Ah, spring break! As a seasoned cruiser, I should know better not to cruise during spring break, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, but I continue to torture myself by doing just that. This time, my “Spring Break Cruise” is on a ship I’ve been on three times before – Carnival Celebration. The second of Carnival Cruise Line’s Excel-class ships, Celebration is a 6,000+ passenger ship and is sister to the Mardi Gras and the new Carnival Jubilee. A fourth Excel-class ship is on order and is expected to join the fleet in 2027.
Like my other cruises on Carnival, this cruise is a free last-minute casino offer. The offer was for an inside stateroom for $50 per person / $100 for a single, plus port fees and taxes. The room charge of $100 is refundable as onboard credit.
The ports of call for this adventure include Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, USVI; and three days at sea.
Let’s just say, getting this party started was an adventure in itself! South Beach Food & Wine Festival traffic made reaching PortMiami a total nightmare. It seemed every cruiser in Florida was descending on the port today. PortMiami had warned travelers on Twitter about the heavy load and that parking may be at a premium, however the parking garage still had plenty of spots around 12:15pm.
I bid farewell to my car and zipped over to the terminal. Carnival gets major points for this: drop-off, document checks, security (with those adorable drug-sniffing pups catching a few culprits!) and boom – we were walking the gangway in 15 minutes flat. If there’s one thing Carnival does consistently well, it’s streamlining the embarkation process.
Now, about the dog. During the “lineup” where you place your carry ons on the floor for the dog to have a sniff, two groups in my lineup had the dog “hit” on the bags. Great way to start a vacation! Cruise lines have a zero-tolerance policy for drugs, including weed, and this pre-boarding sniff-test is one way to prevent the drugs from getting onboard. Unfortunately, people still manage to get them on board. I’m not sure if the two groups were allowed to cruise or not, but it’s worth noting – don’t risk it!
With boarding complete, it was time for the ever-so-important muster drill. Carnival’s self-service muster system is a true gem. No waiting in long lines, no scrambling for life jackets. Simply visit your designated muster station, watch a quick demonstration on life jacket usage, and voila, you’re good to go. This approach saves valuable time and allows passengers to explore the ship at their own pace.
After a brief wait, the coveted announcement arrived: “Staterooms are now ready!” Time to unveil my home for the next week, an interior spa stateroom located on deck 17. Now, normally I would have been given a standard inside stateroom, but this time I got a bit of an upgrade. Spa staterooms add a touch of luxury to the experience. Cloud 9 spa bathrobes, slippers, and Elemis bath products are provided, along with some deals and offers on spa services which I’ll detail in another report. Besides that, the only real difference in the spa rooms is a different rug and headboard artwork.
Now this room is a bit of a while elephant for inside spa staterooms. It has the same layout as a standard balcony stateroom without the balcony. Instead, the space where the balcony doors would typically be is a blank wall. On the other side of the wall, the balcony space is used by the Presidential Suite next door for the hottub and outdoor shower. This wall however, felt like a missed opportunity, begging for some artwork or decorative flair to inject a bit of personality.
Like all the staterooms in the Excel-class (Mardi Gras, Celebration, and Jubilee), power outlets and USB ports are a plenty. Single USB ports are located on either side of the bed. Three power outlets and four USB ports are located on the writing desk.
As the clock struck 4 PM, the moment we’d all been waiting for arrived – sailaway! The Lido deck transformed into a (very) crowded party zone, pulsating with music and lively chatter. Setting sail on an Excel-class ship like the Celebration during spring break, however, comes with a unique challenge: sheer volume. There were simply people everywhere. Every deck, every bar, every pool area seemed to be at maximum capacity. It was a bit overwhelming, to say the least.
With the initial excitement of sailaway settling, I decided to quench my thirst with a refreshing cocktail. However, my quest quickly turned into a minor odyssey. The first bar I approached was three people deep, all clamoring for the attention of a single, visibly frazzled bartender. Moving on, I found a seat at another bar, only to discover the bartender battling a seemingly insurmountable mountain of drink orders. After waiting for close to 10 minutes, I decided to cut my losses and seek refreshment elsewhere.
My third attempt proved equally futile. The sheer number of passengers had clearly overwhelmed the bar staff, and the wait times seemed to stretch into infinity. Feeling slightly defeated, I decided to take a break and try my luck later.
Needing a change of scenery, I ventured into the ship’s casino. I plunked myself down at a machine, hoping to recoup some of the lost time (and frustrations) of the afternoon. The initial few spins were promising, and I managed to pocket a few wins. However, as the night wore on, my luck seemed to fade, and my initial gains slowly dwindled away. Nonetheless, the excitement of the casino and the friendly banter with fellow players provided a welcome distraction from the earlier disappointments.
With appetites primed and ready for adventure, my fellow cruisers and I decided to try Chibang, Carnival’s Asian-Mexican fusion restaurant. Utilizing the convenient Carnival HUB app, we secured a table for five. Though the alert arrived promptly around 8:15 PM, the table itself left something to be desired. Sized more comfortably for four, it meant navigating dishes arriving throughout the meal would become a tactical game of ‘plate Tetris’.
Our server soon appeared for introductions and drink orders, which arrived quickly – imagine that! A quick refresher for those unfamiliar: Chibang offers a complimentary first visit, with subsequent meals costing $8 per person. The menu promises a culinary clash of cultures – Mexican favorites like nachos and chicken mole duel against Asian staples like spring rolls and sweet and sour chicken.
I kicked things off with the Mezcal Old Fashioned. Those who favor the smoky complexities of mezcal will adore this twist on the classic, and it’s always done well here. For appetizers, I went with both the Shrimp Tacos and the Lettuce Wraps.
The Shrimp Tacos, while visually appealing, proved less substantial than expected. The shrimp were disappointingly petite (think salad-shrimp size) and the provided toppings barely stretched to fill one of the two tortillas. Flavor-wise, they were passable but unremarkable. The Lettuce Wraps, however, were a clear standout. Two generously sized lettuce cups overflowed with flavorful ground chicken, creating a delicious and satisfying starter – easily the superior of the two appetizers I sampled.
For the main event, I took a gamble on the Steak Ranchero. Alas, fortune was not on my side. The thin strip steak sported an unappetizing paleness and proved a true test for my jaw muscles. Sadly, it was a lackluster dish overall. In its defense, the Pork Lomito option proved a slightly better contender. While it too suffered from being served lukewarm, it had the advantage of being the more flavorful choice. However, a few unappetizing, overly fatty pieces marred the experience.
Ultimately, dessert seemed the safest bet. I opted for a simple fruit plate, a light and refreshing end to a meal that was, unfortunately, a mixed bag.
While the service was good and the concept of Chibang intriguing, the execution of some dishes felt inconsistent. The appetizers displayed a spark of culinary creativity, yet the main courses were slightly underwhelming. Add to that the logistical challenge of our small table, and the overall dining experience left room for improvement.
I decided to give my quest for a post-dinner cocktail another shot. With renewed hope, I navigated the bustling corridors, hoping to find a less crowded bar. This time, fate seemed to smile upon me but not after two failed attempts. I stumbled upon the Alchemy Bar, a pharmacy-inspired venue known for its creative concoctions. Despite the two bartenders working tirelessly, the bar was still fairly packed. However, after a patient wait of about 15 minutes, one of the bartenders finally approached and took my order.
Opting for a classic Dirty Martini, I explained my earlier frustrations and requested two drinks at once, anticipating the potential wait times. The bartender readily obliged, keeping the second one ready to be shaken and chilled at a moment’s notice.
With my thirst quenched and spirits lifted, I decided to indulge in some ice cream. But little did I know, I was about to witness a phenomenon that would leave even Willy Wonka bewildered. The line for the ice cream machine stretched across the entire hallway, seemingly defying the laws of physics and patience.
Recognizing the futility of the wait, I decided to call it a night and head back to my stateroom. The day’s events had been a mixed bag – efficient embarkation, a very crowded ship with plenty of lines, and a chaotic struggle to get a drink. However, we’ll see how the rest of the week plays out. Tomorrow is a day at sea as we sail to our first port of call, Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic.
FunTimes for February 25, 2024:
The FunTimes for February 25, 2024, is also available as a PDF.