JDPCruisers

We have not experienced the Retreat on Beyond, yet (booked for April 2024), but have on Edge and Apex and can say that it is one of our favorite experiences. You shouldn't have an issue with finding loungers, more available earlier in the day than during the afternoon but still open ones as the Retreat deck is quite large. In our experience there has been no lounge chair hogs as people tend to stay with them during the time they're there. They have a bar and serve a limited lunch menu, pool-side offerings, which we have found to be quite good. The pool is on the smaller side, but we haven't found any issue with finding space and have enjoyed the swinging chairs over the edge of the pool. Also, they have covered areas with couches and chairs. Very attentive service throughout and only steps away down to the enclosed Retreat lounge which is an excellent space to relax, have a beverage of choice, and continental breakfast in the morning and canapes in the afternoon. Also, we have always enjoyed Luminae for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with excellent service. But, we do augment with specialty restaurants for a different experience with Luminae as our go-to. IMHO, if your experience will be like ours have been, you should truly enjoy.

For those currently or most recently on Constellation have there been any Beyond the Podium talks? We have enjoyed them on previous cruises and, hopefully, look forward to them in December (though understand they can be based on itinerary). Thanks.

We, too, have cruised Edge, which was 24 days last April, and Apex, enjoyed them both very much, and have Beyond booked for next April so very much looking forward it. Love the Retreat on Edge and Apex so certainly anticipating the same on Beyond.

Same experience here, was on Allure in Jan and Edge in April both this year. Our preference is Luminae as we didn't particularly care for Costal Kitchen being in the same large space of the Suite Lounge. We are mostly X over the last few years and will go to RC but not as a first preference and definitely not in an Oasis class, too many people and especially kids for our liking which was the case on Allure with small children running around in the Suite Lounge, thus the same space as Costal Kitchen and bar, which is all their parents fault in treating the lounge like a day care without any care.

My experience is that food is one is of the more personally subjective things, particularly it seems on a cruise. Our experience has been that we always find something that we enjoy with some dish's multiple times over the course of longer cruises. The rare times we haven't particularly cared for a dish and our waiters are always ready and able to bring us something else and bring it to the maître d's attention. So, so far, Luminae has very much overall been a winner with us. And, when we're not on E-class the ability to order off Blur of MDR has been a plus. Hopefully, that will not change and guess we'll find out on Connie in Dec.

Yes, we likely will as we've just cruised RC and X over the years and mostly have settled on X.

Thanks to all for the clarification. Still deciding to give Oceania a try or Azamara. On the fence.

Will we interested to read if that works for you as I plan to do the same for our December Connie cruise.

We have heard the same and I plan to provide our experience on CC. We are on Beyond (having been on Apex and Edge) in April and Eclipse in September. Looking forward to them all and waiting for 2025 to open up. Now, I just wish international airfares would somehow magically go down (truly wishful thinking)!

Been following along and, like others, many thanks for your live review with great photos. We are on Connie in December and looking more and more forward to it based on your current overall experience and all of our positive previous X cruise experiences. Continue to enjoy your journey!

Thanks to all for their clarification! I'm looking at other cruise lines as we are strictly Celebrity in the Retreat but considering others now.

Curious about the beverage package on Oceania, does it include cocktails at the bars and lounges? Can't see to get that clarification on their website. Thanks in advance.

This is good to hear that the head butler can be contacted directly and handles the requests. One butler managing this for a number of suites seems like it could be a challenge, but your experience does not appear to be the case.

Anyone currently on Constellation know who the head butler is and the concierge? Thanks.

Who do you speak to for any requests, the head butler? Does he have a direct number or you contact the concierge, or? Thanks for the information.

Thanks for the clarification.

Meant to add we were in 10119.

Interesting in that we were on Edge in April for 24 days and no pole in the cabin?

Have been looking around at other lines, Oceania, Silversea, Regent, etc., but just booked Beyond SS for next April. So, no other line, yet.

When we have gone out of FLL there is a Retreat line sign outside. Once cleared you go to the Retreat desk and you are escorted to a dedicated elevator, once off the elevator is security before you enter the Retreat lounge where there used to be snacks, water, and, if I recall, soft drinks, not sure about that now, while they come around to your seat and check you in. On Connie in Dec so will see if anything has changed.

Curious as to the cost of the bar set-up?

Thanks for sharing your experience. We are on Connie in December and having never been on this particular ship we have been wondering about her condition, though our experience with X is that they do keep their ship's public spaces and the outside in nice condition. For us in CS and SS the cabins have all been in very good shape, as well.

Can't speak for forward, but we were on Edge in April for a TA midship SS and it was great. The only thing that we had to adjust to was the daily time change going over. Not a big and as we got used to it. We want to do a TA westbound one of these days. Enjoy!

Thanks for the update. Glad to hear all is going well on your cruise and the changes haven't affected you. Enjoy!

We have been lucky for the last three cruises, with one being 24 days, as we had the same dedicated butler who was wonderful, and we liked personally. We do not request much, but he would always ask us if we needed anything and after he got to know us and what we liked would do things without our asking. He was friends with some of the chefs and would bring us pizza after a late night out that were the best we've ever had on a ship and in many restaurants. Cocktails while getting ready for the evening, cookies, and hors d'oeuvres. So, we will miss that level of service and most importantly him! We just hope we get to see him again on a future cruise whether he provides a to us or not. We'll just have to wait and see how the Retreat Team is in Dec in a SS, knowing that it very likely will not be what we experienced with him.