Recently Returned from Conny Transatlantic

[Marge Barge]

I just recently returned from the Trans-atlantic on the beautiful Constellation. I met several people who told me about these boards and I wish I knew about them before the trip. My husband and I chose this trip because of Celebrity's reputation and the fact that we love new ships. The lobby is incredible and the food was out of this world. The only negative experience (if you want to call it negative) was the interaction with a few of the crew, which I will talk about later. I have been told that Celebrity's shows leave something to be desired but found these to be above average. I didn't attend every night because I was winning in the casino but did enjoy the majority of the entertainment. One of the staff told me that they booked the best headliners in the company for this cruise because they wanted to impress some of the VIPs onboard. I never found out who these people were but they must have been important (or maybe felt important). The staff were nice overall but the only negative experience I had all cruise was with the Cruise Director. In person he was not very approachable and onstage he was very unpolished. I know from previous cruises on Celebrity the Cruise Director has always been a administrative position but always had a personality. This one, however, was the pits. He was so bad I can't even remember his name. I think it was Thomas or Mike or something. He was quite invisible during the day and we only saw him onstage at night. Anyway, I asked repeatedly at the front desk to speak to him to ask for a tour of the hospital (since I'm a nurse) but never received a note or call back. I know he's busy but I thought his #1 priority was the guests. Maybe he never got the message. I'll never know. Besides that, the cruise was a wonderful experience. I can't wait for the next one. If you have any questions about the cruise, let me know. Happy Sailings!

[wesp]

I was jet lag coming home after a week or so at sea? And did you have any problems with "23 hr" days on the cruise?

 

Wesley

 

 

 

Galaxy April 2002

Norway August 2001

Independence April 1999

Delta Queen April 1996

[Joe_Antonelli]

Thanks for the review! We're long time Princess Cruise Line cruisers that are "switching" over to Celebrity because of scheduling and just the fact we want to try something different and Celebrity seems to get rave reviews. We'll be on the 9 night holiday sailing on the Constellation - I'll keep my fingers crossed we have a different cruise director than the one you had. While the cruise director is hardly going to make or break our cruise, it's nice to have one with some personality!

[bremmerh]

Did you eat in the specialty restuarant at all or talk to anyone that did? We will be sailing on her in December and are trying to decide if it is worth it or not. If you did eat in there could you tell us what you had. Also, in the main dining room what size table did you have? If there is anything else that you think would make our cruise more enjoyable please share.

[CRZINSIDER]

Marge,

Great feedback. We would have to say that we agree with you as far as the Cruise Director. We too were on the cruise (our 14th) and I must say that he was the worst Cruise Director that we had ever seen. Michael Thomas was his name, and a staff member informed us that he was let go by Crystal a few years ago. Too bad for Celebrity, perhaps he should go back to Crystal or better yet Carnival. The Guest Entertainers were fantastic, as soon as they ended their show we would leave the theater so we would not have to hear Michael, and his bland post show memorial. We will be sailing on Celebrity again in the near future but if Michael Thomas is an indication of the direction Celebrity is going, perhaps we will go elsewhere. Perhaps Mr. Thomas should be given some tools to work with, to perfect his skills as a Cruise Director. However his tool box would probably not fit on the ship as he would need too many tools ! I am glad we were not the only ones who felt this way. My husband and I felt that the Assistant Cruise Director did a far better job and was much more visable and social with the passengers. Better luck next time, I guess we know why Crystal let him go !

[Marge Barge]

Sorry I have been away for so long. Long days spent in the OR drain the life out of you. I need another vacation.

 

Joe: I would highly recommend Celebrity. Chances are you won't have to deal with the Cruise Director we had. Amateurism is not something Celebrity is known for. CRZINSIDER nailed it on the head when she said you're only as good as the tools given to you.

 

Wed: I didn't have the opportunity to eat in the Speciality restaurant this cruise. I have in the past on other lines and have always enjoyed the experience. Celebrity = Great Food.

 

CRZ: I wish I had the opportunity to meet you on the cruise. You probably saw me leave the Late Seating show at the conclusion of the show before the CD lectured. As the cruise went on I started wearing the elastic waist bands. I gained a record 7 pounds this cruise. I started back to the gym with my travel agent this week. Believe it or not, she had the same Cruise Director several years ago on another line. She recognized the name and description. Cruise news travels fast. She was surprised that he was still working on ships. She had heard that he took an office job with another line. Maybe that didn't pan out either. All in all as my last posting stated, I had a great time and nothing or no one is going to change it.

 

Marge

[mimi2]

Eric Bohaus (?spelling) is cruise director on the Constellation as of 5/22 and is fabulous. He is handsome, talanted, and as charming as can be. The entertainment on our Baltic cruise was as good as it gets and Eric was part of the shows. He has appeared on Broadway and is quite the pro.

[toni1266]

Who is the captain now?

 

Toni

[theawesome1]

Hello Marge. Thank you for this review on the horrid CD. I have passed your comments onto Jack at RCCL/Celebrity. I do not want him on our 9/7 Transatlantic. We have over 170 folks aboard so he isn't going to like dealing with one of us if not all of us. OVERBOARD!

 

 

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by CRZINSIDER:

Marge,

Great feedback. We would have to say that we agree with you as far as the Cruise Director. We too were on the cruise (our 14th) and I must say that he was the worst Cruise Director that we had ever seen. Michael Thomas was his name, and a staff member informed us that he was let go by Crystal a few years ago. Too bad for Celebrity, perhaps he should go back to Crystal or better yet Carnival. The Guest Entertainers were fantastic, as soon as they ended their show we would leave the theater so we would not have to hear Michael, and his bland post show memorial. We will be sailing on Celebrity again in the near future but if Michael Thomas is an indication of the direction Celebrity is going, perhaps we will go elsewhere. Perhaps Mr. Thomas should be given some tools to work with, to perfect his skills as a Cruise Director. However his tool box would probably not fit on the ship as he would need too many tools ! I am glad we were not the only ones who felt this way. My husband and I felt that the Assistant Cruise Director did a far better job and was much more visable and social with the passengers. Better luck next time, I guess we know why Crystal let him go !<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

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

[stephy1]

We ate in the Specialty restaurant on the Constellation in December. It was very good, and to me worth every penny.

 

Stephanie

 

1986 Southward, NCL;1987 Holiday, Carnival;1988 Seaward, NCL; 1989 SS Norway, NCL;1990 Starward, NCL;1991 Skyward, NCL;1993 & 1994 Viking Serande, RCL; 1996 & 1997 Westerdam, HAL;1998 Noordam, HAL;1999 Veendam, HAL; 2000 Galaxy, Celebrity; 2001 Ryndam, HAL; 2001 Horizon, Celebrity;2002 Zaandam, HAL;2002 Horizon, Celebrity;2003 Constellation, Celebrity;2004 Mercury, Celebrity

[CRZINSIDER]

To: theawesome1 : So who is Jack at Celebrity/RCCI ? I hope it is someone important as the company should know. One other note I wanted to pass on is how great the Social Hostess, Anneli was. She is a great representative of the company and thank goodness she is on the ships ! Anneli was always around and always helpful. Please pass this on as well, if it is to someone important.

[theawesome1]

FYI: Jack is Jack Williams, COO/President of RCCL/Celebrity. I have befriended him & his Executive Maria Victoria DeLucca. He was reading my Las Vegas Gossip & found it quite fascinating to receive an email from me applauding his air dept. Then he left me a voicemail, I could have fainted & I returned his call getting Victoria instead as he was out doing a marathon, and we became great friends discussing her birthplace Venice Italy.

 

So I told Jack & Victoria that if I hear anything extremely "Carnival" towards Celebrity I would pass it on. And your note did it to me & them. Yes, he was reeaved of his duties right after you disembarked. I guess you were not alone with his lack of attention to those who pay.

 

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

[excitedofharpenden]

theawesome1

 

It is great that you have 'befriended' Jack Williams and am sure you can provide him with some useful information. However, and this is not meant as a flame, I do not think it is good to write him an e-mail about an employee of which you have had no first hand experience, especially when the results could be so damaging to an individual. The passengers on this cruise obviously voted with their feet (or pens!), but they are the ones to provide their feedback, both good and bad. This provides a balanced and fairer view. Just my opinion.

 

Let's hope the next Connie CD is better.

 

Phil

 

Mercury Western Caribbean November 2002

Galaxy Eastern Caribbean November 2003

 

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Until Galaxy Panama Canal Out Of Galveston

13th November 2004

 

 

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[This message was edited by excitedofharpenden on 06-13-04 at 03:56 AM.]