Live From Celebrity Constellation 3/11-3/23

[jam19872016]

12 hours ago, bluewater1298 said:

Thanks! We usually add a week at the beach before we cruise and I prefer the Gulf side. Especially in Clearwater area. So I thought a cruise out of Tampa might be nice. But I'm like you, I usually prefer the bigger newer ships so we haven't ever sailed out of Tampa. Hoping you have a good experience and change my thinking. 

The trick I think is to find a nice itenerary that leaves out of Tampa. Since the ships are smaller, they sometimes make trips that the big girls can't do either due to size limits or because a bigger ship could not sell it out. It seems to have good reviews for being easy to get in and out of, hoping I find that to be the case.

 

12 hours ago, Reel Love said:

Following.  Really enjoyed your last X review and I'm sure this one will be just as informative and entertaining. 🙂   Have a wonderful time!  

Thank you for following along! 

[jam19872016]

11 hours ago, princess76021 said:

I will be along for the ride! Thanks for inviting us!!

 

Hugs from Texas

I missed you last cruise! Glad you made it aboard although you will now how to sit through the extended muster drill just to make sure you remember what to do 😋

11 hours ago, Rina155 said:

Following along!  I love these live reports, makes me feel as if I am traveling right along with everyone else!  Thanks!

Thanks for following along!

[jam19872016]

5 hours ago, perfect match said:

I’m here! I’m very interested to hear how you like sailing from Tampa. I keep saying we need to try it because I know DH would love sailing under that bridge  as would I. The catch is that we really like the big ships because we love everything they have to offer. I do like your itinerary so maybe if I can find that at a time that we are looking to sail we might make a Tampa cruise happen.
 

We did have one Tampa cruise on Brilliance planned. However, it was cancelled due to a full ship charter. We moved that one to Harmony out of PC which was cancelled due to the Covid shutdown. 
 

I have two words to say to you about how to make your Panama Canal excursion happen, and I know you can do it - casino winnings! 😂 You can do it! 

Only if I can make it happen with my free play 😅. Other than that I will only be in the casino this time if my mobile bar needs a refill.

 

Tampa has a lot of unique itineraries that help make it more attractive. They do tend to all be during the winter season though as during the summer most of these ships sail off to Europe.

5 hours ago, happy cruzer said:

Good luck with the fan.  I took one on for a RCL cruise that started in Tampa.  The cruise had delayed boarding due to fog so it was madness in the security area;  I'm not sure they were being as picky as usual.

 

Enjoy your reviews.  Thanks.

Hopefully I am worrying for nothing with the fan. It is just super important to my comfort especially sharing the room, I am such a light sleeper and my mom is an early morning riser.

[jam19872016]

5 hours ago, Coralc said:

The bridge is really pretty. 

So pretty. I think I am going to see if my mom can hold off on dinner until after we pass the bridge. I'd really like to watch us approach and sail under. My only other experience with that was during my Panama Canal cruise. 

 

28 minutes ago, onyourmark said:

We are on the next sailing - Transatlantic to Barcelona.  Following along with you will hopefully prepare us for a rewarding experience.  

  

Transatlantic, nice! I hope to be able to do another one of those again soon such a relaxing experience.

[jam19872016]

3 hours ago, exlondoner said:

How can a fan be a security risk? I can see they might want to check the electrics on board, but a security risk? I wonder how Tampa security would deal with Cunard’s ‘Bring as much booze on board as you like, so long as you don’t act drunk’ policy?

Exactly, there is no risk. There is no heating element in a fan and so long as they have a marking that says "UL" they have previously been inspected by an electrician and deemed safe for all electrical systems. Try explaining that to the security folks though. I would have no problem with the onboard electrician inspecting my fan, but again they don't really care to hear your negotiating. 

 

 

[jam19872016]

1 hour ago, colesc15 said:

What is this fan nonsense? We have our first ever Carnival cruise booked later this year. I've always brought a fan with on all our Royal sailings, are you saying carnival confiscates fans during boarding?? 

 

1 hour ago, exlondoner said:

I think he is talking about Celebrity (and specifically Tampa security) not Carnival.

Yes, it is a problem that Carnival was having with the security screeners at Tampa. Carnival is actually the only cruise line I have sailed that specifically says fans are allowed in their FAQ. I have been able to produce that document at the port more than once in order to over rule the port agents. In Tampa, they were saying they did not care what the rules were, they would not allow it. Carnival had to insist. A written correspondence did not persuade them, as it continued to happen, they had to hold a face to face meeting with the head of port security to get them to respect their policy. Carnival uses a different terminal I believe, so maybe they are run by a different group?

 

My trip on Royal last month my fan got me sent to secondary screening. The secondary screener said I was fine without me having to plea my case. Cruise before that on Celebrity (In Ft. Lauderdale) nobody batted an eye, but the time before that on Celebrity from the same port, I got a miserable looking woman who said no. Her supervisor overruled her and she actually started yelling at him that it was not allowed. I thanked the supervisor, grabbed my bag, and hurried along while she chewed out her boss in front of everyone.

 

I am really not sure why there is such a misconception about fans and their safety onboard.

[exlondoner]

1 minute ago, jam19872016 said:

 

Yes, it is a problem that Carnival was having with the security screeners at Tampa. Carnival is actually the only cruise line I have sailed that specifically says fans are allowed in their FAQ. I have been able to produce that document at the port more than once in order to over rule the port agents. In Tampa, they were saying they did not care what the rules were, they would not allow it. Carnival had to insist. A written correspondence did not persuade them, as it continued to happen, they had to hold a face to face meeting with the head of port security to get them to respect their policy. Carnival uses a different terminal I believe, so maybe they are run by a different group?

 

My trip on Royal last month my fan got me sent to secondary screening. The secondary screener said I was fine without me having to plea my case. Cruise before that on Celebrity (In Ft. Lauderdale) nobody batted an eye, but the time before that on Celebrity from the same port, I got a miserable looking woman who said no. Her supervisor overruled her and she actually started yelling at him that it was not allowed. I thanked the supervisor, grabbed my bag, and hurried along while she chewed out her boss in front of everyone.

 

I am really not sure why there is such a misconception about fans and their safety onboard.

Perhaps they are worried about passengers getting hypothermia, though, as we all know, all fans do is make a breeze and move the air around, they do not lower the temperature. 
 

I wonder if the miserable looking woman is still employed. If so, she is very lucky. 
As to the people at Tampa, they can’t have enough to do. And, actually, their behaviour is quite dangerous. If they are so tied up with unnecessary trivia, they are less, not more, likely to notice a real danger.

[jam19872016]

1 minute ago, exlondoner said:

Perhaps they are worried about passengers getting hypothermia, though, as we all know, all fans do is make a breeze and move the air around, they do not lower the temperature. 
 

I wonder if the miserable looking woman is still employed. If so, she is very lucky. 
As to the people at Tampa, they can’t have enough to do. And, actually, their behaviour is quite dangerous. If they are so tied up with unnecessary trivia, they are less, not more, likely to notice a real danger.

She looked like trouble and I was crossing my fingers I didn't get sent to her line. The look on her face told me someone had put her in a mood already that day. 

 

I could not believe when she started arguing like that with her supervisor 😱. That's why I grabbed my bag and got the heck out of there 😆. 

[broberts]

28 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Perhaps they are worried about passengers getting hypothermia, though, as we all know, all fans do is make a breeze and move the air around, they do not lower the temperature. 

 

🙂

 

Perhaps the concern is more to do with the possibility of using metal and rigid plastic fan blades as weapons. Visions of a slasher with his fan running through the passageways 😄.

[jam19872016]

1 minute ago, broberts said:

 

🙂

 

Perhaps the concern is more to do with the possibility of using metal and rigid plastic fan blades as weapons. Visions of a slasher with his fan running through the passageways 😄.

It would be easier to pocket a few steak knives 😆 

[exlondoner]

6 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

It would be easier to pocket a few steak knives 😆 

My very thought. 🙂

[jam19872016]

Just now, exlondoner said:

My very thought. 🙂

I hope I didn't just get myself flagged by onboard security 😇

[laurieal]

I enjoyed your Oasis live review so much that I'm coming along for the ride (and maybe, just maybe, will be reading some of your past reviews since it looks like it's going to be a slow work day).

 

I am booked with my mother on Celebrity in 2025 and it will be our first time without a drink package as we just couldn't justify the price. I look forward to seeing what your experience is like with the happy hour. Say hello to the Café Al Bacio desserts for me. I miss them.

[jam19872016]

17 minutes ago, laurieal said:

I enjoyed your Oasis live review so much that I'm coming along for the ride (and maybe, just maybe, will be reading some of your past reviews since it looks like it's going to be a slow work day).

 

I am booked with my mother on Celebrity in 2025 and it will be our first time without a drink package as we just couldn't justify the price. I look forward to seeing what your experience is like with the happy hour. Say hello to the Café Al Bacio desserts for me. I miss them.

Thanks for joining me again! 

 

I was very pleased with happy hour on my last trip. While I do like the ability to order anything, anywhere, with Royal's program, I did much better with unlimited drinks on Celebrity. They have a small menu to choose from but I did quite ok with the choices available and the unlimited drinks was nice it just required having a way to store the drinks for later in the evening. Pours got very generous later in the week because I tipped $1 with each drink. Maybe many people don't tip on their elite drinks? They were unexpectedly generous at many bars.

 

In a pinch, drinks are also free in the casino if you order from a server. Drink service was quick and available to all active players not just those with casino status. I would not be surprised to see that policy changed if it became a popular work around, but for now I think most have the included drinks package (that is more expensive to book than not included, so is it really included?).

 

If it is really really a slow day, check out my TA cruise review, that was such a fabulous trip and I am hoping to duplicate it in 2025 when Carnival offers it again!

 

 

 

[livetocruise2005]

Following Along!  We were on the Carnival Freedom Transatlantic with you.  We are boarding the Constellation on March 23rd for the Transatlantic, then we are spending 12 days in Barcelona, and then we are coming back to the states on the Carnival Glory after its dry dock.  I'm anxious for your take on the ship and everything.  This will be our first time on Celebrity.

[jam19872016]

For anyone who did not read my last review, I've been on a weight loss journey that started in August 2021 when I hit 300 LBS. I've always been big, but that was a pretty startling number to see staring back at me from the scale. I'm also not getting any younger and am becoming more aware of the looming health problems if I don't take control of the situation. Especially as I see how my mother struggles with back pain and knee problems that impact her ability to travel comfortably for any length of time.

 

The first several months I yo yo'ed between 285 and back over 300 again. Then my friend recommended the myfitnesspal app in May 2022 and that has been a game changer for me. It's essentially a calorie counting app and it made me conscious of the calories I'm consuming. It also opened my eyes to some foods that are not worth the calories. I was shocked at how many calories are in a caser salad. If I'm going to use up that many calories, it won't be on a salad! I don't bother with the three bites of lobster at formal night anymore either.

 

I've had to adjust my strategy as my metabolism adjusted to less calories and heard about intermittent fasting which was a great addition to my diet plan. When I'm fasting, I can eat for eight hours, and then I fast for 16. Since you are asleep for 8 of those, its easier than it sounds especially after a day or two.

In total, I was down to 198.8 when I started my 56 day adventure in September. Over 100 LBS lost from my starting weight.

 

Since that trip and the trips since, I have been up and down again. On my last trip I gained 11.0 pounds but I am pleased to report in the seven days following, I took off exactly 11.0 pounds bringing me back down to where I started. The weight continued coming off and as of yesterday I was back down to 208.6 which was where I was the first time I weighed on that first trip back in September.

 

Having been off work yesterday and consuming my full allotment of 2k calories, I did gain for the first time since getting off that cruise, 1.4 lbs, but I am at a good starting point for this cruise and I think after this trip I should be able to start working on getting those final 10 lbs off and back under 200 again. 170 is my final goal and I hope to achieve that by year's end.

[exlondoner]

I hope you are feeling better in yourself for losing the weight.

[jam19872016]

2 minutes ago, livetocruise2005 said:

Following Along!  We were on the Carnival Freedom Transatlantic with you.  We are boarding the Constellation on March 23rd for the Transatlantic, then we are spending 12 days in Barcelona, and then we are coming back to the states on the Carnival Glory after its dry dock.  I'm anxious for your take on the ship and everything.  This will be our first time on Celebrity.

Thanks for following along!

 

That trip sounds amazing. I tried to make another round trip TA as that was such an amazing journey! The timing just did not work out so soon especially with Glory only going one way and having to take something else to make the trip to Barcelona.

 

Royal is doing something similar this fall but the timing also did not work out with things going on at work. By Fall 2025 I think I can make it happen again when Mardi Gras does round trip TAs. Can't wait to be able to do another round trip TA.

 

Enjoy your trip, I'm super jealous!

[livetocruise2005]

1 minute ago, jam19872016 said:

Thanks for following along!

 

That trip sounds amazing. I tried to make another round trip TA as that was such an amazing journey! The timing just did not work out so soon especially with Glory only going one way and having to take something else to make the trip to Barcelona.

 

Royal is doing something similar this fall but the timing also did not work out with things going on at work. By Fall 2025 I think I can make it happen again when Mardi Gras does round trip TAs. Can't wait to be able to do another round trip TA.

 

Enjoy your trip, I'm super jealous!

We already booked the Mardi Gras round trip next year.  Hopefully we will see you there!

[jam19872016]

1 minute ago, exlondoner said:

I hope you are feeling better in yourself for losing the weight.

I am and not just mentally, I physically feel better too. I don't get winded climbing up the stairs on the ship anymore and I recall even going down I used to be so sore after a couple days. I am quite pleased how quickly I took the weight off after my last cruise as I seem to recall it being very difficult last time I got this low. It certainly gets more and more challenging to take it off the closer you get to a normal weight.

[jam19872016]

3 minutes ago, livetocruise2005 said:

We already booked the Mardi Gras round trip next year.  Hopefully we will see you there!

I am working very very hard to make that happen! 

[livetocruise2005]

Just now, jam19872016 said:

I am working very very hard to make that happen! 

I found a Norwegian Cruise that works in the middle.  It leaves the day after we get to Barcelona and it goes to Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Greece, and Croatia, and ends in Trieste for Venice. We get to spend 5 days in Venice before flying back to Barcelona to join the Mardi Gras on the trip back.  We are really liking that Carnival is doing so many of these for their Dry docks.

[jam19872016]

Just now, livetocruise2005 said:

I found a Norwegian Cruise that works in the middle.  It leaves the day after we get to Barcelona and it goes to Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Greece, and Croatia, and ends in Trieste for Venice. We get to spend 5 days in Venice before flying back to Barcelona to join the Mardi Gras on the trip back.  We are really liking that Carnival is doing so many of these for their Dry docks.

I will probably just keep it simple. I will have a free trip on Royal so will do one week on Allure out of Barcelona followed by another week at cost. Not very exciting but it's easy since we won't need to leave Barcelona which will be best for my mom. Plus the free week will keep costs down.

 

NCL is doing a pretty nice round trip TA in January 2025 that ends and begins in Southampton which would allow some time exploring Northern Europe in the middle with MSC. I am in love with that trip but I don't think I could make both work especially with no casino rates on NCL or MSC. Plus, MSC is about my last choice for cruise lines it would really just be for the opportunity to explore some new ports in Northern Europe. Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, plus Le Havre which I've been to Paris on a land trip so probably would use that as a ship day unless my mom wanted to see Paris.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

Tip for parking in Tampa:  book the valet parking.  It costs a bit more, but you mentioned your mother has difficulty walking.  It can be a hike from the far reaches of the parking lot.  Money well spent.  Have a great cruise!

[jam19872016]

1 minute ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

Tip for parking in Tampa:  book the valet parking.  It costs a bit more, but you mentioned your mother has difficulty walking.  It can be a hike from the far reaches of the parking lot.  Money well spent.  Have a great cruise!

Thank you. That may be worth it for her and honestly I would not mind shaving a few more minutes off the travel time. I will run it past her and see what she thinks, the cost wasn't that much more if I recall correctly.