 Expert Review |  | | | | |
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Celebrity Constellation, the last in Celebrity's Millennium-class series, is not much different than Millennium, Infinity and Summit, its ever-so-slightly older siblings. These ships have long been the fleet's biggest and most innovative (though they've lost that title after Celebrity Solstice, the line's new-style vessel, launched in fall 2008) -- and years after their debuts they continue to impress. The design of these ships is reminiscent of the grace and style of the great ocean liners, offering signature features such as a genuinely gorgeous atrium with a sweeping polished stone staircase and the grand San Marco dining room. Yet the amenities -- refreshingly innovative when the first Millenium-class ship debuted -- still offer that wow factor: an expansive spa (along with the AquaSpa cafe, the first-ever dedicated healthy fare eatery), a multi-million dollar art collection, a high balcony ratio and an outstanding, retro liner-themed alternative restaurant. If Constellation doesn't distinguish itself from its siblings as far as design and layout are concerned, the ship's decor is fresh and unique -- even on our most recent cruise in spring 2008. What's ultimately most interesting about Constellation -- as well as the other vessels in its Millennium family -- is its commitment to creating an ever-so-slightly superior big-ship experience. Luxury big-ship operator Crystal Cruises has said many of its new passengers are trading up from premium lines like Celebrity and, while the two brands are nowhere near on a par, Celebrity Constellation is a good "everyday" choice for travellers who like to cruise in style -- but can't afford to join a luxury line on every trip. | | |  top | | | | Dining
Celebrity still emphasizes the classic format of shipboard dining -- two sittings with assigned seating -- though they long ago joined the ranks of lines offering alternate dining in a more formal, personal restaurant (at an extra fee). Ironically, the traditional dining room (San Marco Restaurant) serves the more contemporary, creative cuisine, while the alternate Ocean Liners is more classic in decor and menu selections, consistent with what one might find on the menus of the great liners to which it pays homage. Still, good quality food, charming service and beautifully designed restaurants make the dining experience a real strength of this ship. The San Marco dining room spans two decks and can accommodate 1,170 guests in each of the two seatings. High-ceilinged, balconied and dominated by grand staircases and enormous stern windows, it offers a wide choice of main courses (including "available anytime" options) and excellent cream soups. Puddings (desserts) are good too, though the practice of waiters presenting that night's selection on a tray for inspection is an old-fashioned, rather downmarket practice that could be abandoned. The wine list is very good -- both extensive and affordable. A decent Rioja, for example, will cost you $25 (?13). Top marks go to San Marco's staff for honouring passenger requests to dine a deux or even alone. For a treat, $30 buys an evening of very fine dining at the ship's wood-panelled Ocean Liners restaurant, where a harpist, candles on every table, snowy cloths, Reidel glasses and a fabulous menu create an unforgettable experience. There are two options here; you can order from the main menu, or for an extra $27.50 you can try the Gourmet Menu, which includes five glasses of wine chosen by the sommelier to accompany every course. But the main menu provides a delicious-enough meal; we feasted on airy goat cheese souffles with olive toast, butter-soft filets mignon and one of the finest French cheese selections I've seen on any ship. And though the wine list extended to a 1945 Chateau Lafite Rothschild Premier Cru at a cool $2,500, our sommelier charmingly commended our choice of a $35 Tempranillo (thus displaying what I call style). Make dinner here a top priority at least once per cruise -- it's very special indeed. Another way to dodge the crowd at dinnertime is to head up top to Constellation's pretty Seaside Cafe, a section of which is cordoned off every evening and beautifully dressed with snowy tablecloths for $2-a-head three-course suppers. Top tip here is to eat early and enjoy the magnificent sea views before sundown. Another alternative to San Marco is the cafe's Asian section, which opens at 6 p.m. and serves a selection of freshly made sushi and noodle stir-fries. This area is also well presented, with Chinese lanterns, bamboo placemats and chopsticks. By day, the 754-seater Seaside Cafe offers a good range of breakfast and lunch dishes, including freshly made omelettes and lunchtime pasta dishes. A separate section serves up quesadillas and slices of pizza. The flow of the cafe would be improved if this area could be transformed into the omelette / pasta zone, which is currently part of the main serving counter -- even though its popularity causes considerable hold-ups at peak times. In general, traffic flow throughout the Seaside Cafe is generally good and there are plenty of tables, so you shouldn't have to endure the horrors of breakfasting with strangers. I preferred The Grill (just outside the Seaside Cafe on Resort Deck), which offers chicken and salads as well as burgers and hot dogs -- all in the open air. For lighter, healthier fare, the Aqua Spa cafe features herring, yogurts, smoothies, fruit and bagels with lox for breakfast. At lunchtime (and on through the early-dinner hour) the tiny cafe area, tucked behind the ship's thalassotherapy pool, offers fresh salads, cold salmon and low-fat desserts. For a continental breakfast, don't miss the absolutely decadent pastries at the Cova Cafe Milano. Twenty-four-hour room service features the usual salads, grilled chicken and pizza. All passengers can also order off lunch and dinner menus during appropriate hours. Breakfast is continental except for those with Concierge-class or suite-level accommodations. | | | | top | | | | Public Rooms
Most of Constellation's indoor public rooms are centered on Decks 3 through 5, and generally bridge the journey between dining room and theater. Though the lounges are fairly large, spaces are broken up so there is always a convivial spot to plunk oneself for cocktails and conversation. Rendezvous Lounge serves as the secondary activities lounge venue, as well as a great place to meet for pre-dinner cocktails and music. The nearly mirror image Martini and Champagne Bars sit on opposite sides of the ship, perched on a mezzanine overlooking the Rendezvous, and are within earshot of its musical offerings. Michael's Club -- all leather armchairs, antique maps and brass table lamps -- is a good haunt if you're a fan of English country house style, but we were put off evening visits by a rather loud (though admittedly popular) Liberace-style pub pianist. The wood-panelled, two-tier library is equally stylish and rather quieter. The prettiest space for my money is the Cova Cafe di Milano, which surrounds the ship's main staircase and -- with its warm shades-of-earth decor and harlequin-design seating -- is old Italian style at its best (it was based on the 18th century cafe that stood next to Milan's Opera House). Other public spaces of note are scattered in various locales. The 416-seat Bar at the Edge of the Earth -- the haunt of weird and wonderful Cirque du Soleil acts before Celebrity ended its arrangement with the troupe -- is the ship's most eye-catching lounge, with exquisite mosaic floors, panoramic sea views and other-worldly draperies. Also worth a look is the pretty florist / conservatory area up at the top of the ship on Sunrise Deck. Art investors may prefer to haunt the ship's Art Gallery and size up what they plan to buy at auction; gamblers will find the Fortunes casino on Deck 4; and those with money left will find plenty to spend it on at Deck 5's Emporium shops, which stock everything from basics like sunscreen ($12) to dress jewellery (from $40), pashminas (from $15) and rather gaudy handbags (from $85). Higher up the price range, a tailor offers bespoke suits. Unusually, the ship has two computer centres and offers classes in computing (some free, some $20) as well as Internet access (from 38 to 53 cents per minute depending on which package you buy, the most basic costing $40 for 75 minutes). | | | | top | | | | Cabins
A fairly recent addition to Celebrity Constellation's range of cabins is a new "Concierge Class," priced halfway between balconied staterooms and suites. The extra cost covers a slightly larger-than-average balcony cabin (191 sq. ft.) and balcony, as well as the services of a concierge (who proved highly efficient in pursuing the baggage I lost at Heathrow's dreadful Terminal Five). Concierge Class travellers also get decent bathrobes, more choice of room service options, afternoon canapes and priority tendering and embarkation (which effectively means that instead of standing in a long queue with the hoi polloi they get to stand in a slightly shorter queue with other suite passengers.) Balconies are also equipped with nicer furnishings -- a real table (so eating meals outdoors is a pleasure) and cushioned chairs. My Concierge Class cabin (9181) was compact but quite cosy, with a small sofa, honeyed wood walls and well-placed mirrors giving a sense of space. Wardrobes were limited but adequate. The shower-only bathroom was small, though, with limited room for storage. The most popular stateroom is the standard verandah -- these feature twins that convert to a queen, a vanity, three closets and a seating area with a glass-top table. Bathrooms are efficient (though, again, small) with minimal storage. Balconies come with two plastic chairs. All inside, outside and standard balcony staterooms (called Deluxe Ocean View) span 170 square feet, which is considered fairly space-stingy these days. Beyond the standard cabins, there's a Family Ocean View stateroom (271 square ft. with a 242-square-ft. balcony), Sky Suite (251 square ft. with a 57-square ft. balcony), Celebrity Suite (467 square ft. with floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows), Royal Suite (538 square ft. with a 196-square-ft. balcony), and the Penthouse. The swankiest suite onboard, the Penthouse is 1,432 square ft. and features separate living and dining rooms, a baby grand piano, a PC with Internet access, and multiple audiovisual entertainment centres. The whopping 1,098-sq.-foot balcony comes equipped with a whirlpool, wet bar and lounge seating. The master bathroom has a tub set into a bay window. All suite residents are entitled to the services of a butler. All cabins have interactive television through which you can order shore excursions and room service, or watch pay-per-view, closed circuit or satellite TV. There are in-stateroom data ports and stocked mini-fridges (a price sheet is provided). Celebrity Constellation has a number of cabins -- both inside and sea view -- designed to accommodate travellers with disabilities. | | | | top | | | | Entertainment
Now that Celebrity has ended its arrangement with Cirque du Soleil -- under which members of the famed troupe performed on the ship -- Celebrity Constellation's entertainment programme has largely regressed to the kind of song-and-dance routines interspersed with the odd spot of comedy or magic that are the staple fare of so many cruise ships. The venue for production shows is the two-deck Celebrity Theatre, an elegant show lounge that -- with its raked seating, good sightlines and atmospheric flame-effect wall lamps -- deserves a higher standard of entertainment. In fairness, the performers on board were good quality and did a perfectly competent job, but the material was dull, and this is a complaint that can be levelled at far too many cruise ships. The entertainment highlight of our cruise was an evening performance of Beatles and Eagles classics given by a solo performer in the ship's Cova Cafe Milano. It's a bit sad to think that we have to look back 30 years for some music that gets our feet tapping. Constellation offers a cosy cinema (albeit showing rather out-of-date films), and the usual bands and soloists perform around the ship's pools by day and in the lounges every evening. Daytime entertainment is also fairly limited; an American psychiatrist offered some entertaining lectures and other speakers gave a few talks about the history of the Caribbean (a subject pretty much done to death on sailings from Florida). In between, Constellation offered the usual Bridge and line dance classes, quizzes and occasional "close up magic" sessions, but far too many events were linked to spa, art auction, shop or acupuncture promotions designed to encourage passengers to spend, spend, spend. Again, this is a situation all too common on many mass market ships, be they Budget, Contemporary or even Premium class. But a particular disappointment on Celebrity Constellation was the dearth of any really usable information about ports of call. A duo engaged to discuss port options on the in-cabin TV system did little more than witter vacuously about a few "recommended" shops, and "information" in the daily news sheets was largely of the "beaches and crystal clear waters are ideal for relaxation and water sports" variety. Passengers who hadn't researched the itinerary in advance (or hadn't snuck in quick and nabbed a guidebook from the library) were at a loss for details about what to do independently and therefore reliant on the ship's shore excursions -- the usual mix of catamaran trips, coach tours, and scuba, snorkel or submarine expeditions. In fairness, these were not unreasonably priced (a five-hour catamaran trip around Aruba, including snorkelling and a beach barbecue, cost $72 per adult, $52 per child), and a wide range of options was available. But a cruise line that aspires to attract fairly sophisticated passengers who want the choice of taking a tour or exploring on their own needs to do a better job. | | | | top | | | | Fitness and Recreation
Celebrity Constellation has a jogging track on Deck 11, overlooking the substantial outdoor lap, splash and whirlpools on deck 10. Other sports offerings include a golf simulator, basketball court, shuffleboard and ping pong tables. A pretty (and free-to-use) glassed-in thalassotherapy pool and solarium sit at the entrance to the AquaSpa, which spans a spacious 25,000 square ft. and has 12 treatment rooms, a well-equipped, large-windowed gym and a Persian Garden thermal suite. Pilates, Yoga and spinning (indoor cycling) classes cost $10 per session, use of the Persian Garden's mosaic-covered steam and sauna rooms and tropical showers costs $17 a go, and treatments are priced according to when they are taken, with port-day treatments a bit cheaper than those taken at sea. For example, a 50-minute facial costs $109 in port and $120 at sea, while a 75-minute hot stone massage costs $175 in port and $193 at sea. Perhaps the credit crunch is starting to bite on both sides of the Atlantic (or passengers are just tired of paying sky-high ship spa prices), but I saw plenty of spa special offers during my sailing -- including a rather pleasant Reflexology Combo, which comprised a 25-minute back massage with 25 minutes' reflexology for $89. The treatment took place in an Indonesian themed massage room with a large window and, refreshingly, didn't include the "hard sell" that mars so many otherwise relaxing spa treatments. The only jarring note was a long and rambling address by the captain, which came through loud and clear on the ship's emergency announcement system. My therapist assured me they were in the process of putting this right. | | | | top | | | | Family
Celebrity Constellation's Shipmates' Fun Factory children's area -- located on Sunrise Deck 11 -- now offers the Celebrity X Club Youth Programme divided into four age groups: Shipmates (3 - 6), Cadets (7 - 9), Ensigns (10 - 12) and Admiral T's (13 - 17). Activities include dinosaur studies, sushi making, miniature boat building and treasure hunts, while indoor / outdoor Fun Factory facilities include climbing frames and ball pools, paddling pools and water chutes, computer areas (offering plug-in guitar lessons) and The Tower -- a tall, large-windowed space for teens at the prow end of Deck 11. The youth programme will cater for children under three, but if they're not potty trained, they must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Slumber parties offer babysitting until 1 a.m. for $6 per hour per child (rising to $20 after 1 a.m., $25 after 2 a.m.). Child minding while the ship is in port is also offered at the $6 rate. | | | | top | | | | Fellow Passengers
American passengers dominate, but Celebrity is starting to make its mark in the U.K., so you can expect to find quite a few Britons on board too, alongside a smattering of Europeans. During Southern Caribbean sailings, a higher-than-average number of Puerto Ricans will be onboard because the San Juan cruise terminal is a "drive to" for them. Age-wise, Celebrity attracts a broad fan base; we met a wide range of people from twentysomething newlyweds to septuagenarians -- and a fair number of people were travelling in multi-generational family groups with grandparents, parents and kids all finding something to suit them on board. This ship is less appropriate for solo travellers, who will find few opportunities to hook up with others. | | | | top | | | | Dress Code
Celebrity Constellation is a fairly dressy ship, in the evenings at least. By day, passengers dress casually but fairly smartly; this is not a ship for string vests and flip flops. Most sailings include at least two formal nights, when you'll see a fair number of dinner jackets and evening frocks. | | | | top | | | | Gratuity
Guidelines recommend $12 (about ?6) per person per day in regular cabins, $15 (?7.84) for those in suites, but to make life easier you can either pre-pay these or have them added to your shipboard account. --updated by Maria Harding, Cruise Critic contributor | | | | top | | | | | Expert reviews are provided by CruiseCritic.com, an award-winning cruise community. This objective information can help you choose just the right ship for your next cruise vacation. | |  | |
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