Concierge Class on Celebrity Eclipse

After several cruises where technology seemed determined to test our patience, stepping aboard Celebrity Eclipse felt surprisingly civilized.

The ship greeted us with tasteful décor, impressive artwork, and one of the fastest elevators we’ve encountered at sea. It sounds like a small thing until you’ve spent enough cruises standing in elevator lobbies wondering if you’ve accidentally entered a time warp.

This sailing marked our first experience in Concierge Class, and while embarkation wasn’t entirely seamless, friendly crew members quickly pointed us in the right direction whenever we looked lost.

One of the first pleasant surprises was Celebrity’s app. Unlike many cruise apps that seem designed by people who have never used a smartphone, this one worked well. Even without purchasing a Wi-Fi package, we could connect to the ship’s network and message our cruise companions throughout the voyage. That small feature saved countless trips across the ship searching for each other.

Food quickly became one of the highlights of the week.

The Moonlight Sonata Main Dining Room consistently delivered excellent meals, while the Oceanview Café buffet offered enough variety to satisfy almost any craving. Healthy options sat alongside comfort foods, making it easy to convince ourselves we were making responsible choices right before grabbing dessert. The fresh ice cream made those decisions even harder. Justin loves his ice cream.

Activities were another area where Celebrity excelled. The upper deck became one of our favorite spots, with its greenery, putting area, and giant movie screen creating a relaxing atmosphere that felt more resort than cruise ship. We enjoyed watching indoor archery competitions, pool parties that somehow managed to be lively without becoming obnoxious, and an impressive lineup of classes and workshops.

One afternoon we watched artisans demonstrate hot glass techniques. Another day featured paracord bracelet making and dot painting. There were dance classes, wellness workshops, and enough activities to keep even the most energetic passengers occupied.

When the weather turned windy, the indoor pool became a welcome refuge. Few things are more satisfying than swimming while watching rough seas from behind glass.

The ship itself was in excellent condition throughout the sailing. Public spaces felt polished and well maintained, and the onboard library was absolutely beautiful.
Its only flaw was selection or lack there of. The room looked like a reader’s paradise until we started browsing the shelves and discovered the collection was surprisingly limited. It was a gorgeous library that seemed to have forgotten the books.

Our Concierge Class balcony cabin was comfortable and offered a slightly larger balcony than many we’ve had thanks to the ship’s design (bump out balcony). Storage was adequate, with six drawers tucked beneath the television, and Concierge guests could request specialty pillows.

Not everything in the cabin impressed us though. The mini-fridge seemed to specialize in keeping things slightly less warm rather than actually cold. Because we were storing medication, daily ice requests became part of our routine.

Our stateroom attendant also provided the one notable service disappointment of the cruise. When we first returned to our cabin several hours after dropping off our luggage, the bathroom still contained used towels and washcloths from the previous guests. Missing Concierge amenities needed to be replaced, and throughout the week our hallway often remained lined with laundry bags long after neighboring sections had been cleared.

Fortunately, this felt more like an isolated staffing issue than a reflection of the crew overall. Nearly every other interaction we had onboard was friendly, professional, and genuinely welcoming.

Entertainment landed somewhere in the middle. The shows were enjoyable enough, though they didn’t become standout memories from the voyage. They filled the evenings nicely without becoming the reason we’d book the ship again.

Disembarkation brought one final reminder that cruise vacations occasionally save their confusion for the very end.

The information provided for Concierge guests contained errors, and the promised app notifications never arrived. We gathered in the Concierge Lounge expecting clear instructions and instead found a room full of passengers asking the same questions but one seemed entirely certain what was happening.

After waiting a bit and realizing nobody had a definitive answer, we joined the self-disembarkation crowd and made our own exit.

Thankfully, even this wasn’t particularly stressful. The Concierge Lounge offered pastries, coffee, tea, and comfortable seating while everyone collectively tried to solve the mystery of when we were supposed to leave the ship.

By the end of the sailing, Celebrity Eclipse had earned a place among our favorite cruise experiences thus far.

Excellent food, a strong activity lineup, reliable technology, beautiful public spaces, and an overall relaxed atmosphere outweighed the few frustrations we encountered. While there were occasional communication hiccups and one disappointing service experience, the voyage delivered exactly what we wanted from a Caribbean escape: a comfortable ship, plenty to do, and enough time to enjoy life at sea.

Ship Tip: Skip the morning buffet crowds and head to the Spa Café instead. The lighter fare, coffee, smoothies, and calmer atmosphere make for a much more peaceful start to the day.Read more