The Adriatic and Italy on Celebrity Reflection June 3, 2022

[PurpleTraveller]

7 hours ago, gareths said:

But, we are going to do it all again!

 

I can only add to what Andrea said, we are so pleased to have met you guys too and are looking forward to catching up again in the not too distant future xx

 

 

Definitely!!! Already have my thinking cap on. 💜

 

[PurpleTraveller]

4 hours ago, Tipsy252 said:

I was the upper level, deck 4, left side. Or at least that is where we went and were seated. We were select dining.

 

Thanks for letting us know.

[PurpleTraveller]

4 hours ago, WorkerBee74 said:

 

This is a restaurant called Ai Tre Scalini - we have it on our list for October!

 

Enjoying your review - wonderful photos - getting me excited!  We were also on a cancelled Infinity Cruise - ended up on Edge instead on an itinerary in France/Italy vs Spain/Portugal but now going to spend a week in Spain prior.

 

Thank you for letting me know. We were going to have a drink at the bar next door but there weren't any free tables outside.

 

We spent almost four weeks in Spain after our cruise and had a great time. Hope you have wonderful cruise.

 

[PurpleTraveller]

4 hours ago, Beamafar said:

Fantastic report on Naples.  Will be visiting in September on the Edge and this has given me lots of ideas for our day there.   

 

Thanks. We love Naples and love to wander the streets and laneways on our way to wherever we have decided to go. There is so much to see and do in Naples and the surrounding area.  Every time we go there I plan to go into Castel Nuovo but I still haven't managed to. Maybe next time.

 

Hope you have a wonderful cruise on Edge in September.

 

Edited July 19, 2022 by PurpleTraveller

[PurpleTraveller]

2 hours ago, vickykay said:

When you exited the ship, which way did you go in Naples?  Thanks.

 

We turned right at the first road and walked a couple of blocks before turning inland. I have tried to show you on the following maps but we do have a tendency to divert when we see an interesting laneway. I use my phone (I have an app with off-line maps) to keep heading in the direction of where we are heading to.

 

The first map is from the ship to Chiesa dell Gesu Nuovo and the second is from Chiesa dell Gesu Nuovo to Montesanto funicular station.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 19, 2022 by PurpleTraveller

[PurpleTraveller]

June 12 - Livorno

 

One of the big selling points to us of this cruise when our Infinity cruise was cancelled was that it went to La Spezia rather than Livorno. Very disappointingly about three months before the cruise our port was changed to Livorno. Not only was the port changed but our arrival time was changed from 9.00 am to 10.00 am despite having to travel a lesser distance.

 

We have been to Florence twice on land tours spending a number of days there each time. We have also been to Pisa twice so there was no interest to us to go to either again. I waited expectantly for the shore excursions to come out but they were a very uninspiring lot. Three to Florence, three to Pisa, an afternoon (during an Italian summer!) biking tour of Lucca and a couple of farmhouse or pasta making tours. The pasta making tour doesn't even run completely on a Sunday which was when we were in Livorno. That was it.

 

When I have previously been to Livorno with Princess I have done wonderful shore excursions to the Cinque Terre and another one to San Gimignano, Pisa and a winery. There was nothing like that to get me excited so we considered what to do. Most private tour companies were already booked out and our late arrival made it difficult to organise a DIY day. So we decided to have a quiet day in Livorno which would allow me to return to the ship to use the internet to check in online for our flight the following day and finalise our Spanish Health Forms and get our QR codes.

 

Before we set off to explore Livorno we had breakfast. We had received an invitation to go to the Helipad for sail in so went there at 9.15 am. It was interesting to watch us going into a harbour and turning the ship to dock. We also watched the ferries coming and going from the busy port.

 

 

 

 

We also had a good view of the window of our cabin.

 

 

As Livorno is a very busy commercial port you are not allowed to walk through the port. There was a free shuttle to talk us from the ship to the city centre and back again. We got the 10.10 am shuttle and were in the city centre in ten minutes.

 

As it was a Sunday I knew that the Cathedral and churches I wanted to see would be having services and then close so there wasn't a lot of time to waste. First stop was the Cathedral only a block from the shuttle stop. The Cathedral was built between 1594 and 1606 but had to be rebuilt after being bombed in WWII. The service was just starting so I only had a quick peek.

 

 

 

We then walked to Chiesa di San Ferdinando which was built between 1707 and 1716. It was also damaged after being bombed in WWII and was rebuilt after the war. The service was due to start soon so we had a quick look around.

 

 

 

We walked along the canal to Chiesa di Santa Caterina where the service was due to start. The church has an unusual octagonal dome and was started in 1720. It opened in 1753 when the facade was still incomplete. The church was closed in Napoleonic times and used as a prison until the 20th century when it reverted back to being a church.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mission accomplished of seeing the Cathedral and churches that I wanted to!

 

Edited July 20, 2022 by PurpleTraveller

[PurpleTraveller]

We walked along a canal to Fortezza Nuovo which was built for the Medici's in the late 16th century. It is free to go into but there is not a lot to see there other than views of the surrounding canals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We could see Piazza della Republica from the fort.

 

 

 

 

 

After leaving the fort we walked through Piazza della Republica and along a canal to the Mercato Central which is closed on Sundays.

 

 

 

 

The canals were very busy with locals going out on their pleasure boats on a beautiful Sunday.

 

Edited July 20, 2022 by PurpleTraveller

[PurpleTraveller]

Onwards to the English Cemetary which disappointingly, was also closed. The English Cemetary is the oldest Protestant Cemetary in Italy and was established in the 17th century.

 

 

 

We walked along a canal to the waterfront where there were fishing boats.

 

 

 

We then found ourselves at the Monument dei Quattro mori. A monument to Grand Duke Ferdinand I de Medici, it was started in 1595 and raised in 1617. In 1621 the four chained Moors were added to the pedestal.

 

 

A short distance away is the Fortezza Vecchio built 60 years before the Fortezza Nuovo, in the early 16th century.

 

 

 

On our way back to the shuttle bus stop we came upon this statue of Vittorio Emanuele I.

 

 

We got the 1.10 pm shuttle back to the ship and had some lunch. After managing to do the online check in for our flight and getting our QR codes to get into Spain we had a relaxing afternoon by the pool. Lying back with a cold drink we were able to look over the port to the city.

 

 

 

 

While we enjoyed our time in Livorno we found that there was not a lot to see (for us) and almost everything was closed as it was a Sunday. All shops were closed and only a very few cafes were open. If we find ourselves in Livorno again we would get a taxi a bit further along the coast to Villa Mimbelli which is now a museum and Terrazzo Mascagni. 

 

We had a final (quiet sob) dinner at the Opus Dining Room before going back to our cabin to pack 

 

Edited July 20, 2022 by PurpleTraveller

[vickykay]

Thank you so much for the maps.  Copied onto my phone.  Did younfeel safe walking from the port?  I keep reading that Naples is not safe to walk in but we enjoy exploring.

[PurpleTraveller]

1 hour ago, vickykay said:

Thank you so much for the maps.  Copied onto my phone.  Did younfeel safe walking from the port?  I keep reading that Naples is not safe to walk in but we enjoy exploring.

 

We have never felt unsafe in Naples. We have walked in narrow laneways and been in areas that are definitely not on the tourist track. I wouldn't go down an alley that looks really sketchy or dangerous. The area around the train station is not that nice but we have previously walked from the port to the train station and did not feel unsafe. I think the area around the port is fine and there are usually plenty of people around. There are also plenty of other tourists around tourist spots. I describe Naples as gritty but I still love exploring there.

 

Like many places I think you need to be alert and confident and if you feel uncomfortable or unsafe don't stay where you are but return to where there are more people and you feel safe and comfortable again. You will know your level of comfort and be sensible and have a great time in Naples.

 

Oh, and I should add that there are many ways (and probably more direct ones) of getting to the places I went to but those shown on the maps just happen to be the way I went. 😊

 

Edited July 20, 2022 by PurpleTraveller

[vickykay]

Thanks!

[PurpleTraveller]

June 13 - Debarkation Civitavecchia

 

This was the very sad day that we had to leave the ship. 🙁 

 

We had breakfast for the last time on the back deck of the Oceanview Cafe.

 

After breakfast we went to take our last look of our favourite watering hole - the Sunset Bar.

 

 

 

We had a good view of the other ships in port which included the beautiful Celebrity Beyond and Queen Victoria.

 

 

 

We watched the huge Costa Toscana come into port.

 

 

Eventually we had to leave the ship so at 7.50 am we did self walk off with our luggage. It only took moments to get into the shed they use as a terminal at dock 25. It was a little disorganised and we had to ask where the free shuttle bus was. It turned out that unlike the marked shuttle buses going to the train station they were using coaches from various companies as the free shuttle buses.

 

A quick ride to the port gate to Varco Vespucci shuttle stop. This was the shuttle stop that was used in recent times while the Largo della Pace shuttle stop area was being used as a drive through Covid testing area. I have heard that since we were there that the shuttle stop has reverted back to Largo della Pace.

 

Originally we had planned to get the train to Fiumicino Airport but decided not to risk dealing with the chance of a sudden train strike and had booked a transfer from the shuttle stop to the airport. We booked with Civita Tours in mid May and the cost was €20.00 each. Shortly afterwards the cost went up to €25.00 per person.

 

We got to the Varco Vespucci shuttle stop very early for our airport shuttle so we sat down to wait. Shortly after arriving the staff of Civita Tours arrived dressed in their yellow shirts. They put up a large sign so that new arrivals would know where to find them. They marked our names off their list and when everyone had arrived we made our way to their mini bus. There is no parking for vehicles other than the shuttle buses at Varco Vespucci so we had to walk to the port gate with our luggage to just across the street from the previous Largo della Pace shuttle stop. Now that the shuttle stop has reverted to Largo della Pace this step would be obsolete.

 

There we got into the mini van and our luggage was loaded into the back of the mini bus. There were ten passengers. We left at 9.30 am and arrived at the airport at 10.20 am.

 

We arrived in plenty of time for our flight to Madrid.  We liked this Lamborghini Police car on display in the departures hall.

 

 

When the check in for our flight opened we checked in and dropped our bags off. It took a little time to get through security as it was very busy but it was moving quickly and wasn't too bad.

 

We continued our trip with five days in Madrid, an eight day coach tour of Spain which ended in Barcelona and then were supposed to do an eight day cruise of the Western Mediterranean on Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas. Unfortunately when we did our pre cruise Covid test we both tested positive even though neither of us had any symptoms.

 

The next three days were spent trying to contact Royal Caribbean to tell them that we would not be boarding the ship and to cancel our cruise for a refund. The emergency numbers provided were only for US passengers and when we were transferred to the International line they could not help us because we booked in Australia. The emergency number for the Barcelona port service would not answer their phone (we rang them about 20 times) with a message to call back later. We got our son to ring the Australian service line but they could not help. We made dozens of calls and spent hours on hold (bearing in mind that we were ringing from Spain) to no avail. It was very frustrating and stressful!

 

Fortunately along the way I was given an email address and I sent an email with our test results. Three days later I received a reply that they had cancelled our cruise and we would receive a full refund in 30 - 45 days. Amazingly, five days later the full refund was credited to our credit card. Yay!!!

 

We tested negative two days after our positive test and we were able to spend the eight days that we were supposed to be on the cruise, in Spain enjoying the sunshine.

 

We returned to Australia after six great weeks in Europe.

 

Next I will do a Conclusion of the cruise.

 

Edited July 21, 2022 by PurpleTraveller

[PurpleTraveller]

Before I forget these are the ship's officers.

 

 

 

Edited July 21, 2022 by PurpleTraveller

[PurpleTraveller]

Conclusion

 

These are my opinions only and I'm sure others on the cruise will have had different experiences and opinions.

 

EMBARKATION AND DISEMBARKATION

 

Both were very smooth and quick. An easy process for both made getting onto and off the cruise very easy.

 

CABIN

 

We were in an Oceanview cabin at the very front of the ship on deck 8 (8106). We really liked this cabin. It is very spacious with the extra space under the window which looked out over the helipad. The bathroom was well designed with a shower door rather than a curtain and plenty of storage. We really liked having a couch in the cabin. There was a lack of drawer storage in the cabin but had plenty of hanging space in the wardrobe. We did not hear any noise from our neighbours and liked that the door to the cabin was in a private vestibule shared with the family suite next door so that there was not any passing traffic.

 

The only down side to this cabin was vibration from the thrusters when the ship was manoeuvring when arriving or leaving ports and the loud noises from the ropes being let out when docking. This did not worry us as we were usually awake when arriving into port and weren't in the cabin when leaving but it could be an issue for others. 

 

We would happily sail in this cabin again.

 

FOOD

 

I know that food is very subjective but we were very happy with the food in the Opus Dining Room. We felt that there were good choices and the quality of the meals were very good.

 

We thought the food in the Oceanview Cafe at breakfast and lunch was good but that the food at dinner was repetitive and not of a particularly high quality. We really liked the self service drink stations and that you could get juices and lemonade.

 

SERVICE

 

We thought that the service we received everywhere was excellent. I don't know if it was because the ship was only two thirds full (1950 passengers) but we thought it was great. Our steward was great and our servers Jessie and Edward in the Opus Dining Room were wonderful. I know that there were a lot of new crew but everyone was friendly and helpful. A huge tick for service.

 

ENTERTAINMENT

 

We only went to one full show in the theatre of singer Stephen Barry which we enjoyed. We went to the start of a couple of shows by the Production Team but didn't stay for long as we did not feel that the quality of the singers was high and we weren't enjoying the shows.

 

The music played at bars and around the ship was good and we particularly liked the music played at the Sunset Bar.

 

INTERNET

 

I only had the basic internet included in the Always Included package. This was quite sufficient and fast enough for my needs.

 

PASSENGERS

 

There were only 1950 passengers on board so nowhere was very crowded (well, except in the main foyer during the ABBA Mania show). The demographics of the passengers was of a lower age than our latest cruises with Princess but I don't know if that is because Celebrity passengers are generally younger or because it was a Mediterranean cruise. We had the great pleasure of meeting many lovely people and making new friends.

 

THE SHIP

 

We loved Celebrity Reflection! She is absolutely beautiful and we loved her design. We thought she was in very good condition and we really liked the outdoor areas, particularly the Sunset Bar and back deck of the Oceanview Cafe. We also liked that there was a bar and open areas that allowed you to look forward. We liked the layout of our cabin.

 

This was our first Celebrity cruise after sailing with Princess. We did miss having a guest laundry and a full Promenade (I know only on the older Princess ships). We also missed Princess's International Cafe that has sweet and savoury food, great tea and coffee and is open 24 hours a day. Cafe al Bacio just doesn't compare. The drawer storage in cabins is also better on Princess ships.

 

Saying that, those were the only down sides and the positives of what we really liked on Reflection far out way those few things. We loved everything else about Reflection and we now have a new favourite ship!

 

WEATHER

 

We were blessed with wonderful weather during the cruise. We had a short shower of rain when in Sicily and Kotor but for remainder of those days and the other days in port the weather was wonderful. The days were warm to very warm and usually sunny.

 

PORTS

 

We really enjoyed visiting all the ports even the ones we have been to before. It was a pity that La Spezia was changed to Livorno but didn't affect our enjoyment of the cruise.

 

COVID

 

It is unfortunate that Covid is still with us and that I even have to mention Covid.

 

I was really pleased that the pre cruise testing requirements changed to two days prior to the cruise as it made my life a lot easier when planning where and when to get tested. I am glad that the pre cruise testing was in place as I know a few cases were prevented from coming on board.

 

During the cruise there was almost no mask wearing except in the theatre during shows. It seemed to be odd that you had to wear a mask in the theatre during shows but not when gathered together in the theatre for shore excursions. Although masks were supposed to be worn on shore excursion buses we were the only ones wearing masks on the bus in Kotor but everyone wore masks on the bus in Sicily. 

 

There were a number of cases of Covid on board but after the Sea Day on June 9, when the captain announced that there were 19 cases, he did not mention numbers again.

 

Mid way through the cruise there were quite a number of people coughing, sneezing and spluttering and not wearing masks. A man sitting behind me on the shuttle to Livorno was sneezing so violently I could feel the sneezing on the back of my head and he was not wearing a mask. Obviously I don't know if these people had Covid or not but after hearing of a number of people who tested positive after the cruise, I daresay some of them did.

 

The Oceanview Cafe is still not self service with the crew members serving everyone. This does slow down getting food but was not a problem at all for us. Sometimes you had to ask for more to be put on your plate. Once I asked for some dried apricots and was served one. I asked for more and was given another one. I then asked for ten and got them. Celebrity must be saving a fortune on the amount of food being used.

 

Unfortunately some people were impatient and would help themselves to thing they could reach, using their hands. The worst instance I saw of this was one morning when an older man helped himself to food at the bakery section with his hands. He even bent down so he could lean under the glass/perspex screen while breathing all over the food, not wearing a mask and help himself to food at the very back. The poor crew member working there was calling out "Sir, please stop. Please don't do that" but the man ignored him. A short time later I saw all the food from that section being removed. 

 

I felt safe on the ship but I did wear a mask when in the hallways, in the lifts, in the Oceanview Cafe and when in crowded areas. I felt that Celebrity was doing it's best and all crew members wore masks.

 

Hopefully in the future Covid will be behind us and we won't even have to think about it.

 

OVERALL

 

This was a wonderful cruise and we loved every moment of it. We are now Celebrity converts and look forward to another Celebrity cruise in the near future. I would happily cruise on Celebrity Reflection again.

[PurpleTraveller]

I hope you have enjoyed reading about my cruise on the beautiful Reflection.

 

Thank you to everyone who has followed along and for your lovely comments. I truly appreciate them all.

 

Where are we off to next? To be honest I don't know. We will wait and see how the situation with Covid develops in the next few months but I hope to be cruising on another cruise ship sooner rather than later.

 

Until my next cruise review, farewell and thank you.

 

 

 

[EnthDegree]

1 hour ago, PurpleTraveller said:

I hope you have enjoyed reading about my cruise on the beautiful Reflection.

Thank you to everyone who has followed along and for your lovely comments. I truly appreciate them all.

Where are we off to next? To be honest I don't know. We will wait and see how the situation with Covid develops in the next few months but I hope to be cruising on another cruise ship sooner rather than later.

Until my next cruise review, farewell and thank you.

 

 

We would just like to take this opportunity to thank you for your very detailed account of your holiday and those wonderful photographs. 

Wish more cruisers would take the time to post a report and photographs of their adventures - it makes for more informed decision making for those who follow on future cruises.

Glad you loved Reflection - it is definitely our favourite Celebrity offering thus far.

As you are well aware we were thwarted from joining you on this trip but we hope that our dedicated cruise information website was of, at least some, use to you in your planning stages.

We replaced this cruise with a similar one on Beyond at the end of May 2023 and we will be adding lots of your information/pics to the new info website for that one! After that we are planning to circumnavigate our own island aboard Apex next September departing from Amsterdam and guess what - we are in the process of building an info website for that one too!

Keeps us out of mischief!!

 

 

[PurpleTraveller]

1 hour ago, EnthDegree said:

 

We would just like to take this opportunity to thank you for your very detailed account of your holiday and those wonderful photographs. 

Wish more cruisers would take the time to post a report and photographs of their adventures - it makes for more informed decision making for those who follow on future cruises.

Glad you loved Reflection - it is definitely our favourite Celebrity offering thus far.

As you are well aware we were thwarted from joining you on this trip but we hope that our dedicated cruise information website was of, at least some, use to you in your planning stages.

We replaced this cruise with a similar one on Beyond at the end of May 2023 and we will be adding lots of your information/pics to the new info website for that one! After that we are planning to circumnavigate our own island aboard Apex next September departing from Amsterdam and guess what - we are in the process of building an info website for that one too!

Keeps us out of mischief!!

 

 

 

Thank you so much. I'm pleased that you enjoyed my review and hope that some of my review is of some help to you and others on your Beyond cruise.

 

It was such a pity that you didn't make the cruise especially after all your hard work on your wonderful cruise website and also keeping the roll call up to date. Thank you for making such a wonderful website that was so useful and helpful.

 

I hope you have a great cruise on Beyond next May. I'm sure you will as the ports are all wonderful and from what I saw of Beyond when we finished our cruise in Civitavecchia she looks lovely. I also hope you have a great cruise on Apex in September. Have fun building the websites for each cruise as I know your fellow cruisers will appreciate your hard work and the information on them.

 

Thanks again. 😊

 

[vickykay]

Thanks so much for the wonderful review.  We also love the Reflection and can’t wait for our cruise in October!

[terrydtx]

@PurpleTraveller

I want to also thank you for your wonderful review, we board the Reflection 2 weeks from today for the same itinerary as yours. You very detailed review and pictures just make us more excited to be on our trip.  Glad to also read Celebrity has another convert, like we did after our Equinox cruise last year. We have 5 future Celebrity cruises booked and look forward to cruising and visiting your country in 2024 on the Edge,

[PurpleTraveller]

10 hours ago, vickykay said:

Thanks so much for the wonderful review.  We also love the Reflection and can’t wait for our cruise in October!

 

Thank you! Hope you have a wonderful cruise in October!

 

[PurpleTraveller]

10 hours ago, terrydtx said:

@PurpleTraveller

I want to also thank you for your wonderful review, we board the Reflection 2 weeks from today for the same itinerary as yours. You very detailed review and pictures just make us more excited to be on our trip.  Glad to also read Celebrity has another convert, like we did after our Equinox cruise last year. We have 5 future Celebrity cruises booked and look forward to cruising and visiting your country in 2024 on the Edge,

 

Thank you so much! It is a great itinerary and Reflection is a lovely ship. I hope you have a wonderful cruise and that all your other cruises are wonderful too!

 

[TraderSam]

Thank you @PurpleTravellerfor taking the time to write such a fabulous trip report and include so many wonderful photographs. Our last cruise was to the Baltics and was onboard Reflection. We too, enjoyed it very much indeed.

 

Sorry to read that plans for your subsequent cruise were scuppered by Covid and I trust that you have both fully recovered. Thanks again.

Edited July 22, 2022 by TraderSam

[terrydtx]

49 minutes ago, PurpleTraveller said:

 

Thank you so much! It is a great itinerary and Reflection is a lovely ship. I hope you have a wonderful cruise and that all your other cruises are wonderful too!

 

I do not know if you saw that Travel Leisure Magazine this week listed the Reflection as the number 1 mega size cruise ship, over 1500 staterooms in the mass marketed cruise lines.

The 5 Best Mega-ship Ocean Cruise Lines (travelandleisure.com)

Edited July 22, 2022 by terrydtx

[PurpleTraveller]

5 hours ago, TraderSam said:

Thank you @PurpleTravellerfor taking the time to write such a fabulous trip report and include so many wonderful photographs. Our last cruise was to the Baltics and was onboard Reflection. We too, enjoyed it very much indeed.

 

Sorry to read that plans for your subsequent cruise were scuppered by Covid and I trust that you have both fully recovered. Thanks again.

 

Thank you! I'm so pleased you enjoyed the review.

 

We loved our cruise to the Baltics on Crown Princess so a Baltic cruise on Reflection would've been wonderful.

 

Fortunately we did not have any symptoms and wouldn't have even known that we had Covid except for having our pre cruise test. Our plans did go a little haywire but thankfully we weren't sick and were able to enjoy the rest of our time in Spain.

 

Thanks again. 😊

 

[PurpleTraveller]

5 hours ago, terrydtx said:

I do not know if you saw that Travel Leisure Magazine this week listed the Reflection as the number 1 mega size cruise ship, over 1500 staterooms in the mass marketed cruise lines.

The 5 Best Mega-ship Ocean Cruise Lines (travelandleisure.com)

 

Thank you so much for letting me know this and giving me the link. The article made for very interesting reading and after experiencing Celebrity Reflection I'm not at all surprised that she was ranked #1. Now I'll just have to sail on more Celebrity ships. 😊