apfra. Posted January 24, 2005 #1 Share Posted January 24, 2005 Hello from the GTS Constellation! We are currently sailing from Casa de Campo to Barbados. I sailed on this ship during its fourth voyage back in 2002, and I am pleased to report she is still a really great ship. The ship is impeccably clean---- like it just came out of dry dock. The staff is still highly trained and attentive without being obtrusive. We went to the "Masquerade Ball" last night by Cirque du Soleil. It was a neat experience because of the vibrant and chic atmosphere of a modern nightlife establishment in a sophisticated city--- something that I have never seen on a cruise ship. The characters were excellent actors with colorful costumes and "non-Earthly" personalities. The only thing I can complain about is the food. While the selection and quality of foods are still very, very good, it seems like they are cutting corners in some areas of the dining room. The presentation is not as creative as it was, and the taste of most dishes will not appeal to the sophisticated gourmet (not that it ever truly did). My salad last night was consumable in three bites--- and had the taste and presentation of a school cafeteria. This is a harsh example, and while the food is still excellent for the mass-market cruise industry in all other areas except the dining room, I honestly think that Holland America's dinning room can now compare to the experience I have had the past two nights. Because of this, we have decided to dine in Ocean Liners for the majority of the cruise. Celebrity still puts together such a great product at a very reasonable price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanie510 Posted January 24, 2005 #2 Share Posted January 24, 2005 I hear you re food on Constellation. Husband and I just returned Jan 15th from the S. Carib. This was our 4th Celebrity cruise and it could not compare with Mercury, Century and Infinity to Alaska in June '04. Very disappointed with the food. Ocean Liners, however, was excellent. Perhaps, you should dine there for the remainder. Anyway, wishing you a great cruise. Overall, we did have a good time. Grenada was not worth getting off the ship though. Did you try the Goat Cheese appetizer in Ocean Liners? If not, it is to die for. JOANIE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smdubowsky Posted January 25, 2005 #3 Share Posted January 25, 2005 Hi- We also just returned from the Constellation and we thought the food was very good. One of the reasons was our waiter, Boris. He was very candid about the food selection and always steered us correctly. There was always plenty to eat and if you thought the portions were small, you could always ask for more. For instance, my wife is not usually a "soup' person, so Boris would bring a double Caesar salad. It was never a problem. We has all of our breakfasts in our cabin. For the most part they were great. The omelettes were very good. We usually lunched at the AquaSpa cafe. The fare there is presented very well and is generally a few calories less. Ocean Liners was, of course, superb. Do not miss the Grand Marnier souffle'. Another great snack is the Sushi Bar behind the buffet on deck 10. The chefs make it right there every evening. We've been on the Constellation three times and this time the food was the best in our opinion. This also could have been because we never ever went to the dreaded buffet. FWIW, smdubowsky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smdin Posted January 25, 2005 #4 Share Posted January 25, 2005 Where cruising on feb 5, wondering who the captain is? We were on her last year the same time. Enjoy your cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hummer Posted January 25, 2005 #5 Share Posted January 25, 2005 Apfra, hope you enjoy the rest of the week! Love to hear your comments.... Since you enjoyed the Masked Ball CDS experience, I am curious about are you are under 40 yrs, or over? Any thoughts on whether this experience appeals to a particular age range, or is something new for anyone. I was onboard a couple weeks ago and thought it was great - so different from any other cruise evening I have experienced. (I am 40+ ) Nancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted January 25, 2005 #6 Share Posted January 25, 2005 Hi- We also just returned from the Constellation and we thought the food was very good. One of the reasons was our waiter, Boris. He was very candid about the food selection and always steered us correctly. There was always plenty to eat and if you thought the portions were small, you could always ask for more. Hi Smdubowsky ! Can you tell me more about Boris ? We had a wonderful waiter on Summit in late 2001, his name was Boris (from Croatia). He was one of the best waiters we have ever had. We have looked for him several times since, but have not seen him again. We were hopeful that he was still with Celebrity. Might you have a photo to post ? Or you can email it to me. The link is below. Thanks ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly-NYC Posted January 25, 2005 #7 Share Posted January 25, 2005 Speaker of waiters on the Connie... We loved our waiter, Oldman, who was on our transatlantic in September. He was excellent. We have been wondering if anyone has run into him lately. Has anyone had him as a waiter recently? Kelly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedazzling Posted January 26, 2005 #8 Share Posted January 26, 2005 Kelly thanks for the positive review. I am on the 2/26 cruise and went last year and just loved the ship. Coming from NYC and traveling alot, the food was good but not outstanding, but like you said there was plenty of it. I loved having sushi and the Aqua Cafe suited me fine for breakfast and lunch. Oceanliners was good and I am always up for Grand Marnier souffle. I think we sometimes forget its really about the people you meet and the fun you have. I found myself at the Martini Bar every night and therefore dinner could have been anything for me. One drink and I'm sloshed. Enjoy the rest of your trip:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smdubowsky Posted January 26, 2005 #9 Share Posted January 26, 2005 Andy- Your Boris and our Boris are one in the same. He told us he was on the Summit. As a matter of fact, we happened upon his wedding which took place at a Beachside restaurant in Barbados. We have a picture of him. Where do you post it ? smdubowsky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apfra. Posted January 26, 2005 Author #10 Share Posted January 26, 2005 Don't get me wrong, the food has been extremely good--- usually the best in the mass-market industry. The wait staff is extremely accommodating and attentive. I was always impressed with the food on Celebrity in the past (my last Celebrity cruise was April 2003, Infinity), but nothing I have had in the dining room so far has impressed me. Food in the other areas like the buffet and cafes is excellent, but the line does not seem to maintain that quality in the dining room. The food fails on be presented with creativity--- as if your dish is one of masses (which it is) that has not been given individual attentiveness, like RCI and Carnival. On lines like Crystal however, even though your dish is one of masses, it appears as though a chef has put some thought and artistic skill into it. I know for sure that the quality of the ingredients on Celebrity is the best, no questions asked. But the problem is that the way it is put together and how it is presented come nothing close to the gourmet standards of Michel Roux and Ocean Liners. If I were Michel Roux, I would not associate my Michelin three-star gourmet restaurant and cuisine with this line. He clearly does it for the million+ they pay him per year. That is why we are dinning in Ocean Liners as much as possible--- to get the gourmet quality presentation and luscious taste of Roux’s cuisine with elegantly refined European service and a classic atmosphere that I would expect from this "premium" cruise line. Regardless of their minor flaws in food and sometime service (the line is not perfect, you know), I know for sure that Celebrity is the best of the mass-market lines. I went on the Westerdam of the line that “claims” to the best in the premium market (how dare they make such a bold statement). They certainly failed to deliver the premium food, ambiance refined service as Celebrity. Nowhere else but here does your dollar go so far. Your question about my age--- I am 16. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted January 26, 2005 #11 Share Posted January 26, 2005 16?:eek: ....oh my goodness.... There is nothing wrong with 16...but I have socks older than you;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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