Travels with Terri

As Concierge Class passengers, we were treated to a special sail away event on the ships Helipad. It turned out to be our lucky day as Diana and I won the raffle grand prize, a certificate for two to dine at any of the specialty restaurants. We chose the French restaurant Murano and had a stunning meal of warm goat cheese soufflé, diver scallop wellington, châteaubriand, and an assortment of artisan cheeses and desserts. The décor, service, and food were impeccable. Since we had onboard credits, we had dinner one evening at Sushi on Five. Their a la carte menu features hot and cold starters, noodle dishes, sushi rolls, and traditional sushi. The rolls were large enough for sharing and everything we had was super fresh and yummy. Celebrity offers pre-cruise deals on dining, so we booked a dinner at Le Petit Chef ($130.00 per couple for four courses.) Not just a fine dining venue, Le Petit Chef utilizes 3D projection mapping technology to create an immersive experience. For each course, the little chef prepares an animated version right at the table. We started with a marinated tomato salad, and he grew, harvested, and chopped all the ingredients before plating the finished dish. Our second starter was truffled five cheese ravioli followed by short ribs over mashed potatoes and topped off with an amazing green tea matcha cake for dessert. All the food was delicious, and the presentation was entertaining and whimsical.

Cruising on Celebrity Reflection exceeded my expectations, and I truly enjoyed our time onboard the ship, which was made even more special in the company of dear friends. As with all forms of travel, there are always good and bad things. Here is my short list of cons:

• Laundry: Celebrity does not offer a guest laundry room like other cruise lines. They do have pre-cruise deals on laundry services such as wash, dry, fold, and dry cleaning. Since we had onboard credits, we used the service several times and were quite pleased. All our clothes were returned to our cabin on hangers or in a laundry bag in perfect condition.
• Spa services: We didn’t book any as they are quite expensive. Also based on reviews, the staff try to sell products to earn a commission.
• Shore Excursions: As with all cruise lines, shore excursions are expensive. Celebrity does offer early booking discounts of around 15% and those tend to sell out quickly. Note: If you decide to tour on your own, be aware that the ship will leave port without you if you are late!
• Jacuzzies: For a ship that holds over 3,000 people, I was surprised that there are only six in total (4 outdoors and 2 indoors) which were full most days.
• Outlets: There are only two US and one EU outlet in each cabin and zero USB ports. Power strips are not allowed so if you travel with multiple devices like we do, plan accordingly.

I could write several pages about the pros, but here are the highlights:

• Service: All of the crew members we interacted with during our cruise were amazingly friendly and helpful. With smiles all around, they made us feel special and welcome. After a few days onboard, servers and bartenders even knew our food and drink preferences!
• Food: Besides the service, we were most impressed by the food onboard both in the complimentary and specialty dining venues. Highlights were the French restaurant Murano and the interactive Le Petit Chef.
• Room Attendant: Each cabin has an attendant who cleans the room, delivers the daily activities flyer, turns down the bed (and puts chocolate on the pillows), and assists with any passenger requests. Our attendant Jimmi was amazing and made our time onboard extra special.
• Shops: Selling everything from high-end jewelry and watches to sundries and tee-shirts, the shops on Reflection are worth visiting. Some offer special events such as raffles, whisky tastings, pop up sales, and giveaways. I bought a lovely set of Venetian glass earrings and a matching necklace at one of the shops using my onboard credits! Note: Since the shops are duty-free, they are closed anytime the ship is docked at port.
• Entertainment: From solo performers to large production stage shows, the choices on Reflection are amazing. We began and ended most evenings at the Ensemble Lounge listening to everything from classical string ensembles and jazz quartets to solo pianists and acoustic duos. The vibe is definitely more upbeat at the Grand Foyer which features rock bands, DJ beats, and disco parties in the evenings. I was very entertained people watching during the silent disco, especially when they sang along out of tune!

Know before you go:

Read the Celebrity FAQ’s before you book, especially those on dress code, prohibited items, and alcohol. On several evenings, we saw gentlemen wearing shorts, tee-shirts, and/or baseball caps turned away from the main dining room (Opus). All luggage is x-rayed and banned items such as curling irons and travel irons are removed and held until the last day. Each passenger is allowed to bring one bottle of wine onboard on embarkation day. After that, any alcohol brought onto the ship is held until the final day. Also, if you don’t have a drinks package or an upgraded cabin class you will be charged a steep corkage fee.

Travel tip:

Visit the Celebrity website often to check for deals. We purchased our cruise when an “Indulge” package was offered that included free premium drinks ($621.00 per person), free premium wi-fi ($199.00 per person), and an onboard credit of $400.00 each!

In my next blog, we tour Genoa Italy by rickshaw. Stay tuned.