Ports of call
Nothing particularly exceptional on these two classic cruise itineraries. In the Caribbean, departing from Fort Lauderdale, Nassau, Cozumel, and George Town (Grand Cayman) are on the menu. An excursion to the site of Chichen Itza (Yukatán) and its Mayan ruins raised the bar a bit.
During the transatlantic crossing from Barcelona, the itinerary included Alicante, Gibraltar, Ponta Delgada (Azores), and Bermuda, before arriving in Fort Lauderdale. A pre-cruise excursion (allowing passengers to leave the ship with their luggage and end up either at the hotel or the airport) gave me the opportunity to take an airboat tour in the Everglades.
Alicante
Gibraltar
Ponta Delgada
Bermuda
Everglades
Restaurants
The Luminae‘s menus are a bit more sophisticated than those in the other restaurants on the cruise. Celebrity is overselling the menu a bit, though. It might impress burger lovers, but it’s still far from Michelin-starred!
This restaurant is open at noon on days when the ship is at sea (which is an advantage over the Blu, a restaurant linked to the Aqua Class cabins, which, although really good too, is never open at noon).
Compared to other companies in the same segment, the buffet remains above average.
Le Voyage, a specialty restaurant by French chef Daniel Boulud, offers decent “foodie” dishes, though again, somewhat overhyped by Celebrity (no doubt to justify the price!). Prices range from $75 for an appetizer/main course/dessert to $125 for a 5-course menu. No more special restaurant participation fees: Celebrity charges the price of a full-fledged restaurant.
The drinks package (whose price is prohibitive if it is not part of a promotion including it) allows you to try many cocktails, ideal during a long transatlantic crossing.
Conclusion
Celebrity remains a safe bet, offering relatively high prices but a ship and service that live up to expectations. The Aqua Class cabins and Suites come with their own set of benefits, for which you pay the price. Fortunately, it’s a far cry from the mediocre MSC or Costa, whose prices can’t be faulted for being too high.
€295/night/person for the Aqua Class cabin ($200 onboard credit) and €390/night/person for the suite ($1400 onboard credit), 2 promotional offers booked at the right time!
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