This was our 3rd cruise on the Constellation and it reinforced our liking for medium sized cruise ships. However, the Connie is in desperate need of some major TLC. She is most definitely showing signs of her age, with broken / damaged external stair treads, heavy rusting corrosion showing through on many steel surfaces and also areas of galvanic corrosion on aluminium surfaces. There were numerous damaged tiles in the pool area and the Taff rails were a disgrace. I am lead to believe that a costly major refit is due in the spring of this year. I do hope that Celebrity management do not just add; “yet further to the additional revenue making opportunities” But actually carry out a proper refurbishment for the benefit of the majority of cruises who do not wish to be fleeced even further by the ever increasing on board costs for nearly all additional previously free activities and amenities. (rant over)

We flew overnight KLM/Etihad from Edinburgh to Abu Dhabi via Amsterdam on the 1st of January and arrived at the cruise terminal around 11:30. Regrettably this was also the time a significant number of busses arrived with a large number of passengers from Dubai and this onslaught somewhat overwhelmed the very limited number of check in staff on duty. As result, we were in the check in line in for over 2 hours........ I would strongly advise to either check in early or later in the afternoon for future cruises departing from Abu Dhabi.

Thankfully after this slightly inauspicious start, most other things on the cruise, either met or exceeded our personal expectations. Read more