goofysmom99

Ironically, so did I, including 5 points for Go Green.

Nearest flight option is Bologna (BLQ) which is just under an hour to the pier in Ravenna. You can book Celebrity's transfer from the airport for embarkation day. From Venice (VCE), it's a 3 hour bus ride to the port via X's airport transfer ($45). They also offer one from Piazzale Roma in the city on embarkation day, too (still 3 hrs). You overnight in Ravenna. There will be some local ship's tours available for day 2. You won't be going back to Venice on day 2 . If you want to spend time in Venice, fly in a few days early, see the sights, and take an X transfer. It's a long, gruelingly slow ride on 2 lane road that's almost solid trucks.

My travel agent is a zenith. She's never used her zenith cruise because she's also a top Blue Chip tier. In fact, she's aboard several B2Bs right now until Dec sometime (internet and wifi calling make for seamless business-at-sea).

From my point of view, I spent a whole lot of money to get there, especially factoring in how long I cruised paying double for cabin but receiving single points.

It's a great location. The big plus is their massive balconies. Room for a party. Remember, there are aft elevators/stairs on M-class ships so it isn't the long trek to get to the food. 😉

Before you even get to the door of the terminal, just say you need wheelchair assistance. They'll get you one from luggage drop off. If one isn't there at that moment, there will be a place to sit until a chair and pusher show up. They pull my rollaboard along, too. Shoreside pushes you to the gangway where a Celebrity crewmember takes over. Disembarking, go to The Retreat or the Martini Bar, whichever is closer for you (Retreat concierges want you to go to the Retreat but on M-class, Martini Bar was much closer to my cabin). A Celebrity crewmember will roll you off the ship to the terminal where a shoreside pusher will take over. I've always been rolled to luggage area and then the chair pusher and a porter take me to the cab stand (or in Miami, right to my car = big tip).

Safe travels. Thanks for all you did for us. And thanks for all your photos.

Can't speak for Infinity, but the Connie beds are firm and I just now realized I haven't had my chronic morning back and hip pain for weeks aboard this ship. I do think a new mattress will be in order when I get home.

I'll be disembarking Constellation Sunday after 24 days. Have decided I like good old M-class so much, I cancelled an upcoming 7-night Apex cruise for 10-nights on Connie for roughly the same price. I miss Murano and Lawn Club, but I'll manage, especially since I found out this cruise I can get the Tuscan limoncello cheesecake gluten free. 🤗 Life is good. 🤓

I'm on Connie. We definitely have had covid. Pax quarantined in their own cabins. A forced disembark in Azores occurred for non covid illness. Some B2B covid positive pax chose to disembark in Civi prior to TA. In both those instances, they were the right decisions. They did have to make their own way home.

I don't know if it's fixed, but I got in on Chrome on my android phone using a VPN and incognito. It does make slow shipboard wifi even slooower.

I've always been asked by Retreat concierge if I would like to bring a guest, even when they knew I already had friends (couples) traveling in suites. I've never brought anyone, but I've been asked.

I'll write more when I get home but two of the silliest mistakes were offering me bread after I specifically told them I was GF, but then not providing the usual GF bread option. Next, omitting the caviar from my sea bass crudo, evidently thinking it is shellfish. That one made me LOL and I corrected them so then the chef came out and carefully added it to my dish there at the table while the others waited. Remember, there were only 4 of us and it's a $235 meal. Those might be first night MDR mistakes but really amateurish mid-cruise at the priciest meal on the ship. (And there were several others.)

On current Constallation TA, I know 2 pax who chose to disembark rather than proceed (covid) and 2 pax who were involuntarily disembarked for non-covid illness. So no, don't personally know of anyone involuntarily booted for covid.

We were 4 last night at the Veuve Clicquot dinner on Constellation that was held in Tuscan on Deck 11. I'm celiac with newly discovered shellfish allergy so my meal had modification of seared tuna for the scallops, and Gelato for the dessert. Food was good, company was excellent. This particular dinner (I've been to many) wasn't quite up to previous versions. Very tasty meal but wouldn't necessarily repeat it on this ship with current staff, especially for $234.82 (199 + 18%). There was absolutely nothing wrong but presentation was a bit, for lack of a better word, amateurish. I enjoyed the meal, the wines, and the company. We stayed very late. 🤓

I have significant food allergies and the maitre d' personally ensures I have the same wait staff every evening. They prefer it that way, too. Fewer chances for errors. And I agree that having to talk about your allergies only once makes for a much better cruise experience.

I checked on Windy app and it should calm down later today. Step out onto your balcony or outside somewhere and look at the horizon. It helps.

Showering involved a whole lot of crashing and thrashing!😄

I bought the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro recently and left my trusty Bose over ears home this trip to Italy. Noise canceling worked great on the flight and I'm using them aboard the ship to listen to music, audio books, etc. I'm really sold on NC earbuds now.

We had "Zenith Members Toast & Gathering" this afternoon which was very nicely done. Closed off a portion of the Cellar Masters/Sushi on 5 area for an hour. The captain (Captain Vito from Venice) is definitely a charismatic guy with an equally charming staff. Seven attended; know at least two who didn't. (They're going to need a bigger space for the TA. 😉)

Will do.

I asked two days into the cruise; it was sold out. I'll go on the next leg (TA). I've already asked my sommelier on this cruise to make sure I'm on the list next cruise. I don't think there's a Cellar Masters on Beyond so I'd find a maitre d' and ask.

Russell is MDR maitre d'.

On the Connie right now and the VC dinner sold out this cruise.

Maybe it depends on the ship and the CC concierge. Presently on Constellation with quite a few other zeniths. I've previously been called by the CC concierge re the CC gatherings where the top cruiser is introduced. Not this time. I wasn't planning to attend, but did expect a call. I'll report back re a zenith luncheon. I'm sure there will be even more zeniths on the upcoming TA. BTW, I'm not in a suite. The suite zeniths were called, at least the ones I spoke to.