Live: Oct 22 2022 Constellation Mediterranean Passage Transatlantic

[SSAtlantic]

I know you posted your cabin number earlier, are you in a corner family veranda? If so, could you post a pix or two?  And congrats on a great veranda. Stay safe and healthy on the way across. 

[mahdnc]

3 minutes ago, SSAtlantic said:

I know you posted your cabin number earlier, are you in a corner family veranda? If so, could you post a pix or two?  And congrats on a great veranda. Stay safe and healthy on the way across. 

8166. The starboard corner FV on Deck 8. I took several photos as we entered the cabin for the first time. I will post them at a later time and I will tag you. 

Edited October 25, 2022 by mahdnc

[hrhdhd]

@mahdnc David, take some good Straits of Gibraltar pictures at 5 am, would you? 😉 I don't think I will be up.

[mahdnc]

8 minutes ago, hrhdhd said:

@mahdnc David, take some good Straits of Gibraltar pictures at 5 am, would you? 😉 I don't think I will be up.

 

Oh, I forgot about that.  Was planning on sleeping in.  Hmmmm. I think I will set an alarm.

[choochella]

So David, we just got off a B2B on the Equinox. Had a grand time! I know the Equinox is a Solstice class ship. I believe the Constellation is an M class ship. Is it pretty similar to the Infinity? Also, did you feel safe walking around Rome? We are thinking of doing this same cruise but in November 2023 and are curious of the safety in Rome. 

[hrhdhd]

26 minutes ago, mahdnc said:

Oh, I forgot about that.  Was planning on sleeping in.  Hmmmm. I think I will set an alarm.

My TV has the message about the time change and about our traveling through the Gibraltar Straight [sic].

Edited October 25, 2022 by hrhdhd

[Ex-Airbalancer]

18 minutes ago, choochella said:

So David, we just got off a B2B on the Equinox. Had a grand time! I know the Equinox is a Solstice class ship. I believe the Constellation is an M class ship. Is it pretty similar to the Infinity? Also, did you feel safe walking around Rome? We are thinking of doing this same cruise but in November 2023 and are curious of the safety in Rome. 

I was feel much safer walking around the EU compared to the USA 

[mahdnc]

1 hour ago, hrhdhd said:

@mahdnc David, take some good Straits of Gibraltar pictures at 5 am, would you? 😉 I don't think I will be up.

 

I went down to Guest Relations to get an envelope (for the slot pull list for guysdolls66), a pen (with which to address the envelope), and playing cards (for Marcia).  When I called for the elevator to go down to Deck 3, the door opened and there were 4 masked people in there--all of them officers.  So after exchanging pleasantries, I asked them if any of them knew when we would be passing through the Strait of Gibraltar tomorrow.  One of them said "the Captain said 5 o'clock" as if I had not been paying attention in class.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

4 minutes ago, mahdnc said:

 

I went down to Guest Relations to get an envelope (for the slot pull list for guysdolls66), a pen (with which to address the envelope), and playing cards (for Marcia).  When I called for the elevator to go down to Deck 3, the door opened and there were 4 masked people in there--all of them officers.  So after exchanging pleasantries, I asked them if any of them knew when we would be passing through the Strait of Gibraltar tomorrow.  One of them said "the Captain said 5 o'clock" as if I had not been paying attention in class.

I remember the first time we passed Gibraltar , our cabin was a balcony on port side, Gibraltar is on Starboard side 

Captain announced the we were going to be passing at about 5am,

of course I wake up at 4:30 am 🙄, than the dilemma, do I wake up the wife because if it something to see and she misses I will be in sh$tt and if I wake her and there nothing to see I will be in sh$tt 

so I woke her up 😱

I couldn’t make a couple of red lights appear exciting in her eyes 😁

[mahdnc]

So when I went to get a pen from Guest Relations, they gave me a cellophane wrapped pen whose outer shell was made of cardboard.

 

 

And then I found evidence of Celebrity cutting corners on this trip.  It was with their playing cards, literally!  The playing cards are now round.  The woman at Guest Relations giggled at me when she handed me the playing cards.  I mumbled something about needing to check out the casino.

 

[mahdnc]

1 hour ago, choochella said:

So David, we just got off a B2B on the Equinox. Had a grand time! I know the Equinox is a Solstice class ship. I believe the Constellation is an M class ship. Is it pretty similar to the Infinity? Also, did you feel safe walking around Rome? We are thinking of doing this same cruise but in November 2023 and are curious of the safety in Rome. 

 

You are correct. Constellation is an M class ship just like Infinity.  In fact Constellation is the youngest of the M class ships while Infinity is the second oldest.

 

As far as my particular experience with walking around Rome and taking the train between Rome and Ostia, we felt very safe.  It seemed to be overrun with tourists like us.  Our guides did warn us about pickpockets, which worried me because I was carrying a DSLR around my neck during the whole time in Rome.  

[mahdnc]

The movies playing on the stateroom television are dreadfully old. So far (of what I have seen) there was:

1. Chariots of Fire (1981) shown last night

2. My Cousin Vinny (1992) shown last night

3. The Entity (1982) showing now

 

It's like Celebrity bought a bunch of VHS tapes from a garage sale at a great price of course.

Edited October 25, 2022 by mahdnc

[canderson]

1 hour ago, hrhdhd said:

My TV has the message about the time change and about our traveling through the Gibraltar Straight [sic].

Beats going through sideways, I guess, though there's certainly plenty of room for it 🙃

 

For any who go through in the wee hours in the dark, is there really anything to see?  I've never been willing to get up early enough to find out, but DW is curious this time.  Saw a comment about "two red lights".

 

If I have our departure time from Malaga correct and a good average speed to the Azores, we'll be passing through in the dark as well.

 

[Ex-Airbalancer]

29 minutes ago, canderson said:

Beats going through sideways, I guess, though there's certainly plenty of room for it 🙃

 

For any who go through in the wee hours in the dark, is there really anything to see?  I've never been willing to get up early enough to find out, but DW is curious this time.  Saw a comment about "two red lights".

 

If I have our departure time from Malaga correct and a good average speed to the Azores, we'll be passing through in the dark as well.

 

You may see the silhouette of the rock , but is about it

unless they have add light to it since I last saw it 

[Jim_Iain]

1 hour ago, canderson said:

Beats going through sideways, I guess, though there's certainly plenty of room for it 🙃

 

For any who go through in the wee hours in the dark, is there really anything to see?  I've never been willing to get up early enough to find out, but DW is curious this time.  Saw a comment about "two red lights".

 

If I have our departure time from Malaga correct and a good average speed to the Azores, we'll be passing through in the dark as well.

 

 

It can be quite spectacular as it is well lit up at night.    We were passing once and were suppose to pass at 11:00 PM.    We rushed back to our room at 10:50 only to see we had passed it about a half hour before the suggested time.    I've seen it about a dozen times and times varied from 6 AM,  Noon, 4 PM and 11 PM. 

 

Contrary to what I thought the Straight is about 8 miles wide and when you pass even if 4 miles away -  It's not really all that close and can often be hard to see due to low marine layer and clouds.   If never seen before I might get up early but be prepared that views may be limited.

 

Stock Photo

 

 

[mahdnc]

We are crossing the Strait of Gibraltar. The Rock is not lit up, but its ghostly outline is unmistakable. 


 

Edited October 26, 2022 by mahdnc

[mahdnc]

The coast of Africa. 

[mahdnc]

There are 2-3 at balconies with passengers observing the crossing. 

[mahdnc]

Another photo of the African coastline

[mahdnc]

The Big Dipper, standing on its tail, is visible over the Spanish coast.  

[GonzoWCS]

Great Pictures.  

 

Cheers

[mahdnc]

I didn't have time yesterday to post an account of the full day tour of Cartagena and Murcia.  It was a successful small group private tour organized by @Bob29321.  Like the full day Palma de Mallorca private tour by the same company, it cost only 69 Euros per person.

 

 

There were approximately 20 people from our roll call that participated.  A good English speaking guide and driver were provided.  We were transported in a mini-bus that could hold around 22 passengers not counting the driver or guide.  The bus had seating for two on the driver's side of the aisle and seating for one on the passenger side of the aisle.  Being a smaller bus that the full size coach that was used in Palma, seating was a bit tighter.  The seats reclined which made the space in front of you even tighter.  The smaller bus did not have large overhead storage and so any backpacks would have to be carried on your lap.

 

 

The guide asked that we wear our masks during the bus ride citing a local regulation that required it.  This request was not made during the Palma de Mallorca bus tour from the day before.  We, of course, complied. 

 

The tour was comprised of 3 stops: Santuario de Nuestra Senora de la Fuesanta, the city of Murcia, and finally the city of Cartagena.

 

Our guide met us just outside the gate for the pier area.  It was a very short walk from the ship.  The area of Cartagena located close to the pier had a lot to offer--shops, cafe's, churches, and Roman ruins--which meant that you could explore the port on your own.

 

We piled into the bus and took a ride to Santuario de Nuestra Senora de la Fuensanta (Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Holy Fountain).  This church is located on an elevated area that overlooks Murcia.  The bus ride there from the pier took about 45 minutes.  There was nice scenery along the way.

 

 

I found the church to be impressive despite the fact that we had already seen a lot of them in Rome and Palma.  I will let you google to find out more about the history of this Baroque style designed church. 

 

 

The church's interior had a spectacular sanctuary with a gold altar, statue of Mary, and a magnificent painted 8 meter diameter dome.

 

 

There is an active nunnery.  The nunnery is connected to the main sanctuary by an elevated enclosed walkway (photo below).

 

 

 

 

Edited October 26, 2022 by mahdnc

[Jim_Iain]

Wonderful pictures of the rock.   Surprised to see they no longer light her up.  I think you get the best pictures of her on the approach.   Nice job.

[mahdnc]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

Wonderful pictures of the rock.   Surprised to see they no longer light her up.  I think you get the best pictures of her on the approach.   Nice job.

It’s possible that it’s a casualty of a European energy conservation effort?

 

Or the light bulb is burnt out. 

[hrhdhd]

Just a note that the Cartegena/Murcia tour was advertised as 7 hours but ended up being only 4.5.