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| Celebrity Constellation - docked in Nassau (Photo: Gerry) |
Launched in 2002 as the last of the Millennium-class ships, she was renovated in 2010 and is scheduled for another makeover in April. Overall, she wears her age well, and like all Celebrity ships, is notable for the striking artwork featured throughout. Let's take the tour, along with some notes and observations.
OUR STATEROOM: Given the short duration of the trip, we opted for an inside stateroom on deck three. No real issues here. First, it was more roomy than we expected at 170 sq. ft. Storage was more than adequate. It was mostly quiet, with only the occasional hall chatter that comes with late-night partying.The shower was actually larger than some we've had on newer, larger vessels, and the shower curtain allowed more freedom to move than the sliding plastic doors. On the negative side, there never are enough outlets, but that seems to be a universal problem on just about all the ships we've been on. If you need to plug in multiple personal electronics, bring an extension cord with you.
DINING: Let's start with the Seaside Cafe, the 24-hour, buffet-style eatery on deck 10. We ate there for both lunch and breakfast and found the quality of the food to be excellent. For lunch you have multiple options, including traditional American, Italian and Asian. Lots of dessert choices, plus an ice cream bar.
The San Marco Restaurant is the main dining room, located on decks 4 and 5. We had dinner there the first night, and had opted beforehand for the "Select Dining" plan, which means you pick your own time to dine. Once on board, we were advised it was best to pick a time and go ahead and make a reservation. When I attempted to do so, the waiter on duty said no, just show up -- no reservation required for a party of two.
When we arrived at the Select Dining entrance on deck 5, we saw there were two lines -- one for people with reservations and one without. The "without" line was longer. We did get seated without too much delay, but obviously the staff was sending a mixed message on this one.
Again, the food was good, but the service -- as we found pretty much throughout the ship -- was somewhat uneven. The wait staff would start off very attentive, then disappear for long periods. There was confusion over who had taken our order -- it seemed somewhat disorganized. We wondered if it might be because the trip was so short.
There are three specialty restaurants aboard Constellation: Bistro on Five, Tuscan Grille and Ocean Liners, each requiring an additional charge. We opted to try Ocean Liners -- but more on that in a separate review.
AROUND THE SHIP: With a capacity for almost 2,000 passengers and 1,000 crew, this is a large ship but not so large you feel like you need track shoes to get around. One thing we noticed was most of the public spaces were c-c-c-cold. No problems with the A/C, that's for sure!
If you're looking for a great place to relax, we loved the retro deck chairs on deck four, just down from the shuffleboard court (must be part of a whole retro vibe going there). But maybe the primo spot is on deck 11, just outside the Reflections Lounge and adjacent to the pool area. There's a space just big enough for two chairs that provides a perfect view and shade at the same time. We didn't want to leave.
The Sunset Bar on deck 10 is a good choice for outdoor eating, drinking or just sitting. Apparently the seagulls think so, too. Check this out:
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| Extras in a Hitchcock movie? (Photo: Gerry) |
Then there's The Martini Bar and Crush. Crush is aptly named, since there was a crush of people around the bar area at just about all times. Look for a separate review on that later.
We weren't able to sample the Reflections Lounge. There was a private wedding going on (and maybe two weddings total) that closed that area, at least during the times we tried going there.
On deck 4 you'll find the Rendezvous Lounge, a dark spot to sip a cocktail and listen to music. There's also a floor for dancing. The drink portions aren't as large, or potent, as what you'll find at The Martini Bar, but the chairs are nice and comfy. The friendly person on duty, a woman from Holland, attempted to recruit us for some karaoke, but I advised her the effect of my singing would empty the place pretty quickly.
Michael's Club offers piano music in an upscale setting. On the night we visited, the female performer offered a generous sampling of Elton John and Billy Joel.
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| A lecture on the history of the Caribbean |
There was also quite a bit of activity going on around getting the ship ready for the next cruise: A charter for the Turner Classic Movies 2013 cruise. As we exited, stars like Debbie Reynolds and Mickey Rooney were preparing to board. Timing is everything, right? But it was fun to see the various banners and signage paying homage to Hollywood.
OVERALL: We give our cruise on Constellation a solid three out of four stars rating. We are looking forward to taking another cruise after its upcoming refit is complete. Here are more photos. -- Gerry and Pam
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| This magnificent Chihuly glass sculpture hangs near Reflections Lounge |
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| A man of letters -- literally |
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| A whimsical sculpture by the pool area |
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| Pam poses near the giant Marilyn Monroe poster, part of the signage for the TCM cruise |
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| These retro deck chairs are just the ticket for relaxing with a book |
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