Reflection Review - Jan. 2 - 12, 2022

[Host Anne]

3 minutes ago, mafig said:

Were every other slot machines blocked off, or was social distancing left up to the gamblers?

 

The same for seating at the tables.

 

 

 

They did not block off any slot machines but the few times I walked through, there wasn't anyone sitting at the slots and my husband said he never noticed people at them either.  That doesn't mean people didn't use them but they weren't blocking any off and we didn't see people sitting next to others at slots.

 

As for the tables, they didn't require people to spread apart.  But again, it was never very crowded at the tables when he was in there (maybe two or three times throughout the cruise).  Masks were worn by everyone - passengers and crew.

[Host Anne]

1 minute ago, Momma Rene said:

Thanks for your report!  You mentioned you were on the hump and it was great!  I'll be on deck 10 on the hump in the Celebrity Suite.  Can you give me any insight as to why it was so wonderful?

 

Also did you eat at the Porch?  I'm looking forward to some seafood!

 

You didn't say what cabin you are in.  There is a difference between the three Celebrity Suites on the hump.  If you are in 1233 or 1122, the balconies on these two cabins are angled and much deeper than the other two suites that are on the "flat" part of the hump on deck 10.  I'm sure they are all wonderful, but that extra depth on the angled balconies is what makes them so nice. 

 

In addition to the great balcony, you are very close to elevators/stairs mid-ship but it's still very quiet as you'll have the library between you and the elevators.  The location makes it very easy and quick to get almost anywhere on the ship.  It's a great central location midship.   

 

I also like the vast ocean views you get from the angled balconies.  You can see a long way forward without standing at the edge of the balcony.  

 

Hope that's helpful!

[Momma Rene]

2 hours ago, Host Anne said:

 

You didn't say what cabin you are in.  There is a difference between the three Celebrity Suites on the hump.  If you are in 1233 or 1122, the balconies on these two cabins are angled and much deeper than the other two suites that are on the "flat" part of the hump on deck 10.  I'm sure they are all wonderful, but that extra depth on the angled balconies is what makes them so nice. 

 

In addition to the great balcony, you are very close to elevators/stairs mid-ship but it's still very quiet as you'll have the library between you and the elevators.  The location makes it very easy and quick to get almost anywhere on the ship.  It's a great central location midship.   

 

I also like the vast ocean views you get from the angled balconies.  You can see a long way forward without standing at the edge of the balcony.  

 

Hope that's helpful!

We are in cabin 1233 on the Reflection.  I had the corner aft on one voyage on another ship.  That cabin was amazing, however, because it was such a long walk we did not use the cabin that much.  With Covid, we were thinking a more centralized cabin would be better.  

 

Thanks so much for your wonderful review.  I'm hoping that the ship remains not quite full.  We are within the 90 day period and there are a lot of cabins available at this time.

[highway180]

Ann

I couldn't agree with you more on the smoking issue!

We were on the cruise prior to yours, and it was a big problem. There were people moving ashtrays from the smoking section, into the non-smoking section at the Sunset Bar, with one particular person blowing smoke towards our table. I did not confront the person, but went to management, and was told basically they were not willing to address the issue. This is usually my favorite bar....which we never went back to .

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

2 hours ago, highway180 said:

Ann

I couldn't agree with you more on the smoking issue!

We were on the cruise prior to yours, and it was a big problem. There were people moving ashtrays from the smoking section, into the non-smoking section at the Sunset Bar, with one particular person blowing smoke towards our table. I did not confront the person, but went to management, and was told basically they were not willing to address the issue. This is usually my favorite bar....which we never went back to .

 

Confrontation... yep - the fear of someone turning into an Ursula is the power they hold.  😞

 

(BTW - excellent review!!)

 

Tom

[Host Anne]

4 hours ago, Momma Rene said:

We are in cabin 1233 on the Reflection.  I had the corner aft on one voyage on another ship.  That cabin was amazing, however, because it was such a long walk we did not use the cabin that much.  With Covid, we were thinking a more centralized cabin would be better.  

 

Thanks so much for your wonderful review.  I'm hoping that the ship remains not quite full.  We are within the 90 day period and there are a lot of cabins available at this time.

You have an awesome cabin.  I'm doubting that ships will be sailing full anytime soon.  Have a wonderful time!

[Host Anne]

I'm never one for confrontation.  It doesn't usually solve anything.  But I am about "respect," and sadly our world has lost quite a bit of that in the past several years.  

 

There were people vaping on the starboard side of the Sunset Bar the first afternoon and the staff did actually ask them to stop.  They didn't do it again.  

 

It would be so much better if everyone respected one another.   

[highway180]

15 hours ago, Host Anne said:

I'm never one for confrontation.  It doesn't usually solve anything.  But I am about "respect," and sadly our world has lost quite a bit of that in the past several years.  

 

There were people vaping on the starboard side of the Sunset Bar the first afternoon and the staff did actually ask them to stop.  They didn't do it again.  

 

It would be so much better if everyone respected one another.   

Agreed

But on our sailing, it seemed they went out of their way(staff & officers) to tolerate things that were definitely not tolerated before Covid. Such as food in the hot tubs & pool. Glass containers in the pool / hot tub, and of course the smokers. It was the NYE cruise with a much younger crowd, not that that was an excuse.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

10 minutes ago, highway180 said:

Agreed

But on our sailing, it seemed they went out of their way(staff & officers) to tolerate things that were definitely not tolerated before Covid. Such as food in the hot tubs & pool. Glass containers in the pool / hot tub, and of course the smokers. It was the NYE cruise with a much younger crowd, not that that was an excuse.

 

Where I've noticed this most of all, on our 3 recent cruises, was in the casino - at the $25+ tables. It would seem if you've got thousands in front of you "ready to donate", they'd rather not run you off. I was at one table and a fellow sat down with about $10k in cash, no mask. This was August 3rd, right after sailing resumed. This guy had a profane t-shirt referencing the vaccine (to illustrate the scene). I looked straight ahead and asked the dealer "are masks required at the table?", he said "yes". I then asked "is that enforced?"... crickets. I got up and left, taking my promo chips with me. No doubt they made a LOT more off of that guy than they would have from me. I later learned that this guy owned a strip club (brought along a couple of "workers"), so I'm surprised that he didn't have all his cash in $1's  lol

 

Tom

[helen haywood]

Ann, I saw you mentioned the theater entertainment…were there two shows an evening?

[Host Anne]

4 hours ago, highway180 said:

Agreed

But on our sailing, it seemed they went out of their way(staff & officers) to tolerate things that were definitely not tolerated before Covid. Such as food in the hot tubs & pool. Glass containers in the pool / hot tub, and of course the smokers. It was the NYE cruise with a much younger crowd, not that that was an excuse.

 

My only advice is to write to Celebrity about the situation.  No idea if it helps, but I do it anyway.  That's in addition to completing the cruise line survey. You'd never catch me on a NYE cruise...I'm happy at home!

[Host Anne]

24 minutes ago, helen haywood said:

Ann, I saw you mentioned the theater entertainment…were there two shows an evening?

Yes, Helen.  There were two shows each evening - 7:00 and 9:00 PM.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

On 1/18/2022 at 8:10 AM, Host Anne said:

 

... We skipped Qsine as we've done it multiple times in the past.

...

 

We quite enjoyed that the last time we were on the Reflection (I think it was). However, now it's just Le Petit Chef, correct? If so, that's a little less interesting. We have not experienced it, but I think we'll try it.

 

Tom

[iluvthe-c]

Were the still having Silent Discos when you were on board?

[Host Anne]

On 1/19/2022 at 6:36 PM, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

We quite enjoyed that the last time we were on the Reflection (I think it was). However, now it's just Le Petit Chef, correct? If so, that's a little less interesting. We have not experienced it, but I think we'll try it.

 

Tom

Hi Tom and Cheryl ~ Qsine is the restaurant name.  Le Petite Chef is the animated dinner show held in this restaurant.  It hasn't changed, really.  I believe they have updated the story but it appeared that the food was the same.

[Host Anne]

5 hours ago, iluvthe-c said:

Were the still having Silent Discos when you were on board?

 

Yes, they held at least two in the foyer later in the evening.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

2 hours ago, Host Anne said:

Hi Tom and Cheryl ~ Qsine is the restaurant name.  Le Petite Chef is the animated dinner show held in this restaurant.  It hasn't changed, really.  I believe they have updated the story but it appeared that the food was the same.

Thanks.

 

When we dined in Qsine ('13/'14) there was no such thing as Le Petite Chef. Qsine was a restaurant where you ordered on an iPad as I recall - quite a variety, and tasty! At some point, I guess they switched to a fixed menu and kept the name. We have not tried it since that change.

 

The shoreside concierge recently sent us menus, and there were three different ones for Qsine/Le Petit Chef, of which only one was really of interest. Now the trick will be to see what night(s) that's being offered.

 

Tom

[Momma Rene]

2 hours ago, Host Anne said:

Hi Tom and Cheryl ~ Qsine is the restaurant name.  Le Petite Chef is the animated dinner show held in this restaurant.  It hasn't changed, really.  I believe they have updated the story but it appeared that the food was the same.

Just wondering how was the food?

[J80crew]

It’s been a few years since we were on Reflection, but they used to have a band for dancing in the grand foyer every evening. Is that still the case?  If not, was there another venue with live music for dancing?  We will be on the Feb 12 sailing and looking forward to our nightly dances. 

[Host Anne]

12 hours ago, Momma Rene said:

Just wondering how was the food?

The food was always good in Qsine/Le Petite Chef.  But for us, it wasn't worth doing again.  I know they did bring out new "animations" and menus but we enjoy the regular specialty restaurants where you have many menu choices whenever you go.  If you've never been, it's a lot of fun and the food is good.

[Host Anne]

1 hour ago, J80crew said:

It’s been a few years since we were on Reflection, but they used to have a band for dancing in the grand foyer every evening. Is that still the case?  If not, was there another venue with live music for dancing?  We will be on the Feb 12 sailing and looking forward to our nightly dances. 

There is still plenty of live music in the grand foyer every evening.  I still find it an "odd" place to do this (I'd rather be in a lounge with a dance floor....think Sky) but no worries, the live music in the foyer is on-going.

[graphicguy]

Thank you so much for this Anne.  I'm in the midst of planning either a Reflection or an Apex cruise next month.  Still undecided, but this has proved quite helpful.

[J80crew]

On 1/21/2022 at 10:06 AM, Host Anne said:

There is still plenty of live music in the grand foyer every evening.  I still find it an "odd" place to do this (I'd rather be in a lounge with a dance floor....think Sky) but no worries, the live music in the foyer is on-going.

I agree. We always loved dancing in Rendezvous Lounge on the older ships. Don’t know why they think the grand foyer is a good place, with poles in the way and folks walking back and forth across the dance floor. But good to know there’s still that possibility. Thanks. 

[kwokpot]

35 minutes ago, J80crew said:

I agree. We always loved dancing in Rendezvous Lounge on the older ships. Don’t know why they think the grand foyer is a good place, with poles in the way and folks walking back and forth across the dance floor. But good to know there’s still that possibility. Thanks. 

My guess is that the Grand Foyer is a more visible space where people would be more inclined to wander by and participate. Having the music travel up the atrium is precisely what they want to generate buzz and more interest and participation.  

[wendycook22]

10 hours ago, kwokpot said:

My guess is that the Grand Foyer is a more visible space where people would be more inclined to wander by and participate. Having the music travel up the atrium is precisely what they want to generate buzz and more interest and participation.  

I know this has been practiced prior to the pandemic but I believe it is a smart approach with the current number of guests.  Having the entertainment in the foyer has targets more people spread over different venues on various decks.