I have been on both ships. We like the Mercury better for different reasons than you may. Both are GREAT! SO pick the one with the best itinerary. Longer cruise will give you more of the atmosphere you are wanting. I am 33 but like to travel with an adult crowd (if you catch my drift.) The older the crowd the more traditional style dancing you will see (even at the disco). We were on the two week transatlantic this month and the live band was great! They played oldies and modern music. People danced the waltz and two step for everything! Now the current musical group that plays in the rendevous lounge prior to second seating sucked! (Bad voices and no bass) We laughed but tons of people danced away while waiting for dinner time.
Personally, I like the poolside deck aboard the Mercury better than Constellation. It is a whole unit where pool games can be seen by all. The Constellation is broken up and parts are elevated. I think that because it is a bigger ship with more passengers they tried to make it feel more private. Really they just ruined a great group space.
The best difference between the two ships is that the Mercury is German built and the Constellation is French. You can really see the difference. It is like a Mercedes VS the new Jag (owned now by Ford). Although the Constellation is very new, it is showing sigs of age the Mercury has yet to ever see. In our cabin we had our veranda door squeek with the ship movement. Our parents door to their veranda had a broken lock. Both cabins were missing 25-30% of the grout from the shower floor and had several cracked tiles. Probably from ship flex and cleaners. The Mercury we thought was more solid and had less noise from neighboring cabins and facilities.
Either way you will have a great trip!
Aaren
Rhapsody of the Seas / Panama Canal 1998
Vision of hte Seas / Panama Canal 1999
Mercury / Panama Canal 2001
Constellation / Transatlantic 2002
Constellation / Transatlantic 2003
Infinity / Hawaii 2004
