Just off Constellation Jan 19 cruise

[mecb50]

We just returned from our cruise on the Constellation. This was a wornderful cruise. Weather was great. We had breakfast on our AFT balcony every morning. The excursions we took were enjoyed by all. The things that I noticed that were different....

When we first got on...Bleaching everything. No problems noted with this, but there was no salt or pepper on any tables , nor were we allowed to get our own drinks until about day 3 of the cruise. We found out there was one case of Noro on board, but they handled it so well, no one else got sick that I know of.

There were no dancing escorts for the unattached women. I always enjoyed watching those men dance, so this was a disappointment to me. This must be a cost cutting on Celebrity's part. Contrary to other posts the bridge players had active sessions on our cruise.

We no longer got the weather inserted in our nighly cards. Once again not a big deal, but we always enjoyed getting those, even if the weather turned out different from the forcast.:eek:

Staff was just great with the exception of our waiter. This was the first time I was really unhappy with our waiter... I seemed to have a "failure to communicate" with him. Our assistant waiter Aneta and our Assistant Matre d Sasha easily made up for my disappointment with him.

My only real gripe was that I did not return to the specialty restaurant since chocolate souflee was no longer on the menu. However when my friends did go, they had chocolate souflee. I really LOVE that dish and I would pay 30 dollars to have that dish alone:( Oh well, my body didn't need that dish, so I saved myself some calories:)

Just wanted to let everyone know, Celebrity came through with a wonderful enjoyable cruise. Looking forward to our next one which we booked on board. :) Mary

[Coolcruise02]

They had two dance hosts on our 14 day Summit cruise to Hawaii in December. One evening one of the dance hosts had dinner with us. He said they were not cutting out the dance hosts on cruises 10 days or longer. How long was your cruise?

[Traceybell]

FYI when I was on Connie last year and ate in the Specialty restaurant I was disappointed by not having the chocolate souffle also. They told me that if we asked to have it available when making the reservation, or when confirming a reservation made via Captains Club, that they could specially have it for you.

 

We went a 2nd night and I was delighted to have the Choc souffle that night.

 

Tracey

[agabbymama]

We had breakfast with one of the dance hosts on Constellation New England/Canada 11 night cruise in Sept/Oct '06. He told us they were doing away with the dance hosts totally. Not sure when, but he had already been told. So don't know if maybe the new year was the date of deletion?

[Wineguys]

OK, I just HAVE to ask. Since you AMD was Sascha and they rarely change positions, and you problem was "communication" PLEASE I BEG you --- tell me who your waiter was....I wonder if we had him on our Dec. 18th cruise. We all made a joke of it, particularly at dessert time when we all had drank at least 2 glasses of wine and when he left with the dessert tray all 8 of us would turned to each other and play the "***** did he say that was???" game. If not his name, then his country of origin... pretty please....gobble gobble! LOL LOL! These are the little things you have to just laugh at on a cruise. ;)

[Addict1]

OK, I just HAVE to ask. Since you AMD was Sascha and they rarely change positions, and you problem was "communication" PLEASE I BEG you --- tell me who your waiter was....I wonder if we had him on our Dec. 18th cruise. We all made a joke of it, particularly at dessert time when we all had drank at least 2 glasses of wine and when he left with the dessert tray all 8 of us would turned to each other and play the "***** did he say that was???" game. If not his name, then his country of origin... pretty please....gobble gobble! LOL LOL! These are the little things you have to just laugh at on a cruise. ;)

 

Thats really weird TON ;) I was just was thinking the same and was just about to ask.

 

Think the witches powers are rubbing off :D

[mecb50]

Our waiter's name was Bernado. As I said he and I did not get along (and we all never knew what he said!) I am sorry that they did away with the dance hosts. I put that on my survey at the end. I was hoping with the first answer post that I was mistaken and it was just our cruise.

So now let me know if you had the same waiter:eek: Mary

[jasm8449]

I thought I had once read that they do not use the dance hosts if there are concerns about norovirus on the ship, as there would be a greater possibility of transmission as they go from dance partner to dance partner. Same idea when they cancel the receiving line of officers at the Captain's cocktail party...concerns about transmitting the virus with all that handshaking.

[SUZYHOFF]

Last time we were on the Summit, about 4 years ago, the Caribbean band was almost non-existant. Have been cruising RC for a couple years and enjoy the poolside reggae. Now back to Celebrity Connie in March. Just wondering. What did you find? Thanks, Suzy

[mecb50]

The dance band was INFUSION. More rock than reggae.

The handshaking was an issue on the cruise. They told us from the very beginning that all of the crew were told to not shake hands. They also reminded us at every port not to shake hands. Maybe that's why there were no dance hosts?? But agabbymama said that they were going to do away with the hosts, so once again, we will have to wait to see if a cruise that has NO bleaching has dance hosts.

Also Cirque was GONE. It had been stated that they were gone as of Jan 1 st so it proved to be so. I can honestly say I didn't miss them. I just wish they would put Revelations back to the way it was before it was changed to the bar at the end of the earth. Mary

[rebeccalouise]

I had such a great time on Constellation last April and the dance hosts were a great part of the cruise. I wondered if this would continue. It is a shame because it was really fun dancing with a man that knows how.

[tuggers]

I correspond, fairly regularly, with a dance host and he has told me they are only on cruises of 12 nights or more. Therefore, we had a host on my 13 night cruise in

late Ocotber, and my 14 night in November. No dance hosts on my 10 night in December.

He is booked for cruises on X through the end of '07 and I think Jan or Feb or '08. He also does HAL and Cunard so is rather busy.

BTW, he says the Cunard ladies are the most demanding!!:D

[C 2 C]

I have been told there are no more dance hosts in the Celebrity fleet, just like there are no more librarians. The cuisine should change because that contract has expired

(January 05, 2007 ) - Celebrity Cruises today announced plans to evolve its fleetwide culinary program, ending its affiliation with Master Chef Michel Roux. The mutual agreement coincides with the end of Rouxs current contract with Celebrity.)

. Photographers will be provided by a different company and the Highseas Computer Services will also be phased out.

[RICCruisers]

I cannot believe Nfusion still has a job. They came onboard Connie during the 12/8 cruise as an emergency replacement when the planned band had a run in with the management. They were so bad I could not be at the pool while they were playing. Too bad you had to endure such a poor example of talent.

[mecb50]

Hi Gail, We sailed together on the Horizon a few years ago. Remember how rough it was they had to close the pool:eek: That was a great criuse. Anyway...seems there are still contrictatory statements. If they still have the hosts...yeah. I don't know why 14 day cruises would be the only ones they are on. There aren't too many 14 day cruises...and none to the islands that I know of. Oh well.

As for the library. There was a "person" in the library during open hours. Maybe they are "rotating" celebrity staff, but the library was functioning. The food was the same..in fact, soups came piping hot which is different and much appreciated.

I did not care for the band either, but I prefer easier listening music...beach boys type, reggae or Jimmy buffet..not rock to relax by the pool.

There was the rumor about bridge, but bridge play/classes were scheduled and the card room was active.

When we sailed the Jewel I loved the band, but I really missed the COVA cafe and the quiet places to read that there are on celebrity. I sure there are things to appreciate on each line. I have yet to have a BAD cruise. Someone on the cruise board says the only bad cruises are ones they are not on. Just put me on a ship and I think I would be happy. mary

[ROMPAR98]

Hi Mary,

 

Thanks for the update on your cruise. We will be leaving next week and are very excited :) . DH is a big movie fan.... any chance you remember what movies were playing in the theater?

[mecb50]

Capote is the only one I remember, sorry. Mary

I did rent THE QUEEN on TV and would like to have watched THE DEPARTED

[ROMPAR98]

That's great info... thanks! The Departed was a great movie... hope you get a chance to see it. I think I may just bring a portable DVD player and some movies for him in case he gets withdrawals :D

[wendinsd]

When we first got on...Bleaching everything. No problems noted with this, but there was no salt or pepper on any tables , nor were we allowed to get our own drinks until about day 3 of the cruise. We found out there was one case of Noro on board, but they handled it so well, no one else got sick that I know of.

 

We got off the Constellation on January 19th, from an 11 day cruise and we had 32 cases of Norovirus so I imagine they were still cleaning/bleaching from our cruise. We too had no salt and pepper shakers and couldn't get our own drinks the last few days of the cruise. Didn't phase us, we still had an awesome time. We met one woman that said she had been confined to her room for three days because she caught it. Gosh, that would just s**k! I guess a little inconvenience is worth it, that is for sure.