Celebration Cruise Lines
Two-night cruises to the Bahamas
By Lena Hunt
She was crowned the exclusive cruise ship of the Port of Palm Beach, Florida in March 2010. With gleaming beauty and much character, Celebration Cruise Line wears her title proudly. Celebration is unique in that she offers short cruises to the Bahamas at very low prices. This is especially appealing to those who don't have the time and/or money to take a longer cruise. In fact, she is the only one in south Florida to offer two-night Bahama cruises. The ship leaves every other day from Palm Beach, FL and on the same day goes for the Grand Bahamas. It's so convenient to hop on this ship and escape the world for a couple of days. The cruise ship is smaller than the big cruise lines and has a cozy atmosphere with the additional touches and attention that larger cruise lines often miss because they are, well, bigger. Yet there is much to do on the cruise and you'll find yourself not having enough time to do it all but the craziest thing of all is that the cost starts at only $64 per person so you can take another weekend getaway cruise whenever you wish.
Also, Celebration has its own resort called Our Lucaya Beach & Golf Resort. Passengers can opt to extend their trip by adding a four, six, or eight night stay at the resort and the price starts at just $64 per person. Don't let this low, low price fool you. The cruise and the resort are A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. The resort is an architectural phenomenon that wraps around acres of curvaceous paradise on earth right next to the blue, blue, baa-lue Caribbean sea. If that body of saltwater and swaying coconut palms in the Bahama breeze isn't enough for you, then try the various swimming pools. The “temple” pool has many pedestals and temples just brimming with fountains, lagoon pools that snake around the resort, and infinity pools that will have you wondering where the pool begins and where the ocean ends.
Celebration Cruise Lines
Two-night cruises to the Bahamas
Caribbean Vacation Part Two
By Lena Hunt
Southern Florida Cruise Port Specialist
Tampa - Miami - Port Canaveral - Ft. Lauderdale
August 1, 2010
Loaded with more bags than necessary for such a an island getaway, the check-in process went smoothly once I correctly filled out then necessary forms. Forgetting that I was not boarding a plane this time, I kept all of my luggage with me yet the cruise staff were glad to store and carry on the baggage if I wanted. The port authority was quite busy and I believe that security should have been tighter.
The only issue I had at this initial check in was not the cruise line's fault but the fault of the marketing company and its sales and customer service departments. I booked this trip with the promise and confirmation that I would get an ocean view cabin. Having called several times to confirm and even at the very beginning of the booking, the sales department was on my cell phone (I had the speaker on) and talking to the customer service department manager who was on my office phone (I had that speaker on as well) as they “argued” it out. After this conference call, both agreed that the original promise of an ocean view cabin upgrade would be granted. I made a few more calls to insure that my ocean view room was still in good standing. They insured me that it was and I even received my itinerary and letter of confirmation that my family and I were set to have a room with a view.
When the cruise line staff at the check in counter informed me that I would have an inside cabin, I showed her my itinerary, told her my ongoing concern, and she double checked and stated that I was correct. Yet all the ocean view cabins were taken and she recommended that I speak with one of the cruise line's managers, which I did and he checked to see if there were any availabilities while I got on the phone with the marketing company's customer service.
In one ear, I was informed that there were no cabins available and that I would have to take it up with the marketing company and in the other ear on my iPhone, I was told that since there is no ocean view rooms available, I would have to fill out a complaint after my cruise.
Greeted happily by staff members and hostesses trying to sell me alcoholic drinks for $7.50 as I boarded the a/c frozen ship, I asked once again what could be done about my room situation. I was told to check with the staff at the check-in counter and then if that has already been done, then I would have to fill out a complaint. The children were disappointed about the room situation but there was so much to do on our twelve-hour cruise that they didn't seem to mind it much until the trip back to the USA where they eagerly filled out their complaint forms.
Not many people realize that a ship's cabin is much, much smaller than a hotel so they find themselves being quite surprised when opening the door to their rooms. The ship has a great comedian who does a hilarious stand up routine about the size of a cruise ship's cabin. This guy is a rather large guy so he pokes fun at his maneuvering around his cabin especially in the shower and in the lower bunk. It's great to be able to laugh at what some would complain about.
Speaking of maneuvering, I did a great one as I was leaving Florida and heading to the Bahamas exactly at the same time Tropical Storm Bonnie
was leaving the Bahamas and heading to Florida. The trip away from the USA was amazing as the ship just sailed through the massive current, wind, and rain yet it did take the entire time to get to the Grand Bahamas. On the way back, however, the wind was not against the ship but behind her so that night, she stopped in the middle of the ocean with Florida's city lights shining in the distance and miles of sea on the other side and we just stopped and waited until it was time to head into port. It was quite a magical night as the sea was as calm as anything I've ever seen, a big full moon hanging low in the sky, and the entire ship and ocean was still. Dead still. Just waiting for the right time to start up again and dock in the USA. I couldn't believe the extreme differences in the weather and travel time on the way out and on the way back. This was one of the most memorable moments I will ever throw into my treasure box of memories.
Back on home turf, and although, Palm Beach is really laid back, I seemed to move to the rhythm of the Bahamas' slower beat as people and cars seem to zoom by me. The activity of the United States life had me astounded as I was still on even more island time than my normal island time as I live on a small isle.
Checking out was no problem at all – with the resort, the cruise ship, and with customs. It was a (Bahama) breeze. As I grabbed my complaint form and begin to fill it out, I reminded myself to let others know that they should be careful who they book with. I suggest doing the opposite of what I did. Book directly with the cruise line. The prices are just as low and maybe even better and should you have a problem, it is an issue that the cruise line should and can address. If you choose a marketing company, then this is a third party problem and the situation gets complicated. I also recommend that when you book online, be sure that the website is the cruise line's main site. Many websites mask themselves to make you think that they are part of the cruise line or are the cruise line's website or they just lure you in with great deals and “extras”. Pay attention to what you do online and you'll avoid having to fill out a complaint form only to wait and see what they are going to do about the problem that you encounter, if they do anything at all.
