Celebrity Reflection Review
My 4th Celebrity Cruise on my 4th Celebrity Ship
Rating by category
Additional details
This time around I wasn't sailing with my husband, so others contributed to choosing the ship. To be honest, Reflection would have been my last choice, simply because of its size and passenger load (especially the added strain in Blu, the Aqua Class dining room). In the end I'd say that this was another wonderful Celebrity cruise, although this particular sailing was probably my least favorite as compared to the others.
This was the first cruise after Reflection's transatlantic voyage. Keep this in mind when reading other reviews of this cruise! Embarkation after a transatlantic is hampered by inspections, clearing previous guests and crew through security and customs and who knows what else. I enjoyed a great cruise in the end, but I can see how those who don't frequent Cruise Critic and didn't fully understand that this was the exception to the rule could have been left dazed and confused at the embarkation process, and I understand how this poor start could color the rest of the cruise. I arrived at the Port of Miami well aware that there would be a wait and passenger backups, because we sailed on Silhouette's first cruise after its transatlantic last December. Anyhow, I don't remember the exact time we were allowed to board, but I believe it was not until around 2:00, and I was sailing in an Aqua Class cabin so was one of the first to board. This was significantly delayed from last year's experience when we boarded Silhouette after her transatlantic at approximately 12:40.
Service was mostly excellent. Ask politely and the staff made it happen. Food was wonderful every night in Blu, mediocre in Tuscan Grill. Let's just say that we weren't tempted to eat there again on another night. I had planned to try the Main Dining Room (Opus) on their Top Chef Menu night, but the menu in Blu that night was outstanding, so we never got the MDR at all. We only ordered room service once, for a light snack, and it was fine. The burgers at the Mast Grill were outstanding! We ate breakfast once in the buffet and it was decent. I tried the eggs benedict for the first time and it was pretty good.
Cabin Review
AquaClass 1
We found this cabin to be very quiet despite often seeing a service cart parked just outside. The balcony is one of the angled ones on the hump. It is large. Large enough that we were able to remain out on the balcony during a torrential downpour that had a good 5 feet of the balcony soaked. We simply moved the chairs and footstools back towards the sliding glass door and we remained dry and comfortable. This cabin is very close to the mid-ship elevators and stairs.