Back to Back (BTB) Eastern/Western Caribbean 01/14 - 23, January, 2012

[jbuch02]

I've posted this in its proper spot elsewhere but repeat it here for those who might be interested in a little different take on a cruise review.

 

Regulars know Millenium. No sense in rehashing the wear issues. The ship goes for major rennovation in April (see the Celebrity web site for the Solticizing blog .... its interesting) and comes out in May with the first cruise on the upgraded vessel West Bound Panama Canal, Miami to SanDiego. Even though the ship is now almost 10 years old, she is one of our favorites (Century being the other) ..... and that is not to say we don't like the others in the fleet, we do. This was our third and fourth voyage on Millenium.

 

I'd love to make this cruise. Mainly because there is something about this ship that even through major crew position changes, there is a culture of friendliness and service that persisits. Tip of the hat to Celebrity who is likely responsible for making this kind of thing happen. In my opinion, Celebrity is deleivering one of the best products in the cruising industry given its niche and value.

 

This was our first BTB and 18th and 19th cruise aboard a Celebrity ship since 2001. You should understand I am biased. Been there done that on RCL, NCL, MSC and Carnival. To me there is no comparison although it should be understood that every cruiser has his own tastes for itineraries, character of the ship and its crew, etc.

 

Last year in January, we sailed 10 days on Millennium out of Puerto Rico (Southern Caribbean). That itinerary is no more, having been replaced by Summit offering a 7 day cruise. Therefore, we opted for this BTB for 9 days out of Miami. It worked out nicely. January and February can be cool and breezy (30-45 kts of wind at sea is not uncommon). It was just that on the first leg (Eastern) and absolutely beautiful (80s, calm and sunny from the start) on the second (Western).

 

BTB is a cinch. After returning to Miami on debarkation day from the first leg, we were assembeled in Michael's Club on Deck 4 at 0930 (about 30 of us) and escorted off the ship by one of the officers, through customs and back aboard in about 30 minutes. Very smooth. To make it so, don't try to arrange a BTB after the fact. Book it that way and make sure you get the same cabin on both legs. If you do this it works out. We had a couple who dined with us that tried to arrange it on the last day of the cruise and it didn't work out.

 

A couple of comments about cruising on Celebrity in general garnered from my most recent cruise aboard Millennium: it's changed in the last 10 years (obviously). For those who might recall the gilded years of the 1920s - and I've only read about it - there is only remote resemblance but even the last 10 years has seen dramatic changes. Ships rarely sail with empty cabins. The industry knows how to limit capacity on any given itinerary and optimize passenger loads. I think Celebrity is particulary adept at this and itinerarary and pricing stratagies demonstrate it. It is becoming less likely to find Celebrity fares less than $100/day (inside cabins) that were common 5 or 6 years ago or ships sailing with small, less than capacity passenger loads on longer passages (these are less profitable for a lot of reasons).

 

The Celebrity cruiser has also changed. I would expect that Celebrity management deals with a constant tension between trying to maintain a level of elegance aboard while at the same time satisfying the traveler who wants to travel more casually. I understand and appreciate both modes of travel. This is not meant to appear to be sticking my nose up in the air. I was told by one of Millenium's Maitre d's that he had a party of 16 show up at the door of the main dining room on a formal night in shorts, flip-flops and ball caps insisting to be seated. Clearly, the lead in the group was trying to make a point. Despite the gracious and best efforts of this particular Maitre d' to offer alternatives and upon checking with his superiors, he was directed to seat them. The previous era of elegant formal dining, a higher level of decorum on board that characterized Celebrity is waning. Clearly, it is still available and in the main still present but it is clear to me that Celebrity management has had to flex to a dfferent set of cruising standards as travelers wanting to sail with Celebrity have changed. One thing worth pointing out is that the 4 day, Western Caribbean itinerary out of Miami is very popular because it is over a 4 day weekend (Friday to Monday) and allows someone to go last minute with little more than a roll-aboard or back pack full of clothes. There were more families and partiers on this segment than on the preceeding, 5 day Eastern Carribean segment.

 

The problem for me with that is that while I might prefer a more formal and elegant cruising experience, something I have enjoyed consistently on Celebrity since 2001 and at an affordable price, that middle ground is eroding. Celebrity probably represented the best of that in mid-priced cruising. One could always jump to Regent (now with new owners), Sea Dream, Seaborn or Crystal cruises with astronomical fares to match their elegance and high ratio of crew members to passengers. Holland America is still pretty straight laced (I have no personal experience there; have just read that it is). Now, loosley connected to Celebrity in a way that I am not certain, there is Azamara and the price jump is considerable. It appears to me that parent company, RCL, has tried to position Celebrity within the curise market place to appeal to a slightly less demanding set of passengers while elevating Azamara Cruise Club ships (Quest and Journey) to appeal to those seeking a more elegant cruise.

 

I'm not ready to lament this yet because I think Celebrity management is trying hard to maintain a certain standard on their fleet of ships. It's hard. They have to compete and to do so means innovative products, itineraries, new dining options and less adhearance to "tried and true." We are in our 60s. If anything, I've noticed I like change less and less so take this for what it is worth in that context. Overall, another wonderful time on Celebrity. We have yet to be even somewhat disappointed.

[Essiesmom]

Just on question: Were you allowed back into your cabin after your brief trip through immigration...or did you have to wait until after 1pm? I am doing a B2B on Millie leaving Feb. 6 (unfortunately I have to change cabins). I did a B2B on Summit, changing cabins, and although I was allowed to drop off my stuff in the new cabin around 9am, I could not get back in to arrange things until after 1pm.

Thanks EM

[portofrome]

Thanks for the review.

[City_Woman]

Read your review.

 

We did a Solstice B2B last year and would not repeat a 7+7 again.

 

Why?

 

We prefer the crowds on a 10 day or more cruise.

 

J

[gelo7]

Really appreciated your thoughts.

[jbuch02]

Just on question: Were you allowed back into your cabin after your brief trip through immigration...or did you have to wait until after 1pm? I am doing a B2B on Millie leaving Feb. 6 (unfortunately I have to change cabins). I did a B2B on Summit, changing cabins, and although I was allowed to drop off my stuff in the new cabin around 9am, I could not get back in to arrange things until after 1pm.

Thanks EM

 

Essie ...... here's how disembarkation on a BTB was explained to me: You have two choices. (1) You can go out and get back on with the group as I described it or (2) you can disembark on your own at any time (before 9:30 when everyone is supposed to be off) and leave the ship as you like. If you chose option (1), you get a new Sea Pass (the officer who accompanied us through customs had them all in a packet and handed them out to us as we cleared customs) right back on and have the run of the ship ..... this was kind of interesting as you can see how it is prepared between 0930 and about 1130 when the next set of passengers start arriving. Busy, busy, busy. It was impressive.

 

Having different cabins likely sets you up to not be able to get back in it until around 1PM unless you sweet talk the new cabin steward and his supervisor. What we did was to let our steward know we were coming back. When we got back on, I spoke with the officer in charge of the area that our cabin was in (3053) and asked her if we would be in the way if we went back to our cabin. She said, no, Lewis (our steward) had let her know we would be coming back and he prepared that cabin first. Go right ahead she said. Cool. a little pre-coordinating usually works out well.

 

In general, if you get off the ship as in option (2), I was told that when you go back through the boarding process (starting around 1130), you just let them know you are BTB, they give you a new Sea Pass and you are passed right through check in. I was told that you do not have to check back in as a new passenger on the second leg of your BTB but I can't say that is how it works out b/c we chose option (1).

[jbuch02]

Read your review.

 

We did a Solstice B2B last year and would not repeat a 7+7 again.

 

Why?

 

We prefer the crowds on a 10 day or more cruise.

 

J

 

Interesting observation and I tend to agree.

 

The 4 day itinerary (over the weekend) had a distinctly different crowd than even the 5 day (over the week). More families with young children, more noise, more party folks on the decks drinking a-plenty..... which is fine ...... if you like Carnival cruises.

 

No question, the longer the cruise, the older and more staid the passenger list. I think I saw a run down of cruise length to average age some where. 15d or longer = 60 something; < 14d = 45; 7 or less, 35.

 

I guess I need to start thinking WORLD CRUISE. Ahhh if only retirement years were coming sooner ..... if ever!