Celebrity Cruises - Century Baltic/Russia Review

 As a seasoned traveler, yet first time cruiser-- I was completely suprised by the wonderful experience we had had as a family on the Celebrity's 12 day cruise throught the baltic and Russia. The itinerary was just right, and the anemities on the ship were impeccable.

My husband and I and our 13 year old son dedicded to take this cruise for a special event. We have traveled worldwide as a family and were used to getting to one destination and experiencing that destination intimately. The cruise was a definate departure from our normal style of travel. But it provided us with an opportunity to get a taste of some countries we would have never made it to! Service and amenities on the celebrity cruise far exceeded our expectations~ Celebrity did everything right. The food was awesome, and the specialty restaurant Murano was as good as they get. The range of activities on the ship was spectacular-- something for everyone! My son took a class on the russian language and my husband and I went to a wine appreciation class that was very well done. One night I went to the spa and it was spectacular. As I got a pedicure, I watched the sunset over the baltic though the floor to ceiling windows in the spa. The evening entertainment, at times was a bit cheesy, but taken in good spirits was still enjoyable.

The additional expenses was something to watch out for. Soda and drinks, of course were at an additonal premium, and added up quickly. Excursions when booked on the ship were outrageously expensive, but we did internet research and booked tours using local companies which were a third of the price and worked out perfectly. Celebrity provided transportation at additional cost, to the city center in most destinations and was well executed, so if you wanted to explore on your own you could.

The people we met on the cruise were really nice, an additional perk. Listening to experienced cruisers confirmed that Celebrity was at a higher cost, but well worth the expense. I can say that if you have the bucks, and you want a special experience that pampers, I'd do it again!