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Luminae - we ate there three times and never went back - went back to Blu

service was stiff, no one came by to refill bread, water, etc. Food was same as Blu.QUOTE]

 

Roxie, I sailed Silhouette in Aqua and Reflection in a Sky. I would like to respectfully disagree on your statement above. We found the food in Luminae to be far different, especially at breakfast. We loved the Luminae breakfasts but did eat in Blu once just to go with lighter items.

When the announcement first went out for Virgin cruises I signed up for their newsletters, that was several months ago. To date, I have received no updates. I found it a bit of a surprise.

I just Googled "Celebrity theme cruises 2017." A website appeared with lists of ships with theme cruises. I quit counting at 25 for Celebrity! Most are life style. Sorry I didn't get the URL

I did the same thing when I was trying to figure out why I couldn't book a particular ship in January, themecruisefinder but it's not that comprehensive.

Clojacks, you can also run a search for the ship and add search term, Reflection 80's cruise, Reflection Jazz cruise, Blues, swingers...

Our suite prices went right down on Connie too, however I couldn't give up my C1 aft view and share the RS with 4 of us (have 2 cabins at present). The only cabin I would have swapped it for was the PH and the 2 bathrooms :). The PH went for virtually the same cost that a S2 is being offered at on a 2017 Reflection cruise I am considering.

 

I do think the troubles in Europe, US folks not wanting to travel over here, has been the reason the suites have been so low this year. Can't see it happening again to the same degree, unless of course things don't settle.

+1 Agreed. We had an 7 night S2 booked for January 2017 in the Caribbean and post attack the cost of an 11 night Sky suite in the Med was less than we were paying for the S2, we switched sailings. I kept watching prices and the Choice Air promo enabled us to upgrade to a Signature suite (but for more money). There is no way we could have afforded that cabin otherwise.

We are about 100 days out and the prices for suites have jumped considerably. I recognize suite availability has dried up but I also think people are not as concerned and may be, again, booking.

"Fresh Fish

 

In one of the most unique offerings on a big ship we've come across, cruisers can purchase fresh fish at market price and have it cooked to order and served at any restaurant on board. Two to three times per cruise, a ship chef goes to a local fish market in a port of call to purchase several types of fresh fish; passengers can check out the selection at the Seafood Shack and either order what they want for lunch or pre-order dinner. (Selections must be made by lunch for dinner on the same day.) On our cruise, the chef purchased seabream and cod in Barcelona, seabass in Marseille and might might an additional purchase in Civitavecchia."

 

This is from a recent review. Made me remember the promise of locally sourced foods when dining in Lunimae, After three trips and nothing was locally sourced but looks like Carnival figured it out and no suite required! Lol!

Looks like a Carnival cruise is part of your future plans. Enjoy.

Really??? I would be offended if I were a steward and you wanted to give me money for my shore time! These people are grown-ups! With families, bank accounts, bills and a job. This would be like giving little Johnny money for his big trip to the dime store! Just tip them at the end and they will be happy.

 

 

 

 

I will tell you a secret - we owned a B&B for 9 years and EVERY morning at breakfast the same conversation with guests - Every one expressed they've always wanted to have a Bed & Breakfast and every one always asked how I came to be an innkeeper. So EVERY morning at breakfast I would cheerfully relate the story and graciously answer the same questions day in & day out - why - not because I particularly liked it but because it was my bread & butter and because the guests liked it.

 

I try and take my cues from the person I am speaking with - some are quite happy to stay & chat others do it to be polite - that is how the hospitality industry works.

 

So just keep in mind these folks have had this same conversation hundreds of times and you are not making their day by being "interested" in them. This is their job - just treat them with respect. Do you ask the the girl at the drive thru or the clerk at the grocery these questions? They do not need to be validated as human beings - they already are and have lives beyond their jobs.

Regarding your assertion about the tip, perhaps you might be offended but they may not. If I were in a service industry that was far different from a B&B, I might appreciate the ability to deposit the money onshore or use it as an unexpected windfall for necessity shopping.

We are not overly chatty with the stewards or butlers but we always try to say hello whenever we see them and to thank them for the work they do. On our January cruise our steward seemed genuinely excited to tell us that this was his last cruise of the current deployment. Was he perhaps letting us know he was a human, had a family, and wanting to share that? Or, was he simply hopeful that sharing of the information might help increase his tip? Maybe both? Don't know but I enjoyed hearing about where he was from, his family and... he was the one who brought it up. Funny how that works. Everyone is different I guess.

Just returned from a Med cruise on the Equinox. Based on my observations there is no enforced dress code in the MDR. It was the scruffiest group of passengers that I have encountered on any cruise. Shorts were ok in the dining room. Many people were wearing them.

 

I wore a jacket and tie on Chic night and felt over dressed.

 

Maybe it is just the European market.

 

I really do not see Celebrity as a premium line anymore. The food in the MDR pretty much matched the decorum and dress of the passengers -- mediocre at best.

When we were planning our summer Med cruise I noticed Crystal was a bit more formal in decorum than Celebrity. One of the reasons I stuck with Celebrity. Then I read this: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=49422367#post49422367

We cruised Reflection Aft S1 1214 in January and I did not find it too warm. Really enjoyed the view.

No I believe in the fine print of the choiceair promo it states not combinable with any other offer, including GBGBGB! Promo.

 

Cheers

Correct, we rebooked to a suite using the Choice Air promo and they accepted the rebooking even though we had already booked air previously via Choice. You have to run the cost benefit for each to decide which one is best.

On Reflection there is a hilarious/fascinating piece of art near Blu that has a video embedded of a guy building a fire. Someone posted a clip of it here but did not post all of it and I was so happy for that, after I watched it on board.

I am guessing that all of the availability is booked and you can put yourself on a waiting list when you board.

I used to think the same thing and then someone on this board mentioned that there is nothing on the web site or the brochures that says Relaxation room is exclusive to Aqua Class. I couldn't find anything after researching it, if someone can find something I'd appreciate it.

We stayed in Aqua on the Silhouette in March of 2015 and I used the relaxation room a few times (without a corresponding spa treatment) I also visited the Reflection relaxation room in January of this year. No signs posted and nothing online that states it is exclusive for spa treatment users or Aqua passengers. I will also note that it was never crowded and loungers were always available.

My thanks also! We booked 4111 for Reflection this August. Any additional information about the joggers or if they have made it standard practice to rope it off evenings/mornings? We are not super light sleepers and evenings won't be a problem. Just mornings as I imagine some of the joggers are up very early.

Actually, I was thinking that the MSC ship looked like a high rise hotel. She might replace the NCL Epic as the ugliest looking ship on the water!QUOTE]

 

Rich I cannot decide who I agree with more, you or hcat? I assume it's a nice ship but man that is hideous.

I have found that Sky Observation lounge is usually not that crowded for sail-aways and can be a quiet spot to enjoy a drink while leaving port.

Solstice Deck is "usually" the last place for loungers to fill up in case you are looking for a sunny spot. Same with the loungers near the basketball court but you have to fade the noise.

I also like the Spa Veranda just off the fitness center for a nice view but no chairs.

I agree with all of the posters suggesting the RCI sailing with one caveat. If the 13 year olds are girls, they might be comfortable on a Celebrity ship laying in the sun on sea days. Boys, nope. I watched three early teen boys wander onto the lawn area of Silhouette, nice kids. They messed around on the big chairs and laid down on the hammocks. After 15 minutes they were bored and wrestling each other. I thought to myself, what more do they have to do?

I have rented one on sea days three different times, we really enjoy them. Also, we have not yet experienced having to retract the canopy but I do know it occurs.

Is it an added expense? Yep

Is the value mostly intrinsic? Yep

1) It says I have it from 9:00am - 9:00pm, so I would think this could be a great place to eat lunch. Do others pop down to the Oeanview, grab a plate of goodies then come back up to their domain to eat?

It is not the perfect place to eat lunch due to the height of the table, but it is pretty much like eating in front of the TV using a coffee table. I have done exactly as you have described using Oceanview to grab pizza and other lunch items, all three times.

2) Does the Alcove Attendant also serve as a bar waiter (i.e. will he get me one of those frozen rum drinks with an umbrella)?

We have asked him to get drinks but when they are super busy or I get bored I usually walk over to the bar

3) How much do you usually tip the Alcove Attendant?

Good question. On all three days we rented they have split the day between two attendants. First one opens things up and then trades off at lunch. So, you may be tipping two... I give them $20 if they have provided good service and/or we order drinks

4) Does Celebrity ever host any events at night (i.e. music & wine party) on the lawn area where having an Alcove would be a plus?

I know they have in the past but by the end of the day we usually don't have much interest in going back up in the evening

Thanks

and once you check in and board and dump your luggage you can get off the ship and head into Old San Juan, just be back before final boarding call.

Agreed! We really enjoyed the area during the evening and had a couple of beers at one of the restaurants with outside seating.

Love, love, love the lawn:) I'ts peaceful and quiet, so nice compared to the jammed, noisy pool deck. Love the music in the evening on the lawn and it is convenient to the wonderful Sunset Bar:D. I just wish the M Class had them.

 

I can't comment on Bon5 as we have never eaten there (none of the menu's were enticing) but I am hoping the sushi will be available on the Silhouette in Oct!

Christine, I agree about the lawn. I will add to the comments provided by Bo and Algebra. During our March 2015 Caribbean sailing I booked an Alcove one sea day (always the first days to get booked) and thought that I would wait to decide on the second. A week later that second sea day was gone. At least three months prior to our January Reflection sailing this year all of the sea days were booked well over three months in advance, I booked two days during that trip. For our August Mediterranean sailing all sea days are again booked, I booked two Alcove days for this trip. If you are in an Alcove you notice the people filtering in/out of their space during the day.

Other advantages of the lawn, it's a high traffic photo op for first time S-Class cruisers at the big chairs, people and kids love the hammocks, it is also a nice location for evening entertainment or private events. I agree with the other poster who mentioned that they might turn it into a suite pool or other private area. My opinion, they are only going to replace it with something that generates more money/value for the line.

I don't think you would get a suite on Oceania or Azamara for the price of a suite on X. But for the price of a suite on X, you would get a more standard room on Az. or O. with better cuisine That would be my pick but if you want a suite, then X with Luminae. We all have different preferences for our vacation dollars. But I do think both Az. and O. have better food in their MDR's than X does in Luminae. Your money, your choice. But I don't want to pay a higher price and have limited choices, have to send items back, make special requests, or order off menu to get my "money's worth".

Everyone has their preferences and I respect yours. I am curious as to why you continue to book X over Az or O? Also, which sailing did you dine at Luminae, the one in 2014?

Yes the service is outstanding, some menu items very good (but about the same number almost mediocre) but mostly I can agree with the OP. For the money paid to get to a suite / Luminae, the money would be better spent in just upgrading to Oceania or Azamara.

We sailed in a Sky suite on Reflection in January and are returning to the Reflection this August for an 11 night Med cruise, also in a suite. The reason I mention this is that I scoured Crystal, Oceania, Azamara for similar fares and none of them could compare to the value that Celebrity offered. Yes, I could find a 10 or 11 night sailing on Oceania and Azamara and board for the same amount but would not have gotten a suite and would have lost some "extras" that Celebrity offers. I truly wanted to try one of the of the more exclusive lines but the cost-benefit never worked out. Also, Crystal was going to be an ocean view cabin. I cannot disagree with your assertion over money being better spent in upgrading because I have never sailed Azamara or Oceania. However, what price for that upgrade?

I make this statement without any sarcasm. Perhaps my tastes are just not as sophisticated as others but I found Luminae to be outstanding.

Signature suites on Reflection also offer most of the amenities as Royal and PH suites. Including unlimited dining, premium beverage package, complimentary mini-bar, a wine and sprit set-up too.

We loved the Sky Suite and really enjoyed the extra space but feel we don't NEED the extra space. With that being said we look closer now as to what our total costs would be. Since the suites have all 4 perks included and Luminae we do the number crunching. Luminae to us is a big draw as we now always get the ultimate dining package or will get Aqua to eat in Blu. We prefer the more intimate space of those restaurants over the main dining room.

 

Long story short, we loved the suite experience. We'd book it again but we don't put too much value on the added space and instead put more value on what's included (all 4 perks), Luminae and now Michaels.

Agreed, we did like the larger room but loved the aft Sky view. I think we may by a five meal package and give thought to the UDP but it's hard to pass on Luminae in favor of some of the other restaurants.

Thanks Paul!

Now that was funny!