HeddaGarbled

Thanks for this - there’s been some very negative reviews of Constellation on CC in the last couple of weeks which has been starting to worry me for my upcoming cruise, so it’s been reassuring to read this.

So far, it seems to be more stable on my iPad - the old site used to crash frequently on iPad though was OK on laptop and PC.

OK so I got my answer from another thread: 75 dollars per person :eek:

Thanks all, but do Celebrity really charge more than 60 Euro per person for their transfers? I've found a shuttle for 20 Euro, but if Celebrity's were 25-30, I'd probably use them for convenience and peace of mind. It's interesting that they don't advertise their transfers in the excursions info which makes me suspect that they really do charge an outrageous price. I was hoping someone would be able to tell me the exact amount.

I've been following an excellent live blog from UKPete on his Constellation cruise and I noticed in one of the dailies that Celebrity are offering a transfer to "selected hotels" or the airport in Rome at the end of the cruise.

This isn't mentioned in the tour excursions info I've seen so far, so I'd assumed this was something that I would have to arrange myself. I've already decided that I'm not going to do the port shuttle followed by bus to train station followed by train - too stressful with luggage IMO.

Most options get cheaper per person, the bigger the party travelling, but we are a couple so would be paying top prices for private transfers. I've identified that there is a coach transfer at 9.30am on some days and was leaning towards this option. However, I wouldn't mind paying a bit more for an easy to manage, guarranteed seat, Celebrity transfer. So, has anyone used it? Is it outrageously expensive? Will it drop us at or near Termini rail station?

I really really hope they have they have the chocolate fountain during my forthcoming trip. Also Saturday's MDR menu looks like the best of all. Have you had an evening chic night yet and if so, did people dress up more than usual?

Thank you so much for doing this during your holiday - I'm finding it really interesting.

Thank you for doing this. We're on Constellation in August so it's great to see such clear pictures of the dining room etc.

That's very helpful. Thank you.

Thanks for the link to smartcruisetours, wieslaw. That's the cheapest per person rate I've seen in all my research. We are a couple, not a group. Has anyone used them who can comment on their reliability? There are some comments on TripAdviser but these are about their tours of Rome not about their transfers from the port on disembarkation.

Connie is definitely a step down from Cunard. To get anywhere near the quality, you would need to go for suite or Aqua to get into the better restaurants. On the other hand, it's less formal, so you don't have to pack the DJ or long dresses or jewellery etc.

When I first started looking at cruises, I looked at Cunard, because I'm British and in Britain, Cunard has this status as the pinnacle of traditional cruising. But I was really put off by the overt 'tiering' of passengers which, yes, I think does hark back to the class structure of the Titanic and the classic age of cruising. Of course, now, it isn't just class that dictates your tier - if you can afford it, you can buy into the top tier.

What I liked about Celebrity was that it seemed much more democratic, relaxed, less snobby. "Modern luxury" sounds right to me. Of course, people will pay extra for better rooms, more expensive drinks, speciality restaurants etc and some of those things might come with perks such as butlers and priority queuing and whatnot. But I do feel that the 'tiering' is teetering at the point of making the experience of cruising considerably less pleasant for those of us who can't afford the suites and Aqua.

Yes, we were assigned a cabin straight away. Booked a 2C GTY, allocated a 2B.

Yeah, I only get the Americas, Galapagos etc options, not even the Europe option. I'm on iPad not iPhone so that may be why.

Thanks everyone - very helpful.

May I ask some supplementary questions? We're staying in a hotel near P.Roma so are planning to get the people mover. What happens when we get off it? How will we know where to go next? Presumably, I need to have stuck my luggage labels on at the hotel before I leave in the morning? Or will there be an opportunity to do that when I get to the terminal building? At what point will I need to be prepared with the generous tip for the porters I keep reading about on here?

Euro coins are acceptable as tips in Europe but less so in other areas of the world (although staff would be too polite to refuse). If you go to guest relations they will happily split larger dollar bills into a mix of $1, $5 for you....

Thank you - that is a very helpful answer :)

Are Euro coins acceptable as tips? As non-Americans we can't get single dollar notes but the smallest Euro note is €5, which is a bit over the top for room service coffee.

Is there any reason why you are not ordering room service coffee?

Thank you so much for the photos, cruisestitch.

Thank you for update. Another question if I may - do I stand a chance of getting a lounger near the pool if I don't get up at stupid o'clock to reserve it?

Hey, you're not far from us in the UK and we're doing our first trip on Constellation next summer so I am very interested to hear any further live updates you are willing to post.

We too will be doing select dining in the MDR. I've read lots of conflicting information about wait times so would be interested to hear about whether you have to wait long for a table at different times in the evening. Have they moved select to downstairs now or is it still upstairs? Did you get a drinks package and how does that work with wine with your dinner? Is it true that it's difficult to attract the attention of the wine waiters for a second glass?

Ignore me if that's too many questions! You're there to enjoy yourself not answer random questions from over-anxious Herts folk.

I do see that washing your own smalls is sensible, but with the cabin attendant in and out of the cabin more than once a day, I just feel embarrassed about having my knickers hanging in the shower or wherever :o