Just back from Constellation, some thoughts...

[avalon1025]

We are just back from the Feb 13th 10 night Celebrity Constellation cruise, overall a great time, some thoughts:

 

Great things:

 

Of our 7 Celebrity cruises, the Constellation had the most friendly crew

Our butler and cabin steward were excellent

Our waiter was great

Ocean Liners was very nice

Ship condition was good (though some areas are in need of refurbishment - new carpet in the lido please!)

Sky Suite 6145 with a fantastic bathroom (just use nose plugs!)

 

Not so great:

 

Being cramped at the dinning table with 10 people at a table for 8 (dinning chairs removed and replaced with smaller chairs from the lido)

 

A plumbing problem in our original cabin requiring two cabin moves (a cracked pipe under the bathroom sinks of 6145 caused the most awful sewage/chemical smell possible in our suite, we were moved at 3AM after many unsuccessful tries to fix the issue, to the only available cabin - an inside on deck 8, luckily another Sky Suite opened up later in the cruise and we moved back into a suite). We loved 6145, but beware if you have noisy Penthouse neighbors, we heard every word of their conversations each morning at 7AM. Also, if you have this cabin you will need to place wet face cloths on the bathroom drains as the sewage smell is unbearable (our subsequent cabins were 8004 and 6128). Our butler and cabin steward were fantastic, helping to move us and even moving with us to make sure we had consistent service regardless of where we ended up around the ship.

 

Suite couch and club chair desperately need reupholstering, our second couch was threadbare

 

Jeans in the dinning room at dinner, I am all for a relaxed dress codes, but the table next to ours wore jeans and t-shirts every night, formal night meant jeans and polos.

 

Overall, taking out the issues with the cabin, it was one of our nicest Celebrity cruises. We did have to excessively follow up with the hotel director/front desk about what the line would do for all our cabin issues...we got $200 OBC, given that we paid about $800/night for 2 it seemed cheap, but we wanted to just move on from it all

[PEMCO007]

We are looking at the Constellation later on in the year, what was the food like? and also the service? We have done celebrity before but a number of years ago, I am not sure if you have sailed Celebrity before but if you have did you find any declines?

Would really appreciate your feedback as we are struggling to make a descision!!!

Thanks in advance

[GeriatricNurse]

We are just back from the Feb 13th 10 night Celebrity Constellation cruise, overall a great time, some thoughts:

 

Great things:

 

Of our 7 Celebrity cruises, the Constellation had the most friendly crew

Our butler and cabin steward were excellent

Our waiter was great

Ocean Liners was very nice

Ship condition was good (though some areas are in need of refurbishment - new carpet in the lido please!)

Sky Suite 6145 with a fantastic bathroom (just use nose plugs!)

 

Not so great:

 

Being cramped at the dinning table with 10 people at a table for 8 (dinning chairs removed and replaced with smaller chairs from the lido)

 

A plumbing problem in our original cabin requiring two cabin moves (a cracked pipe under the bathroom sinks of 6145 caused the most awful sewage/chemical smell possible in our suite, we were moved at 3AM after many unsuccessful tries to fix the issue, to the only available cabin - an inside on deck 8, luckily another Sky Suite opened up later in the cruise and we moved back into a suite). We loved 6145, but beware if you have noisy Penthouse neighbors, we heard every word of their conversations each morning at 7AM. Also, if you have this cabin you will need to place wet face cloths on the bathroom drains as the sewage smell is unbearable (our subsequent cabins were 8004 and 6128). Our butler and cabin steward were fantastic, helping to move us and even moving with us to make sure we had consistent service regardless of where we ended up around the ship.

 

Suite couch and club chair desperately need reupholstering, our second couch was threadbare

 

Jeans in the dinning room at dinner, I am all for a relaxed dress codes, but the table next to ours wore jeans and t-shirts every night, formal night meant jeans and polos.

 

Overall, taking out the issues with the cabin, it was one of our nicest Celebrity cruises. We did have to excessively follow up with the hotel director/front desk about what the line would do for all our cabin issues...we got $200 OBC, given that we paid about $800/night for 2 it seemed cheap, but we wanted to just move on from it all

 

 

The passengers who dared to present themselves at dinner on formal night in jeans and polos SHOULD have been denied entry to the dining room & directed to return to their staterooms to change!

[Route6A]

Thank you for your comments on your recent cruise. We are sailing on Constellation soon, and I expect the threadbare condition of upholstered furniture will be an issue. 50% of the suites we have drawn on Celebrity ships have had furniture issues. Some years ago, on the Galaxy, the soiled, threadbare, sofa bed in the Royal Suite we booked was broken, so we had a roll-a-way bed sitting in the living room for the entire trip. We enjoy Celebrity in spite of this issue, but I have never encountered it in a suite on any other cruise line we have sailed, including Holland America, Regent, Silversea and RCI. We find the Constellation crew outstanding, and look forward to returning to her soon. You are definitely glass-half-full in your attitude about the problems you encountered on your recent cruise. Good for you! Those of us who continue to cruise are fortunate considering the difficulties many are having in this economic downturn.

[JNCRUISEBUMS]

Does anyone know when "The Connie" goes into dry dock to be updated?:confused:

[avalon1025]

Food overall was good. Meats in the dinning room were aweful (steaks were tough). Service was excellent for a ship of this size. The ship was full and it felt it especially around the pool (rationing of towels, 1 per person...). Deck chairs were broken and dirty with some having exposed jagged metal cracks. Overall, a nice ship that needs some TLC

[dorsetlady]

I really feel for you with the problems you had with your cabin and don't think you were compensated nearly enough for all of the inconvenience you were put through. How you managed to cope with that awful sewerage smell i do not know !

Unfortunately, i too am due to stay in that same cabin in just over a weeks time and now i'm starting to panic !Surely someone should be able to sort out the problem.Celebrity should see a situation such as this a priority to rectify.

Due to an ongoing chronic illness i may have to spend longer in the cabin than i would wish to and now this is causing me more stress than ever.

I do hope that they sort the problem out asap for the sake of all passengers.:(

[avalon1025]

if you are scheduled to be in cabin 6145 on the Constellation, when you get into the cabin, smell under the double sinks. That is where most of the smell came from. If you smell a toxic smell, covered over by a strong lemon air freshener, they have not fixed the problem. The smell was not bad at first (if you kept wet towels over the drains and kept the bathroom door closed), but mid way through the cruise is was over powering the entire cabin. We had headaches each night until we moved cabins. Even our clothes and toiletries smelled even after we moved cabins

[Windy56]

We were on the 11 night holiday cruise and found the crew to be excellent. However, we were disappointed with the food. Breakfast and lunch in the buffet were great but the food in the dining room really lacked flavour. There was not one comedian booked during the entire cruise and that too was disappointing. Is Carl William still playing in the Rendez Vous Lounge? We loved dancing to his band's music every night. His vocals are fantasic!

[Andy]

There was not one comedian booked during the entire cruise and that too was disappointing.

 

Hi Windy56 !

 

I wish I knew why Celebrity has an aversion to comedians in recent months. Other than Comedy Central on Solstice, I've noticed there are virtually no comedians onboard. Perhaps it is the luck of the draw, but we havent been seeing them. We enjoy a good comedian, and it is always nice to laugh, especially while on Vacation.

 

I'd like to see Celebrity have at least 1 comedian per week, on their sailings.

[greeneg]

It begins to look to me that my comments with regard to the MDR noted in my review of our Feb 2-13 cruise on the Constellation are much more typical than I had hoped. Reduced shrimp cocktails ( it was 3 medium on our cruise), poorer preparation and quality, are not the way for X to go IMHO.

 

Dam'!

[JNCRUISEBUMS]

Hi Windy56 !

 

I wish I knew why Celebrity has an aversion to comedians in recent months. Other than Comedy Central on Solstice, I've noticed there are virtually no comedians onboard. Perhaps it is the luck of the draw, but we havent been seeing them. We enjoy a good comedian, and it is always nice to laugh, especially while on Vacation.

 

I'd like to see Celebrity have at least 1 comedian per week, on their sailings.

Hi Andy, Wouldl you please answser my question about when The Constellation goes in dry dock for some TKC??? Thanks! Nancie

[kysupt]

My wife and I have sailed with Celeb for many years(Elite level). I am sad to say that our recent 2/13 sailing of Constellation offered many graphic evidences of cost cutting and poor maintenance. The general condition of the ship was not acceptable in many ways. The sewage odor that was so prevalent at times destroyed any semblance of a pleasant dining atmosphere.

 

The crew was good and doing their best to keep "lipstick on the pig" as excessive wear was obvious and pervasive. The quality of food has declined dramatically, even in the specialty restaurant. The beef we were served was certainly not of the same grade as we have received in past sailings. The only exception to this downward spiral was the very good Valentine brunch.

 

A further disappointment was a severe reduction in the amount of live music available in the dining room. Beyond that, the evening we visited the specialty restaurant had no live music. One of the reasons we have enjoyed that venue is the wonderful harpists and other musicians that were normally there.

 

It seems that the focus at every corner was on cost savings. The servings in the main dining room would be a small portion of lobster, etc. supplemented with a large serving of pasta. No longer is there an on-board bank, but now you are expected to use the casino and pay a fee to access any funds that you may have in your account.

 

In my opinion the auto-tipping is a mistake that will lead to other undesirable outcomes. I believe tipping is a personal matter intended to reward good service. I further believe service will suffer with this mandated approach. Does this ring of the "unearned bonuses" that have been paid to employees of failing institutions? Who are the "other personnel" that should also be tipped?

 

For several years I have recommended Celeb to friends as being a cut above some of the other lines. From my recent experiences, this is certainly not the case and it saddens me to see the decline.

[Andy]

Hi Andy, Wouldl you please answser my question about when The Constellation goes in dry dock for some TKC??? Thanks! Nancie

 

Hi Nancie !

 

I'm not aware if Constellation has a scheduled Drydock at this time. The only hole I see in her schedule is in March of 2010. I will ask the question, and see what I can find out.

[avalon1025]

I did feel very sorry for the crew, like they wanted to provide a first class service but had no resources to do so.

 

Also, the Persian Gardens are not working. The rate was reduced, but only the Sahara room was woking the whole cruise, the Turkish bath sometimes and the steam and showers never. Don't bother with this portion of the ship.

 

Ocean Liners played a CD vs live music

[avalon1025]

My wife and I have sailed with Celeb for many years(Elite level). I am sad to say that our recent 2/13 sailing of Constellation offered many graphic evidences of cost cutting and poor maintenance. The general condition of the ship was not acceptable in many ways. The sewage odor that was so prevalent at times destroyed any semblance of a pleasant dining atmosphere.

 

The crew was good and doing their best to keep "lipstick on the pig" as excessive wear was obvious and pervasive. The quality of food has declined dramatically, even in the specialty restaurant. The beef we were served was certainly not of the same grade as we have received in past sailings. The only exception to this downward spiral was the very good Valentine brunch.

 

A further disappointment was a severe reduction in the amount of live music available in the dining room. Beyond that, the evening we visited the specialty restaurant had no live music. One of the reasons we have enjoyed that venue is the wonderful harpists and other musicians that were normally there.

 

It seems that the focus at every corner was on cost savings. The servings in the main dining room would be a small portion of lobster, etc. supplemented with a large serving of pasta. No longer is there an on-board bank, but now you are expected to use the casino and pay a fee to access any funds that you may have in your account.

 

In my opinion the auto-tipping is a mistake that will lead to other undesirable outcomes. I believe tipping is a personal matter intended to reward good service. I further believe service will suffer with this mandated approach. Does this ring of the "unearned bonuses" that have been paid to employees of failing institutions? Who are the "other personnel" that should also be tipped?

 

For several years I have recommended Celeb to friends as being a cut above some of the other lines. From my recent experiences, this is certainly not the case and it saddens me to see the decline.

 

Where did you smell the sewage?

[midsouthj]

We were on the 11 night holiday cruise and found the crew to be excellent. However, we were disappointed with the food. Breakfast and lunch in the buffet were great but the food in the dining room really lacked flavour. There was not one comedian booked during the entire cruise and that too was disappointing. Is Carl William still playing in the Rendez Vous Lounge? We loved dancing to his band's music every night. His vocals are fantasic!

No unfortunately Carl's contract was up on Constellation with the 2/2 cruise. I too agree that his music was by far the best entertainment on the ship. It is a shame more people other than the dancers, do not stop awhile and just listen. One very talented performer.

[jerseygirl3]

We are just back from the Feb 13th 10 night Celebrity Constellation cruise, overall a great time, some thoughts:

 

Great things:

 

Of our 7 Celebrity cruises, the Constellation had the most friendly crew

Our butler and cabin steward were excellent

Our waiter was great

Ocean Liners was very nice

Ship condition was good (though some areas are in need of refurbishment - new carpet in the lido please!)

Sky Suite 6145 with a fantastic bathroom (just use nose plugs!)

 

Not so great:

 

Being cramped at the dinning table with 10 people at a table for 8 (dinning chairs removed and replaced with smaller chairs from the lido)

 

A plumbing problem in our original cabin requiring two cabin moves (a cracked pipe under the bathroom sinks of 6145 caused the most awful sewage/chemical smell possible in our suite, we were moved at 3AM after many unsuccessful tries to fix the issue, to the only available cabin - an inside on deck 8, luckily another Sky Suite opened up later in the cruise and we moved back into a suite). We loved 6145, but beware if you have noisy Penthouse neighbors, we heard every word of their conversations each morning at 7AM. Also, if you have this cabin you will need to place wet face cloths on the bathroom drains as the sewage smell is unbearable (our subsequent cabins were 8004 and 6128). Our butler and cabin steward were fantastic, helping to move us and even moving with us to make sure we had consistent service regardless of where we ended up around the ship.

 

Suite couch and club chair desperately need reupholstering, our second couch was threadbare

 

Jeans in the dinning room at dinner, I am all for a relaxed dress codes, but the table next to ours wore jeans and t-shirts every night, formal night meant jeans and polos.

 

Overall, taking out the issues with the cabin, it was one of our nicest Celebrity cruises. We did have to excessively follow up with the hotel director/front desk about what the line would do for all our cabin issues...we got $200 OBC, given that we paid about $800/night for 2 it seemed cheap, but we wanted to just move on from it all

 

You were moved at 3 a.m. from a suite to an inside cabin and they compensated you a measly $200???? I understand you eventually were moved back to a suite, but I think it's a disgrace that you were given only $200 for what you went through.

 

I hope you are following up with a letter to the President of Celebrity. I'm not a fan of people looking for something for nothing, but in your case, you were definitely shortchanged.

 

And jeans in the MDR??? Even on casual nights, I thought the dailies state no jeans? But on formal night, that is unforgivable. Shame on the maitre 'de for not enforcing the dress code.

 

Jo-Ann

[kysupt]

Where did you smell the sewage?

It was most prominent in the stern portion of the ship, including the dining room, on the last formal night(Saturday night)

[avalon1025]

We were in the most aft Sky Suite right above the dining room, so it makes sense that some areas of the dinning room could smell the sewage.

 

We called the front desk at midnight as we returned from dinner/Michaels club, and could no longer stand the smell. They sent housekeeping who called the front desk and said the smell was very bad and to send the plumbers. At 1AM the plumbers arrived and pulled out all the drains to clean them and sprayed some air freshener and left. The smell got worse and when the front desk called to follow up, they moved us from 6145 to 8004. We slept in 8004 from 3AM to around 7 when we received a call that the plumbers wanted to go back into 6145. This was our day in St Martin. We allowed them access and after a few hours, many officers (head of housekeeping, etc), with the underneath of the sinks pulled out, they called the front desk and said we should stay in 8004, luckily someone had either left in St Martin or never showed up for Sky Suite 6128 and we moved that afternoon into 6128 (our butler and cabin steward could not have been nicer and more apologetic - so not their fault). We lost a night of sleep, never made it off in St Martin but ended up in a like category suite eventually.

 

Where I get angry, is that we never heard from anyone at guest relations or from the hotel director. On the last sea day we asked to have a meeting with the hotel director and told him of our disappointment and if this was truly a 4 or 5 star establishment, the management would not be slinking away from their short commings. We are the type of people that would have been happy with an apology letter, but when we heard nothing, we just started to get angry and I did not want to leave the ship with this unresolved. The Hotel Director threw us $200 OBC and a credit towards another cruise to be used within a year ($300pp). We have our year planned and will not return to Celebrity until 2010 or 11 so the discount is useless. The officers on the Constellation need to learn some customer service and appreciate their guests, or in the future they won't have any.

[mardon]

I bet if you tell Celebrity that you plan to cruise with them in either 2010 or 2011 that they will allow you to carry over the credit. Just ask for the extension.

[JNCRUISEBUMS]

Hi Nancie !

 

I'm not aware if Constellation has a scheduled Drydock at this time. The only hole I see in her schedule is in March of 2010. I will ask the question, and see what I can find out.

Thanks Andy! We spent 3 weeks on "The Connie" in Nov/Dec 2008 and it was FABULOUS! I don't agree with the above gentleman, the ship looked great! The service Fabulous! Sure, sometimes there wasn't exactly what I wanted in the MDR, but you could have a couple of appetizers in place of the main course. I think you have to be flexlible! The Ocean Liner was to die for!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We must have been on a different ship than the fellow above.

Thanks!

Nancie

[hcat]

Seems that it may be the luck of the draw--what seats you get in the dining room, where the cabin is located & who you get for a stateroom attendant. But it really should be uniform so everyone has the best cruise ever!

 

we had such a great time on Solstice & only hope that we get a similar table , great waiters & stateroom attendant, good weather etc.. next time around..

 

from what we have heard though we are glad we switched from a 14 day on Constellation to Radiance for spring 2010--although we did love Constellation when we cruised on her a few yrs ago...

[LMKohler]

I'm really confused by the comments on Constellation. Up until now it seems, all the review were very complimentary and fairly uniform. So what has happened? What changed? The Crew? Food is subjective so we'll have to see for ourselves about that.

 

We will be on Constellation in three weeks -- for the first time -- and although we don't look for problems I just hope the cruise is as good a cruise as we have had in the past on Celebrity.

 

I guess time will tell.

[avalon1025]

For a mass market ship, we had a fine time minus the suite incident. The ship was, in some areas, in need of a renovation (through she was in much better shape then the Infinity last year). Yes the Persian Gardens was broken, the suite furniture in dire need of freshening, etc but we had some great crew and overall a nice time. If you get a working cabin, and good dining room situation, you will have a great time on the Constellation. This is a mass market ship folks, go with those expectations and you will have a fine time. If you are looking for a step above mass market, you won't find it here.