Celebrity
Cruises' GALAXY
Baltimore/Caribbean
Sailing: June 2002
by George Hall
Background is 30-plus cruises on
several lines. George early 50's, Linda late 40's. We were traveling
with good friends we met 10 years ago onboard Zenith. This was our first 10-day
cruise.
We elected to drive to the Baltimore
area a day early, staying in White Marsh Hampton
Inn 8225 Town Center Drive, Baltimore, MD 21236. This relieved us
of any concern about arriving on time. Our friends drove from NY on the
day of sailing without difficulty. The Hampton Inn is fairly new,
costs $110 with taxes at AARP rate, provides complimentary continental
breakfast, and is located within easy access to large modern mall and
several restaurants. It is about 14 miles from the ship
terminal.
We were advised to arrive at dock
after 2 pm by cruise line fax. We elected to go to the dock at around
12:30 since we felt might as well be there as anywhere else if we had
to wait. As it turned out it was perfect timing this trip anyway. Upon
driving into Dundalk Terminal, we were asked to show our tickets and
given a pass to enter. Then drove to long term parking area located
near ship. We pulled up to a large container where we stopped and they
took our luggage. It was placed in the large container which is then,
when full, placed onto a truck and delivered to ship. We then drove
and parked our cars to await transport by shuttle bus to actual
terminal embarkation.
We were lucky that shuttle buses
started taking passengers about 5 minutes later. Buses were dropping
people off returning from cruise in an adjacent lot. The shuttle bus
drops you a short, up the ramp, walk from entrance instead of in front
of the door. This was fine for us but presents some problem for those
older that had carry-ons. Upon entering there was a metal detector
system which all carry-ons purses and so forth were fed through. I
noted that most stuff passed through without staff even looking at
screen, so much for security.
Upon entering the embarkation area
there was a pretty long line starting to form. We identified ourselves
as Captain Club members and were directed to a separate entrance line
for Captains Club and Suite passengers. There we were quickly
processed. The desk staff seemed surprised when she called up our
reservation and then asked if we had filled in our information online
(a new feature of Celebrity's web page) and we advised we had. She
said it confused her for a moment as that we were the first she had
seen so far. We were issued our onboard cards (sign in and cabin key
same card), which was marked SELECT, the new designation of Captains
Club members with 6-10. We should have actually been ELITE with over
10, but frankly I give up, having given all dates etc., and accept
whatever status they wish to give. The only difference I noted between
SELECT and ELITE so far is a separate disembark lounge area serving
continental breakfast. Our friends being CLASSIC members did not have
that so we wouldn't be using it anyway.
They had just started boarding about
1 PM, so we were fortunate to get to go right onboard. We were
directed to our cabin location (not escorted probably because of early
embark and availability of staff), a cat 2 number 9103 outside veranda
cabin. There we found our new Captains Club information packets and
coupons as well as dining assignment. The NEW Captains Club
enhancements, okay I'll take what I can get but I remain of the
opinion that it just isn't that big a deal. The priority boarding and
disembark remains the only feature that really impresses me.
Everything else is SALES oriented as a base and really just makes me
feel like they are trying to sell me something. Here's what I mean.
Casino coupons - $5 match play at table, can't use as a bet, just a
match play. $12 coin for $10 coin purchase. Okay real $2 and you could
cash in and make $2. FREE Etrusscean or some such spa treatment WITH
of course, a purchase of $80 or more of spa service. This was where
they put you in a room with some mud stuff you ladies like to smear on
yourself and you get to smear it on yourself, in other words no staff
involved in treatment hence only cost them the room and some mud.
Sorry, ladies, I know you know better than I, a mere male, and that
this does something for you. Bottom line for me, no big deal again and
only FREE after you spend $80 or more. Was FREE for Linda since she
spends that amount and much more anyway. They also recommended you
bring a friend to help you put the mud on, friend was no charge
too.
Now as I said, Linda spends a few
dollars in spa, probably around $400 (she works hard and certainly
enjoys a little luxury). I was under impression that the Aqua Spa was
available to passengers on day they had spa services at no charge,
wrong. This is only if you are on particular package that day. Linda
had 10 minutes between services and attempted to use Aqua Spa for the
10 minutes, "oh no" she was told, there is an additional
charge. She said forget it but just another mark against the alleged
big deal status of being SELECT or ELITE or whatever. Additional
Captains Club stuff was costly routine invitations to
"parties," free watered down cocktail, sales pitch and so
forth, we passed on all. Nice touch was two roses in Cabin on bed
second night. Invitation for behind scenes look at Celebrity showroom
backstage area. We didn't take it but since I can't figure what they
would sell you there might actually be a little free "bene" if you
wanted to see backstage.
So in case you didn't notice, I am
less than impressed with my new found Captains Club status. I don't
like it when they think I am stupid enough to think they are doing
something for me as a good customer when all they are really doing is
trying to get me to use and buy more paid services. Cabin, clean and
reasonable size with comfortable bed. Balcony, nice enough with two
chairs and a foot rest and table. Reasonably private although not
totally. Galaxy cabins have a regular door to balcony versus a sliding
door, sliding doors are nicer in my opinion. Celebrity continues to
provide a water carafe, which is a nice touch. Small ice bucket and a
mini refrig filled mini bar loaded with soda's and small booze
bottles. You are charged as used and replenished by your steward. Two
sodas comes to $4.95 with tip.
I heard several people complain about
drink prices. Normally I accept that drinks are NY priced and offend
many from other parts of country but even I noted that prices are
higher than even NY prices. Liquor and soda stores did landmark
business in ports. Although carry-ons were checked and security did
ask if there was bottle of booze in carry-on they did not try to
confiscate it, although one guy looked like he was thinking about it.
Talking about prices, I will admit I didn't really pay to much
attention, bought one photo think it was $9.95 now instead of $5.95 or
$6.95 as in days gone by. That doesn't bother me because I just don't
buy them anymore with maybe one exception if photo is really great.
Did have to spend money on real coffee at Tastings. Coffee onboard is
the syrup instant that just doesn't make it. I am told that dinner
coffee is brewed. The coffee at Tastings is espresso and cappuccino
and worth every penny to get that start up blast of caffeine I need. I
noted that all the cruise staff get their coffee there too.
I didn't find too much nickel and
diming though. Ice cream was readily available in Oasis Buffet. Lots
of advertisements to buy things such as towels provided in cabin FREE
for use on shore also have card with them, you may buy towels for $28
each to take home (pool towels available at pool). I presume if you
forget them at beach the same $28 will be added to your account. Robes
provided in cabin as well, yes you can buy those too. Martini glasses
in martini bar, you can buy them for home, also a cook book, CD's of
recipes, menus, heck, I would bet if you wanted a replica of the
Captains uniform they would try to get one made up for you to buy.
Again, unlike years past when I felt that cruise was special, I am now
constantly made aware that it is merely another business trying to
sell me something. It always was but just so apparent now and so taken
to the extreme. For me it just takes so much away from the
experience.
The 10 day itinerary has a lot of sea
time. Both weather and circumstance made this very noticeable. First
weather was rainy much of the time, something that was just a case of
bad luck you must live with. A large bad weather system covered much
of the area during our cruise. Nothing horrible, just overcast and
drizzly. This limited deck time, in fact both deck parties were moved
inside which is just not the same. Again I understand that weather is
weather and cruise line is off the hook for this one.
Second, on the 2nd day the ship came
to a halt at sea for about 20 minutes and then started again. We were
advised that an engine problem occurred and that we would be skipping
Belize and spending a full day in Key West for repairs. This was fine
with me since Belize was not on my must see list but many were
unhappy. It also added another day at sea where enough existed
already. Celebrity was gracious enough to render a $50 per person
(think $25 for 3rd and 4th) onboard credit to our accounts. For me
that was a plus, for those wishing to visit Belize they were not real
happy. The great thing is that Key West was sunny and I was meeting a
buddy vacationing there at Sloppy Joes so had more drinking time
ashore.
Cozumel it rained all day but we went
to Chankanaab lagoon and the ladies swam with the Dolphins while Tom
and I enjoyed the bar and some great appetizers. We all then went
swimming and headed back to ship. I can remember when a cab ride in
Cozumel was $3, now it cost $10. BUT NOTE they will try for more so
set your price beforehand with driver. I tried to do that (sign on
pier said cab to Chankanaab $10) but driver ignored me like he didn't
understand and started off. Fine, when we got to lagoon he says $15
dollars. We said, rather in his face I admit, $10 and no TIP! He
quickly said OK, OK. Sometimes it pays to be two guys 6'2" and
200 lbs. The ladies had gone in taxis provided with Dolphin tour. Note
it also costs $10 a person to enter Chankanaab, you pay as taxi
enters. The tour includes this fee at $99 for package and includes
transportation. We jumped into cab on way back with them and got a
free ride. Since driver didn't attempt to hold us up over that he was
tipped well enough to have covered ride cost anyway.
We were first in Cozumel in 1984,
when it was mostly shacks and straw market. Now it has really built up
into shops, new roads, and of course higher prices. We actually
stopped in Cozumel a different day than scheduled due to itinerary
charges and EIGHT ships were all in, a very busy place. We also were
tendered in on this stop. CoCo Cay was a beach day, also tendered, and
also overcast, still a nice day. Because there was no sun many didn't
put on sun block. Don't make that mistake. You still get burned as
evidenced by many who suffered sunburn that evening.
Nassau, yeah a sunny day! We normally
don't get off in Nassau but decided to break from tradition just to
get off the ship for a while. Turned out to be a good move since we
found some nice Cohiba cigars at reasonable price. Being loyal
Americans we burned all the evidence of our Cuban cigars before
hitting American soil. They were gooood :)
Again, sailing back to Baltimore the
weather was overcast but it was warm at least. Hopefully most doing
this itinerary will find sun. This is really the first time in many
Caribbean sailings that we ever saw such continual crummy weather.
Such is the luck of the draw. The seas for most part were calm enough
and ship was nice and stable even in moderate seas.
Dining was hampered by a tablemate
from hell that I won't bother going into. In 30 plus cruise we have
been blessed with many a great new tablemate friend, several of which
we still remain in contact with so I guess we were do for this one.
The nights she didn't attend dinner were great! There were three of
those, fortunately. Food itself was excellent and service impeccable
and we have no complaints on that. In fact, all the Galaxy staff were
friendly and provided excellent service including our cabin Steward
Luis. Only the Maître d' left something to be desired but that isn't
unusual. Cabin room service was excellent as well. Ship was clean and
appeared well taken care of. Oasis buffet was fine although the pasta
station uses enough garlic to chock a horse. You can barely walk past
without gasping for air. The beverage area as always is a pain. We
always recommend bringing along large plastic cups since Celebrity has
the smallest drink cups I have ever seen. They also seem to have a
problem keeping beverage areas filled and operating. I would think
that they were trying to sell me sodas except that bar service was
near non-existent in buffet area as well. We were prepared at least
with our large cups.
Disembarkation - We were advised that
Customs would board in Nassau and that we would receive a designated
time to report to Customs while sailing home. We received a note to
report at 5 pm to the Celebrity lounge with completed Customs form and
passports, etc. We did so and line wasn't bad, we were checked off
manifest and then saw Customs guy who stamped our form and we were
done. No one asked to see passport or anything else. You retain
Customs form to hand over on disembarkation. Despite this pre-Customs
operation, the ship still didn't clear for disembarkation until around
12:00 pm on the day of arrival even though we were docked on time at
10 am. While we waited in Celebrity lounge (for Captains Club and
suite disembarkation) we noted over 40 cabins called to report to
Customs in the library. Don't know if these were people that had
decided they didn't have to report as directed when we were at sea or
something else.
Those who haven't sailed since 9/11
should note that everyone reports for Customs/Immigration now, unlike
past days of just non-US citizens. Eventually they called clear and
disembarkation started by color and number. We were one of the first,
found our luggage and a porter (porters were not that plentiful but
better than last year) and were taken to large buses where our luggage
was loaded into them and then we were driven to the parking area. In
parking area we were left off with luggage in one area and it was
suggested that we go get our cars and bring them to the luggage rather
than try to carry it all to the cars. Only way to do it really unless
you are a pack mule. We were in the car and on the highway by 1:30
pm.
The weather and one tablemate did
indeed impact on this cruise for us. A GOOD cruise nonetheless, but
frankly far from the best cruise I have taken. I have always enjoyed
sea time, but the combination of bad weather and sea time, coupled
with this being a 10-day cruise made me ready to head home. You
shouldn't be dissuaded, though, if you are scheduled for a sailing. I
would presume your weather will be better, as will your tablemate.
As I said it was a good cruise, I'm
just used to great cruises, so I guess our number was up.
NOTE: Parking is $5 per day, paid in
cash only upon entry to lot area. Much better than NY's $18 a day
price. Lot appears secure as it is in container area, which I am sure
is maintained secure. I didn't have any problem with our cars nor note
anyone that did.
Photo Courtesy Celebrity
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