Job opportunities onboard can be found in the food and beverage, shore excursions, marine, guest services, housekeeping, facilities, entertainment and cruise activities departments. The company looks for high standards of performance, quality and dedication in prospective employees.
Employees work hard to perform their duties in accordance with Celebrity Cruises' pillars of safety, service and style.
In accordance with its principle of Celebrity Connections, each employee is expected to conduct himself or herself in a professional and courteous manner at all times. In return, current employers can expect to benefit from their signature training programs and be provided with opportunities to advance in their career with the company.
Celebrity Xploration
Review of Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises is the second largest (by fleet) member of the huge Royal Caribbean family of companies since 1997.
The Celebrity cruise company was founded in 1988 by the Greek Chandris Group. The history of the Celebrity brand starts with cheap sailings on second-hand ships, to become one of the most prominent premium luxury and most affordable cruise lines in the world.
The voyage to the world of deluxe cruising started with premium Bermuda sailings, buying more and better ships ever since. As a feature brand name of Royal Caribbean Ltd, Celebrity has 5 sister companies – Royal Caribbean International, Azamara, CDF, Pullmantur, and TUI Cruises. The line’s headquarters address: “Celebrity Cruises, 1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, FL, 33132-2096 USA”.
"Celebrity Cruises" as brand name represents one of the best cruise shipping lines for adults, a signature line for Panama Canal transition itineraries and also one of the top 3 best cruise lines for Alaska USA.
Celebrity is a medium priced cruise brand, associated with sophistication, style and elegance. Celebrity cruise ships offer impeccable service and exquisite cuisine, appealing to a moderately affluent, well-educated clientele of mostly adults in their 40s. Celebrity offers Family Cruises during holidays (particularly on Caribbean cruises, and on cruises to Bermuda), and Seniors Cruises to Europe and on the exotic itineraries to South America. The letter “X” on the funnel of all Celebrity ships stands for the name “Chandris” (in Greek it is “Xandris”).
The following YouTube video (official Celebrity Cruises release) reviews the company's newest vessel Celebrity Edge and all its unique features.
In February 2014, Celebrity Cruises announced it would add "The Suite Class" to its cruise ships. Suite Class guests have their own private restaurant and VIP lounge. Key features on Solstice Class ships include the Lawn Club, which is a freshly manicured lawn on ship's highest deck. Passengers enjoy casual outdoor activities, country-club atmosphere and grass between their toes. They can watch a glass-blowing demonstration on Equinox, Eclipse and Solstice, or a meal in the Lawn Club Grill. The Celebrity ships also feature Cellar Masters, inspired by the Napa Valley vineyards, which brings to life a global wine tour experience, while guests learn about and taste a variety of wines from around the world.
In March 2016 Celebrity Cruises acquired two-ship cruise line Ocean Adventures. The purchase of 16-guest catamaran Athala II and 48-guest ship Eclipse meant Celebrity Cruises increased capacity in Galapagos Islands by 65%. The two vessels joined the Celebrity Cruises fleet in spring 2016. Until a January 2017 stint in drydock the ships offer Ocean Adventures cruise experiences.
Celebrity attracts a diverse passenger base. The line targets baby boomers and their families, honeymooners and seniors. In addition to U. S. cruisers, Celebrity Cruises also draws vacationers from Europe, Canada and South America. Longer sailings in more distant locales tend to draw an older crowd. Week-long trips to places like Alaska and the Caribbean attract families. In an effort to appeal to more multi-generational groups, line's family programs have expanded and now include teen centers, more enrichment and educational programs for kids.
Following are Celebrity Cruises' best features:
- Accommodations: some of the largest cruise ship suites (all served by butlers). Luxurious “ConciergeClass” staterooms, attentive highly personalized impeccable service; and enjoying seating preference, priority check-in. 2:1 guest-to-staff ratio Dining: award-winning cuisine, excellent alternate dining venues. The Celebrity’s “Gourmet Bites” every afternoon, themed lunch buffets. Culinary demonstrations. The line has partnered with “Elizabeth Blau & Associates”, as to menu and wine selections, and all the standards of serving. Facilities: the largest cruise ship spa and gym facilities at sea (“AquaSpa by Elemis” – a world-class beauty salon, spa treatments and fitness programs). “Celebrity Theatre” for Broadway-style productions, huge European-style casinos, bingo, themed bars and lounges, including an European style disco, large pools, poolside recreation programs (massages, yoga), on-board boutique shopping. Enrichment: “Celebrity Lecture Series”. Rich contemporary art collections. Art auctions, enhanced golf program. “Celebrity Escape” concept: reserved exclusively for adults ages 21 and older, with classes, themed events, fashion shows, parties, etc. “Family Cruising Program”: on all sailings. Games and parties, educational activities, history and sea life explorations. Separate pools and discos for teens. Online booking. Since 2013, the company has been partnered with “Top Chef” (US reality competition TV series). In late 2014, both companies started the exclusive “Top Chef at Sea” cruising experience. By this onboard culinary program, fans and foodies have the opportunity to travel with a lineup of celebrity chefs on food-themed "Top Chef Signature Sailing" each year. Celebrity also offers an interactive "Quickfire Challenges" and “Top Chef”-inspired menu evenings fleetwide on cruises 5-nights or longer (excluding Galapagos Islands). In 2017, Celebrity Cruises partnered with Bravo Media for a new cooking video series - "Isaac Takes On". This digital show follows Top Chef's Isaac Toups as he cruises around the Caribbean on the ship Celebrity Reflection. competing against passengers in a variety of culinary challenges. The ship has its own Michelin-star chef - Cornelius Gallagher, who also makes appearances throughout the series.
Itinerary of Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruise destinations include Alaska, Hawaii, Bermuda, Canada, Bahamas, Caribbean (all, but mostly Southern), Mexico, Panama Canal, South America, Australia New Zealand, Northern Europe from UK, Eastern and Western Mediterranean.
The Celebrity line owns one of the youngest and most innovative fleets, with 13 luxury ships currently in operation. They all are Malta flagged (with the exception of the Xpedition ship - flag Ecuador), with gross tonnage above the 91,000 GT marker. The Celebrity Xpedition ship is the smallest member of the Celebrity family, with 100 passengers capacity. She sails the Galapagos Islands, and Antarctica on adventure voyages.
Celebrity Cruises confirmed itinerary changes for their ships Constellation. Equinox and Reflection. They will cancel the overnight stays in Istanbul Turkey scheduled for 2016 because of berth availability and Salipazari Port (aka Galataport) construction. The construction project in Istanbul is set to make the city one of the world's largest hubs for cruise tourism. The development is slated to start in 2016 and due to be completed in the last quarter of 2018. As yet, it is unclear as to whether Celebrity Cruises sailings in 2017 and 2018 will be affected.
In the beginning of December, 2015 Celebrity Cruises announced deployment into 2018, featuring 282 destinations in 76 countries, 236 overnights in 55 ports and new ports of call. Deployment news includes Bermuda, Canada/New England, Alaska, Asia-Pacific and Europe.
- In 2017 Celebrity Cruises will have three cruise ships in Alaska: Celebrity Solstice. Millennium and Infinity In 2017 Celebrity Summit will be in Bermuda, with sailings from Bayonne New Jersey and a new 9-night sailing to Canada/New England. In 2018 the ship will be leaving from Fort Lauderdale on short-break itineraries - including 4-day trips to Key West and Nassau, and 5-day trips to Key West and Cozumel, with several days at sea. Beginning in 2016, Celebrity will introduce chef-led shore excursions called “Chef’s Market Discoveries” with regional experts, local entertainment and authentic flavors. Celebrity Constellation and Celebrity Millennium will offer Asia cruises in 2017 and 2018. Celebrity Cruises ups India sailings to 8, which is the most in the history of the brand. The season in the region features a 15-night “Best of India & Sri Lanka” sailing along the ancient Spice Route. This once-in-a-lifetime tour to Taj Majal traces the origins of tea in Colombo. Sri Lanka. Another option is to relax on the beaches of Goa. India. The line will also continue to sail from Abu Dhabi. UAE. Celebrity Edge (scheduled launch 2018 December) will operate 7-day (and 14-day back-to-back ) Caribbean cruises leaving roundtrip from home-port Fort Lauderdale FLorida (USA) .
New to the Signature Event Sailings of the brand is the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in Taipei, Taiwan. It is available over the Chinese New Year on a cruise onboard Celebrity Millennium.
In July 2016 Celebrity Cruises revealed that their Celebrity Equinox ship will offer year-round Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings out of Miami Florida in 2017. Beginning in April, the 2,850-passenger vessel, typically repositioning to the Mediterranean for summer months, will offer a total of 24 voyages from her new homeport, including 7-night itineraries from June through August, and 10- and 11-night throughout the rest of 2017. To kick off her first summer season in the Caribbean, Celebrity Equinox will host an 11-night cruise with 2 overnight stays in New Orleans. during city's famous Jazz & Heritage Festival, starting April 24. The line will wrap up its summer season 2017 with a "President's Cruise", August 27. On the 8-night Eastern Caribbean voyage, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, line's president, will treat cruisers to excursions and special events.
Celebrity has added new destinations to the 2017-2018 season, such as Hiroshima. Japan with a visit to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, and Aomori. Japan - home of Hirosaki Castle, built in 1611.
- Celebrity Solstice will also offer western and southern Australia cruises in 2017-2018, visiting ports of call like Adelaide and Perth, as well as an added opportunity to sail from Sydney to the Great Barrier Reef. The Solstice will also continue to cross the Pacific Ocean on cruises to Hawaii and the South Pacific. Irish travel agents will benefit from a dedicated cruise ship to sell when Celebrity Cruises becomes the first ever major cruise line to base a vessel in Dublin. One of line’s 2,800-plus passenger Solstice-class ships will run 5 sailings from the port of the Irish capital between April and June 2018. Itineraries will run throughout northern Europe.
Celebrity Cruises Galapagos ships
On March 14, 2016, Celebrity announced its planned acquisition of the leading Galapagos cruise tour operator company "Ocean Adventures". The acquisition includes the two small vessels MV Eclipse (48-passenger) and the catamaran MC Athala II (16-passenger luxury catamaran). When added to the 98-passenger MS Xpedition ship, both vessels expand the line's passenger capacity in the Galápagos Islands destination by 65%. The newly acquired ships join the Celebrity fleet in 2016 spring, but until their dry-dock refurbishments in January 2017, they will continue to be operated with their current Ocean Adventures amenities and programming. The existing Ocean Adventures’ cruise bookings and reservations remain unchanged (until and after the 2017's dry-docks).
- Celebrity Xpedition - 90-passenger expedition ship Celebrity Xperience (formerly MV Eclipse) - 48-passenger expedition ship Celebrity Xploration (formerly MC Athala II) - 16-passenger catamaran
Celebrity Cruises related cruise news
Best for
The Celebrity cruises ships are usually very clean and extremely well maintained. There are always lots of flowers and flower displays – some ships have flower shops, where you can buy fresh blooms for special occasions.
There is a lot of fine artwork; it may not be to everybody’s taste, but it is probably the most remarkable collection of contemporary art in the cruise industry. The company provides a lot of the niceties that other lines have long forgotten, although some are now playing “catch up”: waiters who carry your trays when you obtain food from buffets or casual eateries; water spritzes on the pool deck. Sadly, stewards no longer escort you to your cabin on embarkation day. On days at sea in warm weather areas, if you are sunbathing on deck, someone will bring you a cold towel, and a sorbet, ice water or iced tea.
Regardless of the accommodation grade, Celebrity Cruises delivers a well-defined North American cruise experience at a modest price. Book a suite-category cabin for the extra benefits it brings – it’s worth it. Strong points include the many European staff and the high level of service, fine spas with a good range of facilities and treatments, taste-filled food served in fine European dining tradition, a “zero announcement policy”, cloth towels in public restrooms instead of the paper towels found aboard most major companies. Such touches differentiate Celebrity Cruises from its competitors.
Its ships have significantly more staff than other ships of comparable size and capacity, especially in the housekeeping and food and beverage departments. This helps create a superior product.
Even so, such things as topless sunbathing spaces are now available aboard all ships (except Celebrity Xpedition). What were formerly cigar smoking lounges have been turned into cosy jazz/piano lounges. Some cruises aboard some ships are child-free.
Sadly, background music is now played almost everywhere, and any lounge designated as “music-free” is typically full of activities and participation events, so it’s hard to find a quiet corner to sit and read.
So, how does Celebrity Cruises provide a better experience than its parent, Royal Caribbean International? Here are a few examples relating to food items aboard Celebrity Century: the food in the main dining room is better, coffees and teas can be found in china cups and saucers with doily and chocolate, tables for two are available, waiters in the Lido Café line up to help passengers with trays to tables, and the public restrooms have cloth towels.
Celebrity cruises: Ships
Accommodation
There really are four different “classes” aboard Celebrity ships: those in accommodation designated as suites; those in standard exterior-view and interior (no view) cabins; a third that comes between the two, known as Concierge Class, and Aqua Class.
Concierge Class brings added value to passengers with enhanced facilities including priority embarkation, disembarkation, priority tender tickets, alternative dining and spa reservations; European duvet; double bed overlay (no more falling “between the cracks” for couples); choice of four pillows (goose down pillow, isotonic pillow, body pillow, conformance pillow); eight-vial flower vase on vanity desk; throw pillows on sofa; fruit basket; binoculars; golf umbrella; leather telephone notepad; larger beach towels; hand-held hairdryer. Balconies get better furniture. In the bathrooms: plusher Frette bathrobe; larger towels in sea green and pink (alternating days); flower in silver vase in bathroom.
Aqua Class accommodation occupants get priority access to spa treatments, and special “uprated” spa amenities.
Decor
There are no glitzy atrium lobbies, rock-climbing walls, ice-skating rinks or other puffery – just good European style in the elegant interiors. The exception is in the casinos, which are simply coin boxes wrapped in garish, unfriendly lighting – like pachinko parlours. Celebrity Cruises has some of the most eclectic sculptures and original artwork, from Picasso to Warhol, found at sea.
Aboard Celebrity Solstice, the layout is sensible, and the decor and colours pleasing and elegant. There’s also an abundance of designer chairs and sunloungers, including two-person clam-shell deck loungers. Aboard other ships, the decor is elegant – Greek, classical, minimalist, although some might find it a little antiseptic and cool in places.
The ships absorb people well, and the flow is, for the most part, good, except for entrances to show lounges and in photo galleries. Each public room subtly invites you to move on to the next.
There are two seatings for dinner, and open seating for breakfast and lunch. Table settings are excellent, with fine quality linen, china and glassware. Tables for two are available – far more than by most other major lines. What sets Celebrity apart is the superior training and supervision of dining room waiters, and the service.
The food represents a range of culinary influences; it is based loosely on classic French cuisine, modified to appeal to North Americans and Europeans alike, and menus are standardised across the fleet and have been dumbed down since a new regime took over from Michel Roux – meatloaf, spaghetti, and striploin for dinner are pathetic for what is supposed to be a “premium” product. Items that can be made at home cannot be considered as acceptable. For better quality, Celebrity Cruises want you to pay extra to eat in the alternative venues. Sadly, the plot is being lost. Full service in-cabin dining is also available for all meals, including dinner.
The food is generally made from high-quality ingredients. Take croissants, for example. Those found aboard Celebrity ships are made fresh each morning, while aboard most competitors’ ships they are purchased ashore; there’s a big difference in taste and consistency, depending on what kind of dough and butter are used.
Celebrity Cruises also has well-trained sommeliers and wine waiters who know their subject. Celebrity Solstice has a special wine room for tastings. Celebrity Millennium has a special wine room in its “alternative” restaurants, and fine wines that can cost thousands of dollars a bottle. But there are also wines that start at about $20.
Casual eateries
There are casual self-serve buffets aboard all Celebrity Cruises’ ships. Except for Celebrity Solstice, most are laid out in continuous straight lines, which can cause congestion when queues form at peak times. However, Celebrity is trying to be more creative with these buffets, and, like other cruise lines, has stations for pasta, faux sushi, salads, grilled and rotisserie items, and hot food items. A waiter will – or should – take your tray to a table. A bar trolley service for drinks and wines is provided at lunchtime, and wine waiters are always on hand to discuss and take wine orders for dinner. All the ships make great martinis.
The Coffee/Tea Factor
Regular coffee: Weak and poor. Score: 2 out of 10.
Espresso and cappuccino coffees: Score: 3 out of 10. If you order espresso and cappuccino coffees in the dining room, there is a charge; they are treated like a bar item.
Café al Bacio: The cafés are in prominent locations, and provide an agreeable setting for those who like decent Italian coffees, pastries and cakes.
Gratuities
US$11.95 per person per day is added to your onboard account. You can have this amount adjusted if you visit the guest relations desk before the end of the cruise. Additionally, 15 per cent is added for all bar and wine purchases – so, buy a bottle of mineral water at the bar and you’ll be charged an extra 15 per cent “for your convenience”. For spa treatments, 10 per cent is added (and receipts invite an additional tip).
While Celebrity is frankly adult-oriented, their Club X program offers excellent activities for children year-round. Youth activities are arranged by age groups, which vary between high and low seasons: Toddler Time aged 6 to 36 months; Shipmates aged 3-6, Celebrity Cadets aged 7-9, Ensigns aged 10-12 and Admiral T's aged 13-15 and 16-17. 18 year olds are welcome to use the teen facilities. The youth program maintains the same hours whether in port or at sea: 9 a. m. to noon; 2 to 5:30 p. m.; and 7:30 to 10:00 p. m. Group babysitting is available in the youth room for children ages three to 12, from 10 p. m. to 1 a. m. at a fee of $6 per hour per child. Private babysitting is available in your stateroom for $8 per hour per child, with a maximum of two. When Mother and Pop are scheduled to dine formally, "Parents' Nights Out," are declared, and youth counselors take children to a pizza party, at no extra charge.
Caribbean and New York/Bermuda seem to be family favourites, with more and more families heading for Alaska too. Century, Galaxy, and Mercury have separate teen discos and more extensive facilities than the line's newer Millennium, Infinity, Summit and Constellation. The Solstice class spends much time in Europe, but will have one ship in Australia and another sailing out of the New York area in 2012.
Theme Cruises and Special Programs: Celebrity offers unique Acupuncture at Sea and holistic healing "wellness at sea" programs. Special cruises to focus on photography and culinary gourmands are offered semi-regularly. Some ships have special designed and set entertainment by Cirque du Soleil.
Overview
Celebrity is a premium cruise line with beautiful ships and top-notch service, a step above parent company Royal Caribbean.
In 1997, Celebrity Cruises was acquired by Royal Caribbean International, parent company to Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and it now operates as a sister company under the RCI umbrella. While the acquisition was something of a disappointment for the Celebrity employees and their fans, it did keep Celebrity ships on their keels and has kept the line going strong. At the time the line had just three modest ships, the Galaxy, Horizon and Century. As od now only the Century remains in the fleet, the other two having been traded to some of the European subsidiaries of Royal Caribbean International.
In mid - 2000, Celebrity launched the first of its four 91,000-ton "Project Millennium" ships ( four sister ships; Millennium, Infinity, Summit and Constellation), intended to establish Celebrity as a credible competitor to Crystal, but for a rather younger clientele. These ships signaled the beginning of a new era of technologically sophisticated cruise ships, including innovative, more environmentally friendly, gas turbine propulsion systems and pod propulsion systems that make a ship far more maneuverable.
Unfortunately, time moves on and things like gas-turbine engines have become too expensive to run in today's high fuel pricing environment. And the propulsion pods on these ships have been known to require maintenance on several occasions spawning a lawsuit between the cruise line and the maker. When a pod goes bad a ship must usually be dry-docked for a repair requiring canceling a cruise.
Internally, the most striking features about the Millennium class of ships are three-deck atriums and gigantic 25,000 sq. ft. spas, including a solarium and health club. There are full-service floral conservatories created by the noted Parisian floral designer, Emilio Robba, on board -- the first living flower gardens at sea. Exterior glass elevators provide panoramic ocean views.
Innovative alternative restaurants on each of the ships pays homage to celebrated ocean liners of the past. Originally, these hugely popular restaurants offered custom designed menus by noted chef Michel Roux featuring authentic recipes from the grand era of shipboard oceanic transversal. It should be noted, however, that as of January, 2007, Celebrity has ended it 15-year relationship with Michel Roux as executive chef, with no replacement announced. The line still boasts a superior culinary claim, however, and with its galleys designed for optimum freshness in preparation and serving, and the cost per passenger for food services remaining roughly the same as before, so far it does not appear that much has been lost.
Newly boarded passengers are greeted with a "welcome aboard" mimosa or a glass of sparkling wine. During their cruises they'll find an array of tempting shops in the Emporium complex, a spa café dining option with the focus on healthier, low-fat ingredients, poolside fashion shows and wine tasting, a revamped sports deck, extensive golf programs, and the innovative Acupuncture at Sea program. They'll enjoy the singing of roving a cappella groups, and will be offered a seminar or two on such topics as astronomy, photography, personal investing, or history.
Millennium-class ships feature some of the the largest suites at sea; over half the staterooms have private verandas, including six disabled-access suites with balconies. Celebrity's "signature" features include the piano bar/martini bar known as Michael's Club, the elegant Cova Cafe of Milan for coffee, and the AquaSpa, which, be assured, richly merits attention. Art-lovers will revel in the line's remarkable collection.
In January 2004, Celebrity unveiled Celebrity Xpeditions, offering small-ship adventure cruising in the Galapagos Islands aboard the program's 2,842-ton, 98-passenger namesake. These casual, 10-night Galapagos sailings include unique and active shore excursions such as snorkeling and hiking, as well as a pre and post-cruise stay in Quito, Ecuador.
In 2006 Celebrity put the Celebrity Century in dry-dock for $55 million refurbishment including the addition of new suites and many features found on the Millennium-class vessels. Details are in the individual review for Century. Mercury is slated to receive the same treatment in the first half of 2007.
A new class of vessels known as the Solstice Class started emerging late 2008. Four of these vessels have now been delivered approximately one year apart. The sister ships; number one named Celebrity Solstice, number two; Celebrity Equinox, number three; Celebrity Eclipse; number four Silhouette and number five Reflection, are 122,000 gross tons and carry 2850 guests (the last two carry slightly over 3000 guests). They are 1033 feet long and 121 feet wide. Their added size allows Celebrity to offer larger standard staterooms, a higher percentage of balconies and an exceptional range of guest-inspired services and amenities.
The latest upgrade the Celebrity cruises is the "Solsticization" of the Millennium class of vessels. The first vessel to receive this treatment was Constellation in 2010 with the remaining three receiving their upgrades with the next two years pending the availability of dry dock facilities. The upgrade process requires about 15 days.
If it's luxury without pomposity at a reasonable price you're after, Celebrity may well be your cruise line.
The Experience
While the line's adherence to a traditional dress code (two formal and two informal nights on a seven-night cruise), music library, dedicated chess area, floral conservatory, and subdued décor might suggest otherwise, these are actually quite upbeat ships, with eagerly frequented casinos, floor shows, cabaret lounges, and piano bars. Honestly, with so many Greek staff members, especially officers, how could the line be pompous? This, after all, is a cruise line, that offers delivery of pizza right to your cabin.
These ships' technologically advanced interactive television systems enable you to order wine for dinner, book shore excursion, or play games of chance without even leaving your cabin. Cabins are spacious, and include such goodies as hair dryers, in-cabin massages, and in-cabin dining from the restaurant menus, including full breakfast service. Suite amenities are conspicuously superior to most mid-market lines', with butlers serving meals in-suite and assisting with unpacking and packing.
Celebrity's new Concierge Class offers premium ocean view staterooms with plusher furnishings and service-related perks like priority check-in. Originally available only on Millennium-class ships, the program has proved so popular that it is now available fleetwide, and continues to be expanded.
Celebrity's entertainment isn't up to the level of Royal Caribbean's or Carnival's. But the most glorious spas afloat take some of the sting out of that.
On the Solstice-class vessels the AquaSpa cabins offer fast and open access to the ship's thermal suite of steam baths, rain showers and saunas. These staterooms also come with special dining in a restaurant called "Blu."
The newer ships of the Solstice class; the Reflection and Silhouette have additional suites and better dining experiences then you will find on Solstice and Eclipse. These new restaurants include Qsine, Which is an eclectic menu from a variety of culinary styles; and the lawn club grill which is a space that allows you to choose your own chops and cook them, along with the guidance of a professional chef, to your own specifications on your own grill. The food is delicious including the side dishes such as baked potatoes, grilled vegetablesAnd Caesar salad.
Dining
Celebrity cruises takes great pride in its Onboard dining options with several specialty restaurants on each ship. The flagship eatery is called "Murano" And it specializes in stakes, lamb chops and excellent appetizers.
The newer ships of the Solstice class; the Reflection and Silhouette have additional suites and better dining experiences then you will find on Solstice and Eclipse. These new restaurants include Qsine, Which is an eclectic menu from a variety of culinary styles; and the lawn club grill which is a space that allows you to choose your own chops and cook them, along with the guidance of a professional chef, to your own specifications on your own grill. The food is delicious including the side dishes such as baked potatoes, grilled vegetablesAnd Caesar salad.
There is also a crêperie onboard the ship called Bistro on Five. This is a perfect spot for lunch or brunch meals. There is a small service charge.
Fellow Passengers
On one-week Caribbean and Alaska cruises most passengers will be well into their 40's and 50's. During vacation and holiday periods, of course, a lot more families are evident. On longer cruises, including Europe and South America itineraries, retired seniors predominate. While children do cruise during vacations, some Alaska cruises and aboard Century's Caribbean cruises, these ships are unapologetically primarily for adults.
Shore Excursions
The Xpedition series offers unique, and sometimes even extreme, experiences in Celebrity's ports of call, such as the Galapagos Islands or the ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru. Options in other parts of the world include a visit to the Kremlin in Moscow, exploration of Easter Island, marlin fishing in Mexico, zodiac and helicopter tours in British Columbia, bear-watching in Alaska, and a private tour of the NASA space center in Houston. Celebrity Journey will go to remote areas of Antarctica, Brazil, the Chilean Fjords and other faraway regions of South America. Celebrity Quest's itineraries in Europe include the Black Sea.
Described in detail on the line's Web site, www. celebrity. com. these excursions can be booked online up to ten days before sailing. Obviously, some of these adventures go beyond the usual four-hour bus tour, but well-planned and efficiency optimized, you find them to be on par with the luxury cruise lines in terms of quality and price.
Past Passenger Programs
Celebrity's "Captain's Club", a triple-tiered program offering a range of benefits based on how many of their cruises you've been on, sponsors four Captain's Club reunion cruises each year. Other loyalty rewards include complimentary one-category upgrades on selected cruises; a cruise video; priority embarkation and debarkation; a newsletter; complimentary wine tasting, and a cocktail party. For further information call 1-800-760-0654 or 1-316-554-5961.
Attire
This is a dressier ship then an average mainstream cruise lines like Carnival or Norwegian cruise lines. It's a good idea to bring a jacket and dress shirts although ties are never mandatory. Feel free to dress to the nines on formal recommended nights however tuxedos are certainly never required but neither will you stand out in a crowd if you choose to wear one.
Ladies, feel free to dress up on formal recommended nights but I would not take it into" gown" territory.
Tipping
Celebrity suggests a per person per day gratuity of $3.50 for the waiter, butler (suites only) and stateroom attendant; $4.00 for stateroom attendant in Concierge Class; $2.00 for the Assistant Waiter; .75 for the Assistant Maitre d' and the Assistant Chief Housekeeper. Children under 12 who are the third or fourth person in their stateroom need cough up only half those amounts. Tips may be added to the passenger's shipboard account upon request.
As on so many lines, a 15 percent gratuity is automatically added to beverage tabs, and you're on your own when it comes to room service, spa, casino and other staff. Gratuities to shipboard personnel are included in the fare for Celebrity Xpedition.