January 3 Reflection Review: Horrible Cruise

[Seabourn Pearls]

I bought one of these blow up foot rests to take away with me and it works a treat. Doesn't take up any space when deflated:

 

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=a9_sc_1?rh=i%3Asporting%2Ck%3Adesign+go+luggage+footrest+grey+one+size&keywords=design+go+luggage+footrest+grey+one+size&ie=UTF8&qid=1421358511

 

Phil

 

Speaking of inflatable things, we had a comedian on board for the first leg of the trip and he had some moments of genuine funny. One joke I remembered after reading your post was as follows:

 

"Yeah, I just bought a new inflatable woman. She comes from Afghanistan. She's real nice. She blows herself up."

 

Don't shoot the messenger.

[Seabourn Pearls]

So do I have to sneak into the men's room to find out what you are talking about? The ladies' room has no such embellishments.

 

:confused:

 

What word is the same written backwards, forwards or upside down?

 

Answer

NOON

[schlimazel_traveler]

I agree that the venues for trivia, dance lessons, game shows, etc., were not really ideal. They weren't good for the people participating (poor lines of sight, not enough dance floor, etc), and worse for the people not participating (because of the noise and obstructions...particularly the activities that take place in that bit of hallway outside the theater known as the "entertainment court"). I did wish there was more appropriate dedicated space for the people who want to do that sort of thing (me) to do their thing and not be in the way of the people who didn't.

 

One could get a plate of cheese slices and some bread, or a plate of sushi for a pre-dinner appetizer. I wasn't wowed by the sushi selection, but it was nice that it was available. I have to say, though, that there was a nicer selection of cheeses on the Grandeur of the Seas and I would have liked some crackers that weren't saltines.

 

Select dining in the MDR worked perfectly for us. We forgot to make reservations a couple of times and never had to wait for more than a couple of minutes.

[fpebbles]

Me: Hello art.

Art: I'm obtuse. Kiss off.

Me: Nice talking to you.

 

(just spit-laughed on computer keyboard :p)

 

Thanks for your review and comments!

[hulamoon]

I know I could be asking for too much but I do hope for some art changes in the new ships. I am okay with quirky, but there are some fine lines that are embarrassing

 

Modern luxury does not have to be stingy. In fact, I think padded chairs and foot stools are luxurious.

 

So glad to see the OP red rose issue was a statue? A statement? Coat rack? Since there are no art glasse pieces to sell on the Reflection, maybe they could auction it for a good cause.

 

Very nice summary Seabourn Pearls, thank you.

[Texed]

Pearls,

 

Thanks for posting. :)

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

 

I am not sure it would be a good idea to price a cabin based on the size of the balcony.

Are you sure that some non handicap AQ and CC cabins on the Solstice Class ships do not have footstools. I have never seen or read about missing footstools. I find that really hard to believe.

 

Since all non suite balcony cabins are the same size Celebrity needs to find some ways to justifiy a higher cost.

 

I wasn't suggesting that Celebrity price the cabins by the size of the balcony. My suggestion is that they decide where to deploy footstools based on the size of the balcony, not the cabin class.

 

I know that some cabins (CC & AQ) on M class do not have them (footstools). Frankly, there isn't room for them. Even though that is a stated included amenity for that class. I don't know about S class, have only occupied those large 1As on the slant and see no reason to book anything else since all the cabins are the same size.

 

The price of those footstools can't possibly justify the price difference between a 1A and a CC cabin.

 

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

I bought one of these blow up foot rests to take away with me and it works a treat. Doesn't take up any space when deflated:

 

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=a9_sc_1?rh=i%3Asporting%2Ck%3Adesign+go+luggage+footrest+grey+one+size&keywords=design+go+luggage+footrest+grey+one+size&ie=UTF8&qid=1421358511

 

Phil

 

We had heard of people using the baskets the life jackets are stored in, topped by a couch pillow. Found that too high, but the life jackets themselves worked.

 

[catugirl]

DH and were on Reflection in November, and we had a wonderful cruise. The only two things we could criticize at all were that the food selections for dinner in Blu were not so great this cruise, and the shopping area just outside the casino got really crowded on sea days. Other than that, we couldn't have asked for anything better. Cabin was spotless, service was great throughout the ship, the ship was beautiful, the food was good (for the most part), entertainment was enjoyable, the captain was very accessible to the passengers, the ports were great fun and we loved having a drink package for the first time!

[QuakerBoy]

Totally agree with comment that the grassy knoll was a clever concept, but it's impractical and wastes valuable space. C'mon, man; $149 to rent a "cabana" on the lawn for a day?? I think The Porch can be better utilized as well. Never saw more than two tables occupied during a week of beautiful Caribbean weather. Otherwise, Reflection rocks.

[Seabourn Pearls]

Grew review, many fun comments and points of consideration. We're back on reflection in a year with family, some who didn't like their last cruise in 2006 so we're trying to "make it better" and hoping Reflection helps.

 

Happy sailing mainah,

Jenna

 

Cruising with family? Hoping to make it better?

 

Have you got the drinks package? Be advised I didn't see any Allen's Coffee Brandy on board so you may want to prepare for that.

[Seabourn Pearls]

I agree that the venues for trivia, dance lessons, game shows, etc., were not really ideal. They weren't good for the people participating (poor lines of sight, not enough dance floor, etc), and worse for the people not participating (because of the noise and obstructions...particularly the activities that take place in that bit of hallway outside the theater known as the "entertainment court"). I did wish there was more appropriate dedicated space for the people who want to do that sort of thing (me) to do their thing and not be in the way of the people who didn't.

 

One could get a plate of cheese slices and some bread, or a plate of sushi for a pre-dinner appetizer. I wasn't wowed by the sushi selection, but it was nice that it was available. I have to say, though, that there was a nicer selection of cheeses on the Grandeur of the Seas and I would have liked some crackers that weren't saltines.

 

Select dining in the MDR worked perfectly for us. We forgot to make reservations a couple of times and never had to wait for more than a couple of minutes.

 

My half-Greek wife commented that the ship had wonderfully creamy Feta cheese. I assume the Greek officers would not abide by the salty, crumbly feta we get in US markets. And, yes, one could sometimes find a nice platter of mixed olives at the lunch buffet.

 

But the saltines belabor the original point I was making about a cocktail snacks station from 4-7pm. Not only were saltines the only cracker I saw the entire cruise but they were the two packs wrapped in plastic. As for the cheese selection, well, Reflection had both kinds: yellow and orange!

 

Again we LOVED the cruise and will do it again in a heartbeat. Just making suggestions for improvement. If the suits are listening what I'm suggesting would likely add to the bottom line as passengers enjoying cocktail snacks would likely eat less of the high cost proteins at dinner. (They clearly understand this with the sushi selections which were mostly rice and veggie rolls - emphasis on rice. Not a lot of fat tuna slices on that tray)

[Seabourn Pearls]

Totally agree with comment that the grassy knoll was a clever concept, but it's impractical and wastes valuable space. C'mon, man; $149 to rent a "cabana" on the lawn for a day?? I think The Porch can be better utilized as well. Never saw more than two tables occupied during a week of beautiful Caribbean weather. Otherwise, Reflection rocks.

 

There was quite a lot of underutilized space on board. The Porch was deserted. I think one can get paninis at Oceanview and take them outside so why pay? CellarMasters was emptier than the upper deck for a Jaguars game.

 

But the big waste is the lawn. I met the "Lawnkeeper" and he was telling me about the difficulties of keeping the grass fresh in a marine, high traffic environment. They have to limit use of the lawn with absurd regularity. Consequently, no events were scheduled there during our cruise. Sadly, this is the rule not the exception. Hence, 25-35% of the precious uppermost decks are literally dedicated to watching the grass grow.

 

I felt the lawn was crying out to be repurposed. For starters, I'd take one of the side patches and install blocked, crushed oyster shell bocce courts that could be played 24/7. On the other side I'd install a shuffleboard court in the middle of the grass. That would get a lot of play. People like shuffleboard on cruises. They just do.

[gopro63]

just a reminder of the lovely art

 

[need2bespoiled]

Cruising with family? Hoping to make it better?

 

Have you got the drinks package? Be advised I didn't see any Allen's Coffee Brandy on board so you may want to prepare for that.

 

Drink package, check.

OBC to upgrade to premium, check

balcony, check

 

 

I like coffee

I like brandy

Our states infatuation with Allen's version is as mind boggling to me as THE red rose.

 

Plans are carefully being laid to dissolve away any other objections.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

[Seabourn Pearls]

Drink package, check.

OBC to upgrade to premium, check

balcony, check

 

 

I like coffee

I like brandy

Our states infatuation with Allen's version is as mind boggling to me as THE red rose.

 

Plans are carefully being laid to dissolve away any other objections.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

 

Mainers are hard to figure. To wit: Moxie, the worst tasting soft drink on earth.

[Seabourn Pearls]

just a reminder of the lovely art

 

 

Do you suppose the two ladies seated to the right are having "a conversation with the art?" Or perhaps it's their muse and poetry erupts from their golden souls........

 

"This hideous rose gives me pause as I wonder,

How Reflection's designers could embrace such a blunder.

This ship is so chic, so elegant and swanky,

But this rose is an eyesore, its fragrance quite stanky.

It's towering, red, hulking and heavy,

The Passport Bar beckons for another stiff bevvy.

At a port of call soon may we all get our wishes,

May this hideous bloom go to sleep with the fishes.

When it happens we'll cheer and holler out 'Gratzi,'

As it sinks to the bottom to join Luca Brasi."

[schlimazel_traveler]

just a reminder of the lovely art

 

 

I kept bumping into that stupid rose while trying to learn the choreography to "You Can't Stop the Beat." Then I gave up. Just another example of how the spaces used for activities are not really suited to them.

 

I will say, regarding art, we were pleasantly surprised by the art history lecture. We expected the lecturer to be reading uncomprehendingly from a set of provided PowerPoint slides, the way port shopping lectures have been. However, he was very knowledgeable, it was very informative, and we enjoyed it. It might have been less informative had we known anything whatsoever about art history, but we do not.

[Seabourn Pearls]

My oh My. The rose makes me want to rethink my Jan 31 cruise. Have you seen the commercial where the husband and wife keep gagging whenever they look at the object? I wonder if we could petition to have it covered during our cruise?

 

Don't get crazy. We had a marvelous time. The crew, the ship, the cruise exceeded are expectations in every way. For every thing that wasn't perfect 100 things were fantastic. It's a big world and there's so much to do and see but man oh man do I want to get on another Celebrity ship ASAP.

[miataman19]

I don't recall that giant rose on our cruise in 2013. Is it relatively new? :confused:

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Forums mobile app

[surus]

We had a hump veranda cabin on Silhouette last September. We asked our steward for footstools. He said they were not available but the next day two "footstools" appeared on our veranda. They were not real footstools but some sort of boxes that served the same purpose. Very much appreciated. I think for our next cruise I will look into the inflatables or bring beach balls.

[ihartcruising]

Definitely the most entertaining review and thread I've found on the Reflection so far. Obviously the highlight of this cruise will be photo ops with the rose :p

[Seabourn Pearls]

I don't recall that giant rose on our cruise in 2013. Is it relatively new? :confused:

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Forums mobile app

 

As far as I know it's been there since the shipped launched in 2012.

[khalubear]

I just wanted to say thank you for the most fun I have had reading reviews. You all sound like

DH and I. Sure there are things that can be improved, but it has yet to affect my cruise. Cruising IMHO is the best way to get the best bang for your rollar, while meeting great people and not having a care in the world. We are looking forward to our March 28, 2015 cruise on this ship.

Lise

Edited January 18, 2015 by khalubear

[cruise47]

To the OP a big thanks. We were very concern about this thread topics.

 

I feel ready to relax on our upcoming cruise.