Page 72 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL WINTER SPRING 2022

treated like royalty by the enthusiastic staff. They San Diego, who was awarded the honor of being on
were just as thrilled as we were to be sailing again! his 80th Celebrity cruise.
And hearing of their months at home without
work, we were happy to tip them extra! However, Since we have been to San Francisco and Mexico
the ship's vaccinated crew had to wear masks at all many times, we opted to relax onboard those port
times. Signs throughout the ship, including the ele- days having massages, haircuts and facials in the
vators, reminded passengers to socially distance. spa. We looked forward to our stop in Catalina,
“We can't be six feet apart,” one woman pointed transported by tender, since Carl had never visited
out as several of us squeezed into an elevator. “But and I hadn't been there since 1978.
at least we're all vaccinated!” As we sailed out of San Diego, enjoying the gor-
There were mostly Baby Boomers onboard--and geous sunset harbor view, we met Monica and
we spotted only two small children. Chris Holicky from Minnesota. This was their sec-
The Celebrity Millennium (which had been the ond cruise, and first visit to California.
first ship to sail again with passengers from North “We both felt extremely comfortable on the ship
America in June 2021) normally holds up to 2,400 knowing everyone was vaccinated and pre-tested,”
passengers but this time there were only 950 (and noted Monica later. “I can't say enough good things
820 crew, about 100 fewer than normal). Passen- about Celebrity! The staff is amazing—profes-
gers ranged from those taking their first cruise (in- sional, warm, friendly, hard working, always ready
cluding a woman we met from Canada) to Bill from

72 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE WINTER/SPRING 2022