This was the first time Jet, Set, Sail departed from Cardiff and the airport is certainly not yet set up for this type of cruise package. We'd checked out the private terminal/lounge at Stansted on the Internet and realised that Cardiff couldn't compete so our expectations were low. Free parking was allocated at Cardiff airport. Check in was very easy with dedicated desks. We were told we'd be fast-tracked through security and that we would be able to go directly through to the gate where we would be served refreshments before boarding. However, the fast-track lane was closed as the airport was "quiet". We were then stopped at security to go through the scanner which hadn't been calibrated so it couldn't be used but we were still kept waiting for quite a while. We were then denied access to the gate as "they weren't ready for us", despite passengers having already gone through. As a result there were a number of irate passengers. We waited for about 35 minutes in the main terminal before being allowed to go to the gate. Once through there were plenty of pastries along with tea, coffee, juices and Prosecco on offer.

Initially the JSS (Jet, Set, Sail) cruises were marketed as using a private jet providing a business class experience, this was then "downgraded" to Premium Economy. Unfortunately, this has been over-hyped, basically the plane is a 737-300 chartered from Titan Airways. We were allowed a generous 25kg of luggage. The flight was comfortable but I'm not sure we had 31" of leg room as was advertised. A hot breakfast was served with tea, coffee and juice but some passengers complained that there were no alcoholic drinks offered. Service was very good and the crew very pleasant.

On arrival at Barcelona we had to wait for almost an hour for our luggage to arrive on the carousel, then we had to queue up to give our names to the Celebrity representatives and pass our luggage to the porters to transport to the ship. Some passengers thought that once their luggage was checked in at Cardiff they would not see it again until it was delivered to the cabin on the ship. We were escorted to the coach for transfer to Celebrity Constellation where check in went very smoothly. Read more