10 Things To Know Before A Celebrity Cruise

Celebrity Cruises

I recently took a cruise with Celebrity Cruises, and I highly recommend it. It was a fabulous one week cruise in the Caribbean, departing out of Miami and stopping in San Juan Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, and St. Martin. See my Cruise itinerary here. Overall, I loved cruise life. Truthfully, it was my first cruise (or first adult cruise, as I went on one during college which seems like ages ago!).  

Today, I’m sharing a few tips so that you’re best prepared for your next Celebrity Cruise (or any Cruise for that matter). After my week on the Celebrity Reflection, I can’t wait to return. If you like to travel as much as I do and enjoy amazing food, excellent service, and wonderful drinks, you should consider cruising with Celebrity Cruises! 

Celebrity Cruises

Checking In
Be sure to check in online at least five days prior to your departure date. This lets you get baggage tickets so the moment you arrive to the port you can check your bags with the porter. Then, you can just wait in line as you board the ship, bagless. I packed lightly so I just carried my bags on. However, if you travel with more than a carry on suitcase and a carry on bag, you can use their curbside check option instead. After boarding, your bags will meet you in your room! Pretty fabulous, right? 
Celebrity Cruises
Book specialty Restaurant Reservations
Lucky for me, as I waited in line to board I met some pretty amazing friends, who already traveled with Celebrity Cruises before. They let me know that there are Specialty Restaurants (at an additional cost to your cruise package) that are phenomenal and they all made reservations before getting on the cruise.
Find out more information about Specialty Dining packages here.  You can also make reservations upon boarding (I’d recommend doing this the first day which is what I did before others get organized and learn the drill), and this is the route to go for any foodies wanting a more upscale elevated dining experience, rather than the main restaurant scene included in your package.  Read more about the Specialty Restaurants here.
 
Pre-buy specialty dinner packages
You also have the option to pre-buy Speciality Restaurant packages when you book your cruise. Find more information about Specialty Dining packages click here. If you pre-book the packages, you end up paying less than you would individually, and you can also pre-reserve your reservations ahead of time. This is what the expert cruisers did and what I will be doing for future Celebrity Cruises. 
 
Buy a drink package 
Let’s be honest, you are on vacation! Relax, enjoy, and have a few drinks. Alcohol, soda, even bottled water, are not included in the base package so plan to spend another $400 or so (depending upon which package you select) on the drink package. There is a soda/water, base alcohol, and premium alcohol package (approximately $65 USD per day) if you want the higher quality booze and wine – go premium!  Learn more about the drink packages here.
 
Enjoying a Cocktail at the Martini Bar! I purchased the Premium package, so cocktails are included; this bar made it totally worth it!  Read more about this Bar on my Celebrity Top 10 Drinks post. 
 
Pre-plan your excursions prior to travel
Celebrity does a fabulous job of organizing various excursions in each port you dock in. Upon boarding, I looked into the various excursions hoping to Scuba Dive in St. Martin (would have been amazing, right?). However, I was too late; the excursions I wanted to book were full. Don’t make the same mistake. Plan ahead and book your excursions prior to travel.
Some guests prefer to do their own excursions when they dock to save some money. However, I learned that if you’re on a Celebrity excursion there is NO CHANCE the boat will leave you behind if something happens and you can’t get back. I know this is very unlikely, but I took a day trip to St. John and was worried the entire day I’d miss the ferry back to St. Thomas and miss the Cruise. Going forward, I will only book excursions with Celebrity so I know I won’t get left behind!
Celebrity Cruises
St John Island.
Celebrity Cruises
Me and Lynde exploring St. John Island. Drew, her husband, was our rented dingy’s ship captain. I had a great time exploring the island! 
Celebrity Cruises
Trunk Bay National Park/Beach was the most incredible beach in the Caribbean. 
Celebrity Cruises
 
Buy the internet package
If you’re someone who wants to stay active on social media, work, or be online during the cruise, you should definitely get the unlimited internet package. It’s $199 USD (for 7 days) and the best money I spent. I worked quite a bit during this cruise so the wifi was essential. If you plan to totally unplug and relax, skip it and really enjoy your vacation with no disturbances from the outside world!
Packing for semi-formal/chic night on Celebrity Cruises
 There are two evenings during the seven-week cruise where you have the option of dressing up in semi-formal/chic attire. It’s really fun. Let’s be honest girls, we all LOVE to dress up, especially with an amazing tan… So pack appropriately for these two evenings. I packed an amazing Pucci dress that I just adore and a White Eyelet dress from Banana Republic.  Check out some other beachwear items that I adore and am coveting at the moment.
Celebrity Cruises
Me and Captain Athanasios Peppas
Celebrity Cruises
Me and the Officers on Chic Night. They really were so nice and such an attractive group in their suits, right!?
Check out The Canyon Ranch Spa
One of the things I was most excited about on The Celebrity Reflection Cruise was the Canyon Ranch Spa. I try to experience Spas whenever I’m staying with a hotel. See some of my favorite spas here.  Be sure to research this amazing spa ahead of time, or the day you arrive, to make a few appointments. Also, I learned an amazing tip. On port days, the spa discounts their spa treatments. If you decide to stay on the ship on a port day (like I did one day) your spa treatments cost about 20% less than on sea days. Who doesn’t want their money to go 20% further when it comes to massages and facials!
Celebrity Cruises
 Celebrity Cruises
Book The Aqua Class Cruise
You’re probably wondering what Aqua Class is and why you should book it. Well, it’s amazing. I stayed in an Aqua Class Suite and loved it. Basically, it’s a higher level class than regular class, while not quite being a suite.
Aqua Class staterooms offer spa elements infused into the stateroom experience and priority seating in the exclusive and chic specialty restaurant, Blu. (Read about Blu on my Top 10 Celebrity Cruises Eats post). These spa-inspired staterooms offer unlimited access to the Relaxation Room (on Solstice Class only) and Persian Garden, as well as a host of other soothing extras. If you love the Canyon Ranch Spa, there’s no finer way to travel.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises
My Aqua cabin.
Celebrity Cruises
Farewell Miami, I was so excited being aboard the Celebrity Reflection heading for the Caribbean.
Celebrity Cruises
The welcome snacks awaiting me in my cabin upon arriving.
Enjoy the amazing departure from your port city 
 I had no idea how incredible our departure from Miami would be. At first, I was in my room unpacking, really enjoying the bubbles that welcomed me. Then, before I knew it, we were pulling out of the dock. So I hustled to the top of the ship’s Sunset Bar (read more on my Top 10 Drinks post) to take in the views and mingle. This was the highlight of my first night. I ran into some new friends, Tina and Frank, whom I met in line while boarding the ship. I immediately settled into cruise life, enjoying the beautiful ship, the picturesque views, and new friends. 
Celebrity Cruises
Cheers to an incredible week ahead with Celebrity Cruises!
Celebrity Cruises
Farewell Miami, hello Caribbean!

DISCLOSURE: Emily, The JetSetting Fashionista,  enjoyed a complimentary trip on the Celebrity Reflection. However, Emily was not paid to write this post; she only writes about hotels, restaurants, and destinations that she personally enjoys to share with her readers. All opinions expressed are her own.

1 Response
  • Jeannine Neavolls
    February 22, 2016

    Thanks for sharing the tips… makes me want to go on a cruise!

What do you think?

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *