Celebrity Constellation

The 2002-built Celebrity Constellation cruise ship is the fourth and final Millennium-class vessel in the Celebrity Cruises fleet, alongside sisterships Infinity, Millennium, and Summit. The ship was scheduled for a "Celebrity Revolution" drydock refurbishment starting May 1, 2020.

The vessel (IMO number 9192399) is currently Malta-flagged (MMSI 249046000) and registered in Valletta.

History - Construction and Ownership

Celebrity Cruises was founded in 1988 as part of the Greece-based Chandris Line (operating between 1974–1996). In 1997, Royal Caribbean International (RCI) merged with Celebrity Cruises Ltd to form Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL). The iconic “X” on Celebrity ship funnels is the Greek letter chi, symbolizing "Chandris."

Signature features of Celebrity ships include aft-located glass-walled dining rooms, specialty restaurants, expansive atriums, numerous balcony cabins, large sundecks with pools, The Retreat (a suite-exclusive sundeck with pool, Jacuzzi, cabanas, and bar service), Rooftop Terrace (a top-deck outdoor cinema/lounge), spacious Spa areas with thermal suites, and upscale boutiques offering premium brand merchandise.

Often affectionately referred to as "Connie," the 2,200-passenger Celebrity Constellation is admired for her elegant atrium and marble staircases, ocean liner-inspired French restaurant, and an excellent 2-to-1 guest-to-crew ratio. Thoughtfully designed, the ship includes unique artistic touches such as the "Word Thief" sculpture—an abstract, word-shaped figure—and sea-view elevator banks that appear to flow with the ship’s curves.

Decks and Cabins

Celebrity Constellation staterooms number 1,065 total, across 27 categories. These include 50 Suites, 573 Balcony, 224 Oceanview, and 212 Inside cabins. Most cabins are approximately 170 ft² (16 m²), and around 60% feature private step-out balconies (averaging 40 ft² / 4 m²). There are 26 wheelchair-accessible cabins. The largest accommodations are the Penthouse Suites, which span 1,430 ft² (133 m²) with a 1,100 ft² (102 m²) wraparound terrace.

The ship has 12 passenger decks, with accommodations on 8 of them.

Shipboard Dining Options - Food and Drinks

Celebrity Constellation was the first Millennium-class ship to undergo a $40+ million upgrade during a 15-day drydock in May 2010. The renovations focused primarily on Decks 4 and 5, connecting the San Marco main dining room to the Celebrity Theater. The old Martini Bar was transformed into a sleek ice-topped venue with flair bartenders, and the original Champagne Bar became Cellar Masters, a wine lounge with self-serve dispensers. The new Tuscan Grille steakhouse replaced the onboard flower shop.

Here is the complete list of Celebrity Constellation's restaurants and food bars:

• Ocean Liners Restaurant (102-seat French fine dining, tasting menus, Champagne High Tea, wine cellar annex, and demo kitchen) – replaced by Tuscan Grille in 2017.
• San Marco Restaurant (1,140-seat aft main dining room with open seating for breakfast/lunch and two fixed dinner seatings at 6:00 and 8:30 PM)
• Bistro on Five (62-seat creperie with à la carte lunch/dinner and table-side service)
• Blu (102-seat exclusive restaurant for AquaClass guests; Suites guests may dine here when available)
• AquaSpa Café (92-seat complimentary health-focused bar in the Solarium; self-service for all meals)
• Seaside Café & Grill (695-seat buffet restaurant, indoor/outdoor; serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 6:30 AM to 1:00 AM)
• Tuscan Grille (82-seat reservations-only steakhouse/seafood restaurant)
• Mast Bar (original poolside burger grill, replaced in 2017 by Top Deck Burger Bar)

Shipboard Entertainment Options - Fun and Sport

Most of the ship’s entertainment takes place in the modern, three-deck Celebrity Theater, which hosts Vegas-style productions featuring Broadway and pop hits. Additional performers include live bands, singers, and comedians. The Rendezvous Lounge features live music with danceable favorites from the '40s and '50s. Reflections Lounge serves as a daytime observation space and transitions into a dance venue by night.

Here’s a full list of Celebrity Constellation’s lounges, clubs, and other entertainment venues for adults, teens, and children:

• Constellation Theatre (900-seat venue for musicals, games, trivia, bingo, movies)
• Grand Foyer Atrium (three-deck open area with live music)
• Cinema (also serves as a conference center)
• Michael’s Club (piano bar), Martini Bar, Crush Bar (ice-filled communal table)
• Photo Gallery & Shop
• Constellation Fortunes Casino
• Online@Celebrity Center (Apple computer sales and Internet access, classes available)
• Rendezvous Lounge & Nightclub
• The Emporium (duty-free shops: alcohol, tobacco, watches, luxury fashion, jewelry)
• Café al Bacio & Gelateria (83-seat specialty café and ice cream parlor)
• Cellar Masters (24-hour wine lounge with Enomatic system and evening sommelier service)
• Art Gallery, Library
• Acupuncture Room; AquaSpa & Fitness Complex (Thermal Suite, salon, Solarium, AquaSpa Café)
• Rooftop Terrace
• Qsine (signature restaurant)
• Fitness Center (with aerobics studio)
• Solarium Pool Area (adults-only Thalassotherapy pool, seawater lap pool, 2 whirlpools)
• Seaside Pool (with splash zone, 4 whirlpools, pool bar, and Pool Grill)
• Sunset Bar (120-seat alfresco bar offering cigars)
• Reflections Lounge (observation lounge by day, dance club by night)
• Kids' Clubs by age group: Fun Factory (3–11), Shipmates (3–5), Cadets (6–8), Ensigns (9–11); with supervised crafts, parties, games, scavenger hunts, movies, interactive play)
• X-Club (teen-only lounge and disco), Video Arcade
• Outdoor activities: Table tennis, shuffleboard, jogging track, multi-sport court, sun deck

As of 2023, Celebrity Cruises added pickleball courts across its fleet. On Millennium-class ships, including Constellation, the pickleball court is located at the Multi-Sports Court on Deck 12. Equipment is provided free of charge, with separate playing times for adults and families (ages 6+).

Itineraries

Celebrity Constellation’s itinerary program includes 4- and 5-night Bahamas and Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The ship also offers Black Sea and Mediterranean cruises departing from Civitavecchia-Rome, Venice, and Istanbul, along with seasonal Transatlantic repositioning voyages.

The vessel (Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard, hull number U31) has a volume of 90,940 GT, a deadweight of 11,763 tons, and a maximum draft of 8.3 meters. Her powerplant consists of twin gas turbine generators (two General Electric/GE gas turbines) delivering a combined output of 50 MW. The registered owner is CELEBRITY CONSTELLATION INC, while the managing company is CELEBRITY CRUISES INC.

Celebrity Cruises' Constellation (inaugural cruise on May 12, 2002; originally named "GTS Constellation," also known as "Connie") is the fourth and final Millennium-class ship, alongside sister ships Infinity, Millennium, and Summit.

The vessel was awarded Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Award for “Best Large Cruise Ship” in 2007.

The name “Constellation” is also shared with the 2017-built American Constellation, operated by ACL-American Cruise Lines.

Constellation boasts an impressive 2-to-1 guest-to-crew ratio. In May 2010, she became the first Millennium-class ship to undergo drydock refurbishment under Celebrity’s “Solsticizing” initiative. The ship primarily attracts upper-middle-class, well-traveled guests, mostly couples aged 40–70, from North America and Europe (notably the UK, Germany, and France), though demographics may vary by season and itinerary.

The May 2010 refurbishment, costing over USD 40 million, significantly refreshed the decor and introduced new venues such as the Tuscan Grille. Key upgrades included converting the Champagne Bar into Cellar Masters and revamping the Martini Bar. The April 2013 drydock added further “Solsticization” enhancements, including 107 AquaClass cabins, 66 new staterooms, additional balcony rooms, a new color scheme, upgraded basketball court, expanded craft beer offerings at Michael’s Club, new sun loungers, the iLounge with Apple workstations, upgraded meeting spaces, and a retail shop.

Celebrity Constellation Refurbishment – 2020

The ship underwent a major drydock from April 16 to May 25, 2020, at the Navantia Shipyard in Cadiz, Spain, as part of the USD 70 million “Celebrity Revolution” program.

Enhancements included new staterooms, full cabin refurbishments with new furniture, LED lighting, carpets, drapes, linens, artwork, RFID door locks (card and wristband access), Bluetooth connectivity, and renovated bathrooms. Deck 12 gained two new features: The Retreat (forward, a suite-only sundeck) and the Rooftop Terrace (aft, an outdoor cinema and bar).

The Celebrity Revolution program (USD 500 million fleetwide across 9 ships) included:

• Complete stateroom and public area renovations to match Edge-class standards. Designs by HBA (Hirsch Bedner Associates, USA) and Kelly Hoppen (UK).
• eXhale bedding with cashmere mattresses and modern in-room technology (RFID locks, Bluetooth, Xcelerate Wi-Fi).
• Addition of The Retreat: an adults-only sundeck with a pool, whirlpool, private cabanas, padded loungers, and full bar service.
• Redesigned Luminae Restaurant (Suites-only) with new menus by chef Cornelius Gallagher.
• Qsine Restaurant now offers “Le Petit Chef,” a virtual dining experience created by Skullmapping and TableMation Studios.
• Redesigns of the Main Dining Room, Oceanview Café, Sunset Bar, and most public spaces.

The SEA Thermal Suite was added to the Spa, and the retail area expanded with premium brands including Hublot (luxury Swiss watches) and Shinola (luxury leather goods and accessories).

In 2021, the ship again visited Navantia Shipyard for technical maintenance, including upgrades to propulsion and steering systems. The hull was hydro-blasted and coated with silicone-based fouling-release paint.

Celebrity Constellation Refurbishment – 2017

During the May 12–26, 2017 drydock in Cadiz, Spain, the following upgrades were implemented:

• Deck 12 (aft): Rooftop Terrace was introduced, a multifunctional outdoor space with cozy furniture, ambient sound, and a large movie screen. It also serves as the evening venue for “A Taste of Film.”
• Deck 3 (Plaza): Ocean Liners Restaurant was replaced with Tuscan Grille (surcharge steakhouse). A new Future Cruise Sales office, portrait studio (The Studio), and a redesigned Cinema/Conference Center were added.
• Deck 5: a new retail store was opened and the shopping arcade was refurbished.
• Deck 11 (midship): Qsine restaurant was introduced.
• Deck 4 (Promenade): Casino was refurbished; Deck 10 (Lido): Solarium and Spa Café were refreshed with new flooring and furniture; the themed Casino decor was removed.
• Deck 10 (Lido/Pool): Mast Grill was replaced with the Top Deck Burger Bar offering a full fast-food menu, including Celebrity Signature Burgers and Build-Your-Own options.

Significant upgrades were made to all Suite categories (Royal and Penthouse), including new furnishings and amenities. All cabins received RFID door locks, renovated bathrooms with marble finishes, tiled floors, improved lighting, new powder rooms, carpets, drapes, linens, and artwork.

Celebrity Constellation Refurbishment – 2013

Following the April 2013 drydock, the ship received the following enhancements:

• 66 new staterooms added: 17 Oceanview, 12 Interior, and 37 AquaClass.
• 107 balcony cabins upgraded to AquaClass Spa category.
• Sky Suite balconies were refurbished.
• Basketball court on Deck 12 was upgraded.
• Deck 4 (Promenade, Grand Foyer): new Martini Bar and Crush Bar added.
• Deck 5: Bistro on Five (creperie) added, later renamed Sushi on Five in 2016.
• Michael’s Club menu expanded to feature over 60 craft beers.
• A new retail store was added.
• Deck 6: iLounge replaced the old Online@Celebrity Center and added new Apple workstations.
• Deck 10: new sun loungers installed on the pool deck; the fitness center received new gym equipment.

Wi-Fi was upgraded to provide shipwide coverage. All cabins and public areas received new carpets, upholstery, and draperies.