Please tell me about The Retreat on the Reflection

[CTKath]

 

Fingers crossed that my November 2021 cruise on the Reflection will not be canceled, as my HAL cruise already has been.

 

So please what can you tell me about The Retreat, specifically on the Reflection.  Also, anything I should know about a Sky Suite?

 

Thank you.

[jelayne]

The Reflection has not been revolutionized so there is no Retreat Sundeck.

The Reflection does have Luminae, the dining room for Suite guests and Michaels Club/ Retreat Lounge for Suite guests. 

[ClaudiaB]

We have stayed in sky suites many times.   Our favorite is the corner aft cabins, on the second to upper deck so that there are just cabins above us.   We love that aft view.   It's a good long walk to the nearest stairway or elevator and that's just fine with us because who doesn't need the extra exercise on a cruise?!! It's also quiet and private there.  No one goes down there unless their cabin is there - it's not a place where people will stand and chat outside your room.  

 

Sky suites are just a bigger room basically but we like the extra space.   We don't take full advantage of the butler provided as we are pretty self-sufficient and I would never dream of asking someone to unpack for me or call to make a reservation for something, or walk (escort) me to the theatre.  We did have a butler once set up a little private party for 6 of us when we met on the ship and decided to have cocktails in our cabin.   You wouldn't want more than 6 or 8 in a sky suite mingling.    We like Luminae and Michael's and look forward to our first time in the Retreat when we next sail next summer on Apex.  

 

The perks used to be nice but now most people get them.   We are also elite +, and that came with some nice perks which now don't seem that special since most everyone gets them too.   However, we mostly continue to book sky suites.  

 

I will add one thing.   Last February, right before Covid, we sailed 10 nights on Reflection in a concierge cabin and the money saved from a suite we used to book 9 nights in a specialty restaurant.  By booking that many we got the discount.   We even asked them to cook special things for us since we didn't want to eat so rich every night.  We met the chefs and asked them if they had their own special recipes or specialties from their country and we had the most delightful couple of dinners.   We would do that plan again.   Also, for the first time ever, we had dinner TWICE in Oceanview buffet.  It was much busier and the food was awesome, more than I expected.   I had no idea so many people chose the buffet for dinner.   One couple we met said they'd been on so many cruises and always every single night ate in the buffet. 

 

There is a support pole or two in the sky suite cabins and regardless of what you might read here, they are not in the way and really after half a day you don't really notice them.  We also had the window washing machine in the far corner once and it, too, wasn't a problem.  It obstructed a bit of the view looking directly down, but during daylight hours most days it wasn't even there - it was down the side of the ship washing windows!   Neither of those things would bother us or even hit our radar.   And the soot that is sometimes spoken about - never have seen it.  

 

We don't overpack (things you learn after a bunch of cruises!) and find there is more than enough storage space.  I always keep my big suitcase opened under my bed for the dirty clothes. 

 

We like Michael's Club but we always spend more time in other places - bars - since there are no windows.  At sunset we love the Sky Lounge.  Even though you get free drinks in Michael's, we always have a drink package and spend more cocktail time in other places.  The World Class bar is our favorite.  Better more consistent drinks and not as crazy loud and hectic as the martini bar.   On some cruises we have had 3 meals a day in Luminae.   We have not one negative about Luminae.   I have also had them alter menu items there too.  At lunch I will ask them to just please fill a plate with mixed greens and put a grilled chicken breast on it and bring me a vinaigrette.  They always want me to have more, more - but are always happy to please.  🙂

[CTKath]

21 minutes ago, ClaudiaB said:

We have stayed in sky suites many times.   Our favorite is the corner aft cabins, on the second to upper deck so that there are just cabins above us.   We love that aft view.   It's a good long walk to the nearest stairway or elevator and that's just fine with us because who doesn't need the extra exercise on a cruise?!! It's also quiet and private there.  No one goes down there unless their cabin is there - it's not a place where people will stand and chat outside your room.  

 

Sky suites are just a bigger room basically but we like the extra space.   We don't take full advantage of the butler provided as we are pretty self-sufficient and I would never dream of asking someone to unpack for me or call to make a reservation for something, or walk (escort) me to the theatre.  We did have a butler once set up a little private party for 6 of us when we met on the ship and decided to have cocktails in our cabin.   You wouldn't want more than 6 or 8 in a sky suite mingling.    We like Luminae and Michael's and look forward to our first time in the Retreat when we next sail next summer on Apex.  

 

The perks used to be nice but now most people get them.   We are also elite +, and that came with some nice perks which now don't seem that special since most everyone gets them too.   However, we mostly continue to book sky suites.  

 

I will add one thing.   Last February, right before Covid, we sailed 10 nights on Reflection in a concierge cabin and the money saved from a suite we used to book 9 nights in a specialty restaurant.  By booking that many we got the discount.   We even asked them to cook special things for us since we didn't want to eat so rich every night.  We met the chefs and asked them if they had their own special recipes or specialties from their country and we had the most delightful couple of dinners.   We would do that plan again.   Also, for the first time ever, we had dinner TWICE in Oceanview buffet.  It was much busier and the food was awesome, more than I expected.   I had no idea so many people chose the buffet for dinner.   One couple we met said they'd been on so many cruises and always every single night ate in the buffet. 

 

There is a support pole or two in the sky suite cabins and regardless of what you might read here, they are not in the way and really after half a day you don't really notice them.  We also had the window washing machine in the far corner once and it, too, wasn't a problem.  It obstructed a bit of the view looking directly down, but during daylight hours most days it wasn't even there - it was down the side of the ship washing windows!   Neither of those things would bother us or even hit our radar.   And the soot that is sometimes spoken about - never have seen it.  

 

We don't overpack (things you learn after a bunch of cruises!) and find there is more than enough storage space.  I always keep my big suitcase opened under my bed for the dirty clothes. 

 

We like Michael's Club but we always spend more time in other places - bars - since there are no windows.  At sunset we love the Sky Lounge.  Even though you get free drinks in Michael's, we always have a drink package and spend more cocktail time in other places.  The World Class bar is our favorite.  Better more consistent drinks and not as crazy loud and hectic as the martini bar.   On some cruises we have had 3 meals a day in Luminae.   We have not one negative about Luminae.   I have also had them alter menu items there too.  At lunch I will ask them to just please fill a plate with mixed greens and put a grilled chicken breast on it and bring me a vinaigrette.  They always want me to have more, more - but are always happy to please.  🙂

Thanks for all of your incite.  Can you please tell me where on the Reflection is Luminae?  I have been looking at the deck plans and can't find it.  Also is Qsine still a restaurant on board?  I watched the Reflection video and it didn't seem like it was still there.   Any idea when the Reflection will be "Revolutionized"?

[39august]

No "Qusine" on any X ship now. Replaced by Petit Chef. 

[jelayne]

42 minutes ago, CTKath said:

Thanks for all of your incite.  Can you please tell me where on the Reflection is Luminae?  I have been looking at the deck plans and can't find it.  Also is Qsine still a restaurant on board?  I watched the Reflection video and it didn't seem like it was still there.   Any idea when the Reflection will be "Revolutionized"?

Luminae is on deck 3 starboard.  It was carved out of the Opus dining room about 5 or 6 years ago.  It has a separate entrance.   Michaels Retreat lounge is  on deck  5  by the Ensemble  Lounge.  Qsine has been changed to Le Petit Chef at Qsine. The revolutionizing of all ships was stopped when cruising was suspended and no timetable to restart this has been announced.  IMHO it will be a few years as the cruise lines have a lot of debt and the S class ships are in great shape so not a pressing need.

Edited June 18, 2021 by jelayne

[CTKath]

19 minutes ago, 39august said:

No "Qusine" on any X ship now. Replaced by Petit Chef. 

Makes sense.  We really enjoyed Le Petit Chef on the Edge 2 years ago!  Can't wait to go again!

[CTKath]

16 minutes ago, jelayne said:

Luminae is on deck 3 starboard.  It was carved out of the Opus dining room about 5 or 6 years ago.  It has a separate entrance.   Michaels Retreat lounge is  on deck  5  by the Ensemble  Lounge.  Qsine has been changed to Le Petit Chef at Qsine. The revolutionizing of all ships was stopped when cruising was suspended and no timetable to restart this has been announced.  IMHO it will be a few years as the cruise lines have a lot of debt and the S class ships are in great shape so not a pressing need.

Thanks, it was hard to find Luminae on the deck plans as there are so small! 

 

So Michael's is like the concierge lounge on other ships it seems.