Celebrity Eclipse - Inaugural Cruise

Celebrity Eclipse - Inaugural Cruise

Boarding the boat was a nightmare! Shoving people through the turnstile even when there was no room because the queue wasn't moving. The other three Celebrity groups went ahead of us despite the fact we'd waited the longest. Finally we moved and got onto the boat. They had a photographer taking your picture then another coming from the other end as you were sat down. The ride would last an hour and we set off at 1.30pm.

We docked slightly late and mooched back to our relevant buses. It was another twenty minutes before we finally drove off. Ten minutes later we came to another photo stop and were given ten minutes. More hawkers annoyed and harrassed. Can't they bring back the guillotine just for them?

At 3.30pm we pulled up near the Eiffel Tower and told to meet back there forty-five minutes later and we'd leave at 4.30pm. We could souvenir shop, sit in a cafe, do anything as long as it wasn't up the Tower. This was another pointless waste of time when it could be half the length then head back to the ship. We'd never be back by 6pm at this rate. Police were around but did bugger all vigilence even though we'd been warned of pickpockets. Hawkers were in muliples here, as well as women in Muslim dress asking if people spoke English. All that should be stopped but it never is anywhere in the world, even right under the police's noses.

So that was ten minutes taken care of. There was a huge queue at the only set of public toilets and some Spanish people nearly got caught out by a women in Muslim dress until the toilet guide told her to clear off. She should have done that long before she did. A couple of women from bus 10, the Paris on your own lot, told me their guide wasn't returning until 4.45pm! That's just ridiculous. I got talking to a lady called Beryl from my bus, who was doing the cruise with her daughter Louise and 4 year old grandson Thomas, but they were back on the ship. Despite the police presence neither of us felt safe with the hawkers buzzing around and pestering. Having both been to Mazatlan, we discussed the lack of safety there. By the time Pascal returned everyoine was waiting and, as it turned out, we left earlier than planned. Many of us had a doze during the drive back.

We got back about 6.50pm and since I saw someone coming from the bow end of the dock, I decided to go and take shots. I hadn't when I'd been there on Equinox because some security guards were jobsworths.

I headed back up the gangway around 7pm and we boarded via the promenade deck. The guard on the X-ray scanner stopped me after my carry bag went through, asking to look inside and see what I had. So I showed him. He then said, "Camera?" I told him in my bag, which he'd left stuck in the machine. He turned the conveyor belt on so it came through and kept saying, "Batteries?" I showed him and said they're for the camera. Then he let me go but as I walked inside, I overheard him saying to his colleague two little words, "Camera" and "Batteries." Very odd indeed, especially since I carry various spares, rechargables and non in case I forget to charge them, and no one's queried it before. I went straight to the cabin and when I turned the corner to the corridor, Enrico came the other way, broke into a grin and said, "There you are!" Nice to be missed! He wanted to give me the questionaire to fill in, saying how important it was for them all. The Celebrity Today stated we had a new departure time of 7am instead of 2am. It was formal night (optional) and I considered my options then decided to order room service, which came just before 8pm, put the 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door and went to bed.

Skipped the departure and woke up after 9am and yet again there was no signal. Hit the shops so Enrico could do the cabin. Many things I'd either not been able to get on Equinox due to them running out or couldn't because of getting it home they didn't have due to no delivery! Postcards in the shop this time rather than from Guest Relations for free. The bloke who served me worked on the QE2 during her final season so we had a chat about that and some of the old crew from back then. Then I went to the Martini Bar and waited a little while before deciding to explore a little.

First stop in the places with differences was the disco, Quasar. I did this because on Solstice and Equinox they had chairs hanging from the ceiling. They hung free on Solstice whereas on Equinox they chained them to the floor. But here they'd vanished completely! After here I went up a deck and walked on one side of the Prom.

This is the one thing I hate about Celebrity ships, even the Millennium class which are based on the Radiance class Royal Caribbean vessels. Behind that wall is a stern which, as anyone who's cruised knows, you can walk around to get to the other side. Except on Celebrity they stop you.

After getting the shot of my balcony (after working out which one it was), I went inside to take a look at Qsine, the new speciality restaurant which has replaced Silk Harvest. The decor is very weird with table lamps hanging from the ceiling and chairs with one arm rest. Menus are on iPads, which the waiter I spoke to explained he wasn't keen on because now passengers play on those and ignore them. He explained that Qsine was an experiment to give something different on the last three ships. He did point out Silk Harvest hadn't flopped but I can't help wondeing if that will be replaced on Solstice and Equinox if this does better business. He also said if it's successful then the person who came up with the idea plans to open restaurants in New York and London.

I didn't bother with Blu since I'd seen it on Equinox so made my way out through the Ensemble Lounge. This had slightly different decor to Equinox, particularly at the other entrance. Personally I found the Eclipse version on that issue clinical and bland after the bright colours of Equinox but the room itself is just as lovely.

Dropped the shopping off in the cabin at 11.30am and Enrico's trolley was down the corridor but he hadn't done the room, then up to Oceanview for lunch. It wasn't open so after a cup of tea, I took a few photos of the surroundings in the English Channel as we meandered around. I thought I saw a cruise ship in the distance but the haze and bright sunlight prevented anything from focusing. My dad told me after I'd got home Marco Polo had been on the AIS in the area so perhaps it was her. As it was we were passed by the ferry Normandie en route from France to Portsmouth and also many container ships.

After lunch I returned to the cabin to kill time. The webcam was up, complete with windscreen wiper in the view, but no navigational information. At 1.30-3pm there was a Captain's Club party in the Sky Observation Lounge. I hadn't expected one on a short cruise since Royal Caribbean don't have them. As we waited outside, I got chatting to a crew member from Perth and we discussed Juanita, who I'd done Equinox with, and Western Australia. Once we were let in I noticed by the door was a fireplace where the jigsawed man had been on Equinox, but I forgot to take a photo of this difference. The party itself was exactly the same as the one on Equinox, right down to food and musicians. One main difference was atmosphere, which was lacking during this one. Beryl from the day before was there, as well as her daughter and grandson so we sat together.

After saying bye to Beryl, Louise and Thomas, who were off to a pirate's party, I went back to the cabin discovered Enrico had taken my fruit! The cruise wasn't over and I planned to nibble on that for breakfast. I decided to make the most of the footstool and lounge on the balcony. It was such a wonderfully warm afternoon it was the first time I'd ever been able to truly sit out there without being a little chilly. But that didn't last long. The clouds came over and wind changed so I ended up inside fast! I had some canapes but hadn't eaten them.

I decided to do a little more shopping then made a fatal mistake - I went to the Martini Bar for a drink. Peter opened the bar at 4.30pm and I left about 7pm! This was because I met a lovely couple called Graham and Julie, as well as his daughter and son-in-law who had paid for the cruise. Graham had gone for a pedicure while Julie and I carried on chatting. He came back very drunk and had the other barman do six tasters. I found it odd being called a lightweight! But at least I know what the apple Juanita often had was like and hated it. Also whatever the other was I had. Then Graham wanted some more only this time it was four tasted plus two regular sized, including my usual chocolate. It was a fun few hours and amazing what happens when you tell them how you ended up on the cruise alone and you look after your mum who has terminal cancer. We said goodbye (and somehow since I lost Julie's email address which she wrote on a paper napkin), I returned to the cabin, somehow got my case out then flaked out on the bed until the alarm went off!

Which it did at 3.30am since we'd be arriving for 5.15am and Crystal Serenity was due to be ahead. Queen Victoria was 7am. I felt dreadful and had a rash so got a reaction from something the night before. There was still no phone signal despite being next to the Isle of Wight. They really need to fix that. Finally I got a signal and put up the AIS which showed we were at Cowes with the Crystal by Hythe. I went around the ship a little, since it was so quiet, to get some places which were different to Equinox but clean forgot about several things I meant to photograph then headed outside which was cool but pleasant.

Since experimenting during 2008, the pilots had beome brave and as a result, we turned at the Middle Swinging Ground, instead of going past the Crystal, and docked. The only other one I'd been on which did that was Constellation three years previously except she was 90,000 to Eclipse's 122,000grt.

Because I wasn't feeling well and there was still over an hour before QV appeared, I decided to go back to bed until 7.30am but it didn't work out that way. A ruddy cough kept me awake. When I got up again I looked outside and saw it was fairly foggy.

I packed up my goodies about 7.15am and left. I badly needed something to drink more than anything and the water from the bathroom table was vile. I couldn't face food. It wasn't a hangover, as many say. Probably a product of those tasters and cold. But if Enrico hadn't taken the fruit, I'd have tried an apple. As it was I needed to trudge with my hand luggage up to the Oceanview AND use the hand sanitiser! The girl on the door offered to help which was much appreciated. I managed a little breakfast but left half on the plate, and only had a little to start with. I went out onto the back deck for a shot of the Crystal and found a bloody Grimaldi car carrier docking and beginning to ruin the view! Wander forward and I saw QV sitting in Ocean Terminal.

My colour number (Green 25) wasn't due to leave until 8.50am so I sat on a slightly damp lounger for a while then went straight down to the Moonlight Sonata, deck 4, to wait. No sooner had I arrived than I was told I could just go. Apparently they normally have to wait for all sorts but didn't at Southampton. I told him Independence of the Seas arrives at the same time so probably why. He'd been on Equinox too (saw Melvyn serving below) and was doing the next cruise before returning to 'his ship' down in the Med. Had a porter help me with my luggage to the taxi and home by 8.30am.

So the verdict. These are gorgeous ships but I must confess I prefer Equinox. There was just something lacking on this one. Perhaps if Rowan had been able to come I'd have enjoyed it more. I would go on her again though if I had the money and am really pleased RCCL now have Royal Caribbean and Celebrity on my doorstep.

To see photos of Eclipse arriving on the 20th April, click here. To see her sail on this cruise after Artemis, click here or sail with QV and Crystal Serenity later that day, go here.

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