A Live Reflection on the Med 4th July 2022

[groryjm]

10 hours ago, misterkevin said:

I found it funny that the bar manager suggested batching cocktails in Michael's. Is it that busy? 

 No not especially and the mere sugestion in a private club, where most people want different drinks, seemed ridiculous. He seemed to be trying to find fault with Olympia who has been a great barman this cruise.

[britishcruisers2]

23 hours ago, groryjm said:

After a lovely day in Kusadasi we wtnt to deck 6 for another helipad sail away. They keep referring to these sail aways as being from the “Best View at Sea” While it is nice to see sail away or indeed sail in from the helipad I have to disagree and say the best views for sailing in or out we have experienced have been from the retreat deck on the revolutionised Silhouette.

 

 

 

Pre show drinkies in the room with canapés and to those who have asked, yes, Fever tree is available on board.

 

 

We picked up drinks from the world class for the show and Joseph kindly let us take their glasses with us as long as we returned them afterwards, which of course I did. There is no drinks service in the theatre post pandemic so one has to bring one’s own. The show was Elysium and I thoroughly enjoyed it as it is one we haven’t seen it for a number of years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A  random question about the helipad sailaway.!!! We had invitations to attend on our last Reflection cruise and would have loved the experience but there was a stipulation regarding footwear requirements.As all I had packed were summer sandals we didn't go.Do you remember any guests in open shoes attending please?

[groryjm]

18 minutes ago, britishcruisers2 said:

A  random question about the helipad sailaway.!!! We had invitations to attend on our last Reflection cruise and would have loved the experience but there was a stipulation regarding footwear requirements.As all I had packed were summer sandals we didn't go.Do you remember any guests in open shoes attending please?

We have been on the helipad many times and they are very strict about not allowing open toed shoes or high heels. I personally only ever wear sandals  except in the evening and our first helipad many years ago was sent back to the room for my black leather lace ups. Ever since on a cruise I always pack a pair of closed toe deck shoes just in case of invitations

[britishcruisers2]

Thanks for the information.Something else to squeeze into the suitcase!!

[chemmo]

2 hours ago, groryjm said:

 No not especially and the mere sugestion in a private club, where most people want different drinks, seemed ridiculous. He seemed to be trying to find fault with Olympia who has been a great barman this cruise.

I wonder if at other times when you weren’t there people were waiting a long time for a drink and had been complaining? That was our experience on Reflection in Michael’s a few years ago. The waitress would come over quickly and immediately serve my husband and son’s beers but then I was waiting forever for my cosmopolitan (being made by the barman). By the time my drink came my husband and son were ready for another one….

 

It definitely was one of those cruises where Michael’s had a surge in customers at about 6pm and then another at about 8pm with quiet gaps in between…

 

However, I agree with you bulk making of cocktails is not a way forward…

 

[groryjm]

For the last sea day I went to the mixology 101 at the World Class Bar lead by Joseph and Milica which was fun and more so as for the first time since the pandemic we were allowed behind the bar to “have a go”. Joseph paid me the complement by including as one of the four drinks we made one I had introduced him to at the beginning of the cruise. A twist on the Corpse Reviver No2 called a Corpse reviver no blue that switches out the Cointreau for Blue Curacao.

 

The drinks we made started were a Vesper…..

 

'A dry martini,' he said. 'One. In a deep champagne goblet.'

'Oui, monsieur.'

'Just a moment. Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it's ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?'

'Certainly monsieur.' The barman seemed pleased with the idea.

'Gosh, that's certainly a drink,' said Leiter.

Bond laughed. 'When I'm ... er ... concentrating,' he explained, 'I never have more than one drink before dinner. But I do like that one to be large and very strong and very cold, and very well-made. I hate small portions of anything, particularly when they taste bad. This drink's my own invention. I'm going to patent it when I think of a good name.'

— Casino Royale, Ian Flemming 1953

 

A Corpse Reviver No Blue, Equal parts of Gin, Lillet, Lemon juice and Blue Curacao and the glass spritzed with absinthe .

 

A Bee’s Knees twist of Josephs devising using Gin, honey, lemon juice and a twist of orange zest.

 

And lastly a whiskey sour twist with bourbon, lemon, cinnamon syrup and a couple of drops of Chocolate mole bitters garnished with a smoking cinnamon stick.

 

 

The show this evening was Euphoria and one of my favourite shows on board. The show heavily features the aerialists with big  blow up creatures between each performance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[groryjm]

After the show we headed to Murano for another excellent meal with the miniature salt and pepper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our return visit to Stromboli

 

Edited July 18, 2022 by groryjm

[groryjm]

Our last day on board was in Naples and after a quick coffee on our deck we wandered in to town to visit Christmas Alley and some amazing churches

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had the best pizza and then back on board for our last night and true to our tradition dined in Tuscan.

 

In the next day or two now that we are back I will try to give my thoughts and conclusions of the pros and cons of a revolutionized Silhouette Vs an unrevolutionized Reflection

[MR_T]

Apologies if it’s already been asked & answered but do you know who the current Captain & CD is on the Reflection? 

[groryjm]

35 minutes ago, MR_T said:

Apologies if it’s already been asked & answered but do you know who the current Captain & CD is on the Reflection? 

Captain Nikolas Chistodoulakis

Manuel Fragoso

[OysterD]

Loved your review, we're doing the same itinerary next month...cant wait!

 

Quick question for anyone who's been to Santorini with celebrity recently - which port are they using? We're just booking a shore excursion and have been asked which port the ship will be dropping us off at, the new one or the old one with the cable car?

 

Thanks!

 

[CeleryCruiser]

We were there on the same cruise and Reflection was anchored in the front of the old harbour. Excursions started from the new harbour I guess because of the coaches.  The excursion ended to Fira and included a cable car ticket. Just note that there is a long waiting time for the cable car. We walked down the stairs which I do not recommend if you do not have good shoes. Also donkey natural smell is sometimes overwhelming🙄

[groryjm]

On 8/8/2022 at 1:36 PM, OysterD said:

Loved your review, we're doing the same itinerary next month...cant wait!

 

Quick question for anyone who's been to Santorini with celebrity recently - which port are they using? We're just booking a shore excursion and have been asked which port the ship will be dropping us off at, the new one or the old one with the cable car?

 

As @CeleryCruiser said we anchored nearer to the old harbour and tenders with people on ships sore excursion were take to the new harbour to catch coaches etc. the normal tender operation was taking people to the old port to walk up the hill or catch the cable car.

 

Whether the tenders going to the new port were taking passangers not booked on Celebrity tours I am unsure of and the only way to be sure is to ask at the shorex desk once you board then comunicate with your tour guide. If you can't get to the new port independantly you will need to allow time for the cable car unless it is a water born tour from Santorini.

[txtechmk]

Love reading your review and seeing your photos.  Thanks for sharing.  Looks like a great time!  We were on the Reflection earlier this year and loved that ship!