Cruise on Celebrity Century Amsterdam to Barcelona
September 2009 [Revised 05/02/2011]
 
Century berthed in Lisbon
We have sailed on Century on three previous occasions but this one was definitely the best of the four. The
officers, staff and guests were all extremely friendly and this is something we have found to be unique about
past Century sailings.
There is something special about the ship that seems to rub off on all who sail in her.
 
 
 
Sky Suite 1061 Table set for breakfast
50% view of the balcony
This stateroom was immediately below the area where the sun loungers are located, but whilst there was noise
movement from time to time but it never bothered us. The room was spacious with a big balcony that could
easily house a table; two chairs and two sun loungers with still plenty of space to move about in.
Our special frineds we met daily in the Hemisphere lounge
 
Michael with our special Dutch friend and Michael also with Christine
Christine and Gerry
and not forgetting the bar prices 2010
 
We did attend what used to be called the Captain Club, now the Captains’ Celebration where there were ice
sculptures and a live fruit carving taking place. There were three stations fruit & chocolate; Sushi and a carvery
the entertainment was excellent as well as the Celebrity band; The Neptune’s and the Azure Quartet and all
agreed the new format was much improved. Entertainment throughout the ship was excellent in the Rendezvous
Square you had D’Version which we did not take to but in the Cova Café the Elan String Quartet were great
musicians as was Carl Ross and not to forget The Neptune’s, quite a vocal group.
 
 
 
In the diningroom Eko our waiter and his assistant Ayang who coped admirably with our slightly different food
selection and we wish Eko a great break coming up soon [October 2009 and hope to see him again back on
Century, or another Celebrity ship.
Best wishes to Ayang and hopefully some promotion soon, well deserved
Whilst on the theme of the main diningroom, we met up with our favourite Maitre'd, although my name is Andrew
I am not from Scotland, but from Poland. We first met Andrew on two cruises on the Millennium 2002 in the
Caribbean and again in the Med in 2003. He remains as vigilant and as effeicent as ever
some views on and around the Century
Captain Lekkas and the crew
 
Ice Sculpting Mast flags flown while berthed in Gibraltar
Three masted schooner in Lisbon
~
 
P& O ship arriving early morning Early morning sunrise in Lisbon
Atrium
 
Hemisphere Lounge [smokers port side The Kiosk to the right small Duty Free shop
[very small]
 
Casino Martini Bar [colours]
IT Suite with a few more laptops in the access
to the IT room plus down by the Captains' club desk
This takes us onto internet charges as Elite members receive 90 FREE minutes, I bought 50 minutes which
meant with this option I only paid $49.95 for 270 minutes, [90 mins for myself and my wife ] but the internet speed
on Century was much slower than I found on Equinox. The Select members received 25% off on internet costs it
is similar to the package I reported on the Solstice review 49mins $29.95; 90mins $49.95; and 150mins $79.95 and
240mis for $99.95 but there were no FREE minutes then, this was something new
A tour around Lisbon which is a lovely city worth seeing. The last time we were here we did the tramcar ride
which took you through the old part of the city which is extremely hilly. There is also departing from across the
small bridge a London type open top tour bus for a sight seeing trip around Lisbon, don't know the cost though
 
The Yacht Yacht interior spacious and comfortable plus
upstairs viewing area with seats
Looking down into the centre of Lisbon
Some views Amsterdam
 
by night by day
view from our balcony
 
leaving Amsterdam heading out to the open sea
Dover on a rather bleak day with a bit of sunshine temp about 17 degrees, but the travel agents visiting the ship said
it had been 25 degrees the previous day !!
The famous white cliffs
 
Harbour entrance Dover Castle on the hill overlooking the harbour
We also did a canal trip in Ghent, again great fun lots to see and a bit of shopping as well but also some lovely
sunshine,temp a lovely 25 degrees
 
 
Finally to top the lot a visit to the fabulous Jerez Horse show where we really thought we would just see the horses
going through some training routines but it was in fact a 90 minute show and albeit these horses were still under
training it was spectacular to see. We have already seen the fully trained horses at a show in Glasgow and by
comparison it was not as precise as those, it was still never the less well worth seeing. The final part of this trip
was a visit to Tio Pepe for a walk around and a sherry tasting it was amazing the number of personalities who have
a signed of barrel of sherry including Bobby Moore and Sir Winston Churchill.
Jerez Horse event, only a couple of external photographs as none allowed inside during the show
 
Single click to see the horse silhouette
Tio Pepe visit and sherry tasting
Christine is on the left
 
Bobby Charlton 1966 The son of The Winston Churchill
more information:
Someone raised a query on wheelchair availability on the Celebrity ships see details here
We also pre-booked a wine package of six wines selected from the website and also a litre of gin and one of Myers
rum.
The wine package was great value the spirits were not so good but we were aware now that all the air lines are
making you pay an excess and if we had put spirits in the case it would have added to that excess and given with
KLM who we flew with it was 60 euros for every 5kgs or less and in our case it was a 10kgs excess over and above
the 40kgs we were allowed for two, we had to pay 120 euros each way but having booked this out on-line the price
dropped to 105 euros [total 210 euros] so worthwhile doing.
The much more limited wine/spirits package website others have requested can be viewed here
There is now another package:
Beer package $30 per day + 15% Grat
That's 6 pints (20oz) to break even or 7 pints a day to win on the deal.
2 Liquor packages on offer [2009 check their website]
$45 per day + 15% Grat allows drinks up to $8 each
$66 per day + 15% Grat allows drinks up to $11 each, that's a whopping $910 inc Grat on a 12 night cruise.
In the summer of 2009 Celebrity announced a new deal as follows:
Classic members (1-4 tier credits):
Access to the loyalty desk and loyalty host; a premium onboard discount booklet;
access to the new Captain’s Club Celebration event; a complimentary custom air request; pre-cruise specialty
restaurant reservations; member reunion cruises; one-category upgrades (when available); and an online newsletter.
Select members (5-9 tier credits): All the benefits above, plus priority embarkation, a complimentary wine seminar,
priority status to shore excursion waitlist, an invitation to the senior officers’ cocktail party, 25% off any internet
package, complimentary pressing of two clothing items, and discounted laundry on cruises of 12 nights or more.
Elite members (10 or more tier credits): All of the benefits above, plus a private shipboard departure lounge with
continental breakfast, priority tender service, priority waitlist for dining room seating, tea service, complimentary
access to the spa's Persian Garden steam suite (on port days only), access to the new Captain’s Club Lounge at
Michael’s Club, 90 free Internet minutes, one free item of dry cleaning, a complimentary bag of laundry (wash, dry,
fold), and additional discounted laundry on cruises of 12 nights or more.
The food as always was excellent and well presented as always, I am a great favourite of the menu on the left page
which covers items available on any evening if you don’t find a choice you liked from that evenings menu. I love the
shrimps; the Atlantic salmon and the New York steak to mention a few so I did from time to time use these options.
Our waiter was Eko and we unlike many just settle for a three course selection which is normally against the way the
other guests ordered and a bit more difficult to manage but Eko and his assistant Ayang did extremely well. The
sweet tray was missing on Solstice but still used on the Century with usually three items to choose from and the
other point I learned was on a 7 day cruise there is no baked Alaska parade, which I never knew before.
We did find there were three areas for the smokers, the Hemisphere lounge port side and the Mast bar and finally
the swimming pool area also on the port side so as my wife smoked we did visit the Hemisphere lounge frequently
and met some great guests from Holland and also our two favourite barmen Gerry and Michael, worth looking them
up if you are on the Century in the coming months. In our visit to Gibraltar we visited Morrison’s supermarket where
Benson & Hedges sold for £14 for 200 the cheapest we found on the cruise. The supermarket is within 15 mins
walking distance from the ship in fact if you look onto the rock a bit south of east you can see the supermarket.
To find it go along the road as if to the city centre and at the first roundabout where there are figures of a father;
mother; son and daughter celebrating the evacuation during the 2nd world war, go right here and about 400/500
on the right is Morrison’s.
Elite members receive an extra card to allow exclusive access to Michael’s Club between 8.30 to 10.30a.m.and
4 to 6 p.m.
Laundry Dress $5.50 or Dry clean $6.00; Gents trousers $3.75 and Dry clean $4 which compares favourably with
the price I pay at home for trousers via the dry cleaning process. Ladies slacks $3.25 and $4.50 Dry cleaned, there
is quite a list but these are a few sample prices.
The ship’s officer’s Master/Captain Anastasios Lekkas; Staff Captain Panaagiotis Klousis; Cruise Director John
Grantham; Guest Relations Cameron Roberstson and finally Executive Chef Alex Erdmann.
Our only complaint was on the 2nd Tuesday the ship did not dock until 11 a.m. and they had 8 hour tours booked
out so this meant that evening open sitting for dinner was the order of the day which meant the wine waiters were
struggling to find their guests they had wine for and the waiters from their pained expressions looked stressed out
with the whole affair, but put a brave smile on their faces
Whilst this completes the review other pieces of information/photographs can be added later
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