| Once we had docked I went for breakfast at the Seaside Café. A waiter took my tray, asked where I wanted to sit, suggested the verandah and led me out there. It was a bit chilly but nice to eat on the open air. Cobh was the only port I wasn't interested in so decided to explore the ship some more as there were still many places I hadn't seen. I began at Ocean Liners to see more of it and the displays than I saw the previous night. |
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| This was outside Acupuncture at Sea. Can you spot the mistake? Then it was onto the Champagne Bar, which was identical in decor to the Martini Bar the other side. In fact, both merged into each other. |
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| This was the only time I got bored between having explored and waited for departure/dinner as the afternoon activites were pretty boring and I don't like lounging by the pool getting skin cancer when I burn easily. We cast off at 5.55pm and blasted then headed towards Dublin. Dress was informal for dinner and I discovered four new people at the table. Ronnie and Sandra were married while June and Colin were mother and son who had been on a draughty table on Deck 4 and asked to move. Conversations became lively as Ronnie and Sandra were well travelled. They'd even done Navigator of the Seas! After dinner I collected the latest photos and went up to the shop to buy an album where I bumped into Caryll for the first time since after lunch on Wednesday. We had a bit of a natter then I returned to the cabin. I was so tired still and in bed by 10.45pm. I was awake at 6am as we were coming into Dublin and went on deck. It's a very industrial port full of ferries and container ships which made Southampton docks look attractive! Irish Ferry Ulysses was in, which I'm told was quite new or something. |
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| I had booked the Powerscourt Estate and Country Pub Lunch in County Wicklow which set off at 9.30am as it was the only thing I fancied doing. Despite my dad's ancestors coming over from Ireland during the potato famine to Liverpool, the country itself has never interested me. I went to the Celebrity Theater to wait. Finally we were called and the two Americans I walked back with on Guernsey were also on the trip. The younger one didn't manage to find a jacket. She wanted one with Guernsey on and there weren't any. We boarded the coach and waited for two stragglers who turned up just as we set off after giving them an extra five minutes. I got a shot of the gangway since it was her final trip as a Gas Turbine Ship before converting to more economical diesel during the refit. |
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| When we arrived at Powerscourt we were given just eighty minutes to look around. Not a problem for the house, which is bare anyway save for a few things. But nowhere near enough time for the gardens. This is one of the few criticisms I have about the trip. Considering the ship didn't sail until 7pm (or 6.55pm), we could have had at least another hour which would have left those wanting to go shopping afterwards with still enough time. |
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| Once we got back on the coach we headed to the village in Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, just five minutes away from the Estate for lunch. They had hired a room and we waited for lunch. When it finally came it was on an enormous plate containing half a chicken, mashed potato and loads of swede and carrots. No one ate all of it! Such a waste really and no need for something so large. Pudding was apple pie and cream. The apple was nice but the pastry was horrible. All in all we had longer at lunch than at the Estate which was wrong. We boarded the coach at 1.30pm and again had to wait for stragglers who this time went shopping, though not the same ones as in the morning who had simply got lost on the ship. |
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| Once we had done a short driving tour through Dublin to drop potential shoppers off, we returned to the dock and were back by 2.45pm. |
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| I was in the restaurant for our 7pm sailaway but managed to get this quick picture of the pilot boat through the window before they lowered the shades. |
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| Tonight was the Baked Alaska Parade! I was annoyed I hadn't taken the camcorder but then I hadn't every night. If I'd known they were doing this I would have. The main staff were introduced and went straight down to the passengers on Deck 4, ignoring us on Deck 5 completely! |
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| Our waiter Stephron and head waiter Doods posing for photos above. They were great fun. Once dinner was over and I'd eaten a slice of that gorgeous Baked Alaska, I went with June and Colin to The bar at the edge of the Earth for a singles and independent travellers meet. Only five of us turned up so we left but not before I took some pics while it was still light. |
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| I bumped into Colin and went to see Scottish singer Jack Walker in the theatre while June went to see Brokeback Mountain in the cinema. He was excellent with a very powerful voice. Miles better than Jane McDonald who became famous after the BBC docusoap The Cruise filmed on Celebrity's Galaxy back in 1998. He had CDs for sale so I went to buy them. The table was right next to a door to the deck which a man opened, making everything blow everywhere. |
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| In the Bar at the edge of the Earth they had a 50s and 60s Sock Hop which was fun. My first late night! There was a DJ at first followed by Acapella group Grand Central and then Intenz until 1am when the DJ took over again. There was a Twist competition to the song, Peppermint Twist where, as they involved the audience, I was an up and downer. You really had to be there. I left at 1am and headed for bed. |
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| Sunday was a day at sea so I took the opportunity for a lie in, getting up at 8.50am. I relaxed in the cabin writing postcards as my hair dried then went for lunch. I was tempted by the fish and chips only the chips were actually potato wedges. After picking up the latest photo and DVD I went back to the cabin and got the following pic of our slightly rough sea. |
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| Resty was telling me about superstitions. An elderly couple down the corridor, she said, sleep with a cork under their pillow to stop their legs getting cramp. She also said in the Philippines if you get a fish bone stuck in your throat you should put on one your head. She showed me a few things in the cabin which need replacing, as well as fine scratches on the mirror as well as saying she treats people the way she would like to be if she went on a cruise. On the first day she asks how you would like to be addressed and then calls you that the rest of the voyage. You couldn't ask for a better stateroom attendant with her friendliness and great sense of humour. Gary came down to look at the balcony at 2.05pm and the next thing 90 mins had passed! He was due to meet Allan at 2.30pm. It was casual night for the last night so down to dinner. I got some ribbing over the amount of photos I took, especially of the food, but they joined in and even encouraged me. The photo below is of me, Eileen, Christine, Ronnie, Sandra, June and Colin. |
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| Sandra had missed Strephron's quiet singing so he sang to her then June told him to sing to me while she took my camcorder and taped it. I could have died! I was so embarrassed. |
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| I decided to see the Farewell show in the theatre but got this pic of Online@Celebrity on the way. I bumped into Caryll and Brenda at the other end of the casino and we went in together, sitting on Deck 5. As you weren't allowed to use the flash for photos, these are the best of the bunch. |
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| And so it was time for bed on the final night. Dozed off after midnight and was woken by a text once we reached civilisation at 3.20am. I got up to see where we were as although the daily programme said arrival 6am it was actually listed on VTS as 5.30am. Fifteen minutes later I saw the pilot boat so guessed we were off Nab. I kept an eye out of the doors and as soon as I realised we were past Calshot I shot up on deck. It was getting light as we passed Hythe. They were packing things away for the refit and the funnel was lit for the only time during the entire cruise I expected Constellation to go up to the turning circle then come back down to dock but she turned by 101. |
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| And so the cruise was over. I had my instructions to go to the Rendez-Vous Lounge for 8.40am to disembark but as soon as I sat down twenty minutes earlier we were told we could go. It was very easy finding my case and all I had to do was get a taxi. It had been a great five nights and if Celebrity didn't charge double for singles I'd be booking a longer one but I simply can't afford it. Overall I'd give the Celebrity experience and cruise 9/10. A few things could have been better. Activities need more variation, especially in the evenings when you had a choice of music, music and music in the bars. Be warned if you plan on sending any letters or postcards from the ship. They charged 79 cents for UK postage, $2 to the US and $3 to Australia and all were posted on arrival at Southampton on the 30th! From the UK, US and Australian postal rates are the same and about $1. They really should adapt and not use their set rates. Then there's confusion if you have the same name as another passenger. I also had trouble joining the Captain's Club due to that Canadian so my details don't match theirs. I've already mentioned the lack of time at Powerscourt. Apart from those minor grievances everything was wonderful, the muzak constantly playing on deck wasn't irritating any more than the hammering when I tried to doze or at other times and it was a shame to leave. For photos of Constellation leaving on this cruise, click here. For photos of her leaving later the morning of the 30th April for Brest and her refit, click here. |
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