A very personal review of Celebrity Eclipse.

[towny44]

Realising that reviews are generally cruise and destination specific I thought it might be an idea to provide a review on the ship itself, especially since I feel that Celebrity will be an excellent choice for ex P&O cruisers.

Statistical comparison of Eclipse with Azura & Ventura.

Eclipse Tonnage 122,000, Length 317M, Beam 37m, Passengers 2886/3086.
Azura/Ventura Tonnage 115,000, Length 290m, Beam 36m, passengers 3064/3574.

From the above data you will see that space per passenger is far higher on the Eclipse than on the P&O equivalents, and the extra space is one of the features you notice about the Celebrity ships. The other ones, IMO, are the cleanliness of the ship, the public rooms are maintained to a very high standard, I don’t think I ever saw a lift button with finger marks on it, and the toilets are clean enough for the most fastidious. The open decks are scrubbed clean every morning and also dried, unlike our last experience on Azura. All the dining rooms, including the Ocean View buffet, are similarly maintained in an immaculate condition and the cleaning staff does have a much higher daytime profile than on P&O.

High service standards are another noticeable feature, you are greeted with a smile and quite often by name all around the ship, I cannot remember seeing any sullen waiters, and in all the dining venues the head waiters are constantly monitoring and fine tuning the performance of the staff.

The food is also high quality, although I accept that this will be very much a matter of personal preference.

Finally the quality of the fitting out of the ship is, IMO, of a much higher standard than P&O, marble effect fittings in the bathroom as opposed to the definitely plastic ones on Az/Ve are an example of this. But Eclipse is in no way flashy and probably lacks any Wow factor, however it is very elegant.

Eclipse by deck

Decks 15 & 16 are mainly sun decks, with the kids clubs forward on 15 and the lawn area aft. The aft also has the Corning hot glass show venue and the sunset bar.

Deck 14 has the Ocean view buffet aft, IMO this has a much better layout than Az/Ve, the servery is set out with island displays and is accessible from both sides of the ship, at the very back is an alfresco section , which is much larger than Az/Ve. The Ocean view also has a free ice cream station which is open all day serving cones or small bowls, as well as several types of sweets by the dish. Forward on 14 is the Sky lounge and bar, similar to P&O’s crow’s nest on some ships, this has full height panoramic windows on 3 sides and lots of seating including some settee loungers. There is a small dance floor and stage and the lounge is used for some evening entertainment, as well as daytime dance and Zumba classes and some quizzes.
Midships is all sun bathing, with some areas having canvas canopies to provide shade, this deck also has the jogging/walking track running around the deck area, and of course the pool bar and burger bar.

Deck 12 has the fitness centre and spa in the forward section, just aft of this is the Solarium covered pool which also houses the Aqua spa café serving light choice breakfasts and lunches. The main pool is aft of this, and the furthest aft section has cabins which are under the buffet.

Decks 6 to 11 are all accommodation decks. The balcony cabins on the Solstice class ships are nearly all identically sized including the balconies, but there are some cabins, going onto the “humps” where the deck widens, which have larger angled balconies. Cruise Critic’s Celebrity forum has a good sticky with lots of info about individual S Class cabins. The highest graded standard balcony cabins are Aqua class, which offer perks including your own speciality restaurant, at no extra charge, and limited spa access. But these are either under the pool deck or buffet area and some have quite a large overhang above them which must limit the sunbathing possibilities. The lowest grade cabins, category 2D do have partially obstructed views because some of the lifeboat structure is visible from the balcony. However from all the balcony cabins in the recessed sections you do look down on the lifeboats, but you do on a lot of the new ships.
All balcony cabins have a 2 seater sofa and the balconies are deeper than on AZ/Ve, the TV’s are flat screen 32” sets with lots of interactive features and Sky News and Sky Sports news as well as BBC World, and they also have tea & coffee making facilities on all Southampton sailings.
The bathrooms have a large shower area with a Perspex door which is far better than P&O’s plastic shower curtain and all the fittings are of a higher standard than P&O. The only feature lacking is a clothes line in the shower area which is a pity since there are no self-service launderettes on Celebrity.
We have not stayed in an inside or outside cabin so I am unable to comment about these. However the brochure gives inside dimensions of 183 – 200 sq. ft. and OV dimensions of 177 sq. ft., these compare with balcony cabin only dimensions of 194 sq. ft. and the layout is the same for all these cabins.

The library is forward of the midship lift foyer on decks 10 & 11, the card room on deck 9, and the ilounge on deck 6.

Decks 4 and 5 house most of the entertainment and the dining venues.

All of the speciality restaurants, including Aqua class’s Blu, are aft of the central lift and stairs area on deck 5, we have used both Murano (French) and Tuscan Grill (Italian) and they do provide something extra special for a romantic occasion, but they are pricier than P&O. Forward of the lift area is Bistro on 5 and Café Al Bacio, a low cost creperie and speciality coffee shop, then shops and the photo gallery as far as the front lift and stairs foyer, then you have the upper level of the theatre.

Forward on deck 4 is the lower level of the theatre, aft of the lift foyer you enter the entertainment court with the disco and Celebrity central, a small tiered presentation theatre used for lectures and guest speakers. Then more shops along the port side and the casino on the starboard side. There are then a number of bars around the open area looking down onto the Grand foyer on deck 3. Aft of the lift foyer is the upper tier of the Moonlight Sonata MDR, which is now used exclusively for Celebrity Select, their version of freedom dining.

Below this on deck 3 is the ground floor entrance to the MDR used for traditional two sitting club dining. Forward of the lift area is the Grand foyer which houses guest relations, the shore excursion desk and the passport bar and it also has quite a reasonable lounge seating area. Celebrity uses the Grand Foyer for some of their production shows including their version of Dancing with the Stars (Officers), as well as live music from their show groups. Forward of the GF are the OV cabins plus a smaller number of inside cabins.

Deck 2 is quite often where the shore gangway is located, sometimes when there are 2 gangways in use both the midship and forward lifts will give access.

[kaymar]

Thanks, Towny - some interesting and useful information.

[Mervyn and Trish]

The thing I disliked about Eclipse's balcony cabins is that they alternate in layout to cram more in to the length of the ship. Clearly the widest bit has to be wide enough to accommodate the length of the bed and room to get past it, but they are narrower where the settee is. To make this work alternate cabins have the bed or the settee nearest the balcony end. That didn't work for me, as our had the bed dy the view and the settee further away. If I'm paying for a balcony and a sea view I'd like to see it when I'm seated during the day, not look across the bed and the length of the cabin, and sit facing a wall.

[towny44]

M&T, If you check out the sticky on CC, or just ask as you make a booking, I am sure they would ensure you get the layout you prefer.

[Mervyn and Trish]

It was a minor point Towny, among the things we hated on Eclipse.

More significant was making us queue for ages to find out which sitting we were on for dinner, let alone table. And losing our select dining booking, which we had booked and paid for in advance, then denying it ever existed. Another hour wasted sorting it out.

And to rub salt into the wounds then telling us every five minutes how wonderful they were, including making everlasting speeches while our dinner went cold.

And after all that asking what time we wanted to disembark then giving the time furthest possible from our request. I need more than an assured cabin layout to tempt me back.

Maybe we just had a bad experience, but I set out all of the above, andn more, in much more detail, in the Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire, and provided contact details and heard nothing. I can only assume they thought my desire for something at least up to 2 star standard was unreasonable and they considered the service we received acceptable. No ta.

[Ray Scully]

I look forward to comparing and contrasting our Feb/March Eclipse with our recent sojourn on Azura.

I will even consider a "live from" if I receive sufficient contributions from Forum members to cover my internet costs

John, thanks for your review, most helpful, however more information regarding the bars would have been invaluable.

Ray

[towny44]

I don't spend a lot of time in any bars so I'm not the best person to advise on which ones are good or bad, but I will give it my best shot.
From the top it's the sunset bar fully aft on deck 15, it is Al fresco and has wicker chairs for lounging, very quiet during the day, pre dinner it is a bit livelier with occasional musicians.
Deck 14 is the Sky lounge, does have tall stools for the bar flies but mainly waiter service for the tables especially when they have musicians on in the evening.
Deck 5 aft has the ensemble longe bar, the place for pre dinner drinks if you are dining in one of the speciality dining rooms. This does have occasional live music and has bar stools as well as waiter service. Michaels bar is also in this area, but did not use it so cannot comment. There is also some sort of bar near the art gallery.
Deck 4 has the officionados bars, cellar masters which is a wine bar, and crush and the martini bar, one of these has an ice bar top and one sells those deadly dry ice cocktails.
Deck 3 has the passport bar in the grand foyer, probably the hangout for pre dinnere drinks for club diners.
Hope this helps.

[Ray Scully]

John

Many thanks

Ray

[haveabeer]

towny44
Thanks very much we are on Eclipse in September the detailed post has helped us a great deal
We are concerned about embarkation as my wife is disabled and a part time wheelchair user because the walk to the ship is usually quite long
she will use the wheelchair never been an issue with P&O my wife panics if she feels she is holding up people behind her
Dont bother me but then again i not in the wheelchair Celebrity have assured us that we will be looked after

[ItsmeAnnC]

I have always noticed how well wheelchair users are looked after on P&O. I noticed the same on Celebrity, so I hope your wife finds it so. We are also on Eclipse in September - 26th. Maybe you are on the same cruise?
Ann (also from your neck of the woods)

[haveabeer]

I have always noticed how well wheelchair users are looked after on P&O. I noticed the same on Celebrity, so I hope your wife finds it so. We are also on Eclipse in September - 26th. Maybe you are on the same cruise?
Ann (also from your neck of the woods)

My wife does get looked after by P&O so we are hoping the same on Celebrity
My wife gets flustered if she feels she is holding everyone up but most people are patient it's the few that aren't that causes her to feel this way.
I am sure we are on the same cruise but our date is the 21st sept?

[haveabeer]

Ann
Which part of Somerset you from?

[towny44]

We are also on the Eclipse 21st Sept Canaries cruise, nearer the time perhaps we should arrange a meet & greet.
Haveabeer, as another wheelchair user you don't need to worry we find that Celebrity looks after us equally as well as P&O.

[haveabeer]

We are also on the Eclipse 21st Sept Canaries cruise, nearer the time perhaps we should arrange a meet & greet.
Haveabeer, as another wheelchair user you don't need to worry we find that Celebrity looks after us equally as well as P&O.

Sounds like a good plan to me, and thanks for the info it's always a worry trying a new ship

[ChrisB]

We are also on the 21st September cruise to the Canaries. It would be nice to meet up.

[haveabeer]

We are also on the 21st September cruise to the Canaries. It would be nice to meet up.

It's a date then will arrange a bit nearer the time is this your first time on celebrity?

[ChrisB]

Yes Dave, our first time on Celebrity and looking forward to it. We have just come back from two weeks in Tenerife and I must say, although we enjoyed the holiday, cruising is much, much better. We have done over 25 cruises with P & O and after the last one, last June, on the Azura, which I believe you were on, we have decided to jump ship. We are also trying Princess in May. We have done one Princess cruise before but that was a long time ago.

Meeting up would be nice. We shall arrange something nearer the time.

[haveabeer]

Yes Dave, our first time on Celebrity and looking forward to it. We have just come back from two weeks in Tenerife and I must say, although we enjoyed the holiday, cruising is much, much better. We have done over 25 cruises with P & O and after the last one, last June, on the Azura, which I believe you were on, we have decided to jump ship. We are also trying Princess in May. We have done one Princess cruise before but that was a long time ago.

Meeting up would be nice. We shall arrange something nearer the time.

I thought that we where on same cruise last year, we are also looking to go in May as well would like to do the Ffiords but going to do a late deal but princess is on our watch list along with eclipes and Arcadia so you never now could meet in May

[towny44]

Yes Dave, our first time on Celebrity and looking forward to it. We have just come back from two weeks in Tenerife and I must say, although we enjoyed the holiday, cruising is much, much better. We have done over 25 cruises with P & O and after the last one, last June, on the Azura, which I believe you were on, we have decided to jump ship. We are also trying Princess in May. We have done one Princess cruise before but that was a long time ago.

Meeting up would be nice. We shall arrange something nearer the time.

Chris, we are also on Princess in May, the Emerald on May 24th, is that the cruise you are on?

[ChrisB]

John, No we are on Emerald from 31st May - 11th June. Have you been on this ship before? We have only done the Grand on Princess lines, but that was quite a few years ago.

[towny44]

Chris, We sailed on the Emerald in 2008 and essentially she is identical to Azura, very similar to Grand Princess but with the extra Riviera deck of passenger cabins, and with the Skywalkers nightclub further forward than it was on the Grand, from which it has now been removed.
I cannot recall the decor but generally Princess ships are a wee bit glitzier than P&O, and Emerald was our favourite ship until we sailed on the Eclipse.

[ChrisB]

Thanks for that info John. We are looking forward to both cruises, especially the Eclipse. It will be a nice change from P & O.
When we were on Azura last June we left the ports so early in the afternoon and the ship was travelling so slow. Out of the 17 day cruise we must have spent 11 days at sea. We were told by an officer that going slow saved on the fuel. We have done that same cruise on a number of occasions and different P & O ships but never spent so little time in port and so long at sea.

[haveabeer]

Thanks for that info John. We are looking forward to both cruises, especially the Eclipse. It will be a nice change from P & O.
When we were on Azura last June we left the ports so early in the afternoon and the ship was travelling so slow. Out of the 17 day cruise we must have spent 11 days at sea. We were told by an officer that going slow saved on the fuel. We have done that same cruise on a number of occasions and different P & O ships but never spent so little time in port and so long at sea.

Chris
You are so right infact we checked that we where still moving one night we also said that the time in port was getting less and less except Venice we left later due to the demonstrations
We are very keen to try Celebrity as well.
We met a couple in Dubrovnik in key side market who had recently been on Eclipes they loved it

[andyrmanc]

Hi sorry to butt in but we are thinking of doing a Southern Caribbean cruise on Eclipse in 2015 for my 50th. Does anyone know what the kids entertainment facilities are like. Our daughter has loved spending time in the kids clubs on Azura so I am sure she would be keen to do something similar on Eclipse.

Cheers

Andy

[towny44]

Sorry Andy but we have never been on Celebrity with any of our grand children so cannot give you a first hand account.
However we have seen the kids out and about with the kids club staff and they seemed to be enjoying themselves. Checkout their brochure or website for more details on what is available.