JonAlone

We are checking out Celebrity Reflection ex Rome round trip. They offer an overnight in Istanbul and it sounds like a wonderful itinerary. We will probably spend three nights in Rome pre-cruise. Another chance to toss a penny in the Trevi fountain! We have been on the Millenium and the Summit but this will be our first on the Reflection

 

It does look like Celebrity is changing its itineraries for cruises out of Istanbul for 2016:)

We are doing this cruise on 29th June.... Reflection is a great ship as are all Celebrity Solstice class ships...

hohum.... anyone on this sailing??

Looks like it may be a romantic holiday... ha ha

Hi all

 

I am sailing on this cruise with my ex partner from Malaysia. Looking forward to a great holiday on an amazing ship with an exciting list of ports of call.

 

Anyyone else on this sailing??

Would be nice to meet more guys on this sailing....

This is what the press release says regarding this

"With handcrafted dishes that are made from scratch, the unique menus will also feature locally sourced regional and seasonal ingredients inspired by the destinations Celebrity sails to among the world’s seven continents."

 

You can be fairly sure that the "locally sourced regional and seasonal ingredients" will all be routed via the purchasing department in Miami.

 

You won't see the chef visiting the local market with his basket to pick local product. If you think about it he would be picking enough for 90 people. It would take a small army of kitchen porters to carry it all back to the ship.

 

Gordon

Ha!!

We went to Chef's Table in Elite Plus Lounge twice last September on Oasis of the Seas TA from Ft Lauderdale to Barcelona. This too was supposed to be the Chef's selection of the finest ingredients of the day, and the best possible available menu specially prepared and wine matched with the finest cellar offerings.

Amazing how the menu was exactly the same, as was the speech from the chef and the list of wines chosen, on day 5 and day 11 of a non-stop Transatlantic sailing!

I guess the scallops and sole were (hopefully) frozen or we would have been very sick!

I guess the chef chose from the finest ingredients in the freezer - and this was probably on instruction from Miami too.. Not quite as advertised either! And with an average spend of $12.75 per day on Celebrity, the $80 per head surcharge was a little excessive on Royal Caribbean.

I am also a little concerned about disruption. Not so much from the actual construction process, but disruption due to increased wait times for Select dining because of the reduced space in the dining room. This is my first Celebrity cruise (2/28 sailing) and I was really looking forward to it, now I am a little concerned this will detract from the experience.

Although whatever happens it will beat snowy Chicago I'm sure :)

I am concerned that Arno and others who are regular cruisers on Celebrity are more forgiving too as shareholders.

Celebrity do not advertise their cruises as "Ships undergoing modernisation" or "Under partial development" - They advertise as being super luxury holidays for new cruisers expecting the best possible experience, especially when celebrating a special occasion such as a wedding party, of a major birthday or anniversary! Nice to have your life experience, for which many may have saved over a period of time, spoiled by construction work and hoardings in the MDR !!

They wouldn't put a London bus on the streets with a section closed off for repair or alteration - Why a - QUOTE - "Cruise of a lifetime!" ??????

As a shareholder, this makes zero sense. Taking a ship out of service costs hundreds of thousands of dollars per day. It just isn't going to happen, and is one of the nuances of a cruise vacation. Hotels remodel and don't close down entirely either.

 

You have a very unrealistic expectation with regard to such matters.

 

From the year end 10K filing by RCL:

• The only real savings would be from food savings which averages about $12.75 per person per day or $35,700 per day. So an argument can't be made that the expense are an important figure to compare to the rvenues as an offset being generated. Also the food cost includes the cost of feeding crew, so I'd say let's only take 2/3 of this figure as savings, as the other 1/3 is still being spent to feed crew and staff.
  

I love the fact that the food budget is $12.75 per day.... for I am guessing 4 - 5 meals on average... ( 6 - 7 if from Florida)

How then can they justify another $35 - $45 for Speciality dining venues?? The cost of 4 days food?? perhaps 20 - 30 meals?

Guarantee cabins are like lottery tickets. You don't know what you are going to get. You are reserving a cabin type, but you can't choose the cabin you want. The prices of guarantee cabins are lower than the same cabin when you choose the one that you want. Some people get lucky and are upgraded or get a really good room but that's not the norm. If you ask here what most get when booking a guaranteed suite, for example, the answer is an S-2 and most times accessible. Some get a Royal suite or a Celebrity suite, but not often. If you booked a guaranteed cabin expecting the best cabin available, then someone didn't give you the best advice.

About lighting and the best seats available, I like my table with a view, close to a window. But to us the best table is the one we share with friends, where we can have a good conversation.

We are suite guests most of the time and have been assigned good and bad tables. Again, sometimes you get lucky sometimes you don't. Looking forward to try the new Suite dining room in July. Believe me, we are paying a premium price for this privilege. I was taught that you get what you pay for.

Elite status on Celebrity offers upgrades when available too.. I have never had the benefit of that either..

I see you recently cruised on the worst ship I have ever experienced.. Adventure of the Seas. This was the most revolting scenario when the smell in the cabin on arrival was so gross I refused to unpack and insisted on leaving the ship. Inspection of mattress and duvet + carpet around the bed confirmed my worst suspicions! I do hope it was a better experience for you. Only when the ship had sailed with me on-board due to nobody coming from guest relations in time for me to leave, and with me unpacking in the Maharaja Lounge to occupy for the trip, did they eventually find a new mattress and bed linen then deep clean the cabin to make it acceptable. This process took 6 or 7 hours with me guarding my suitcases throughout.

Sounds to me like you'd take it if it was handed to you, low ceiling, darkness and all. Oh the humanity. :D

hmmmmmmmm ... Whereas I rarely look a gift horse in the mouth, I think I am done with Blu, the menu is too repetitive on every cruise so far.. and although it feels a little special, it is like every decent restaurant in London, whereas MDR is a bit special and if you get good table service, it can be finer dining.

I have had deals on Aqua before and paid about £100 extra for a 16 night TA which was worth it, but friends chose to eat in Blu every night and mid cruise it can lack imagination.

Huh????? :rolleyes: I know quite a few people who cruise in suites on X, have been lucky enough to do so myself on occasion.....none were or are airline crew.... I work hard and pay the going rate..... (mind you I wouldn't mind a special deal...but that's not likely...)

It is a bit like paying full fare to travel first class on a flight .. most there are having fares paid by businesses, in the trade for free upgrades or using airmiles.... few actually put their hands in their own pockets for the privilege of a comfy seat and a glass of champagne. There are always exceptions that set the price to discount for others.

I have been on Celebrity and RC having booked guarantee grade outside cabins when cruise staff have been allocated suites - This really is against the principle of a "guarantee cabin" which is a contract supposed to be for the best free cabin available... but they give the best ones away to staff ! - I no longer book an X-Grade cabin because of this.

With regard to lighting: These areas may have windows but for dinner these will be dark. The best lighting is in the centre area of the lower deck in MDR or against the railings on the upper decks. Here you get the advantage of the ambient and spot lighting as well as the higher ceilings and better acoustics. Ceilings are very much lower where the new venue is situated. There is unlikely to be enough ceiling height for something similar to the chandeliers in Blu... so expect more coloured LEDs and concealed ambient fitments. More than likely illuminated wall features. It is a shame candles aren't allowed.

I am sailing on Reflection end of June, but unless someone high up wants to upgrade me I wont be trying Luminae or Blu...

I don't really appreciate separate class dining and can not see the benefit of taking the dark section of MDR and turning it into an elite dining room. Surely it will use the same kitchens and have the same low ceiling. It will not have the atmosphere of the grand dining room that hopefully will not be spoiled by sectioning off this area.

A lot of work was done designing the original MDR and the Solstice Class MDR is one of the most beautiful rooms afloat. Now it will appear lop sided.

I do feel that if Suite passengers want to have separate sun decks, different spa or theatre areas and private dining rooms, perhaps they would be happier on Regent or Azamara ? On Celebrity most users will be airline crew who get special deals, so what is the real benefit for anyone?

I am yet to be convinced.

Hi all

I am sailing on this cruise with my ex partner from Malaysia. Looking forward to a great holiday on an amazing ship with an exciting list of ports of all.

Anyyone else on this sailing??

Celebrity Reflection is a great ship. We love Celebrity and they are VERY gay friendly.

Silhouette is my favourite so far.. as you can see, I gave been on it a few times.. It is a happy ship and the staff at Martini Bar always seem to be the best of all of their ships.

It also has Gayzar (Quazar) Nightclub, sadly missing on Reflection.

check out the Celebrity Reflection on June 29th 2015. Overnight in Istanbul and take is Mykonos too.. Pied Piper have a great reputation and I have been on board (not with them) when they have had a group on the ship. A fun mixed crowd by the looks of things.. and the deals they offer appear to be very good value.

I have never heard a bad word against them and they are thoroughly charming on the phone when you make enquiries too.

I would happily book with them, tho never have done so yet.

This looks like a great trip to Istanbul overnight, Mykonos, Kusadasi, Santorini, Naples etc,

Who can resist Mykonos in June??

I am travelling with my sort of Ex - (it is a long story involving visas etc) so looking forward to more people joining in the forum and getting a group together for walking round the ports and site-seeing.

No Gayzar on this ship but I understand there are other options. Martini Bar is always a good meeting point too.

This is my 21st cruise and CT's third on Celebrity.

Quite a few of us that have met on RC and Celebrity are meeting again to do this cruise... 4 boys from Scotland, Me from England (London) - 2 from Maintz in Germany, 2 from Finland, 1 from Ft Lauderdale and 2 from Palm Beach . and the list goes on as I dont know them all...

I only booked last week as I was waiting for single fares to drop...

Anyone planning on going to Sitges after the cruise had better try to sort accommodation asap... it is Bear Week and thinks are likely to be busy for the first few days!

Hoping for hot weather crossing and no USA storms please...!

I am Diamond on RC via my Celebrity points... Any point in doing a drinks package???

I arrive in Fort Lauderdale on 29th staying solo at Il Lugano if anyone is around to meet up pre-cruise...

sounds like a plan!!

Booked, packed and ready to go now...

Will be good to see you guys .. it has been a while!

JON! Diane and I are booked on the 19 April Silhouette to Amsterdam. You should join our merry little band!

havent checked that one for next year yet.... this is an extra cruise for September.

need to make a decision this week... not sure I want to do this cruise solo as dining on such a massive ship, with so many restaurants, it could be a problem to make up a gay table..

any USA guys know if I can buy a small bottle of poppers in the States??? I was thinking of putting a bottle in my luggage but not sure it is a good idea on a long flight...

We stay at FL Hilton Marina the night before sailing... so are there any suitable shops nearby that could be open late?

So looking forward to this trip...

See you in Martini Bar

Jonathan and ChingThut (aka CT )

Here's a picture of me swimming in Fiji. Frequent cruiser here, but this is my first TA with Celebrity. I live in Fort Lauderdale, so easy for me to embark. Flying home from Rome right after the cruise...

Andrew

That's posing not swimming!! lol..

see you on board ...

there are plenty of us.. Martini Bar before dinner most nights and soon after too..

Hello All! I just stumbled across this thread and hope to meet some fellow 'Family' onboard our cruise. Sailing Solo, Select Dining, Elite Happy Hours. If anyone wants to meet for drinks or dinner, let me know...

Andrew

Andrew ..

there will be lots of us on board...

if you want to post a pic it would help us recognise you...

my email is R600boy at hot mail dot com

Hey guys.. We are getting close to departure now!! Not long!

Am so looking forward to seeing you guys again and CT has already started packing!

This forum hasn't really got going sadly, but I would imagine there will be a lot of us on the ship.

I am trying hard to remember Anthony and Robert (KwokPot) any chance of posting a pic? I am so bad at remembering names!! (unless you were the Canadian with the new Ipad?)

We aren't in Blu this year as we have a Sunset cabin rather than Aqua. We will convert to Select dining on day 1 so hopefully we can make up a big table upstairs in MDR.

GeminiTraveller - Am sure you are aware Kevin and Steven will be in OZ and not on this cruise...! Are you still booked????

there should be a good crowd on Silhouette (Celebrity) from Ft Lauderdale to Rome in April ...

Always a fun trip with a good turnout. I did it twice solo and met a great crowd of nice people... even the straight couples joined the FOD drinks in the Martini Bar..

Last year was with an expartner on his first ever cruise, and he is coming again this year.

I do find Celebrity and Royal Caribbean very gay friendly and v3ry easy to meet people of all ages... more so as I have got older (now 50's)...

Recommended!

the forum this year certainly appears very quiet.