Reflection LIVE 6/21-7/1/24: A Perfect Day for a Suite Girlfriends Getaway

[GenerationX]

Good morning from a cool, windy, grey day in Bimini.  It honestly feels more like I’m in Seattle.

 

I know, I know I have ghosted you guys for an entire day.  The good news is with the temperature barely at 77 degrees, rain and no sun to be found, this is a perfect day to skip the beach resort and stay onboard. So I’ll have plenty of time for catch up writing.

 

Despite the weather, Liz and Tesla’s stingray swim excursion is still going forward  (just pushed back 2 hours).  The storm and rain sounds, plus a late night in the casino made it very easy for Kati and I to stay in bed till 9:30 this morning, so we had a very light late breakfast at Al Bacio.

 

Because of the weather, cruise director Luigi  came on the PA and told everyone to refresh the app schedule as several additional activities are being added for the large number of guests staying onboard (btw, when I realized that’s who our CD was, it made total sense why the full moon party was so lit.  He and cruise director Dave consistently manage to throw the BEST parties).  When we went to Michael’s Club to talk to the concierge, he told us they’ve also decided to open Luminae for lunch even though it’s a port day.

 

Kati and I are adding our own sunshine to the grey day with Kadek’s excellent mango daiquiris at the sunset bar then we’re going to head down there to have our first real meal of the day.

 

From what I can see up here, we aren’t missing a ton by not going onto the island.  I’m not exaggerating when I say that in the landscape pic below I’ve captured pretty much the entire island of Bimini.  It looks like it’s literally just the mega resort, a desalinization plant and several mansions.  With maybe a couple of small shopping and restaurant strips.

 

Agenda for the rest of the day:

 

-Lunch in Luminae

 

-Swimming and catch up post writing in the solarium 

 

-A wine and snacks sailaway party with Tesla and Liz (BTW I was able to arrange with our butler Gene via WhatsApp message, nice new perk, there was a QR code on his card to scan that took me right to his account! If you’re sailing in retreat soon be sure to download WhatsApp and set up an account for yourself.)

 

-7pm Broadway production show in the theater 

 

-Dinner in Tuscan Grill

 

-Packing to prep to change rooms for cruise 2

 

-Late night adults only comedian show

 

 

 

 

 

[cruisetonowhere10]

1 hour ago, GenerationX said:

Good morning from a cool, windy, grey day in Bimini.  It honestly feels more like I’m in Seattle.

 

I know, I know I have ghosted you guys for an entire day.  The good news is with the temperature barely at 77 degrees, rain and no sun to be found, this is a perfect day to skip the beach resort and stay onboard. So I’ll have plenty of time for catch up writing.

 

Despite the weather, Liz and Tesla’s stingray swim excursion is still going forward  (just pushed back 2 hours).  The storm and rain sounds, plus a late night in the casino made it very easy for Kati and I to stay in bed till 9:30 this morning, so we had a very light late breakfast at Al Bacio.

 

Because of the weather, cruise director Luigi  came on the PA and told everyone to refresh the app schedule as several additional activities are being added for the large number of guests staying onboard (btw, when I realized that’s who our CD was, it made total sense why the full moon party was so lit.  He and cruise director Dave consistently manage to throw the BEST parties).  When we went to Michael’s Club to talk to the concierge, he told us they’ve also decided to open Luminae for lunch even though it’s a port day.

 

Kati and I are adding our own sunshine to the grey day with Kadek’s excellent mango daiquiris at the sunset bar then we’re going to head down there to have our first real meal of the day.

 

From what I can see up here, we aren’t missing a ton by not going onto the island.  I’m not exaggerating when I say that in the landscape pic below I’ve captured pretty much the entire island of Bimini.  It looks like it’s literally just the mega resort, a desalinization plant and several mansions.  With maybe a couple of small shopping and restaurant strips.

 

Agenda for the rest of the day:

 

-Lunch in Luminae

 

-Swimming and catch up post writing in the solarium 

 

-A wine and snacks sailaway party with Tesla and Liz (BTW I was able to arrange with our butler Gene via WhatsApp message, nice new perk, there was a QR code on his card to scan that took me right to his account! If you’re sailing in retreat soon be sure to download WhatsApp and set up an account for yourself.)

 

-7pm Broadway production show in the theater 

 

-Dinner in Tuscan Grill

 

-Packing to prep to change rooms for cruise 2

 

-Late night adults only comedian show

 

 

 

 

 

This looks like a nice relaxing day.  We have Bimini as a port…plan to get off just to say we’ve been there (maybe check out a beach) then back on the ship. 🙂

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

Bimini is boring.  Good plan to stay on the ship.

 

[SSAtlantic]

We went to Resort World in November mainly because our companions wanted to. Next time we will stay on the ship. Pool and beach were nice but so is the ship. 

[mac_tlc]

Great to see the butlers using WhatsApp. We have used it on Royal with the genies and it is so convenient! 
 

 

mac_tlc

Edited June 23 by mac_tlc

[GenerationX]

Taking a step back in time to report on our day yesterday…

 

As Kati and I were having our breakfast in Luminae, I did a quick scan of my work inbox and saw that there was an urgent project that I would have to attend to before I could go to Coco Cay. (Stinks, but I always try to remember, the job is funding my cruises.)

 

The project ended up taking so long, I unfortunately didn’t get a chance to join the ladies at Hideaway Beach.  The good part about being with 3 other people was that I can still report on their experience!

 

Hideaway beach is an adults only area of the island that had a $59 charge when prepurchased through the cruise planner.  We were a little worried because we didn’t get excursion tickets in our stateroom like we usually do for booked excursions, but when the ladies got to the entrance, the attendant just scanned their seapass cards and it showed that they had already paid for passes.

 

Apparently, the pool and swim up bar area was packed madness, with people standing almost shoulder to shoulder in the water and the music was extremely loud and base heavy.  They compared it to an episode of MTV spring break circa 1996.

 

The swimming beach area, on the other hand, they said was not crowded at all and much more peaceful, other than the occasional shrill sound of a lifeguard’s whistle blowing at people trying to climb on the sea wall.  Speaking of which, if you’re a true ocean swimming person, fyi, the beach swimming area at hideaway beach is more of a cove/inlet, blocked off from the rest of the Caribbean by said rock wall in order to keep sargassum flows, sharks, etc. out.  Kati still enjoyed the calm water, but Tesla was a little disappointed that it was more like lake than real ocean swimming.

 

They said it wasn’t hard to get drinks (premium beverage package works on coco cay as well btw) and the included food options weren’t bad, but it was an adjustment going back to lunching on basic pizza, burgers and carnivalesque snacks from what they’d been eating on the ship.  (Oh how quickly they’ve become accustomed to the culinary good life.)

 

While the ladies were coco caying, after I finished work, I decided to spend a little time in the casino (which stayed open in port) with a cocktail then take myself to lunch at sushi on 5.  Finding said cocktail proved harder than I thought.  The only bar on the whole ship that was open was the pool bar.  I guess they REALLY wanted us off the ship drinking on coco cay.  Luckily I had the 24 hour grab and go beer cases in Michael’s Club and stopped by and got myself a corona to sip while I played. I found myself a hot machine and managed to get myself up about $300 in an hour playing thanks to hitting a minor jackpot. 

 

I took the money and ran to some sake, seeweed salad, shrimp tempura roll and my favorite dish in all of Celebrity Cruises: the pork tonkatsu ramen.

 

Kati and I are currently chilling on an extremely crowded pool deck sipping on delicious Frose’ frozen cocktails (rose wine, Tito’s and peach purée).  

 

Another new to me thing I’ve never seen on Celebrity:  instead of towels being well stocked in the bins around the pool, you have to go to a little stand and ask for one.  They don’t scan your seapass card or anything, just hand it to you.  I REALLY hope this is just a short summer cruise thing and not a way to start socially acclimating us to move to having to check out pool towels like I hear is a thing on some other lines.  I don’t know why but something about that just strikes me as nickel and dime and kinda tacky.

 

More to come later after our next round of Frose’ all day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GenerationX]

1 hour ago, mac_tlc said:

Great to see the butlers using WhatsApp. We have used it on Royal with the genies and it is so convenient! 
 

 

mac_tlc

 

I agree! I just realized it’s also visible in my message history in the screenshot I posted 🤦🏾‍♀️ but our favorite land resort chain has been using WhatsApp for years for butler suite level guests so that we could communicate request with the butler without having to find a phone or go in search of him/her.

[goldsmip115]

You are a true sport!  This towel issue and the pool madness is why I never want to take a cruise that is shorter than 7 days.  As I age, 10 days and above is more to my liking.  However, unless loungers are restored at least in the top suites I am moving on to Regent or Oceania after being loyal to Celebrity only cruising in their top suites.  Looking forward to following. I love your reviews and photos.  Thank,you so much!

[GenerationX]

Quick question for those following who have ever done back to back cruises, especially in suites, where you changed cabins between cruises.

 

Did you have to pack your clothes that were hanging in the closet?

 

From what I’d read pre-cruise, I thought that I’d only need to pack my things that were in the drawers and bathroom, but the butler would handle moving hanging clothes in the closet.

 

Our butler has asked that we re-pack hanging clothes to move.  I guess if we have to not the biggest thing in the world, but I have a few nice dresses that I had pressed that are hanging and if I don’t have to, I’d rather not risk them getting all wrinkled again.

 

Just figured it was worth checking in case maybe our butler is mistaken (or, if this is a new change in process for b2b, I can report accurately).

[DaKahuna]

4 hours ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

Bimini is boring.  Good plan to stay on the ship.

 

 

We sailed there once.  Got off the ship.  There was a free golf cart service taking people to Resort World and then to the public beach.  It turned around at the public beach, went back to Resort World, and then back to the ship.  We never left the cart until we got back to the ship and went back onboard.  One and done. 

 

[Oolie]

As recently as December on Equinox, we were changing from one Sky suite to another and our closet items were moved for us…BTW, we’re joining you tomorrow.

[goldsmip115]

This should be done for you by either the butler of the cabin steward especially since you are moving up in the suite category.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

12 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

Quick question for those following who have ever done back to back cruises, especially in suites, where you changed cabins between cruises.

 

Did you have to pack your clothes that were hanging in the closet?

 

From what I’d read pre-cruise, I thought that I’d only need to pack my things that were in the drawers and bathroom, but the butler would handle moving hanging clothes in the closet.

 

Our butler has asked that we re-pack hanging clothes to move.  I guess if we have to not the biggest thing in the world, but I have a few nice dresses that I had pressed that are hanging and if I don’t have to, I’d rather not risk them getting all wrinkled again.

 

Just figured it was worth checking in case maybe our butler is mistaken (or, if this is a new change in process for b2b, I can report accurately).

I replied to this, but it disappeared.  I've never been asked to pack my hanging things on a cabin move.  Your butler may be new and not familiar with how things work.  Talk to your cabin attendant who will be doing the actual move.  If all else fails, get the suite concierge involved.

[Lastdance]

On 6/19/2024 at 5:47 AM, GenerationX said:

 

 

"Who am I kidding though, it will probably be 2036 before I could even begin to afford what they’re probably going to charge for fares.  But hey, that gives them plenty of time to work out the kinks!"

 

 

Charla, you definitely will not have to worry about that!  I just read that Gen Xers are going to receive the greatest wealth transfer in history from us Baby Boomers!  You are going to make Zenith after-all, not to mention stay in all your favorite hotels!  I am a Boomer, but spending my money to enjoy myself as much as possible in future years!🤗  

[DaKahuna]

14 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

Did you have to pack your clothes that were hanging in the closet?

 

No, just the items that were in drawers and shelves.  They bring a butler cart in and hang your clothes on that and put your suitcases in the bottom .. (we watched them load ours up on our Reflection B2B).. don't forget to remove the items in the safe! 

 

[lola2013]

No need to pack the closet…although I did put my shoes in the suitcases along with folded clothes that I keep in packing cubes.  Two suitcases (yes, I overpack and have the Tshirt that says so 😵‍💫) and my carry on were moved to the new cabin while we went through customs and re-boarded, which was less than 30 minutes.  Could not have been easier.

Sorry you missed CocoCay.  We visited a couple of years ago on a RCCL Bermuda cruise and loved it.  In the process now of planning a family reunion and that stop is a must.

Enjoy the rest of your trip 🛳️

[hcat]

1 hour ago, GenerationX said:

Quick question for those following who have ever done back to back cruises, especially in suites, where you changed cabins between cruises.

 

Did you have to pack your clothes that were hanging in the closet?

 

From what I’d read pre-cruise, I thought that I’d only need to pack my things that were in the drawers and bathroom, but the butler would handle moving hanging clothes in the closet.

 

Our butler has asked that we re-pack hanging clothes to move.  I guess if we have to not the biggest thing in the world, but I have a few nice dresses that I had pressed that are hanging and if I don’t have to, I’d rather not risk them getting all wrinkled again.

 

Just figured it was worth checking in case maybe our butler is mistaken (or, if this is a new change in process for b2b, I can report accurately).

we changed cabins once from a midship location right under the band and dance floor.. all agreed it was unbearable.. It was not a suite but a bump out/ hump..primo( ha ha)

New cabin was much quieter..closer to front of ship..

 

Our outgoing attendant and new one worked together to move everything except our personal carry-ons....while we were at dinner..It was smooth/ seamless!

 

guess times have really changed!

[Stem to Stern]

Sorry you missed private island mayhem today, but glad you were able to enjoy your favorite ramen.  Thanks for the reminder.  I already have that one noted on my cruise goals list.😎

Nice to see the pic of the Michael’s Club coolers fully stocked.  Evidently there is no shortage of beer on board…yet.  That was a clever and convenient work-around during the unfortunate bar closures.  Did you see anything nosh-able while you were in there?  The spread in The Retreat Lounge on board Summit was downright Instagram-worthy and delectable.😋

I wonder if the towel death grip was activated at the pool, so armloads of pool towels weren’t carried off the ship while docked at Perfect Day.  OMG did I just call it that?  Not everyone grasps the concept that the two faded yellow towels in your cabin are for you to take off the ship with you.😆

 

 

[LisaDee]

On 6/19/2024 at 8:47 AM, GenerationX said:

 It looks like in 2026 Four Seasons will be following Ritz Carlton into the cruise business!  Now THIS I am very interested I !

 

I just checked out their website and the ship renderings look gorgeous but I’m sure it won’t be in my budget.  In reading the FAQs I found this interesting: they include breakfast but you have to pay a la carte for lunch and dinner (except for kiddos.) I’m not sure how that will go over with experienced cruisers, I know we prefer a more all-inclusive pricing structure.

 

[cbfb]

On 6/20/2024 at 1:42 PM, cruisetonowhere10 said:

Looks amazing!  We are staying at the Hyatt for our April cruise…hoping it’s okay.  

We loved Hyatt Centric. Beautiful hotel and great area with shops and restaurants. 

[cbfb]

On 6/21/2024 at 7:30 PM, GenerationX said:

Good evening from the Caribbean Sea!

 

My girl group has already had such a great day on Reflection, but while Kati is taking her turn to shower for dinner, let me share a little about embarkation experience and lunch in Luminae.

 

We got to Terminal 25 a little after 10:30 and went through the Retreat entrance and up the elevator to the lounge.  We only had about 15 minutes of sitting with some snacks and finishing our check in before we were invited to board the ship.  First stop was Michael’s Club where I introduced Kati to my favorite retreat beverage: the peaches and bourbon.

 

After giving Kati a tour of the ship while sipping, we met up with Tesla and Liz who ended up being able to board a little earlier than their 11:30 time slot and we all hit the martini bar for a a round before lunch.

 

Tesla and Liz went to the concierge class embarkation welcome lunch and reported that their food and service were both very good.  Apparently some others in a social media group for our sailing had much more disappointing experiences, so perhaps being on the earlier end of the sitting made a difference?

 

I was a little nervous about Luminae lunch on a sold out 3 night cruise on Reflection which has more suites to serve, but there ended up being nothing at all to worry about.  Our service was prompt (we were in and out in an hour with 3 courses served) and attentive.  After kale salad and a warm short rib borscht to start, I had the New York strip and Kati had the Luminae burger. Both were prepared just to the temperature we ordered and my steak came with my requested truffle fries (the side for the Luminae burger) instead of potato wedges.

 

The Luminae sommelier Fermin poured us a Willamette Valley Pinot noir to wash it all down with, then we had double espressos while we split the apple crumble (ok) and chocolate Dulce de leche (yum) desserts.

 

After lunch we met back up with Tesla and Liz at the slammed sunset bar for sailaway where the fabulous Sergia remembered me from my February cruise and welcomed me back.

 

My first impression of the demographic onboard is that it is DEFINITELY different from what you’d see on a 10 night winter southern Caribbean sailing.  Lots of younger people. Lots of matching cruise t-shirts with witty plays on either (a) using the word “ship” in place of a common American expletive or (b) making good use of the beverage package.  Also ample (so far as I’ve seen thus far, well behaved) children.

 

It seems like Celebrity has also tweaked the entertainment atmosphere to meet what was the expected audience.  Lots more louder, bumping, party music being played in venues than I’m used to.  Regular followers know I don’t mind a good party, even in the middle of the day.  But I’m glad I also have my nice big veranda to retreat to for some stimulus down time (full stateroom report to come).

 

Well, it’s about time for me to get ready for our ladies first night dinner at Milano.

 

More to come later from Reflection!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love Sergia at the sunset bar. Hands down best Mai Tai!!! 

[swigso]

Hi Charla

when we moved cabins our steward did everything. He introduced our new cabin attendant and we were surprised when he told us just to empty our safe and take our bathroom toiletries. They just then swapped the drawers

hung all our clothes onto the trolly. We were on the same floor and the new cabin was about 10 doors down. The whole operation took no longer than 10 minutes.

 

[GenerationX]

Quick early morning update from the sail into Port Everglades.  

 

For the folks joining me to sail on Reflection today, your ship is comin in!

 

Can’t wait to meet you!

 

 

 

[GenerationX]

12 hours ago, Stem to Stern said:

Sorry you missed private island mayhem today, but glad you were able to enjoy your favorite ramen.  Thanks for the reminder.  I already have that one noted on my cruise goals list.😎

Nice to see the pic of the Michael’s Club coolers fully stocked.  Evidently there is no shortage of beer on board…yet.  That was a clever and convenient work-around during the unfortunate bar closures.  Did you see anything nosh-able while you were in there?  The spread in The Retreat Lounge on board Summit was downright Instagram-worthy and delectable.😋

I wonder if the towel death grip was activated at the pool, so armloads of pool towels weren’t carried off the ship while docked at Perfect Day.  OMG did I just call it that?  Not everyone grasps the concept that the two faded yellow towels in your cabin are for you to take off the ship with you.😆

 

 

Yes! I’ll start taking pics this next cruise but the Michael’s club snacks even outside of tea time have been on point.  Every time I go in, different tasty looking towers of sandwiches and pastries.  The notable exception is this morning. Today there’s only one little tray of basic croissants and one of danish.  But maybe they don’t want to encourage people to linger and stuff themselves on turnover day?

 

I seem to remember having the full yummy spread on disembark day on Summit though too.

[GenerationX]

Checking in from Michael’s Club sipping my tea while luggage tag numbers are being called.  Unfortunately, it turns out I’m sitting here solo.  

 

Kati found out yesterday afternoon that she had a work emergency come up, so she had to change her flight and will be heading back home to Missouri tonight with Tesla and Liz.  😭 

 

I just finished giving them all hugs and waving goodbye as our concierge Sini escorted them all out past the general disembarkation line.  

 

The retreat disembark instructions in our stateroom (pic for anyone interested) said that consecutive cruises should meet here at 9:30 to go through the b2b customs process.  So while I’ve got about an hour to kill, let me continue with catching up on posts.

 

Let’s go back to our post-Coco Cay exploits on Saturday.

 

After everyone got cleaned up for dinner, we all met at Cellar Masters for happy hour.   Kati and Tesla were running behind getting ready, so Liz and I took the liberty of going ahead and ordering a bottle for us all to share. 

 

Our sommelier then introduced us to a very nice Cellar Masters wine hack:  

 

The bottle that we wanted was listed on the menu as $125 a bottle (which would have been a $100 price after premium beverage package bottle discount).  However, it was also sold by the glass for $25 a glass.  With the premium beverage package, it would be $8 a glass (the upcharge above the $17 a glass included in the package).  Since all 4 of us had the premium package, the somm said he could just charge us for 5 glasses of the wine and give us the bottle.  This made the price we paid for the bottle only $40 (5 glasses x $8 each)!  Liz and I did our first toast to the $60 savings.

 

My friends all loved the ambiance and were a little sad when I told them that I think Reflection is the last ship in the Celebrity fleet that still has this venue.

 

For dinner, Tesla and Liz decided to go to the buffet and I introduced Kati to my favorite post-beach day cruise dining: Lawn Club Grill.  We brought along the rest of our bottle from Cellar Masters to go along with our steaks, sausage and pepper pizza, shrimp and scallop skewer and lamb chops.  We both agreed that the only disappointments in the meal were the sides. My lobster mac n cheese was pretty light on the lobster meat and the sauce was runny. Kati said her creamed corn was ok but nothing special.

 

For dessert we split the warm chocolate chip cookie and the cheesecake with raspberry sauce.  Both plates were completely emptied!

 

After dinner, we reconvened with Tesla and Liz and headed to the casino.  Zoe the casino bartender remembered us from our brief stop there on night one and made us some fun cocktails.  I was going simple so she turned my vodka tonic into a palm tree.

 

My luck continued from lunch and I hit another minor bonus for $200 on a 75 cent double link rainforest game and another machine, that was also kind to me on this ship in February, kept making it rain free spins and bonus awards.  By midnight, I was up another $800!

 

Tesla also had luck and made about $700 on a Buffalo machine.

 

About midnight, I cashed out my voucher and took the money down to guest services and put it on our room account to take care of gratuities and the bottles of wine and champagne we’d been indulging in at Murano the night before.

 

Our concierges just came through and said we’ll be ready to start the b2b process in just a few minutes. 

 

So more to come soon from what turns out to be a solo cruise #2 of 3.