Celebrity Eclipse is Celebrity Cruises' newest Solstice class ship. In the summer, three of our cruise specialists - Joanne from Malmesbury, Kate from Cirencester and Alison from Nailsworth - joined the Eclipse down in Southampton to explore this luxury ship.
On arrival in Southampton City Cruise terminal we were met by our representative from Celebrity Cruises and the majestic Eclipse, standing proudly amongst other cruise liners docked at the port. Passing through the City Cruise Terminal is very straightforward. Drop your bags at the bag drop off, head through security and check in for your cruise.
Although the Eclipse is now in its fifth year of sailing it still looks brand spanking new. The crew take utter pride in their ship and attention to detail is second to none. We headed straight up to Deck 14 to the Sky Observation Deck for a champagne reception. This bar is contemporary with great views over the front of the bow. Comfortable seating with a wide choice of beverages makes a great way to sit back, reflect on your day and watch the sunset over the ocean.
The pool area, where you can while away a day at sea, has two pools, four jacuzzis and a water fountain feature with a pool bar serving some very lovely looking yoghurts. Black Forest Yoghurt right through to the unusual sounding Greek Salad Yoghurt! For the colder climes there is an inside pool with two jacuzzis. A fully equipped gym and a relaxing spa with all the treatments you could want make up the rear of the Eclipse.
The staterooms really are staterooms on board the Eclipse. Interior and Balcony to a variety of suites make up the accommodation. Designed by women, they cater for every need and the attention to detail is incredible. Curved corners on the beds to prevent snagged tights on the formal nights, contemporary décor to the mirrors and showers have all been carefully thought out. The suites, however, are where they really showcase their designs. Tiled flooring at the entrance, thick plush carpets, luxury bedding and seating, to jacuzzis on the balcony. What better way to finish the day and start getting ready for your night, than to sit in the jacuzzi with a glass of bubbles and take in the views.
The public areas could easily rival some of the top hotels in the world. Designer shops, the World Class Bar brings fine dining to the cocktail world, the Martini Bar (make sure you try the Decadence Martini it is just sublime), Ocean View Café for lunch, fully equipped theatre where the multi-million pound productions take place and the list goes on.
The selection of speciality restaurants brings fine dining cuisine to your cruise. We tried a selection of dishes from a variety of restaurants for our lunch. Disco Shrimp from Qsine, Beef Short Ribs from Blu, Roasted Filet Mignon from Murano and Pistachio Crème Brulee from Tuscan Grille were just beautifully prepared and incredibly delicious.
Celebrity Eclipse is perfect for those who want a cruise ship with all the fine dining and amenities of a 5 star hotel. The maximum capacity is 2,850 passengers which creates a smaller more intimate atmosphere on board compared to some larger cruise liners. The abundance of amenities on board means there is plenty to keep even the more active traveller entertained. To know more about this stunning cruise ship contact one of our four cruise specialists that visited.
Contact our Cruise Specialists
Joanne Greenway
Phone Joanne: 01666 824801
Email Joanne: [email protected]
Address: 1 Market Cross, Malmesbury, SN16 9AS
Kate Taylor
Phone Kate: 01285 659611
Email Kate: [email protected]
Address: 29 Cricklade Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 1HY
Alison Saunders
Phone Alison: 01453 806 186
Email Alison: [email protected]
Address: The Old Stamp Office, George Street, Nailsworth, GL6 0AG
