Constellation 3/6-3/16 Long review from an old time customer

[Lois R]

Hi Ed,:) if I may quote your last sentence:

 

"Oh well, Stock Market's up today, perhaps things are going to get better and everyone will be happy again".

 

As for the things getting better, I certainly hope so. As for everyone

being happy again? You know better than that. There are those

who will be unhappy no matter what the circumstances.

[Veronica13]

I know quite a few cruisers who do not go to the casino because of the smoke....so it's possible that eliminating smoking will actually INCREASE their revenue.

 

It is a good marketing decision to cater to those who do not smoke because, statistically, they will be crusing for many more years than the smokers

 

I presume that as a smoker, you don't mind if the person a little more forward on the ship than you tosses their lit cigarette over the side and it blows into your face or blows in an open balcony door causing a fire as happened on Princess.

 

Try the sushi as a break from the pasta....it's consistent and pretty good.

 

Finally, it may be worth something to NOT sail from Bayonne....or Cape Liberty as they jokingly call it. It's in the middle of nowhere and expensive to get to from anywhere. I would not flag down a yellow cab in Manhattan and expect the driver to be able to find the port.

 

• I presume you don't know of the complete failure of Carnival's Paradise? We don't live in an all or nothing world.
  
• I'm well aware of where the port is, I'll limo up from Longport.
  
• The sushi STINKS - LOL - literally and figuratively. I'd give it a 7 on a good night. After "tasting" my first Princess a couple months ago, it can't get worse than that. Besides, we're hard docked for several days, I'll eat ashore.
  

[Denny01]

I think the direction this thread has taken is an example of why some of us start to react with negative responses. When a thread, as this one has, changes from an informative and even-handed personal review, and becomes another attack on RCCL management, it is tiring. I realize that Celebrity personnel read these threads, but does every thread that identifies an issue has to become a weapon to attack some CEO?

 

 

And as to comments about the changing 'demographics', considering the impact of this major economic downturn, the cost reductions allows many of us Celebrity cruisers to continue to cruise Celebrity. As one economist has pointed out, this is not a temporary downturn, but a 'reset' of how we have been living. I will continue to cruise Celebrity (and other lines), but will reduce my tours, drinks, gaming and shopping. Even the 'luxury' lines are providing major reductions. Oceania sent us a brochure with up to $1500 price reductions, which may allow some Celebrity cruisers to try Oceania. Great. But I would hate for the Oceania cruisers to get upset at a change in 'demographics'.

 

 

So please let the threads speak for themselves.

 

 

Denny

[nevernever]

Denny01, I couldn't agree more with your comments. My wife and I would regard ourselves as experienced cruisers, and sure, some things are sometimes not what they were, although many others in our opinion are just as good or better. As you say, it is disappointing that threads which start of with well-balanced and informative comments, end up getting hijacked by bloggers who seem determined to 'sand bag' the management. It would indeed be interesting to see the results of a survey of all Celebrity and Azamara cruisers' reactions to the new smoking policy, reductions in cruise prices, variations/quality of itineraries, and the quality of food and service in the main and specialty restaurants. I suspect that we all have a good idea what the majority views would be.

 

nevenever

[c-legs]

I think the direction this thread has taken is an example of why some of us start to react with negative responses. When a thread, as this one has, changes from an informative and even-handed personal review, and becomes another attack on RCCL management, it is tiring. I realize that Celebrity personnel read these threads, but does every thread that identifies an issue has to become a weapon to attack some CEO?

 

 

And as to comments about the changing 'demographics', considering the impact of this major economic downturn, the cost reductions allows many of us Celebrity cruisers to continue to cruise Celebrity. As one economist has pointed out, this is not a temporary downturn, but a 'reset' of how we have been living. I will continue to cruise Celebrity (and other lines), but will reduce my tours, drinks, gaming and shopping. Even the 'luxury' lines are providing major reductions. Oceania sent us a brochure with up to $1500 price reductions, which may allow some Celebrity cruisers to try Oceania. Great. But I would hate for the Oceania cruisers to get upset at a change in 'demographics'.

 

 

So please let the threads speak for themselves.

 

 

Denny

 

Good evening, Denny

WELL SAID. Thanks for the wisdom and realistic views.;)

Cheers

:)

[The Baldheaded Bloke]

Hi Sweetie,

 

Interesting reading, and very interesting to compare your thoughts with our own (as cruise virgins!). some I agree with, some I don't.

 

I have reserved Friday night to sit and write our own review based on this being our first ever cruise, so watch out for that one.

 

Loved your review of the pool area and the smoking story. guess we shared many laughs over that.

 

Thanks for helping to make our first ever cruise even better than we could have imagined.

 

Cheers from the Baldheaded bloke. I will never ever forget the name tag at the CC get together !

[j!m]

thnx for the review sweet

 

we are loyal X cruisers but of late have been giving Az our business (i know same coy)

 

we love the M class ships and our last ride on one was in june (infinity)

 

while i appreciate food is a subjective matter and i do not doubt your comments at all, i have to say the food on infinity was very good

 

no tough steaks etc however the food on quest in august was MUCH better

 

we dine out a lot at home and not in chains so we do know a good meal and admit that like you (i guess) we generally have most if not all our dinners in the specialties now on X and Az

 

maybe you should give Az a try too

 

having said this there is little doubt that if a cruiseline is going to house and feed someone for 7 nights and charge them only $599 or $699 something has to give

 

a lot of folks seem to want to pay motel 6 prices BUT complain if the service and food isnt four seasons

 

it doesnt work that way, you get what you pay for

 

frankly i wish X would focus on quality and raise the prices as necessary

[lysolqn]

I spoke with Captain's Club today and they made note of all my opinions, confirmed they were (sadly) very common and wonder themselves where this line is heading. I asked specifically if they were dealing "with a whole different demographic these days"...she hesitated, but admitted, "yes, we're getting passengers that you would expect to find on Carnival".

 

Apparently X has made some cutbacks in personnel training, as well. Whomever you spoke with at Captains Club deserves to be shown the door for that inappropriate and very unprofessional comment (and I'm no fan of Carnival or its target demographic!).

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

...

 

food: I only ate in MDR 2 days and that was plenty. The food was tasteless and the steaks are inedible without a hacksaw. That duck was 1 tough bird as well. Sadly, the cruiseline that used to have some great food has sunken even below par (i can understand why michel roux dissassociated himself from =X=) Poor poor cuts of meat!

I ate in oceanliners 8 nights HAPPILY! the food is incredible, service impeccable and worth every penny extra. Fois gras yum yum and chocolate souflees woohoo.

...

 

Did you have a chance to enjoy the "Wine Connoisseur Dinner" in Ocean Liners? It was one of the best meals we've ever had (Thanksgiving 2008 - offered once near the end of the cruise).

 

 

For the most part, we were also not impressed with the food in the MDR on the Constellation, or subsequent Century cruise around Christmas. For our next Century cruise (New Year's) we will dine exclusively in Murano. The service and quality of food in the MDR was poor (It took THIRTY minutes before we had ANYTHING to eat the first night, while other tables were two courses into their meals)!!!

 

Tom

[dmk]

Does anyone have the wine list from Ocean Liners?:)

[sweetair]

tom-n-cheryl: since we ate in oceanliners quite a bit..we pretty much ordered anything we wanted...

we knew about the lobster souffle prior and ordered that with fois gras as an intermezzo

We ate a lot of filet mignon with many different sauces like truffles sauce etc etc.

 

sorry dmk i dont have the wine list offerings but i will warn NOT to get a chilean wine they offered unless you like a VERY EARTHY wine that taste like it was filled with mashed worms, wet muddy leaves and tree roots :)

 

*sweet*

[C 2 C]

chilean wine they offered unless you like a VERY EARTHY wine that taste like it was filled with mashed worms, wet muddy leaves and tree roots :)

 

*sweet*

 

Now that's our kind of wine....but to me it smells like oak..

 

Our real favorite:

 

http://www.sequoiagrove.com/sequoiagrove/index.jsp

[Veronica13]

frankly i wish X would focus on quality and raise the prices as necessary

 

Me too!

I wish people would stop trying to "muzzle" posters when they read negative reviews of Celebrity. Some of us have spent many, many years and dozens of cruises, and tens of thousands of dollars on their ships, and are entitled to be upset over the change in direction Celeb has taken. You create an atmosphere where people are afraid to post anything but happy, pie in the sky comments regarding X, for fear of being gang banged.

 

I think we should respect ALL opinions, especially those from Elite Members who as a previous poster put quite properly, are familiar with the original concept and are long time customers.

 

I know anyone who started with them less than few years ago will post "great" reviews. They have no point of comparison. A year or so ago, I started posting negative things after my last (literally) sailing. I was attacked right and left. What do you mean? Celeb is great - you're just a negative complainer...LOL

A year later, more and more people are singing the same song and I feel vindicated. So, let's be more OPEN MINDED to all opinions, good AND bad.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Me too!

I wish people would stop trying to "muzzle" posters when they read negative reviews of Celebrity. Some of us have spent many, many years and dozens of cruises, and tens of thousands of dollars on their ships, and are entitled to be upset over the change in direction Celeb has taken. You create an atmosphere where people are afraid to post anything but happy, pie in the sky comments regarding X, for fear of being gang banged.

 

I think we should respect ALL opinions, especially those from Elite Members who as a previous poster put quite properly, are familiar with the original concept and are long time customers.

 

I know anyone who started with them less than few years ago will post "great" reviews. They have no point of comparison. A year or so ago, I started posting negative things after my last (literally) sailing. I was attacked right and left. What do you mean? Celeb is great - you're just a negative complainer...LOL

A year later, more and more people are singing the same song and I feel vindicated. So, let's be more OPEN MINDED to all opinions, good AND bad.

 

I am a newbie to Celebrity, and even I can see (in enough posts on here) that things must have changed quite a bit over time. I am not sure if it is better for me to be "unaware" of what I am missing or not!!! :eek:

 

Tom

[Veronica13]

I am a newbie to Celebrity, and even I can see (in enough posts on here) that things must have changed quite a bit over time. I am not sure if it is better for me to be "unaware" of what I am missing or not!!! :eek:

 

Tom

 

Hi Tom,

 

Absolutely you will be pleased. You know the saying, you can't miss what you never had. So for those who started after 2006/2007, you'll still think it's better than other lines. I wish I could be YOU again....LOL

[TREEH505]

I was also on the 3/6 cruise...............

 

This was cruise #7, but our first time on Celebrity.

I am not sure what we missed out on. . . . .

better not to know I guess.:o

 

Embarkation was the best we ever had, a very minimum number of people. We were on the ship within 15 minutes of getting to the Port.

 

smoking & chairhogs.....:eek:......(SWEET has said it all and I agree,

I saw it all at the pool).

 

We had room 2096, we also had a sewage smell, we just figured it was because we were in the Bottom of the ship. After talking to Sweet we also put wet rags over the shower drain and the odor disappeared.

 

Martini's were awesome, loved the Martini sampler for $9.50.:D

 

We had breakfast at the buffet every morning, it was very good, always something for everyone.

 

We always had afternoon Sushi, it was very good.

 

We ate in Ocena Liners only one night and It was FABULOUSO !!!!!!!!

 

we ate in the MDR all other nights, most nights it was very good, I agree about the steak, I ordered it one night and it was not very good, very tough piece of meat. I did enjoy all of the appetizers and desserts though.

 

We did not go to many shows,

we did go to the comedy show, it was only OK.

The Hypnotist was pretty good, I wish she had done another show.

 

I enjoyed all the Islands and would like to go back and spend more time at them. We did on-land tours on all of the Islands.

 

I enjoyed this vacation very much and I liked leaving on a friday and coming back on a monday, I would loook for this again next time.

 

The people I met through CC truly made this an awesome vacation.

(you know who you are).

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Hi Tom,

 

Absolutely you will be pleased. You know the saying, you can't miss what you never had. So for those who started after 2006/2007, you'll still think it's better than other lines. I wish I could be YOU again....LOL

 

Yes - we have been very pleased... though we could tell a difference in the level of service between our 2/14/08 and 12/20/08 sailing on the Century. We had a great butler the first go around (Richard), and then lucked into having (well known, but not THE) Elvis on our 2nd sailing. He was excellent as well, but seemed rushed - a few things (amenities and such) had changed in a relatively short time.

 

Tom

[Veronica13]

Tom, you don't know the half of it!! What was really insulting was IMO they thought if they did the cuts slowly over the course of 12-16 months, no one would notice the HUGE changes...since I took many cruises in 07 and 08, each one was a new "shocker". Until finally the spring 08 Constellation sailing, which had to me, become unrecognizable as "my celebrity" anymore.

 

But the joke was on me, when I booked the new Ruby this December, thinking how bad could it be? LOL...PRETTY BAD!!!

 

So, my only option now is the luxury lines for CRUISING and I booked a Celeb just to transport, room and board to Bermuda. Cheaper than flying and any hotel, that's for sure. If they lower the prices any more...I just can't imagine.

 

In my company, I kept my prices high and lost some customers, but maintained my standards. When people have more cash again, I will still have my reputation, while the 'cost cutters' will be scrambling for recognition again. I don't want people looking for the lowest price, I want people who are looking for the BEST and are willing to pay for it. That's my business direction, and I'll stick with it.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

...

In my company, I kept my prices high and lost some customers, but maintained my standards. When people have more cash again, I will still have my reputation, while the 'cost cutters' will be scrambling for recognition again. I don't want people looking for the lowest price, I want people who are looking for the BEST and are willing to pay for it. That's my business direction, and I'll stick with it.

 

Precisely why I don't offer $650 crowns!! ;)

 

Tom

[Veronica13]

Precisely why I don't offer $650 crowns!! ;)

 

Tom

 

:)

I guess that's because we don't have 7 figure CEOs who pander to the shareholders as a popularity and dividend contest. We actually CARE about our companies and the quality of the goods/services we offer.;)

[Solstice23]

Was just on Summit, and it was some of the best food we have ever had outt of all our Celebrity Cruises....I find the Specialty Rest....to heavy IMO

[SEAGOD]

you sailed solo, what a shocker.