A & C
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Staff: Excellent guest services from waitstaff to housekeeping- everyone was exceptional in being quick to respond, friendly, helpful, hardworking, hospitable. You can tell that they take pride in taking care of their guests and keeping the facilities clean. I hope that whatever the management is doing to train the staff and to keep the staff happy, that they keep doing it- happy staff equals happy guests.
Ship: This is an older ship, the furnishings and fixtures are dated, but everything is in working order and very importantly, clean. My favorite place besides my Oceanview room (nice large window btw), are the cabanas on Oasis deck for adults only. We opted to stay onboard one day and we spent about 4 hours there, not a single interruption of anyone offering alcohol or anything. Relaxing jazz music, nice jacuzzi (I’d say 6 adults could fit in there comfortably).
Value: Amazing!!! Do not book this and expect a fancy/luxurious cruise- that said, this is an awesome deal for a fun getaway with excellent service and cleanliness. We did a Groupon deal and were very happy with what we got for only $358 for two people INCLUDING taxes/fees/gratuities, Oceanview room, all food (5 course dinners included- appetizer, soup, salad, entree, dessert). We went to a couple of shows that were included- Tina Turner experience (high energy, can tell she loves her audience, very fun), and the circus/singing/dancing/acrobats- high energy, especially loved the amazing acrobats. We did get drink offers but they were never pushy nor excessive- honestly I’d prefer to be approached once at dinner and shows to order something, instead of having to get up myself and ask to order a drink. Again, when we were in our cabanas or lounge chairs on the Oasis deck, we were left alone to sunbathe/nap the entire time- not a single person approached us, and we were able to really enjoy the solitude.
Food tips: Breakfast buffet- Grab some unlimited coffee/tea, go to the made to order station for customizable omelets (poolside), then go to another station for hot and fluffy waffles, and get a window seat for an awesome start to your day. (Would have loved some hot chocolate but none in sight.) The rest of buffet items were standard fare- fruits were fresh, especially the pineapples were so sweet and juicy. Lunch buffet- seafood anything was sooo fresh, well-seasoned fish on both days. For the adventurous palate, the lamb curry over jasmine rice is delicious, the chana masala (curried chickpeas) was very flavorful, with real ginger (which is good for the stomach especially if you’re not used to being on a ship). Fave lunch item- made to order penne pesto- honestly I’d be happy just eating this alone, it was that good. Unlimited self-serve soft serve poolside. I’d skip the poolside burger- the patty was a good size (not a hockey puck thankfully) but it lacked flavor. Dinner: We had five course dinners both nights (see pics)- this is perfect for a date night or a dressy dinner with friends. Note that the sit-down dinner is an experience in itself- takes about 2 hours- so only do this if you really want to relax and unwind with a fabulous, unhurried dinner.
Recommendations: First time cruisers, Floridians, couples, friends, solo. Our friends did a girls trip last year on this cruise and they recommended it to us. We spoke to a solo cruising Florida local who’s done this 7 times and she loves it, and after our own experience, we’re going to recommend this to our friends and family. I wouldn’t fly across the country just to go on a 3 day cruise, but if you’re thinking of it, I’d suggest adding a few days of either Disney (about 3 hour’s drive from West Palm) or Miami (about 2 hour’s drive from West Palm). They also have Bahama hotel packages if you’re looking for a Caribbean vacation.
Thank you, BP Celebration staff for an awesome getaway! Keep up the exceptional service and you’ll have lots more guests to compliment and recommend your cruise.