Constellation ?'s, help please

[goldmom]

Hi,

 

We are looking at the Constellation's repo cruise on March 18th. We've sailed Celebrity before, but it was years ago so I have a few questions. I apologize in advance if these have been asked numerous times before.

 

Does Celebrity have an adult soda card, and if so, what is the cost?

 

Can you charge chips in the casino to your onboard account?

 

Are there toiletries in the bathrooms? (We'll be in a balcony gty)

 

Does the bathroom sink have a vanity area around it to keep stuff on?

 

Is the room safe a combination lock or a credit card swipe type?

 

Do they offer internet packages, and what are the rates?

 

Never sailed into Bayonee before, are there plenty of taxi's available? We live in NJ.

 

Thanks again for your help in advance.

[tadjr]

Can you charge chips in the casino to your onboard account?

***Yes.

 

Are there toiletries in the bathrooms? (We'll be in a balcony gty)

***Soap, qtips, cotton swabs, lotion, shampoo are there.

 

Does the bathroom sink have a vanity area around it to keep stuff on?

***Yes. There are also 2 small shelves in there and lots of room under the sink area.

 

Is the room safe a combination lock or a credit card swipe type?

***Combination you set at the beginning of the cruise and can change when you want. No card needed.

 

Do they offer internet packages, and what are the rates?

***Yes. Not sure of the rates.

 

You're welcome. Any more questions just ask. Was on the ship 12/3.

[wieslaw]

Hi,

 

We are looking at the Constellation's repo cruise on March 18th. We've sailed Celebrity before, but it was years ago so I have a few questions. I apologize in advance if these have been asked numerous times before.

 

Does Celebrity have an adult soda card, and if so, what is the cost?

 

- Yes they have "Soda Drink Package" - unlimited fountain soft drinks each day for the price of $5.00 per day,plus 15% gratuity.

 

Can you charge chips in the casino to your onboard account?

 

- Yes you can, I am not sure what is the limit per day, maybe $200 but I am not sure

 

Are there toiletries in the bathrooms? (We'll be in a balcony gty) - Yes

 

Does the bathroom sink have a vanity area around it to keep stuff on? Yes

 

Is the room safe a combination lock or a credit card swipe type? Combination, four numbers

 

Do they offer internet packages, and what are the rates? they do, look for the rates on www.CelebrityAtSea.com

 

Never sailed into Bayonee before, are there plenty of taxi's available? We live in NJ. - do not know

 

Thanks again for your help in advance.

 

Above are some of your answers.

 

Wes

[goldmom]

Thanks so much for the prompt replies. It's so great to get answers when you need them.

 

I'll probably have more questions at some point but that's about it for now.

 

Thanks Again

[canderson]

Never mind - wasn't paying attention. Some of the answers being placed within your quoted text escaped my notice.

[fxcarden]

Hi,

 

We are looking at the Constellation's repo cruise on March 18th. We've sailed Celebrity before, but it was years ago so I have a few questions. I apologize in advance if these have been asked numerous times before.

 

Does Celebrity have an adult soda card, and if so, what is the cost?

 

Can you charge chips in the casino to your onboard account?

 

Are there toiletries in the bathrooms? (We'll be in a balcony gty)

 

Does the bathroom sink have a vanity area around it to keep stuff on?

 

Is the room safe a combination lock or a credit card swipe type?

 

Do they offer internet packages, and what are the rates?

 

Never sailed into Bayonee before, are there plenty of taxi's available? We live in NJ.

 

Thanks again for your help in advance.

 

 

 

 

The Internet rates are 75 cents per minute. Hope you are a fast typist.

[canderson]

The Internet rates are 75 cents per minute. Hope you are a fast typist.

The better solution for outbound email is to compose your messages "off line" (no charge) at your leisure in Word or WordPad on the internet cafe machine, and then log in for internet access (charged) and quickly copy (ctrl-C) and paste (ctrl-V) the emails into your webmail screen, and get out of the internet (charged) login as soon as possible.

[tbelian]

There are minute 'packages' available for less than the 75 cents per minute rate(s). It's still expensive, but you need to weigh both options. If you are going to use internet frequently (it's amazing how those minutes fly by), look into the packages.

[goldmom]

Thanks all. We'll probably have to do an internet package as DH needs to check his business e-mail everyday.

 

Ok, two more questions.

 

Does the $30.00 per person charge in the specialty restaurant include the wine? The brochure makes it sound like it does.

 

Also, if DH doesn't want to bother with a tux, will he feel out of place?

 

Thanks.

[canderson]

Thanks all. We'll probably have to do an internet package as DH needs to check his business e-mail everyday.

 

Ok, two more questions.

 

Does the $30.00 per person charge in the specialty restaurant include the wine? The brochure makes it sound like it does.

 

Also, if DH doesn't want to bother with a tux, will he feel out of place?

 

Thanks.

The second question isn't entirely clear to me. I'll answer it from both the ways I read it:

 

If it's a formal night, a dark suit and tie works everywhere, including the specialty restaurant.

 

There's no need to dress formally in the specialty restaurant if the evening attire calls for informal; but even on casual nights, use informal as the minimum, never casual. No jacket, no dinner!

 

As to the first question -- there are now two packages. The $30 per person buys you dinner. That's basically the deal they've been offering all along. However, if the table opts for the wine package (and the price for this completely escapes me at present, but I'd swear it was around $15), you are served an appropriate wine with each course. Compared to a by-the-glass approach, it's a fine deal if you like the wines they're serving that night.

[flashdog_1]

I just looked up your itinerary. You only have a couple of sea days where you'll need to use the ship's expensive internet. At each port you will be able to find more reasonable rates. Try the destination ports of call board to find out locations.

 

And I'm pretty sure I just read that there is a $2,000 day limit for advances in the casino.

[goldmom]

Somehow, I don't think we'll be needing the $2000 limit. LOL. I was thinking of it more if we ran out of cash at the end of the trip and needed tip money and wanted to save the service charge on the ATM.

 

Regarding the Tux question. It was more for the regular formal nights. I was trying to gauge the percentage of passengers who wear tuxes. On QM2, he probably would have felt out of place in a suit, but on Carnival or NCL, a tux would have been out of place. He'd probably prefer the dark suit but if 80% wear tuxes then he'd drag the tux along. Just trying to get a rough idea.

 

We just got home from officially booking this cruise so we are getting excited!

 

Also, if you book a treatment in the Spa, can you use the Aqua Spa for free or do you still have to pay a fee?

 

Thanks again

[canderson]

Regarding the Tux question. It was more for the regular formal nights. I was trying to gauge the percentage of passengers who wear tuxes. On QM2, he probably would have felt out of place in a suit, but on Carnival or NCL, a tux would have been out of place. He'd probably prefer the dark suit but if 80% wear tuxes then he'd drag the tux along. Just trying to get a rough idea.

It's a strange thing. Our last Constellation run was in April, and the % of tuxes to suits on Constellation was less than on our recent Galaxy run out of Galveston. But it won't be 80% in either case, so tell him to do as he pleases.

 

As a side note re: dress code, we men did ourselves proud on the 12/5/05 Galaxy cruise. From my vantage point in the dining room, I saw only one dressed in a sport jacket on formal night. All the rest were either in the dark suit or tux attire.

[RodPat]

Just wanted you to know that there are plenty of taxis when you get off the ship. You can also arrange car service to pick you up at the pier. We did that this past Sept. I called the car service as we were coming into port and gave them a time. When we debarked the car was there. Pat

[tadjr]

Dark suit will be fine. Dont remember seeing lots of tuxes this last time. Maybe 20% in tuxes?

Dont use the ATM, they charge a lot (~$5) when you can get it for nothing at the casino. They give out cash or chips there off the card.

The Tpool is free for anyone on Constellation. It is not like the smaller ships where you have to pay to use it. Also the steam room and gym are free. You only have to pay for the Persian Gardens and steam room in the spa, otherwise there is a steam room/changing room outside the spa area.

[wieslaw]

Thanks all. We'll probably have to do an internet package as DH needs to check his business e-mail everyday.

 

Ok, two more questions.

 

Does the $30.00 per person charge in the specialty restaurant include the wine? The brochure makes it sound like it does.

 

Also, if DH doesn't want to bother with a tux, will he feel out of place?

 

Thanks.

 

Hello goldmom,

 

We just finished our cruise on the Constellation last Saturday.

Most people (including us 'men') dressed very well on this cruise and on the formal nights (main sitting) I would estimate about 65% to 70 % wore tux, the rest dark suits ( very few did wear lighter color). All ladies were as usual very lovely and beautiful .......and it was not the dress that beautifies the lady.......but the lady beautifies the dress ( a very old Chineese proverb that is still true today IMHO).

 

The $30.00 charge for the Ocean Liner includes the gratuity and will give you the choice of the 'previous' menu or the new called 'Exceptioneel' menu without wine. The wine is extra - either by the glass, or bottle or by the glass selected by the Exceptioneel menu at an extra price of $27.00 (or 27.50 do not remember for sure but I think the 27.50 is correct).

I do have copy of the menu and for your interest in the wine I will copy below the new menu with wines.

 

Menu Exceptionnel

 

Lobster Veloute

A creamy lobster broth

Chardonnay, Hamilton-Russet Vineyards, Walker Bay, 2003

 

OR

 

Pumpkin Soup

Topped with a light curry-flavored cream

Sauvlgnon Blanc, Delatite Winery, Victoria, Australia, 2004

*********

Escalope of Foie Gras, Sauce Citrus

Pan-fried minute foie gras presented with a fruity sauce and garnished with orange segments

Piespoter Goldtopchen Riesling, Spatlese, Leonard Kreusch, 2003

 

OR

 

Goat Cheese Souffle' with Tomato Coulis

Delicate warm goat cheese souffle with a creamy sauce and tomato coulis

Sauvignon Blanc, Cakebread Cellars, Rutheford, Napa Valley, 2002

*********

Granite of Passion Fruit and White Rum

A delightful refreshing intermezzo

*********

Fillet of Sole Souffle, Lobster Mousse

Fillets of sole filled with a light lobster mousse gently poached and served with a mandarin sauce

Chardonnay, Meursault, Louis Jadot, Burgundy, 2001

 

OR

 

Rack of Lamb en Croute

Rack of lamb coated with a mushroom duxelles wrapped in a puff pastry and baked until golden

Reserve de la Comtesse, Chateau Pichon Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac, 1999

********

A Selection of Three Cheeses served with Apples, Grapes and Walnut Bread

Graham Malvedos

********

Souffle Grand Marnier

A light fluffy full-flavored Grand Marnier souffle with a hint of fresh mango

Royal Tokaji Blue Label 5 Puttonyos, 1999

 

OR

 

Michel Roux's Favorite Bite-Size Surprise Desserts

A selection of four of Mr. Roux's mouth-watering desserts

Muscat de Beaume de Venise, M. Chapoutier, Rhona Valley, 2000

Coffee and Petits Fours

 

The portion are smaller in this menu than the 'a la Carte menu' but more servings are offered, also the 'a la Carte' menu is a little different. Either one will fill you up plenty.

 

Wes

[goldmom]

All of you have been terrific! I appreciate all the suggestions and responses. It really adds to the anticipation of the trip.

 

Thanks for posting the menu. I'm sold! But you're making me hungry. Of course, everything sounds so good we may have to eat there several times so we can try everything.

 

Good to know about the taxi's. I'll probably price out the car service to compare. Whenever we sail into NYC, DH insists on doing the taxi and it's always a zoo.

 

Nice to know that people adhered to the dress codes. I've heard that sometimes the repo cruises attract a different cliental, so I wouldn't be surprised to see sport jackets on formal nights.

 

Also, for breakfast and lunch is it appropriate to wear shorts in the dining room, or should I plan on changing if we want to eat there?

 

Thanks Again.

[ecslady]

Shorts in the dining room for breakfast and lunch are what most wear.

[healer]

Just an FYI, there are a few shelves and cabinets in the bathroom but I always take a hanging shoe organizer and hang it on the inside of the bathroom door. It keeps everything close, organized and handy.

 

They do have shampoo and lotion but be sure to bring some conditioner.