G&Gcruisers Posted January 23, 2017 #26 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Following... Welcome back. Can't wait for your fabulous photos. I see you did another Segway tour. Did you use your GoPro? I know how long your reviews are so, I'm looking forward to getting through "cabin fever" days. Margie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G&Gcruisers Posted January 23, 2017 #27 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Your "Back to Miami" photo would make a great 1000 piece puzzle. Beautiful colors. Margie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassycruiser Posted January 23, 2017 #28 Share Posted January 23, 2017 On the Reflection this Saturday. Your pictures made me realize how close it is and just 5 days of work left! Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruinboy Posted January 23, 2017 #29 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Yay, Norris once again!!!! Thanks for the invite over at the Princess Boards. I surf both, so would have probably found you over here, but felt special having an invitation to join this blog/review. I learn so much about cruising and the enjoyment of life from your posts ... as well as your humor. Let the fun begin. Richard Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jules815 Posted January 23, 2017 #30 Share Posted January 23, 2017 We will be on Reflection April 1st. Looking forward to reading the rest of your review! We'll also be on April 1st. :) Norris, thank you for your review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shimsdan Posted January 23, 2017 #31 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Eagerly awaiting another great trip report from you! Now I can get rid of the little post-it note I had on my desk calendar to check for your Reflection report. Carry on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lola2013 Posted January 23, 2017 #32 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Sailing for the first time on Reflection in FORTY days (but who's counting?)...looking forward to your review. Susan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted January 23, 2017 Author #33 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Good morning and thanks to all who have responded so far. I usually respond immediately but having gone to bed early last night and waking up at 5.30 to continue the review prior to taking the car in for service I found that our wi-fi didn't want to play ball and spent a frustrating hour restarting the router, tapping it with a hammer, shaking it etc. To start your reading day with a long list of thank-you posts is not good so I'll sprinkle in my responses between photos of our journey. With that said here is the first which shows the time of 3.39 a.m on our day of departure from Chicago. We had a 7.30 flight to Miami. With cat sitter arranged we got in a pre-ordered cab at 5 a.m and set off for O'Hare airport. We breezed along the highway and commented on how smooth the traffic was. A police car whizzed by with his lights flashing and we soon ground to a halt in 5 lanes of red tail lights. At the first opportunity our driver left the highway and took back streets to get ahead of the blockage, most likely an accident. The Wayz app showed the extent of the holdup. We kept our eyes on our watches and to our relief we made it to the airport before 6. With TSA Pre, security was a breeze and we were soon walking under the tarmac to Concourse C which is a major trek..... Soon we were up in the air and leaving Chicago and the freezing cold below After a couple of hours the scenery below changed At this point a child from the bowels of Hell began a lusty screaming fit in First Class. Maybe he was being attacked by someone with a branding iron from the Lazy Z ranch or a swarm of bees from the overhead compartment but not even my Bose Noise cancelling headphones could dim his high decibel output. His parents pretended not to be with him. Soon we were on the ground and making the long trek through Miami airport and reached baggage claim just on the outskirts of Fort Lauderdale. Alas Carol's luggage was still in Chicago but we were assured it would be sent to our hotel later that afternoon. I recalled the luggage loading geniuses who delight in body slamming each suitcase onto the conveyor belt as it makes its way up to the aircraft hold. We took the $35 fixed rate cab fare to South Beach. Originally we had booked the Marriott Stanton boutique hotel but once Carol saw it on our Streetwise Miami laminated map she realized it was a long walk to the Art Deco district and so we changed to the Ritz Carlton which was right smack in it.... Norris letting you know that all the air pics were taken with an iPhone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted January 23, 2017 Author #34 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Norris, amigo, reporting for duty. I have been on the Reflection twice (in Aqua), Solstice last September (Aqua), and will be on Silhouette in 2018 (Sunset Veranda). We like the Reflection better than the Solstice because of the Lawn Club Grill, but other than that, about equal. Will be on the Star Princess for the second time (mini-suite) in two months and hoping for improvements. So carry on and "let me entertain you" as the song goes. Buenos dias Senor Crucero! You will be delighted to learn that we eat at the Lawn Club Grill TWICE. Norris, having just exhausted his Spanish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted January 23, 2017 Author #35 Share Posted January 23, 2017 I am very much looking forward to reading your review over the next few days. We will be aboard the Reflection in four weeks and this review will just whet my appetite a little (or at least I hope it will!). My goal is to have this done in 4 weeks but I have to do battle with (a) wi fi signals (b) Flickr © iMovie (d) work. I have a ton of photos to work on in Lightroom as I shot everything on RAW files this time and rarely used the auto mode on my cameras. I am pleased with the results so far and the extra effort is proving worthwhile. I spent an hour yesterday on one photo as I am no expert in Photoshop-the one of the ship with the name reflected. Stay for the long haul if you can and thanks for reading this far. Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlf1 Posted January 23, 2017 #36 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Norris, I had my calendar marked for today and your review is already on page two. Your pictures are even better than ever. Judy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out on the Mira Posted January 23, 2017 #37 Share Posted January 23, 2017 You said a kid was screaming in First Class, did you fly first class and your wife did not get her luggage? Thought your luggage would be priority if you flew first class. We are going on Celebrity Reflection on Jan. 28, and are flying first class, maybe I should rethink my packing in case my suitcase doesn't arrive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luv2camp04 Posted January 23, 2017 #38 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Looking forward to this review. As we wait another 31 days until our Feb 25th Reflection (first time on Reflection and S Class), this will help the time go by and really give me something to look forward to!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jase0581 Posted January 23, 2017 #39 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Signed on for another wonderful Norris review. I will thank you now for all the work you will put into it, and be thankful for something to occupy the time until my next cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted January 23, 2017 Author #40 Share Posted January 23, 2017 You said a kid was screaming in First Class, did you fly first class and your wife did not get her luggage? Thought your luggage would be priority if you flew first class. We are going on Celebrity Reflection on Jan. 28, and are flying first class, maybe I should rethink my packing in case my suitcase doesn't arrive? No we didn't fly First Class but we sit up front in Economy Plus as we have legs and knees that will only bend backwards. The net curtain between First and Economy Plus doesn't mask the sound enough.LOL. This is only our first experience of United messing up the luggage and we fly them exclusively so I wouldn't worry and they did get it to our hotel at 4pm that afternoon. Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MinnesotaCruiser1974 Posted January 23, 2017 #41 Share Posted January 23, 2017 I'm on the Reflection in 61 days, and I've been eagerly waiting for this review!! This will be my first cruise ever!! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eloise4Ever Posted January 23, 2017 #42 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Hello from your Irish fan club Norris :). I was excited to see that we have another one of your wonderful reviews to look forward to and sure enough, we already have a contender for the "most humorous post" award: At this point a child from the bowels of Hell began a lusty screaming fit in First Class. Maybe he was being attacked by someone with a branding iron from the Lazy Z ranch or a swarm of bees from the overhead compartment but not even my Bose Noise cancelling headphones could dim his high decibel output. His parents pretended not to be with him. I look forward to many more chuckles as you share your journey with us :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gold1953 Posted January 23, 2017 #43 Share Posted January 23, 2017 You said a kid was screaming in First Class, did you fly first class and your wife did not get her luggage? Thought your luggage would be priority if you flew first class. We are going on Celebrity Reflection on Jan. 28, and are flying first class, maybe I should rethink my packing in case my suitcase doesn't arrive? Fellow Nova Scotian will be on the cruise with you!! We are direct on West Jet on Friday morning.. Very excited .. my favourite ship!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted January 23, 2017 Author #44 Share Posted January 23, 2017 So we are at the Ritz Carlton and in our room, on a lower floor than we prefer but we haven't time to wait for a higher one as we are committed to a Segway tour at 2 pm. The room had a bed and some furniture The all important camera bag. I had rented a camera that I want to buy, a Canon 6D, and wanted to be sure by putting it through it's paces during the cruise. It's a Full Frame camera with wi-fi so it can be operated by a phone app and can transmit photos to my computer without wires. Alas the one that was sent to me had a problem with the wi-fi and when I contacted Borrowlenses they said they would send me a new one overnight to the hotel and by golly they came through. Fantastic customer service!! The wi-fi worked fine on the new one and I packed up the faulty one to ship back from a UPS store on our way to the ship next morning. I also rented a 16 to 35 mm Canon L lens and brought my regular camera, a Canon T3i so I could take zoom pics with my 55 to 250mm crop sensor lens which can't be used on a Full Frame. The bathroom Norris, uploading part of the Segway tour to Youtube (and praying) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted January 23, 2017 Author #45 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Oh my goodness! Your back! So excited for a great read! Janine Janine thanks for tuning in again to one of my reviews. Make yourself comfy! Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted January 23, 2017 Author #46 Share Posted January 23, 2017 While iMovie and Youtube are still talking to each other I'll show you some more pics from the hotel. I loved the lobby and bar area.... Bar area Mezzanine The hotel is a 2 minute walk to the soft sandy beach and 3 to the Art Deco area on Ocean Drive. Ideal location for us! Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted January 23, 2017 Author #47 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Excellent! One more review from Norris to bridge the gap between now and my next voyage. Welcome back Rob, good to see you onboard! Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pretty princess Posted January 23, 2017 #48 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Thank you for doing this review I have read all your prior reviews and they are excellent!! love your photos and humor. I did this cruise last February, interested how your experience compares. The Reflection is a beautiful ship. Looking forward to my Equinox cruise in March, your review will make the wait much easier!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debik Posted January 23, 2017 #49 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Debik, I haven't seen your name before in one of my reviews so double welcome! My reviews are exhaustive in detail and exhausting to write (and maybe to read but you can't win them all). I hope you stay for the long haul and that it gets your anticipation building. I'm glad you like the photos! Norris Thank you for the kind welcome. I am in it for the long haul. Funny enough I keep checking back to see if there is anything new posted. Your pictures are amazing. Can't wait to read more and see more. Thank you again for doing this. Deb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Crucero Posted January 23, 2017 #50 Share Posted January 23, 2017 The guy behind Carol looks like the results of the election just sunk in! For better or worse. :eek: :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now