Wiseask

Are aft cabins on the Reflection larger than other standard cabins on the same deck? Are the verandas on the aft cabins larger than the verandas on the standard cabins? Are the aft cabins more expensive than the standard veranda cabins? Finally, does smoking from the Sunset Bar filter down to the aft verandas?

Thanks for you input.

Based on the overwhelming number of positive experiences from the replies I received, I think we’re going to give it a try. Thanks to all for taking the time to reply and for your thoughtful comments. (y)

My wife and I are veteran Celebrity cruisers, and are contemplating a transatlantic (“TA”) cruise, in late October/early November, for the first time. The cruise leaves from Rome, stops in Barcelona and ends in Florida.

Our concern is about the weather at that time of year (too cold to enjoy the pool deck?) and whether the seas are rough. We are used to sailing in temperate climates around the Caribbean and even the Mediterranean where the weather and the condition of the seas were not major concerns.

If you have sailed a TA before, especially in October or November, please let me know your experience about the weather and the condition of the seas.

Thanks.

Thank you for your comments. I’m pleased to hear that you enjoyed the cruise as much as we did and that you share my appreciation for the ship and the crew. I’m also pleased that Mr. Steves was not “too busy” for you. Maybe he had taken a pompous jerk pill the day I asked him for no more than a minute of his time, and of course you’re entitled to your opinion as much as I am to mine, but the guy’s a bum in my book. :)

Thank you all for your replies.

ChucktownSteve is correct. I called Guest Relations from my cabin and asked to be connected to Mr. Steves' cabin. Mr. Steves was not "too busy" to answer his phone and in the few seconds it took him to refuse my request he could have signed my book. Let's face it: Rick Steves is not exactly a household name and if he wasn't a pompous jerk you would think he'd be tickled pink that a reader had actually asked him for an autograph.

It also wasn't clear whether Mr. Steves was on board for vacation or for work, perhaps to research a new book. A few hours after we had spoken I saw him sitting alone in the Oceanview Cafe. I recognized him from the picture on the back of his book. He did not appear busy in the least (much less "too busy"), but by then Mr. Steves had blown his big chance to be a celebrity, at least in my eyes.

As to Hank's self-righteous sentiments, Mr. Steves should be so lucky if anyone but me had asked him for an autograph, much less the "thousand" he invents. Note that I had no, nor sought any, additional contact with Mr. Steves after he refused my request. He had that right; the same right I have to call him a pompous jerk.

Food is a matter of taste and value is an individual decision. You might disagree with what I think tastes good, and what you can afford to pay maybe I can't. I have dined in almost all of Celebrity's Specialty Restaurants and I agree with you that they are pricey. They do offer discounts during the cruise on certain nights: on past cruises it was as much as 50% but on our most recent Reflection cruise last month it was only 30%. I do think the food quality in the MDR and even the buffet restaurant for dinner is quite good, but having said that, it's your vacation so consider treating yourself to a night out. The filet mignon in the Tuscan is excellent, but so was the Beef Wellington served in the MDR in my opinion. You might consider trying Qsine because it's so unique. You will be hard put to find a restaurant like it anywhere else.

On September 1, 2017 my wife and I took the 10-night Italy & Greek Isle cruise on board the Celebrity Reflection. We had sailed with Celebrity many times before, most recently on the Eclipse to the Caribbean, but this was our first cruise on the Reflection and our first trip to Europe. We traveled with another couple, spent three glorious days in Rome before boarding the ship, and had a totally fabulous time. It was a perfect combination of a great ship, great weather, great food, great service, great company and some great ports.

About the Ship. The Reflection is the newest and largest of the five Celebrity Solstice Class ships and is, in a word, magnificent. As we set sail from the port of Civitavecchia we were docked near one of Cunard's Queens, which looked old and tired by comparison. There is no mistaking the majesty of the Solstice Class ships like the Eclipse and the Reflection: when they sail into port, people take notice. In our various ports of call, the locals would ask if we were from the "big" ship, and you could tell by their tone they meant grandeur as well as size.

Our cabin was a balcony on Deck 9 in Concierge Class, more than adequate in size and storage space for the limited time we spent there, with very comfortable pillows and bed linens. In past cruises on the Eclipse we had sailed Aqua Class, which gave us access to the exclusive restaurant Blu. But Blu has recently lost its pre-eminence thanks to Luminae, the new exclusive restaurant for Suite guests; we were getting bored with the Blu menu which had remained unchanged for the three years in a row we had booked Aqua Class; and we're not especially fancy eaters anyway. More about the food below.

There is an atrium on the Solstice ships that defies description. It towers nine decks and houses the glass-enclosed mid-ship elevators. Most nights Decks 3, 4 and 5 on the Reflection were rocking -- and I mean rocking -- with music and dancers, and you would even see passengers and professionals dancing in the elevators as they soared up and down the atrium. It was quite a sight on a cruise line never really known for launching party boats. But each evening without exception the Reflection came alive, people packed the non-smoking casino and bars, and everyone looked like they were having a blast.

About the Service. None better at sea. Period. Our cabin steward was simply superb. Our bar server was also superb. During the entire cruise I didn't encounter any crew member who didn't greet me with a smile. No request was too small, too large or too difficult. In short, if you are looking for exceptional service at every level, Celebrity is your cruise line. By the way, in addition to a comprehensive survey I was e-mailed after the cruise, Celebrity was even soliciting the opinions of passengers during the cruise, wanting to know what the crew could do to improve their performance. And listen to this: we had chosen Select (anytime) Dining, and by happenstance were served one evening in the Main Dining Room by a waiter named David, who had served us two years before on the Eclipse in Blu and he remembered us by name! Think about it: thousands of passengers later and two years later on a different ship in a different dining room in a different part of the world, and David remembered us by name. Amazing.

About the Food. I already admitted above that we're not especially fancy eaters, but we know good food when we taste it. We have also eaten in most of Celebrity's pricey Specialty Restaurants where the food is generally most enjoyable when not too rich for our tastes. But Celebrity's best kept secret is dinner in the Oceanview Café, the stylish and splendid buffet restaurant with selections so plentiful they are nearly inexhaustible. Popular for breakfast and lunch, the Oceanview was nearly empty at dinner time, and our one regret is that we ate there only three of our ten nights. To give you an idea how good it was, our cruise companions, who unlike us are foodies, canceled their reservations in the fancy specialty restaurants Murano and Tuscan Grille just to join us in the Oceanview.

About the Ports and Shore Excursions. We booked our excursions on Malta, Santorini, Athens, and Capri (from Naples) through Celebrity and they were well worth the expense. The guides were very good and because we were among the first off the boat we got to our destinations early to avoid the long lines -- and in Oia (Santorini), Mdina (Malta), and Anacapri (Capri), to avoid the crowds. The bazaars in the scenic ports of Mykonos and Rhodes were fun and fascinating for shopping. My wife, a former Personal Shopper for Bloomingdale's, is from the Middle East and felt right at home. The only disappointing port was Messina, which was virtually deserted when we docked there on a Saturday.

About Rick Steves. I had taken on my trip a copy of "Rick Steves' Mediterranean Cruise Ports." The short biography on the book's cover failed to mention that the author is a pompous jerk.

It turns out that the author, Rick Steves himself, was a passenger on our cruise for the full 10 days. So when I called his cabin to ask Mr. Steves if he would spare a minute and do me the favor of autographing my copy of his book, I was astonished to hear him say that he was "very sorry" but "too busy." I don't know how much time Mr. Steves thinks it takes to sign his rather short name. Evidently he forgot that he writes books showing the location of public toilets, et cetera in cruise ports, and for a deluded moment must have thought he was Ernest Hemingway or F. Scott Fitzgerald. You know, a real author with a long name he was just too busy to sign.

In Conclusion. Factoring in the flights, the stay and tours in Rome, the cruise fare, the shore excursions, the dining, the shopping, and the cost of Rick Steves' book I could have done without, planning and arranging this trip with so many moving parts was complicated and expensive. But it was an experience we will remember forever and would repeat in a heartbeat.

Carmen, I have a dozen questions for you. Is there a private e-mail address where I can write to you? Thanks.

Ms. Steamboats, I saw your review, and although I can't read the German commentary, I cannot commend you highly enough on your magnificent pictorial essay of both every aspect of the ship and the islands. Bravo!

Thanks to all for your replies.

Thanks to all for your replies.

My wife and I are sailing on Celebrity Eclipse from Miami on 1/4/15. Because our airline does not fly to Miami, we are flying to Ft. Lauderdale the day before and have already booked a hotel room in Miami.

My question is: What is the easiest and least expensive way to get from the Ft. Lauderdale airport to our Miami hotel? We will have a total of four large suitcases plus carry-ons.

Thanks.

I book AquaClass because it guarantees me access to Blu, which I consider a superior dining experience in food choice, preparation, presentation and service. I know that Suite guests are admitted to Blu on a space available basis, but that's not good enough for me.

Also flying SW Air to FLL ...after we collect luggage we go to the shared ride shuttle with luggage...usually 2 bags each..They definitely go to Miami hotels, No advance ressie needed

What, where and how much is she "shared ride shuttle"? Specifically, who operates it, where does it pick up passengers, how much does it cost, and how can I contact them in advance (like by phone or e-mail) if I have questions?

Thanks.

In January 2015, my wife and I are flying to Ft. Lauderdale the afternoon before our Eclipse cruise leaves from Miami (unfortunately, Southwest Airlines does not fly from our hometown to Miami). We will have four large suitcases plus carry-ons. The children of Israel left Egypt with less luggage.

Please let me know the easiest and least expensive way to get from the airport in Fr. Lauderdale to our hotel in Miami. Does Celebrity provide shuttle service, and if so, the day before the cruise? If not, what are the alternatives?

Thanks.