Reflection - Nov 14/21 - Some Thoughts

[Projunior]

We were on the Reflection Nov 14-21. This was our twenty second cruise, our fifth on Celebrity (seven on Princess, three on Costa, three on HAL, two on RCI, one on Crystal, one on NCL). We have never, ever had a bad cruise and this one was no exception. We had a grand time.

 

The following is not a review, per se; rather, it is a collection of random experiences and personal observations.

 

Food in the MDR

I thought the food never dipped below very good. No complaints whatsoever. The portions tended to be on the skimpy side (no surprise). What I didn’t expect was that instead of the appetizer/soup-or-salad/entrée/dessert meal sequence, the appetizers, soups and salads were all lumped together in a single “Starters” section of the menu, followed by the entrée choices, effectively giving the impression of a three-course meal (starter-entrée-dessert). Of course, the wait staff is more than happy to bring you any number of choices from the Starters, but this is not how the menu was organized on our Millennium cruise in June. Is this a subliminal way of getting people to order one less course?

 

Bar Service in the Lounges

Terrible. We had late seating dinner at 8:30. Live music was scheduled in the Grand Foyer for 8:15, so we would take seats at that time and spend 15 minutes there before dinner. We were never once approached by a server for cocktail orders.

 

Do they even have servers in the Sky Observation Lounge? If so, they must have been disguised as passengers. Everyone is expected to belly up to the bar and fetch their own drinks. Tacky.

 

French Martinis

Our cocktail of choice is a French martini. On the rocks. This is hardly an exotic drink, consisting as they do of just vodka, Chambord raspberry liqueur, and pineapple juice. When we ordered those in the casino, we were told, “No, sorry, those can only be made at The Martini Bar”. What? Why can these not be made at any bar? The typical answer was a non-verbal shoulder shrug. Some servers in the casino could be cajoled (read: tipped) into going to the Martini Bar to have them made but others steadfastly refused. And in the Sky Observation Lounge? Forget it. The bartenders there simply said, “No. I can’t make those here”. Is this supposed to enhance the cachet of The Martini Bar? I don’t get it at all.

 

One time we tried ordering them at the bar in the Grand Foyer. When the bartender lifted up a stemmed martini glass, I said, “On the rocks, in a cocktail glass, please”. A look of consternation swept over his face. He said he had no cocktail glasses and asked if he could instead make them in wine glasses. Gee, OK, wine glasses are fine.

 

Theatre Shows

We went to every show and we enjoyed every show. This was, far and away, the top show lineup of any of our 22 cruises. Every act, every performance, a cut above the usual cruise ship fare.

 

We saw Claire Vinkesteijn, a pianist/singer who won the Holland’s Got Talent TV show. If she were only a singer, she would be incredible. If she were only a pianist, she would be incredible. But she is both and her shows, an evening show and a matinee later in the week, brought the house down.

 

We saw Rondell Sheridan, comedian, best known for his role on the Disney Channel’s sitcom, That’s So Raven. Good show. He had the theatre roaring. Little did I know, with his hat pulled low and glasses on, that I had been playing next to him at the Ultimate Hold’em table in the casino on several occasions.

 

We saw Paul Palisoul, another comedian. We had seen him previously about a year and a half ago on the NCL Getaway. I wondered if he might repeat the very same show, but it was 98% new material. And funny.

 

We saw Jesse Hamilton Jr., a very good singer and energetic performer. He was a last minute replacement for a production show that was cancelled for some unspecified technical difficulty with the stage. Very enjoyable.

 

We saw Gareth Oliver, a ventriloquist with a unique act who lost out to Susan Boyle on Britain’s Got Talent in 2009. Good show.

 

The Reflection singers and dancers did a Broadway tribute show and later in the week also did a combo rock musical/Cirque type show. Both good, led by two talented male singers, one average female singer and one decidedly below average female singer. This is not Cirque du Soleil in Vegas, and I didn't expect it to be, but it was fun and diverting and performed on a night when the ship was churning through heavy seas.

 

LAX

LAX is the Reflection house band – they are four 20-somethings providing musical entertainment for a demographic that skewed way, way older than that. Their music was enjoyable, but don’t expect to hear a Frank Sinatra song. But they are repetitious and limited, with some of the songs being played night after night in the Grand Foyer. And their songs were long: our 15 minutes of listening pre-dinner might include just two 7-minute selections.

 

Dancing

We enjoy dancing on our cruises. As a reader of this forum, I went on the Reflection, it being an S-class ship, knowing full well that dancing opportunities would be meager. They were. Dancing in the Grand Foyer was a giant practical joke that Celebrity is pulling on its passengers. A completely unsuitable venue pressed into service because no workable alternative exists. What is sorely missing is the Rendezvous Lounge we found so enjoyable on our June cruise on the Millennium. To think that Celebrity would opt for wasting precious real estate on the ghost towns that are the Bistro on Five and Cellar Masters, as opposed to a lounge where people could enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail, music and dancing is completely baffling to me. Compare this to Holland America’s new Koningsdam which will have a huge dance floor; a fact that HAL is already trumpeting even before the ship is launched.

 

Then there was the dancing at the Martini Bar. At least I think it was supposed to be dancing. This consists of DJ Drag@n setting up shop in the hallway adjacent to the bar. This allows the drunks to congregate, stagger and sway, and create a traffic jam with no fear of a DUI arrest. Boogie on down in a hallway? Really?

 

One night the Solarium was transformed into a "Miami Night Club" (their description). But it's not a night club. It's the Solarium. It was hot and stuffy. Another case of needing to kludge up something to make up for the fact that there is no appropriate venue with a dance floor.

 

Concierge Class

I booked a regular veranda cabin. Our TA swung an upgrade to Concierge Class for no extra money. I had the concierge make our reservation for the Lawn Club Grill and that was the extent of the value provided to us on this cruise. I can’t even imagine what needs Celebrity envisioned could be filled by these concierges who dutifully sat at their desks during their on-duty hours, seemingly with little to do. No value add for us - I would never choose to pay for this.

 

Cruise Director Alexander Yepremian

Some people might find him personable, glib, engaging and funny. Some might find him snarky and irritating. Others, like me, might find him all of the above.

 

Lawn Club Grill

As this was our first Celebrity cruise on an S-class ship we decided to try the Lawn Club Grill. Disappointing, to put it mildly.

 

1. We ordered two glasses of wine from the (not extensive) list of wines offered. After 10 minutes they still had not been served. When we inquired about the delay, we were told they had run out but some was being sent up from below. Ten minutes after that we got our first glasses. Since the LCG offers such a small number of wines, why wouldn’t somebody ensure, daily, that there was an adequate supply available for that night’s dinner? Then, when our entrees were delivered, and our now empty glasses needed refilling, the waiter appeared oblivious, and did not bother to ask if we wanted another glass, we had to ask him as he prepared to step away.

 

2. At least half the items in the salad bar were close to empty. Some, like the sun-dried tomatoes and sliced peppers, were completely empty. The ranch dressing was ¼ inch away from empty. No one was refilling anything, a situation that seemingly never occurs in the OceanView Café. Why should it be happening in a for-fee restaurant? Celebrity says, “We promise to make the “All You Can Eat” salad bar cool again…”. Totally not cool.

 

3. The lobster mac-n-cheese side may have had two teeny pieces of lobster in it but I had neglected to bring my magnifying glass.

 

4. The baked potato side was served with butter and sour cream; that was it. No bacon bits, no chives, no cheddar cheese, which, to me, could reasonably be provided for those who might enjoy a loaded baked potato.

 

5. Our filet mignons were both ordered medium well and we specifically requested them to have “a little pink”. Both were cooked well done with not a trace of pink.

 

6. I ordered the chocolate chip cookie for dessert. The waiter didn't mention that the dish it came in was the same temperature as the surface of the sun. I grabbed it to rotate it and as the late comedian Jonathan Winters used to say, "That'll set you free".

 

This would have been disappointing in the MDR, but to be expected to pay for mediocre service and pedestrian food? First and last time for this venue.

 

Tuscan Grille

Again, as this was our first Solstice-class cruise we opted to try the Tuscan Grille. At the Tuscan Grille I received a ribeye steak that was fit for a king, as in "Here King, here boy". This steak should never have made it out of the kitchen: 1/4 inch thick, it resembled a cube steak. Worst of all, only one half was edible, the other half was a blob of fat and gristle. Overall, a letdown, especially for $100 (for two). Not going back.

 

Casino Raffle

During the last two days of the cruise the casino gave out raffle tickets for various reasons, like getting a blackjack at a blackjack table, entering a poker tournament, etc. They did the same thing on our June cruise on the Millennium. On that cruise we won the second prize: $125 in cash and a (very nice) Celebrity Fortunes Casino polo shirt. Shockingly, we won top prize this time. Only now, instead of cash we were given $250 in special Celebrity promotional chips which could not be redeemed for money. They could only be used to gamble at the tables. And instead of a polo shirt, it’s now a chintzy white t-shirt that says, “Fortunes Casino” in tiny unreadable yellow letters. Size=medium, “Sorry, that’s the only size we have”.

 

Top Chef at Sea

This was a Top Chef theme cruise based on the Bravo TV show. We didn’t know that at the time that we booked. We went to one of the cook-offs where two of the “cheftestants” battled it out and one night in the MDR was Top Chef night where the cheftestants created the menu. That was the extent of our Top Chef involvement.

 

Cabin Storage

No shelf at all in the closet. Sorely missed and a cruise ship first for us. Scant drawer space. The bins over the bed are a poor alternative.

Edited November 23, 2015 by Projunior

[Balconyaft]

Thanks for the observations on your cruise, great post. We leave in 2 days for our pre cruise SoBe stay then board Reflection for the Nov.28th - Dec.5th cruise. The entertainment sounds really fun, music venues sound wonderful. We are hoping for sunny skies, beautiful views and happy hours for hours. Cheers

[twentyknots]

Thank you for your well organized, thoughtful review. I'm glad to see your comments about the MDR food and entertainment. Too bad we won't be able to dance. Glad to hear about the new HAL ship. We love HAL cruises.

 

We're booked on the Reflection for the December 5 sailing.

[Lovincruisin1321]

I really appreciate that you took the time to give us the details. Seeing that you have cruised on Holland, Costa and Crystal, your expectations may have been jaded. Though overall, I have seen a decline in service during my cruising years on Celebrity.

 

It's a shame that the bar staff could not make a French Martini. I, personally have never heard of it so I "Googled" and found that it is a very common Martini Faux that is also served on the rocks. I find it confusing that the bartender didn't have Chambord? Pineapple Juice? I'm assuming that was the case, or was it because "Martini" was in the title? Wow......

[PSCruiser]

Interesting comments, that I agree with completely.

The lack of dancing is just a refusal by management to accommodate the ship's demographic. My question was why the Sky Lounge was empty almost every evening during the prime 8PM -11 PM hours? Could be dancing there if management cared at all.

[kenevenpar]

Interesting comments, that I agree with completely.

The lack of dancing is just a refusal by management to accommodate the ship's demographic. My question was why the Sky Lounge was empty almost every evening during the prime 8PM -11 PM hours? Could be dancing there if management cared at all.

 

Do dancers not drink enough? Agree, it does not make much sense.

[twentyknots]

I forgot to ask about the formal night (not evening chic until 12/4). Did you see many men in a tuxedo? We plan to dress formally and wondering if we'll be in the minority.

[gwesq]

We were on the Reflection Nov 14-21.

 

Bar Service in the Lounges

Terrible. We had late seating dinner at 8:30. Live music was scheduled in the Grand Foyer for 8:15, so we would take seats at that time and spend 15 minutes there before dinner. We were never once approached by a server for cocktail orders.

 

Do they even have servers in the Sky Observation Lounge? If so, they must have been disguised as passengers. Everyone is expected to belly up to the bar and fetch their own drinks. Tacky.

 

French Martinis

Our cocktail of choice is a French martini. On the rocks. This is hardly an exotic drink, consisting as they do of just vodka, Chambord raspberry liqueur, and pineapple juice. When we ordered those in the casino, we were told, “No, sorry, those can only be made at The Martini Bar”. What? Why can these not be made at any bar? The typical answer was a non-verbal shoulder shrug. Some servers in the casino could be cajoled (read: tipped) into going to the Martini Bar to have them made but others steadfastly refused. And in the Sky Observation Lounge? Forget it. The bartenders there simply said, “No. I can’t make those here”. Is this supposed to enhance the cachet of The Martini Bar? I don’t get it at all.

 

One time we tried ordering them at the bar in the Grand Foyer. When the bartender lifted up a stemmed martini glass, I said, “On the rocks, in a cocktail glass, please”. A look of consternation swept over his face. He said he had no cocktail glasses and asked if he could instead make them in wine glasses. Gee, OK, wine glasses are fine.

 

 

 

LAX

LAX is the Reflection house band – they are four 20-somethings providing musical entertainment for a demographic that skewed way, way older than that. Their music was enjoyable, but don’t expect to hear a Frank Sinatra song. But they are repetitious and limited, with some of the songs being played night after night in the Grand Foyer. And their songs were long: our 15 minutes of listening pre-dinner might include just two 7-minute selections.

 

Dancing

We enjoy dancing on our cruises. As a reader of this forum, I went on the Reflection, it being an S-class ship, knowing full well that dancing opportunities would be meager. They were. Dancing in the Grand Foyer was a giant practical joke that Celebrity is pulling on its passengers. A completely unsuitable venue pressed into service because no workable alternative exists. What is sorely missing is the Rendezvous Lounge we found so enjoyable on our June cruise on the Millennium. To think that Celebrity would opt for wasting precious real estate on the ghost towns that are the Bistro on Five and Cellar Masters, as opposed to a lounge where people could enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail, music and dancing is completely baffling to me. Compare this to Holland America’s new Koningsdam which will have a huge dance floor; a fact that HAL is already trumpeting even before the ship is launched.

 

Then there was the dancing at the Martini Bar. At least I think it was supposed to be dancing. This consists of DJ Drag@n setting up shop in the hallway adjacent to the bar. This allows the drunks to congregate, stagger and sway, and create a traffic jam with no fear of a DUI arrest. Boogie on down in a hallway? Really?

 

One night the Solarium was transformed into a "Miami Night Club" (their description). But it's not a night club. It's the Solarium. It was hot and stuffy. Another case of needing to kludge up something to make up for the fact that there is no appropriate venue with a dance floor.

 

Concierge Class

I booked a regular veranda cabin. Our TA swung an upgrade to Concierge Class for no extra money. I had the concierge make our reservation for the Lawn Club Grill and that was the extent of the value provided to us on this cruise. I can’t even imagine what needs Celebrity envisioned could be filled by these concierges who dutifully sat at their desks during their on-duty hours, seemingly with little to do. No value add for us - I would never choose to pay for this.

 

Cruise Director Alexander Yepremian

Some people might find him personable, glib, engaging and funny. Some might find him snarky and irritating. Others, like me, might find him all of the above.

 

 

 

3. The lobster mac-n-cheese side may have had two teeny pieces of lobster in it but I had neglected to bring my magnifying glass.

 

 

Cabin Storage

No shelf at all in the closet. Sorely missed and a cruise ship first for us. Scant drawer space. The bins over the bed are a poor alternative.

 

 

THanks for the Review - certainly echoed much of what we experienced on the Nov 7 sailing. You missed out on the FUN of an over 2 hour wait to board that we had on our sailing.

 

I was also "surprised" when I tried to order a straight up vodka martini at the Casino Bar and was told I had to go to the Martini Bar for that. WHAT? Can't even shake up vodka and pour into a martini glass? Nope - didn't have martini glasses there.

 

And getting service in the lounges was, as you say, an adventure. Serve Yourself seemed to be the way to go.

 

THe two venues you mentioned that might have been a better choice for dancing were converted into Paid Admission venues - of course, every cent counts. And they constantly let us know.

 

Similar to your lobster mac n cheese, we're still looking for the Blue Cheese in the Blue Cheese salad.

 

L.A.X. began playing most nights at 615, and often played until 11 or so. Their "music" could be heard thruout the ship. They definitely need a new drummer - the guy they had thought he was the whole band. And, as you said, their music selection was repetitive, and geared towards a demographic they wanted, rather then the demographic that was onboard.

 

At least you found your concierge to make a Res - we had a few messages from her on our phone, but were never able to actually get a hold of her. Fortunately, our room attendant, Helen, was so good, that she took care of everything. Helen was by far the best we've had on any cruise.

 

Storage in the cabins was ok for a week's cruise, but I couldn't imagine how it could work on any cruise longer than that.

 

Like you, despite the many flaws on SELLebrity, we had a good time. We were with a good group of people. Would I sail her again - highly unlikely.

[mafig]

We were on the same cruise.

We were disappointed in the dining room.

We tried to get into the specialty restaurants but, unfortunately, I outsmarted myself.

Because it was a Top Chef cruise and Tuesday night was Top Chef menu, I thought it would be a popular night in the dining room ... so I waited to make a specialty dining reservation, thinking there would be a lot of availability and I could maybe snag a "sale." ~ WRONG. Sold out!

 

They put me on a wait list for Murano and Tuscan.

 

I thought it was just for that night, so the next day I asked about the restaurants again. The guy outside the buffet just about bit my head off saying "I told you ..... we're sold out .... you're on the wait list!" OK, I didn't know I was on the wait list for the whole cruise. I have to say I was taken aback and a little embarrassed for being scolded.

 

Never cleared the wait list. Based on the OP's review, perhaps it was just as well. Took my OBC in cash the last day.:)

[cle-guy]

Because it was a Top Chef cruise and Tuesday night was Top Chef menu, I thought it would be a popular night in the dining room ... so I waited to make a specialty dining reservation, thinking there would be a lot of availability and I could maybe snag a "sale." ~ WRONG. Sold out!

 

 

My MDR waiters always say on Top Chef menu night, most people order from the traditional menu, the Top Chef menu is not really a hit.

[mafig]

My MDR waiters always say on Top Chef menu night, most people order from the traditional menu, the Top Chef menu is not really a hit.

 

I was going by how enthusiastic the people on my roll call were about making sure not to book a specialty on Top Chef night.

 

I agree. Our waiters kept steering us to the traditional menu. But no, I had to try beef cheeks. Verdict = :(

[gwesq]

My MDR waiters always say on Top Chef menu night, most people order from the traditional menu, the Top Chef menu is not really a hit.

 

I had forgotten about that. On that night we ended up up at the buffet after dinner.

 

THey may be "top chefs", and I would probably enjoy their restaurants, but I think their recipes just don't translate well when making mass meals.

[blueboro]

On our October Med cruise on the Reflection we thought the MDR food was some of the best we have ever experienced on our 16+ cruises. Very good and served at correct temperatures. However, for what Celebrity now charges for the specialty restaurants, they should be a WOW experience and they just are not anymore. The only WOW we had after dining at Tuscan was...wow we paid almost $100 for that. Whereas Murano was very good with impeccable service, it still is probably not worth $100. They need to step up their game at the specialties instead of stepping up the price and lowering quality.

[jenniebnyc]

Do dancers not drink enough? Agree, it does not make much sense.

 

I agree as well.

[Projunior]

Interesting comments, that I agree with completely.

The lack of dancing is just a refusal by management to accommodate the ship's demographic. My question was why the Sky Lounge was empty almost every evening during the prime 8PM -11 PM hours? Could be dancing there if management cared at all.

 

I am 100% with you on this. It is baffling why Sky would sit idle all evening long. And on Princess and HAL, there is typically an hour of theme dancing (60's, disco, latin, country, whatever) in their discos before the club dancing starts in earnest. On the Reflection, Sky music started late, sometimes as late as midnight, and it was strictly club music, no deviation. My music and dancing tastes are ecletic enough to not to be totally put off by this, but some variety would have been appreciated. To me, at the very least, it would be so simple to open Sky an hour earlier and play ballroom music, or 80's music, or doo-wop music, or Motown, for an hour as a token gesture to those who might enjoy those genre's.

 

On the second to last night, with a sea day the next day, clocks are turned back one hour. Nevertheless, a few minutes before 2AM, the DJ announced last call, and the second the clock ticked 2, really 1AM, the house lights went on and the music stopped. There was a good sized crowd still there and everyone just grumbled and shuffled out the door.

 

And back to the "dancing" in the Grand Foyer, the house band LAX, seem to feel obligated to play a strict diet of uptempo music. I never once heard a slow, belly-rubbing song even though I can guarantee many couples would have jumped at the chance to sway to a romantic ballad.

 

The whole music/dancing scene on Reflection was enough for me to swear off S-class ships.

Edited November 23, 2015 by Projunior

[cle-guy]

I am 100% with you on this. It is baffling why Sky would sit idle all evening long.

 

It's not at all baffling to me.

 

It's all the way up and forward, accessible only by 1 bank of elevators. You make all the way up there and find no one there.

 

The Foyer is literally the hub and heartbeat of all activities on S class ships. Coffee bar, wine bar, martini bar, easy access to casino, passport bar, Michael's Club just down the way, on the way to and from dinner. Near Molecular/World Class Bar, near the shops. Everyone has good reason to be in the space for 1 reason or another so the masses naturally gravitate to the space.

 

SO I just imagine over time, X has found more people stay in the center of the activity rather than go off elsewhere, but for a few people, or late nights if there is a special event or something going on upstairs. So for this reason, they have enacted programming in this space, where the majority of passengers are.

 

I love the grand foyer concept and how it's being used. Sky lounge is great to go read a book and have quiet conversation and get a drink, except for later at night on occassion. Consider it the new Michaels Club lounge, just enormous in space compared.

[Projunior]

I forgot to ask about the formal night (not evening chic until 12/4). Did you see many men in a tuxedo? We plan to dress formally and wondering if we'll be in the minority.

 

I did actually see one tuxedo. On the first formal night a sizeable majority of men had a jacket on and many of them also had ties on. This surprised me (pleasantly, I might add). By the second formal night the jackets were still there, but some of the ties had disappeared.

 

Looking for your formal night pictures in the Photo Gallery gives you a real insight into the cruising population. Judging by the cluelessness of some men regarding the definition of "formal", I can only imagine what these pictures will look like when Evening Chic goes into effect.

[cle-guy]

I did actually see one tuxedo. On the first formal night a sizeable majority of men had a jacket on and many of them also had ties on. This surprised me (pleasantly, I might add). By the second formal night the jackets were still there, but some of the ties had disappeared.

 

Looking for your formal night pictures in the Photo Gallery gives you a real insight into the cruising population. Judging by the cluelessness of some men regarding the definition of "formal", I can only imagine what these pictures will look like when Evening Chic goes into effect.

 

The prior Formal Night did not have a requirement to wear a tie, only a jacket for men. it also allowed for jeans with no holes or rips. In essence the only thing different from smart casual nights was men wear a jacket.

 

So Chic means just relaxing the jacket requirement and giving it a new name. Not really earth shattering.

[Projunior]

You make all the way up there and find no one there.

 

If the ship hasn't bothered to schedule any entertainment there, then, yes, it does seem reasonable that the odds of finding people there would probably be quite low.

[cindygad]

Thanks for your honest review.We will be on Reflection in October our third Solstice ship. I totally agree with you about dancing in the foyer. I miss the dance floor that is on Millennium ships. However this June on Summit Alaska cruise they would have a band play for 45 min and then they were done. The whole lounge would be full and then empty out because no music. We love to dance some calories off and would have to change lounges to find music. We picked Reflection for itinerary or would of went on Millennium ship.

[SAC69]

There is certainly a negative trend lately for Celebrity based on everything I've read here. I may reconsider my March sailing on Reflection and go back to Princess.:(

[hcat]

It's not at all baffling to me.

 

It's all the way up and forward, accessible only by 1 bank of elevators. You make all the way up there and find no one there.

 

The Foyer is literally the hub and heartbeat of all activities on S class ships. Coffee bar, wine bar, martini bar, easy access to casino, passport bar, Michael's Club just down the way, on the way to and from dinner. Near Molecular/World Class Bar, near the shops. Everyone has good reason to be in the space for 1 reason or another so the masses naturally gravitate to the space.

 

SO I just imagine over time, X has found more people stay in the center of the activity rather than go off elsewhere, but for a few people, or late nights if there is a special event or something going on upstairs. So for this reason, they have enacted programming in this space, where the majority of passengers are.

 

I love the grand foyer concept and how it's being used. Sky lounge is great to go read a book and have quiet conversation and get a drink, except for later at night on occassion. Consider it the new Michaels Club lounge, just enormous in space compared.

 

I disagree.

 

If they advertised it, offered free tidbits and a nice happy hour spread..or post dinner goodies in Sky, that would attract folks..Sound system there and in the downstairs club Quasar...(where is still exists) is set up for club style sound, dancing, drinking.....the foyer acoustics and space are ill suited for volume music....it permeates the library, card room areas, guest relations, hideaway, cafe baccio where we like to enjoy a guitar player, etc Was not designed as a club..and ruins the other areas,,,

 

many may love the Martini bar action...but many others find ways to avoid it...if they can..

hope new builds find a way to do better with spill over loud music...

 

we will be trying Princess but have heard same complaints about loud music in the Piazza making space and surroundings less pleasant...

Edited November 23, 2015 by hcat

[blueboro]

There is certainly a negative trend lately for Celebrity based on everything I've read here. I may reconsider my March sailing on Reflection and go back to Princess.:(

 

Based on our last two Celebrity cruises (Reflection/Equinox) I will certainly stay with X when compared to the last Princess cruise on Caribbean Princess. But, different strokes.

[PSCruiser]

The Foyer is literally the hub and heartbeat of all activities on S class ships. Coffee bar, wine bar, martini bar, easy access to casino, passport bar, Michael's Club just down the way, on the way to and from dinner.

I love the grand foyer concept and how it's being used. Sky lounge is great to go read a book and have quiet conversation and get a drink, except for later at night on occassion. Consider it the new Michaels Club lounge, just enormous in space compared.

 

The problem is, you (and X) don't recognize that alternate venues are needed for those guests that don't want to hear the thumping "club" music coming from DJ and/or kiddie band each night, all night. The perfect getaway, the Sky Lounge, is kept dark almost every night. I compare this with RC, where the Viking Crown has a band, dancing, and a good crowd on most every ship most nights. Based on demographics alone, I'm, guessing that many X guests would utilize a similar venue.

[mafig]

We also like to go to the Sky Lounge during the day.

 

Two days (maybe three? my memory is already fading), the lounge was taken over by the art people. You could get in but seating was very limited except for one day when the entrance was blocked off because they were setting up.