Live Blog and some pre-cruse chatter- Constellation 7/21

[txtechmk]

Question: I saw on the daily itinerary that there is a 10% VAT applied to all purchases while in Spanish waters. If one has already purchased a premium drink package, and orders a drink, will the VAT show up on my charges?

[Presto2]

Silly question but we are on the Connie first time, on the 20th August. We are in Concierge Class (first time) and wondering if we get shower gel or not. We do on UK cruise lines but don't think we do on Celebrity.

 

Great blog by the way :-)

[MJSailors]

Silly question but we are on the Connie first time, on the 20th August. We are in Concierge Class (first time) and wondering if we get shower gel or not. We do on UK cruise lines but don't think we do on Celebrity.

 

Great blog by the way :-)

 

Not trying to hijack this thread, but will answer your question. The OP is in a suite ,so bath amenities may not be the same as for Conceierge Class.

We were recently on the Summit in a C2 cabin and shower gel was supplied along with shampoo,conditioner and bar soaps. The steward gave us a daily supply. All were Gilchrest and Soames products- a brand I do enjoy at home.

Wishing you a good cruise and travels !

[Presto2]

Not trying to hijack this thread, but will answer your question. The OP is in a suite ,so bath amenities may not be the same as for Conceierge Class.

We were recently on the Summit in a C2 cabin and shower gel was supplied along with shampoo,conditioner and bar soaps. The steward gave us a daily supply. All were Gilchrest and Soames products- a brand I do enjoy at home.

Wishing you a good cruise and travels !

Sorry we hijacked the thread but great amswer. In an aft C1 cabin for first time. Love Gilchrest and Soames too.

 

Back to OP now .... ;-)

 

 

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[Jim_Iain]

Question: I saw on the daily itinerary that there is a 10% VAT applied to all purchases while in Spanish waters. If one has already purchased a premium drink package, and orders a drink, will the VAT show up on my charges?

 

 

If purchased in advanced their is no additional VAT charged. Vat is applied to new purchases while in port. Actually it is the same in Florida. I bought a drink once for sail away and was charged sales tax on second round after we set sail it was tax free.

 

I have heard that if you buy a drink package while in Spain they hold off processing until in international waters. That should be verified.

 

 

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[Jim_Iain]

Not trying to hijack this thread, but will answer your question. The OP is in a suite ,so bath amenities may not be the same as for Conceierge Class.

We were recently on the Summit in a C2 cabin and shower gel was supplied along with shampoo,conditioner and bar soaps. The steward gave us a daily supply. All were Gilchrest and Soames products- a brand I do enjoy at home.

Wishing you a good cruise and travels !

 

 

Thanks for the help MJ Sailors. I'm happy that you could answer the question. In Suite you have Bvlgari Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Lotion and Bar Soap. I'm pleased with the product.

[Jim_Iain]

I may be a bit delayed in updating pictures as CruiseCritic Forum app is down. I will have to search for a photo hosting site. Anyone have a recommendation?

[Jim_Iain]

 

 

 

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[Jim_Iain]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Jim_Iain]

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Jim_Iain]

I have a feeling the problem with posting pictures is due to the bandwidth on the ship. I have gotten a couple pix out. I can only select the smallest quality and even at that it fails about 50% of the time. Really surprising as we are now in Genoa and I would think most of the PAX are off the ship. We are exploring on our own again today.

 

Yesterday was Cannes -

 

We had decided to do Cannes on our own so arranged for the latest breakfast delivery 9:00-9:30. I must have been worn out as I was in a dead sleep when the butler called that he was outside our door with our breakfast. I rushed around trying to find a robe and can only imagine what I looked like with my bed head and dazed appearance. The ship had arrived early and tendering service began around 9:30.

 

We took it easy in the morning and had a small bite for lunch before heading ashore. Cannes is a tender port and the tendering was going slowly due to some swells. When we left the ship at 1:00 tendering was still in place so we went to Michaels Club and John escorted us to the tender for an immediate departure.

 

We spent the afternoon exploring Old Town, which a beautiful section of town about 5 minutes from the port. We climbed the narrow winding streets to the top of the hill to

Notre Dame de l’Esperance.

We wandered back down the steep hills and found a beautiful little park and sat for awhile soaking up the ambiance and drinking some water we brought with us. There were many cafe's open but most of the shops were closed as it was Sunday.

After descending the hill we took a walk along the beautiful beaches to the Auditorium where they hold the Cannes Film Festival. We were back on Constellation by about 4:30 just in time for a couple tea sandwiches and a nap.

We ate in Luminea again last night. The restaurant was only about 1/2 full and it was a very nice evening. I had Scallop Carpaccio for a starter and the Cod for my entre. We strolled the decks and watched a beautiful lightning display in the evening. We never had any rain but it was fun to watch.

[Jim_Iain]

 

 

 

 

 

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[Jim_Iain]

Arrived Genoa, Italy this morning at 6:00. Needless to say we opted to sleep in and are just finishing breakfast. The latest tours were leaving at 7:30 and if anyone knows Iain, they know he is not an early morning.

[Jim_Iain]

 

 

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[Jim_Iain]

Today,Monday, is another warm balmy day. Constellation arrived at about 6:00 into the port of Genoa.

 

We are doing Genoa on our own, so had a late breakfast followed by a Double Cappuccino at Al Bachio. By the time we left the ship the crew were busy with a Crew Safety drill and the ship was mostly empty.

 

A beautiful modern Cruise Terminal greeted us as we departed. The Terminal is located almost at the edge of old town and an Aquarium and Museum are within walking distance.

 

We wandered up some nice quaint streets to the Doge Palace and then onto the main shopping district. Back to the ship for a light lunch.

 

Terminal

 

 

 

Harbor near the ship

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Jim_Iain]

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 23, 2018 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

I believe I mentioned earlier that this is our first 7 day cruise in about 10 years and our first cruise during the summer months. There is certainly a different dynamic. Lots of children and families which makes the ship feel much smaller.

 

After being aboard for three days I finally did some exploring of Constellation to see all of the other changes that have taken place during her last dry dock.

 

The Ocean Liner specialty restaurant has been replaced with cabins and Qsine has been installed down a hallway in back of where Ocean Liner used to be. One has to follow signs to find it. They have also installed a new bar at the Mast Bar location - There is now a bar facing forward and another facing aft. The smoking area at the Mast Bar has been extended on Port Side (at least on this cruise) and the smoking area on deck 4 Port has been limited to 8 chairs aft. The daily says their is also smoking Port Side Forward but they do not have any ash trays out.

 

 

Other changes that I noticed were that the they eliminated the crows nest area forward two levels above the glassed in sun bathing area. The other two sun bathing areas remain.

 

 

They have also installed the outside cinema called Rooftop Terrace.

 

 

Edited July 23, 2018 by Jim_Iain

[upwarduk]

Thank you for the photos of Genoa, we missed the port last year, due to 'operational reasons.' Never could find out why.

We also saw Infinity in dry dock in Marseille.

 

 

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[Jim_Iain]

Thank you for the photos of Genoa, we missed the port last year, due to 'operational reasons.' Never could find out why.

We also saw Infinity in dry dock in Marseille.

 

 

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That is a shame that you missed Genoa. It is a beautiful city but would rather a rather difficult city for anyone with mobility problems. We've missed a couple ports in the past but roll with the tide and continue to enjoy the cruise.

[Jim_Iain]

We departed Genoa about 15 minutes early tonight. It was fun to watch, as I guess the were missing a party of 4 came running to the ship at 5:45. As soon as they were aboard the Gangway was pulled up and they began releasing the ropes. For some reason both internet and TV have been almost non-existent. I eventually turned on my phones hotspot and have been using my TMobile free 2X 256K data.

 

Tonight will be the first of two Chic nights and the menu for Luminea looks good.

 

I had my first Ice Cream Cone this afternoon. So much for my diet. Possibly a cost cutting move but they have switched to small sugar cones and the scoops look to be about 1/2 the size of previous cruises. There is no restrictions on how many scoops but the smaller size was just perfect for me.

[Jim_Iain]

Arrived Civitaveccchia today. We must seem boring as we are not going into Rome. We have been many times and just can’t imagine visiting in the middle of summer with 90 degree weather.

 

We have never been to the Dalmatian Coast so have excursions planned for the remaining ports.

 

 

 

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[Jim_Iain]

Had a very relaxing day exploring Civitavecchia today. I'll try to post the dailies and pictures later today. Internet has been chopping while in port even with the ship virtually empty.

 

The Constellation offered a free shuttle into Largo della Pace, which is basically a big parking lot at the edge of town. You can then connect to the Train Station for a fee 2 Euros. There were also 4 or 5 vendors selling tours to Rome for 10 Euros. We were chuckling as the vendors were required to stay between a line and were like fish mongers trying to convince passengers that their tour was better than the vendor next to them.

 

We decided to just walk into town.

 

We have been to Civitavecchia many times but only arriving via limo from Rome or the Airport. We were really surprised to learn what a pretty little town it is. We walked the Pirgo. The Pirgo is a promenade on the sea front free from the traffic and congestion of town. Along the Pirgo you will find nice cafe's, bars and benches overlook beautiful rocky beaches.

 

We also took a stroll around Forte Michelangelo. The fort was built in 1535 and was commissioned by Pope Paulus III to protect the Vatican from Pirates. It is nicely maintained but is only open for visitors on Saturday's and Sundays.

 

We really enjoyed our visit and enjoyed our day in Port.

 

Tomorrow will be our one and only Sea Day so will enjoy a day at sea. We have been invited to Lunch with the Captain tomorrow. Looking forward to it as it will be held in Qsine.

[Jim_Iain]

Daily

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Jim_Iain]

Transfer area to Train Station

 

 

 

 

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[Jim_Iain]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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