A Veterean Solstice Class Cruiser Sails on his FIrst M-class Ship (Constellation)

[wedding96]

Just returned from a 4 day cruise on the Connie that stopped in Nassau and Key West. This is the shortest cruise I have ever taken and my first on a M-class ship.

 

Overall, I had a great time. The ship has been beautifully refurbished with many of the Solstice class features and decor. It took a day to get used to the slightly smaller scale of the M-class ship versus Solstice Class. The cabin, in particular, is one place where you definitely feel the size difference. I have always had a 1A hump cabin on the Solstice Class with the extra-large balcony, yet the verandah in this cabin (mid-ship # 7130) was 1/4 of the size. The bathroom was functional but just not as spacious. I missed the amazing interactive TV features that you get on Solstice class ships that offers some free on-demand movies. On the Connie, they have the flat-screen Samsung TV's which only offer on-demand movies for a fee. Solstice class veterans should also take note that the balcony door does not have a lever on the outside. One day, my partner mistakenly locked the door from the inside and I had to get my neighbor (who was luckily in her room at the time) to get the room attendant to unlock the door for me. The food was pretty much the same, but I would say that the Connie chef's preparations were better. I especially liked the salads. Just make sure to remind your waiter that you want the food to be hot and not lukewarm (I told him this every night as my last 2 cruises on Reflection were a real disappointment in the food dept, partly because of this). The gym on Connie is much smaller and feels more cramped, yet this did not stop me from working out 1-2 x day. As usual, they have those ridiculous lectures which are really sales pitches to sell passengers their overpriced products. It always boggles my mind that people fall for this. The solarium finally had some Jacuzzi's that were nice and hot, unlike on the Solstice ships where they are usually just warm. Fellow passengers were a younger demographic (likely cause it was a short cruise) and a lot of drinking was going on, with more people stumbling all over the ship. In fact, about 30 mins after leaving port there was a HUGE fight at the pool bar and an emergency code was called over the intercom. One drunk, unruly and disruptive passenger was beaten up (flipped on his back, kicked in the head) by someone else and lay unconscious on the ground. Not sure what the final outcome was, but I can assure you that the attacker was kicked off the ship the next day in Nassau.

[roohound]

Thanks for your review - I am going to do a 5 night run on her and it will be my first experience with X. I am a little worries about the short run plus the alcohol package. Hopefully things will run smoothly.

 

A question about the TV - are you able to order room service through the TV on the Constellation?

 

 

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Edited February 18, 2014 by roohound

[upwarduk]

----- about 30 mins after leaving port there was a HUGE fight at the pool bar and an emergency code was called over the intercom. One drunk, unruly and disruptive passenger was beaten up (flipped on his back, kicked in the head) by someone else and lay unconscious on the ground. Not sure what the final outcome was, but I can assure you that the attacker was kicked off the ship the next day in Nassau.

 

I have never, ever seen that sort of behaviour on a ship.

I am glad that they were put off in Nassau.

I wonder where they spent the night on the ship?

Edited February 18, 2014 by upwarduk

[greeneg]

I have never, ever seen that sort of behaviour on a ship.

I am glad that they were put off in Nassau.

I wonder where they spent the night on the ship?

 

Probably in the brig....

[CathyCruises]

We knew of two youngish women who were confined to their cabins under guard 24/7 for multiple days before we reached our first port of call on a TA 2 years ago!! They were put off the ship and their cruise ended very unceremoniously and very early.

[akowilm]

Was on the Reflection and witnessed a severely intoxicated woman repeatedly berate her boyfriend and 'poke' at him. He was very patient and tolerant and just kept apologizing for her behavior. The next day, a sea day, we saw him at the bar most of the day, but she never appeared. We didn't ask, because quite frankly, the whole situation was a little strange and uncomfortable. When we arrived in port the next morning, ( I was up early enjoying coffee on my aft balcony), I saw her being escorted from the ship! I later found out through passengers on her deck, that she had returned to the cabin that first evening and tore it apart. The boyfriend tried to contain her and when he could not, he called security and had her removed! She was in quarentine with a guard outside her door until she was removed. Apparently, she was abusive and violent towards the guard through out the night as well. This was a 7 night sailing, and she did not have an alcohol package, so this behavior is possible anywhere.......sad part is the rest of the week, he was on his global phone at the bar, telling her how much he missed her and how he had a plan to get her back on the ship for the second part of the b2b..........

[wedding96]

Thanks for your review - I am going to do a 5 night run on her and it will be my first experience with X. I am a little worries about the short run plus the alcohol package. Hopefully things will run smoothly.

 

A question about the TV - are you able to order room service through the TV on the Constellation?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

Not sure about the room service option. Sorry. I'm sure another CC member will be able to chime in with the answer.

[CruisingGatorGirl]

Not sure about the room service option. Sorry. I'm sure another CC member will be able to chime in with the answer.

 

I would also like to know the answer to this as we have been on 2 Solstice class ships :)

 

Also, do all the cabins on Connie now have glass doors for the shower? Or do insides, for example, still have the curtain?

[Turtles06]

We knew of two youngish women who were confined to their cabins under guard 24/7 for multiple days before we reached our first port of call on a TA 2 years ago!! They were put off the ship and their cruise ended very unceremoniously and very early.

 

She's not making this up. I was on the same TA and a friend insisted on walking me past the women's cabins so we could see the guard. (This was on the Eclipse. Reportedly, the women had taken all their clothes off one night and gone up and down the glass elevators in the atrium. I am assuming alcohol was involved. :rolleyes:)

[wedding96]

I would also like to know the answer to this as we have been on 2 Solstice class ships :)

 

Also, do all the cabins on Connie now have glass doors for the shower? Or do insides, for example, still have the curtain?

 

All cabins have the shower curtain. Didn't bother me. Actually prefer curtain cause I always bang my elbows into the metal parts that stick out on the doors and cut myself.

[KKB]

All cabins have the shower curtain. Didn't bother me. Actually prefer curtain cause I always bang my elbows into the metal parts that stick out on the doors and cut myself.

 

Aquaclass cabins have glass door, from what I understand (will let you know in a few weeks!)

[ILgirl]

Can confirm that deck 11 Aqua class cabins on the Connie and Summit do have glass shower doors.

[Br00klyn102]

On the Solstice we were able to book excursions, and order room service on the TV in addition to checking your balance etc. are you not able to do those things on the M class?

 

Loved the Solstice, and can't wait to be on the Constellation in May. From what I have heard some people even prefer the M class to the Solstice class.

 

Thank you for your insight!

[wedding96]

On the Solstice we were able to book excursions, and order room service on the TV in addition to checking your balance etc. are you not able to do those things on the M class?

 

Loved the Solstice, and can't wait to be on the Constellation in May. From what I have heard some people even prefer the M class to the Solstice class.

 

Thank you for your insight!

 

Yes-you can check your account balance on TV.

[chicagopaul]

On the Solstice we were able to book excursions, and order room service on the TV in addition to checking your balance etc. are you not able to do those things on the M class?

 

Loved the Solstice, and can't wait to be on the Constellation in May. From what I have heard some people even prefer the M class to the Solstice class.

 

Thank you for your insight!

 

There is the option to order room service on the TV on the Connie but it never worked for us. We were able to pull up the screen to do so but the screen never finished loading. We tried this on several nights and just ended up calling it in. I found room service to be very slow on the connie. Took at least 45 minutes even when we just ordered a shrimp cocktail! :o

[Lightngsvt]

So is that type of behavior more prevalent on the smaller ships / shorter cruises? We were on the Silhouette last year and there never seemed to be an empty bar but I never noticed any unruly behavior. Was thinking about a short Bermuda cruise later this year so Im curios now.

[emcee207]

She's not making this up. I was on the same TA and a friend insisted on walking me past the women's cabins so we could see the guard. (This was on the Eclipse. Reportedly, the women had taken all their clothes off one night and gone up and down the glass elevators in the atrium. I am assuming alcohol was involved. :rolleyes:)

 

Damn, and me without a camera................;)

[Sandy1975]

So is that type of behavior more prevalent on the smaller ships / shorter cruises? We were on the Silhouette last year and there never seemed to be an empty bar but I never noticed any unruly behavior. Was thinking about a short Bermuda cruise later this year so Im curios now.

 

 

I was on the Bermuda cruise last June and did not witness this type of behavior. The summit, which is also an M class ship, goes to Bermuda. At the promotion at the time was also the 123 package. I just think it really depends on the people going on the cruise.

I am going on a short 5 day cruise in March and I am looking forward to having a younger demographic (hopefully it will be non eventful)

[chloe812]

I was on this cruise as well, there was a large group of partiers onboard from the group Open Bar Cruise. We encountered them in several venues, not a very pleasant bunch to cruise with.

Edited February 20, 2014 by chloe812

[Lightngsvt]

I was on the Bermuda cruise last June and did not witness this type of behavior. The summit, which is also an M class ship, goes to Bermuda. At the promotion at the time was also the 123 package. I just think it really depends on the people going on the cruise.

I am going on a short 5 day cruise in March and I am looking forward to having a younger demographic (hopefully it will be non eventful)

 

My wife and I are in the in between demographic (40), I really have no issue hanging around with late 20-somethings or 50-somethings+. But we've reached an age where we have mellowed some and arent into the rowdy crap anymore, especially on a nice vacation like a cruise. We'll be on Reflection on 3/22 plus we were thinking of taking my 75 year old aunt the Bermuda cruise later this year.