Just back from Constellation Transatlantic

[Faygelah]

I'm still jet-lagged after an 8-hour flight from London, but wanted to let y'all know some immediate impressions of an incredible cruise on a beautiful ship.

 

We are a male couple, forty-something, traveling with the 80 year-old parents of one of us. The two of us sailed on Millenium last January on an eastern Caribbean 7-day cruise. Because we loved it so much, we decided to book a 14-day transatlantic. Here are some immediate thoughts. I'll add more later, and am happy to respond to questions.

 

First of all, forget everything you have heard about entertainment on Celebrity being mediocre or worse. On Millenium last year, the shows were so bad we didn't even attempt to go the first couple of nights, then we spoke to our "Cruise Director," really the head off entertainment for "X", Michael Thomas, who was taking over for CD Eric Bohus who hurt his knee. He assured us that "X" was starting to revamp its entertainment, including the new partnership with Cirque du Soleil. He said when Connie goes in drydock this fall, the Reflections nightclub will be transformed into a Cirque space in addition to being used as a disco.

 

We were the first to see a spectacular new production -- something like "Discover the World" -- which took our breath away. I wish the production had shown more of the non-white world (the lumping of all of Africa into a number full of primitives clad in animal skins was particularly "politically" painful, but visually entertaining.)There were classical piano concerts, along with the usual comedian-jugglers-- but the production numbers really shone. I had thought the production numbers we saw on Millenium last year were Six Flags quality or worse. There's been a sea-change (Pardon the pun)in "X's" thinking of entertainment.

 

The food was amazing, as always. We were always glad when we ate at the Aquaspa cafe for fresh, healthy food. We ate at Ocean Liners three times and were treated like royalty. The staff was uniformly superb, though our cabin attendant seemed like she'd rather be doing something else.

 

We loved our cruise critic connections. Many of us met at the sailaway to blow bubbles on the 11th deck above the pool. We saw Cruise Critics folks almost everywhere; it made the ship feel like a small town of friendly wonderful folks. The Cruise Critic gathering in Michael's Club was less elaborate then the gathering we had on Millenium last year. We were served only coffee and ushered out after 30 minutes because the room was scheduled for another function. Last year, we got champagne and a table full of pastries.

 

The folks at the Guest Relations desk on the third deck were practically useless. It is as if they are trained to say "No" to almost any special request. Personal notes to the Cruise Director and/or the Social Director got results.

 

One important thing that helped us enjoy the cruise was all of the info we have gleaned from reading the Cruise Critics boards. However, one thing that went awry was the suggestion to bring a power strip to increase the number of available electrical outlets. One evening, we plugged in an iPod to reharge while we went to dinner. When we returned several hours later, the power strip had melted and there had been a small fire in our cabin! (I tyhink the problem was with the ship's electrical system, but we were lucky something horrible had not happened!) We were given another cabin for the night, and housekeeping cleaned up the soot, but we had a sharp electrical fire smell for several days.

 

Over all, this ws a spectacular experience. we can't wait to cruise again.

 

PD

[jlmdsc]

I am thinking about doing a transatlantic next year and have a few questions. How was the weather for this crossing? How did you keep your self entertained for the five sea days? Which evenings were formal? Thanks for your help.

[theawesome1]

9/7 is our turn to do Dover, Paris, Cork & Dublin Ireland, then to Iceland & onto NYC (or is it Jersey). I am ready to do it NOW!

 

167 folks from here will be with us, that's what I call a group photo! 6018 is where to find us, so far thpo when folks don't pay I pray for upgrade fairy to hit!

 

Still trying to figure out 26 outfits for 13 days & nights. Same clothes to fly there & home with a soak in the tub. 50# is it per luggage for the air restrictions, so maybe a carryon bag also, the camcorder bag can be my hubby's purse ;-)

 

My logo: When we disembark, I just have to book another!

[Faygelah]

The sea days were my favorite! I read books, played Scrabble and took a 3-part 3 hour class in Adobe Photoshop. We purchased the weeklong Persian Garden package, but only got to use it three times. We spent two days almost never leaving the cabin, ordering in food and watching pay-per-view movies. We had a masssive aft balcony, and loved to sit outside and watch the wake. It was hypnotic, like Niagara Falls.

 

I haven't a clear memory of when the formal nights were. One was the last sea day, another was the night we had a fire, but it doesn't help you because I can't remember precisely what night that was!

 

A hint I learned here on Cruise Critic: even though the room service breakfast menu (the card you hang on the door at night) is limited, you can write in anything you want and it will be delivered.

 

Awesome1, we found the laundry service onboard to be great. We think it is lots easier to wash than to pack. You might want to check it out!

 

[This message was edited by Faygelah on 05-09-04 at 06:17 PM.]

[bob278]

Faygelah,

 

Nice review with good information. I have a couple of question, though.

 

What else was plugged into the power strip? It doesn't seem like an iPod should draw that much current. I plan to take one on our Sept transatlantic so we can plug in a laptop and camera battery charger at the same time. I never thought that would be a problem, but now I'm concerned. Since you said you thought it might have been the ship's electrical system, do you think it would have happened if you had plugged the iPod directly into the wall outlet?

 

On another note, I'd love to convince my wife to use the laundry, but she thinks it's illegal (or maybe immoral) to wear the same outfit twice for formal or informal nights. So we will take 4 checked bags at the maximum weight and about 12 pounds of it will be mine.

 

Bob

[theawesome1]

Was this a surge protector strip as we carry???? Never even felt heat on it with battery chargers, hair dryer, and other stuff in it overnight & morning.

 

My logo: When we disembark, I just have to book another!

[Faygelah]

It's hard to believe, but it was a regular power strip that caught on fire. The only thing drawing power was the iPod. We also had a power supply for the computer plugged into the power strip, but it was not plugged into the computer at the time.

 

I think there may have been something screwy about the Constellation's electrical wiring. A couple of days earlier, the elevators throughout the ship were out for a couple of hours.

[gillianrose]

The fault was more likely in your power strip. Some of the better ones have good warranties. Warranty or not, though, it's wise to buy a top-of-the-line surge protector.

[sueclark]

Nice report, we are also on the 9/7 return transatlantic.

 

Sorry to hear about the fire, I hope nothing else was damaged except the plug strip. I always take one and have used it many times with no problem [knock-on-wood]. This was a good reminder to remember to unplug it when I leave the cabin!

 

Sue

sueclark@aol.com

 

Constellation Transatlantic 9/7/04

 

Infinity Panama Canal 4/17/05

[Prince]

Thanks for the great review. My partner and I are booked on the Millennieum Transatlantic in Novmeber and looking forward to it.

 

Prince

[toni1266]

Hi Faygelah, I'm so glad you had a wonderful time on your cruise. I'd like to try the Transatlantic crossing as well, hopefully the year after next when both my kids are in college. I hate to take the time right now because I want to spend all the time I can with them before they leave. Anyway, do you know who the Captain was on your sailing?

 

Toni

[Jolson's Dad]

The Captain's name is Michael Karatzas. This was only our 5th cruise, but it was by far the friendliest ship we've been on. All the ship's employees, with the exception, perhaps, of the Officers, were genuinely friendly and made us feel most at home. Boy, do they earn their tips! I can't wait to do another transatlantic; Celebrity was fantastic. I concur totally with Faygelah about the production shows. They were top notch, elaborate, and professionally polished. The dining experience was exquisite. My wife has special dining needs, and each night she was in awe of the creativity they used in preparing her gluten free meals and desserts. The vast majority of passengers we met were all very easygoing and easy to talk to. The weather was good, as we were able to wear shorts up until the sailaway from Lisbon. We had never heard of Madeira, and it was breathtaking to discover that it surpasses Kauai for scenery. Life on the ship was truly elegant, and to Celebrity's credit there were no "jackpot bingo" or "casino challenge" announcements. I can't imagine anyone being disappointed with this cruise line, as they do know how to make you feel like a welcome celebrity.