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Just home from Reflection 2/7-2/14

hockeymom21

By hockeymom21,
in Celebrity Cruises

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hockeymom21

hockeymom21

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Good morning. Just unpacking from our fabulous Reflection trip. Thought I'd write a few things while my memories are still fresh.

 

The weather was great. It was very windy, but we also had that wind on our December cruise. Just the weather this year must be windy. Towel clips came in handy.

 

If you're a sun sitter getting a pool chair and want to be in sun all afternoon- on your way down- as you are looking at the pool bar- get a seat on the side that says pool. On the way back- looking at pool bar- get a seat on the side that says bar. In the morning it's hard to know what side to pick if sun isn't out. And if you want to switch sometimes the chairs are gone. FYI

 

 

We flew into Ft. Lauderdale and had a driver pick us up at the airport. That was the best! Came right into the airport, helped grab our bags and out to the car we went. Drove us to Miami Beach. I asked for his card if anyone is interested. We stayed at the Avalon Hotel. Great location. Walked around, had some dinner, drinks, people watched. Next morning we asked for 10:30 checkout. I ironed a few things so they wouldn't be so wrinkled. Hopped in a cab. A very small Aqua Class line. Waited maybe 10 minutes. Onboard, champagne in hand by 12:15. Headed right up to Sunset Bar.That staff is the best! Grabbed 2 seats and had some drinks! Waited for room to be ready.We booked 1614 because of the bigger balcony. Loved it. Luggage was waiting outside door. Hung up our clothes. Unpacked. Met our room steward.Had towel animals waiting a couple nights.

 

This room was set up opposite our room last year. This room the bed is by the sliding door which we loved because we keep our door open at night. I did meet a lady at the pool who does not like it set up this way. She sits and does her hair/makeup at the vanity and it bothered her husband if he had to walk by to get to bathroom. Just different thoughts for different people. On a side note, we tried to book the same room for next year. It was already taken so we are going up to 12th floor. Same room one floor higher.

 

Emergency drill 3:15. Our station was in the Opus Dining Room. What a beautiful room. We had Aqua Class so haven't been in dining room. So pretty. We headed to Cellar Masters to purchase wine cards. Purchasing $100 they give you $20 extra. Even though we had premium beverage package we still enjoy those Enomatic Wine Machines. I hope they continue to leave them on the ship. Love the Cellar. That's also where the beers are now that Michaels is private.

 

We had pre-booked Tuscan Grille for Thursday night. On the first night, they offer the specialty restaurants at half price. We decided to give Qsine a try. It's a quirky, cutely decorated atmosphere. A sharing/tasting menu. Order off IPads. It was good. Food presentation is perfectly presented. Fun. My opinion is that my husband & I don't eat $45 each worth of food. But loved trying it for $45 couple vs $90.

 

My husband takes the spinning classes offered. I go to the pool to get a couple chairs and drink my Americano and read. I won't go into the chair situation. Let's just say I was there at 7:00 every morning and people put stuff on chairs and don't even sit in them til mid morning. The staff does the best they can, but I saw them pick stuff up off chairs many times. But I also kind of shook my head when people came to the pool at noon looking for chairs next to pool. Not happening. I heard that the area on deck 16 is very nice.

 

We don't get off the ship anymore if we have been to the ports numerous times. It is nice to have the ship “to yourself”. You can talk to the staff when it's less crowded and get to know them. So, I can't answer any port questions.

 

There were definitely things we intended to try but missed. That premium drink package sneaks up on you! I think the first night I was asleep by 10! I heard great things about the pianist Claire. We saw the ventriloquist Gareth Oliver. We saw the Momentum show. We saw Divas 3. Reflection The Show was very good. The comedian Ralph Harris was very good. We are both early 50’s so again, that's just my opinion. I love the Celebrity Theater. I love that the seats have drink holders. As you can see by my signature line, we cruise Princess a lot. They have taken out the drink holders on the newer ships. It's just nice to be able to clap and not have to put your drink down.

 

Loved the house band Xtasea. They do a “bandeoke” mid afternoon on a sea day where the people singing are accompanied by the band. It was fun to watch. They got people dancing and having fun. I do think the foyer is very small compared to Princess. One night we went up to the Sky Lounge on deck 14. Huge room- big bar- nobody in it. I thought they should have the dancing up there. But, everyone likes to watch from the different floors what's going on.

 

Spent time in the Casino but didn't really win after the first day. Went to use the heated loungers in the Persian Garden once. They were very disorganized there I thought. The loungers had people on some, towels on some. The sign said 30 minutes per lounger, but I couldn't tell if the towels were someone who was in a sauna? So, I went back out and asked and the lady came in looked around and just said wait awhile. So, I waited and waited. And then the staff came in and did some picking up. So I laid on one for awhile. Beautiful view!

 

We ate in Blu 4 of our 7 nights. I can only compare my experience to last year. I was very disappointed. The food was just OK. Let me rephrase that. Anything beef was just ok. I had lamb 2 nights it was very good. We just hit if off with the staff where we were first seated last year. They made it so enjoyable that we waited for the same area every night. The wine sommelier last year was so great. Always had our glasses filled. Remembered the wine we liked. This year, we had to ask to have the wine list brought to the table and then keep asking if we wanted another. I wish I could remember her name from last year. I wonder where she went. This year not impressed. We didn't ask for a specific area so we had different staff, but it just wasn't last years experience. One night we actually went to the Buffet for dinner. German night. I thought it was very good. And I know- don't complain about it- if you don't like it order something else. That's not me. I'm the one who picks up our towels when we are done at the pool and puts them in the dirty pile.

 

We had a fabulous week. Couple observations. A man was told repeatedly not to sit in hot tub with beer bottle. It broke and they had to close pool, drain, clean and refill. Too many people sitting in the tubs with glass. Too many kids in tubs even though sign says no glass/ no children. Honestly, there were not a lot of kids that I noticed. Except in the tubs.

 

The man who is in charge of the pool area- floors 14, 15 & 16 works all day/night. Brings plastic cups to people in tubs, picks up plates, dishes, towels. Is always using skimmer to get straws, papers out of pool. Hard worker. Pool bar staff awesome! Pool area fun. Zumba, volleyball, music. Games.

 

They were cleaning all week. Even the garbage/recycling cans. They were painting the pool bottom when we left. It's a very clean ship and they are all about hand sanitizer. Ship bathrooms were very clean.

 

Love the Aqua Spa café. Great smoothies and yogurts in the morning. Nice soup and salad for lunch. They are working on figuring out how to put more tables in there. Even though there are signs on every table saying during breakfast/lunch please allow people who are eating at Aqua Spa to sit- many times couples are playing cards and sitting reading. So, we just sat on edge and ate there.

 

Enjoyed our dinner at Tuscan Grill. Great steaks. Great service.

 

One quirky thing- by the end of the week if you've used your ship card a lot your beverage package choice wears off. So, many times we got charged for premium drinks. Went down to guest services and they removed charges. Finally had new cards printed. Easy fix.

 

Quick comment about attire. There were never any jeans in Blu. No shorts. People were definately dressed for dinner. Lots of tuxes and suits. Did not notice any Hawaiian shirts in Blu. In fact the whole week I saw one man in jeans at night

 

Just love this ship. Definitely differences between this ship and Princess. Some good. Some not. Booked a back to back next year though. My husband & I. Then the following week 7 of my girlfriends. It's a ship where if you're not having fun- something's wrong. Between Martini Bar, Molecular Bar, Sunset Lounge- lots of great live music. Just great places to sit and watch and listen. I miss it already- but not the 10 pounds I came home with!! So, I will try to answer questions if anyone has any.

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hockeymom21

hockeymom21

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I think because our experience was so wonderful last year that my expectations might have been too high. The lamb was great. The corn chowder was good. Steak not so much. Creme brûlée very good. My husband always has the French onion soup and Caesar salad. The salads were good. One had pistachios and goat cheese. It is such a pretty dining room! And if you don't like it- order something else -:)

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jolt390

jolt390

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Well said. We were on the same cruise. We had a wonderful time with only a few glitches. Food was overall great, but staffing seemed a bit sparse. There seemed to be a lot of waiting time in our experience.

It was my first Celebrity experience and we already booked another for next year.

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hockeymom21

hockeymom21

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I had read about the half price deal on this board- but we happened to be walking back from the coffee area toward the hallway that leads back to the specialty restaurants and there was a table set up with the menus. I think it was like 3:30 or so that we talked to him. We went that night at 8:30.

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Marijka

Marijka

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Thanks for the great review! We were on the same cruise. I'm at work today (big sigh) but I'll try to post more thoughts later. All in all, minus a few service issues, we had a brilliant time. :)

Edited by Marijka
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20pluscruises

20pluscruises

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Hi again, :)

 

Wondering if there were any stand-out dishes in Blu? We have friends who cruised the last week of January and stated the same as you have regarding Blu. They ended up eating in the MDR. They also mentioned Blu was pretty much begging them to return. I was really hoping they were just exaggerating their experience. :( Are there certain nights we should def book a specialty restaurant? Many thanks for all the information you have shared...I too, like the pool info. :)

Edited by 20pluscruises
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