I’m writing this evaluation whereas on my return flight to the U.S., having simply spent the previous two weeks (14 nights) aboard the Superstar Eclipse. Launched in April of 2010, the Eclipse joins Superstar’s award-winning family of “Solstice-class” ships, which at present contains the Superstar Solstice, the Equinox and, in 2011, will even embody the Silhouette. So, though I’ll attempt to preserve full objectivity, I need to admit that I boarded the Eclipse with very excessive expectations. Happily, with solely minor exceptions (as later famous), I used to be not disillusioned.
The “{Hardware}”
When discussing the bodily attributes of a cruise ship (i.e., it is format and look), business professionals typically seek advice from the ship’s “{hardware}”. So, let’s begin there.
At 122,000 tons (the most important within the Superstar fleet), the Eclipse was surprisingly simple to get round on and, even with a full capability of two,850 passengers (based mostly on double occupancy), the ship by no means felt crowded. To be completely sincere, my first impression of the inside décor was that it was a bit “plain” however, as the times onboard handed, I got here to understand it increasingly. In keeping with Superstar’s place within the business as a “premium” cruise line (as distinguished from “mass market” or “luxurious”), the general look and “really feel” of the Eclipse is what I’d describe as “subdued class”. In contrast to the “low-cost glitz” or “pretentious opulence” of another ships I’ve seen, the inside of the Eclipse gave the impression to be deliberately understated by its designers in order that company (myself included) would really feel fully comfortable whereas residing of their upscale home at sea. Colours in the primary foyer space have been tender and light, whereas different public areas and lounges (together with Michael’s Membership and Cellar Masters) have been adorned in deep pure wooden tones with luxurious furnishings and plush carpeting.
Hallways and stairways have been sufficiently extensive for side-by-side passage of company and we hardly ever needed to wait greater than a minute or two for an elevator. The general public bogs have been immaculate they usually have been at all times well-stocked with small single-use cloth towels (moderately than paper or sizzling air dryers).
The pool and solarium areas have been spacious sufficient that discovering a snug lounge chair was by no means an issue. Nevertheless, the jogging monitor (or “strolling path” for these of us over the age of 60) went proper by the pool lounging space (so it grew to become one thing of an “impediment course”) and it did not go fully across the total ship.
Maybe probably the most distinctive function of the ship’s “{hardware}” was the “Lawn Membership”. I need to admit {that a} unfavorable pre-conceived notion (based mostly on photographs and descriptions that I saw) might have clouded my expectation. However, after spending just some minutes watching fellow passengers enjoying croquet or basking within the solar on the finely manicured pure grass, I noticed that the images of this space in Superstar’s brochures and tv commercials couldn’t seize it is peaceable serenity. I liked it!
The Meals
Since all eating places supply quite a lot of culinary selections, any analysis of meals is influenced not solely by personal style but additionally by what gadgets are chosen from the menu. Nowhere was this extra obvious than on the Murano specialty restaurant aboard the Eclipse. My spouse ordered the filet mignon whereas my cousin, Mike, had the veal chop. Each entrees have been, unquestionably, one of the best of their type we have ever tasted… anyplace! On the opposite hand, the fish (Mediterranean sea bass) that my cousin’s girlfriend, Janet, and I each ordered was honest at finest.
Extra constant was the meal we had within the specialty restaurant, Tuscan Grille. Though the filet mignon was fairly nearly as good (in our opinion) as in Murano (regardless that the Tuscan Grille touts itself as being “a steak house with an Italian aptitude”), all of our entrees have been glorious in their very own method.
On the specialty restaurant, Quisine, we had numerous laughs sampling all kinds of distinctive entrees and facet dishes, every described on an I-pod menu.
The principle eating room, Moonlight Sonata, provided quite a lot of dishes each night time that ranged from good to glorious, with only a few disappointments. We particularly appreciated the Choose Eating possibility which was a pleasant departure from the regimented two-seating association on most conventional cruise ships. And, we have been at all times in a position to get a table for 4 by the window as we requested.
The Service
A cruise passenger’s notion of onboard service is so typically dependent upon who their stateroom attendant was and which waiters / waitresses served their meals. So, at finest, any analysis of service ought to be taken solely as a generalization based mostly on restricted particular person experiences whereas onboard.
Having prefaced this a part of my evaluation (to “cowl my tail” in case the reader has a distinct expertise), let me say that my spouse and I discovered the service to be very good. Our stateroom attendants (Violetta Rodriguez and David Campbell) have been one of the best workforce we have had on any cruise (and we have taken many cruises). The eating staff was competent {and professional} in all eating places. As well as, there have been some good little “further touches”, similar to greeting you again onboard with a complimentary welcome-back tender drink and a “spritz” of cool spray after an extended day of shore excursions. Nevertheless, one of many issues that I most appreciated was the considered use of public bulletins. Following the captain’s positioning and climate replace every morning, the general public tackle system was nearly silent the rest of the day. There have been no blaring bulletins concerning the subsequent spherical of jackpot bingo or particular “offers” on jewellery. When you have been desirous about such issues, the time and place of all onboard actions and occasions have been clearly proven within the each day calendar that was left within the stateroom the previous night time. Having discovered to learn after I was in 1st grade, I did not miss the annoying bulletins one bit.
The Leisure
If there was one space during which my expertise aboard the Superstar Eclipse disillusioned me (and my touring companions), it was the leisure. Extra particularly, the Broadway-style manufacturing reveals (which I’ve seen numerous occasions earlier than on different cruise ships) have been honest at finest and completely uninspired at worst. That is to not say that the person performers weren’t gifted (though I’ve seen higher). It is solely to say that I discovered these “music and dance” reveals to be “corny”, repetitive and, in sure respects, barely amateurish. The exception to this was the final present (titled “Eclipse”), which featured some terrific acrobatic performances and nice units with particular results. The variability reveals (jugglers, magicians, comedians, and many others.) have been usually good.
The highly-promoted glass blowing exhibition was, for my part, slow-moving and uninteresting. Though the presenters from the Corning glass museum have been clearly very expert at their craft and devoted to their work, I simply could not get too enthusiastic about spending almost an hour watching a glass bowl being made. Actually, at one level in the course of the exhibition, my spouse turned to me and stated “What am I lacking?”. Satirically, this similar exhibition was extremely beneficial to us by one in every of our staff members who saw it on the Solstice. So, do not take my phrase for it. See for your self 비반디.
The Staterooms
Like each fashionable cruise ship, the Superstar Eclipse affords all kinds of accommodations, starting from lower-priced inside cabins (with no window) to very large luxurious suites with personal butlers. Clearly, a visitor staying in one of many giant suites would have a distinct stateroom expertise than one staying in a a lot smaller inside cabin so, as soon as once more, I need to preface my stateroom evaluation by cautioning the reader that it’s based mostly on my particular expertise (which can or might not maintain true for different kinds of accommodations on the Eclipse).
My spouse and I selected (as we most frequently do) an ordinary mid-priced stateroom with a balcony, which was greater than satisfactory for the 2 of us. The décor was tender and pleasing. The bedding was very snug and neither of us had any issue falling asleep. The lavatory was a pleasant measurement however the shower didn’t have a hand-held extension (which meant you needed to transfer your body round a bit to get your self all rinsed off). There was considerably much less space for storing than we might have appreciated on a 14-night cruise however, total, we have been very happy with our commonplace balcony stateroom accommodations.
Conclusion
Having taking properly over 30 cruises over the previous 15 years that we have been within the business, my spouse and I are at all times on the lookout for one thing particular when a brand new cruise ship enters the market. And, that is precisely what we received with the Superstar Eclipse. On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being the unattainable commonplace of being completely excellent in each respect), we give this one an total score of 8.5 to 9. We won’t wait to e-book our cruise on the brand new Superstar Silhouette (sister ship of the Eclipse) when she begins round-trip sailings to the Caribbean from Cape Liberty, New Jersey in 2011.