Pantheral

When we were there last year it was the main cruise dock in both ports.

We are cruising next week on a blue chip offer we upgraded to a veranda. I'll report back on what credit we receive.

I think it is hard to get caught up in a lot of must do's especially when hearing from those of us who have had occasion to cruise Celebrity on multiple occasions. My main advice is to (REF) Relax, Explore and have Fun!!! Reflection is a favorite ship of ours mainly because of the multitude of options available to passengers. For dinner you can dine casually at the Oceanview cafe, have a served meal in the dining room, or enjoy a dinner at 6 specialty restaurants. If you are in a suite you can also add Luminae and Blu to your dining options. There are multiple bars all over the ship, each with it's own vibe and potential for live entertainment. There is a wonderful coffee/pastry bar. The casino is one of the nicest at sea. We are not spa people, but always hear good things!! Wishing you a wonderful cruise!

One somewhat hidden gem on the Edge class ships is the Eden Cafe for lunch on deck 5 aft.

Thank you for the detailed review!!! We board on 5/6 for the quick 4 day sail to Key West and Coco Cay, so all of that information is terrific! Safe travels home!

What I did find interesting was that the NZ authorities were only concerned upon disembarkation while we had spent the week prior arriving from Australia via the cruise ship and having 4 ports of call in NZ where at any one of the ports we could have brought non-native honey ashore....

Our cruise in Australia and New Zealand was in 2019 so things may have changed since, but as I recall, the reason for concern in NZ regarding the honey was not infecting their bees with the virus that was impacting bees around the world. We waited to purchase our honey in NZ ports from NZ sources and had no issues with customs upon disembarkation at the time...

Sorry, I don't remember the exact tour. It was in 2015 and did much of my communications through my work e-mail and I retired in 2021. I did find one reference to seeamalficoast.com, but I am not sure that's who I ended up choosing and that website no longer seems active. The tour you referenced does match quite closely to the one we took and the cost is relatively the same, except in reverse order (Positano first). I'd even say the tour director/driver in many of the pictures looks familiar, but that could be my faulty memory. Sorry I cannot be more helpful.

Jim, I hope the two of you have a wonderful day on Mackinac Island!! I know that the Grand Hotel is a special place for you and I hope you experience it in all its beauty. Oh, and by the way, the rest of the island is wonderful as well 😁

Jim, I hope the two of you have a wonderful day on Mackinac Island!! I know that the Grand Hotel is a special place for you and I hope you experience it in all its beauty. Oh, and by the way, the rest of the island is wonderful as well 😁

If you are looking for a nice indoor activity this morning due to the rain you could visit the Milwaukee Historical Society up the street: https://milwaukeehistory.net/visit/hours-and-rates/. I am guessing you passed it on your way to Mader's. BTW, glad to see you went there and had a good dinner.

My first charge card was from Gimbel's in 1981, which I applied for at the exact store that is now this hotel! First purchase was the first edition of the game Trivial Pursuit which I still own! At that time, Gimels and Boston Store on 4th and Wisconsin were the two anchor stores of a downtown indoor mall that stretched 4 blocks. Like most malls, it is now a shadow of its former self.

One consideration not yet discussed is your preferences in ingredients and preparation. I am much more adventurous in dining than my wife; and having worked in restaurants I can generally visualize the dish better than she can. Blu tends to be a bit more unique with ingredients and preparation. Luminae, while still a bit more creative than the MDR, can be a bit more "traditional" with some dishes each day. So, we tend to spend more time dining in Luminae...

Once again happily following along on another of your adventures! Excited you will be visiting our hometown of Milwaukee, if only briefly. Looks like we will be having some great weather for you over the weekend! Sooo much better that the 90s and high humidity we have had much of the last 2 weeks. Your hotel in Milwaukee is nice and in a great location for you to explore. It is right on the Milwaukee riverwalk. 4 blocks north on 3rd st is the only remaining true old school German restaurant, Mader's, but there are many wonderful restaurants around the downtown area. 8 blocks east on Wisconsin avenue is the lakefront and the Milwaukee Art Museum with its one-of-a-kind addition designed by Santiago Calatrava. It has a winglike Brise Soleil, which is opened and closed daily at 10am and noon, weather permitting. Enjoy!

Sending best wishes for a speedy recovery!