Chrisclaire

Thankyou trinitygirl for your posts!

I am glad you are feeling better and able to enjoy your cruise.

Really enjoying seeing your photos and reading all the info posted.

Very interested in everything, especially the ship and the food (which looks delicious btw)

We are thinking about jumping ship from Celebrity and to date, have only ever cruised with them, Princess is one of our possibilities, so thanks for the info!

Sailing on Celebrity Solstice in October from Sydney round East coast of Australia and will make our decision after that cruise.

Thanks again & enjoy the rest of you cruise.

Ps

Up at 5.30/6.30am......now that's very impressive 😊

Thanks for that!

Seems like you enjoy pretty much the same as us, so that is most helpful.

Interestingly,  our post pandemic cruise last Sept on Constellation,  our dining experience in the MDR was quite different to previous cruises.

The staff were all very good, but we felt they were spread thin & certainly did not have the same time to spend with guests as previously.

We also noticed a big difference in the Sommelier service.

Poor girl was really struggling. 

One concern of our's going on such a big ship is how busy it would be, but reassuring to hear you can find a quiet spot/bar.

Enjoy your Sept cruise & thanks again!

On 8/16/2023 at 9:22 PM, RainbowRichard said:

I’m very much in the same boat too (excuse the pun), We are in our early to mid forties and have been pretty loyal Celebrity cruisers the last few years - the last few times in Aqua class. We have one booked on Silhouette in September but looking ahead to next year from Southampton UK you are looking at £8k for an aqua class cabin for pretty much the same itinerary as we did in 2019 for £4k. I know prices have increased but double in five years is excessive. We earn good salaries but cannot justify that for a holiday. We went on P&O earlier this year and were pleasantly surprised so we’ll see what Celebrity is like in September and see if the extra for Celebrity  is worth it.  

I posted a question on the P&O UK forum "P&O v's Celebrity"

Some interesting responses.

Good to hear your P&O experience was pleasantly surprising!

We have only ever sailed with Celebrity and have loved every cruise......Inside, Balcony, Concierge & Aqua

However our most recenct one last Sept was a little disappointing. 

We are leaving from Sydney in October on Solstice and will make a decision after that as to who we cruise with next.

As you say, Celebrity prices are excessive and for us it's about what else is out there that is similar but not so expensive!

Thankyou to the OP for this very interesting/helpful post!

14 minutes ago, Presto2 said:

I've had a good look and it makes more sense to read this thread as it pretty much covers what I am moaning  about. You'll need to start from page one - sorry 😉

Review of Britannia as promised - Page 4 - P&O Cruises ( UK ) - Cruise Critic Community

What a fantastic/informative review! Thankyou for that.

Interestingly,  our first cruise post pandemic was on Celebrity Constellation and we felt exactly as you did re the cabin.

We also felt that the standards had dropped with regards service and food. Happy to make allowances though for that particular cruise.

It will be interesting to see what Solstice is like in October. 

We will then make our decision on who to look at going forward!

At the end of the day, it's all about expectations.  Celebrity market themselves as luxury and charge luxurious prices, therefore the expectations are higher 😀 

On 8/14/2023 at 6:58 PM, Presto2 said:

I can go to a Travel Lodge a 100 times for the price of a cruise. Would I want to go a 100 times?

I used to think exactly the same until our last experience that did not feel like why we wanted to cruise.

Giving it another go, but if it disappoints we will go less and enjoy the experience somewhere more special and expensive less than come home grumpy and stressed. (I feel like a real grump at the moment ---- if people know me from our history on CC they will know that I am not a moaner. Honest)

Out of interest Presto2 

What disappointed you and made you "grumpy"?

Thanks again everyone for your replies.

Very much appreciated!

Good to hear different opinions.

Looks like in this instance, you get what you pay for perhaps.

We have only been on the smaller  Celebrity ships M & S class, not the more recent larger E class which Iona would be comparable to.

From many comments,  looks like the price is the main difference. 

We are off round Australia on Solstice in 8 weeks and that cruise will be our decider.....do we stick with Celebrity or jump ship 😆 

Their prices for next year are so expensive and as laslomas mentioned the drinks package, speciality dining etc is also.

But I do love the Martini Bar 🤪 

2 x cruises with P&O or similar or 1 x cruise with Celebrity,  I guess I need to make that decision!

For info on a previous post, we have only had an aft cabin once sailing round Vietnam/Thailand etc on Constellation.   The balcony was huge  we had a table that seated 6 and 2 sun loungers  however as there was no breeze it was extremely hot and we were unable to sit out.

So beware if it's a warmer climate you are going to and don't like it too hot.

Thanks again everyone!

Thanks everyone for your valuable replies!

It's good to get a varied view on both.

Much appreciated!

We are thinking about a cruise from Southampton on Iona April 2024.

We have only ever cruised with Celebrity.

Has anyone recently sailed on any Celebrity ship And Iona?

If so, what in your opinion are the main differences?

We will be looking to travel outwith school holidays.

Thanks in advance ☺️ 

4 minutes ago, margo2011 said:

Yes we did but we booked with celebrity and they chose the flights .

We flew from Edinburgh last September to Marco Polo, unfortunately the flights to Bologna were very expensive, but would certainly be a better option!

Thankfully we have previously sailed in and out of Venice and it was stunning.

Our transfer to Ravenna was too long and we most certainly would not do again.

Our last cruise on Constellation in September......

trying to get an  actual glass of "Champagne"  was a joke!

You had to actually watch them pour it.

Everytime they tried to pour nasty fizzy stuff that is most definitely not Champagne, more like paint stripper 🙄 

Come on Celebrity,  we're not stupid......if you market your Premium Drinks Package to include Champagne,  it should be Champagne, produced in the Champagne region of France, otherwise you can't call it Champagne!

You are charging enough 😕

8 minutes ago, Captain-John said:

 

It should have been replaced straight away and without question on your first contact with Guest Services. I'd expect that at a low end hotel never mind a premium cruise line. Tried to clean it?! I've never heard the like of it.

Agree 100% 

If it had been an Hotel, we would not have stayed in that room!

Shower curtains are not the most desirable imo, but when there is a dark stain, well........

Not acceptable. 

1 hour ago, yellowhat said:

Happy holidays everyone.  Booked veranda deck 6. November this year. The reviews refer to unsanitary shower  curtains.  Mould and scum on my feet is manageable ..but not my body.

Question..do you think I can ask for a new one..12 night event..or should I pack a new one..where's the tape measure guy?  Ha ha.

Thanking you for your reply.

 

 

 

We sailed on Constellation Sept 2022, Veranda deck 6.

Sadly, our shower curtain was disgusting!

Very badly stained along the bottom & a very noticeable stain half way up.

It puzzles me to think that Celebrity thinks this is acceptable.

We spoke with Guest Services, they tried to clean it, but still badly stained, so after further complaining, it was replaced!

Tbh,  it took up a bit of our cruise time back & forth which was most annoying.

We also asked for the shower cubicle to be deep cleaned.

The grouting has just seen better day's and needs replaced.

That said, this was our 3rd time on Constellation & we still love the ship despite it missing drydock.

We are on Solstice in October & I have asked for reassurance that we will not be faced with the same problems.

I was assured that they have contacted Solstice.........

Time will tell!

Have a great time!

7 hours ago, jelayne said:

We got champagne at multiple bars last month.  All wines are not listed on each venues wine list.  
We have had a champagne we liked that wasn’t at the bar we preferred, the bartender got some and set it aside for us so we had it every night.

Jelayne, out of interest, do you remember the name of the Champagne you liked?  We were struggling on our last cruise on Constellation to get a "decent" one!  They kept trying to pour us horrible "fizz" which definitely was not Champagne!

We are on Solstice in October and do hope the Champagne is not just in Speciality restaurants!

Thanks everyone for your replies!

I have managed to speak to Celebrity today.

They say it is the individuals responsibility to check if visas are required, using visacentral.co.uk (I'm assuming there will be similar for USA)

They do not issue on the ship.

This site however appears to charge more.

E visa before we travel looks like the best option.

Hi

We are travelling from the UK to pick up the Sydney to Singapore cruise.

The ship is overnight in Bali and we are staying in an Hotel.

Can anyone help with visa requirements please?

It looks like we require one, but can anyone advise if the ship organises this?

I would call Celebrity,  but takes so long to get through 🥺

Thanks

6 hours ago, Wineaux007 said:

We are on this cruise.  To answer the OP, Celebrity excursions usually meet in the Theater and disembark up forward.  The rest of the ship should be disembarking mid-ship, and as soon as the ship is cleared, you should be able to go ashore.  For an 8:00am arrival, you should be able to walk off the ship by 8:30am at the latest.

Thankyou Wineaux007, enjoy the cruise 😊

Has anyone docked here recently?

We are on the Sydney to Singapore cruise in October and wanted to know a rough time scale of disembarking the ship.

I understand that Celebrity excursions will leave first, but we want to organise a private transfer to Nusa Dua.

Thanks in advance!

43 minutes ago, ScottC4746 said:

On the Solstice our stateroom and bathroom were wonderful.  The sliding doors for the shower sometimes were a little sticky but other than that the bath was nice.  Just had to watch out for the step into the bathroom and into the shower.

Thankyou! 

That's reassuring 🙂

On 9/10/2022 at 8:08 PM, ScottC4746 said:

Just back from this wonderful cruise.  Any questions about the ship?

Hi, 

Can I ask what condition the stateroom and in particular the shower room was please?

We were on Constellation in September, 3rd time on this lovely ship.

The public area's were lovely and had been updated but our balcony stateroom (bathroom) was a really poor standard.

The shower enclosure and floor tiles were in desperate need of being replaced!

As we are on a special trip next October on Solstice. I would appreciate your thought's on the condition of the stateroom and bathroom please.

20 minutes ago, BigAl94 said:

From memory they aren't tiles but a composite moulded floor and shower enclosure. Our last trip on Silhouette they were fine, maybe a little discoloured but clean and intact.

Thanks so much, that's reassuring!

Does anyone have any info on the condition of the tiles in the shower enclosure/bathrooms in the staterooms on Solstice and in particular #8266?

We have booked this for Oct 23 round Australia from the UK.

A lifetime trip for us.

We have just returned from 10 nights on Constellation and the tiles in the bathroom/shower enclosure were absolutely awful.

In need of a complete rip out.

We are now concerned, given the Solstice has not been refurbished, that we could face the same.

We love the Constellation & this was our 3rd time on her, many of the lounges etc have had new carpets and seating, which imo were lovely.

But the bathrooms 😟😟😟

15 hours ago, thebutlerdidit said:

You can look at the dining menus on the app for your sailing. I’m guessing day 2 and day 8 on your sailing. Day 8 for sure, as lobster is on the menu. 

Thankyou so much for this! Didn't know you could look at the menu's. 

17 hours ago, jelayne said:

Shows are normally at 7 and 9 but occasionally will vary.  You didn’t say how long your cruise is.  If it is 7 night cruise Chic nights frequently are night 2 and 6 but that can vary if there is a late port departure scheduled on 1 of those nights.

Thankyou jelayne, our cruise is 10 days, sorry forgot to include this. 

Can anyone advise how I find out which night/nights the chic night's will be?

Also, the time of the shows please.

Thankyou!

This is mainly for info as I'm sure many will already know some of the benefits of booking flights with Celebrity.

We are flying to Venice & returning to Barcelona from Edinburgh this September.

All of the flights have just been cancelled!

Thankfully they were booked direct with Celebrity. 

No stress on our part as they took care of everything.

Plus it would have potentially cost us another £600 to rearrange!

As I say, just for info in this unsettled time we find ourselves in.