough to keep him "entertained" the first of June so that I can enjoy myself too!!! :D

[MOMMY "J"]

trust me that time of the yr there will be grads. on the boat...more eye candy...just let him know he will have fun watching

[sbinsc]

25 beers and two bottles of liquor ,water bottles, oj and pineappple juice...but one thing you can do is the buy from the stores on board or the ports...the cruise people will bring it to your cabin on the last afternoon...we drank ours that night in their cups walking around the boat...dont feel sorry for carnival...we still had a large bill at the end

 

did you carry your stash on, or pack it in your luggage?

[kdickers]

trust me that time of the yr there will be grads.

 

And I'll be ONE OF THEM!!!!!!! :D NOT!!!!!

 

Sorry . . . couldn't resist!!! This cruise is a graduation (completing my Master's) present from my parents!!!!!!! :p That's why I want to keep him occupied so DD and I can do our sun & fun thing!!

[MOMMY "J"]

but it in yout luggage only...do not carry it on...