This is my 6th cruise, but my first to sail with toddlers as young as 2 years old. Likewise my longest cruise (12 nights with 5 sea days) with as many friends and their families comprising a group of 29 pax. You may think of all the complications of traveling as a big group and with toddlers, but we got it down pat. This is my travel group and we’ve grown to include all of 6 children and grandchildren. Somehow, we’ve worked out a system and it helps that Celebrity Edge is very efficient with check-ins and luggage drop-offs. We had our bags almost as soon as we reached our cabins and our dinner reservations booked even before we boarded our boat. As we got ready to sail, we have nearly filled up our personal calendars in the Celebrity app with activities ranging from Zumba and Tai-Chi sessions, and entertainment programs. Anything to keep us off the casino and the shops! And yeah, the buffet restaurants too. Seriously.
We avoided the spa and the specialty dining outlets like the plague. No way we’re spending extra for such. We’re good with the gourmet dinners that came with the cruise package as we savored the Mediterranean, French, Italian and Cosmopolitan meals. Missed my own family as I know they would have enjoyed the pulpo, escargots, prime ribs, French onion soup, gravlax, guanciale pasta and salmon tartare. And the desserts? You better resolve to stick to the sorbet and low-fat yogurt lest you get off the boat rolling with extra pounds. So it’s important to join those fitness sessions.
Internet is spotty but there’s a choice to pay $30-50 a day for the connection. No way I’m paying extra for that. So bear with me as I can only make connection once we’ve docked at some port. Rushing to write this too just to keep my family updated , and err just so I don’t forget . The day we boarded the ship was Day 1 , had 2 whole sea days and it is only Day 4 out of the 12. Thus far, the waters are calm , the food is good, the company superb, but the entertainment has room for improvement. I’m not so much into games and the evening programs are mostly acoustic guitar renditions of different artists.
lifeisacelebration 