Trying to get excited about Connie

[Cruise Junky]

I'm totally in love with the S class and I know if an S class was doing this itinerary I'd jump in it. But I'm just not excited about Connie. Nothing really wrong with her, but no excitement. Were currently booked on a Greek island cruise on Oceania and am debating an itinerary on Connie instead. Help me embrace an M class again!

[Duanerice1]

I'm with you. So spoiled with the S class. The thing the M class really has going for it is the T pool. That almost makes it worth it.

 

I wouldn't worry and personally would book the M class if the itinerary was right.

[Sloop-JohnB]

I'm with you. So spoiled with the S class. The thing the M class really has going for it is the T pool. That almost makes it worth it.

 

I wouldn't worry and personally would book the M class if the itinerary was right.

 

Agree with DUANERICE1 the T-Pools on the M-Class Ships are awesome.

 

And so are all those oversized Aft Balconies !!

 

Too bad the S-Ships did not copy these two features

 

Cheers!

Edited November 19, 2014 by Sloop-JohnB

[4774Papa]

We love the S class as well, but have done more cruises on M class.

M class ship design is not quite as modern as the S class, but the differences are not significant and there are fewer people onboard, which is nice.

 

We have done two on Connie and very much enjoyed the cruises.

[ghstudio]

I think your eye is on the wrong ball. IMHO, you should focus on the difference between Oceania and Celebrity which is much larger than between Celebrity's M and S class ships.

 

The shipboard experience is very different...the food is very different....and if cost was not a major issue, I'd pick Oceania every time.

 

As far as Celebrity, our last five cruises have been on M-Class ships...we pick cruises by itinerary or occasionally because of some irresistibly cheap offer. The S ships are newer, three of them have glass shows which I personally enjoy, they are larger so they have more night options, a better layout for the buffet (which we avoid on all ships), and a few other different options...but the same food, in fact the same menus. We are ambivalent to M vs S...you get the celebrity experience on both....the question, for us as I said, would be do I want the Celebrity or the Oceania experience.

[phoenix_dream]

So what is it about S class that provides the excitement M class does not have? Does bigger make it better? That is debatable. Is the design a little more flashy? Yes, but after sailing S a number of times I think I am past being wowed by that. Is it newer so in a little better shape? Probably, but I don't get excited (or not) about that either way as long as the ship is well-maintained. Is entertainment better on S? I haven't found it to be so. Are there more venues for partying? Perhaps a few, including the awful (IMHO, I know not shared by all) center atrium madness. There are a few more stores - not a big deal to most. The casino is a little bigger but not all that much. The solarium pool cannot touch the T-pool for pure bliss (although the area itself is a bit nicer). There are more specialty restaurants on S so if that is your thing that could make a difference. Does M have a lawn? No, but I have one in my own back-yard:).

 

Everyone has their own likes and dislikes but I guess for me personally there is a lot to like about M class, and many of us prefer it. But I also admit I cruise more for rest and relaxation than excitement. I know that is not the same for everyone

[ATLfuzzy]

I like Solstice class, but always miss the thalosotherapy pool. If you can get Connie at a good price/good itinerary, whats to lose? Good food, drink, comfy accomodations!

[stones902]

Just wanted to chime in as we are doing our first Celebrity Cruise in 15 years on the Connie next week (last time was the Galaxy). Normally we sail RCI but wanted to try something different this time and we loved the itinerary. I've been trying to do some homework about the ship.

 

We've done just about every RCI ship out there and based on what I can tell the Celebrity's "S" class seems similar to RCI's Freedom Class ships. The Connie on the other hand has a more classic, older design similar to RCI's Radiance Class.

 

Personally, I somewhat prefer the latter. It's personal taste but I like the smaller, more intimate ship.

[gsb]

Just wanted to chime in as we are doing our first Celebrity Cruise in 15 years on the Connie next week (last time was the Galaxy). Normally we sail RCI but wanted to try something different this time and we loved the itinerary. I've been trying to do some homework about the ship.

 

We've done just about every RCI ship out there and based on what I can tell the Celebrity's "S" class seems similar to RCI's Freedom Class ships. The Connie on the other hand has a more classic, older design similar to RCI's Radiance Class.

 

Personally, I somewhat prefer the latter. It's personal taste but I like the smaller, more intimate ship.

 

If you've been on the Oasis and Allure, yes, there will be a HUGE difference when you board the Connie.

 

It's hard for me to go back to the "more intimate " ships after the big RCL's and the S class Celebrities.:cool:

[Gracie115]

Just wanted to chime in as we are doing our first Celebrity Cruise in 15 years on the Connie next week (last time was the Galaxy). Normally we sail RCI but wanted to try something different this time and we loved the itinerary. I've been trying to do some homework about the ship.

 

We've done just about every RCI ship out there and based on what I can tell the Celebrity's "S" class seems similar to RCI's Freedom Class ships. The Connie on the other hand has a more classic, older design similar to RCI's Radiance Class.

 

Personally, I somewhat prefer the latter. It's personal taste but I like the smaller, more intimate ship.

 

Agree with your comparison on M Class and Radiance but not with Freedom & "S" class.....really no comparison to Royal's ship as compared to "S" class...but if I had to I'd equate it more to the Voyager class.....much closer in size to "S" class than Freedom....just my opinion of course.....

[stones902]

Agree with your comparison on M Class and Radiance but not with Freedom & "S" class.....really no comparison to Royal's ship as compared to "S" class...but if I had to I'd equate it more to the Voyager class.....much closer in size to "S" class than Freedom....just my opinion of course.....

 

I agree that might be a more valid comparison. Certainly the Celebrity's S class is nothing like RCI's Oasis or Allure. I was struck by how much photos of the Constellation looked like RCI's Serenade (a Radiance Class). They looked extremely similar in design - at least the interior.

 

Speaking of those ships we are in the minority but we didn't care for the Oasis when we sailed her. It's great for families but really didn't suit us for many reasons.

[fortinweb]

.....It's hard for me to go back to the "more intimate " ships.....

 

,,,, I like the smaller, more intimate ship.

 

I have been on both M and S class several times. I do not find either "more intimate" than the other. You are still sharing a ship with 2,000 or more passengers, which I hardly consider "intimate". I do think that the S-class feels less crowded because of the larger square footage and the excellent crowd control design and more open feel to many of it's public areas.

 

I was struck by how much photos of the Constellation looked like RCI's Serenade (a Radiance Class). They looked extremely similar in design - at least the interior.

 

Both M and Radiance classes were built on the same hull platform, which is in large part the reason for the similarities.

Edited November 19, 2014 by fortinweb

[stones902]

I have been on both M and S class several times. I do not find either "more intimate" than the other. You are still sharing a ship with 2,000 or more passengers, which I hardly consider "intimate". I do think that the S-class feels less crowded because of the larger square footage and the excellent crowd control design and more open feel to many of it's public areas.

 

 

 

Both M and Radiance classes were built on the same hull platform, which is in large part the reason for the similarities.

 

I suppose what I meant by intimate was less passengers. According to what I have read the M class accommodates around 2,000 whereas the larger M class accommodates 2,850 pax. Without having been on the S class I have no feel for the feel of the ship.

 

My biggest beef with the huge Oasis & Allure was mainly we never really felt much of a connection with the staff on board. They did a great job but having to serve so many people on a daily basis made it impossible for them to personalize the service as we have seen on other ships. Also those ships had many amenities that obviously catered to families with children that really had no appeal to us. That being said the Oasis & Allure were both marvels in engineering.

 

BTW, among my cruise friends I am in the minority opinion when it comes to the Oasis & Allure.

[s1amblue]

I'm totally in love with the S class and I know if an S class was doing this itinerary I'd jump in it. But I'm just not excited about Connie. Nothing really wrong with her, but no excitement. Were currently booked on a Greek island cruise on Oceania and am debating an itinerary on Connie instead. Help me embrace an M class again!

 

 

We were hooked on Oceania too but after 10 cruises we decided to try Celeb S class - decided on O vs S class, O was a 10, S was an 8.5, price was a 10 on O and a 4.5 (higher number = higher $$$) for us, no brainer. We can cruise at least twice as often (if not 3 or 4 times) with Celebrity! That said, we had only been on S ships until we did the Century to Alaska in September, we had steeled ourselves to be disappointed - not so! Ship actually reminded me more of Nautica (& her sisters) than anything else! We are going to be on Connie in February - 1st time - looking forward to having another comparison... For us Celebrity is an obvious choice, I have more time than $$ and love to cruise....

[Cruise Junky]

Our scenario is a little different as it will be about $1800 more (total) to sail Connie. But big difference in trips. Connie is a 12 day cruise and will be a balcony + 123 but Oceania will be a 7 day cruise + 3 days in Santorini in an Inside cabin.

 

I think I'm going to put a deposit down in Connie. I have a long time to make up my mind. And thanks for the reminder about the TPool. The Solarium on Solstice was a big selling point for us.

 

 

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Edited November 19, 2014 by Cruise Junky

[cruzeluver]

Love both S and M class ships. In addition to the T-pools on M class which are fabulous, the M class standard cabins have better storage.

[RickT]

After a number of S-Class cruises I returned to the Connie this past summer for a Baltic cruise.

 

While the M-Class don't have all the bells/whistles of the S-Class it was still a great experience and reminded me how much I liked the M-Class when I didn't have the S-Class to compare it to.

 

I'd sail the Connie again tomorrow and may in fact be looking at the same Greek Isles cruise (July 2015) that you are. Factor in it's a european cruise and some of the things you get on an S-Class ship won't even be missed.

[Cruise Junky]

Thanks everyone. I did make a deposit and got 6030 the first of the sweet sixteen. It is a fabulous itinerary

 

I was also very happy to read she has some of the Solstice bells and whistles now such as Bistro on 5 and Tuscan Grille

 

 

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[DebbieMacG]

I did the Infinity after six S class cruises and was a bit worried. My husband and I LOVED the ship, now if I had to choose I wouldn't hesitate :)

[ghstudio]

Thanks everyone. I did make a deposit and got 6030 the first of the sweet sixteen. It is a fabulous itinerary

 

I was also very happy to read she has some of the Solstice bells and whistles now such as Bistro on 5 and Tuscan Grille

 

 

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Great cabin choice and now look forward to a wonderful cruise....and take everything you read here (or elsewhere on the internet) with a grain of salt...that is, everyone sees things differently and you will always hear more about the negatives than the positives. The M-class ships are excellent and Celebrity really does an excellent job on the ship.

 

The only choice you should make now is how you want to do dinner. That's been covered in so many threads, I hope you've figured out the best choice for you.

 

Please join the roll call for your cruise to meet others prior to the cruise and perhaps to share smaller shore excursions than those offered by Celebrity.

Edited November 19, 2014 by ghstudio

[s1amblue]

Just got off the Connie - LOVED it! Would travel M class ships every time if I could! Amazing ship, the T pool was amazing & had all the bells & whistles we needed. The shows were great too! I was amazed! Sherri

 

 

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