Live From Celebrity Reflection: 6 Day Caribbean 1/28-2/3/24

[jam19872016]

Beef and veal spaghetti bolognese 803.

 

[jam19872016]

Salmon 819.

 

[balcony bound]

Doesn't look different from meals you've had on Carnival - important thing - how was the flavor?

[jam19872016]

Dessert menu.

 

 

 

I got bread pudding for dessert from the buffet. 

 

Edited January 29 by jam19872016

[jam19872016]

The Bolognese had an amazing flavor. Very hot and had a rich and hearty meat flavor to it. Very generous on the meat. The pasta was firm but not too firm which I liked as I am an odd one who prefers is noodles a little mushy. These were firm but something about the cook on it, they did not seem "too" firm.

 

The salmon was also good. Very basic but it was well prepared and a nice piece of fish. The sauce paired well while not overpowering the fish.

 

Overall I enjoyed everything I ate here even if the choices weren't that exciting, it was all very well executed and served nice and hot.

 

I was not a fan of my mains coming separately. I am not sure if that was by policy (as on Royal) or the waiter assumed I wanted it that way. They usually ask my preference or just bring them out. I will ask next time to be served together. Although Royal has the policy of one dish at a time, my second main was immediately delivered each night. This required a second trip to the galley.

 

Service was very friendly and I don't feel like the timing was bad for most people. But an hour in and not even placed my dessert order yet, I was getting antsy. I only have six days and I don't want to spend them at dinner. The trouble is I don't want to do the buffet and that is the only other option. If I am not excited about the menu again tomorrow, I may do that.

 

So for dessert I made a dash to the buffet. I kind of wanted ice cream and bread pudding but decided to just go with one dessert. I chose the bread pudding and I can confirm there is a temperature holding problem on the buffet. It was inside a closed pan and I immediately sat down and ate it taking care to blow it because bread pudding is one of those things that tend to be EXTREMLY hot and burn your tongue. This was room temperature, almost cold already. Very disappointing.
 

[jam19872016]

38 minutes ago, balcony bound said:

Doesn't look different from meals you've had on Carnival - important thing - how was the flavor?

My first Celebrity cruise, which was pre-covid, I went in with very high expectations as they had a very good reputation for amazing food. I was very underwhelmed. There are some stand out items but overall, I have found the food to be only marginaly better in the dining room and left with no options but the buffet and burgers for lunch on port days. While their buffet is vastly better than Carnival's, I don't have to eat at the buffet at Carnival. 

 

I've adjusted those expectations and was actually quite impressed on my most recent Celebrity trip in November on Silhouette. 

 

Cunard is so far the only line I've tried whose food truly rose to spectacular or that has stood out in anyway.
 

[jam19872016]

Getting the mobile bar set up and then heading back out. I am not going to make the evening show at 9. Looked like something I would like, a headliner singer. Song and dance shows I will probably pass on, but I do love a good singer. That leaves an opening until silent disco at 10. Warm up for it is at 930 so I may go ahead and head there to find a good spot as the location in the grand foyer is bound to draw a good crowd.
 

[jam19872016]

Mobile bar activated!!

 

[balcony bound]

15 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

My first Celebrity cruise, which was pre-covid, I went in with very high expectations as they had a very good reputation for amazing food. I was very underwhelmed. There are some stand out items but overall, I have found the food to be only marginaly better in the dining room and left with no options but the buffet and burgers for lunch on port days. While their buffet is vastly better than Carnival's, I don't have to eat at the buffet at Carnival. 

 

I've adjusted those expectations and was actually quite impressed on my most recent Celebrity trip in November on Silhouette. 

 

Cunard is so far the only line I've tried whose food truly rose to spectacular or that has stood out in anyway.
 

Thanks so much for that answer.  Your Cunard dinners did look amazing!

[jam19872016]

Found a spot in the corner with a good sight line still.

 

No two tops or single seat so will probably be sharing table with another couple at sine point.

 

 

Love again 🎶 

 

This is a grown folks cruise, no radio edits on the music playing. We can handle swear words.

[jam19872016]

13 minutes ago, balcony bound said:

Thanks so much for that answer.  Your Cunard dinners did look amazing!

I am working on putting together another b2b TA in 2025 and looked into Cunard for the in-between time again.

 

Prices for 14 days started at $2399 😱

 

I'm sure that's still a bargain for Cunard but way too rich for my blood sadly. I did love it though.

[balcony bound]

7 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

I am working on putting together another b2b TA in 2025 and looked into Cunard for the in-between time again.

 

Prices for 14 days started at $2399 😱

 

I'm sure that's still a bargain for Cunard but way too rich for my blood sadly. I did love it though.

Maybe the price drop fairy will appear at some point.  We can always hope, right?

[jam19872016]

3 minutes ago, balcony bound said:

Maybe the price drop fairy will appear at some point.  We can always hope, right?

It's on their brand new ship so probably not likely but you can bet I will be watching it closely. I'm sure my bargain trip last time didn't start out a bargain. 

[jam19872016]

We got silent disco action

 

 

Blue- only girl I'm the world 🎶 

 

Red- Latin I'm not even gonna trybto guess 😂 

 

Green- you sexy thing 🎶 

[jam19872016]

Blue- I like to move it 🎶 

 

Green- play that funky music 🎶 

 

 

Edited January 29 by jam19872016

[jam19872016]

Ugh...logout "failed" and my timer has been running this whole time. 

 

 

Mobile bar empty yikes!

 

 

 

gangam style 🎶 

 

 

 

[jam19872016]

Supposed to end at 11 but still going strong and I'm here for it even though I see sleep in my near future. 

 

 

Yeah 🎶 

[jam19872016]

Oh boy we got urinal trivia.

 

 

Hard to photograph.  What starts with a t, ends with a tea, and has a t in it?

 

Uptown funk 🎶 (headphones work in the bathroom 😆)

Edited January 29 by jam19872016

[jam19872016]

End of the night nom noms

 

[jam19872016]

Tried to stay till silent disco shut down, but the crowd had mostly cleared. Nightlife isn't quite there as late as a Carnival/Royal cruise plus I was out of drink. I looked at the martini bar menu, but at $17 a drink, I just couldn't justify it. That really is insane pricing and not included in any "included" drink package. Sheesh. I scanned the casino floor for a server but didn't see any, but to be fair my eyes aren't real sharp right now. 

 

I would like to have made it a little later, but I ain't mad at all. I really enjoyed silent disco and my first night onboard. A little time off, even just a month, really makes you appreciate the experience so much more and I think not cruising non stop going forward is going to help keep things in perspective. Not that I won't miss the non stop cruising 🙂

 

I'm back in the room enjoying the included on demand movies. I started Oppenheimer earlier, and I can't follow it all right now 😂.

 

Going to see if I can find something a little lighter to watch until I can't keep my eyes open, which I think will be soon.

 

Good night all, thanks for following along and I will see you tomorrow for a sea day on the way to Cozumel.
 

[CruiseCrew123]

Most Martini bar drinks are covered by the premium package 

[exlondoner]

8 hours ago, jam19872016 said:

Keeping an eye on my neighbors. They seem like upstanding people so far but things could get turned upside down quick.

 

It seems to me the only reason for having pineapples on your door is so you can invert them when the mood takes you.

[GenerationX]

On 1/27/2024 at 5:48 PM, CruiseCrew123 said:

Wouldn’t expect anything less .!  Is it a solo cruise ? 

Not this time, my husband Jeremy is coming on this one so you’ll get to meet him as well!  
 

I actually haven’t booked a solo cruise yet for this year.  We’re looking at spending a week in Italy this fall and then trying our first TA on Ascent to get home and it’s looking like it will really eat into my travel budget.  I’m crossing my fingers for a generous end of year bonus next month.

[jam19872016]

Good morning everyone.

 

I didn't sleep great last night. The bed is a little firm but I don't think that was the problem. Sometimes a night of drinking leads to restless sleep with constant vivid dreams and tossing and turning, and that is what happened last night.

 

I was about to get up around 8 when I finally fell back asleep.

 

At 10, the captain came on, in the room, to deliver his navigational update. I am pretty sure that is a first. But then, the CD comes on, also inside the room, to tell us about today's activities. He literally went on and on for about five minutes reading off everything including art auctions and diamond and gemstones seminars.

 

Very tacky. I hope maybe he hit the wrong button, maybe the general announcement button is right next to the emergency announcement button. I have never had these kind of basic fyi messages come inside my cabin and I don't want them to every morning when I am trying to sleep.
 

[doghog]

 

11 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

At 10, the captain came on, in the room, to deliver his navigational update. I am pretty sure that is a first. But then, the CD comes on, also inside the room, to tell us about today's activities. He literally went on and on for about five minutes reading off everything including art auctions and diamond and gemstones seminars.

 

Very tacky. I hope maybe he hit the wrong button, maybe the general announcement button is right next to the emergency announcement button. I have never had these kind of basic fyi messages come inside my cabin and I don't want them to every morning when I am trying to sleep.

Nope. Ship wide. Every morning at 10:00 AM.