Rare Kteacher Posted April 9 #1 Share Posted April 9 This post was recognized by LauraS! "Thank you for generously sharing your time at sea with everyone at Cruise Critic! See your post featured on our: Click: Cruise Reports page. When you return, please consider submitting it to the site for publication as well: Click: Write a Review" Kteacher was awarded the badge '"Live from...."' I know, not another live Reflection review 🙃. This started out as just an 8 night cruise for us, but then last summer Celebrity switched Reflection to shorter sailings and stops at Coco Cay. We’ve been to Coco Cay many times, but not since it was revamped as “Perfect Day”, and the 4/21 Reflection sailing is the first time the ship is visiting. Once I saw that the cabin we were booked for the 4/13 leg was available for the next sailing the decision was made. Our first time on Reflection was 10 years ago for our 30th anniversary, and here we are, 10 years later celebrating our 40th on the Reflection. We’re booked in a CS, so will be dining in Luminae for most of our meals. I have Le Petit Chef booked for one night (don’t judge, I think it’s cute 😂), and Murano for dinner during the second part of the B2B. We may do some lunches at specialty restaurants but haven’t booked anything yet. Shoreside concierge contacted me by phone a few weeks ago, but the only things I was asked about was arrival time, any special occasions, and extra pillows or hangers. Suitcases are stuffed to the breaking point so extra hangers will definitely be needed. Speaking of suitcases, these beauties will be coming with us even though it is not May the fourth- We have a ridiculously early flight tomorrow and will be spending a few nights at the Kimpton Shorebreak in Ft Lauderdale. We haven’t stayed at this particular Kimpton property yet so are looking forward to checking it out. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buzz031 Posted April 9 #2 Share Posted April 9 Looking forward to following your posts, even though we’ll be on the same cruise (at least the first one). Safe travels! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkette76 Posted April 9 #3 Share Posted April 9 Those suitcases are the best! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kteacher Posted April 9 Author #4 Share Posted April 9 9 minutes ago, buzz031 said: Looking forward to following your posts, even though we’ll be on the same cruise (at least the first one). Safe travels! Feel free to join in and post 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare hcat Posted April 9 #5 Share Posted April 9 hotel looks interesting.. hope you enjoy it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buzz031 Posted April 10 #6 Share Posted April 10 4 hours ago, Kteacher said: Feel free to join in and post We will be flying in on Friday from Phoenix and will be in an Aqua Sky Suite. It’s our first time in the Retreat. So excited! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kteacher Posted April 10 Author #7 Share Posted April 10 One extremely early wake up call (2 am!) later, we are relaxing at the Kimpton Shorebreak in Ft Lauderdale. The bonus to an early flight was a dear friend who works for JetBlue out of Hartford messaged me to let me know she had just scanned our bags onto the plane , so I got to see her briefly before we took off. There’s a very chill vibe here. We arrived too early for our room to be ready but there was still free coffee and tea off of the lobby, and enjoyed a nice light lunch at the rooftop pool. The room price came with breakfast vouchers (20.00 pp), as well as other amenities. Some photos of the room, amenities information, and lunch. It’s a beautiful breezy day here, so we are off to the pool for a snooze. Our room was ready by 12:30, which was great! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kteacher Posted April 11 Author #8 Share Posted April 11 One of my favorite things about CC is reading reviews because it helps me in my own planning. We always fly in a few days early before a cruise. This trip I was looking for a pre-cruise hotel that was a little more chill, had a good location with restaurants and the beach within walking distance, and had some character to it. So far the Kimpton Shorebreak has checked off all of these. Here’s our room, 222 (IYKYK), and a nice little car I wouldn’t mind owning in front of the hotel: 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kteacher Posted April 11 Author #9 Share Posted April 11 We had dinner last night at the hotel’s restaurant, La Fuga, which is advertised as coastal Italian. The service was very attentive, and the food was phenomenal as were the cocktails. I asked if the bartender could make me a carajillo- if you are a fan of espresso martinis you need to give it a try- 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kteacher Posted April 11 Author #10 Share Posted April 11 Dinner continued… I had caprese salad to start, the gnocchi for main course, and finished with an affogato with Nutella gelato. The pasta at La Fuga is all made in house as is the limoncello ❤️. We may consider dining here another night this week just so we can try their veal chop per due. Photos from dinner- 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare hcat Posted April 11 #11 Share Posted April 11 All very nice ..Much nicwr look than most cruise food . We'd love to have dinner at this place but are staying on 14th st Causeway.. and our car will be parked there. Maybe we could get a taxi! ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kteacher Posted April 11 Author #12 Share Posted April 11 14 minutes ago, hcat said: All very nice ..Much nicwr look than most cruise food . We'd love to have dinner at this place but are staying on 14th st Causeway.. and our car will be parked there. Maybe we could get a taxi! ? I would say it’s worth it. This hotel is a little bit further down, but it’s also much quieter here. Our room rate included breakfast vouchers at the same restaurant, 20 pp allowance. I’ll post photos of breakfast. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Georgia_Peaches Posted April 11 #13 Share Posted April 11 Happy to be following along on your adventure! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ciaranaman Posted April 11 #14 Share Posted April 11 Dinner looks so good! The in-house limoncello would be the icing on the cake for me! ~Bernadette 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kteacher Posted April 11 Author #15 Share Posted April 11 Breakfast this morning- 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare hcat Posted April 11 #16 Share Posted April 11 a hidden gem! our Holiday Inn hotel is towards the end of 17th st near the Convention Center... so it looks like taxi would just have to curve over to the beach road. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kteacher Posted April 11 Author #17 Share Posted April 11 One thing I want to mention before I forget- I received an email from Celebrity with a link to a pre-cruise survey. The survey was based on our booking of the 4/21 sailing on the Reflection as all of the questions referenced the stop at Coco Cay, essentially asking if we booked the cruise because of its stop there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kteacher Posted April 11 Author #18 Share Posted April 11 1 hour ago, hcat said: a hidden gem! our Holiday Inn hotel is towards the end of 17th st near the Convention Center... so it looks like taxi would just have to curve over to the beach road. The service in the restaurant has been outstanding! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peanut head Posted April 11 #19 Share Posted April 11 Thank you for taking us along. Bon voyage! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kteacher Posted April 12 Author #20 Share Posted April 12 So sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. We had a very mediocre dinner at The Wild Thyme, which is not far from our hotel. Dried out red snapper, mediocre service 😑 and a tab for over 150.00. I won’t add photos because they are too depressing. The good news is we are now enjoying dessert and drinks at La Fuga ❤️. Un carillo with a delicious tiramisu for the win 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kteacher Posted April 12 Author #21 Share Posted April 12 It’s a beautiful day for the beach ☀️. Guests at the Kimpton Shorebreak get 2 beach chairs (umbrella is extra). Here’s breakfast photos from this morning, everything delicious again- 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lastdance Posted April 12 #22 Share Posted April 12 I really enjoyed my two cruises on Reflection. It must be nice celebrating on the same ship for another lovely and important anniversary. Lots of remembering going on, along with staying in a CS this time must bring on the excitement. Thanks for sharing with us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retired dude Posted April 12 #23 Share Posted April 12 just got off of the reflection sunday the 7th. Beautiful ship, great entertainment, great cabin, great bar service, food not so good in the oceanview cafe or the main dining room...Oh well, you can't have everything...After 30 cruises with rccl and celebrity, we expected better, buy it is what it is. wish everyone a great cruise.....B&B in florida Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Cruiser 6143 Posted April 12 #24 Share Posted April 12 I'll be joining you for your second leg which is the first leg of my B2B. Maybe see you in The Retreat. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kteacher Posted April 12 Author #25 Share Posted April 12 The beach is packed, but the water and weather are perfect! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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