Live: Oct 22 2022 Constellation Mediterranean Passage Transatlantic

[mahdnc]

9 hours ago, Islandbuoy said:

Are they offering on simply sail bookings?

 

 

 

I asked one of the consultants. The answer was “yes”. 
 

[whirlybird3]

Thank you for all of your posting and photos!  Do you know if this class of ship is still offering Elite breakfast and cocktail hour?  It was something we have enjoyed in the past. 

[mahdnc]

Thanks to Rahul of the Concierge Team and a HUGE thanks to Russell, the Maitre d’ of the San Marco Restaurant, a Cruise Critic Group Luncheon was hosted today by Celebrity for our roll call. 

 

 

The group luncheon was modeled after the ones I have attended on pre-pandemic sailings that were organized by the ship’s Event Coordinator for roll call groups. 
 

 

I was very sure that when I asked, I would be told that holding a luncheon for our roll call would not be possible because of how shorthanded the dining room staff was. And they are short handed and so I would not blame them. 
 

 

I first routed my request to Rahul, one of the three members making up the Concierge Team who sit at them Captains Club desk by Guest Relations. They do multiple roles including the Event Coordinator. 

 

 

Although he was not familiar with my request, Rahul said that he would pass it on to his supervisor. I told Rahul that I was expecting a polite, “no”. He told me that he is trained to never say no to a guest. Knowing that, I should have asked for something else!

 

 

The MDR Maitre d’, Russell (on the left in the above photo), talked to me on the following evening after my wife and I finished dinner. She said that she could accommodate my request!  She asked if the luncheon could be held at 11:30 am (30 min before they MDR normally opens for lunch) and if it was ok that we would all be seat in the existing tables in the center of the lower level of the restaurant. Of course, I said yes. 
 

 

We agreed to hold it today (Thursday November 3) which gave me ample time to get RSVP invitations sent out (above photo) in order to establish a final head count for Russell.  I told her to expect 50-60 people. In the past, the Event Coordinator handles the RSVP reservations but I decided to handle this myself instead of delegating it to the Concierge Team since I don’t think they were familiar with the luncheon concept. 
 

 

RSVPs were either delivered to our stateroom by phone or were dropped off in a paper bag hung on our door. 
 

We had 93 roll call members indicate that they might be interested in attending the luncheon before we sailed. So invitations were sent out to their staterooms. We received 72 affirmative RSVPs. Most of them attended as I lost count at 60 wheel trying to count attendees today. 
 

 

The luncheon menu was the normal menu that day for lunch. We had two members tell me in their RSVP that they were vegetarian. When I informed Russell of this last night, she said that she would take care of them. 
 

 

Russell’s plan worked great. The Deck 4 dining room doors opened at 1130 am. When we were led to the center area of the dining room, there were Cruise Critic signs already placed on our tables (first photo at the top of this post). Very very nice touch!! There was plenty of dining room attendants for us and so service was excellent.  Our group was very isolated from the rest of the MDR guests, so it felt nice and private. 
 

 

I tried to get a photograph of every table, but I can see that I missed a couple tables unfortunately. 

The important thing was that everyone who attended seemed to be enjoying each other’s company. Cruise Critic at its finest! And Celebrity, too. 

 

I am deeply grateful to Russell and her tremendous dining room staff. 
 

 

Edited November 3, 2022 by mahdnc

[Jim_Iain]

21 hours ago, mahdnc said:

I took the last two lemon tarts tonight

 

Greedy Girl!   LOL      I would have grabbed them also.  

[mahdnc]

1 hour ago, whirlybird3 said:

Thank you for all of your posting and photos!  Do you know if this class of ship is still offering Elite breakfast and cocktail hour?  It was something we have enjoyed in the past. 

Yes and yes. Below is the Captain’s Club Elite card that was placed in our stateroom.    
 

 

[mahdnc]

1 hour ago, whirlybird3 said:

Thank you for all of your posting and photos!  Do you know if this class of ship is still offering Elite breakfast and cocktail hour?  It was something we have enjoyed in the past. 

 
One thing to note is that the Elite cocktail hour is no longer held exclusively up in there Sky Lounge. We visited there Sky Lounge once and the Captains Club Host(ess) is not there nor are h’ordeuvres served. This is across the fleet and not an M class only thing. 
 

[mahdnc]

6 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

What is the occupancy for this sailing? (sorry if I missed it).

 

I appreciate all your posts 🙂

We are not sailing full. I have heard from other Cruise Critic members that we are like 90% full. I’ll check on that. Maybe someone with first hand information can tell us. 

[mahdnc]

Our last of 3 Evening Chic nights is tonight. 
 

[vickykay]

The luncheon looked great!  Thanks for sharing the photos.

[mahdnc]

A gifted magician, Adam Heppenstall, performed several times during this sailing. My wife and I saw his final show this afternoon. His tricks are impressive and he is quite funny

 

 

Earlier today, I was similarly performing magic at the casino—making my cash disappear. 

Edited November 3, 2022 by mahdnc

[onyourmark]

Kudos on the massive undertaking for the Cruise Critic Luncheon.  I know it's a lot of work, but you made it happen.   A couple of questions:

For the Cocktail Hour 5 - 7, when you order a drink (from the specific menu) do you give the server the sea pass and get a slip to sign when they return with the drink ?  Is there a 3 drink limit per day ?

Also in the Cafe Al Baccio when you get a specialty coffee, there is no charge for Elite Plus. But if you want one of the Coffee drinks with alcohol (like Aspen Coffee) do you get charged the full price or just the difference in price. 

 

 

 

[upwarduk]

3 minutes ago, onyourmark said:

For the Cocktail Hour 5 - 7, when you order a drink (from the specific menu) do you give the server the sea pass and get a slip to sign when they return with the drink ?  Is there a 3 drink limit per day ?

On Silhouette in August, we just gave the server our sea pass card. You don’t have to sign for it.

There is no limit to the number of drinks per day.

[Bill Miller]

Good looking crew at the Cruise Critic luncheon. Kudos to the members organizing this event.

[onyourmark]

Hey, just spotted our good friends Guy and Diane from Michigan around the Luncheon table !

Great Pictures !

[mahdnc]

4 hours ago, vickykay said:

The luncheon looked great!  Thanks for sharing the photos.

Thank you, Vicky.  How is Terry doing?

[mahdnc]

3 hours ago, onyourmark said:

Kudos on the massive undertaking for the Cruise Critic Luncheon.  I know it's a lot of work, but you made it happen.   A couple of questions:

For the Cocktail Hour 5 - 7, when you order a drink (from the specific menu) do you give the server the sea pass and get a slip to sign when they return with the drink ?  Is there a 3 drink limit per day ?

Also in the Cafe Al Baccio when you get a specialty coffee, there is no charge for Elite Plus. But if you want one of the Coffee drinks with alcohol (like Aspen Coffee) do you get charged the full price or just the difference in price. 

 

 

 

As far as the cocktail hour is concerned, no signing of paperwork needed. No practical drink limit either. 
 

I don’t know the answer to your Cafe al Bacio question, but I’ll look into it. 

[vickykay]

Hi David,

 

Terry is doing well.  Improving slowly but gaining strength in his legs.  One benefit, I lost five pounds with all the puppy walking ( world have gained at least five if had gone on the cruise!).  Thanks for asking and enjoy the rest of your cruise.

[mahdnc]

Good morning from Nassau. Infinity was in the process of getting secured at the dock when we pulled in. 
 

Allure of the Seas followed behind us. 
 

 

 

[mahdnc]

[mahdnc]

[mahdnc]

[mahdnc]

 

We are doing a ship snorkeling excursion

Edited November 4, 2022 by mahdnc

[mahdnc]

A faint rainbow is visible. 
 

[hrhdhd]

Just now, mahdnc said:

A faint rainbow is visible. 
 

Copycat! 😄

 

Enjoy your snorkeling!

[GonzoWCS]

Get your land legs back on  🙂

 

Cheers