Summary:
We’re regular customers onboard Celebrity Cruises and always choose Aqua class in an, often vain, attempt to control the weight gain whilst enjoying excellent food. Our most recent cruise started in Miami and took us around the southern Caribbean. Embarkation was its normal scrum but none the less was relatively quick with direct boarding after booking in. No matter which cruise line you choose boarding day is much the same with a great deal of up selling, primarily centred on the spa and the specialty restaurants. If you enjoy the specialty restaurants, and we do, this is when you find a 30% discount on meal packages so is normally a good time to book. However, it would appear that there was limited take up on this particular cruise and during the later part of the cruise discounts of 50% were available. Staff and service were of the normal excellent standard, however, it was apparent that cost cutting is beginning to bite as the choices of food in Aqua were not of the standard we’ve come to expect such that on a number of occasions better choices were available in the buffet - indeed on at least 3 nights the buffet proved to be the better option. We always choose a wine package, not least as it allows us to sit back and enjoy our holiday without any nasty surprises at the end of the cruise. The reduction in staff also has had an effect on the serving of drinks with those staff remaining being rushed and not making drinks correctly, this was particularly apparent at the pool and mast bars. The choice of Aqua proved an expensive mistake as the change in the type of food served ment that other than the Persian Garden, observation lounge and toiletries there is little to separate it from a standard balcony and the additional cost is not worth it. Overall a satisfactory cruise but the lesson learnt was go for a balcony rather than an Aqua suite, avoid ships shore excursions as they were at least 50% more than could be obtained ashore and if you’re going to have a drink order it from one of the waiters.