Celebrity Eclipse Cruise Review
Overview
Celebrity Cruise Line is like Royal Caribbean's posh, more refined older sister. We went into this cruise with opposite expectations: James expected a stuffy, uncomfortable experience with people that put on airs and food that was too fancy to enjoy. I looked forward to the design and styling as well as the food of which I read countless amazing reviews. We went out of our way to drive down to Miami in order to give Celebrity a try, and I have to say that it was completely worth it. From the moment you step on the ship to when you disembark, the experience you are treated to is definitely a step up. You are offered champagne or mimosas upon boarding, high quality flavored chocolates on your pillow, and beverages, cool towels and padded seating at the ports when you get back to the ship. Celebrity isn't perfect, but the small drawbacks (explained below) in no way "eclipse" the good about this ship and cruise line.
Staterooms
We opted for a interior stateroom, which was well-appointed and comfortable with a few touches that I wish were on all ships, but perhaps less storage than I would have liked. See that panel over the bed? That is actually storage space, but I found it entirely unusable. Other than that, there were four small drawers and a good-sized closet. If you prefer to hang your clothes, you should have no issue, but if you are a folder like me, you are left with overflowing drawers.
A complementary Celebrity beach bag is provided, and the beach towels which can be brought ashore are so nice, we had to buy a set. The television is a flat-screen LED with an exceptional interactive system which worked perfectly and provided more channels than I have ever seen on a ship. My favorite features were in the bathroom: a light which stayed on at all times, but was neither too bright or too dim and allowed one to utilize the restroom in the middle of the night. The other nice feature was a foot bar in the large shower for shaving legs. Art work was more bland than you'll find around the ship, and the soft goods are nice, but unmemorable. I got a peek at a balcony room and found it to be just as nice and slightly more spacious.
A complementary Celebrity beach bag is provided, and the beach towels which can be brought ashore are so nice, we had to buy a set. The television is a flat-screen LED with an exceptional interactive system which worked perfectly and provided more channels than I have ever seen on a ship. My favorite features were in the bathroom: a light which stayed on at all times, but was neither too bright or too dim and allowed one to utilize the restroom in the middle of the night. The other nice feature was a foot bar in the large shower for shaving legs. Art work was more bland than you'll find around the ship, and the soft goods are nice, but unmemorable. I got a peek at a balcony room and found it to be just as nice and slightly more spacious.
Food
Food is one of the things that Celebrity is most known for, and with good reason. Celebrity Chef Jacques Van Staden has crafted sensational new specialty restaurants, but doesn't ignore the main dining room or other no-charge eateries in any way.
Main dining at dinner offers two menus: one standard which stays the same each night and features classics like French Onion Soup and a high-quality steak, and another which changes nightly and offers slightly more adverturous fare. Nothing disappointed, and my favorite creme brulee delighted each night. There were fewer chocolate desserts than I would prefer, and nothing stood out in memory, but dinner was an enjoyable and tasty experience.
The buffet features a pod system which limits crowding and annoying lines, but can be difficult to navigate as some pods feature the same items. You can easily be filling your plate, think that you have seen everything, and happen upon an entirely new selection. Breads are fresh baked and more abundant than you can imagine with pretzel bread and sour dough as standouts. Desserts are small enough that you can try multiples and always features a different flavored bread pudding which goes fast. Hard scooped ice cream in a wide variety of flavors is also available, but always has a long line. Pizza is set out like a pizza buffet, is constantly being replenished and is pretty good for cruise ship pizza. A "choose your sauce" pasta bar is also on hand with other options like lasagna, spaghetti and alfredo. There is also a salad bar with pasta salad, fruit and such (which I didn't have room to try). Because the Eclipse often sails in the United Kingdom, there is a pod devoted to British faves like Indian food and a traditional English breakfast. Other pods and bars feature comfort food, Asian fare and even the occasional fried item like fish and chips.
Quick service venues around the ship are the Mast Grill and the AquaSpa Cafe. The Mast Grill is unfortunately located a bit of a hike (directly on the running track, no less)from the main buffet seating area and has few tables available nearby. It is also quite windy and crowded, but constantly provides freshly cooked burgers, hotdogs and french fries with extras like sauteed onions offered. This is not your standard, old burgers and hot dogs sitting in water with buns that are drying out. These burgers are quality and tasty. The AquaSpa Cafe is set up more like a cold buffet with vegetarian and vegan selections like penne pasta with pesto, asparagus and shards of parmesan. Fruit, sugar-free and lower fat desserts are available with a frozen yogurt machine. Dietary requests can be given to the servers, who bring out specially made entrees. Food was good, but if you want something warm, you won't find it here.
Cafe al Bacio is the upscale coffee shop and dessert counter. Desserts are free; coffee is not. A gelato counter, which is also extra charge, is a the opposite end, but was not to our taste. (We prefer traditional Italian gelato which is usually freshly-made on the premises and is a softer consistency than American ice cream. This gelato was harder and more icy.) Coffee is served in regular sized cups, rather than the large servings you get these days at Starbucks. It is priced fairly, and is offered in a variety of flavors. Desserts are exceptional with a particularly good Nutella cake, lemon tarts and cookies.
Main dining at dinner offers two menus: one standard which stays the same each night and features classics like French Onion Soup and a high-quality steak, and another which changes nightly and offers slightly more adverturous fare. Nothing disappointed, and my favorite creme brulee delighted each night. There were fewer chocolate desserts than I would prefer, and nothing stood out in memory, but dinner was an enjoyable and tasty experience.
The buffet features a pod system which limits crowding and annoying lines, but can be difficult to navigate as some pods feature the same items. You can easily be filling your plate, think that you have seen everything, and happen upon an entirely new selection. Breads are fresh baked and more abundant than you can imagine with pretzel bread and sour dough as standouts. Desserts are small enough that you can try multiples and always features a different flavored bread pudding which goes fast. Hard scooped ice cream in a wide variety of flavors is also available, but always has a long line. Pizza is set out like a pizza buffet, is constantly being replenished and is pretty good for cruise ship pizza. A "choose your sauce" pasta bar is also on hand with other options like lasagna, spaghetti and alfredo. There is also a salad bar with pasta salad, fruit and such (which I didn't have room to try). Because the Eclipse often sails in the United Kingdom, there is a pod devoted to British faves like Indian food and a traditional English breakfast. Other pods and bars feature comfort food, Asian fare and even the occasional fried item like fish and chips.
Quick service venues around the ship are the Mast Grill and the AquaSpa Cafe. The Mast Grill is unfortunately located a bit of a hike (directly on the running track, no less)from the main buffet seating area and has few tables available nearby. It is also quite windy and crowded, but constantly provides freshly cooked burgers, hotdogs and french fries with extras like sauteed onions offered. This is not your standard, old burgers and hot dogs sitting in water with buns that are drying out. These burgers are quality and tasty. The AquaSpa Cafe is set up more like a cold buffet with vegetarian and vegan selections like penne pasta with pesto, asparagus and shards of parmesan. Fruit, sugar-free and lower fat desserts are available with a frozen yogurt machine. Dietary requests can be given to the servers, who bring out specially made entrees. Food was good, but if you want something warm, you won't find it here.
Cafe al Bacio is the upscale coffee shop and dessert counter. Desserts are free; coffee is not. A gelato counter, which is also extra charge, is a the opposite end, but was not to our taste. (We prefer traditional Italian gelato which is usually freshly-made on the premises and is a softer consistency than American ice cream. This gelato was harder and more icy.) Coffee is served in regular sized cups, rather than the large servings you get these days at Starbucks. It is priced fairly, and is offered in a variety of flavors. Desserts are exceptional with a particularly good Nutella cake, lemon tarts and cookies.
Wow, all that and we still haven't gotten to the specialty restaurants yet! Let's start with the cheapest and work our way up. Bistro on Five is a creperie across the lobby from Cafe al Bacio, features full table service and has a $5 cover charge, which is a considerable bargain based on what you get. Soups and salads are on the menu, but the real star is the crepes which have fillings such as grilled chicken, sundried tomatoes, feta cheese, etc. Here is a link to the menu on beyondships.com. Desserts are also included, but you might want to double up on the crepes as the Italian crepe with Nutella is fantastic. Order as much as you like. We didn't try breakfast, but it doesn't get as glowing reviews. Seems that scrambled eggs just don't taste very good in crepe format. (or you could just go straight for the Italian and Nutella ;))
Tuscan Grill is an Italian restaurant which incurs a $30 surcharge. Dinner begins with an antipasti tray of parmesan, olives, prosciutto and salami. Honestly, this was my favorite part of the meal. That is not to say that the rest of the meal wasn't great, but imported cheeses and meats are the way to my heart. Bread with olive oil is also available to fill up on prior to your first course of soups and salads. Your main entree can be pasta, steak or a variety of fish and lamb dishes. A standout was a Blackened Ribeye with Cajun Seasoned Butter and Macaroni and Cheese. Here is the menu from beyondships.com. Service was attentive, friendly and professional. The restaurant is beautiful with a great view of the wake at the back of the ship. In my opinion, the meal is entirely worth the cover charge.
Qsine is Jacques Van Staden's baby and is the star hit of specialty restaurants on the high seas, winning multiple awards and acclaim. $40 is a steep cover charge, but you will have a dining experience like none other, which is the goal of this unique space. Appetizers, entrees and side dishes non-existent; you just pick your 4 or 5 favorite dishes on the iPad menu, and your server mixes them with your dining partner's choices and serves them tapas-style in a non-specific order. Everything was memorably presented, but some dishes were better than others. The Indian curries, steaks, and burgers were our favorites, but we will definitely be back to try more of this wide and varied menu. Dessert is one fun surprise after another, and if you are anything like us, you will practically need to be rolled out of Qsine. This restaurant particularly lends itself to groups because you get a chance to try a wider variety options without getting too full on one specific dish. So, not only will I be back, but I will be bringing my friends. The food quality is not neccesarily as high as the creativity, but you will certainly have a memorable experience.
Murano is the final specialty restaurant available to everyone, but we didn't get a chance to try it this time. According to a fellow passenger who has never met a specialty restaurant he liked, the food and presentation at this French restaurant were exquisite. He proclaimed it worth the money and said he would be back. Tableside service is the norm here with lobster and flambe on the menu. Again, the cover charge here is $40. The menu on beyondships.com is here.
Blu is a specialty restaurant available only to those staying in the AquaSpa class, is included in their cruise fare and is open for breakfast and dinner. The menu features fresh and organic options, and the space is gorgeous.
Tuscan Grill is an Italian restaurant which incurs a $30 surcharge. Dinner begins with an antipasti tray of parmesan, olives, prosciutto and salami. Honestly, this was my favorite part of the meal. That is not to say that the rest of the meal wasn't great, but imported cheeses and meats are the way to my heart. Bread with olive oil is also available to fill up on prior to your first course of soups and salads. Your main entree can be pasta, steak or a variety of fish and lamb dishes. A standout was a Blackened Ribeye with Cajun Seasoned Butter and Macaroni and Cheese. Here is the menu from beyondships.com. Service was attentive, friendly and professional. The restaurant is beautiful with a great view of the wake at the back of the ship. In my opinion, the meal is entirely worth the cover charge.
Qsine is Jacques Van Staden's baby and is the star hit of specialty restaurants on the high seas, winning multiple awards and acclaim. $40 is a steep cover charge, but you will have a dining experience like none other, which is the goal of this unique space. Appetizers, entrees and side dishes non-existent; you just pick your 4 or 5 favorite dishes on the iPad menu, and your server mixes them with your dining partner's choices and serves them tapas-style in a non-specific order. Everything was memorably presented, but some dishes were better than others. The Indian curries, steaks, and burgers were our favorites, but we will definitely be back to try more of this wide and varied menu. Dessert is one fun surprise after another, and if you are anything like us, you will practically need to be rolled out of Qsine. This restaurant particularly lends itself to groups because you get a chance to try a wider variety options without getting too full on one specific dish. So, not only will I be back, but I will be bringing my friends. The food quality is not neccesarily as high as the creativity, but you will certainly have a memorable experience.
Murano is the final specialty restaurant available to everyone, but we didn't get a chance to try it this time. According to a fellow passenger who has never met a specialty restaurant he liked, the food and presentation at this French restaurant were exquisite. He proclaimed it worth the money and said he would be back. Tableside service is the norm here with lobster and flambe on the menu. Again, the cover charge here is $40. The menu on beyondships.com is here.
Blu is a specialty restaurant available only to those staying in the AquaSpa class, is included in their cruise fare and is open for breakfast and dinner. The menu features fresh and organic options, and the space is gorgeous.
Ship Venues, Layout and Outdoor Spaces
The Celebrity Eclipse is a beautiful ship with great spaces and a few little problems. Let's hit the bad news first. The running track is in a terrible location and is completely unusable. The much lauded lawn is not worth near as much as some extra deck space would be, although the glass show is really cool. Give me some extra hot tubs and clamshells any day over a small stretch of grass that seems to be there just to show off. A Celebrity staple, Michael's Club, is rendered mostly unusable by the lack of pianist. Now, it is simply a stuffy lounge with leather sofas and elevator music, although on the ships which are being refurbished, it is receiving a makeover. (And according to the cruise director, Mike Gibbons, the piano man is coming back in the future.)
Now, onto the good! All loungers are padded and comfortable, with tons of beautiful spaces around the ship in which to relax. The adults-only pool has gorgeous jumping fountains and plenty of seating. (But, too few clamshells which were always "held" by chair hogs.) Hammocks around the main pool were almost always free, and hot tubs tended to not be overly crowded. The biggest surprise for me was how nice every single chair that I sat in was, from the loungers in the Sky Lounge to the oversized chairs in Cafe al Bacio. Each one had a matching pillow for your back and was beautiful as well as comfortable. Celebrity claims to have spent more on furnishing for this line of ships than any other line in the cruise industry to date, and I believe it. The styling is impeccible, and nothing feels cheap or thrown together. Each space is enhanced by the activities planned, and other than what I mentioned above, no space feels ignored or under-utilized. That goes for the theatre which feels custom-made for the shows, all the way down to the Martini Bar with its icey top and frosty landscapes. The Promenade deck features some seating, but few views as the life boats block the deck. The shopping area feels like an upscale mall, and the casino, while smaller than on other ships, is beautifully appointed.
I'll admit: this ship took me longer to get a handle on as far as layout than any I'd been on in the past. I am still not sure what exactly confused me, but there is no denying that I was pretty lost for the first few days. Quick tip for future cruises: entertainment venues are forward, including the theatre and Celebrity Central (for lectures and movies) and most dining venues are aft including specialty restaurants, buffet, and main dining. There are some spaces like the Sky Lounge and Lawn Club which aren't as intuitive, but just must be memorized.
Now, onto the good! All loungers are padded and comfortable, with tons of beautiful spaces around the ship in which to relax. The adults-only pool has gorgeous jumping fountains and plenty of seating. (But, too few clamshells which were always "held" by chair hogs.) Hammocks around the main pool were almost always free, and hot tubs tended to not be overly crowded. The biggest surprise for me was how nice every single chair that I sat in was, from the loungers in the Sky Lounge to the oversized chairs in Cafe al Bacio. Each one had a matching pillow for your back and was beautiful as well as comfortable. Celebrity claims to have spent more on furnishing for this line of ships than any other line in the cruise industry to date, and I believe it. The styling is impeccible, and nothing feels cheap or thrown together. Each space is enhanced by the activities planned, and other than what I mentioned above, no space feels ignored or under-utilized. That goes for the theatre which feels custom-made for the shows, all the way down to the Martini Bar with its icey top and frosty landscapes. The Promenade deck features some seating, but few views as the life boats block the deck. The shopping area feels like an upscale mall, and the casino, while smaller than on other ships, is beautifully appointed.
I'll admit: this ship took me longer to get a handle on as far as layout than any I'd been on in the past. I am still not sure what exactly confused me, but there is no denying that I was pretty lost for the first few days. Quick tip for future cruises: entertainment venues are forward, including the theatre and Celebrity Central (for lectures and movies) and most dining venues are aft including specialty restaurants, buffet, and main dining. There are some spaces like the Sky Lounge and Lawn Club which aren't as intuitive, but just must be memorized.
Service
As most lines do, Celebrity touts their service as being the best in the industry. Is it? Well, the stateroom attendent is the best I've ever had, and always seemed to be within earshot. (Does she sleep?) Our dining room server was friendly, prompt and remembered our preferences. He was among the best we've had, but a tad formal for our tastes. (Although that appeals to a lot of people.) The only service drawback, in our opinions, was the bar service. It wasn't unfriendly, but you couldn't call it warm either. Bartenders poured your drink, ran your card, and stood in the corner, avoiding eye contact. Perhaps they are forbidden from friendly passenger interaction; I don't know, but don't expect to tell your life story to one of these guys. That being said, the drinks were properly made, and often stronger than expected, so one can't complain. (One weird instance: there was one poor girl who we personally saw drop a tray of drinks on two different occasions near us who never apologized for the flying glass and took her time cleaning up.) While not normally considered under service, the entire entertainment staff went above and beyond on all occasions and truly gave us that "world-class" experience the line strives for. They remembered names, chatted with us and made every activity highly enjoyable.
Activities and Entertainment
In my opinion, Celebrity really excels in this category. During our interview with cruise directory, Mike Gibbons, we learned that Celebrity gives a lot of autonomy to the cruise directors, and Mike certainly put his to good use. It seemed we were always choosing between two options on the schedule, and never quite got around to doing everything we wanted. Remember the saying "leave them wanting more"? Well, that is exactly what Celebrity did. Of course, you had your usual activities like trivia, cooking demos, and wine tastings. But, you also had totally different options like Officer vs Guest Volleyball, stargazing with iPads on the lawn, and the glass blowing demonstration which was different every single time. (I think my mother in law would see each of those demonstrations if she sailed on this ship.) Not only that, but opportunities to participate in the activities were numerous. I think there were at least 3 different trivia competitions held each day. Celebrity also brings in a lecturer on each sailing, for those who like their cruising with a little learning on the side. Ours was a former major league baseball manager, but they vary from opera performers to financial gurus and beyond. And you know those cruise staff parties which usually feel a little cheesy and often forced? On Celebrity, they ramp those up with choreographed performances from the show dancers and elaborate costumes. Certainly not cheesy, and exceptionally well done!
Speaking of entertainment, how were the stage shows? While entertaining, they weren't the best I've seen and there were a few issues. The Cirque de Soleil-type show, Eclipse, was chock full of talented performers and amazing stunts, but the music wasn't to my taste. My favorites were the rock show and the Broadway/showtune show. I've seen better singers, but these shows were incredibly well constructed with songs that appeal to a wide variety of people and demographics. They succeed in being both current and nostalgic at the same time. One particularly nice thing about Celebrity: although you'll find similar themes on all ships, the shows themselves are unique to each ship. Special performers were usual cruise ship staples, (comic magician and impersonator) but were high quality.
Speaking of entertainment, how were the stage shows? While entertaining, they weren't the best I've seen and there were a few issues. The Cirque de Soleil-type show, Eclipse, was chock full of talented performers and amazing stunts, but the music wasn't to my taste. My favorites were the rock show and the Broadway/showtune show. I've seen better singers, but these shows were incredibly well constructed with songs that appeal to a wide variety of people and demographics. They succeed in being both current and nostalgic at the same time. One particularly nice thing about Celebrity: although you'll find similar themes on all ships, the shows themselves are unique to each ship. Special performers were usual cruise ship staples, (comic magician and impersonator) but were high quality.
Wrap Up
I can't imagine someone being disappointed by these ships or the experience they provide. Almost every person that I can come up with, I find myself thinking "they'd probably like Celebrity best". The few exceptions to this rule would be families with young children or teens. While they have programs for these groups, there just aren't enough of those demographics on these ships to fully realize the potential of the programs. Don't mistake my words to mean that this is an old demographic; it isn't. There are lots of 20 and 30 year olds on the ship, they just don't seem to bring their children along. Celebrity most certainly provides a premium experience with extra touches that will make you want to come back for more.
For our podcast review of the food with Celebrity VP, Chef Jacques Van Staden, click here
For our podcast review of the ship and experience on Celebrity as a whole, click here
For our podcast review of the food with Celebrity VP, Chef Jacques Van Staden, click here
For our podcast review of the ship and experience on Celebrity as a whole, click here
