Expert: Barbon - 2/19/2001

Question
We have read a lot of mixed reviews on the Millenium ship and have some concerns on her sister ship the Infinity.  Vibrations and the quality of service are our two main concerns.  We are scheduled on the Infinity for the week of Thanksgiving 2001.  As this is our first cruise, would you suggest a different week and on another another ship?  Yes we do have 2 children ages 6 and 10 and IMHO are fairly well behaved.  We look forward to this trip especially the diving but have discovered that too much knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

Answer
Hi,
  We have just completed our third Celebrity cruise and have also booked the Infinity for next January.  
   First, out of all the mid-market cruiselines that we tried, we have found both the service and food on Celebrity to be several notches above the others.  The food is 5* for a mid-market line, of course not the same 5* food you would find in a Manhattan restaurant, but certainly rated high considering that they are feeding a few thousand people.  The staff on Celebrity is wonderful, helpful but not obtrusive.  The ships have an upscale atmosphere and are the cleanest I have seen.  
  As for taking the kids on a cruise, ABSOLUTELY go during a school holiday period.  During the holiday periods you tend to find more children and families on board, and less of an older adult population.  During school times on the ships you do find this older crowd, and the atmosphere is not as casual as during family times.
  Of course if you are looking for an experience on a real kids ship you may want to try Disney, however, the experience will not be the same as on Celebrity, cruise wise.
   Celebrity has corrected (from what I have heard), the vibration problem on the new Millenium class ships.  As you had said, people will complain just about anything, as I think you will find the same types of complaints on all of the lines.
   Let me know if you are doing Eastern or Western Caribbean (I assume Western for diving), and I may be able to give you some port tips.
   I hope this helps a little, and please do not hesitate to e-mail me direct with any further questions.
   Also, you should visit the cruise boards, if you do not have the address I will forward it to you.
   Barbara
Barbon2@aol.com