It is already day 3 of the cruise. Time flies when you are having fun. Embarkation was fairly easy on Monday. We arrived at the port around 10:30. Check in was fast. We were able to board the ship just before 11. We got our muster check in out of the way as soon as we boarded. Celebrity also allows you to go to your room and drop off your carry on bag as soon as you board and pick up your seapass card even though the rooms aren’t quite ready until 1pm.
We had lunch at the buffet. I got a mix of indian food and hummus which was very good. Dinner was in the main dining room. I ordered Escargot, shrimp cocktail, and prime rib. All very good! We enjoyed some evening cocktails at the martini bar and listened to music.
Day 2 was a port day in Rockland Maine. This was our first time visiting Rockland. We had booked an excursion with a group from the cruise facebook page that was a sailboat tour of Rockland. We had coffee and breakfast at the Tuscan grill. Tuscan offers a special breakfast opportunity for Elite members from 8-10 where you can order coffee and small continental breakfast style plates from the menu. I got an iced expresso and ordered the mini bagel plate with salmon, creme cheese, and capers. The salmon was delicious and a light breakfast was perfect. We then found a place to read and/or listen to audiobooks in the library. Our excursion was not until 1pm.
Rockland is a tender port. We headed to the tender at noon which took about 20 minutes to get to shore. We met the group on shore and the excursion boat called, “A morning in Maine” was a short walk around the corner, We were dressed in layers prepared for it being cold and windy on the water, but it ended up being an absolutely beautiful afternoon. The weather could not have been more perfect!
Dinner last night was our first of 3 specialty dining nights. We ate at Murano which is french themed. I loved the wine we got which was a special Chianti reserve by Frescobaldi. It paired perfectly with the food. I ordered lobster bisque, a short rib appetizer and lobster. The lobster was prepared tableside and was delicious. I got a cappuccino and a dark chocolate Souffl’e for dessert. Greg got the Vairhona cocoa croquant which came with a scoup of salted caramel, white coffee ice cream.
We also went to the show at 9 last night. It was a headliner show featuring Pianist and commedian Jon Courtenay who happens to be sitting near me now in the Oceanview cafe as a I type this. We also enjoyed some of the live music in the Ensemble lounge and ended the night with a cocktail at the World class bar.
Today is a sea day. It is also formal night or what they now call “Chic night”. We prioritized the gym this morning to stay in our routine. We then got coffee at Cafe El Baccio and now are having an early lunch. Dinner tonight will be back in the dining room. Looking ahead at the menu, I will probably order Ceasar salad, shrimp cocktail and the grilled lamb chops with mint sauce. There is also a welcome event in the sky lounge tonight for captains club members.
So far it has been a great trip! Very relaxing and rejuvenating!