TrueStar Domains: Cruise holidays: Celebrity lines up sophistication for British cruisers

Last updated at 12:52 PM on 3rd July 2011

It was only after the second show that we realised we were hooked on this form of live entertainment and eager for more. The three performers made everything seem breathtaking and eye-catching, hard to fathom at first but then increasingly engaging and, ultimately, totally spectacular - if you like glass-blowing. At sea. On a cruise ship. On a large cruise ship. Because this happened on board the 122,000-ton Celebrity Eclipse, which pushes the boundaries of size while main�taining a high-quality level of decor, service and cuisine.

Our home for the week carried some 2,800 passengers around the eastern Caribbean - a hefty number for a cruise line that considered 1,800 passengers and a 70,000-ton ship to be the limit just 15 years ago.

There are certainly bigger ships, but not many claim to occupy the middle ground between cruising?s mass market and the deluxe end of the scale.

A feast for the senses: Susan enjoys breakfast on her balcony

Celebrity has always seen things slightly differently, though, insisting that dining aboard a large vessel could still be a gourmet affair and that the service level could be suitably gracious.

All of Celebrity?s four ships will sail in European waters this summer - but Eclipse deserves most attention as her five-month season of voyages out of Southampton is aimed primarily at British cruisers.

So what can they expect if they opt for the Celebrity high life on the high seas? Well, to start with, there is the Corning Museum Hot Glass Show, the daily entertainment highlight that captivated us from the very first minute.

Situated on the ship?s literal high point of The Lawn Club (a novel expanse of real grass) up on Deck 15, some 150ft above the water, this is where three keen craftsmen demonstrate the skill and artistry of glassblowing in a variety of forms.

We watched spellbound as the trio of Brian, Dan and Jamie turned out vases, goblets, pitchers and animal sculptures from a seemingly never-ending array of molten coloured glass.

If it sounds a tad gimmicky for a modern cruise ship, that?s exactly what we thought when we wandered in to that first two-hour session. But, ten shows later, we were still watching in rapt fascination as one of the threesome narrated and fielded questions while the two others created another mini-masterpiece.

The cuisine and service were just as enjoyable, providing the sophisticated veneer that cruising is in danger of losing in some places.

Towels on sunbeds: Enjoy the variety of activities onboard the Celebrity Eclipse

While some lines opt for the garish and attention-grabbing - mistaking glitz for glamour - the Eclipse maintains the company?s reputation as a chic choice. All the 13 bars and lounges are of small, almost intimate dimensions, creating an air of distinctive and distinguished charm that completely belies the numbers involved.

True, the main theatre and dining room are both built along more capacious lines, catering for at least 1,100 at a time. In the theatre it could be difficult to find two seats together if we arrived a few minutes before the evening show.

But that feeling of crowds and congestion was amazingly rare. Several times, we had the gorgeous Ensemble Lounge or Molecular Bar to ourselves, while even the lofty Sky Lounge, with its 270-degree sea views, was never uncomfortably filled.

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Picking a Concierge Class stateroom added a few nice extra touches, such as daily hors d?oeuvres and a bottle of bubbly, and the balcony was perfect for early-morning tea and coffee with a commanding view. A bit more interior cupboard and drawer space would have been welcome.

The ports of San Juan, St Maarten and St Kitts were neither action-packed nor overflowing with cultural attractions (this summer?s European itineraries should provide greater allure shoreside), but back in our floating comfort zone we were surrounded by pleasurable opportunities.

Impressive: Eclipse, the new cruise ship from Celebrity Cruises arrives in Southampton

There were nine alternatives to the main Moonlight Sonata restaurant. Admittedly, four came with a surcharge varying from �3.50 to �20 per person, but there was always an option for breakfast, lunch and dinner, including the health-conscious AquaSpa Cafe, with a range of salads, wraps, seafood and smoothies.

The Italian-themed (and highly romantic) Tuscan Grille had us rolling out too full to be comfortable, while the eccentric Qsine was like a tapas bar on steroids. Smaller portions and better explanation of the many dishes would make Qsine more enjoyable, but menus displayed on iPads made it a novel experience.

In the end, we were bowled over most by the sheer variety - of the food, entertainment, live music, bars and lounges, places to relax and the many pampering options in the blissful AquaSpa, where a couple?s massage came in at about �160 and left us truly chilled for the rest of the day.

It all came with a sense of greater cruise sophistication than many of the other big-ship brands these days, and it also had that captivating Corning Museum showcase.

This ship was genuinely hot stuff, we decided.

Celebrity Eclipse sails a series of four, eight, 14 and 16-night voyages until October out of Southampton, visiting northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Ireland and the Canaries. A 16-night Western Mediterranean and Adriatic Coast cruise costs from �1,299 per person, including all meals and entertainment.

For more information call Celebrity Cruises on 0845 456 0523 or visit www.celebritycruises.co.uk.

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