BunnyLebowski

Thanks to all for sharing your experience and wisdom! Have taken everyone's advice and changed time of transfer by several hours. Will also be prepared to wait at the terminal or in a holding pen on the ship itself haha; no big deal. We are so excited for this cruise!

The message itself:

S: Celebrity Constellation Cruise Notification

Hello, this is Celebrity Cruises. We would like to provide you with important information regarding your upcoming sailing onboard Celebrity Constellation sailing from Civitavecchia, Italy on June 24, 2017. During the current sailing, guests onboard experienced gastrointestinal illness. In an abundance of caution, we are conducting enhanced sanitizing onboard the ship and within the cruise terminal to help prevent any illness from affecting your cruise. Due to extra cleaning and sanitizing check-in for this sailing is expected to take place between 2:00 PM and 4:30 PM. Seating is very limited in the terminal and it is with this in mind we ask that guests do not arrive to the pier before 2:00 PM. If you have purchased a transfer to the cruise terminal from Celebrity Cruises, please proceed to the meeting place as scheduled. In an effort to facilitate a smooth check in process, please follow the below arrival time: Our Suite and Zenith and Elite Plus Guests are free to arrive between 2:00 PM and 4:30 PM for check-in. Concierge and Aqua Class Guests 2:00 PM to 2:45 PM; Elite and Select members 2:45 PM to 3:15 PM; All remaining Constellation guests 3:15 PM to 4:30 PM. We apologize for this delay to your boarding process and we thank you for your understanding and patience. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation and we look forward to welcoming you onboard.

Reply with YES to confirm.

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Just arrived in Rome (yay!) to a text alert from Celebrity stating that the June 24 sailing of the Constellation will take place only after a thorough disinfection due to a current outbreak of "gastrointestinal illness." It was stated that check in will take place between 2-4:30pm and not to arrive before 2pm. We have a private car hired to take us there for an 11am-ish arrival. Should I try to switch timing or will things actually be fine if we need to proceed as currently?

We will be in one of the Penthouse Suites if that matters.

Thanks for any input, folks!

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Thanks for this Wmp7!

The biggest design change I see is that they replaced the beautiful wood paneling that covered the walls in the living and dining areas with expanses of white. Perhaps similar to what they have in the bedroom? It does brighten the area...

Also the soft lines (sofa, arm chairs, dining chairs, pillows, etc.) look new but not "redesigned". If the rug is new it hasn't been switched for a new design. Finally the loungers on the deck have been replaced with a slimmer design.

Probably the Royal Suites received the same sort of refresh as opposed to an actual redesign.

For comparison, this is the same cabin August 2015

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Has anyone seen photos of the refurbed RS on Connie? I've been looking on another social media site :-) and found a couple of the PH...

 

 

 

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Where did you see these? Have been searching for PH pics....can you copy and paste?

If they did the same thing on the Connie as they did last year in the Summit PH's, its not a huge remodel.

We stayed in 6147 a couple of months after dry dock and all that was done was some new flooring in the suite, new fixtures and tile work in the bathrooms and new deck boards on the balcony.

All of the furnishing (sofas/chairs, dining tables, beds, etc) were not changed.

They also had new deck furniture (loungers) outside which was very nice and comfortable and better suited for when they got wet from the sea spray.

Looking forward to staying in it again this July!

This is exactly what I'm wondering: if the remodel is like what they did on the Summit or more extensive as was intimated in X's press release. We were in 6147 on Connie in 2015 and will be in 6148 on Connie at the end of this month. Did the Summit get an extensive solarium remodel during her dry dock?

They certainly do. X loves kids. Mine are treated like royalty every time [emoji73]🤴

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I tried to tip our Butler & Cabin Steward on the Infinity using OBC and was told at Guest Services that they no longer allow that. I ended up telling DH to have fun in the Casino with the OBC. He did and turned $200 OBC into $230:D.

So now you can't tip using OBC??? Groan...

Is there any downside to using OBC for the butler's tip? It's much easier for us to go to the customer service desk and adjust individual tips vs. envelopes and carrying extra cash. Anyone know how this works as it pertains specifically to the butler?

Thanks!

Re: Penthouse Suite updates:

Yes, I've got a few photos I'll post later. The changes aren't overly significant, looks a bit brighter.

Awesome, looking forward to seeing them. Thank you!!!!

Looks great! Did you happen to see the remodeled PH Suites?

Looking for suggestions for fun low sugar/low calorie cocktails for my upcoming Med cruise on Celebrity.

Tend to order champagne, wine, rum & Diet Coke, or vodka & club soda w/splash of grapefruit. Anyone have any other ideas? I sometimes look longingly at the frozen drinks...🍷🥃🍸🍹

So far logistics have been appalling. First notice was a vague email late last night, only 12 hours before boarding. No details or instructions were provided, just an international number to call. Which we did but the person at the other end had no idea what was going on.

 

Just about to board a flight now and we have no idea what to do or where to go when we land. Absolute chaos.

 

Unfortunately if we don't make it to the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend the cruise will be ruined, it is the only reason we booked this cruise. Will be a waste of money and holiday time.

 

Things might get better when we land but I won't hold my breath!

 

 

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Oh no! So sorry to hear this. Hopefully it will work out. Will be thinking of you and all the other passengers in limbo. Keep us updated if you can.

That stinks! Hopefully Celebrity will handle logistics and compensation properly for these guests. And likewise, hopefully the inconvienced travelers can "embrace their new adventure" rather than dwelling on a "ruined" cruise.

Hope everyone has a wonderful time.

I admit to being paranoid about getting sick and being confined to my cabin for days on end.

Ooohh good point; had not considered enforced confinement...

Both of my children received credit for becoming Elite when they turned 18.

Just called Captains club and it was taken care of.

They did have their list of cruises they had taken on Celebrity and with one discrepancy, which was fixed with a a booking number we had for them.

 

No worries.

Great to hear! My children will (technically) have earned elite status after our next trip. Seems like a nice thing for them to have as young adults. Hope getting them credit will be as easy as you describe.

We leave tomorrow for Barcelona to join the Connie on Friday!

If you're able, can you post a few photos of th new venues?

We (family)have cruised inside, OV and balcony cabins. We've never wondered whether the people we were sitting chatting with had an inside room (gasp) or were sailing in the Presidential Suite (although I doubt we've been chatting with anyone in that particular suite.

The PH suite passengers you've been chatting with (us) would never mention our own digs (you would discover only after we invite you over for a drink) and don't care what room you're in either.

Have had the pleasure of sailing in an inside (when I was in my 20's), ocean view, balcony and suite. Our last 3 cruises have been in the Penthouse Suite for various uninteresting reasons including the fact that I travel with school age children.

Thing is, I'm looking forward to when it's just me and my darling spouse on our own again as I'm perfectly happy in an inside. Love the dark for sleeping, napping, etc. You have run of the ship, and while the suite venues are nice, once you've done them a few times it's less interesting. Can't wait until I have more leisure time for travel; insides are an attractive option and a fantastic value.

You will have a fabulous trip. So jealous of your b2b. Hope to do that some day.

Our favorite was the time we rented a car and drove from Skagway to Emerald Lake, just DH and myself. The Yukon Territory is beautiful, and it was a day of complete privacy and setting our own pace. An unexpected treasure.

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We did a Venice/Greece cruise in August in 2015. It was the only time we could fit it in because of our children's school break. I was worried about the heat too, but it ended up being fine. Athens was the hottest, but we hired a van with A/C and did most walking in the morning. We were really glad we went.

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Oooh I see a blue tarp on the aft Penthouse Suite. Wonder what they are doing to the balcony?

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We just booked 2 RCCL cruises for 2018 .One is a 9 night ABC island deep Southern Caribbean cruise on Navigator of the Seas & saved over $1200 on a stern balcony cabin vs a similar Celebrity cruise . Then booked a 7 night Western Caribbean on Oasis of the Seas ,at a fantaxtic low pricwe for a balcony cabin deck 9 .:D

 

 

 

RCCL os still giving the 30% off special pricing & as Elite + ,we go to RCCL & get the Diamond balcony discounts of $225 each cruise:)

 

 

 

Well worth comparing cruise line to cruise line itineraries m to save lots of monies:)

Sounds like you got some great deals. Thanks for reminding us that it pays to shop around. Not everyone on these boards has tried every line or is aware of drastic price differences. Thank you and enjoy your trip!

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I'll be wearing these rose gold leather sandals in July. Admittedly, we're not assigned to the MDR and none of the men in my party are wearing tuxes, but I'll be wearing a dress pretty much every night. These are reasonably priced at the Banana Republic right now. They are super comfortable!

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No live update or daily blog detailing progress of the drydock? Maybe some photos of the work being carried out so we can see the progress? Other cruise lines have done this during refits.

 

 

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What a great idea. Would love to see this!