Reflection westbound TA '17 - Live(ish)

After dinner we made our way to the Grand Foyer for the first silent disco of the cruise. It was well underway by the time we got there and looking over the balcony by Cafe al Bacio you could see the area was packed with different coloured headphones. The pictures from deck 5 don't do it justice so here are a couple from the stairs on deck 4.

I left her after a while to dance the night away whilst I went to the Casino Bar to watch some NFL action on their TVs. The time difference to the US meant I didn't get to see the end of the games they had on as I was getting tied. A game that would finish at 12.30am UK time would be going until 1.30am last night and that would have done me in today.

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The Celebrity Today for Saturday. I didn't get around to posting it this morning.

This should have said Sunday, not Saturday. [emoji15]Hopefully those following along realised.

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The Celebrity Today for Monday 23rd October.

Before we went ashore we paid Cafe al Bacio a visit for some tea me pastries. I think everyone must have gone on shore already as there were plenty of seats available. A rarity, but a welcome one.

So pleased the 'Ballon Rouge' met expectations in Murano's. Such a rich but 'unsweet' sweet to end a meal.

Hope you continue to enjoy every minute of your cruise!

:DThank you!!!

This might help !

As a rule Choice Air has very reasonable one way fares. I have never found the Round trip to be cheap, I would book 2 separate one way fares. Lets say you are fly from (example) New York to Barcelona and then Ft Lauderdale to New York. I would book New York to Barcelona and then a one way Ft Lauderdale to New York. I live in San Francisco and my experience has been I can find a cheaper one way ticket from Ft Lauderdale to SFO just checking fares and not using choice air.

If you have any questions or my explanation doesnt make sense I can elaborate.

Norma

Wife and I are looking at doing our first TA in Fall, 2019, and were just discussing this scenario. Thinking of one-way Charlotte to Rome then one-way from FLL to Charlotte. Thanks for the excellent explanation.

Can't thank you enough for this. DW and I only this evening decided that this will be our first TA in 2019 or 2020.

In Cartagena yesterday we hired a car. We've been to Cartagena quite a few times as I have family who live 20 minutes up the coast.

We had to pick the car hire up from the train station, which was a €6 taxi ride away.

We had said we'd pick up at 10.30am but didn't arrive until 11.30am. We were told our car was being washed and we could have it as soon as the chap had finished. Just under half an hour later we were still waiting and we were offered a different car that hadn't been prepped if we wanted it. As we were only going to have it for a few hours I wasn't bothered, plus it meant we could get on the road.

Twenty minutes after leaving Cartagena we made it to a Crazy Golf course we love. I've lost count the number of times we have visited it. We have got to know the manageress there over the last four years and she always makes us feel so welcome.

The course was really busy. We then remembered it's school holidays in the UK. [emoji54]

We ate lunch before playing to let the course thin out a little. It worked and we were able to play a couple of rounds in the time we knew we had.

Before heading back to Cartagena we went to Los Alcazares to see one of my cousins. Sadly my Aunt passed away at the end of July and we were unable to get to her funeral as the Spainish culture means funerals are done very quickly after someone's death, normally within 48 hours. Is was good to see my cousin, although the circumstances could have been better, but he seems to be doing well considering.

We were back on board ship with 30 minutes to spare of the 'all aboard' time. We heard someone say there were less than 100 people still to board. When we were here in April our balcony overlooked the pier and we saw a few people running to the ship to make sure they were on in time. [emoji23]

Everyone must have got on ok as we pushed away from the pier 20 minutes ahead of our departure time.

There had been three other ships in port. Royal Princess was docked behind us, whilst across the harbour there were two Windstar ships, Wind Surf and Wind Star. Wind Star looked tiny. I've read it has less than 150 passengers. [emoji54]

As we were leaving the harbour some people had driven to the end of the harbour wall to wave us off.

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MDR menus for Monday evening.

After dinner we made our way to the Reflection Theatre for The Wedding Games.

I have to question why they do this in the theatre as people are so spread out. When this was done in Celebrity Central it provided a more intimate environment and seemed to give a better atmosphere. Maybe it's just me?

I know they couldn't do it in Celebrity Central last night as they've been showing films in there at 10.15pm every evening.

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Celebrity Today for Tuesday 24th October

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When I asked Celebrity I was told Choice Air was only available for US and Canada reservations.

 

You can't book Choice Air without a reservation number as that is required when booking the flights. The flights are then linked to your reservation and the show on our Guest Ticket Booklet.

 

 

 

 

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Thank you, this is very helpful info. Your review is making a TA very enticing! Keep up the great work!

I saw that the Affections are doing the ABBA dance party tonight in the Sky Lounge. That was one of the highlights of our Reflection cruise a few weeks ago. Those who like ABBA and/or Mama Mia should not miss it!

I'm curious about the Behind the Scenes tour. Is it available just for certain levels of Captain's Club or even for first timers like us? I've always been fascinated by this sort of thing and even more so since finding Mighty Cruise Ships on Smithonian.

Hi UKPete,

The crazy golf course near Cartagena certainly does look fun. We kind of know the surrounding area but have never come across the course. Please could you kindly let us know roughly where it is so we can visit it next time we are in the area. Many thanks

I'm curious about the Behind the Scenes tour. Is it available just for certain levels of Captain's Club or even for first timers like us? I've always been fascinated by this sort of thing and even more so since finding Mighty Cruise Ships on Smithonian.

You can book the Behind The Scenes for any sea day. It costs $89, with the group limited in size.

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Hi UKPete,

 

The crazy golf course near Cartagena certainly does look fun. We kind of know the surrounding area but have never come across the course. Please could you kindly let us know roughly where it is so we can visit it next time we are in the area. Many thanks

It's called Golf Delux. If you take the AP-7 from Cartagena towards Los Alcazares, then leave at 790 and head towards Torre-Pacheco on the RM-F30 it's on an industrial estate on the left. If you get to a roundabout you've gone too far and you will see it on your left.

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I saw that the Affections are doing the ABBA dance party tonight in the Sky Lounge. That was one of the highlights of our Reflection cruise a few weeks ago. Those who like ABBA and/or Mama Mia should not miss it!

Affections weren't doing it, it was a Celebrity Life Activity. It was an ABBA sing-along party. The Sky Lounge was very busy and the dance floor was packed.

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Tonight's show in the Reflection Theatre was Steve Larkins. His Mercury Rising show was very good and I'd recommend it to any fans if Freddie Mercury and Queen.

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The MDR menus for Tuesday evening...

During dinner we passed Gibraltar. You could see the outline of the Rock but as we passed it at 8.45pm it didn't allow for any great photos.

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Thank you, this is very helpful info. Your review is making a TA very enticing! Keep up the great work!

There are great if you don't mind the sea days. This is our fifth Celebrity cruise, and our third TA.

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During dinner we passed Gibraltar. You could see the outline of the Rock but as we passed it at 8.45pm it didn't allow for any great photos.

Bummer - that would have been a great moment.

If you don't mind.....

We are looking at this exact same cruise for next Oct. We need to decide which category cabin - inside or balcony. And then dining option.

Could you add a brief note to your postings about the weather - is it warm enough that we would enjoy a balcony?

And we have done select dining in the past and it has been a scrum. I think you are select? you have reservations? are they honored? are people coming to the dining room and being given pagers?

Thank you for the info you are posting - great timing for me as we plan for next year. Continue to have a great trip!

Bummer - that would have been a great moment.

We've passed it a few times now. These photos are from an early morning pass five years ago when we were on our honeymoon.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to do this, I r.ally love reading your review.

Norma

We've made it in to the Atlantic overnight and we are on schedule to arrive in Tenerife tomorrow.

That means a sea day and the Celebrity Today has a lot to offer today.

CD Pete said after last night's show that tonight's comedian had missed the ship in Malaga so there would be a change to the 7 and 9 show in the Reflection Theatre tonight. He didn't say what it will be so it's a case of trying to find out during the day today.

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