Just returned from 2/2/15 Connie 5-day

[Mrs_Tiki]

I will try to write a more detailed review later, but here are some brief impressions:

 

This was the first time that we had sailed on one of the Solsticized M-class ships, and I think we have a new favorite class. Seemed like the best of both worlds, with the new amenities combined with the more intimate smaller ships.

 

Captain Tasos is as personable as others have reported, and his attitude seems to create an atmosphere that leads to a happy, friendly crew.

 

Our AQ Deck 11 aft balcony cabin (1140 with the gigantic balcony) was comfortable and quiet.

 

Blu was a lovely dining experience. Although we did notice a slight decline in food quality and presentation, the great service more than made up for it. We did not notice suite guests being seated ahead of AQ guests. We did have to wait about 30 minutes one evening, but had arrived at peak time.

 

Chair hogs were out early and in force, but we were always able to find a place to sit away from the main pool area.

 

Agree with others that bar service seems to have been affected by the free drink package promotion. We only saw a few bar waiters serving the pool areas, and you had to be patient to wait your turn at the bar. We especially enjoyed visiting Boris at Cellarmasters. Even though we upgraded to the premium package, very few of those wines were fully covered, which may have kept crowds away.

 

Since we visited Cozumel first, we had to go through Immigration inspection in Key West. It was a very long, but fast-moving line, took us 25 minutes from start to finish.

 

It seemed like half of the ship chose to do Walk-Off Embarkation, causing a big bottle-neck at Customs. We were in the first group after Walk-Off, and it took 30 minutes from the time we crossed the gangway until getting in a cab.

 

Formal night was day 2 on our cruise.

 

If anyone has specific questions, I will try to answer. (I do not have dailies or menus, sorry.)

 

 

 

 

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[wallysdtr]

We were on the Connie for a 5 day last March. Loved Blu and JP was our waiter who made it even better. Can you tell me if he is still on the Connie?

[Mrs_Tiki]

Wallysdtr,

 

I do not remember seeing a waiter named JP, but he certainly might still be there. We usually had John Michael or Miller.

 

 

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[miched]

Did you have full loungers or footstools on the balcony?

 

How was the area of view when sitting out there? We have that cabin booked on the Summit and was wondering if you can see more than the wake when sitting as we will be cruising on the St Lawrence in the Fall

 

thanks.

 

happy crusing 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌞

[Cruiser Bruiser]

I just booked this itinerary for March 2016. I'm guessing since you said this is your favorite new ship that you had a good time? Did you you enjoy the entertainment, and how would you characterize it? How was the solarium? Thanks for any answers. :-)

[Host Anne]

Mrs. Tiki ~ so totally agree with you about Capt Tasos and the crew on Constellation! That was our experience last month as well. Sorry we keep missing you on cruises....we'll have to "plan" better in the future. ;)

 

Glad you enjoyed Constellation! Great ship!

[luv2sail7]

Were you able to attend any comedy shows? Any late night / adult only shows offered and do you remember what day or time it was at? Thanks for the review!

[Mrs_Tiki]

Did you have full loungers or footstools on the balcony?

 

How was the area of view when sitting out there? We have that cabin booked on the Summit and was wondering if you can see more than the wake when sitting as we will be cruising on the St Lawrence in the Fall

 

thanks.

 

happy crusing

 

Sorry for the delay in replying to your question, have been covered up with laundry and emails!

 

We had two of the reclining chairs, one footstool, two small low side tables and one larger table at dining height. No full loungers. We asked our cabin steward if she could bring another footstool and were told that it was "not possible."

 

As much as we enjoyed having the large balcony that gave us the choice of sun/view or shade/privacy, it did have a bit of a "tunnel vision" feel, unless you were standing at the rail. Better options for viewing scenery would be 1138 or 1141, IMHO, since their rails are at a slant.

 

Happy Sailing to you too!

[Mrs_Tiki]

I just booked this itinerary for March 2016. I'm guessing since you said this is your favorite new ship that you had a good time? Did you you enjoy the entertainment, and how would you characterize it? How was the solarium? Thanks for any answers. :-)

 

We had a great time, sorry if that did not come through in my comments! :)

 

We are usually not big on entertainment, but partook in more this trip than usual. We enjoyed the "special guest entertainers," although I can't remember their names. Both were musical ~ one was a man who could play all genres of music with impressive impressions of various artists, the other was a female vocalist. Our favorite was Rebecca Amaral, who played mellow guitar music (like Van Morrison, James Taylor), usually at the bar on Deck 10 Aft (Sunset/Oceanview?) and Café al Bacio.

 

We were never in the right place at the right time to hear Gran Volta (string trio, I think) perform. Pool music was provided by The Shenanigans, a female duo who played R&B/Rock. I loved their music, but the volume was too loud for us. In the late evenings a DJ provided a club vibe at the Martini Bar/Crush. Not to everyone's taste, but even though we are older (50-ish), we thought it was fun.

 

We don't enjoy the production shows, so didn't attend those.

 

We also enjoyed some of the "Celebrity Life" activities: Capt. Tasos gave a lecture on the construction of the Solstice (he was Chief Safety Officer for that ship at the time), the Executive Chef hosted a "Top Chef" cooking challenge, and Capt. Tasos, Cruise Director Alejandro and Activities Manager Sarah were very entertaining in the Liars Club Game.

 

Solarium was great, love the Thallassotherapy pools on M-class ships. For the most part, it was a very quiet, spa-like retreat from the crowded pool deck. (However, it was packed on the sea day that it rained all day.) That day, a large group commandeered the Aqua Spa Café tables and began playing some sort of dice game. With each roll, they whooped and hollered, until a staff member asked them respect the quiet atmosphere of the Solarium. I was very impressed that they obliged by substituting hand motions for verbal reactions. Not so impressed to see a family completely disregard the same staff member's request for them to remove their small child from the T-pool.

 

Hope this helps. Sorry that you have to wait a whole year until your cruise!

[Mrs_Tiki]

Mrs. Tiki ~ so totally agree with you about Capt Tasos and the crew on Constellation! That was our experience last month as well. Sorry we keep missing you on cruises....we'll have to "plan" better in the future. ;)

 

Glad you enjoyed Constellation! Great ship!

 

Hi Anne, our schedule will become much less complicated once we are finished trying to follow DD's college swimming. She swims in her last conference championship this weekend. :(

 

Don't give up on us, hopefully we can join you soon!

[Mrs_Tiki]

Were you able to attend any comedy shows? Any late night / adult only shows offered and do you remember what day or time it was at? Thanks for the review!

 

Sorry, we usually turn in pretty early, so I don't even remember if late-night comedy shows were on the schedule. :(

[mac66]

My wife and I were on the same cruise. We went to all the shows and thought they were good. The comedian was very funny but there was no late adult show.

 

Very few kids on this cruise, probably not more than a dozen on the whole ship if even that many. They did eventually run the kid out of the solarium.

 

The guest entertainers was a comedian on night one. David Mayer a xlosynth player who was very energetic on night 3 with the female singer (Jayne something) on night 5. Production shows were on nights 2 & 4. The comedian was hilarious but I can't remember his name.