We wanted to do a southern Caribbean cruise out of Florida and chose the Celebrity Reflection for two reasons. We had sailed on the Reflection twice before and knew the excellence that she offers. Also the itinerary to Antigua, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, and St. Lucia brought us to our favorite islands. We loved everything of the Reflection from the service, to the activities, to the friendliness of the crew. The Reflection crew is outstanding and the professionalism shows in everything they do.
As seasoned cruisers there were a few things that really stood out: This was the fastest embarkation and disembarkation we have ever experienced (smooth and easy)! Even at each port of call, the lines were short or not at all. There was very little upselling (specialty dining, photo packages, etc) which allowed you to really enjoy each day without feeling like they were constantly trying to sell you on something. Granted, these things were offered and available if you were interested but they were not pushy and constant as we have experienced on other cruises. Officers and managers were visible throughout the ship. The big plus was if one area needed extra staff (the specialty coffee cafe, the lido deck dining area, the pool bar) they brought in more help. It was apparent in everything the Reflection crew did was to make the cruise more enjoyable for the passengers.
Our cabin steward knew our names from day one and greeted us every time he saw us or heard us coming down the hallway. He made sure our cabin was always clean and we had everything we needed. We dined mostly in the dining room (our preference) and the food and service was always great. We had the beverage package and the bartenders were the best we've ever experienced. They were friendly and accommodating throughout the ship.
This aft cabin is very quiet and private because it is in the back of the ship where there is little traffic. The balcony is one of the smaller ones (they are not all the same size on the aft of the Reflection) and is not covered so you are in the sun most of the time. This also brings a lot of sun into your cabin which is not great if you like a cooler cabin. There is two chairs and a small table on the balcony. One very strange thing about this cabin is: There are two framed prints in the cabin (one at the foot of the bed and one over the couch) and they are exactly the same! Just seemed strange to us! Otherwise, your standard aft cabin. But I have to add that our room steward, Moses, was exceptional!! He was the best we've ever had!
We took a taxi (readily available just off the dock) to Cockleshell Beach. Our driver stopped at Timothy Hill Overlook for photos on the way. We gave him a time we would like to leave and he came back to return us to the ship. At the beach, we rented two chairs and an umbrella. Beautiful beach, perfect water, and great views of Nevis made this a perfect beach day!