CELEBRITY CRUISES
5201 Blue Lagoon Drive
Miami, FL 33126
(800) 437-3111
(305) 262-6677
Website: www.celebritycruises.com
OVERVIEW: Celebrity has a fleet of sophisticated, relatively new ships: the Century, Horizon, Galaxy, Mercury and the Zenith. The children's program for ages 3-17 operates in the summer and during certain holiday periods. In 1997, Celebrity's "Family Cruising Program" was ranked number three in the Best Family Cruise Line category by The Family Travel Network. This is noteworthy because Celebrity's program is seasonal.
Celebrity also gets high marks for its service, cabins and food.
DESTINATIONS: Alaska, Bermuda, Caribbean and Europe
SHIPS: Century, Galaxy, Horizon, Infinity, Mercury, Millennium, Summit (Oct. 2001), Zenith
KIDS/FAMILY PROGRAMS OFFERED: When the supervised children's program is offered (summer and certain holiday periods), kids are divided into four groups: ages 3-6; 7-10; 11-13 and 14-17.
The Century, Galaxy and the Mercury's playrooms are the fleet's biggest, and feature computer stations, ball pits and adjacent splash pools.
Activities include treasure hunts, masquerade parades, face painting, theater, junior olympics, t-shirt painting, and treasure hunts.
TEENS: On the Century, Galaxy and the Mercury' teens have their own center, where, sensibly, activities take place at teen-pleasing hours--late afternoon and into the wee hours of the morning. The hours of the Admiral T's teen program for ages 14 to 17 are from 2 to 5:30 P.M. and 7:30 to 1 A.M. Like the children's program, the teen program is available during summer and certain holiday periods.
Teens (14-17) have socials, basketball tournaments, talent shows, pool parties, karaoke, and more.
NUMBER OF YOUTH COUNSELORS ONBOARD: Each ship carries 8 youth counselors (including one supervisor and one lead counselor) during summer and seasonal sailing periods when the Family Cruising Program is offered.
HOURS: Program is offered seasonally only during major holidays (Christmas, Presidents' week, Easter week, and Thanksgiving) and summer vacation. Otherwise, a limited program is available if more than 12 children are booked on a cruise. When the full program is offered, the hours are 9 a.m. to Noon; 2-5:30 p.m.; and 7:30-10 p.m.
IN-PORT KIDS PROGRAMS: No.
BABYSITTING OFFERED:Group babysitting is offered in the children's playrooms for kids ages 3 to 12 from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. The cost is $3 per hour for one child and $5 per hour for two or more children in the same family. Private, in-stateroom babysitting is available for $8 per hour (available on a limited, first-come, first-served basis). On the two formal nights per cruise, counselors take the children (ages 3 and up) to a pizza party for dinner; they also offer free group babysitting those nights.
KIDS SHORE EXCURSIONS OFFERED: No shore excursions are offered exclusively for children.
SPECIAL KIDS RATES: 3rd and 4th person in cabin rates offered. Special children's rates available on selected sailings.
SINGLE PARENT RATES: No.
CRIBS AVAILABLE: A limited number of cribs are available upon request. Make sure to inquire and request a crib when booking.
STROLLERS AVAILABLE ONBOARD: No.
SPECIAL FAMILY FEATURES ONBOARD: Suites are available on the Celebrity, the Galaxy and the Mercury. In addition, the Galaxy has special staterooms comfortably designed for up to five family members. Unfortunately, no self-service laundry facilities are available on any of Celebrity's ships. Cabins are spacious and include hair dryers, lots of storage space, state-of-the-art audio/video systems, and in-cabin entertainment systems.
DINING OPTIONS: Food is part of the premium service and Celebrity has received much praise for tis meals. Celebrity is the first line to offer oven-baked pizza as part of its room service and delivery is available from 3 to 7 P.M. and 10 P.M. to 1 A.M.
The kids' menu features pizza, fish sticks, burgers and other kid pleasers. The ships have casual eateries and a particularly good in-cabin room service menu with food appropriate for children. This can be particularly helpful with young children and teens, both of whom tend to want to eat at other than set meal times.
MINIMUM AGE TO SAIL: Children must be at least one year of age to sail, and passengers under the age of two sail free.
©Copyright, The Family Travel Network, LLC, Inc., 2000. All rights reserved.
©Copyright, The Family Travel Network, LLC., 2001. All rights reserved.
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