This was our first cruise, so all we could base the ship on was pictures we have seen of the
other ships. The Celebration is NOT an attractive ship; in fact, it reminded me of a large
bowling alley... I got a kick out of the "retro" decor, though, and it was a constant source
of amusement. As you can see from the photo at left, there was a small lobby in lieu of
a "grand atrium" -- needless to say, this area was rarely occupied. Although the ship is
about 11 years old, most of it was in great condition, and it was continuously being vacuumed,
polished, etc. While the Celebration is one of Carnival's smaller ships, I found it to be the
perfect size. There was plenty to do and see, and I was never bored. The crew were friendly,
and there were lots of activities provided on sea days and on evenings after leaving port.
While we would definitely cruise on the Celebration again, I DO hope that she will have some
refurbishing done in the near future.
The Lido Deck was small, but there were always chairs and chaise lounges available; the waterslide was fun, and we could sit on deck all day without being harassed by the bar waiters. There was a smaller pool at the back of the ship, and there was also a children's pool one deck below. Ping Pong tables were located behind the children's pool, but they were always occupied, so we never got to play.
While the casino is much smaller than on the newer ships, it was large enough, with lots of nickel and quarter slots, and with blackjack tables starting at $3. We spent a bit of time each day at the casino, and we came out about $75 ahead. The Promenade Deck wasn't much to see, but it did provide a nice place to sit while relaxing or waiting for dinner, shows, etc. The Astoria Lounge was a bit tacky, but it was comfortable, and most seats provided an unobstructed view of the stage. The waiters themselves were a bit obtrusive, walking in front of us again and again during performances hawking drinks.
One complaint I did have about the Celebration was the Wheelhouse Bar and Grill, the casual Lido Deck restaurant.
The place was ugly, but even worse, it was arranged VERY poorly.
The buffets and pizza line were in very small, cramped rooms which made me feel like I was
either in the navy or in prison. I assume they were going for a nautical feel, but it was
extremely unpleasant. The food was actually pretty good, but it was not a pleasant dining experience. From the
photos I have seen of other ships, the Wheelhouse is not up to par with other casual dining
alternatives.