These comments are from a cruiser with almost 50 sailings across many cruise lines. Celebrity does not live up to their claims of being an upscale line. The Constellation is a clean, well maintained, pretty ship, as are the Solstice class vessels. But higher prices and diminishing services are the flip side. In fact, it seems like they’re dividing passengers by classes as in the olden days of trans-Atlantic sailing. Some clubs and restaurants are restricted and specialty restaurants are severely overpriced. Further, they’re selling drink packages, etc., which only pay if you imbibe heavily, accept the inflated prices for duty free alcohol and don’t mind waiting 15 - 20 minutes at the typical bar. Even a can of soda is over $4., including the 18% mandatory gratuity.

The service staff is very friendly and does an excellent job although they lack the training to match the advertised level. Little touches such as providing the pepper mill or grated cheese when serving salads or pasta should be automatic if you claim 5-star service. The dining room menu looks impressive but the food doesn’t match. Veal Cordon Bleu should be a rolled delicate entrée, not a deep fried, oily slab of meat topped with ham and bland sauce. The always available sirloin is laughable at ½ inch thickness. Sadly, on 2 nights that was the most appealing selection available; but was passable when combined with a 2nd entrée of salmon. Seating in the main dining room is tight and if you’re at a table for two, you can be facing the butt of a patron at the next table.

Except for excellent omelets and tasty abundant nightly sushi, the Oceanview Buffet was lackluster and limited. The grill which offered fish or some meats to order at dinner and waffles for breakfast is so far aft like it was an afterthought. Also, it closed at 8:00am sharp on the last day, instead of 8:30 as listed in the daily sheet- so no pancakes. Read more