Deck 10 (Resort Deck) was perhaps the most popular deck because it contained the Ocean Café, Ocean Grill, main outdoor pool area, and the Aqua Spa complex. The Ocean Café was the place for morning and lunch buffets, and evening alternative dining. It was well designed with each buffet section repeated twice on both sides of the ship, thereby offering 4 identical serving areas and keeping lines to a minimum. It also contained 2 ice cream parlors and 2 fresh made pasta stations, once again one of each on both sides of the ship. Trays were available, and helpful waiters carried ladies' trays to available tables. The eating areas were quite spacious (this is the widest deck of the ship), and many alcoves contained large round portholes in the floor where passengers/diners could look straight down over the side of the ship at the sea below. Although an interesting concept, these viewing portholes had the unfortunate consequence of providing absolutely no privacy to the balcony cabins and suites below. The Ocean Grill at the very back of the ship served hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, and a different additional barbeque dish each day. It opened out to an exterior eating area at the very back of the ship. Although a pleasant place to dine in warm weather, we only ate here twice because someone would invariably light up a cigarette at an adjacent table whenever we were in the middle of a meal. We will talk about the food served here in the Dining section later in this report.
The Riviera Pool (also nicknamed The Beach) was without a doubt the most attractive pool area we have ever seen on any ship. With two pools of different depths, 4 Jacuzzis, multiple circular stainless steel showers, attractive decorative lighted wood 'awnings', covered stage, 2 bars, and two level lounging area, this was a delightful place to relax and unwind. Towels and blankets were always readily available, and lounge chairs were never in short supply. The only complaint of some passengers was that the Jacuzzis were only open until 8:00PM.
The Aqua Spa area encompassed the enclosed Thalassotherapy pool, treatment rooms, hair salon, and gymnasium. Like the Jacuzzis, the Thalassotherapy pool was only open until 8:00PM. More about the spa facilities can be found in our Spa section later in the report.
Deck 11 (Sunrise Deck) contained the jogging/walking track (3 laps = one mile) and well as plenty of supplemental lounge chairs overlooking the Riviera pool area below. The only problem here was that all the lounge chairs were packed so closely together that you couldn't get to them very easily, and they also encroached upon the jogging track which caused much maneuvering by the joggers trying to avoid the sunbathers milling around the loungers.
At the very back of the ship on this deck was the Arcade filled with interactive games, and the children's area called the Ship Mates Fun Factory. This was a fairly large complex for young children with interior play and activity areas plus a small outdoor pool and climbing facilities. There was only one entrance/exit to this children's area, which had separate daily activities and was supervised by Celebrity staff. There were a ½ dozen or so young people on our cruise.
At the very front of the ship on this deck was the beautiful Cosmos Lounge, with a fairly large dance floor and stage plus multiple levels of seating. Cosmos is a multi-purpose lounge that serves as a primary viewing area for surrounding scenery, as well as a place for pre-dinner dancing and cocktails, and finally it becomes the late night disco. The room is decorated in tans and blues, contains a grand piano for lighter music in the late afternoon, and has numerous eye-catching ceiling light fixtures and effects. Some of these include lighted birds, a circle of lighted rods over the piano, and a half world globe over the bar with rows of lights, all of which constantly change color. Magnificent views could be seen over the bow, but the side views were somewhat obstructed by the design of the roof for the Resort deck below.
Deck 11 also contains the 3 distinctive glass walled turrets that give the ship some of its' exterior appeal. One amidship was a bar/lounge called Extreme with garish bright red, yellow, green, and blue furniture. The second was just behind Cosmos and housed the flower shop that was called both The Tower and The Conservatory. It was a two level turret with an interior circular staircase and a 2ndlevel lounging area with wicker furniture surrounded by plants and flowers. The third tower just housed a large piece of artwork.
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