Angela Cox

Age: 23
Occupation: customer service
Number of Cruises: 1
Cruise Line: Carnival
Ship: Celebration
Sailing Date: August 28th, 2004
Itinerary: Western Caribbean

Being a first time cruiser, I did not know what to expect on board the Celebration. What I didn't expect was to be treated like royalty, which is exactly what I got. I was waited on hand and foot. On the formal night, I playfully fashioned a tiara with my dress, but our Horizon dining room waiter, Everett, made me feel like a princess with or without it. The crew were all polite, professional, and friendly. They were well spoken and helpful to my family on numerous occasions. They were able to answer our questions quickly and precisely. They really made our trip worthwhile.

Cozy with a lot of storage space is how I would best describe the staterooms. They were larger than I expected and roomy enough for three adults. My boyfriend and I were able to effortlessly convert the two twin beds into a king. Another plus was the use of a security box inside your room free of charge. On a different note, even though we had an interior room, the fake window was a nice touch. The only complain I have about the room was the water pressure in the shower, but I guess you can't have it all.

I was warned that I might get seasick while aboard the Celebration, but I rarely felt the ships' movement. The only times the ship shuddered and vibrated were when we were docking, turning, and reversing. Other than that, we had a smooth ride. The first night I was there I was more exhausted than anything else, but certainly not seasick. Many times, I actually forgot we were on a ship in the middle of the ocean.

The food was excellent, especially in the dining rooms. There were many types of food to choose from, but if you weren't satisfied, the waiters gladly brought you something else. I would recommend trying new foods while in the elegant dining room. You never know until you try. Who would have thought that escargot would be a tasty appetizer? If you just wanted a quick bite without any fuss, then you have the Wheelhouse Grill buffet. It was okay, but nothing more special than Golden Corral. The 24-hour pizzaria served up some excellent food, so don't pass up on it.

Entertainment-wise, this ship had a lot to offer. With so many options and a variety of activities, we were never bored. While I attended an Austin Powers dance class, my dad gambled, my aunts leisured out on the deck, and my cousins happily sipped away on pina coladas. Of course there were many things to do as a group. We all loved the vegas-style shows and the comedians. Our favorite was a live band named Blackjack. They played great music, even better than the original singers. Even if you usually don't dance, the band's lively music is tempting and you can't help but to join everyone on the dance floor. They involved and interacted with the audience. They even chose my dad to lead the Conga, which was a lot of fun. Needless to say, we had a great time.

Since we didn't have any small kids or teenagers in our group, I'm not sure what they had to offer for the younger aged group. I did notice several unsupervised children around age ten or so running around. I would put that to blame on their parents, but it was annoying to be surrounded by their loud behavior none-the-less. My boyfriend and I stumbled upon a small video arcade by accident, but that's really the only room I found to be age appropiate for the pre-teens. As I mentioned before, there were no kids in our group so I wasn't too concerned with activities for children.

Once we docked in Cozumel, we set off to meet our guide for our excursions. We were able to sign up and pay for our excursions on board so we didn't have to carry a lot of cash with us in Cozumel. An adventure I really recommend is the dune buggy/ snorkeling combo. For less than one hundred dollars a person, we saw the whole island of Cozumel and snorkeled in its beautiful water. The guide, Al, was very organized and had a lot of personality. It was well worth the money and is a great way to venture out into the island. I must warn you though- the drivers in Cozumel all seemed to be in a hurry and had no consideration for anyone else, so drive with caution!

Because I was a first time cruiser, I don't have anything to compare this trip too, but from what I can tell, this was an awesome vacation. I strongly recommend this cruise to anyone who wants to be treated like royalty, to anyone who wants to have good time, and to anyone who has never been on a cruise before. I hope this review has been helpful to you. Happy sailing. Toodles!!

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