Back from Jan. 28 Constellation -- a few thoughts pre-review

[amagar]

Review yet to come, but a few thoughts. FYI: This was our 7th cruise, firt on Constellation. We're skirting 40 and live on the outskirts of a major U.S. city.

 

a) First-time Constellation cruisers, please don't fret too much about some of the criticism on this board. We're fairly picky and found the ship (and its crew) to be in tip-top shape. Few signs of wear and tear. We had new carpet in CC state room (separate hair dryer also appreciated).

 

b) Other than pool, never felt crowded. Worse chair hogs to date. Several days we sat near "saved" chairs that went unused for more than 2.5 hours. Sad. Also, though, some friendly folks who saw us looking for chairs...and approached us before they left so we could use theirs. If you use the T-pool area during first seating, it will likely be yours alone. Great time.

 

c) CC, for us, was worth it just for daily breakfast in the room. We'd pay a couple hundred bucks extra to do it again (although this past time, it cost us nothing).

 

d) Our ship turned around the first night during late-seating for a medical emergency. Don't know what happened and hope the person is OK. We ended up returning about 1/2 mile offshore fll/miami. We had a drink at the bar at the edge of the earth and enjoyed the twinkinling skyline. Oh, and we really like that bar. Yah, the fabic is sort of dismal, but you only notice it during the day. Love the sofa couches and private nooks.

 

e) Perry Grant -- Went one night to see him but he canceled his own show! Husband, sitting at the bar in Michael's Club, reports the following: Perry came in, dressed, ready to perform and looked at his equipment...and apologized that he wouldn't be entertaining. The bartender said Perry was sick. But a guest overheard Perry saying because someone had messed with his equipment. A few days later, when we docked in Cozumel, we ran across a crazed Perry Grant fan. We were on our veranda when an RCI ship pulled up alongside. A woman on the pool deck began screaming -- screaming! -- at us to give Perry Grant a message....and to update his web site...and that she would be seeing him soon. We later saw Perry eating with an older lady at casual dining and wondered if his mother might be on board.

 

f) Celebrity staff continues to dazzle -- so professional, across the board.

 

g) Breakfast food was good. Most other mediocre (particularly dining room salads, deserts and sides). Sorry we missed the upcoming changes. High points in dining room included both the veal and lamb shank. Low points were the seafood. We were pleasantly surprised by the casual dining (reservations) option. We thought food there was better than what we had most nights in dining room -- highlights were perfectly cooked to order (rare v. med. rare v. medium) steak, roasted chicken (soooo juicy), spinach salad, corn and crab soup.

 

h) Had lots of fun in the casino and walked away, after quite a bit of gaming, a little ahead. We have found this to happen on other Celebrity ships. Played mostly blackjack, 3-card poker and 25-cent and dollar slots. We seem to always lose money on Princess ships.

 

i) Smokers on balconies stink -- smokers should be limited to one portion of the ship, away from everyone else. Yah, yah, smokers you paid for your balcony. But so did I and your smoke ruins my bacony experience! I don't do anything to ruin yours (although I thought about blasting an Ipod). Shame on you! The smoker in the cabin next to ours even puffed away during some of our breakfasts...and at other times offered a cacaphony of body function noise. This, the smoking couple proudly declared, was their 20-something cruise. Pity the people next to them on prior journeys.

 

J) Ship photogs were polite and non-intrusive : )

 

Overall, it was a great trip. Never expected it to be perfect and it met and exceeded what we hoped for.

[ILVMM]

Good, succinct review. Am sailing Connie on 2/29 and will be interested in hearing/seeing Perry Grant. (Hopefully, we won't encounter exuberant groupie!)

 

And it's always good to know the casino is paying out.

 

I agree that smokers should have their own side of ship and I don't mean to start flames but i wonder if that would appease everyone? Would there be more smokers than cabins?

[Schplinky]

Good review. I do hope that Perry Grant didn't cancel just because someone touched his things. That seems a bit of an ego-trip and doesn't consider the passengers, who should be the focus.

 

We've been on 11 cruises now and have not been diverted for a medical emergency. I'm sure that would be distressing.

 

I think that if smoking can't be better controlled, having all the smoking balconies (that sounds a strange term) on one side of the ship would please more people than the current practice.

[SusieV]

I guess we got lucky with smokers... with a corner, we only really had one cabin to worry about.

 

They were cigar smokers, but it never bothered us, thankfully. We're both allergic to smoke but we only smelled it once and we were on our way to dinner anyway.

[SusieV]

I guess we got lucky with smokers... with a corner, we only really had one cabin to worry about.

 

They were cigar smokers, but it never bothered us, thankfully. We're both allergic to smoke but we only smelled it once and we were on our way to dinner anyway.

[hugsthecat]

Thanks for your review. We ae sailing on the Connie on Dec ember 22/08.With repect to your comment about the people around the pool.. I don't know what we can do about it.The daily paper "asks"people not to do it..but they still do.We can't blame Celebrity for what their guests do.. Maybe the only solution is to have "pool police" who will go around and monitor the situation.. If they see a chair with stuff on it for more than X time..then they should remove it. These people may be annoyed..but who cares.

 

Michael

[ccletzgo]

I guess we got lucky with smokers... with a corner, we only really had one cabin to worry about.

 

They were cigar smokers, but it never bothered us, thankfully. We're both allergic to smoke but we only smelled it once and we were on our way to dinner anyway.

 

 

I think that cigar and pipe smoking is not allowed on balcony's anymore? Did I read that?

:confused:

[SusieV]

I thought so too, but it wasn't bothering us so we didn't feel the need to say anything.

 

If it had been a problem we would have either pointed out the rule or tried to arrange a schedule with our neighbour.

 

I agree that the chair hogs were particularly bad on this sailing, I neglected to mention it in my review.

[ILVMM]

 

a) First-time Constellation cruisers, please don't fret too much about some of the criticism on this board. We're fairly picky and found the ship (and its crew) to be in tip-top shape. Few signs of wear and tear. We had new carpet in CC state room (separate hair dryer also appreciated).

 

b) Other than pool, never felt crowded. Worse chair hogs to date. Several days we sat near "saved" chairs that went unused for more than 2.5 hours. Sad. Also, though, some friendly folks who saw us looking for chairs...and approached us before they left so we could use theirs. If you use the T-pool area during first seating, it will likely be yours alone. Great time.

 

c) CC, for us, was worth it just for daily breakfast in the room. We'd pay a couple hundred bucks extra to do it again (although this past time, it cost us nothing).

 

d) Our ship turned around the first night during late-seating for a medical emergency. Don't know what happened and hope the person is OK. We ended up returning about 1/2 mile offshore fll/miami. We had a drink at the bar at the edge of the earth and enjoyed the twinkinling skyline. Oh, and we really like that bar. Yah, the fabic is sort of dismal, but you only notice it during the day. Love the sofa couches and private nooks.

 

e) Perry Grant -- Went one night to see him but he canceled his own show! Husband, sitting at the bar in Michael's Club, reports the following: Perry came in, dressed, ready to perform and looked at his equipment...and apologized that he wouldn't be entertaining. The bartender said Perry was sick. But a guest overheard Perry saying because someone had messed with his equipment. A few days later, when we docked in Cozumel, we ran across a crazed Perry Grant fan. We were on our veranda when an RCI ship pulled up alongside. A woman on the pool deck began screaming -- screaming! -- at us to give Perry Grant a message....and to update his web site...and that she would be seeing him soon. We later saw Perry eating with an older lady at casual dining and wondered if his mother might be on board.

 

f) Celebrity staff continues to dazzle -- so professional, across the board.

 

g) Breakfast food was good. Most other mediocre (particularly dining room salads, deserts and sides). Sorry we missed the upcoming changes. High points in dining room included both the veal and lamb shank. Low points were the seafood. We were pleasantly surprised by the casual dining (reservations) option. We thought food there was better than what we had most nights in dining room -- highlights were perfectly cooked to order (rare v. med. rare v. medium) steak, roasted chicken (soooo juicy), spinach salad, corn and crab soup.

 

h) Had lots of fun in the casino and walked away, after quite a bit of gaming, a little ahead. We have found this to happen on other Celebrity ships. Played mostly blackjack, 3-card poker and 25-cent and dollar slots. We seem to always lose money on Princess ships.

 

i) Smokers on balconies stink -- smokers should be limited to one portion of the ship, away from everyone else. Yah, yah, smokers you paid for your balcony. But so did I and your smoke ruins my bacony experience! I don't do anything to ruin yours (although I thought about blasting an Ipod). Shame on you! The smoker in the cabin next to ours even puffed away during some of our breakfasts...and at other times offered a cacaphony of body function noise. This, the smoking couple proudly declared, was their 20-something cruise. Pity the people next to them on prior journeys.

 

J) Ship photogs were polite and non-intrusive : )

 

Overall, it was a great trip. Never expected it to be perfect and it met and exceeded what we hoped for.

 

Just back from 10 night Constellation and here are my comments to add to your review

 

a. Totally agree

 

b. Totally agree re: chair hogs. One day I was pretty steamed, so I asked the Security Guard about a pool chair and she got one of the Pool Butlers to locate one for me. He then asked: "Where did I want it to be placed?" I suggested a spot and deed was done. I have no idea what he did with what was originally on the pool chair!

And yes, there was at least 2 security guards surveying the pool deck at all times. I met one during a tour of the Bridge and saw her several times at the pool deck. After that I never had to "search" for a chair.

 

c. Outside cabin on Deck 2, so cannot comment.

 

d. Bar at the edge of the earth was awesome for other reasons. During the day it was marvelously quiet (except for my snoring...per DH) and I found others enjoying it for reading towards the end of the cruise, also.

 

e. Perry Grant performed nightly and we only went once...for part of the show. Not really our thing, but enjoyed it.

 

f. Celebrity staff was at their best as far as I experienced.

 

g. Did not do dining room at all but enjoyed Seaside Cafe in the evening. It's a spot for waiters-in-training with a suggested $2/pp gratituity - cash. We tipped a bit more as we felt their efforts were well worth it. AND, we didn't have to dress up! There are linen napkins & tablecloths but you can dress casual. We went semi-casual (collared shirt & dockers for DH & pantsuit for me). Food was the same every evening with 1 "du jour" for each course. Chicken was outstanding. Beef was ok. Didn't try the salmon. Veges & spinach salad - - excellent!

 

h. Won $10.00 in the penny slot machine...on 70 cents. Loved the casino that evening. Didn't win squat the rest of the time.

 

i. While in line at Captain's Club desk, gentlemen ahead of me was trying to reserve a room, for his next cruise, where he would be guaranteed to be with ALL smokers. He didn't want non-smokers to be on either side of him. Interesting eavesdropping on my behalf as I'm a non-smoker, and wish the same ++ only opposite!

 

j. I actually took a few pix of the ship's photographers! They enjoyed it and I got some great shots. When I tried to take a pix of the photographer (in St. Kitts) from the QM2...she literally growled at me. So I snapped 2 pix of her.

 

New Stuff: Itinerary included St. Thomas, St, Kitts, Barbados, St. Lucia and St. Maarten (in that order). Excellent itinerary - - always docked/did not tender. QM2 followed us to several ports as did some of the behemoths

from RCCL. Whew! those ships are huge and made ours look, well, teeny! Connie on right...Adventure of the Seas on left...St. Maarten.

[candbgirl]

Wow!! I am stunned by that picture. That is pretty amazing actually. Thanks for posting it.