What would you do?

[gskimmel]

For the same price, I am debating between two possible itineraries for January:

 

Option A:

- 5- night on the Constellation going to Cozumel and Key West

- Category RS

- Pro: Love Cozumel and never been to Key West

- Con: older ship and have only been on the Eclipse (twice) 3 years ago

 

Option B:

- 7-night on the Reflection going to San Juan, St Thomas, and St Maartin

- Category S1 (corner aft)

- Pro: newer ship

- Con: we've been to these places before (although I do like San Juan and it has been awhile since we've been to St Thomas)

 

Thanks

[wallie5446]

Option A= younger booze cruise crowd

 

Option B= Trumps A every time!

[cruisead]

We always choose the longer cruise.

[kenevenpar]

For me Option B. While the RS at the Sky price is attractive -

 

A - 5 day is too short

- Not a Coz fan, like Key West, but not a lot to do

 

B - Reflection is favorite ship

- been to these islands many times, but I do like them, and there are many choices of things to do

[cruisingsince94]

The Constellation is a beautiful ship and well maintained. You would not be disappointed in sailing on her. We are doing that itinerary on her in November. That being said, I would take the 2 extra nights on Reflection. Same price, and your still getting a corner aft suite.

Key West is nice but the stops on Reflection are as well regardless if you have been there previously.

[chemmo]

If you have not done a RS before it is an experience in itself. Unlimited fine dining, premium drinks package, escorted on board with a red rose, Michael's, conceirge service......

 

Your call. Whatever you choose have a great cruise!

[cruisingsince94]

Option A= younger booze cruise crowd

 

Option B= Trumps A every time!

 

Seriously, a booze cruise crowd? We have never ran into that on Celebrity as of yet, and it seems rather unlikely in January. Demographics have always been older on Celebrity for us.

[Project_gal]

Seriously, a booze cruise crowd? We have never ran into that on Celebrity as of yet, and it seems rather unlikely in January. Demographics have always been older on Celebrity for us.

 

I would categorise it as a "booze cruise crowd" - at least from our one experience.

 

In 2103, we took the 15-night westbound TA from Rome on Constellation followed by the 5-night itinerary in Option A. The difference between the demographic on the two cruises was enormous. The 5-night cruise majored on drinking, smoking and gambling. It was also considerably younger.

 

Having said that the itinerary was enjoyable and a RS would be a strong draw with the new Suite Class experience. IF everything else was equal, I would take 5-nights in a RS over 7-nights in a SS anytime. The OP may or may not consider everything else equal.

[hcat]

We did encounter some drinkers out of hand on Connie last Jan but not shipwide...did same itin...very cool in KW but we had a great day, nice lunch out etc.,,,..It was too cold to swim in Coz hotel pool on a day pass...water too rough to snorkel...loved Connie, esp t pool and spa..Tuscan, Murano . Ship was in excellent condition with a great crew and staff, The .pier it left from had great parking at terminal...easy on & off...RS would be a great experience..,.might be worth the shorter cruise!

 

did the Ref itin in Nov....it was our least fav S class ship due to layout of spa on sep deck from Solarium pool..and we found the aft bar less conducive for music...more a drinking bar.... certain areas were too crowded and loud DJ...but those are nice ports and a longer cruise...we had a good time, enjoyed BLU but once on Ref was enough for us...

 

good luck choosing and have fun!

Edited June 9, 2015 by hcat

[wallie5446]

Seriously, a booze cruise crowd? We have never ran into that on Celebrity as of yet, and it seems rather unlikely in January. Demographics have always been older on Celebrity for us.

 

Yes indeed! If it is early Jan and college has not started the 5 day Celebrity sailings have become very popular with the 20-30 year old crowd.

 

Post after post about the problems during spring break this year were on the boards.

[gskimmel]

Yes indeed! If it is early Jan and college has not started the 5 day Celebrity sailings have become very popular with the 20-30 year old crowd.

 

Post after post about the problems during spring break this year were on the boards.

 

It is at the end of January so the college kids should be back in school

[wallie5446]

It is at the end of January so the college kids should be back in school

 

Then you should be fine with either choice. So it boils down to, do you want 5 days of relaxing, or 7 !!!!?:D

[OCruisers]

Then you should be fine with either choice. So it boils down to, do you want 5 days of relaxing, or 7 !!!!?:D

 

Agree! Both would be fine. It's if you want a 5 day or a 7 day! :)

 

LuLu

[texkan]

Connie is a Great ship even thou she is older but I would take 7 days in the Eastern Caribbean over 5 days in the Western Caribbean.

 

Have fun sailing.

Edited June 9, 2015 by texkan

[rjrpar]

I would take B every time.

[DAllenTCY]

No brainer....B for sure for me.

St. Maarten is one of the most interesting ports of all. If you don't like the Dutch side, take a taxi to the French side for a few hours.

 

David

[neverbeenhere]

Choice C: 4/5 B2B on the Constellation in Celebrity suite.:)

[cruisingsince94]

Yes indeed! If it is early Jan and college has not started the 5 day Celebrity sailings have become very popular with the 20-30 year old crowd.

 

Post after post about the problems during spring break this year were on the boards.

 

Spring break I can understand and would expect a younger wilder vibe. We did Connie last Thanksgiving and the ship was quiet with an older demographic. We have also done Christmas week and there were only a few rowdy college age passengers. Guess we have been lucky in our choices.

[cruisingsince94]

I would categorise it as a "booze cruise crowd" - at least from our one experience.

 

In 2103, we took the 15-night westbound TA from Rome on Constellation followed by the 5-night itinerary in Option A. The difference between the demographic on the two cruises was enormous. The 5-night cruise majored on drinking, smoking and gambling. It was also considerably younger.

 

Having said that the itinerary was enjoyable and a RS would be a strong draw with the new Suite Class experience. IF everything else was equal, I would take 5-nights in a RS over 7-nights in a SS anytime. The OP may or may not consider everything else equal.

 

The OP is going in late January so colleges will be back in session. At the time you experienced option A many colleges here were already out for the holidays. Night and day difference from what demographics will be in late January.

[cruisingsince94]

No brainer....B for sure for me.

St. Maarten is one of the most interesting ports of all. If you don't like the Dutch side, take a taxi to the French side for a few hours.

 

David

 

Oh the memories of the French side beaches. My DW was not aware of their beach rules when we first visited years ago. Needless to say, I am not allowed to visit their beaches anymore.:confused:

[keesar]

We did a later January short cruise on Constellation a couple of years ago. You would not believe you were on a Celebrity cruise. Much younger crowd with heavy drinkers and smokers. Rowdy group as well. Cruisers were smoking on balconies and you get the story. Not college students either. Now we are back to the longer itineraries with a much older crowd.

 

Play it safe. Take the 7 day cruise.

[AnchorsAweigh2011]

I would pick option B because of the newer ship and the better ports of call!

[gentle@spici]

Out of our 8 cruises we did do a 5 day cruise with all the others being 7 or more days. I felt that with all the planning for weeks or months and the price of the flights that 5 days just didn't seem worth it. Without a doubt option B would be our choice. We did do the Reflection itinerary in January and we had been to all the mentioned ports at least 2 times or more in the past. We just got off and did some walking and shopping and got back on and took advantage of our beverage pkg. Oh I guess in St Thomas we went to a beach for 3 hrs and relaxed. Reflection was the best cruise yet for us. Currently trying to get an 11 day on the Equinox in November.

[bothluv2cruise]

I would pick option B.

[Project_gal]

The OP is going in late January so colleges will be back in session. At the time you experienced option A many colleges here were already out for the holidays. Night and day difference from what demographics will be in late January.

 

Although considerably younger than the TA demographic, I really doubt that those on the 5-day cruise were still at college. I would have said an average age of mid-40s rather than around 60.

 

We did a later January short cruise on Constellation a couple of years ago. You would not believe you were on a Celebrity cruise. Much younger crowd with heavy drinkers and smokers. Rowdy group as well. Cruisers were smoking on balconies and you get the story. Not college students either. Now we are back to the longer itineraries with a much older crowd.

 

Play it safe. Take the 7 day cruise.

 

 

Our experience was much more like that of keesar.

Edited June 10, 2015 by Project_gal