This review is based on our experience whilst on board.
Deck 9 Aqua Class Stateroom – Well presented and looks good following the Edge makeover, good use of the space.
A narrow dressing table area and a smaller sofa with tuck under table provides a clear walking area to the balcony.
The wardrobe area looks good but is impractical as the full length hanging space has shelves at the bottom and therefore does not have sufficient height for ladies dresses other than knee length shift.
Also the shorter side hanging does not have enough height for a man’s shirt, again due to shelves underneath.
The shower has a glass door opening inwards so no wet floor.
The television is limited, no access to restaurant menus or music Channels.
The balcony on deck 9 doesn’t get much sun due to the overhang of deck 10 which may be a positive or a negative dependant on your sun preference.
The Persian Garden benefits did not really appeal to us, it may have been more attractive if the stone bed area had a view but it is small windowless room.
Ocean View Buffet – It is very spread out and a lack of waiters for drinks, so you certainly get your steps in but the food quality and selection is generally good.
We found it very strange that when we asked for Evian or Pellegrino we didn’t get a glass unless we specifically requested one.
Aqua Class Blu Dining – Our first impression of Blu was slow and the the menu limited, the main dining room menu seems to have more selection.
Decided to try it for breakfast with great expectations, unfortunately the Eggs Benedict were cold and the mushroom and bacon side were tepid, the omelette was hot.
We continued with Blu and it did get better, both food and service.
The food was generally good but no WOW factor.
The main benefit was that we didn’t need to queue.
Main Dining Cosmopolitan – As soon as you board the ship, make a dining reservation otherwise much time will be wasted queueing regardless of loyalty level.
The table for two seats are very close to the next table to the side and behind, I am 5′ 7′ and 9st 10lb, and it was awkward to manoeuvre out of the chair and away from the table.
Casino – Great place, decent bar with instant service, helpful hosts and plenty of fun machines to play on and hopefully win as well as tables.
Face masks required.
Service – we noticed reduced number of staff serving at tables.
We visited the Martini Bar at different times and waiter staff passing through to take orders was very limited.
Generally all seats at the bar were taken to watch the bar staff cocktail shaking skills, consequently it is difficult to get to the bar to order without leaning over people.
It would be better to have someone taking orders from guests seated at tables.
This is in contrast to our experience on Apex where every Martini was shaken at the table and poured, the menu says they offer this on Summit but I don’t see how they could with insufficient waiting staff, disappointing compared to Apex.
We also found this to be the case inCafeAl Baccio, more often than not we had to queue up ourselves to get a coffee, there was always a line for coffee.
In Rendevous Lounge it was not unusual to queue for 10 to 15 minutes at the bar to get a drink.
The drinks service in the Theatre is fine.
All the staff work very hard but need more staff are needed.
Hopefully this is a temporary staffing issue and not the new norm.
since COVID.
Outside Pool and Whirl Pool – quite shabby and did not seem to benefit from Edge renovation.
Whirl Pools did not have button for bubble’s and the paint finish inside the pool had worn off.
There was lots of easy low cost maintenance that should have been done e.g.
missing paint on pool step faces, wooden structures for lighting had not seen any varnish for a long time, given ships have been out of service there is no excuse for low cost maintenance not being done and even more unbelievable that it could be missed following a Edge renovation.
Solarium – Good to get out of the wind and still be able to swim and use the whirl pools but popular, so you need to be early if required.
Entertainment – Hey Mama a girl band were excellent, as was Kyle, solo guitarist.
The Strings were also very good but mainly played in Cellars which was an area on the ship we found too cold for us.
Also it was good to see variety with guest entertainers.
Bob Brizendine the magician was really funny, even if you don’t like magic, go see him as he is more of a comedian.
The Celebrity Singers were weaker than others we have seen and hits from Broadway shows is a bit repetitive, no stage settings, costumes nothing special, appeared to be low cost production.
Acrobatics couple were very good.
Face masks required in the theatre.
Activities – A relaxing time by the pool deck was invaded by Zumba, a small number of guests turned up for it but the music was so loud we could not hear each other speak and we were forced to leave.
Another experience of Activities event was when we were listening to the Kyle on Guitar inCafeBiaccio, it was spoilt by an activity of throwing bean bags in a box on the main stairway, which banged constantly followed by huge cheers when it went in the box.
All for people having fun but the two events seemed to be located too close together as it was difficult to hear the music.
Itinerary – Good ports but may have been better to have Portland after Bar Harbour and longer in Charlottetown.
Bar Harbour – Nice little town easy walking distance of the ship, but very expensive shops and restaurants.
The Arcadia National Park tour was good and the bus was immaculate.
Halifax – Easily walkable, pleasant coastal boardwalk with small shops and eateries Sydney has a coastal walk from the port to Downtown which looks to be a new boardwalk.
Downtown is quite tired and very little to see, we arrived on Labour Day and most of the shops were closed.
I think it would be best to do a ships tour in this port.
Quebec – The old town is one block back from the port and walking distance of the ship, it is full of individual shops and restaurants, very pretty.
Charlottetown Prince Edward Island – if you want Lobster and other seafood, don’t bother in Boston as it is expensive, much better price and setting on P.E.I.
Shops and restaurants all walking distance of the ship and if you visit September onwards they will probably be the only ones open.
We went on an island tour but the shopping detailed on the tour was closed for the season.
Portland – The town is walkable from the ship and there are trolley buses and boat trips that can be booked at a ticket office once out of the port.
If arriving in Portland after Canada, US Customs perform a on board passport check and everyone must pass before them.
From the point of joining the queue at our scheduled time at 10AM it took 1 hour 45mins, and the queue to get off the ship was also extremely long.
Get in Customs queue early or your Celebrity Shore excursion could depart without you.
We did several ships tours and were happy with all of them.
Cleanliness – The restroom attendants kept them immaculate they were always present in the evenings cleaning between guests and opening the door.
All public areas are very clean.
Laundry – Celebrity does not have self service laundry.
We get free laundry on Celebrity with our loyalty level but we are reluctant to use it based on past experience.
Self service and access to an iron would be much better.
Overall Enjoyment – We enjoyed the cruise especially cruising St Lawrence River.
Unfortunately, due to the amount of queueing we had to do, it didn’t feel the 5* product we have previously experienced.
The staff they have are working very hard, just need more of them.
Quickest way to avoid queues is walk to the Casino bar and take drinks back to Rendevous or Martini bar where ever the music is playing.
