Century 4 nite 3/5: good, not great

[librarylady19]

This is a brief recap of my recent experience - my 1st cruise - on Century 4 night, 3/5 - 3/9.

I did A LOT of research on CC prior to leaving which really helped. I will write more as time (and work) permits but know how much I appreciated all the wonderful feedback on these boards and hope to return the favor.

 

Overall, my impression of the ship and the cruise experience in general would rate as "pretty good" but not excellent. The main reasons why:

Food - excellent - 4.5 stars

Highlight - I would urge everyone to go to the Islands Bistro for dinner...excellent food, service, and ambiance. We went here on the last night as we couldn't take another dinner at our assigned table in the Main Dining Room (the company, not the food) and were glad we did. Maitre D', wait staff were so eager to please, and the food choices were wonderful. Not as heavy as the MDR, but much more flavorful and appealing than the Buffet (which was pretty average, but it is a buffet after all).

Cabin - ok - 3 stars

We were in 9176 - Concierge Class. My first impression was "wow, this is tiny" never did get used to the cramped quarters. ALso noticed a lot of wear & tear - carpet, chair and sofa were all stained....Bathroom was ok.

Service was ok - our attendant Mario complied with all requests but did not offer anything above that. Never was offered a pillow menu. I would go for Concierge Class if it cost no more than $100 for 2 for the cruise. Couldn't imagine not having a balcony but wouldn't pay too much for the CC extras.

Liked having a balcony but it was also small and not too quiet when your neighbors were also on their balcony. Had to call and report them within the first hour as they were smoking on their balcony. Didn't smell smoke again. I don't think the smoking policy is well-enforced.

Highlights - powerful showerhead & daily cheese plate (yes, I know I could get it from room service too but it's nice to have it waiting for you).

Entertainment - cheesy - 2 stars.

The Celebrity Singers were awful (sorry if I offended anyone who is related to them) The dancers were ok but the routines they were given to work with didn't help. The Stingrays were pretty bad also.

The highlight was the performance by comedian Louis Johnson who was pretty funny and on target with his take on cruise passengers! Also really liked Franklin, a singer from Chicago. He performed in a variety of locations around the ship. Michigan Avenue - the a capella group - were pretty good - just not my cup of tea.

Other than musical entertainment, I didn't find many of the activities appealing. I'm not a bingo person. The shopping presentation by Ashley was over the top and a ridiculous waste of time. I found the sea day to be a waste really - the pool was overcrowded - spent more $$ in the casino than I should as a result.

Casino was pretty good - nice selection of machines for the size - didn't do any table games. I liked that it's non-smoking.

 

Service - 4 stars

Overall, the crew was very polite and eager to assist - the notable exceptions were the Maitre D who was very snooty when I asked for table for 2 (I did not tip him though!) and some of the crew who actually put their heads down when passing in the hallways! This seemed limited to some of the younger staff from what I could tell. Most staff seemed happy to assist and genuinely wanted you to have a good cruise experience.

Highlight - Maitre D Andrew in the Islands Bistro was super - he actually told me not to tip extra for dinner as it was too much - which of course I did anyway.

 

Shore Excursions - 4 stars

Key West was a short stop but did enjoy walking around. Got off ship early and had the chance to enjoy the scenery before the crowds arrived.

Highlight - Hemingway Home and all the cats (for cat lovers only!)

 

Cozumel - went to Playa Uvas - booked the all-inclusive direct. Recommend it highly. Our guide Reyas was awesome. Whole staff was eager to please and fajita lunch was great. I was very nervous about the snorkeling (forgot how much I hate to put my face in the water) and he really helped.

Took cab to Forum Shops and walked down street - was uncomfortable with high pressure sales pitches at each store but I guess they need the dollars!!

 

Ship Appearance - 4 stars

I did notice stains on seats in Theater but other than that ship seemed well maintained.

Highlights - Cova Cafe - nice area to relax - great cappucino and yummy pastries. Fun to watch people having their portraits taken on formal night.

Sunset Bar - nice place to avoid the crowds at pool but still get sun and drinks.

 

Please ask any questions - I'll be glad to be able to respond to questions instead of being the one asking all the questions!!

[brenderlou]

Hi Sandi

 

We were on the Century for the 2/23, 5 night sailing. I also really enjoyed Franklin and the Sunset Bar which was a nice quiet area to unwind.

[mikensuenfl]

Hi, first let me say.. I have been on cruise critic a number of years.i almost never respond to an experience one has had on a cruise,after reading your post,i feel that i need to respond... Fyi,we have been on over 63cruises with rccl..this was our 1st withcelebrity.we were on the 9th deck also.. Inside cabin..the square footage was 174 square foot for both our cabins.. You had a balcony.. The size of that cabin is above average for sq ft.. Our cabin looked brand new.. Spotless.. The ship is in great shape.we did not see any wear and tear. Keep in mind that the century is about 15 years old,and one of the smallest cruise ships, at about 71 thousand tons.the cd rob ,was one of the best.. Yes,food was good , our dining room service was very good if you were unhappy with your tablemates,maybe you should of requested a table change.again.sorry your experience was not better..we thoughtthe shows were above average..did you see the last production show on the last night?? One of the best we have ever seen.of course,this is our opinion..happy cruising in the future

[Muushka]

Highlight - Hemingway Home and all the cats (for cat lovers only!)

 

That would be me, big time. I was actually eying that excursion. Looks like it's a go!:D Thanks!

[librarylady19]

Mike - as I said this was my 1st cruise - and my comments on the size of the cabin were those of a first-time cruiser. I am not criticizing the size, simply stating that it was small to me. Being a novice cruiser, I was not comparing it to other cabin sizes, merely stating that it felt cramped to someone used to vacationing on land.

As to the experience in MDR, I did request a dining table for 2 when booking; upon learning we were at a table for 8, I asked the Maitre D for a change which wasn't available. My only complaint about being "forced" to sit with others was as a result of the political leanings of our dining companions and their need to discuss politics at dinner. I was highly offended by the racist comments of one guy in particular. I was more than happy to eat at Islands Bistro instead. Otherwise, the dining room was great - service was excellent and food was well prepared, particularly the lamb which we had both nights.

[Lois R]

Hi Sandi,:) I know you were looking forward to this cruise.

Not sure if you looked at the deckplans of the cabins before

hand or not...the average cabins (inside, windows, and

normal balcony) are about 175 sq feet.

Of course suites are much larger;)(no I have never had one).

 

Sorry you had offensive tablemates:(..that can definitely

put a damper on things.

 

But glad you enjoyed other parts of the trip too:)

[cruiseacecat]

Hi,

 

Could I just give some advice since this was your first cruise? For many of us the dining experience, meeting other people etc., is one of the highlights of a cruise. Tables for 2 are in very short supply. In the future, if you are unhappy, please, please ask to be seated at another table. Even if a table for 2 is not available, maybe the dining companions at another table would be a better fit for you.

In MHO, politics has no business being discussed unless there is good reason to feel that your other table mates feel the same way. Just not very polite and you would have been well served to ask the Maitre'd to be moved.

I know Vladimir or Andrew would have been very helpful.

I am sorry to tell you, the size of the cabins on Century is actually pretty good. Be careful of some older ships on other lines. They can be REALLY small.

I agree with you 100% about Franklin. He was excellent and a very nice young man.

Thanks for taking the time to write a review.

 

Anne

[librarylady19]

Thanks for the kind comments, Lois. I was not disappointed in the cabin size, just surprised what "close quarters" you are in! I think for anyone who is even slightly claustrophobic, it could be an issue.

I don't want to focus on the less than perfect aspects of our cruise; overall it was a very good experience. As my DH reminded me many times, I can't plan everything (even though I try)!

[Lois R]

Sandi, folks who have claustrophobia would

probably book a balcony or at least a window.

 

I must agree with Anne though about the table

change. The Maitr'ds are usually very helpful:)

Hopefully you enjoyed yourself enough to maybe try

another cruise? You will know for next time;)

[Infi]

Service - 4 stars

Overall, the crew was very polite and eager to assist - the notable exceptions were the Maitre D who was very snooty when I asked for table for 2 (I did not tip him though!) and some of the crew who actually put their heads down when passing in the hallways! This seemed limited to some of the younger staff from what I could tell. Most staff seemed happy to assist and genuinely wanted you to have a good cruise experience.

Highlight - Maitre D Andrew in the Islands Bistro was super - he actually told me not to tip extra for dinner as it was too much - which of course I did anyway.

 

 

I enjoyed reading your review - Century is one of my favorite Celebrity ships. I know this is a shot in the dark, but was your Maitre D' Andrew you spoke of from Poland? He's kind of a big guy, with a great laugh. He is our absolute favorite MD, but we haven't seen him in many years. From your review, it sure sounds like him. :D Would be fun to know where he's at now.

 

Thanks again for posting your review!

[cruiseacecat]

I enjoyed reading your review - Century is one of my favorite Celebrity ships. I know this is a shot in the dark, but was your Maitre D' Andrew you spoke of from Poland? He's kind of a big guy, with a great laugh. He is our absolute favorite MD, but we haven't seen him in many years. From your review, it sure sounds like him. :D Would be fun to know where he's at now.

 

Thanks again for posting your review!

Hi,

I am not librarylady19 but I can answer your question about Andrew. He was the Maitre'd on deck 5 in the main dining room and I was lucky enough to be seated in his section. He is from Poland and a grand gentleman. What a treat it was to meet him. He mentioned he is leaving for vacation later this month and I am sorry I did not ask if he is returning to Century. I just thought he was wonderful.

 

Anne

[Infi]

Hi,

I am not librarylady19 but I can answer your question about Andrew. He was the Maitre'd on deck 5 in the main dining room and I was lucky enough to be seated in his section. He is from Poland and a grand gentleman. What a treat it was to meet him. He mentioned he is leaving for vacation later this month and I am sorry I did not ask if he is returning to Century. I just thought he was wonderful.

 

Anne

 

Anne, thank you so much for that info! It really brought a smile to my face. I'm glad to hear Andrew is well and still working with Celebrity. I met him many years ago on the Zenith and have been fortunate enough to meet up with him several times on Century as well. He's a real gem - Celebrity is lucky to have him. Thank you again. :)

[mikensuenfl]

sandi,i do appreciate the way you answered my reply to your review.. very often, people get bent out of shape if someone does not agree with them.. welcome to the world of cruising.. you will find a wide range of opinions by folks on every cruise.. we too have at times been unhappy with tablemates and adults acting like spoiled brats in the dining room.. i must say though ,most of our cruises have been great.. may i suggest you try a larger ship the next time you cruise.. i do hope you will cruise again.. rccl has some lovely ships.. the radiance class ships ,the jewel,serenade,radiance ships are great..we were on the independance of the seas jan 18th and are sailing again on her on march 21st..as a comparison,the century is about 71 thousand tons,the independance of the seas is about 160,000 tons..dont let the size scare you.it is a magnificent ship.. if i can be of help to you in the future let us know..especially if you want info on rccl.. we have been on most of their ships.. again happy future cruising... mike

[librarylady19]

Thanks Mike. There were several larger ships docked with us at Cozumel (Carnival & RCC). I think a larger ship might have been more to my liking. That is the fun of cruising though .....so many choices, so little $$ to spend!

[benzygirl]

Hi. I'm on the April 2nd sailing. I have a question about the shows. If anyone had late seating, then you will be able to help me. Were they before or after dinner?

thanks

[Andy]

Hi,

I am not librarylady19 but I can answer your question about Andrew. He was the Maitre'd on deck 5 in the main dining room and I was lucky enough to be seated in his section. He is from Poland and a grand gentleman. What a treat it was to meet him. He mentioned he is leaving for vacation later this month and I am sorry I did not ask if he is returning to Century. I just thought he was wonderful.

 

Anne

 

Hi Cruiseacecat !

 

Nice to hear about Andrew. I haven't seen him in a while, but he is a wonderful person, and very eager to help. I hope we meet Andrew again on a Future Cruise.

[librarylady19]

Benzygirl,

We had late dining; some shows were before, some after, some repeated. On the first night, the show "A Taste of Things to Come" hosted by Cruise Director Rob (who I felt was pretty good - not over the top) was between dinner seatings and Rob kept assuring people that dinner would be held for them. It was worth attending to give an overview of the entertainment options.

The comedian was a "late nite only" performance due to adult content - that was at 10:30 p.m. and very good (as long as you are not easily offended). The revues featuring the Celebrity dancers & singers were offered twice. As I said, they were not my cup of tea but perhaps you will enjoy it.

Personally, I'm glad we had late dinner as there were not a lot of things to do later in the evening for my taste. They did have karaoke in the later evening but didn't really feel that watching a bunch of drunk spring breakers "sing" was entertainment.

[CathyCruises]

Let me just add my 2 cents about table mates. In my experience, and I have been very lucky, they can make or break a cruise. We have been very fortunate to have great dining companions, and that makes dinner a really fun experience and something to look forward to each evening. In fact, we had our best-ever experience on Century! But there is a thread somewhere about 'horror stories' and it's just amazing how rude and insensitive to others some people can be, As mentioned above, you should have asked to be moved to a different table--we did last time (because we were alone at a table for 7!) and ended up with some great folks. So, just a word to the wise, next time just switch!

 

And although we really enjoyed Century, we loved Summit--larger, more to do, and that wonderful Thalassotherapy Pool!

 

Cathy

[tortugas]

Thanks for the review... sailing on Century April 2 and am gathering up all the info I can.

 

I totally understand your perspective on tiny cabins... it can be quite a shock the first time you cruise. If you think your Century cabin was small... you should see Majesty of the Seas. TIIINNNYY!! I started cruising when I was in my 20s... and you know how it is... at that age you could happily sleep on a floor :-) But now that I'm older and am liking fancy hotel rooms etc... I can only imagine how I would feel upon seeing a cruise ship cabin thru novice eyes... YIKES!!

 

Anyway, don't give up on cruising... you can't beat the bang for the buck. And I totally agree with what others have said... try the big ships as well. I def. prefer them (as does my husband) but i've always wanted to try Celebrity and the Century seemed like a good start.

 

thnx again!

 

OH... one other thing. We gave up on the Main dining room a loooooong time ago. It just doesn't suit us... don't rule that option out either!

[Andy]

Hi Sandi !

 

Thank you for your very interesting review. The tablemate situation had to be disappointing. If I may offer some advice, in the future, I would urge you to either ask for a smaller table when you book, OR, if you are on your Cruise, and are unhappy with your tablemates..... go see the Maitre'D immediately, and ask for a table change. They will do everything possible to accomodate you. There is no reason whatsoever to let your tablemates make you unhappy.

 

Please dont let that situation sour your thoughts on Cruising. Hopefully, the advice of our Cruise Critic friends will have you ready to deal with this situation, should it ever happen in the future. I wish you all the very best !

[geoherb]

It's nice to read that you managed to have a good time even with a few glitches. We were on Century in December. We had an inside cabin. But this was my 16th cruise and I knew what to expect from having been in an inside cabin on Century in 2004. It was actually bigger than I remembered and the refurbishing that took place between our two cruises was noticeable, especially in the bathroom.

 

We have had bad tablemates, but fortunately not openly racist ones. On such a short cruise, I probably would have done what you did--just eat somewhere else. We had two couples who were at our table the first night but did not come back. It's funny, but if I had guessed which couple did not fit in it would have been the couple who stayed. They seemed so prim and proper the first night at dinner. Another couple joined us after the first night--refugees from tablemates they could not stand. By the fourth night, even the prim and proper couple livened up.

 

Even with an inside cabin I asked for feather pillows. Our cabin steward brought them as requested.

 

Our cruise was right before Christmas (Dec. 20-24). I was afraid there would be too many kids and the pool area would be crowded. I was happy to find it wasn't on our cruise. But we tended to go later in the afternoon.

[TPCRUISER2]

I was also on the march 5th cruise. Had a great time! Food good, crew great, and officers friendly. Celebrity not for everyone, this return customer quite satisfied!

[shebring02lx]

librarylady19 thank you so much for this review. I also will be on the 04.02.09 4 night sailing for my honeymoon. I was hoping to get a 2 top table .... sounds like the supply and demand might make that impossible for me! :)

[ahamill]

Hi all!

I was on the same cruise this past weekend and have to disagree about the food, I thought it was pretty average overall, maybe would give it a C grade. There was NOTHING I had that I thought was excellent and I was disappointed (although probably a good thing since I am on Weight Watchers! :)

 

We ate in Murano's the first night and that was nice, great service, food better than the rest of the ship but certainly not even close to being one of the best meals I have ever had. I had the Caesar salad which was good and the filet with the sauce done table side was nice. My husband had lobster bisque which was strange looking and tasting and scallops and lobster, scallops were not good. I did enjoy the cheese cart before dessert and again, GREAT service.

The second night we ate in the MDR for formal night and did not go back after that. The shrimps in the shrimp cocktail were tiny. I live in Florida and am used to big old yummy shrimp, I think these came from a frozen bag from Costco. My filet was overcooked and the potato side dish was small and almost unrecognizable. My husband had the strip steak, DON'T DO IT, it was almost inedible and was the strangest looking steak I have ever seen. One of our tablemates had the lamb and we all commented that it looked like it had been in a shrinking machine, never knew lamb could have bones that small, weird.

The last two nights we ate in Islands Cafe and did the pasta and stir fry bar which we liked, best food on the cruise aside from Murano. We also liked the pool grill, good hamburgers and hot dogs and nachos! (not good for Weight Watchers!)

 

Room:

 

I was pleasantly surprised at how large it was, we were very happy in our room, 1108 CC on the Penthouse deck. I was NOT impressed with the CC amenities or lack thereof. We were never given a pillow menu, no tote bag, no personalized stationary. We asked for cheese and crackers on the first day, did not get it. On the second day, we happened to be in our room when they attempted to deliver the inedible canapes and we reminded him we had asked for cheese and crackers and go it the rest of the nights and it was good. I would not pay for CC again unless it was the only way to get a balcony. Other than the line for check-in for CC, I saw no embarking and disembarking benefits.

 

I used the spa for a pedicure on Friday morning and it was nice, I was the only one in there as most were in Key West. It was expensive but I expected that.

 

We went to Nachi Cocom in Cozumel and LOVED IT! It was the highlight of the cruise and we would go back there if in Cozumel again.

 

We loved the martini bar and Boris the server, loved the casino and loved the comedian on Saturday night.

 

I think when we cruise again we will try a larger ship on RCCL but would do Celebrity again and had a great time!

 

Sorry, did not mean to turn this into another review!

[librarylady19]

ahamill,

Sounds like we had similar experiences. I found the food at Murano pretty good but certainly not the best meal ever. It was very formal so I felt that I had to sit up straight and behave properly the whole time!! In retrospect, I would have skipped the cost (which added up to $100 with wine) and ate at Islands Bistro more often. I can't recommend it enough. It was our best dining experience on board. They just bent over backwards to please you and the service was much less rushed than at MDR. I had a huge bowl of pasta with mushrooms, chilled asparagus, a spinach and bacon salad and a fantastic flan with pineapple for desert. Did I mention the breadsticks - they were great too! So, if there is one tip I can give to fellow CC'ers going on Century it is to eat at Islands Bistro. I heard several people comment that they wished they had found it sooner!