Page 22 - AAA Every Day – AAA Hudson Valley – September/October 2022

As Told by
Lynne Schmidt
My husband and I had the opportunity to sail together. This was our first Celebrity cruise and our first time in Bermuda. We have sailed with
other companies in the past and had always wanted to try Celebrity.
The check-in at the port went
very smoothly. At this time we had
to show our negative COVID test, our vaccination card, the Bermuda Travel Authorization and our proof
of citizenship. We waited about an hour and then were allowed to board the ship. Although the rooms were not yet ready, we had lunch at the Oceanview Café and then explored the ship.
Our cabin was on deck 9 which is
its Aqua Class. It gave us access to
the Persian Garden, relaxation room,
exclusive dining at the restaurant Blu
and a spa concierge. We did not utilize
any of those, however. The cabin
was a comfortable size with a private balcony. The room was pleasant, donning neutral colors with plenty of storage space, a flat-screen TV, sitting area, mini refrigerator and twice-daily service.
The ship is medium-sized compared to the giants that other cruise lines have. Despite being an older ship, it
was updated in 2019. In addition to the Cosmopolitan Restaurant (the main eatery), there also were three specialty restaurants: Sushi on Five, Le Petit Chef at Qsine and the Tuscan Grill. The Tuscan Grill was absolutely amazing. The food, service and ambiance were all five stars. Other dining opportunities include the Oceanview café (the all-day buffet), the Spa Café, the pool grill (for burgers/hot dogs), Café
Al Bacio (specialty coffee/desserts) and the Gelateria. In addition, there were several bars/lounges.
For those cruisers who wanted to relax and swim, there were two pools (the main pool and the adults only,
Solarium) and a fitness center and spa. Entertainment abounded. We saw a few good shows in the theater, including a hilarious comedian. Additionally, there were several shops, a casino and a small camp at sea for kids to round out the amenities. Because of the ship’s size, it is really easy to navigate and, as our cruise director said, if you can remember, all the “fun” is at the front of the ship and all the “food” is at the back of the ship.
We docked in Bermuda at King’s Wharf; which is located near the Royal Naval Dockyard. This area has many shops and restaurants. Bermuda is very safe and clean. You can either explore on your own or take an excursion either through the cruise or locally. Since it was our first time, my husband and I chose the excursions through the cruise. This sailing gave us three full days to explore Bermuda. On the first day, we took an island tour that stopped in the capital city of Hamilton, historic St. George’s, Gibb’s
Hill Lighthouse and past beautiful pink-sand beaches. It was a great orientation to the island. Some things to keep in mind: they drive on the left; you cannot rent a car but you can rent scooters. Also, you can purchase a bus/ferry pass right at the pier to get around
which is very inexpensive and reliable.
The next day we took scheduled transportation to
Horseshoe Bay – one of the best beaches in Bermuda and the most photographed. It has a restaurant where you can get lunch food and beverages, rent beach chairs/umbrellas (for $15 each), watersports equipment and changing facilities. We had our first Rum Swizzle, one of Bermuda’s local drinks. On our last day, we went on the Devil’s Isle Cruise and Beach Snorkel Tour. The boat left right from the wharf and after a 45-minute narrated cruise, we had about two hours to snorkel, kayak or just lay on the beach or onboard the boat. The first Rum Swizzle was included and there were other beverages and snacks for purchase.
I would highly recommend Celebrity to anyone who wants an upscale, relaxing cruise with many amenities. I would like to try one of their newer ships the next time, especially the Edge series.
22 I SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022