Jemma

Aug 7, 2023

Exceptional!

We recently embarked upon the Alaskan Inside Passage Cruise with Celebrity Cruises, onboard the Celebrity Eclipse. This was our first cruise, and we were a little unsure of what to expect. My husband really wasn't keen on the idea of being confined to a boat, but the lure of Alaska managed to sway him. We boarded the ship, which was beautiful, it was very modern, stylish and was spotlessly clean. We were pleasantly surprised to find our key outside our stateroom along with our luggage and the room made up ready for us. Again, we weren't sure what to expect but the room was far more spacious than we were ready for and had all the amenities we could need. The balcony was spacious too and there was free Wi-Fi available that although not very fast, was enough to use the Celebrity app, check emails or send basic messages. Upon exploration we were delighted to find a range of shops, bars, restaurants, and entertainment options onboard. It’s really hard to explain the scale of the ship to someone who hasn't cruised, the best way I can describe it is as a floating village with everything you could need. During our cruise the staff were brilliant, Prince our stateroom attendant always kept our room pristine and was so attentive and friendly, he was willing to go above and beyond to meet everyone’s needs. All staff we encountered on the ship from the cleaning staff to bar staff and restaurant workers who tirelessly keep things ticking like a military operation with smiles on their faces were exceptional. Nothing seemed to be too much to ask of anyone and they always went out their way to make sure we were having the time of our life. The food onboard is excellent, the quality, freshness and diverse range of options is great, every dietary requirement and palate is catered for. We tried to visit most areas of the ship but even on the last day we were still discovering new areas. The ship has so many activities for you to enjoy depending on your interests such as bingo, game shows, competitions, fitness classes, spa treatments, live musicians, art auctions etc. There was also a putting green on the top deck, an outdoor pool, basketball court, running track, an indoor solarium with heated pool and hot tubs, spa, a library, shops to meet your every desire, casino, art gallery, a coffee shop like Starbucks, restaurants to meet every craving and taste and so many bars to choose from that there was no opportunity to get bored. Our favourite part of the ship was the theatre where we enjoyed a different show every night. The venue rivals some of the theatres we have visited in London and New York, with productions to entertain anyone. Genuinely you would be hard pushed not to enjoy yourself at any of the shows, from Broadway-style shows, to comedians, magicians, game shows, live music performances, acrobats and of course the humour of director Rich. Rich is a consummate professional who knows his craft and has honed his skills over the years. He really knows how to get an audience going and leave you feeling like you've had a great night out. I will point out that some of his dad jokes were rough, but we loved them anyway. He is a very friendly, approachable character who made his way around the ship each and every night talking to guests and being on hand to answer any questions people had, he was very welcoming and is a great asset to this ship. Particular recognition needs to go to Captain Leo who really is a people person. Leo took part in some of the shows including a game show and his dry humour was enough to hold up against the professional entertainers on stage. We attended captain Leo's talk on the navigation of a cruise ship which again was derived with poise in a way that had you captivated and entertained but never bored. I think the personal touches he delivers, speaking about his upbringing and passion for navigating are what makes him so endearing. The captain is also responsible for one of the highlights of the trip where he expertly maneuverer the boat with pinpoint precision through the frozen waters to Hubbard’s Glacier. The ship never rocked but instead we got to what felt like touching distance of the natural marvel before turning 360 degrees to ensure everyone had the best views, this was no mean feat. Celebrity Cruises have converted both of us to cruising in future and now my husband is looking to book our next cruise. Not bad for someone who had no interest in being stuck on a boat. Celebrity offers a special service that is unique in this day and age, in that you feel really valued and that the staff really do care about making sure you have the best holiday possible. Celebrity provided an exceptional first cruise experience for us that felt like a very personalised service. We will certainly be back on a Celebrity ship in the not too distant future.