This was our ninth cruise, fifth on Celebrity and third on Constellation! Obviously we like Celebrity. Why? Consistently good service, better than average food and itineraries that suit us. Stateroom: We like Concierge Class mainly for the extra room in the cabin. Regular balcony staterooms are 170 sq. ft.: concierge are 191 ..but that extra 20 sq. ft makes all the difference in getting around the bed and having a bit more room in the sitting area. Amenities are nice: flowers fruit, champagne, pillow choices, canapes, robes, a concierge to help with reservations, personalized stationery etc. We particularly like the priority embarkation and disembarkation since we do not like standing in lines. The priority luggage delivery never seems to happen however; frequently we do not get luggage until after the lifeboat drill which makes it a rush to unpack before dinner if you have the early seating. So its best to pack a swim suit or something casual if you board early. A note regarding early boarding if you are driving we have observed that Security at Port Everglades will not let new passengers through the gates until 11 a.m. In addition to a covered parking garage we found a gated open-air parking lot adjacent to Pier 18 that has a shuttle to the pier (price is same as covered garage but is much more convenient if leaving from Pier 18). More about the cabin: The door to the hallway is VERY heavy but if you pull it all way back there is a "stop" which prevents the door from slamming onto you. At the dressing table there are two sets of electric outlets, one on each side of the mirror. One is for US appliances and the other for European. Room service is excellent. We really like breakfast on our balcony; the table is pedestal height ( not so in the regular balcony cabins) and the menu choice is outstanding. The poached eggs always come perfectly cooked ...better than in the dining room. And the service is always prompt at the time you have requested (they call to let you know its on the way).

This is getting lengthy already but I want to share some small details with you rather than repeat the general info you all know about Constellation. Dining: We took early dining at a table for 8. We have met some wonderful people from all over the world doing that and never had an unpleasant group. However, after experiencing HAL "Anytime Dining" we are really sold on that. Early dining at 6 p.m. and late at 8.30 do not fit our preference. The food was definitely better on this cruise as compared with last year's. Choices were better also; the only complaints I heard were about the toughness of the steaks and smallness of the lobster tails. I must say our waiter was more than happy to bring extra lobster for those that wanted more. We opted for the buffet for lunch and found it to be well organized with plenty of choices and thank you for TRAYS to carry the food. (HAL has done away with trays and it only makes you load one plate to avoid several trips.) The wine list seemed to have become more expensive in the lower categories. To avoid this becoming a book I will skip comments on entertainment and activities except to say that the Thalassotherapy pool is great...the 90+ degree heat really loosens up the old joints! Now to the beaches: since we do not enjoy the "canned" shore excursion we have found it more enjoyable to find our own transportation mid morning to beaches with calm water and amenities like chairs and umbrellas. The we can set our own timetable for the trip. We rarely eat at the beach but the ones I mention here all have some food. St. Thomas: Having sampled most beaches here we like Coki Beach which has great snorkeling and the clearest water in the whole Caribbean! Actually you can see the fish swimming around your feet without a mask! Find a taxi or van to share, it will cost $9 each way per person (set rate)for 25 minute ride. Best time to go is before noon ...later on it can get crowded. Views are beautiful and taxis plentiful for return ride. St. Kitts: For a change of pace we took Mr. X's water taxi to Frigate Bay Beach. $10 per person round trip for a 15 minute ride. Wear sneakers to get on/off the motor boat. They will accommodate your return timetable (ask on the outbound trip). Beach is large and water calm but there are lots of shells at the water's edge which can make getting in a bit tricky. Someone from the water taxi co. will be selling tickets just outside the gate to the pier and the walk to the boat is 2-3 minutes. St. Lucia: Joined up with 6 more people to get a van to Rodney Bay (Reduit Beach) ...bargained for $10 per person round trip and agreed on set time for return trip. This is normally a 25 minute trip but if more than one ship docked the roads get clogged with traffic and you can expect a longer trip. There are 2 beaches closer to town and pier but one is on top of the airport (noise!!!) and the other does not have amenities. Refuit has nice gently sloping beach and lots of beach toys to rent. St. Maarten (Philipsburg): with limited time here we chose to take the water taxi from the pier to the town beach which stretches out either side of the town pier. Taxi is $4 one way or $6 round trip (unlimited trips allowed). Water appeared clean and behind is boardwalk and shops. Two large water taxis run continuously so there's never a long wait. Be sure to get the armband when you pay at the kiosk before boarding. Phew: sorry to have been so long winded but hope you find something of value here.