Live from Constellation January 13-23, 2023

[hcat]

1 hour ago, natshala said:

Is that jello and canned fruit?

i thought the same!

[BermudaBound2014]

Today was another awesome day onboard Connie. I can’t say this enough but the staff is exceptional!! To me, great friendly service goes a long long way. I’d rather be sailing on an old gal like Connie with this crew verses any brand new ship with crew less friendly or competent. There is nothing they won’t do for you!! The people onboard are great too. I feel like I’ve made some life long friends. 

I had a made to order breakfast and roasted pork from the carving station for lunch so I skipped dinner again. Had a huge plate of watermelon for dessert. The fresh fruit has been amazing. Not to mention, I’m drinking my calories. I really am quite content with the food, but I do not cruise to eat. DH would be on the struggle bus, or struggle ship as it maybe. 
 

St Thomas day. Normally I head over to St. John for snorkeling but by this time next week I’ll be snorkeling in Hawaii so I’m just laying low with shore excursions. I did get off the boat and hung out at the Marina for a change of scenery. 
 

Crown Bay is no Havensite, but people were buying stuff in droves. 
 

The evening entertainment wasn’t my cup of tea and the late movie is Thor something which I’m not into. I played a bit in the casino but decided to give my liver a night off. I’m  currently in my comfy pjs relaxing on the balcony listening to the sounds of the waves against the bow. It’s just perfect out here.

 

Oh, that reminds me. Didn’t exactly give my liver the entire night off. Went to the martini bar. You can no longer get the baby martinis on the select package because they don’t have the baby glasses. The bartender said I could get one at any of the other bars. I’ve been played before so I immediately went to the wine cellar bar and ordered a lemon drop martini. Much to my surprise it was no problem at all, and the baby glass was super cute!

 

Some photos from today

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 20, 2023 by BermudaBound2014

[natshala]

Your photos are beautiful!

[BermudaBound2014]

Tonight’s dinner buffet in its entirety (except I forgot to walk to the back to snap pizza, but I’m sure they had it since pizza and pasta are constants). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 20, 2023 by BermudaBound2014

[MoodyCruiser44]

We are doing Connie next week.   Absolutely loved your posts.  Such a disappointment hearing about the cut backs though.  

[mpdog42]

9 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

Oh Boy…. Rapid fire questions. Let’s see how I can do.

 

1) stopped at the front desk. Passenger count is 1586. So the pedicure lady and the sunset bartender were both right. Connie has never felt busy but I’ve learned to zig when everyone else zags. 
 

2) Yes onboard OBC can be used to purchase for future cruises. This is new. Not sure if it’s fleet wide, everyday, or a special, but the message was very clear. I have $100 still. I may just book something if none of the spa discounts tickle my fancy. 
 

3) what @RichYaksaid about tracking. Although I have never read that it affects how tips are distributed. I skipped dinner entirely last night. They have no way of knowing that. 
 

4) the spa cafe is definitely scaled down. As mentioned, there used to be great energy bars to grab before a port day. I haven’t noticed cuts in the breakfast buffet. Three omelet stations and a Beni station. Plus all the normal stuff. The only thing I haven’t noticed is granola for the fresh yogurt but I can’t remember if Celebrity offered that before. 
 

5) I’ll post all the daily planners at once if that is ok. Or maybe I’ll just do the first half tonight if that will help. 
 

6) there is no knitting group posted in the planner but there are two ladies knitting by the gelato area every day. Connie has a ton of little crannies perfect for that sort of thing and the furniture is super comfy.

 

7) I have not bothered my room steward with a lounge request because the furniture out there has been vERY comfortable. A little couch pillow on the little table makes a perfect foot stool (I’m not in concierge). I fell asleep out there last night after the full moon pool party. 
 

I’m still going to ask the following. Please let me know if I need to update this list:

a) Red Bull on select drink package?

b) small martinis in select drink package

c) vegetarian menu

d) kid menu 

e) elite breakfast, but @Happy Cruiser 6143can probably answer that easier since she is three days away from Zenith!!

f) I think I’m missing other questions so if I missed yours please repost :).

 

@natshalahow strange is this??! I believe you but My menu in the app is set up entirely different. My order goes;

Cocktails

wine

appetizer

Timeless appetizer

Entree 

Timeless entree

desserts

classic dessert

ice cream

coffee

late wine

cordials

 

Absolutely NOTHING kid or vegetarian. I am looking under the main dining room menu and am very curious to see what you are seeing. Please post photos, it’s super easy to a screen shot and post.

 

Help please: Can anyone else see vegetation or kids menu in their app??? Or does anyone have a reason why Natshala can see things I can’t? I am very curious to see what is offered because I have been known to have the palette of a toddler. 

While I’m thinking about it, here is tonight’s dinner menu. The timeless has been timeless all week 🙂 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Any Military or Veteran's meetings that you have seen?? Thanks!!!

[BermudaBound2014]

5 minutes ago, MoodyCruiser44 said:

We are doing Connie next week.   Absolutely loved your posts.  Such a disappointment hearing about the cut backs though.  

It is disappointing, no way around that. Especially if you are a bit of a foodie, but honestly this crew is one of the best I’ve ever had and Connie is a great size for a ship with super friendly crew. The passengers are a great bunch too.
 

PS- It’s always a good idea to pump the zinc and Vit C before travel, especially cruise travel! 

[BermudaBound2014]

1 minute ago, mpdog42 said:

Any Military or Veteran's meetings that you have seen?? Thanks!!!

None listed in the daily and I haven’t seen any groups fitting that description. I have thanked several service members whom I identified based on their hats so there are a fair number of veterans onboard. 
 

Thank you for your service.

[mpdog42]

10 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

None listed in the daily and I haven’t seen any groups fitting that description. I have thanked several service members whom I identified based on their hats so there are a fair number of veterans onboard. 
 

Thank you for your service.

Thanks for your support...Great to see all the Vets wearing their hats!!

Edited January 20, 2023 by mpdog42

[cruisemom42]

46 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

To me, great friendly service goes a long long way. I’d rather be sailing on an old gal like Connie with this crew verses any brand new ship with crew less friendly or competent. There is nothing they won’t do for you!! The people onboard are great too. I feel like I’ve made some life long friends. 

 

This is what I experienced in October. As I said before, Connie is a "comfortable" ship and IMO ships with fewer passengers tend to be more "friendly".  It's an ideal ship for a solo cruiser.

 

[Ex-Airbalancer]

I wonder if any of that food is hot ? 
on the Apex because my wife having “C” 

I was testing negative, so I could only eat and drink in the cabin 

So I would get food from OV , and at that time the only thing hot was stirfry ,  pasta and grill all other food was cold 

[sciencegrrl]

Loving your report - you travel the way my family does: roll with things and drink the calories on vacation 😁

 

Your pictures are awesome too.

 

I hurl a little every time I see the handles of the tongs laying on the food (cheese, bread) in the buffet.  Erk! 🤮  My kids laugh at me, but the whole germ thing is gross.  I work in a large high school (and adults are not much better at all!) and people are dirty birds.  No buffets for mom or I.  Hubs and kids do them occasionally though.

 

Sorry about the rant - anyway, your writing style is really fun - thank you!

[BermudaBound2014]

Good Morning from the beautiful Constellation. I figured I would get todays dinner menu out of the way since the topic is non-zen and I’m on my way to guided meditation and stretching :). 

[Georgia_Peaches]

11 hours ago, mpdog42 said:

Thanks for your support...Great to see all the Vets wearing their hats!!

Wondered about your screen name. My brother was also an MP… Ft. Polk and Ft. Lewis before becoming civilian law enforcement. 
 

Thank you for your service. 

[hcat]

15 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

Today was another awesome day onboard Connie. I can’t say this enough but the staff is exceptional!! To me, great friendly service goes a long long way. I’d rather be sailing on an old gal like Connie with this crew verses any brand new ship with crew less friendly or competent. There is nothing they won’t do for you!! The people onboard are great too. I feel like I’ve made some life long friends. 

I had a made to order breakfast and roasted pork from the carving station for lunch so I skipped dinner again. Had a huge plate of watermelon for dessert. The fresh fruit has been amazing. Not to mention, I’m drinking my calories. I really am quite content with the food, but I do not cruise to eat. DH would be on the struggle bus, or struggle ship as it maybe. 
 

St Thomas day. Normally I head over to St. John for snorkeling but by this time next week I’ll be snorkeling in Hawaii so I’m just laying low with shore excursions. I did get off the boat and hung out at the Marina for a change of scenery. 
 

Crown Bay is no Havensite, but people were buying stuff in droves. 
 

The evening entertainment wasn’t my cup of tea and the late movie is Thor something which I’m not into. I played a bit in the casino but decided to give my liver a night off. I’m  currently in my comfy pjs relaxing on the balcony listening to the sounds of the waves against the bow. It’s just perfect out here.

 

Oh, that reminds me. Didn’t exactly give my liver the entire night off. Went to the martini bar. You can no longer get the baby martinis on the select package because they don’t have the baby glasses. The bartender said I could get one at any of the other bars. I’ve been played before so I immediately went to the wine cellar bar and ordered a lemon drop martini. Much to my surprise it was no problem at all, and the baby glass was super cute!

 

Some photos from today

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

amazing photography.. fav is sea lion, all  water / sky shots are great .

 

love the flowers.. we have the same  ones now coming into bloom here in sw FL..

 

Can you ID some of the luscious looking drinks?

 

What shops are open at the pier? there were slim pickings when we were there awhile ago! much prefer Havensight!

[hcat]

16 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

Today was another awesome day onboard Connie. I can’t say this enough but the staff is exceptional!! To me, great friendly service goes a long long way. I’d rather be sailing on an old gal like Connie with this crew verses any brand new ship with crew less friendly or competent. There is nothing they won’t do for you!! The people onboard are great too. I feel like I’ve made some life long friends. 

I had a made to order breakfast and roasted pork from the carving station for lunch so I skipped dinner again. Had a huge plate of watermelon for dessert. The fresh fruit has been amazing. Not to mention, I’m drinking my calories. I really am quite content with the food, but I do not cruise to eat. DH would be on the struggle bus, or struggle ship as it maybe. 
 

St Thomas day. Normally I head over to St. John for snorkeling but by this time next week I’ll be snorkeling in Hawaii so I’m just laying low with shore excursions. I did get off the boat and hung out at the Marina for a change of scenery. 
 

Crown Bay is no Havensite, but people were buying stuff in droves. 
 

The evening entertainment wasn’t my cup of tea and the late movie is Thor something which I’m not into. I played a bit in the casino but decided to give my liver a night off. I’m  currently in my comfy pjs relaxing on the balcony listening to the sounds of the waves against the bow. It’s just perfect out here.

 

Oh, that reminds me. Didn’t exactly give my liver the entire night off. Went to the martini bar. You can no longer get the baby martinis on the select package because they don’t have the baby glasses. The bartender said I could get one at any of the other bars. I’ve been played before so I immediately went to the wine cellar bar and ordered a lemon drop martini. Much to my surprise it was no problem at all, and the baby glass was super cute!

 

Some photos from today

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

amazing photography.. fav is sea lion, all  water / sky shots are great .

 

love the flowers.. we have the same  ones now coming into bloom here in sw FL..

 

Can you ID some of the luscious looking drinks?

 

What shops are open at the pier? there were slim pickings when we were there awhile ago! much prefer Havensight!

[hcat]

drink looks so cool and refreshing .  not on my type 2  diabetic plan but I do splurge here and there..maybe do this one instead of an iglu or mudslide

 

based on your review.. we will def be  booking Connie ...hope she stays in the fleet.  X owes you  for drumming up business!

 

buffet works for me  nice veggies , salads ..even some limited meat.. It' s not an every night choice  for us!

[tcmagnum]

16 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

It is disappointing, no way around that. Especially if you are a bit of a foodie, but honestly this crew is one of the best I’ve ever had and Connie is a great size for a ship with super friendly crew. The passengers are a great bunch too.

I do want to thank you for doing such a thorough review/live.

So much information and so many great photos.

We board the Connie on February 3 and can't wait.

I have been able to information our group the 'new buffet' standards as you have been showing them.

And since I cruise to get away from the cold/icky weather at home, I know I can manage on what you are showing us.

A great crew is so much more important to me than food!!

And with the drink package - I will be doing much like you:  Eating more at breakfast/lunch and then enjoying the drinks with a smaller dinner.  A salad with maybe a DIY sandwich sounds perfect.

You are only making me more anxious for our cruise to get here.

 

Enjoy the rest of your trip!!!

[NevadaCruiser2023]

On 1/19/2023 at 9:05 AM, BermudaBound2014 said:

Here is the dinner buffet from last night. Only fresh station was pasta. I actually skipped dinner entirely because I had my first cheeseburger from the pool grill around 5pm and that was plenty for me. I’ve read that the burgers are now larger, but tasteless fleet wide. I found if you smother it in the caramelized onions they offer it’s quite tasty. :). 
 

Anyway, here is the buffet from night 5. This is the offerings in their entirety:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the menu from

the pool grill. As mentioned, the grilled onions added lots of flavor to the burger. Open until 6 pm. It would be SOOOOooo easy for them to keep this open a bit longer and add a few other items to grill fresh. Seems it would be a great compromise. Since food is grilled to order there wouldn’t be waste.

 

 

I just thought about this: If I was running an ocean faring ship, I would refuse to use the word "Iceberg" in any description. 

[Alushar]

Thank you for doing this @BermudaBound2014 really enjoying it we are on the Connie in 2 weeks for B2B and whilst we don’t use the buffet for dinner forewarned is forearmed we are determined to enjoy ourselves. 
 

One question if I may? What have the formal nights been like, have there been many men in tuxes, women in posh frocks etc? 

[cluso]

18 hours ago, mpdog42 said:

Any Military or Veteran's meetings that you have seen?? Thanks!!!

 

I believe they don't post them in the dailies anymore.  All those types of meetings are posted on a board at Guest Relations--at least for my recent cruises.

[BermudaBound2014]

19 hours ago, sciencegrrl said:

Loving your report - you travel the way my family does: roll with things and drink the calories on vacation 😁

 

Your pictures are awesome too.

 

I hurl a little every time I see the handles of the tongs laying on the food (cheese, bread) in the buffet.  Erk! 🤮  My kids laugh at me, but the whole germ thing is gross.  I work in a large high school (and adults are not much better at all!) and people are dirty birds.  No buffets for mom or I.  Hubs and kids do them occasionally though.

 

Sorry about the rant - anyway, your writing style is really fun - thank you!

No apologies necessary. Rant away. I do hear you about the buffet tongs. Yucky. One of the reasons I try to go for food fresh made. No tongs involved.

 

I have changed a bit post covid. I am more freaked out sitting in an enclosed area 6 inches away from strangers for 2 hours at a time. There is lots of coughing and sneezing going on this ship (just as there is lots of sneezing and coughing on every cruise ship).  It’s probably silly, but I have taken every meal from the buffet outdoors at the sunset bar. There is sneezing and coughing going on out here too but a least I’m outside with more distance between me and the neighboring table. It’s probably just a silly way to look at it, but goes to show how different we all are.

 

Thanks for the lovely compliments. Much appreciated. 

[BermudaBound2014]

6 hours ago, hcat said:

amazing photography.. fav is sea lion, all  water / sky shots are great .

 

love the flowers.. we have the same  ones now coming into bloom here in sw FL..

 

Can you ID some of the luscious looking drinks?

 

What shops are open at the pier? there were slim pickings when we were there awhile ago! much prefer Havensight!

The white/pink drinks are Miami Vice. Half pina colada half strawberry daquari. The one with pineapple has a rum floater to give it a kick.

 

The ones with chocolate on the glass are mudslides. There was a Bahama mama posted way back on day 2.

 

Mostly I am drinking Tito’s and zero tonic. It’s rare to find diet tonic onboard a ship but Connie has it everywhere. I’ve also had a glass of wine with dinner every night and a lemon drop here a there. Wine on the select package is just ok. Tonight I switched it up for Sangria which hides the cheaper wine taste.

 

Havensite easily has 5 times the shops as crown bay and there were several vacant storefronts. Not sure if they were causalities to covid or just crown bay. There is the typical diamonds international, Del sol, etc along with some outdoor vendors. It has the typical souvenirs.

 

3 hours ago, Alushar said:

Thank you for doing this @BermudaBound2014 really enjoying it we are on the Connie in 2 weeks for B2B and whilst we don’t use the buffet for dinner forewarned is forearmed we are determined to enjoy ourselves. 
 

One question if I may? What have the formal nights been like, have there been many men in tuxes, women in posh frocks etc? 

Only been one formal night so far. I would guesstimate no more than 10% decked out super formal. 80% dresses chic. 10% in shorts (not in dining room).

 

Current situation- just finished dinner, sitting at sunset bar watching Puerto Plata fade in the distance. There was a guitarist out here earlier. Service remains outstanding. It’s a glorious evening in the Caribbean. 

Edited January 20, 2023 by BermudaBound2014

[BermudaBound2014]

Let’s get these buffet pictures out of the way. 
 

I skipped lunch and dinner so I was hungry tonight. I actually tried the chicken pot pie and it was disgusting. Super dry and there was one pea in the entire dish. One. Not a single other vegetable. Of course that could have just been the dish I selected.

 

The veggies and cucumber salad were super yummy. I ended up going back for  pasta with just garlic and hot pepper flakes. It hit the spot but I crave a good stir fry. I might just have the pasta guy whip up a veggie stir fry one day. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 20, 2023 by BermudaBound2014

[LGW59]

10 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

Let’s get these buffet pictures out of the way. 
 

I skipped lunch and dinner so I was hungry tonight. I actually tried the chicken pot pie and it was disgusting. Super dry and there was one pea in the entire dish. One. Not a single other vegetable. Of course that could have just been the dish I selected.

 

The veggies and cucumber salad were super yummy. I ended up going back for  pasta with just garlic and hot pepper flakes. It hit the spot but I crave a good stir fry. I might just have the pasta guy whip up a veggie stir fry one day. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm loving your positive post, my buffet runneth over!