Live from Constellation January 13-23, 2023

[RichYak]

13 minutes ago, chamima said:

It almost looks like they decided to enhance the Spa Cafe in response to cutbacks in the buffet.

I don't believe the Spa Cafe is open during dinner hours.

[CTSandy]

Away in New Orleans for a long weekend and just catching this great  review today.  Read all the comments this evening - the evening buffet is pretty sad looking; I don’t have dinner there often, but used to do a dinner there once or twice on a cruise especially if I don’t like MDR options.  Like the author, I often cruise solo and enjoy it - plenty of people around if you feel like being social, and the freedom to do exactly what you want the rest of the time.  Thank you for the wonderful pics and answers to all the questions!

[cruisemom42]

 

 

Today:  Cute tourist pic

 

Tomorrow:  Celebrity's new cost-saving proteins

[weregoingcruising]

8 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

 

Today:  Cute tourist pic

 

Tomorrow:  Celebrity's new cost-saving proteins

Which one or both?

[cgolf1]

19 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

 

 

Those chairs were great. It was funny though that last Feb, with under 600 people onboard we could only use these at night. Chair right next to the pool anytime of the day no problem, these chairs were saved by 6:30 or 7 in the morning by the same people each day.

 

Really enjoying your trip report.

[hoogedae]

Thanks for the wonderful trip report! It's gotten me all the more excited for our trip on Feb. 3!

 

If you are able, I'd appreicate it if you could check on the availability of a vegetarian menu in the MDR. It's our first cruise on Celebrity and DH's first ever cruise. I was told by friends that Celebrity had an additional menu for vegetarians available. With the recent cuts, I'd like to be sure. The customer service agent I spoke with said only that, "vegetarian options are available." From the menus I'm seeing on the app, sometimes there is only one vegetarian option available. 

 

Thank you!

[cluso]

9 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

 

Today:  Cute tourist pic

 

Tomorrow:  Celebrity's new cost-saving proteins

I actually have eaten iguana.  A friend in Honduras made it in a light coconut sauce.  Tasted like chicken.  😁 

[BermudaBound2014]

12 hours ago, chamima said:

It almost looks like they decided to enhance the Spa Cafe in response to cutbacks in the buffet.

We are vegan/veterinarian (him/me) and the spa cafe offerings look wonderful!!!

The aqua spa looks about the same to me, but I could be wrong and there might be additions. The problem with the aqua spa is their hours. They are open 7-10 for breakfast and 12-2 for lunch. No dinner hours. Assuming that they have a kitchen, Celebrity could make more use of this venue.

 

12 hours ago, 1mtgirl said:

Do you know if X has a premium coffee pkg? we sail with Princess a lot and they have one.  I don't drink  much but love my coffee.

 

Not that I am aware of, but keep your eyes peeled because it would not surprise me if it’s coming. In my experience, Cafe’ el Bacio is one of the best, if not THE best, coffee cafe’s at sea. Both the coffee and service are excellent. Unfortunately, the pastries are hit or miss but the hours are great (6 am until midnight). I hate to say this out loud but it would not surprise me to see the coffee teased out of the drink package and a new package created just for it. Other lines do it this way and it would be a revenue generator for X. It’s that good I think people would pay additionally. 
 

Current situation- cafe mocha and a chocolate croissant. Breakfast of champions 🙂

Edited January 18, 2023 by BermudaBound2014

[chamima]

6 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

The aqua spa looks about the same to me, but I could be wrong and there might be additions. The problem with the aqua spa is their hours. They are open 7-10 for breakfast and 12-2 for lunch. No dinner hours. Assuming that they have a kitchen, Celebrity could make more use of this venue.

 

 

Not that I am aware of, but keep your eyes peeled because it would not surprise me if it’s coming. In my experience, Cafe’ el Bacio is one of the best, if not THE best, coffee cafe’s at sea. Both the coffee and service are excellent. Unfortunately, the pastries are hit or miss but the hours are great (6 am until midnight). I hate to say this out loud but it would not surprise me to see the coffee teased out of the drink package and a new package created just for it. Other lines do it this way and it would be a revenue generator for X. It’s that good I think people would pay additionally. 
 

Current situation- cafe mocha and a chocolate croissant. Breakfast of champions 🙂

 

 

 

LOVE your breakfast choices!

 

Princess includes the coffees in their drink packages.

 

[BermudaBound2014]

55 minutes ago, cgolf1 said:

 

Those chairs were great. It was funny though that last Feb, with under 600 people onboard we could only use these at night. Chair right next to the pool anytime of the day no problem, these chairs were saved by 6:30 or 7 in the morning by the same people each day.

 

Really enjoying your trip report.

There has been zero saving of the comfy two person loungers. I got that one at 11 am yesterday. People have been great about giving it up when they leave too. What a pleasant surprise. Gives me hole for humanity 🙂

 

@cruisemom42 Your posts are typically always so classy and PC.  Nice to see your zesty side. 

@hoogedaeill be sure check on the vegetarian menu. DH is a pescatarian so he will often select vegetarian.
 

 

 

 

[BermudaBound2014]

Just now, chamima said:

 

 

LOVE your breakfast choices!

 

Princess includes the coffees in their drink packages.

 

Last time I sailed Princess they also offered an additional coffee package. At one point it was a punch card. NCL does not include any coffees in any of their packages :(. 

[BermudaBound2014]

Let’s get this out of the way….. if you enjoy dinner in the OVc you should give careful consideration before selecting Celebrity.

Celebrity pumped it up a bit for our late night in San Juan, but last night was back to bare bones. No carving station. Only fresh made to order was pasta (again). Second night in a row I had a Caesar salad and a pita wrap for dinner. The pita itself was gross but the veggies and tzatziki sauce were yummy. I know it’s a buffet but I rarely choose food from heating trays.

 

 

Every single station. It was French Night. Where’s the ohhhh-laaa-laaa?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 18, 2023 by BermudaBound2014

[bkj]

Hi, 

Im loving reading your posts. 

If you get the chance, could you ask if the children’s menu is still available in the MDR please ?

We are due to sail with our 8 year old, on our first Celebrity cruise on Infinity in May  and I’m seriously considering whether to cancel. As you said no one will starve, but I’d rather he not eat pizza at every meal 😆

[BermudaBound2014]

1 hour ago, bkj said:

Hi, 

Im loving reading your posts. 

If you get the chance, could you ask if the children’s menu is still available in the MDR please ?

We are due to sail with our 8 year old, on our first Celebrity cruise on Infinity in May  and I’m seriously considering whether to cancel. As you said no one will starve, but I’d rather he not eat pizza at every meal 😆

I will positively ask about a kids menu for you!! I think you are being wise doing your research and considering all options. 
 

 

[BermudaBound2014]

Catching up from last night-
 

It was a pretty chill evening. We departed St Maartin at 7:00 pm so there was lots of deck activity. I did laps until my Fitbit registered 7 miles. I love connie, but her track is small. Makes for some laughs since you pass seated guests quickly and often. At one point I had a little cheering squad. I love the passengers on these little gals. 
 

After sail sway I went for dinner in ocean view cafe. I was still sporting my running (aka walking quickly) attire and didn’t want to change clothes. As mentioned above, choices were very limited again and I settled with another ceasar salad. If I didn’t have the drink package I’d be losing weight, but alas I think it’s all balancing out.

 

From dinner I went to the rooftop to watch a movie. “Chance Encounters”. It was cute. I don’t watch TV or movies at home so on a cruise it’s a nice treat. Only thing missing is bar services up there. I asked for a double before staking my claim in one of the comfy double loungers and that drink made it through the 1.5 hour movie. A longer movie would be challenging since I am absolutely spoiled rotten by the bar service. Seriously, I have NEVER had better bar service. There is someone practically waiting to take a drink order anywhere on the ship (besides the rooftop terrace). 
 

I had two interesting phone calls/messages yesterday. The first was from someone from the dining room asking why I had only taken dinner there once. I explained that the menu was not particularly appealing but also explained my disappointment with the ocean view cafe offerings. I got the feeling it wasn’t her first rodeo with ovc complaints. Regardless she was pleasant and encouraged me to go to the MDR more often. We shall see. Tonight’s menu isn’t terrible. 
 

Second was a message inviting me to use any of my obc to book a future cruise. I still have $100 but I don’t think I’m going to give it to Celebrity. I want to keep my options open. Things are very much in flux across the industry. 
 

I did a quick run through the buffet on my way back to the room. At 9:37 there was only pizza. I think late night starts at 10 with more options. I’ll double check at some point and post photos.

 

From there I binge watched 4 episodes of Brigerton on my balcony. The premium package works great. We spent the entire evening off the short of st kitts with 3 other vessels so there was almost always land or other ships to look at to make it intersting.

 

Today is a gorgeous weather day in St Kitts. Been here before several times so I’m staying on board and enjoying an empty pool and my own private cabana boy. Life doesn’t suck. 
 

Snagged this double lounger at 11 am. Another was also available. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tonight’s dinner menu 

 

 

Last night in st Maarten 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I zoomed in on Ifly off the back of Anthem. That’s a great time if you ever get the chance!!

 

 

bye bye…

Edited January 18, 2023 by BermudaBound2014

[BermudaBound2014]

Deleted- duplicate 

Edited January 18, 2023 by BermudaBound2014

[Otterman34]

20 hours ago, supersecdd said:

Does anyone know when the Constellation will be refurbished?

Per the Celebrity Cruises Fleet Guide.....April 2024 for its "Next Renovation".

[wolfde53]

6 hours ago, cluso said:

I actually have eaten iguana.  A friend in Honduras made it in a light coconut sauce.  Tasted like chicken.  😁 

I had iguana soup on a tour of one of the ABC islands. I'm sure the cook thought it was funny to throw in bones, gristle, and skin for the tourist's reactions, but I didn't flinch.  As a child of the 50's growing up in Florida, I've eaten plenty of gator and turtle - not much difference. 😋

[mpdog42]

5 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

Let’s get this out of the way….. if you enjoy dinner in the OVc you should give careful consideration before selecting Celebrity.

Celebrity pumped it up a bit for our late night in San Juan, but last night was back to bare bones. No carving station. Only fresh made to order was pasta (again). Second night in a row I had a Caesar salad and a pita wrap for dinner. The pita itself was gross but the veggies and tzatziki sauce were yummy. I know it’s a buffet but I rarely choose food from heating trays.

 

 

Every single station. It was French Night. Where’s the ohhhh-laaa-laaa?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are this pictures from "Mutiny on the Bounty".??...😁

[natshala]

I love your reports! I think it’s cool that X noticed you weren’t eating in the MDR and asked you why not. Someone there cares.

 

so, did you eat in the MDR from the menu you posted? If so, how was it?

 

Thanks again. I know a lot of people are enjoying your objective reports. 

[bikerunner]

When I was on the Connie right after start up, my friend who is a vegetarian was able to get the separate vegetarian menu, you need to ask for it, not readily given.  Honestly I ordered off the vegetarian menu and many nights had either an entree or starter from the vegetarian menu.  The menus were very good.  

[natshala]

4 minutes ago, bikerunner said:

When I was on the Connie right after start up, my friend who is a vegetarian was able to get the separate vegetarian menu, you need to ask for it, not readily given.  Honestly I ordered off the vegetarian menu and many nights had either an entree or starter from the vegetarian menu.  The menus were very good.  

They are showing up on my app for my 2/11 cruise. They do really look good! One day shows my beloved crème brûlée! (Not veg for sure). 
 

The menus in general look quite good. 

[BermudaBound2014]

1 hour ago, natshala said:

so, did you eat in the MDR from the menu you posted? If so, how was it?

 

Thanks again. I know a lot of people are enjoying your objective reports. 

Thank you for the lovely compliment 🙂. 
 

I have posted 5 sets of menus thus far (we are on day 5). If you are asking about the menus in post #216 it’s not dinner time yet 😂

Edited January 18, 2023 by BermudaBound2014

[BermudaBound2014]

1 hour ago, natshala said:

They are showing up on my app for my 2/11 cruise. They do really look good! One day shows my beloved crème brûlée! (Not veg for sure). 
 

The menus in general look quite good. 

Ok girl- spill it. Where are you finding the vegetarian menus in app? I’m usually pretty good at digging for info and all I see is the regular menu with one vegetarian option each night. 
 

Side note, my menus changed 2 days prior to departure. The room service charge didn’t even change until embarkation. Are the menus In your app matching  the menus I’m posting? So far, the dining room Menus and the app once onboard have matched but the menus from the app or online prior to 1/11/23 (we embarked 1/13/23) are distant memory. 

Edited January 18, 2023 by BermudaBound2014

[natshala]

1 hour ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

Ok girl- spill it. Where are you finding the vegetarian menus in app? I’m usually pretty good at digging for info and all I see is the regular menu with one vegetarian option each night. 
 

Side note, my menus changed 2 days prior to departure. The room service charge didn’t even change until embarkation. Are the menus In your app matching  the menus I’m posting? So far, the dining room Menus and the app once onboard have matched but the menus from the app or online prior to 1/11/23 (we embarked 1/13/23) are distant memory. 

Ok. I’m seeing veg menus on my app immediately following Kids Desserts. Like, where else would they be?.🙄 it begins with Vegetarian Starters, then Vegetarian Soups & Salads, Veg Entrees, then all desserts—classics and signatures, then coffees followed by wines. I am not able to post it. Maybe my app is really screwy.  FWIW, they look good to this almost-vegetarian.