A fabulous week on the Celebrity Eclipse

If you know Colleen and I, you know that we absolutely love to cruise. This last week we spent on the Celebrity Eclipse and had a fantastic time. Although this was something like our 9th or 10th cruise, it was our first time ever on the Eclipse, as well as the Celebrity line. As a whole I would have to give the crew, ship and line a solid thumbs up. Clearly not a younger demographic cruise, the mean age was probably 50-60's, however, it was obviously a step up in class from Carnival or RCL. I think there were probably 10 kids total on board, but not too many walkers… and we are getting to the point now where the belly flop pool party contest has lost its luster. Rather a glass of wine in cellar masters or the afternoon in the solarium is becoming more our speed.

One of the absolutely amazing things the Eclipse has on board is a lawn. It's funny how something so simple and common on land is probably one of the best things ever about this ship. The entire top back deck is covered by probably close to an acre of green, wonderfully manicured turf. In the evening they would have jazz under the stars and provide lawn leaner chairs, blankets, cheese plates and great music. Add a bottle and wine (or two!) and we had one of the best evenings we have ever had on a ship. Just sitting under the stars, enjoying life.

The other fabulous thing this particular ship has is a glass blowing studio. Underwritten by the Corning museum of glass, they designed the studio into the construction of the ship with specialty built electric furnaces for melting and annealing the glass. the artisans would have one or two shows a day and produce beautiful pieces that they would then raffle off for free at the end of the show. We won two! The larger pieces they made would be auctioned at the end of the cruise to support a scholarship program for the Corning school of glass. There were also several very cool pieces made over the years by various people as the art the ship displayed, as well as in the dining room as oil and vinegar carafes, etc.

At about 120 tons, the ship is big enough to have all of the amenities you would expect, nice pools, solarium, casino, promenade shops, theatre, specialty restaurants, large dining room and several different styled clubs and venues, but is not so huge you feel lost. the open space is very good and we never felt crowded by other passengers. Embarkation and disembarkation were without issue and quick. Entertainment was good and the comedian was hilarious.

We spent most nights in the dining room with two other couples we met as table mates and usually shut the dining room down, just chatting endlessly about whatever. The menu was a good combination, with the left side of transitional fair that never changed, escargot, french onion soup, cesar salad and several traditional entrees that you could always get, and the right side changed every evening showcasing the culinary talents of the kitchen. sone were hits and some were not so fabulous, but you could mix and match sides and if something came out you did not enjoy, our waiter just took it away and brought you something else, no questions. We found ourselves overeating as usual.

This ship also had enough first for us. An adult beverage package. $44 a day got you all you could drink, beer wine and mixed drinks up to $8. we purchased one package and shared it. You are probably no suppose to, but we found it was plenty for the two of us. the only restriction was that you could only order one drink at a time and had to wait 15 minutes before ordering another, but once we both had drinks in hand, it seemed to work well for our timing and consumption - or over consumption as the case may be.

Ports included San Juan, Puerto Rico, St Maartin and St Kits, all very nice - more below, with a photo tour….

The Eclipse in port at San Juan

The Lawn Club

The Martini bar was an ice bar

Elevator Atrium

Small Dining room in 'Michael's Club"

The wine bar was Cellar Masters, they had 50 or 60 wines by the glass you could access using a card and get an oz or two of something you wanted to try.

Wine cage in the main dining room

Our Matre' D took me inside for a tour.

I thought the sinks in the rest rooms were ver cool

Art gallery and Molecular Bar where they made very unusual drinks using rose petals, liquid nitrogen and raspberry foam.

Hot Glass show on board

Here Dan is beginning his vase

Almost done

Finished product the next day

The solarium, one of my favorite parts of the ship.

Fortification at San Juan

The island was covered by feral but very cute kitties - very sad.  I wanted to take them all home.

Street in San Juan

The Brew Pub

St Maartin - there were six ships in that day!

One of my favorite beers… Cant find it in the states. (love you Ren Ren)

Clam Digging on the beach.

180 panorama.

Shipwreck beach at St Kits.

360 pano at shipwreck beach, St Kits.

St Kits

Monkey's Monkey's everywhere!

Before we got on board, we had dinner at the Marriott in Ft Lauderdale. The beach restaurant was dark, but used these very cool light up menu's.

Have to include the obligatory sunset picture!

The End!