buffetking

Hanky panky in the bathroom! You would think with camera's everywhere recording everything officers would be more discreet, especially in passenger area's. Guess he just had to have it...NOW. Too bad children had to witness it.

 

Does staff forget there is something called...the internet? They do something stupid

and in an instant it can be posted all over the world..with video or pictures.

 

If towels pile up in the spa...take a picture and post it. If enough people record bad service,

Celebrity will have address these shortcomings, or risk losing business. They are not the only ships afloat.

Just there in June, no visa required.

I've just returned from the June 2nd Med cruise on Reflection. We did a private tour in Ephesus and went to the Virgin Mary house. We waited in line about 1/2 an hour; walking through took about 4 minutes. Was it good?.....was it worth it? I'll leave that up to you.

 

Ephesus was pretty cool to see. Be sure and pay extra to see the Terrace houses.

It was hot and crowded on our tour. Some tourists had a hard time with the rough terrain and heat. Drink lots of water and wear a good sun hat.

I went to China a couple of years ago. You do need a Visa for visiting China. Since you are on a cruise, check to see if there is a special rule for cruise ship visitors.

For example:

Turkey requires a visa for all visitors except cruise ship passengers who are "in transit."

So, if the cruise starts in Turkey, you need a visa. If the cruise starts elsewhere and only stops in Turkey, no visa needed, even if you are there for 2 days as my recent cruise on the Reflection was.

If you do need a visa, get started on it now. It is a long and detailed application....and is somewhat expensive.

Excellent review. I just booked a Baltic cruise on Eclipse.

I've just returned from the June 2nd sailing of the Med on the Reflection.

We kept hearing door slamming all the time. This is why. When the ship is cruising and you have a balcony cabin and leave the balcony door open...even a little....a suction will be created from outside the ship to the inside, slamming the door. On the last night of the cruise, my wife left the balcony door open. Then she opened the cabin door, which suddenly slammed shut...with her pinkie finger in the door jam. I though her finger was cut off. But it just got completely smashed. She was in ALOT of pain. It swelled up as big as her thumb and turned a lovely shade of purple.

So, lessons learned:

1. Shut the balcony door before opening the cabin door. Or

2. Open cabin door keeping hands on the door handle.

 

Maybe the doors need an airbag? OK, just kidding.

OK, I received lots of junk mail that I tossed in the trash can. At the end of the cruise, Celebrity said they were "saving the waves" by not distributing a printed guest survey.
Instead they would send us an email that would redirect us to an online form.
So, they can bombard me with junk mail most of the cruise...but they suddenly "go green"
with the guest survey. Hee heeeeeee. get real. It takes STAFF to open, read, and record
guest responses on a printed form. Online form can go directly into a computer program.
I think this is a great idea. Saves time, money, and paper. Just don't tell me the reason is to "save the environment."
Also, most of the junk mail is probably paid for by the contractors leasing commercial space on the ship.

The Captains Club host was Alexandria. Very nice lady who did an excellent job making us feel welcome. Even sent us voicemails reminding us of upcoming CC events.

I'm happy to see the cruise industry continually update/upgrade the cruise experience.
Yeah, there could be things change that I don't like, but other passengers might love it.
The ships cost ALOT to build, maintain, staff and operate. Imagine all the paperwork and hassle dealing with various governments and local contractors. My point: cruise companies must fill the ships and expand their passenger demographic. They have to generate revenue everywhere on the ship during the cruise.
My recent Med cruise on Reflection had the youngest fellow passengers I've ever seen on
a somewhat long cruise. Also more international too. So, RCL is doing something right to appeal to a broader demographic around the world. Not to say old people are bad (I'm one too), it's just nice to have a diverse population on board.

Next up for me.....Baltic cruise on Eclipse....then another Galapagos Xpedition adventure.

Howdy,

 

I've just returned home from the June 2nd Reflection 11 day sailing of the Med.

 

So you get an idea of my frame of reference: This was my 28th cruise since 1990. I've sailed on HAL, NCL, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Xpedition to the Galapagos, a Vantage European river cruise, and Cruise North to the Arctic.

 

I like the Elite perks I get with Celebrity. Perks I use everyday while on board.

So there is loyalty on my part to Royal Caribbean Corp. (I get Diamond status on RCCL ships

too). I got my clothes washed/folded, free drinks every night, nice cocktail party with the officers and staff, breakfast each morning in the Tuscan Grille with fruit smoothies, free internet time, elegant tea in Blu. Makes for a nicer vacation experience for me.

 

I like the attention Celebrity pays keeping onboard illness to a minimum. Purell dispensers stationed everywhere, crew with portable units when you re-board after a day in port. Staff cleaning the rails and elevators.

 

I liked my recent Med cruise so much, I booked 2 more cruises while on the ship.

Galapagos and a Baltic cruise.

 

See ya onboard...

There are no silly questions......

The other table was the same as mine; large round with seating for 8.

Our waiter, Victor, was from the Philippines.

I noticed there are no more "Head Waiters." So dining room staff are not managed as closely.

Also, there is no more concern that we rate the staff as "excellent" on the passenger survey at cruise end. Used to be I got a little talk from the room steward and waiter/busboy about not checking off "good" on the survey. They really needed an "excellent" if I was happy with their work. I think this must have to do with the change to tipping. We used to tip the service staff on the last night of the cruise, in cash. This has changed to tips automatically charged to your credit card. You can of course give extra in cash.

With the 123GO offers, you can choose to have tips paid for by Celebrity. So, does the service staff get full tips when a passenger chooses this option? Do they now just get a set salary? Does this affect service levels?

I've just returned from the June 2nd Med cruise on Reflection. Had room 1118, deck 10, angled toward the hump, a C2 CC cabin. Loved the big balcony.

I had our room steward exchange the welcome Champagne for a bottle of red wine. Also had him deliver us 2 shrimp cocktails everyday at 4:00PM instead of the olive tray. Very nice shrimp! He would put them in the minibar. Other than that, I didn't see much difference from a regular balcony cabin.

 

I will say this...there was not enough room in the cabin due to the large fixed bed located near the balcony door. Many times I bumped into my wife as we both tried to move about.

The bed should have been a convertible type because it was in the way most of the time. There was also a lack of storage. Only 3 drawers near the minibar and 2 large cabinets above the bed. That was it. I ended up keeping most of my stuff in the suitcase under the bed.

Just home from Reflection Med cruise. I booked and paid in advance. I should have waited until I was on board so I could have used the OBC to pay the cover charge. The specialty restaurants were not crowded on this cruise, so you could just show up at the door.

Just finished getting home from Reflection Med cruise. Elites could use Sky View lounge everyday from 5 to 7pm, except the day when the officers elite cocktail party was presented.

 

Elites also had a private breakfast area each morning in the Tuscan Grille from 7 to 9am.

Nice, with smoothies.

Hello everyone,

 

Just returned home from LAX. Nice flights on Air Canada. Smooth air all the way with pretty good food and snacks.

 

Overall cruise impression: very good. Food excellent in all area's, no waiting in lines due to creative layout of ship and dining room's.

 

Drink prices, wine prices are somewhat expensive...but...when you booked, you got choice of OBC, paid gratuities, or drink package. So real cost is cheaper. Also if you are Elite status, you get free drinks and finger foods in the Sky lounge from 5 to 7pm most everyday. Also Elite gets nice simple breakfast with smoothies in the Tuscan Grille every morning. "Select" status might get this too, so make sure you check what you can get.

 

The junk mail I received each day was filed away (OK, I threw it away).

 

Main shows were at 7:15 and 9:15 pm. I had 2nd seating conventional dinner at 8:45, so I only watched one show...which was pretty good.

 

Our MDR waiter was not real happy with us for some reason. (big round table with seating for 8). He really was just "going through the motions" with us every night. His other table was a group of Asians and he spent most of every night with them. As a result, they would be finished with dinner by the time we got our main course delivered. He would chat with them and do "waiter tricks' for them......but not us. A man at my table complained about it...so there-after the busboy would perform after dinner tricks for us. Many nights, after the other table was finished, our waiter would disappear and the busboy would take over.

On the last night of the cruise, The other table finished dinner and said their goodbyes to the waiter and busboy, while we were still being served our main course. After we finished eating, our waiter disappeared again. We asked the busboy to go get him so we could say farewell. Busboy said "he's gone and won't be back for a long time." So we bid the busboy goodbye and left. Ho Hummmmmm.

 

I'll post a complete review soon. Any questions? I'll do my best to answer them.

 

 

Happy travels....

Peppas is still Capt. Don't know about the others. Now at sea. Not too much to do for me.

I don't shop or drink too much. Nice weather today. Very good food in the MDR. I dined in the specialty restaurants, not too much different from MDR considering the extra cost.

 

I'll post a better review when I'm home and not paying .65 a minute for internet access.

 

Cheers....

Hello again,

 

wonderful day here in Mykenos (probably spelled wrong). Had lunch and dinner in Tuscan grille...very good. I keep getting "junk mail" at my cabin....art auctions, watch sales...etc.

What I never did get....was the invite to the CC get together.

 

Just for the record, this is my 28th cruise. I've been all over on various lines since 1989.

My first was on the RCCL Nordic Prince, still the best cruise I ever took!!!

 

Cheers,

Hello again.

 

We are now pulling into Ephesus. So far I have loved the cruise. Except for the constant sales pitches. Crew is excellent, Captains club perks are excellent, and as a result....I booked 2 more cruises while on board. Ship is beautiful, very clean. No one is ill, crew members are always at the entrance to buffets with hand sanitizer and sanitizer dispensers are everywhere. Can't enjoy a vacation if you are sick. Ports so far have been great.

 

I very much recommend this cruise very much.

 

Cheers,

Howdy,

 

About 4 days into the cruise from Rome. Ship is nice, but I don't like it as much as I thought I would. Too much "up-selling" for my taste. Seems most everything is geared toward getting you to buy something. Went on a nice tour of the galley, which ended in the specialty restaurant area...to sell you on making a reservation. Just like a ride in Disneyland ending in the gift shop. I'm in CC class, which I would not recommend paying extra for.

 

Food is excellent, staff nice.

 

Cheers....

Thanks JordanF for your review. I'm leaving this morning to board the Reflection for the cruise you recently completed.

 

Nice to hear you had a great cruise!

 

Cheers,

 

Dan

Guess what...an expensive bag, car, watch, ring, suit, etc. is after all pretty much the same as their cheaper cousins. I can afford any car I want, and pay cash for it....not lease or finance it like most "high class folk." I drive a Honda Civic. I pay less, get a solid performing car, and do not expect it to be anything more than a cheap car. When I book a cruise on a mass market line like RCL or X, I pay less and still get a pretty great cruise, and not complain if the experience is a little plain. If I want a "high class" cruise than I'll book me a Seaborne or Crystal cruise. Then if it is not first class all the way...I will complain loudly.

My other point is really more important. Those of us lucky enough to be born in developed countries, where we get good jobs and are able to have disposible income to go on vacation,
count yourself as RICH. We are living the good life, sometimes you just have to sit back and think about it.

May all your bags be Gucci !!

Most everyone wants as cheap a price for a cruise as possible. Then squawk when hit with diminished service or higher on board prices. Cruise lines gotta turn a profit.
Probably 90% of the world's population will never go on a cruise, much less a vacation.
I've travelled all over the planet and met many local people who marveled at the cruise ship docked near their town. And could only dream of ever getting on one.
Be happy, you get to live the dream.

Looks like another sunny day, I dont see any clouds at 6.45 am, just sunshine...yah!

 

Dan's "fat boy" travel tips......

 

You decide to walk from the Colosseum to the Vatican. With trusty tourist map in hand,

take off in a direction you think is correct. (does not matter really....just start walking).

After a mile or two....try and figure out where you are? None of the streets seem to be on your map. None of the buildings seem to be on your map. So, bicker a little with your spouse, and bravely carry on. You will pass by many couples, map in hand, looking as confused as you. Eventually, say to yourself "hell with it", hail the next passing cab, and ten minutes and ten euros later you will arrive cheerfully at the Vatican....to stand in a 2 hour line to get in.

And better yet, you and the spouse will still be on speaking terms.

 

Tip 2....book a "skip the line" tour. We got "right in" the Vatican, and skipped the line at St. Peters too. Very nice.

 

Today we are touring the Colesseum with a skip the line tour. Not waiting in an hour line keeps this fat boy as happy as if I had a tub of chocolate gelato in front of me...(had that yesterday.. hee heeeeee).

 

On a side note, we took a taxi from the Vatican to the Parthenon. Then followed the signs

(yes, actual direction signs), to the Trevi fountain. Where the crowds were pretty thick around the waters edge. Fight your way in, toss a coin over your shoulder, and smile....you're in Rome !

 

Well now its time for breakfast....Pizza with Prosciutto !

 

Happy travels !

Sailed on various RCL ships over the years. Have watched as the cruising experience has changed. After 15 cruises on RCL, we switched to Celebrity. RCL for the most part is mass market, "the ship is the destination" type cruising. Celebrity is a step up, a little more luxury,

a little more laid back. I book based on where I want to go. Im in Rome now spending a couple of days before I board the Celebrity Reflection. This will be one of the largest ships we have cruised on. We prefer smaller ships but will see how this trip goes. When we started cruising, we were in our late twenties...always some of the younger passengers on board.

Sometimes there was little to do except relax and watch the clouds float by (not a bad thing). Now in our fifties, we enjoy relaxing, not running around trying to do it all.

 

Happy travels !

Excellent review, thanks for sharing. Im in Rome now spending a couple of days before we board the Reflection on Monday. Going to tour the Vatican today. Will try the restaurant of the Popes!

 

Cheers.....

I like the idea of Shrimp cocktails instead of snacks !

 

Im in Rome now spending a few days before we depart on Monday on the Reflection.

Booked 1118 C2, will see how it goes.

 

Blue skies this morning even though the forecast is for rain.

 

Cheers....

No such thing as bad chocolate! Ever partake a Chocolate midnight buffet?

Nothing like eating a pound or two of various chocolates after midnight.

 

Case closed!