Just Off Celebrity Reflection Review- if under 30 MUST READ

[K.T.B.]

I went on 2 or 3 a year growing up. My dad is a caterer for cruise ships on certain holidays- so we would go as well!

 

Then you know how a cruise ship works. You know all about the chairs by the pool, how the MDR works, etc.

[dgreenie28]

A possible pregnancy also crossed my mind when reading how nothing seemed to appeal. Been there, so I can see that causing issues. I don't want to start any rumors, but it crossed my mind.

 

 

Not pregnant!

[gowensricks]

Thanks everyone! I will continue my research, and find a Celebrity ship to sail on. I appreciate all of the honest feedback.

[sammyboots]

We also just returned from the 30th January sailing on Reflection. We loved the ship. I can't comment too much on the food as we took the Ultimate dining package this time but I did venture up to the buffet a couple of times to see what was available for lunch, and I was impressed with what was available. We felt the ship was buzzing on a night, busiest I've ever seen on any of the 20 (or 40, if I include my husband on the count lol! ;-)cruises I have taken. All the bars were busy, lots of happy passengers judging by all the laughing we heard and every night they had a different location for a nightclub event. I also didn't feel the ship was rocking too much at all. I have experienced some very rough seas in the past however....as most folk who have taken 20 cruises will have done :rolleyes:

I'm a great believer in folk on the forum to give their opinion on what they have experienced but I'm sorry, it's like we weren't on the same ship...:confused:

[bar_20]

You say you're 24 and you have been on 40 cruises. That averages out to eight cruises a year if you started at 20. Do you not eat red meat or fish? You never mentioned trying any of that. You said the lettuce and spinach didn't look right. How did the 1000 other passengers feel about it? Did you try the MDR for lunch on sea days. I have many more questions but these will do for now.

[Burpelson]

Bar 20, please read prior posts. The more OP posts, the more I tend to believe. There is a disconnect between experience and how to max out in the MDR, etc. No idea how to explain that. Perhaps a bit more time on CC would help OP out: ie get multiple courses (mult appys, mult mains, mult same mains - whatever), etc. This suggestion is frequently posted. And if the music doesn't please, fine. Other choices are out there. Perhaps OP has had such a rich cruising life from youth that OP actually approaches things too uncritically and w/out an eye to options. At least that would be my rec for OP: ask for ways to find remedies (tho may not help for music). But I do tend to believe OP.

 

(quite a judgmental post, too, I'm afraid - backseat sherlocking, I guess.

Edited February 8, 2016 by Burpelson

[dkjretired]

When I first started reading this thread, I thought for sure it was not the feedback of someone that has traveled on 40 cruises.... and at 24 years of age, you would have needed 1-3 cruises per year since you were born. Certainly plausible, but I seriously have my doubts. My doubts were confirmed after reading back through your past postings.

 

Regardless, if you have cruised extensively, much of your criticism for your experience should not come as a surprise. Young people do not cruise Celebrity for a "party vibe". Some of your concerns were confirmed for you before you even boarded the ship so you were destined to have a bad experience.

 

Celebrity is not everybody's cup of tea and now you know it is not yours. Hopefully your next cruise experience will be better suited to your preferences.

 

Vulcan:

 

Actually, if you go back to previous posts she stated she had been on 20-30 previous cruises not 40.

[dkjretired]

I wouldn't let this negative review sway my opinion of Reflection.

 

The ship is lovely, as well as the dining.

 

It's kind of like the old Ice Skating manner of scoring. Throw out the top score and the low score and take what's in the middle.

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

Vulcan:

 

Actually, if you go back to previous posts she stated she had been on 20-30 previous cruises not 40.

 

In the post that started this whole thread she claims over 40 cruises.

[Flamencacha]

Ok I give this young lady credit for having cruised many times. Mostly organized by her parents. Her boyfriend the same.

I believe they both have cruised together several times.

That being said, I have only cruised 4 times and I started cruising in my fifties. I cannot say that I have had a bad meal. Some better than others. I have always been able to find a lounge by the pool. I have always been able to meet people.

 

I travel SOLO, I just can't imagine if I had travel with a "boyfriend" (any of them), that I wouldn't have had a wonderful time.

Why do you need more people your age to enjoy your cruise? We the old people have many life experiences . The things we may have done and still do will simply amaze you.

 

I like Celebrity because of their service. I was treated like a queen. I have tried the party cruises and enjoyed those too. Even did a RS on a Spanish cruise line, and loved my perks.

 

A vacation is what you make of it. Simply put, if you don't like the company, maybe it wasn't the food, or the lounge or the seniors enjoying themselves.

 

I hope you find what you are looking for.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[JRJARS]

You stroll out to the pool at 11:00am and expect to find a chair poolside in the sun - apparently you learned nothing in all of your previous cruises.

 

Love reviews like this...nothing was right, worst cruise ever, blah blah blah...but hey we have booked 10 more cruises!

[Tyler80]

For those "other 30 year olds" who might be thinking about cruising on Celebrity... I'm 35 and I sailed my first Celebrity cruise on Silhouette last November. I'm not a picky eater, and thought the food onboard was wonderful. I've only Sailed Royal Caribbean in the past and there were many similarities.

 

Overall the ship, entertainment, bar services, rooms, and public/pool spaces were amazing and I cannot wait to get back onboard a Celebrity ship. Just because the brand "appears" to cater to older folks, try it out. The newer ships are very young at heart.

[keesar]

 

Side note: I got very sick the last night. I got a very bad cold and it's not going away!!

 

!

 

I guess Celebrity Cruises is responsible for the very bad cold that is not going away. OMG.

[K.T.B.]

You stroll out to the pool at 11:00am and expect to find a chair poolside in the sun - apparently you learned nothing in all of your previous cruises.

 

Love reviews like this...nothing was right, worst cruise ever, blah blah blah...but hey we have booked 10 more cruises!

 

Exactly. For someone to have claimed that they've been on so many cruises and then discover (for the first time!) that this is an issue.... well, I find it rather dubious. :rolleyes:

[ORV]

On 16th of March?

Do you have plans on what you are going to do?

 

Yes, we are going on a tour with Fiji Discovery Tours.

[dkjretired]

In the post that started this whole thread she claims over 40 cruises.

 

Previous posts in other threads before the cruise.

[mcos864]

hello all, i have just signed up to cruisecritic as im looking at booking a cruise on celebrity reflection in june for 11 nights around the western med.

This will be our first cruise experience after listening to various friends who do recommend it, but it has to be on a 5 star ship.

I am for 43 & my fiancee is 30 in july so thought we would celebrate in style.

We do like fine food & drink & do like nightclubs.... late nights etc..., but after reading a few reviews on here im getting mixed messages if this is actually the ship we want to be on. So im asking all you experienced Celebrity X Cruisers for an honest review on these cruise lines about how good the food really is, drinks selection at the various bars & the nightlife etc...

Also any personal tips you may have e.g. food packages/ drinks packages/room upgrades would be greatly appreciated.

I was going to book a balcony room & standard drinks package but is worth paying the extra for the concierge room & premium drinks package? im not a spirit drinker, but i do love my champagne, but i guess this would have a seperate charge on the ship or is this included with the premium package?

many many thanks

mark.

[20pluscruises]

hello all, i have just signed up to cruisecritic as im looking at booking a cruise on celebrity reflection in june for 11 nights around the western med.

This will be our first cruise experience after listening to various friends who do recommend it, but it has to be on a 5 star ship.

I am for 43 & my fiancee is 30 in july so thought we would celebrate in style.

We do like fine food & drink & do like nightclubs.... late nights etc..., but after reading a few reviews on here im getting mixed messages if this is actually the ship we want to be on. So im asking all you experienced Celebrity X Cruisers for an honest review on these cruise lines about how good the food really is, drinks selection at the various bars & the nightlife etc...

Also any personal tips you may have e.g. food packages/ drinks packages/room upgrades would be greatly appreciated.

I was going to book a balcony room & standard drinks package but is worth paying the extra for the concierge room & premium drinks package? im not a spirit drinker, but i do love my champagne, but i guess this would have a seperate charge on the ship or is this included with the premium package?

many many thanks

mark.

 

We love the Reflection! ...and the premium package. :)

 

We would we call it 5 star? Probably not, but darn close.

Edited February 8, 2016 by 20pluscruises

[K.T.B.]

hello all, i have just signed up to cruisecritic as im looking at booking a cruise on celebrity reflection in june for 11 nights around the western med.

This will be our first cruise experience after listening to various friends who do recommend it, but it has to be on a 5 star ship.

I am for 43 & my fiancee is 30 in july so thought we would celebrate in style.

We do like fine food & drink & do like nightclubs.... late nights etc..., but after reading a few reviews on here im getting mixed messages if this is actually the ship we want to be on. So im asking all you experienced Celebrity X Cruisers for an honest review on these cruise lines about how good the food really is, drinks selection at the various bars & the nightlife etc...

Also any personal tips you may have e.g. food packages/ drinks packages/room upgrades would be greatly appreciated.

I was going to book a balcony room & standard drinks package but is worth paying the extra for the concierge room & premium drinks package? im not a spirit drinker, but i do love my champagne, but i guess this would have a seperate charge on the ship or is this included with the premium package?

many many thanks

mark.

 

This is strictly MY opinion, and it's based on my cruising on other ships. Others may have differing thoughts. :)

 

I've always found the food on Celebrity to be quite good. I love the bars, especially the martini bar. I do think it's worth paying the extra for concierge and for the drink package (especially based on your likes), but I do not believe champagne is not part of the package (sparkling wine is). I think the specialty restaurants are a decent value, depending on your tastes. You'll never get a "100% for" any of them, but the majority who go seem to like them. (I think Qsine awesome actually. some disagree.)

 

No idea about the nightlife, but I thoroughly enjoyed the few nights I was in the casino and I've never had a bad experience in the lounge.

 

Hope that helps.

[villauk]

I have always been able to meet people.

 

I travel SOLO, I just can't imagine if I had travel with a "boyfriend" (any of them), that I wouldn't have had a wonderful time.

Why do you need more people your age to enjoy your cruise? We the old people have many life experiences . The things we may have done and still do will simply amaze you.

 

I like Celebrity because of their service. I was treated like a queen. I have tried the party cruises and enjoyed those too. Even did a RS on a Spanish cruise line, and loved my perks.

 

A vacation is what you make of it. Simply put, if you don't like the company, maybe it wasn't the food, or the lounge or the seniors enjoying themselves.

 

I hope you find what you are looking for.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

 

 

Good news on the Roll Call it appears to be a bit of a younger crowd than what I experienced on the Equinox.

 

Rachelle

 

 

 

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Rachelle,

Yes, we are slightly younger :D. So glad you're on the same cruise as us; I'm sure we'll have a wonderful time ;).

 

 

 

 

As for 40 cruises by 24, it is quite possible (not saying it's factual in this case), but our 13 year old has sailed on everyone of our cruises so he's already over the 20 mark - things may be different when he has to pay for himself though ;). He would also be able to tell you the difference between RCI and X and what they provide, including the ambience of the ship ;). Additionally, he would have no problem sorting himself out with food of his choice, as I'm sure others on CC would confirm :rolleyes: :p.

[helen haywood]

OK, full disclosure, I am in my 50s and have been on over 30 cruises. Reflection is our favorite S Class Celebrity ship. Google Sunset Bar and you'll see why. Design change unique only to Reflection. In answer to mcos864, if you like the itinerary, pick Reflection. Celebrity's menus are the same fleet wide. Solstice Class ships (Solstice, Eclipse, Silhouette and Reflection) have a better buffet set up, IMHO, as they have islands with different offerings and therefore shorter or no lines to get what you want versus the Millennium Class that has more of a cafeteria line.

 

Regarding cabins, on S Class ships, the Concierge Class cabins are the exact same size as a regular balcony. On M Class they are slightly larger. So the only reason to book one would be if you are interested in acquiring loyalty points faster. They come with some "perks" but really amount to nothing to me. The snacks, etc, you can get for yourself via room service or the buffet....

 

Regarding the Classic versus the Premium package, I would wait until you were onboard and see exactly what is available that you like to drink to decide. You can upgrade one or both packages at any time during your cruise up to like the last three days at a pro-rated charge. Generally speaking, unless you want to drink a top shelf spirit in your drink, you will be fine with the Classic. If you only drink champagne then find out what the pours are once onboard.

 

If this is your first cruise experience, and perhaps your first Med experience, then I'd definitely pick carefully for the ports, not the ship or cruise line. If it is a port intensive cruise you won't be aboard ship much anyway.

 

Lastly, regarding "fine dining," unless you are on a very upscale line like Oceania or Silverseas or such, you will find the dining more alike from line to line than you might think. It isn't "fine dining" per se but it is much, much better than the OP's experiences might lead you to believe. Check out the menus on line or read some reviews with pictures of food and decide for yourself.

[DYKWIA]

Something I don't think anyone else has picked up on in the OPs review.

 

She states "I have been on over 40 cruises and my boyfriend as well"

 

So that's 80 cruises between them. Unless she means 40 between them, but that is not what she is saying.

 

My wife, by her own admission, is a fussy eater yet loves Celebrity for their food and has no trouble finding plenty to eat at Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

 

It took my wife and I about 3-4 nights on our first cruise to get the swing of things - extra veg, less of this more of that on the plate please, 2 deserts if you want, different places to go for meals etc etc. I don't understand how a couple can have 80 cruises between them and have no clue on this. I've flown a LOT more than been on cruises but this feels to me a bit like me moaning at the surprise of finding the meal options on a flight were limited to Chicken or Beef

[Cruise Raider]

We also just LOVE Celebrity -- a lot of that has to do with what I consider to be a little more white glove service and their amazing ships. While the Infinity is probably my favorite of all, we love the lawn area on the S-class ships.

 

In terms of sun, I cannot imagine there wasn't any room available on the Lawn Club ... if that is really what was wanted. We actually love the indoor pool areas and seats in the shade.

 

We love the portion sizes that are served in the dining rooms, no need to consume 12000 calories in one sitting but we are in our 50's / 60's, so appetites and ability to keep the pounds off are much lessened quite a bit. I have never really thought the food on any cruise line (outside of the specialty restaurants) as 5 star. There are nights when it is better and nights when it isn't all that exciting but on only one of my nearly fifty cruises have I felt bored or turned off by the food choices. My DH thinks I am kind of picky and I am not at all what I would consider to be a foodie, but I actually love all the food choices on Celebrity, even the buffet. The food on any line has been much better than the all inclusive resorts where we've stayed.

 

We think Celebrity is a lot more demur than Carnival, RCCL, NCL and even Princess...just our opinion. We also like that there doesn't seem to be a lot of 20 year old drunks or even a lot of little kids onboard....not that we hate these demographics, it is just not really fit as well into our lifestyle. We pretty much love an older crowd onboard. On one of our first cruises, before select dining, we were seated at a table with an older couple, Ken and Dottie and their daughter. They were in their early 90's -- we were in our 30's. I will always remember them as being one of the sweetest and most interesting couples which I have had the pleasure of knowing. Ends up we had so much in common. Ken was in the same line of work as my father and they had met before. Ended up that the daughter knew my BIL and SIL, which were also at our table, from high school. Well, Dottie and my DH entered a dance contest together .... they were quite a sight out on the dance floor... and they won. So, not everyone's cup of tea but it is one of the things we loved back then about cruising, even when were always the youngest people onboard!!

 

 

Anyhow, I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to sail on Celebrity ... have 4 more booked as a matter of fact ...as well as a couple on Princess and 1 on RCCL.

I wouldn't bother to book in a concierge cabin and would rather save my $$ for onboard activities, specialty restaurants, spa days, shore excursions, etc. Aqua Class does offer more so might be willing to go that route but nothing much extra in concierge unless it is offered at a price equal to a just a bit more than the regular balcony cabin.

As for the classic vs premium package, I agree that you should wait until you are onboard to upgrade. If you like nice wines and only like top shelf liquor brands, then yes, it would be worth the upgrade. If you are good just having a nice house brand cocktail, then maybe would stick with the classic package.

[parallax]

Do cruise lines really provide wonderful nightlife events? Even in my younger years, I never found that to be the case. If I want nightlife, I go to NYC or Vegas. I have sailed on Celebrity and other cruise lines and the nightlife seems very forced or canned. Some of the musical acts are fun to listen to but I have found the most fun hanging out in a bar with family, friends and people I have met on the ship.

[patty1955]

OP, thank you for coming back and answering questions. It's a shame that so few read them.

I'm afraid I don't agree with your opinion either. I like the food on Celebrity, but I know some young people don't.

My niece (24 yo) is a very picky eater. Until she was in her late teens, chicken nuggets was most of her diet. I blame my sister for her eating habits, she didn't insist that her daughter try new things and consequently, she doesn't like anything new. What she eats has to be plain, without sauces or fancy spices. She loves cruising but has no interest in Celebrity.

I introduced my co-worker in cruising and she's now done more cruises than I have. She has no interest in Celebrity. She tells me she doesn't like "frou-frou" food. She loved Carnival and NCL.

We all have our own preferences and just because we don't agree doesn't make either of us wrong, just different.