Does the Celebrity Reflection feel crowded?

[PTMary]

....I have been on the S-class ships and the Reflection is definitely feels more crowded than the other ships......

 

I chuckle at comments like this. I challenge anyone to be able to notice the difference between 2,852 and 3,046 passengers in an area that is 1/5 of a mile long and 17 stories high. ;p

 

Heck, I would bet that they wouldn't even notice the difference between a long cruise with few families compared to a cruise with lots of families - on the same ship! Add 100 families with 2 kids and the difference in passenger counts on Solstice would be more than the measly 196 difference between Solstice and Reflection. So, in actuality, a 7-night Caribbean cruise on Solstice with families could very well be physically more crowded than a 14-night Baltic cruise on Reflection. :evilsmile:

[floridaag]

I chuckle at comments like this. I challenge anyone to be able to notice the difference between 2,852 and 3,046 passengers in an area that is 1/5 of a mile long and 17 stories high. ;p

 

Heck, I would bet that they wouldn't even notice the difference between a long cruise with few families compared to a cruise with lots of families - on the same ship! Add 100 families with 2 kids and the difference in passenger counts on Solstice would be more than the measly 196 difference between Solstice and Reflection. So, in actuality, a 7-night Caribbean cruise on Solstice with families could very well be physically more crowded than a 14-night Baltic cruise on Reflection. :evilsmile:

 

As a general matter, you cannot notice a difference apart from specific areas. If you look at how they cut the Sky Bar - you can quite easily notice the difference - it hits you in the face.

 

Similarly, the increased number of Suites make the difference quite obvious in Luminae -

[PTMary]

As a general matter, you cannot notice a difference apart from specific areas. If you look at how they cut the Sky Bar - you can quite easily notice the difference - it hits you in the face.

 

Similarly, the increased number of Suites make the difference quite obvious in Luminae -

 

But that is only a small percentage of the public areas of the ship. Yes, I also do not like how the Sky Lounge has been truncated. But, most people spend little time there, instead enjoying the other areas of the ship which do not feel any more crowded than they do on other S-class ships. Rather than focusing only on how a small percentage of the ship's total public areas feel, how about commenting on the rest of the ship where most people spend their time.

 

Besides, I rather doubt that you spend all your time in the Sky Lounge or in Luminae - or do you? ;)

[hcat]

As a general matter, you cannot notice a difference apart from specific areas. If you look at how they cut the Sky Bar - you can quite easily notice the difference - it hits you in the face.

 

Similarly, the increased number of Suites make the difference quite obvious in Luminae -

 

Yup... the Sky Lounge is smaller , on a lower deck than other S ships and not as open with panoramic views.

 

Likewise the aft bar cuts that area in half. Great if you love the bar itself ( and some love it for a very long time!) But the rest of the aft area feels like little rabbit warrens on either side,,awful for music, and it really gets loud and packed, just like the main pool, solarium area and martini bar...more pax all wanting the same spots...

 

We stick with the other S class ships....just personal taste.

[BubbaLuvin]

So. The consensus is that the ship not only feels crowded, but it also doesn't. (Crying from laughter emoji)

[SantaFeFan]

Yup... the Sky Lounge is smaller , on a lower deck than other S ships ......

 

Better look at the deck plans again. All five S-class ships have the Sky Lounge in the same place - on deck 14 at the front of the ship. That it is smaller than the others, you are correct about that.

 

Likewise the aft bar cuts that area in half. Great if you love the bar itself ( and some love it for a very long time!) But the rest of the aft area feels like little rabbit warrens on either side,,awful for music, and it really gets loud and packed, just like the main pool, solarium area and martini bar...more pax all wanting the same spots.

 

Not sure I understand about the aft Sunset Bar area. By comparing deck plans, the Reflection's bar area is quite a bit larger than on the previous four ships. It extends out towards the aft end of the ship, while the others pinch in to make room for stairs to the deck below.

Edited June 15, 2017 by SantaFeFan

[helen haywood]

I agree about my beloved Sunset Bar on Reflection. The staircase took up prime aft waterfront area; it was genius to move it behind the bar. I don't think of the seating as "rabbit warrens" (let me come back as a rabbit!) but enjoy how the seating is broken up into different groupings of tables and chairs and benches. And if Reflection was one's first S-Class ship I bet you'd think the Sky Lounge was beautiful. To each his own.

 

 

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[keesar]

I chuckle at comments like this. I challenge anyone to be able to notice the difference between 2,852 and 3,046 passengers in an area that is 1/5 of a mile long and 17 stories high. ;p

 

:evilsmile:

 

What is missing in the equation is that the public spaces have not been proportionately increased. We eat in Blu and there are 4 tables of 2 on the Reflection where there are only 3 tables for 2 on the Silhouette. On the Reflection, waiters are not able to go between tables to serve because they are so close together. Then head to the Sky Lounge on Reflection which has lost 40% due to the construction of additional rooms. They are definitely more crowded.

[SantaFeFan]

What is missing in the equation is that the public spaces have not been proportionately increased. We eat in Blu and there are 4 tables of 2 on the Reflection where there are only 3 tables for 2 on the Silhouette. On the Reflection, waiters are not able to go between tables to serve because they are so close together. Then head to the Sky Lounge on Reflection which has lost 40% due to the construction of additional rooms. They are definitely more crowded.

 

Again, you are talking about only two areas of a very large ship. I still find that this ship easily absorbs the 200 extra people without any impact on the rest of us. The complainers never talk about the rest of the ship. They just keep obsessing about two places out of dozens if not hundreds of places they spend time in.

 

But, if you want to focus only on those two areas you aren't happy with while ignoring the rest of the ship, be my guest. As for me, I found Reflection to feel more spacious than any other ship I have had the pleasure of cruising on to date. She is still my favorite for many reasons. I simply prefer to look at the large number of positives rather than the relatively small number of negatives. I enjoy cruising so much more when I do that. ;p

[shipshape sam]

Again, you are talking about only two areas of a very large ship. I still find that this ship easily absorbs the 200 extra people without any impact on the rest of us. The complainers never talk about the rest of the ship. They just keep obsessing about two places out of dozens if not hundreds of places they spend time in.

 

But, if you want to focus only on those two areas you aren't happy with while ignoring the rest of the ship, be my guest. As for me, I found Reflection to feel more spacious than any other ship I have had the pleasure of cruising on to date. She is still my favorite for many reasons. I simply prefer to look at the large number of positives rather than the relatively small number of negatives. I enjoy cruising so much more when I do that. ;p

 

For sure, focusing on what you like is more fun.

[keesar]

If you increase the number of passengers by 6.8% and only increase the beam by 1.6%, there will be more people per square foot in the public areas. That is not a difficult concept to understand. Do people still enjoy their cruise? Of course---but in comparison to other ships, it is more crowded. It is definitely more noticeable in some areas than others.

[hurwitz5]

We sailed on the Reflection in January 2017 and it didn't feel more crowded than other S class ships. We especially liked the reconfiguration of the Sunset Bar and the outdoor dining area just outside the Ocean View Cafe. The outdoor dining area has a lot more tables because the bar and staircase were removed from the center of the area.

[Cruzin&Snuzin]

Is anyone able to answer the OP's question? Comparing Reflection to Carnival.... comparing her to other X s-class ships may be useful to seasoned X cruisers, but not so much to the OP.

 

I for one having only sailed Reflection did not feel crowded for most of the seven days we sailed. Crowding is why we chose X over RCL (a comment I recognize is not on point).

 

 

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[SantaFeFan]

If you increase the number of passengers by 6.8% and only increase the beam by 1.6%, there will be more people per square foot in the public areas. That is not a difficult concept to understand. Do people still enjoy their cruise? Of course---but in comparison to other ships, it is more crowded. It is definitely more noticeable in some areas than others.

 

Simple math is your friend. Reflection is 2 feet wider than her sisters. So, let's cut a 2 foot wide slice out of her center, front to back, top to bottom, and let's see how much extra deck space we end up with.

 

She is 1,047 feet long and has 14 decks. So, 2 x 1047 L = 2094 sq ft x 14 decks = 29,316 additional square feet of floor space. That is a lot of extra space for only 196 more people! It means that there are 149.57 extra square feet for every one of those additional passengers. That's about the size of an inside stateroom on some cruise ships, one for each additional passenger. According to cruiseshipmapper.com who lists the PSR (passenger space ratios, a calculation of a ship's interior size divided by passenger capacity - larger numbers are better), Solstice, Eclipse and Equinox are all at 38.75, Silhouette is at 38.38, and Reflection is at 39.42. According to them, passengers have 1.7% more room on Reflection. :)

 

Yeah, yeah, I know - my measurements are a built on a lot of assumptions, but it's still a lot of space gained even if it isn't exactly 29,312 square feet or 149 per passenger, or 1.7% more! :D

 

Physically, she is not more crowded than her sisters when all public areas are taken into consideration.

 

And yes, I have too much time on my hands. :halo:

[chemmo]

Thanks to those who have commented re Michael's and Luminae. Glad Michael's isn't too crowded, we will try to avoid peak times at Luminae.

[eileenover]

Simple math is your friend. Reflection is 2 feet wider than her sisters. So, let's cut a 2 foot wide slice out of her center, front to back, top to bottom, and let's see how much extra deck space we end up with.

 

She is 1,047 feet long and has 14 decks. So, 2 x 1047 L = 2094 sq ft x 14 decks = 29,316 additional square feet of floor space. That is a lot of extra space for only 196 more people! It means that there are 149.57 extra square feet for every one of those additional passengers. That's about the size of an inside stateroom on some cruise ships, one for each additional passenger. According to cruiseshipmapper.com who lists the PSR (passenger space ratios, a calculation of a ship's interior size divided by passenger capacity - larger numbers are better), Solstice, Eclipse and Equinox are all at 38.75, Silhouette is at 38.38, and Reflection is at 39.42. According to them, passengers have 1.7% more room on Reflection. :)

 

Yeah, yeah, I know - my measurements are a built on a lot of assumptions, but it's still a lot of space gained even if it isn't exactly 29,312 square feet or 149 per passenger, or 1.7% more! :D

 

Physically, she is not more crowded than her sisters when all public areas are taken into consideration.

 

And yes, I have too much time on my hands. :halo:

 

Come on! You know that the answer is 42! (Douglas Adams' Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy')

[eileenover]

Simple math is your friend. Reflection is 2 feet wider than her sisters. So, let's cut a 2 foot wide slice out of her center, front to back, top to bottom, and let's see how much extra deck space we end up with.

 

She is 1,047 feet long and has 14 decks. So, 2 x 1047 L = 2094 sq ft x 14 decks = 29,316 additional square feet of floor space. That is a lot of extra space for only 196 more people! It means that there are 149.57 extra square feet for every one of those additional passengers. That's about the size of an inside stateroom on some cruise ships, one for each additional passenger. According to cruiseshipmapper.com who lists the PSR (passenger space ratios, a calculation of a ship's interior size divided by passenger capacity - larger numbers are better), Solstice, Eclipse and Equinox are all at 38.75, Silhouette is at 38.38, and Reflection is at 39.42. According to them, passengers have 1.7% more room on Reflection. :)

 

Yeah, yeah, I know - my measurements are a built on a lot of assumptions, but it's still a lot of space gained even if it isn't exactly 29,312 square feet or 149 per passenger, or 1.7% more! :D

 

Physically, she is not more crowded than her sisters when all public areas are taken into consideration.

 

And yes, I have too much time on my hands. :halo:

 

Guys, are you the first on this planet to argue about size? (joke)

[floridaag]

But that is only a small percentage of the public areas of the ship. Yes, I also do not like how the Sky Lounge has been truncated. But, most people spend little time there, instead enjoying the other areas of the ship which do not feel any more crowded than they do on other S-class ships. Rather than focusing only on how a small percentage of the ship's total public areas feel, how about commenting on the rest of the ship where most people spend their time.

 

Besides, I rather doubt that you spend all your time in the Sky Lounge or in Luminae - or do you? ;)

 

Just trying to answer the question - those 2 areas feel crowded to me (especially compared with other Solstice ships) - the rest of the ship does not - and I love the Sunset Bar set-up as others have commented. The stepped couch area is amazing and very clever and a great place to watch sunsets

[floridaag]

I agree about my beloved Sunset Bar on Reflection. The staircase took up prime aft waterfront area; it was genius to move it behind the bar. I don't think of the seating as "rabbit warrens" (let me come back as a rabbit!) but enjoy how the seating is broken up into different groupings of tables and chairs and benches. And if Reflection was one's first S-Class ship I bet you'd think the Sky Lounge was beautiful. To each his own.

 

 

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Agree entirely as to the Sunset Bar -

 

I disagree on the Sky Lounge - it is so small it feels like it belongs on a much smaller ship

[shipshape sam]

Guys, are you the first on this planet to argue about size? (joke)

 

I would only say that public space not used is of no value. I think I would suggest that designers look at what passengers are utilizing and then design ships to maximize utilization. Can't always get it right I know and we have seen over the years many many alterations of ship's space for something new/different.

 

The one space that most seem to bring up is the pool area. Prime seating is next to the pool for some reason? I would think you would not want to be where there is constant traffic around you. Anyway, I think of the creative concept someone did for brownies where they created a baking pan with more edges as that is something many like. :)

 

Seriously, I like the calculations and it is fun to do.

 

I think too, the designers try to spread the space around to pull people in many directions/areas onboard to create the feeling of openness and not being crowded as much as possible which is good. I have felt at times, events were purposely scheduled at same time in different areas of ship to not have large crowds. They do seem to keep the money making casinos right in the middle. :)

[hcat]

Better look at the deck plans again. All five S-class ships have the Sky Lounge in the same place - on deck 14 at the front of the ship. That it is smaller than the others, you are correct about that.

 

 

 

Not sure I understand about the aft Sunset Bar area. By comparing deck plans, the Reflection's bar area is quite a bit larger than on the previous four ships. It extends out towards the aft end of the ship, while the others pinch in to make room for stairs to the deck below.

 

 

Not looking for a debate, but on Reflection the lounge is on the Solarium level and the spa is one level up from the Solarium..see link

 

https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/Celebrity-Reflection

 

.On other S class ships, the solarium is on same level as the Spa.. makes much more sense,...On the Reflection, it was a pain in the neck having to go up one floor to the Persian Gardens which we enjoy along with the Solarium...not a convenient design...

 

As for the aft bar itself..it is larger and not tucked in, and is obviously a big hit with many , but we are not all about the bar..we like the open area for socializing and music..The bar which is at the extreme aft...and in the middle pushes music groups to the side, often drowned out by the drinkers...that was our experience...

 

Everyone has their favorites...we prefer Silhouette, Equinox and Connie..Mercury was a perfect cruise ship in every way but now gone! Looking forward to EDGE...

Edited June 16, 2017 by hcat

[SantaFeFan]

Not looking for a debate, but on Reflection the lounge is on the Solarium level and the spa is one level up from the Solarium....

 

Not debating it either. Just posting facts. And, in fact, the spa is one level DOWN from the solarium level, not up one as you claim. The solarium is on level 14, the same level as the lounge, while the spa is on deck 12, one level lower (no deck 13 for the superstitious). It is the Fun Factory that is up one level up from the solarium level, not the spa. This is clearly visible on the very link you provided.

 

Also, I am still correct in stating that the lounge is on the exact same level on all five ships, contrary to what you claim (no debate required :)). It is the solarium, not the lounge, that is on a different level due to the raising of the pool deck one level.

 

The facts, and only the facts. ;)

Edited June 16, 2017 by SantaFeFan

[SantaFeFan]

Guys, are you the first on this planet to argue about size? (joke)

 

Joking? I'm bragging! :D:evilsmile:;)

[hcat]

Not debating it either. Just posting facts. And, in fact, the spa is one level DOWN from the solarium level, not up one as you claim. The solarium is on level 14, the same level as the lounge, while the spa is on deck 12, one level lower (no deck 13 for the superstitious). It is the Fun Factory that is up one level up from the solarium level, not the spa. This is clearly visible on the very link you provided.

 

Also, I am still correct in stating that the lounge is on the exact same level on all five ships, contrary to what you claim (no debate required :)). It is the solarium, not the lounge, that is on a different level due to the raising of the pool deck one level.

 

The facts, and only the facts. ;)

 

Okay, but for those who focus on the spa and solarium...just pointing out the incovenience of this ship versus other S class....going back and forth not as convenient, Spa itself is awesome, PG larger so it did not feel over used, The locker room had a lock system not as easy to use as the keys,, not sure if this matters to OP.

 

Have never been on Carnival, NCL or MSC so cannot compare how crowded they feel compared to Reflection.,but compared to many places on Oasis (Royal C) Reflection will feel quite spacious,,.