Constellation UK & Ireland
Back in 2006, Celebrity Cruises Constellation was originally due to call at Southampton on the 20th September 2007 en route back to America.  However I discovered at the beginning of August some changes.  September's visit had been cancelled and instead we were getting a 5 night UK & Ireland cruise from the 25th-30th April so they could sail for refit at the end.  As it's not every day we get a Celebrity ship cruising from here I didn't hesitate in booking.  Prices for single travellers aren't cheap on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity.  I had to pay double for my 2C grade balcony stateroom 6108 on Penthouse Deck (6) making it £938.40 including tax and pre-paid tips.  The balcony upgrade from Oceanview cost an extra £330 but when you look at the total price it was worth every extra penny.  Considering on some other lines you pay around the same for less days and no balcony this was excellent value for money and I didn't mind paying.  Things hadn't been smooth sailing (no pun intended) in the run up to the cruise.  I had problems first with my online profile.  They had given me a Captain's Club number.  I didn't think anything of it as Cunard and P&O give you their club numbers before sailing even though they don't become active until you have completed the first cruise.  My profile wasn't saving so I contacted the UK office.  A very nice lady called Viv discovered there was a woman in Canada with the same name and they'd given me her number!  She removed it and problem solved.  Or it was until I enquired about pre-booking the Ocean Liners Restaurant. Natasha at the UK office told me bookings weren't being taken until the 25th February and to email her then, which I did.  I received confirmation in March from the Miami office and again they thought I was this Canadian!  I tried to reply to her explaining I wasn't but got back an automated away reply so emailed Natasha asking her to tell them.  They were very good about it and due to the mix up let me keep the booking so it looks like you can't pre-book unless you are a Captain's Club member. The build-up to the excitement began on the 2nd April when Constellation's older sister Millennium arrived from Fort Lauderdale to Southampton on her first visit since 2000 when she was fresh from the shipyard but this time would be heading off to St Nazaire for a refit.  She returned on the 21st and watching her arrive in the morning then sail down Southampton Water made me like a kid in a sweet shop.  Millennium was doing a repositioning cruise to Barcelona and was the first to use the revamped City Cruise Terminal at 101, which had been closed since mid-October.  Liberty of the Seas was 2nd on the 22nd-24th while Constellation was the 3rd.  It was officially reopened on the 26th when Navigator of the Seas arrived for a series of summer cruises.  As Millennium headed out towards the Isle of Wight I kept thinking how four days later it would be me. And so the big day arrived.  My second ever cruise and my first alone.  I knew a few people who were going but being on my own worried me a bit.  Not safety but boredom!  I'm not one for spending hours in the bars, lounging by the pool or gambling so how would I pass the time?  I would soon find out.  I caught the 11.40am Hythe ferry after meeting up with Caryll from The Crows Nest board and her friend Brenda and one of the crew kept asking them questions about the cruise before getting on the phone!  It was a lovely day.  Constellation was in 101 with Ocean Village Two in 106.  Saga Ruby was also meant to be in but was delayed until the next day after bad weather on the east coast of America which kept her in New York longer.
After sharing a taxi we arrived at City Cruise Terminal.  Externally it's really no different even though they have knocked into the old Windward shed.  The old entrance was closed so you had to walk a bit to the new one.
Once inside you have a choice of queues to join.  I can't remember what they were now but I think it was Captain's Club and non-CC.  You show your ticket then go through to security followed by the new check-in hall.  Again there were different queues, those for Xpress pass and those without.  I had filled in the online check-in so went to Xpress.  There was no queue at all.  She took my form, passport and credit card, did a couple of checks then returned the credit card and passport, gave me my Sea Pass/cabin key and a number then I went through to departures to wait until called.  I have to admit I was a bit disappointed with the terminal.  Despite spending a reported £9 million, it didn't look much different to when I visited Black Watch.  There was now a picture window looking onto the dock and chairs where the check-in desks used to be, plus a new way through to board the ship but it was still blue with the same chairs!
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			(C) Copyright Patricia Dempsey 25th-30th April & 3rd May 2007 Not to be reproduced without permission