The Zenith!

[lyndaedris]

I was just checking into a 7 night cruise to Bermuda out of NJ in May on the Zenith. Have never sail on Celebriity on Carnival, RCCL and HAL,and NCL(never again) I was going to post a question regarding her.

 

However, I just read "Zenith Secrets" and found out soooooo much positive stuff that I am sure we will book.

 

Just a couple of ?. Haven't checked out the ship layout out yet. But, we usually, by choice take the bottom deck, middle inside room. Anyone have any feedback on this?

 

Also, we are non smokers. Is there any loung, area that is totally smoke free? How is Celebritiy on enforcing their smoking policy?

 

The one treat I give myself on every cruise is a Martini(Chambord) before dinner. The Martini bar sounds great. However, is it non smoking or at least 1/2 and 1/2 where we don't have to smell the smoke. It bothers my husbands allergies. I just don't like it and I use to smoke. The longer I go without smoking the more I don't like the smell!

 

Also, someone said tips/gratuities were cash. My kind of tip. I always pay my tips to everyone in cash and want to continue to do so. However, future sailings on NCL that may become a problem so I was told by someone at the reception desk on the Spirit(Never Again). If this is so about Celebrity that makes me very happy as I know that the person who has taken good care of me has gotten a generous "thank you very much"!

 

Keep all the great info and tips, interaction and bantering coming. I enjoy it so much and look forward to everyones exceptional knowledge.:D :eek:

[vaccardi]

I am booked on Zenith 6/10 and we cruised on her on 12/17. I am not a smoker and have allergies like you. I have been on smaller ships, but not recently, and larger ones. Even though Zenith is small I only had minor problems with the smoke. The ventilation system must be pretty good. I am not a Martini drinker so I can't comment on the Martini Bar.

 

On the Dec cruise, tipping was cash, but I believe that was a cost saving move on Celebrity's part because of the shorter cruises. I believe that they are back allowing charging of the tips. Even when charging them you can opt out at the pursers desk and give cash, or you can give a little extra in an envelope.

 

I did post some tips on our weeks post under the the Roll Call, but stopped, because I felt foolish when nobody else joined. Might want to check them out. Anyway, she is a great little ship with lots of class, and in my opinion wearing her age very well. I think you will enjoy her.

[BrooklynGirl2]

On Celebrity's 7 day and more cruises you don't have to "opt-out" of the auto tipping you actually have to "opt-in" if you want to do it automatically. You will get a form in your room asking if you want to auto tip the people who service you. There is a deadline to do this. Otherwise all your tips can be given in cash and they provide envelopes for you to do this. We always give cash tips as I like to add extra for the very excellent and caring service I always get on Zenith. On my last cruise I took small thank you cards from home and used them to give extra tips to waiters who were especially helpful to us during open seating breakfast and lunch in the dining room (not our regular waiters). The happy and surprised looks on their faces and their sincere thanks made it worth every penny.

 

I am also an ex-smoker and hate to be around smoke. I did not have any problem on Zenith (we sailed twice last summer). I don't know about the Martini Bar either, sorry. There is smoking on one side of the ship only and not allowed at all in the dining room and theater. I never detected any smoky smell in our rooms.

 

You will love Zenith. Her crew is absolutely the best and she provides a more intimate sailing experience as you get to know and see the same people around the ship.

[Leela]

I sailed Zenith's departed sister, Horizon, last year. The Martini Bar was small but cute, if it's too smoky for your liking you can take your martini elsewhere, just ask the servers in the main lounge nearby if you can order off the martini menu. The Martini Bar was basically an alcove off this lounge, so I can't imagine anyone would say no. I don't actually recall anyone smoking in the Martini Bar, either.

 

The only time I had an issue with smoke was on the pool deck. It was one of those days with really windy weather, so the entire passenger list was crammed down in the pool area because it was too windy to take a lounge on one of the upper decks above the pool. That day it seemed the smoke blew whatever way I happened to be.

 

On other days, when the weather was good, the smoke wasn't a problem because there was more room to spread out and we could use the upper decks for sitting around outdoors.

 

Our stateroom did not smell of smoke at all, and was very very clean. I don't know how they do it, but I've not been in a smoky stateroom on an X ship yet.

[jessemon]

Hey lyndaedris,

To see more of the "Zenith" to see cabins, public rooms, decks and MARTINI BAR check this out.

http://www.celebrity.com and click on ships. then you will see 360 degree veiws.

Smoking is always an issue. Just ask my wife...I smoke. This ship seems to handle it well though and most people ar polite. Smoking is on the port side only.

Hope this helps.;)

Jeff/Jessemon

[RevSmith]

I love the Zeneth, she is one of the nicer older ships, I sailed her when she was new and now that she is old...I am effected by smoke and was never bothered by it on Zeneth...the Martini bar is great...If you don't like a lot of movement you are in a great spot on the ship.

[bryanjaync]

My parents are going on the Zenith in Dec. I have pre-paid their tips through the Celebrity.com website. Just one less thing for my parents to worry about, though I will tell them that they can give extra if they like an particular service person

[Cachecara]

My husband and I are ex smokers, we don't have strong aversions to others smoking unless it's overwhelming. We were on Zenith last Sept and the ship was only 3/4 capacity. There were 3 instances out of a week that the smoke was bad that I could remember. Once the sea was rough and I was in the casino --so I think the combo did me in. I just left and went to bed for the evening, as it was late anyways. The other 2 times it was in the Martini Bar. On Zenith the Martini Bar only has about a dozen tables. The area is small and it only takes a couple of smokers on either side of you to do you in. :o My server could see it was too much for me and moved me a couple yards over to the Rainbow lounge. That worked out perfect.

Personally, the smoking issue is going to vary depending on the population. Both my husband and I commented that when we were smokers NEITHER of us would ever have thought of smoking in such close confines. But that was us.

[patnjohn]

The Martini Bar on Zenith is in the smoking section of the ship. We did the Martini tasting & lived to tell about it. In the evening we sat at the bar directly on the other side of the ship from the Martini bar & ordered our Martinis. It was never a problem. Each sailing has a different number of smokers, so hopefully you won't be bothered too much. We really didn't have any problems that couldn't be solved. I hope that you enjoy this ship as much as we did.

[Joanandjoe]

Lynda, we will be on the 5/13 sailing of the Zenith with Leela and more than 20 other people. Do join us.

 

All tipping is by signature (for the bars) or by automatic addition to your shiboard account for general tips. You can, and should if service was good, give additional cash tips.

 

We were on the Horizon (sister ship to Zenith) for 10 days in 2003, and don't recall a smoking problem. We're very sensitive to smoke. We did avoid the martini bar and the casino, since we assumed they'd be too smoky for us.