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My sister and myself are bringing long gowns, hubby is bringing a jacket and bow tie.

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Thanks again Pete, brilliant review and great photos. Reflection albeit a few differences seems to be a near mirror image of Eclipse, everything including restaurants, bars, spa etc are on the same decks which is great for us. My favourite I have to admit is Cafe al Bacio and the lawn club grass is brilliant for sail away. Best thing to do is to grab a rug & a drink, go barefoot on the grass and watch the world sail by or Italy in this case!!

Thinking of you all in Manchester & London. We were in London in March a couple of days before the Westminster tragedy & going again to London in July.

Mary

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Thanks Pete for that info.

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Looking forward to reading your review, as I stated in on a different thread, we're on the same itinerary on Reflection on 9th June and some of my questions were answered there.

Glad to read that embarkation and disembarkation went smoothly.

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Thanks for those answers, very interesting. Good to hear you all had a great Cruise.

As a matter of interest, when was the "connections party" held.

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That is great to hear, were on the same Itinerary on Reflection 9th June, just over a week to go.

How did you find being tendered in Santorini, any tips for any of the islands. We're mainly doing private tours, except on Mykonos & Rhodes, where we'll do our own sightseeing.

At the ports did you disembark from the ship from Deck 2?

Any tips at all would be welcome!

Mary

Yes, we were on Eclipse last August from Southampton and straighteners - no problem.

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We're on Reflection out of Rome on Friday, 9th June to Italian & Greek Isles.

We have two at sea days on the cruise, the first Chic Night should be on the Monday night, we leave Valetta, Malta on the Sunday sailing to Mykonos. The second should be after we leave Athens for Naples when we have the other at sea day. Hope this helps.

Mary

Hi, the problem is that most tour companies allow a day to do the Giants Causeway, driving up the coast road which is a very scenic drive, stopping at carrick a rede rope bridge, Bushmills Distillery etc.

Unless you want to pay for a private taxi to take you there. A direct drive up the motorway would take 1 1/4 hours approx. It's 60 miles from Belfast. It wouldn't be a cheap option, unless you could gather a group together. Public transport isn't an option it would take too long.

I've been to both, The Titanic Experience is excellent, if I had a choice though I would pick the Giants Causeway.

Hope this helps. If I can help at all let me know, I could get you some telephone numbers.

We were conceirge class last August whilst on Eclipse, main reason was cabin location, difference in price at the time, was approx £300 more. We had booked just four months before sailing and we were on deck 10. This year were on Reflection in June on deck 9 but booked last September so had a better choice of cabin, difference in price £500 more expensive for conceirge so didn't book it.

Embarkation was quick, we were called after the suites. We were more than two hours early from the time we were given on our paperwork, but it was no problem, lunch was nice in the MDR, canapes only asked for them once and didn't eat them, got tote bag, wine in cabin on embarkation day also a foot stool on balcony and fruit in cabin everyday, that you could get in the buffet & a holder for the sea pass.

The only reason I would book conceirge again would be for cabin location.

1st favorite - Diet Coke

2nd favorite - Strawberry Daiquiri - seriously the BEST daiquiris ever on Celebrity!

I'll have to second that for the Daiquiri, mind you mine was Mango:D. We had the Classic package.

Another Plus for the pm.

We also used SPB Tours last August whilst on Celebrity Eclipse and they were excellent, booked them for the two days. They used small mini buses that seated 16-20. They had quite a number of buses at the terminal but we got sorted quickly into our pre booked group and away we went. We did meet some of the other SPB groups at various stops as my sister and hubby were on another bus, they had forgotten to mention when e mailing to mention the tour group name but it wasn't a problem.

The smaller groups definitely helped us getting around quicker and our guide was fantastic. We even went on the metro for one stop which was quite fun. Definitely wouldn't have fancied doing it ourselves as St. Petersburg is so big. Plus as someone previously mentioned what you would pay for the visas, would pay for the two day tour and you don't pay for the tour until you are on it.

We also used SPB for our tour of Berlin!

Mary

I can't comment on that class, we were conceirge on our cruise in August. But this time booked the balcony option. Price difference didn't justify it and because we booked much earlier this time, had a better choice of cabins with no obstruction, we're on deck 9, in August we were deck 10. I suppose it depends if you think the extra money is worth the extra perks.

Good luck choosing.

Hope you have a brilliant cruise. We were on Eclipse in August to Scandinavia & Russia, thoroughly recommend it. Just booked Reflection for next June to Italy & Greek Isles.

We sailed on Eclipse in August and booked Conceirge, a balcony on deck 10, room 1283 & my sister was in 1291, these are aft cabins, port side. No obstruction. Great cabins a short walk from the lifts. Would book them again.

We were on the Eclipse in August and had the Classic package. Hubby (another reluctant cruiser) had considered getting the Premium package, but found he didn't need to as there was ample on the Classic package for him. Both don't have to upgrade as we did ask but as I don't drink that much, I certainly wasn't going to upgrade. We were with my sister and her hubby and we ended up at the Martini bar on numerous nights. There was also a choice of various cocktails one could choose there was more than ample choice. Meeting up with other cruisers through the Roll Call, also on Classic package they were able to buy Martini's at other bars but not at the Martini Bar!

We were able to have whiskey & coke, Baileys, cocktails, soft drinks etc at the Martini Bar. The waiters were more than accommodating.

Hi Seabea, we too were on that cruise on 14th August to Scandinavia & Russia.

It was our first cruise and we went with my sister and her hubby. It was a brilliant holiday, couldn't have asked for more. Food was great, all staff were very friendly including Captain Leo "The voice fom above" and the officers. They were very visible throughout the cruise. The Ship was spotless, good choice of food in the various restaurants. Embarkation and disembarkation was very quick, we arrived at 10.30 ish, our boarding time was 12. We were onboard by 11.15ish. First port of call was Cafe al Bracio, I think we were the first ones there! The cappuccinos were absolutely marvellous!

We ate in the MDR at lunchtime that first day and had dinner there nearly every night after that. We were on Deck 10, cabin 1283 which had a balcony, it was Concierge Class, the only reason we booked that class, was because when looking at deck 6, the cabins had a partial obstruction and didn't want to chance it as hubby was a bit hesitant about going on a cruise and said he would only go if we booked a balcony, well that night it was booked.

Looking at perhaps a Mediterranean cruise next, my sister and I are definitely hooked. Hubby not so, he found the sea days boring, but that is only him, if we didn't have so many he would have been ok, so the Mediterranean is more port intensive.

It's a great idea to sign up for the Roll Call and meet up, which we did and had pre booked taxis etc and saved some money in port by sharing the taxis. We met a lot of lovely people on the cruise and intend to keep in touch with them.

Mary

Just back from 12 nights on the Cebrity Eclipse to the Baltic & Russia. There were four in our party. My sister & I wore evening gowns on the two Evening Chic nights, Hubby wore jacket & bow tie, her hubby a suit. We dressed up nearly every night as we normally ate in the MDR (Moonlight Sonata). Most people that we could see wore smart casual on those nights we didn't see many jeans and on the Evening Chic quite a lot in gowns, suits with bow ties or tuxs. Couldn't tell you what percentage. Did see one man turned away from the MDR when he came down in shorts on one of the smart casual nights. Saw him returning later in trousers.

As this was our first cruise myself and my sister wanted to dress up and we were glad we bought the gowns with us. We had a great time, food was excellent as was the service. We meet up with some our cruise critic members from our Roll Call which was lovely as we had organised taxis and tours together. There was a lovely atmosphere on board. Hoping now to book another cruise perhaps in the Mediterranean.

I bought $250 OBC a couple of weeks ago got the 1.44 rate. Also, bought $ for spending money, bank rate 1.29 not so good!

We're on the same cruise. We dock at Stadsgarden S167, unless it changes. Unfortunately, there are two other cruise ships in port on the same day both dock before we do, at 7am & 9am, we dock at 11am. One departs an hour before us, the other ten minutes after us so we can expect the port to be busy coming back from the tours, just consciousness of queues etc, especially coming back and for the Vasa Museum. Watch out for the last HoHo Ferry I read the last one is at around 17.00 hrs.

We have a taxi booked to take us straight to the Vasa. Don't know if it will be any quicker!! But wanted to do that first, then everything else we can do at our leisure.

Do look at the Roll call and sign up for the newt and greet.

We're also on the Eclipse on 14th. We're getting the National Express Coach from London at 7am!!!! So will be in Southampton at approx 9am. Our boarding time is 12noon. We're meeting my sister and hubby who are staying in Southampton overnight, they are flying in from Dublin on the Saturday, so will meet at their hotel for a coffee and wait there for a while.

Definitely take the telephoto lens. We broke our 70-300mm whilst on holiday in Kerry in April, just bought a 18-270mm will be taking it with us.

Hope to meet up at the Meet & Greet. Have you all signed up on the Roll Call?

Mary

Thank you for all the replies. As previously said no problem getting the European currencies or any other currency in the UK. M&S hold quite a lot of currencies though when I checked the Rouble would have to be ordered, only takes a couple of days. Their rates were similar to the banks rates. Luckily, the Euro isn't a problem for me as I'm originally from Dublin & I have the dollars already bought.

Great review James. We're on Celebrity Eclipse on 14 August. Did you bring currency with you specifically for Sweden, Denmark & St Petersburg. I was thinking of bringing £50 worth of local currency to Sweden & Denmark & £100 to St Petersburg plus dollars & euros.

Thanks

Mary

Great review, we're also on Eclipse on 14th August, our first cruise.