Semi-live from the Celebrity Constellation 11 night departing 11/22

[jcpc]

4 hours ago, goldsmip115 said:

Janice and Rita, this is for you. Hugs from Gede. Sorry it’s not a great picture

Thank you so much.  We really missed Gede on Summit earlier this month.  He is truly a genuinely nice person.

[bikerunner]

Just wanting to add here I’m on this current cruise and not in a suite. I just wouldn’t use the xtras included since all the room is storage and sleep, most of my showers have been in the spa.   The ship is great condition love the common areas now and service is as good as always.  I am traveling with a friend who is vegetarian and plenty of options and they have gone out of the way for the dinners for her.  Tonight will be interesting since I put in a special request. Soft pretzel with a beer cheese sauce.  The pretzel was spot on.  Btw. 
 

I am at Al Bacio every morning don’t even order any more and my English breakfast on ice is on the way.  Also love the cruising with 1/2 full ship. No waits less rude people, still around but not as many and many great people too.   Have not gone to the shows since usually in bed by 9 I know but I like up early and gym etc.  tonight is the champagne dinner and looking forward to it.  Talked to chef about my friend who is a vegetarian and all set.  Figured not an issue but wanted to make sure she was as happy. Ate in Tuscan and food service was wonderful.  I had ribeye and cooked perfectly and could not finish it. Dinner in San Marcos has all been excellent.  Not one thing I didn’t like and tho not picky I am trained chef, just cook for fun now,  so appreciate the quality and flavors. Personally I ordered many of my apps or main course off the vegetarian menu my friend gets every night.  They are so good. I’ll put in full review eventually but looking forward to curaçao and the sea days.  
 

internet has been spotty, I do have the xcelerate but it’s not important to me.  Just check emails every so often. Phone is usually in safe  

[di T]

Just to say I have loved following along with you! 29 Celebrity cruises and 11 of them on the beautiful Connie roll on September 2022 for my Reflection cruise! and hoping the three cruises in between with other lines will go ahead. Dianne

[jules27556]

11 hours ago, bikerunner said:

Just wanting to add here I’m on this current cruise and not in a suite. I just wouldn’t use the xtras included since all the room is storage and sleep, most of my showers have been in the spa.   The ship is great condition love the common areas now and service is as good as always.  I am traveling with a friend who is vegetarian and plenty of options and they have gone out of the way for the dinners for her.  Tonight will be interesting since I put in a special request. Soft pretzel with a beer cheese sauce.  The pretzel was spot on.  Btw. 
 

I am at Al Bacio every morning don’t even order any more and my English breakfast on ice is on the way.  Also love the cruising with 1/2 full ship. No waits less rude people, still around but not as many and many great people too.   Have not gone to the shows since usually in bed by 9 I know but I like up early and gym etc.  tonight is the champagne dinner and looking forward to it.  Talked to chef about my friend who is a vegetarian and all set.  Figured not an issue but wanted to make sure she was as happy. Ate in Tuscan and food service was wonderful.  I had ribeye and cooked perfectly and could not finish it. Dinner in San Marcos has all been excellent.  Not one thing I didn’t like and tho not picky I am trained chef, just cook for fun now,  so appreciate the quality and flavors. Personally I ordered many of my apps or main course off the vegetarian menu my friend gets every night.  They are so good. I’ll put in full review eventually but looking forward to curaçao and the sea days.  
 

internet has been spotty, I do have the xcelerate but it’s not important to me.  Just check emails every so often. Phone is usually in safe  

Thank you for taking the time to comment on the various venues!  Very informative and helpful!😊  

[goldsmip115]

Good evening from the beautiful Celebrity Constellation and Curaçao.  This post will be brief. We had our lovely morning breakfast and wonderful evening dinner in Luminae with the amazing team of Russell and Gede. We had a Private Journey tour booked for 3.5 hours In Curaçao today.  As we experienced in Bonaire, the escort and “Hand off” to the tour operator was excellent. As much as we enjoyed the tour in Bonaire, this one was a big disappointment. The guide had a significant language barrier.  We learned that up until 2 months ago she was a cab driver in Curaçao.  There were times during the tour that I felt that I was back in a cab in Manhattan.  We had the perfunctory tour stops for photo opportunities.  We had two disappointing stops.  One was an herb farm where I thought I would faint from the heat and humidity as we walked through the garden and spent what seemed an eternity learning about every leaf and plant.  I tried not to be rude but I could not wait to get out of there and back to the air conditioned van.  We skipped the plant and herb gift shop.  Oh, well.  We had a great tour of Curaçao.  We experienced a wonderful sunset from the verandah.  We enjoyed time in the salt water pool this afternoon. I must mention that the Oceanview had a wonderful tomato and burrata and Buffalo mozzarella bar today.  The line was long so I got my usual delicious salad but had a few bites later.  The service in the Oceanview Cafe is amazing.  Somebody in an earlier post asked if there is Vitamin Water on the ship. It is sold for $4.50 on one of the bar menus near Oceanview. Sorry, but I do not recall which one.  More tomorrow.  The salt water pool was very refreshing late this afternoon and very empty.  More tomorrow.

[goldsmip115]

Obviously I am not active in my last few days.  However, the highlight of my cruise occurred.  My beloved Luminae staff.  And there was nobody around so please get your panties out of your crack.

[Schmoe38]

2 hours ago, goldsmip115 said:

Obviously I am not active in my last few days.  However, the highlight of my cruise occurred.  My beloved Luminae staff.  And there was nobody around so please get your panties out of your crack.

Trish

 

We’ll take all that you are prepared to share with us.

 

The smile on your face really does tell it all.

 

Randy

[goldsmip115]

Good afternoon from the beautiful Celebrity Constellation.  Sadly, I’m beginning to feel the clock ticking. Friday morning will arrive all too soon.  Where do the 11 nights go?  Oh, yes, they scream by in Luminae.  Yesterday we went to Michaels lounge and spent some time chatting with the warm and friendly staff. When I had requested Cesar as our butler/retreat host they took the time to track him down for me. It turns out that after over 20 years Cesar is now working as a concierge in a hotel in VA.  We are going to get his contact information and will surely connect with him. It makes me a bit sad to know that we will not be sailing with him again.  But, the memories are wonderful and we have made new ones with Anu.  The casino has been very busy these last two days.  I’m not much of a gambler but I was lucky and hit $146 on a penny machine on my 3rd spin.  I’m happy to report that the holiday decorations are in full bloom around the ship.  I’ll post some pictures.  Tonight is chic night with that wonderful lobster in Luminae.  

[goldsmip115]

I gain 5 pounds just looking at this.  Delicious

 

[goldsmip115]

A beautiful sunset from the verandah

 

[Jim_Iain]

On 11/29/2021 at 5:35 PM, goldsmip115 said:

Good evening from the beautiful Celebrity Constellation and Curaçao.  This post will be brief. We had our lovely morning breakfast and wonderful evening dinner in Luminae with the amazing team of Russell and Gede. We had a Private Journey tour booked for 3.5 hours In Curaçao today.  As we experienced in Bonaire, the escort and “Hand off” to the tour operator was excellent. As much as we enjoyed the tour in Bonaire, this one was a big disappointment. The guide had a significant language barrier.  We learned that up until 2 months ago she was a cab driver in Curaçao.  There were times during the tour that I felt that I was back in a cab in Manhattan.  We had the perfunctory tour stops for photo opportunities.  We had two disappointing stops.  One was an herb farm where I thought I would faint from the heat and humidity as we walked through the garden and spent what seemed an eternity learning about every leaf and plant.  I tried not to be rude but I could not wait to get out of there and back to the air conditioned van.  We skipped the plant and herb gift shop.  Oh, well.  We had a great tour of Curaçao.  We experienced a wonderful sunset from the verandah.  We enjoyed time in the salt water pool this afternoon. I must mention that the Oceanview had a wonderful tomato and burrata and Buffalo mozzarella bar today.  The line was long so I got my usual delicious salad but had a few bites later.  The service in the Oceanview Cafe is amazing.  Somebody in an earlier post asked if there is Vitamin Water on the ship. It is sold for $4.50 on one of the bar menus near Oceanview. Sorry, but I do not recall which one.  More tomorrow.  The salt water pool was very refreshing late this afternoon and very empty.  More tomorrow.

If you like the Tomato and Buratta you might check out Spa Cafe.   On the couple cruises we were on they had a wonderful Heirloom Tomato and Buratta Salad daily.    They also had a selection of Tuna and Chicken Salad.  You know we aren't big eaters and enjoyed them often. 

 

Also one last one you have to try if you haven't tried.  It only too m 20 years to try this.     The Affogatto  -   a scoop of Gellato with a shot of Espresso poured over the top in a Martin Glass.    After my first I had one almost every day.

[goldsmip115]

Holiday decorations

 

[Ken the cruiser]

Thanks for all the great pictures. Three weeks and counting until we board this beautiful ship for our 11 day Holiday cruise!! 😎

[Jim_Iain]

3 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Thanks for all the great pictures. Three weeks and counting until we board this beautiful ship for our 11 day Holiday cruise!! 😎

Ken - are you going to do a Live thread.   I would really enjoy your report.

[cunn9004]

23 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

If you like the Tomato and Buratta you might check out Spa Cafe.   On the couple cruises we were on they had a wonderful Heirloom Tomato and Buratta Salad daily.    They also had a selection of Tuna and Chicken Salad.  You know we aren't big eaters and enjoyed them often. 

 

Also one last one you have to try if you haven't tried.  It only too m 20 years to try this.     The Affogatto  -   a scoop of Gellato with a shot of Espresso poured over the top in a Martin Glass.    After my first I had one almost every day.

 Where might I ask is this Affogatto ordered?  I am drooling!!!

[Jim_Iain]

12 minutes ago, cunn9004 said:

 Where might I ask is this Affogatto ordered?  I am drooling!!!

Al Baccio Coffee Bar -  Just to wet your appetite. 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

29 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Ken - are you going to do a Live thread.   I would really enjoy your report.

That’s my plan right now as I do enjoy doing them. We’ll be in an aft-facing Aqua cabin and have never been on a M class ship. So it should be a lot of fun exploring a “new” ship style. 😎

Edited December 1, 2021 by Ken the cruiser

[goldsmip115]

this is a wonderful ship and I have overheard many passengers raving about the food in Blu. We had the blue cheese soufflé from there one night. Fabulous but it is a whole meal.

[Ken the cruiser]

1 hour ago, goldsmip115 said:

this is a wonderful ship and I have overheard many passengers raving about the food in Blu. We had the blue cheese soufflé from there one night. Fabulous but it is a whole meal.

We’ve only cruised once in an Aqua cabin and that was on the Equinox on her last sailing in March 2020 before it all shut down. As I remember we very much enjoyed dining in Blu. In fact I don’t remember ever even thinking about ordering off the MDR menu; although we did discover the breakfast serving hours can be a little weird. I remember on that cruise Blu was only open for breakfast from 6:00 to 8:30 am. But that’s OK. We’ll make sure on our upcoming cruise to find out what the breakfast times are before we decide to sleep in on a sea day. 😎
 

Edited December 1, 2021 by Ken the cruiser

[goldsmip115]

Seated in Luminae. How often does the Captain of the ship join you and chat for 5 minutes?  Wow.  What a wonderful memory

[Jim_Iain]

Y

6 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

That’s my plan right now as I do enjoy doing them. We’ll be in an aft-facing Aqua cabin and have never been on a M class ship. So it should be a lot of fun exploring a “new” ship style. 😎

Look forward to it.  

 

Maybe you should also bid on an Upgrade.    I have hat the aft facing Aqua 4 times now and every time got upgraded (once to the Penthouse) and have yet to sail in one.

[Jim_Iain]

You are looking younger every year. 

[goldsmip115]

Jim, Please make an appointment ASAP with your eye doctor.  You obviously need new glasses. But, thank you for the compliment. I’ll email you separately about a visit we had today from a 4 stripe officer.  Very touching.  I have decided that we will never do another cruise of less than 10 nights.  11 is good but more is better.

[canderson]

22 minutes ago, goldsmip115 said:

I have decided that we will never do another cruise of less than 10 nights.  11 is good but more is better.

We came to that conclusion a while back.  Our most recent cruises with Celebrity have been

15, 15, 14, 14, 12, 14, 14, 12, 15

 

As you know, we disembarked the day you boarded.  We have come to the understanding that at 15nts, we feel like we're at a decision point.  It's either get off the ship NOW, or just stay forever.  It's a really good thing that it's not possible to extend on the last night.  That silly DHS manifest rule has saved us so far!

 

[Ken the cruiser]

55 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Y

Look forward to it.  

 

Maybe you should also bid on an Upgrade.    I have hat the aft facing Aqua 4 times now and every time got upgraded (once to the Penthouse) and have yet to sail in one.

Actually we’re looking forward to the experiences in Aqua class, but more importantly we very much enjoy aft facing cabins. But, at the same time, many of the extras that come with a suite really don’t interest us, especially the butler service, the Retreat lounge or any of the other restricted areas on the ship. Give us an aft facing balcony, great shows, good food and we’re good.
 

But if we can get a SS at a great price like we did on our upcoming Reflection B2B in Feb at around $260 pp/day with all the suite perks, well, eating in the Luminae is still a wonderful place to dine! 😎