The 1200 passenger Celestyal Crystal performed admirably in
every regard! From how it handled the seas and docks involved, to the on-board
service, accommodations, food & beverage and entertainment, all was just
fine!
The ship never felt crowded, with ample venues on board to
eat, drink and have fun. Also, large
enough to handle the seas with ease yet small enough to secure dock space right
in town.
It was a good mix of clientele with English as the clear
dominant language. This sailing was the
last for the season and it seems with the growing popularity and new-found ease
of travel into Cuba, there were more Americans on this sailing than any
other. Many Canadians, and Europeans as
well many of whom spoke English.
The Cruise Director Danny did a great job, very personable
and proactive, getting involved in pretty much everything, including the
entertainment which was terrific!
~ THE
ENTERTAINMENT ON BOARD WAS SPOT ON, VERY TRUE TO CUBA AND IT’S CULTURE AND
HISTORY, SET TO WELL CHOREOGRAPHED SONG & DANCE ROUTINES PERFORMED BY
SPECTACULAR ARTISTS. STRONG USE OF
VISUAL EFFECTS SUCH AS ACROBATICS, PROPS & VIDEOS ENHANCING THE OVERALL
EFFECT ~
I was very pleased with the entertainment nightly, and
clearly the entire ship was as well. For
the main show, compared to the fairly mainstream generic “Vegas Style” or
“Broadway Style” shows on other cruise lines this was a refreshing and
delightful change. The performances also included some well done tributes to classic Broadway classics in addition to the authentically Cuban experiences. Through the link here
you can see videos of the exact shows I was enjoying on board: Cirque Fantastic Productions - Cuba
Shows Cirque Fantastic was tres magnifique! The band was outstanding as well as the
singers and dancers, Cuban based and very authentic. Besides the main showroom there are several other
lounges which offered delightful live music ranging from a lovely violin &
piano duet in a sultry lounge with plush seating, to having “local” street
style Cuban musicians playing in the outdoor lounge areas. All, FANTASTIC!
Cuisine was overall very good; ranging at times from
fantastic to good as is typical over the course of a week with several venues
involved, including buffets. The 2 main
dining rooms offered the same menu as the other restaurant which changed
nightly, offering a choice of 4 or so items in each category with good variety;
starter, soup / salad, entrée and dessert.
There were always some basic meals available as well such as hamburgers
and chicken Caesar salad, and upgrades at a slight cost to top of the line
Lobster and Steak.
Beverage service was
very good, ample cheerful staff serving drinks, with most people on board with
the pre-paid drink package (an inclusion with the People-to-People
program). It was a bit unusual that the
bartenders couldn’t “ring you up”, they deferred you to the cocktail server to
run your room card when you ordered, even if you go up to the bar and sit down. Plenty of nice lounges and areas inside and
out that offered comfortable seating and great beverage service, so this was
never an issue.
The cabins were adequate, appointed nicely, well designed,
comfortable beds. There are only 53
balcony cabins, which were retro-fitted onto this ship during a major
renovation in 2015. Noise was never an
issue for me or anybody that I spoke with, well insulated cabins.
There is a delightful spa on board, with some cruisers
remarking how wonderful their treatments were.
A casino with a few table games and some slots also on board, right next
to the most “upscale” lounge with the piano & violin duo performing to the
enjoyment of casino patrons as well. A fitness center, sauna and steam room and of course shops were also part of the experience.
I and others that I spoke with were very, very pleased with
the cruise overall. The staff was warm
and genuine, showing their eagerness to please and provide great service. To be on this ship while cruising such an
enigmatic destination was ideal. The
seamless interaction between the professors on board, the organizer of the
People-to-People program along with the shipboard staff showed an extremely
organized, well thought out plan of action.
~ THE TEAM
MEMBERS WORKED TOGETHER AND CREATED A VERY HARMONIOUS INTEGRATED
VACATION EXPERIENCE THAT WAS BOTH INFORMATIVE & EDUCATIONAL, AS WELL AS
EXCITING AND FUN ~
Personal preferences, tastes and desires are of course a big
factor in the enjoyment of one’s vacation.
As a travel professional when I am experiencing a travel product &
destination I always “interview” my fellow travelers, asking across a wide variety
of types of people. Across the board no
matter who I asked, young or old, couples or families, the general positive enthusiasm
and happiness with the cruise was clearly evident and genuine.
This is a very good value, a great price for a wonderful
program with lots of inclusions, and many choices to further customize your
experience. Go for it soon before the
charm of Cuba becomes altered with the inevitable influx of American companies
and tourists.
The document shown in the photo below is one of the daily
handouts received regarding the shipboard activities and experiences for that
day, while on board or in port. This one
is during the one day at sea, with an amazing variety of fun and interesting
programs!
For pictures of my Cuban experience, check out my Google Plus
profile through the link to the right.
