Banjo

10 hours ago, VitaminSea53 said:

Can you order from the Main Dining room menu while in BLU on the Reflection?

When I was in BLU on the Constellation back in March, not even asking, the hostess when seating us gave us both the BLU & the MDR menus. I did not but my wife ordered off the MDR menu a few times with no long waits or difficulty. The waiters did not seem to mind. 

You won't have this issue being on a S Class ship, just curious, what would they do on the Edge Class ships where they have 4 Main Dining Rooms with different menus?

13 hours ago, ebtrip said:

Haven’t been on X since January 2020.  We leave in 4 weeks on the Equinox. We sail in Aqua, so dine in Blu..just checked the nightly menu..included is rack of lamb, filet mignon, and lobster. There is no mention of extra cost. I’m glad they haven’t taken away the fine dining we always had in Blu. We have been sailing on Viking Ocean, small ships and excellent food and service with NO add ons..glad to be returning to X. 

I had the lobster in BLU many times, last March was my last time on the Constellation, and it was good. Always order the lobster with a dish of veal scallopini, which also on the the lobster night menu, the wife and I share that. Nice!

BTW, unless they recently changed it, was on the Edge for a trans-Atlantic back in October and had the lobster for no extra charge in one of the MDRs. In fact, not even asking, the waiter came to our table with extra lobster tails asking if we were interested in another. I obliged 🤗, no extra charge.

On 6/10/2023 at 9:44 PM, mahdnc said:

 

Yes, the two hour window is not new and is something we always managed around because we always had early seating.

 

To me, the downgrading with this is not having a portion of the Sky Lounge set aside for the Happy Hour anymore with the option for others that didn't want to be there to be able to get their drinks elsewhere. The hors d'oeuvres served there were a nice touch, too. It we also nice to talk to the Captain's Club Hostess there and meet other people.

 

I know it wasn't for everyone, but I miss it. 

 

Elite Happy Hour, Solstice Sky Lounge, Jan 1 2020, Tasman Sea

 

Solstice Captain's Club Hostess, Melissa

I traveled in Aqua a lot. Most recently last March on the Constellation. I have never seen them open early. Now a line forming between 430-530, yes. Folks want those window seats. 

We usually showed up around 7ish. Was usually able to snag a window seat with the early crowd finishing up.

As far as it is worth it? We are going on the Edge end of October (Rome-Dubai). It was prohibitively expensive for Aqua and we passed. 

Was on the Constellation March of '22 and again March of '23.  Fog was not an issue coming or going.

We flew in and out of Tampa for these cruises, no problem.

When we did our last October Edge trans-Atlantic, we rotated among the 4 MDRs. I didn't really see much difference other than they twik the menus a little. Enjoyed the food in all 4 of them. 

I been on 4 cruises (2 on the Constellation-in the Caribbean, one on the Edge (trans-Atlantic) & the Solstice (Pacific cruise) since the pandemic I found the food to be excellent except for part of my last March Constellation cruise. Last 3 or 4 days of the cruise we had norovirus outbreak (1st time that had ever happened to us and we been on 23 Celebrity cruises in the last 15 years). Fortunately the wife and I were spared,.

Food both in the OV, where they had to serve you, and in BLU went down hill fast. I attribute that to circumstances.  

I am booked on the Edge (Rome-Dubai) end of October.

I use the Elite+ perk for laundry all the time.

I find the timing for return can vary and a lot depends on your steward. I had times when I had the laundry bag on the bed before the morning clean-up and had it back that evening. Other times I waited 2 or 3 days. The 3 day time I believe was caused by the steward not bothering to check regularly. 

I would give it at least 2 days. Also, if it is a 7 day cruise, it will be minimal demand for laundry services.

I was in Aqua on my last month's Constellation cruise. When we were seated every night in BLU for dinner the hostess automatically handed us a MDR menu along with the BLU menu without even asking for it. No problem ordering from either menu. I have to admit, I only ordered once from the MDR menu.

I noticed on my last few post-Covid cruises (which are 5) they don't really stock the mini-bar to capacity like they used to.

Since bottle water for shore excursions is all need since we have a drink package, I been able to get in 5 or 6 bottles (or cans) in the mini-bar without moving what is in the bar. Replenish the water after I use them. So I no longer bother the room steward with having him empty it.

I was on the Constellation last month. I know I had a drink prior to leaving Tampa and when docked in Key West, don't recall any added costs. I did have a drink package.

I used Uber to catch my Tampa departing Constellation cruise from a airport hotel just a few weeks ago. Was at the hotel under 5 minutes and had me at the cruise terminal drop-off in around 20 minutes. Worked great and it was under $20. 

On 2/28/2023 at 5:42 PM, kannna said:

Waffles can be found premade on either side of the buffet

 

BUT

 

The best waffles are waaaay in the back of the buffet at the grill where you can get them fresh out of the waffle maker. They also make fresh toast and eggs there 😉

Thanks, will be on the Connie Monday. I will check that out.

I been to Labadee just once on Celebrity. It was back in 2015 and was on the Silhouette.

I liked it. Did the boat tour they offered. It was nice and relaxing. Also did the zip-line they had.  It was good, reasonably long and thrilling. What I liked about the zip line it went across the water, so no fear of the line snapping and  me landing on land 🙂

I did not partake of the buffet. Cannot comment on that. Just had a beer.

Looking forward to doing it on my upcoming Edge Suez canal cruise in November. This cruise has a good number of sea days.

Talk about the good old days, about a decade ago I did one on the Emerald Princess. They gave you a bath robe. Really nice heavy one (the kind you get in Aqua and suites). Still have it and use it.

Now on Celebrity it seems out-of-pocket tipping become a lot less.

I been on 3 cruises with Celebrity since covid decreased, all on Edge class ships. On all of them auto tips were included in the price of the cruise. We rotate between the 4 MDRs, so never see the same waiter or asst waiter.

Only steady staff member was the room steward. Always throw him/her a few bucks depending level of service and if I had any special requests.

6 minutes ago, hrhdhd said:

No. The MDR tea is gone.

Just saw your post, so they did away with it. Oh well.

I have not been in awhile,  but the Elite or higher used to or still has a High Tea on a sea day.

Problem is they had it around 3pm, ruin dinner 😞

I recall back in 2014 I booked a Black Sea cruise out of Istanbul, I believe it was on the Summit. The cruise included several stops in Crimea. It also was cancelled because of the Russian takeover of Crimea.

When we sailed last March on the Caribbean Constellation cruise we had 850 passengers. Capacity is around 2100. I have to admit, it was kind of nice.

On that cruise I booked 2 cruises at the Future Cruise Desk. An October, 2022 Edge Trans-Atlantic. They had one Aqua Class cabin available and pickings in the Veranda Class were slim. We selected a Veranda Class cabin. Also booked a Edge October, 2023 Suez Canal cruise Rome-Dubai. Again, pickings were slim. The Celebrity agent said this was a very popular cruise with its itinerary. Because of cost on this one I selected again Veranda Class.  

I did ask the Celebrity agent about capacities saying "this is great for me but is it good for the industry"? She noted that Tampa has been very slow because Celebrity is new out of Tampa and the capacities have been picking up. Celebrity Caribbean cruise leaving from Ft Lauderdale/Miami have been much better. I did talk with other passengers that did this Constellation cruise several times in November/December/January/February and they also confirmed the numbers have picked up saying back in November it was around 300.  

I am glad it's picking up. I hate to see this industry die. I enjoy cruising.

Yes. That is all I got for a March 18th Constellation cruise.

Go to Walmarts.com. Fill out the questionnaire indicating when you like to have it done. Did mine through the drive-up window and had the results within an hour.

8 hours ago, Homosassa said:

Cruised on the Constellation in February.

 

She is in beautiful condition.

I just got off her last Monday, I thought so.

I was on the Constellation for a Mar 18 Caribbean cruise, we only had 825 passengers. Max for this M Class ship is around 2100. 

I did book a Trans-Atlantic October, 2022 Edge cruise at Constellation's Future Cruise  and was informed Aqua was sold out. Also the Veranda choices were limited.

Go figure.

I haven't brought wine on board in years due to AI.

A few years ago I was on a trans-Atlantic which stopped in Madeira. Went on a wine tasting tour and bought a bottle of Madeira wine along the way. Upon boarding security took it. Celebrity was decent in that 2 days prior to docking in Ft Lauderdale (the end of the cruise) they let me get it so we could enjoy it with dinner the final 2 nights.

Concerning a corkscrew, one is usually in the cabin refrigerator. Not great but will work.  

I only experienced Mass once on a trans-Atlantic and I have done 9 TA's with Celebrity. It was back in 2015 and we had on-board a Swiss missionary priest that was returning home from Central America.  He did daily Mass every evening in the small conference room on sea days-which we had a lot being a trans-Atlantic and Sunday's Mass in the theater. He had no affiliation with Celebrity other than being a passenger and Celebrity gave him access to the rooms. I did get to speak with him on tours of Fatima (the ship, which was the Silhouette, stopped in Lisbon) and Santiago de Compostela (the ship stopped in Vigo). So I guess by chance you have a priest that is a passenger and he is willing to do it you will have Mass.