Celebrity Reflection January 14 to 21 2017

[Bimmer09]

 

 



 

 



 

 

 

 

 

And bought this stunning fridge magnet

 

We

We went into this next building and you should too.

Norris, with more later

[MisterMet]

 

 

 



 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

And bought this stunning fridge magnet

 

 

We

We went into this next building and you should too.

Norris, with more later

 

 

 

Norris,

 

 

There's also a Clevandler in lower left field at Marlins Park. It even has a swimming pool! I suspect that those who go are not really there to see the baseball game as much as they are there to be "seen". I think it's also a pretty expensive area to watch the game from. Let's Go Mets!

 

 

Trip

[Bimmer09]

All the way down to Big Sur?

 

Mr. B. and I booked the inaugural voyage for Edge! I agree, the design promos are very exciting. Did you notice they haven't designed the public areas yet? That infinite balcony absolutely called my name.

 

 

But then you go and mention Norway, and I think I should be booking that for 2018, instead of Edge. Ah, choices, choices. Aren't they wonderful? Aren't we fortunate to have them?!

 

 

Norris, thanks for this wonderful review. Loved all those art deco hotels -- along with all your Reflection photos. Thx a gazillion! and thx as well to Carol, for chiming in. Especially loved hearing a bit about growing up in Jamaica.

 

--May

 

May, we certainly have driven South down to Big Sur and we like the drives up to the North to Point Lobos Lighthouse as it gives us an excuse to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge. We've gone as far North as Mendocino.

Good for you booking the Edge! The surprises and reveals will keep coming during the build time. Very outside the box thinking by RCI but then so was Oasis and the Solstice.

Bold ideas and I hope they can build Edge without compromise. 5 ships to come and like the S Class they can tweak each iteration as they learn what works and what doesn't and modify.

It will be exciting to have 3 completely different sailing experiences from M, S and E class vessels. Norway can wait as it has for us.

Cheers!

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Carol is practically a local here then :D Wow, that would have been an experience on the train across the Nullarbor. I do understand how you feel as it is a long way to come and you need time to recover from the flights as well. It is the same for us going to the US or UK as it's so far away. When we went to Europe we broke the flight up and stopped in Singapore for a couple of nights which made it a bit more bearable. We hope to go to the UK next year and visit Belfast as I have never seen my husband's home town. Good to hear that Australia is on your bucket list. Take your time when you do come as it is a big country and there is so much to see.

 

Loving the art deco buildings in Miami.

Tracey.

 

Tracey, we have had a few Australians visit us in Chicago and they all urge us to go and we will but some years away.

I hope you do get to visit Belfast next year and your husband can sample some Ulster foods again. I haven't been there since 2003. If I went into an Ulster bakery now I would gorge myself on Sausage Rolls and Cornish Pasties and the potato and soda bread. I used to play in Belfast in bands when it wasn't a safe place to be, but that was 40 years ago now.

A few more art deco buildings to come but just a few.

Norris

[One_plus_one]

Tracey, we have had a few Australians visit us in Chicago and they all urge us to go and we will but some years away.

I hope you do get to visit Belfast next year and your husband can sample some Ulster foods again. I haven't been there since 2003. If I went into an Ulster bakery now I would gorge myself on Sausage Rolls and Cornish Pasties and the potato and soda bread. I used to play in Belfast in bands when it wasn't a safe place to be, but that was 40 years ago now.

A few more art deco buildings to come but just a few.

Norris

 

Thanks Norris, I'm sure he will be looking forward to an Ulster fry and a pastie supper. Oh yes, definitely the potato and soda bread. I have made potato bread and they are quite addictive! That's one of the best things about travel, getting to try the local food.

[Bimmer09]

We've come to the last 6 photos from our Art Deco walk

 

We usually stay at a hotel called the Essex House in New York-there's one in Miami too but it's not a chain.

 

 



 

 

If we had had the time we would have visited the lobby of each hotel but that will have to wait for a weekend visit one day when South Beach will be our only focus. We had to go into the Essex House.

Inviting patio

 

 

Worth-a-visit fireplace



 

 

It speaks of days gone by



 

 

A look at my watch tells me we should mosey on to dinner, even though it is only 5 o'clock ....





TAXI !!

[alicat58]

Hi Norris and Carol

 

I finally managed to get back to your fantastic review after the week from hell. I love those art deco buildings. Note to self: Make a point of going to Miami again.

 

I have written a review on the India cruise. You will find it on the Costa board under " Our passage to India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka etc. Being technically challenged I have no idea how to put a link to it. It was an amazing experience. One too put on your retirement bucket list. I am fortunate that though not retired I get loads of leave. I work to take holidays these days. Retirement just over 6 years away. Bring it on! I am not wishing my life away though.

 

Our next cruise is in May but I am whizzing off to South Africa to see a sadly declining mum in just over a week.

 

I'll keep a beady eye out for that Norway cruise review.

 

My daughter has just been to Perth with her Aussie boyfriend to visit his family. She had an amazing time and the photos showed a lovely city.

 

Keep up the excellent work with your reviews.

 

Regards

 

Alicat(Riana)

[Bimmer09]

I fully intend to follow the remainder. We honeymooned on the Song of Norway in 1990. You, of course, were gone by then.

 

Indeed I was gone and living in NJ although I was asked back in 1987 but declined after some debate between me and the voices in my head.

I hope you remember the SON fondly, as I do. I'll have some pics up once I am done with the Reflection/South Beach.

Thanks for reading this and letting me know.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

I am so loving the Art Deco pics of all of the buildings and surroundings. I never knew there were so many buildings restored. Beautiful.

 

I absolutely love San Francisco. I have only been 3 times but I know there will be some more stops there in my future. You and Carol will have an amazing week.

 

I agree with Perfect Match, our cats do not get a vote; we would be overruled as well with 3 spoiled rotten felines.

 

Thank you for the pic of you back in the '80's. Perfect look.

I don't want this review to end Norris!

 

Thanks for being part of this review. That's something I'd like to say to all who have responded.

San Francisco we have been to over a dozen times by now and it never gets old. We ride the ferries, rent a car and explore Northern California, eat at some great restaurants like the Cliff House and Waterbar, get our snacks in the Ferry Building where I begin my day at dawn. We go yachting on Carol's brother's 38 footer and ride the cable cars and we visit Golden Gate Park, a city treasure and the War Memorial Opera House which is world class. We adore SF.

Go back as often as you can and tell them I sent you!

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Hi Norris and Carol

 

I finally managed to get back to your fantastic review after the week from hell. I love those art deco buildings. Note to self: Make a point of going to Miami again.

 

I have written a review on the India cruise. You will find it on the Costa board under " Our passage to India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka etc. Being technically challenged I have no idea how to put a link to it. It was an amazing experience. One too put on your retirement bucket list. I am fortunate that though not retired I get loads of leave. I work to take holidays these days. Retirement just over 6 years away. Bring it on! I am not wishing my life away though.

 

Our next cruise is in May but I am whizzing off to South Africa to see a sadly declining mum in just over a week.

 

I'll keep a beady eye out for that Norway cruise review.

 

My daughter has just been to Perth with her Aussie boyfriend to visit his family. She had an amazing time and the photos showed a lovely city.

 

Keep up the excellent work with your reviews.

 

Regards

 

Alicat(Riana)

 

Thanks Riana-I found the Costa review and have it bookmarked to read later today.

Good to have you along on this review! I'll have 2 Princess cruises posted before the X to Norway so pop in when you see those in October and January.

Norris

[Jase0581]

Norris,

Had to get caught back up on this wonderful review. Had to take a break to fit in a 15 night Panama Canal sailing. You do such an amazing job on the reviews that after my next Princess sailing, a March 2018 New Zealand cruise, I will be definitely finding an X sailing to try.

Thank you again for all the work you do to entertain us.

Jase

[Bimmer09]

Norris,

Had to get caught back up on this wonderful review. Had to take a break to fit in a 15 night Panama Canal sailing. You do such an amazing job on the reviews that after my next Princess sailing, a March 2018 New Zealand cruise, I will be definitely finding an X sailing to try.

Thank you again for all the work you do to entertain us.

Jase

 

Jase, thanks for the response and for reading the review!

Panama Canal for 15 days is on our bucket list but had to wait until we have time on our hands. Until then 7 days only. You will have the Edge to add to the current 10 X ships so do take the plunge in 2018 and beyond. As my signature shows I am an avid Princess cruiser but X must be A-OK if I am as enthused about it as I am. Worth your time, I'd say.

Hope to see you in my Regal and Crown reviews in October and January!

Norris

[Newsbuff16]

Loved, loved , loved your review! This is the first one I have read and I am looking forward to reading the others. We are sailing on the Reflection in November and your review.... especially your food porn ... has made me even more excited. Thank you again for all your positive energy, thoughtful comments, and beautiful pictures!

[Bimmer09]

Loved, loved , loved your review! This is the first one I have read and I am looking forward to reading the others. We are sailing on the Reflection in November and your review.... especially your food porn ... has made me even more excited. Thank you again for all your positive energy, thoughtful comments, and beautiful pictures!

 

HI and thanks for coming forward to let me know you have been reading along!

Yes there are 11 other reviews to read and they aren't all epics as I didn't start out that way. Blame getting a good camera and as there will be a better camera from here on in they may get even longer (warning)

You will love Reflection!

Cheers!

Norris

[Bimmer09]

AND IN THE END......

As you know by now Carol loves Stone Crab and it may be her favorite food and we are in South Beach the home of Joe's Stone Crab, the oldest restaurant in Miami serving great food for 90 years.

We have no problem eating at the same restaurant twice in one week-when it's something that's outside our normal diet. When we are in Houston we eat at steak houses (shout out to Pappas Brothers!). In Chicago we have so many cuisines to choose from but our favorite restaurant sells tapas which beat those we had in Barcelona (shout out to Mercat a la Planxa). In San Francisco it is American food with a stunning view (Shout out to Cliff House on the Pacific Ocean and almost in it). In Miami with only one savory meal left to us before our flight home tomorrow it is Joe's. They blew our socks off the week before and we went barefoot on the cruise. We had to return to at least get our socks back.



It's a casual warren of rooms that hold about 700 diners. We wanted a repeat of our previous experience and asked the Maitre 'd for one of Joan's tables as she was our perfect unstuffy, fun and knowledgeable waiter from before. She was working which is a good tip-move as it was a Saturday night. Plenty of tables if you come between 5 and 7. After 7 you may wait. And wait. And wait.



You may think of us as unadventurous dullards with so many new-to-us restaurants nearby but we know what we like and will milk it until we tire of it and then move on. We do like "sure things" though which is why we cruise Princess and now Celebrity. Hard earned money must be maximized and we aren't collectors of things but rather collectors of memories. Hopefully pleasant ones.

We can find those here.

 

 



 

 



 

 

"This woman must have crab" is the bottom line for Carol. I love it too but I have other fish to fry.

Of course I had a beer (Stella Artois) and of course I had a shrimp cocktail but you've seen that already. Love me some shrimp and the bigger the better.



Five pee emm is about 4 hours earlier than we normally eat on a ship or at home but we have had no lunch and nothing to eat since our 6.30 breakfast on the Reflection.











 

Being British I am always up for some fish 'n chips even when the fish hasn't been battered and deep fried. This is snapper and chips and tasted as good as it looks.

Joan brings our entrees.

Carol is in Heaven on Earth

 

 

We had the same desserts as before-Key Lime Pie for Carol and Maple Bourbon Bread Pudding a la mode for me and if it wasn't such a mouthful it would be my middle name. Another very enjoyable meal. A taxi took us back to the Ritz and it was now 7.30 on a Saturday night. The Reflection had already sailed with a new compliment of good-decision makers who were happy to be aboard and setting out on another adventure, which every cruise is.

Carol sat on the balcony for a while and I headed to the beach for a smoke before joining her.

At the time many South Beachers were going out to begin their evening of dining and dancing-9 p.m. we were heading to bed for some sleep. Mine would end at 4 a.m.....

[MustBCruzn]

Norris - I'm so sad to see this masterpiece come to an end. I have enjoyed every word and every picture...you're a storyteller extraordinaire! Thank you for taking the time and energy to share with us, it's very much appreciated.

[silkismom]

Beatles, of course

[Bimmer09]

Norris - I'm so sad to see this masterpiece come to an end. I have enjoyed every word and every picture...you're a storyteller extraordinaire! Thank you for taking the time and energy to share with us, it's very much appreciated.

 

Diane, thanks for reading it and for your very kind words!

Although the Reflection part is over I am planning to show the 1986 RCCL brochure (every page) and was up early scanning the pages into jpegs. I will also mix in pics I took in 1986 showing me (pre-selfie era), the ship and some of the people I worked with. Memories of "back in the day". There will be pricing in 1986 dollars and I'll see if I can get a conversion to today's $$. I've had the brochure for 30 years and kept it as a momento but I think it will be interesting to share it. I worked on the seed that the now Mighty Royal Caribbean International grew from-their first ship the Song of Norway and I had no idea I would be writing about it 30 years later.

So- a new project for me. I'm not done yet.

Thanks again! I love to have people read and then respond.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Beatles, of course

 

But of course!

Although I moved on from the Beatles when the blues boom hit the UK in 1966 or so and found myself listening more to Cream, Hendrix and Zeppelin and from there progressive rock (Tull, Yes, Genesis etc) and from there jazz via Miles Davis, Weather report and Mahavishnu Orchestra and from there to classical music and then opera, I still have a soft spot and a good memory of the Beatles and surf Youtube to see them. The songs and their personalities are still very fresh.

John was my favorite always and it's his songs that have kept me interested all this time...54 years since I first heard them.

Norris

[lovelearnteach]

Once again thank-you so much for the awesome review and stunning pix, but most importantly for all the time and energy spent to take us on your vacation! Reading your reviews is a privilege and a joy :)!

[Bimmer09]

It's sometime after 4 a.m and I am out on the streets of South Beach again. We are both getting up early this morning, to pack and check out of the hotel and take a cab to the airport to return to Chicago.

Room service doesn't start until 6 a.m and Starbucks opens at the same time.

 

I still had the vivid memory of our last meal in Joe's

 

YxrClXAw0SI

 

I relax on a wall by the beach listening to the surf roll in, just the whitecaps visible in the darkness. No one is on the beach but in the distance I can see late revelers or early risers walking around. There are cars on the street at this hour. I imagine it is a town that parties late and gets to bed before sun-up. Those days are far behind me and today I get excited at the prospect of getting to bed before 11 pm, not that it happens often enough, to luxuriate in sleep.

This past Sunday I worked from 7 a.m to 8 pm and was back in work the next morning at 4 a.m-but that is exceptional. I do however value sleep and enjoy 8 full hours when possible.

No coffee in Walgreens on the corner but they did tell me of a Cuban place just down the street.

It is on Lincoln a couple of blocks back from the beach. There were people hanging out on a dark park bench and some standing in doorways...I was a little uneasy but my desire for coffee-Cuban coffee-was strong. I don't speak any Spanish but it might have helped in the tiny coffee shop (no seats, just a counter) so there was some pointing and my years as a French mime stood me in good stead. The place was called Munchies if you need an early coffee and a bite.

Carol was very receptive to some coffee and pastries (basically a Danish but with guava or some such tropical flavor).

I will always remember the lobby of the Ritz-another world entered when coming from the beach. Immediately comforting and elegant...

 

 

I know we will see it again.

 

Packing (sigh) but for the last time. Back home in Chicago a washer and dryer was waiting.

The online check-in wasn't working on the TV (a problem we often encounter) so we just dropped off our room keys at the front desk. No door-opener men this early in the morning but luckily I remembered how to do it myself. There were taxis parked across the street and I hailed one and we were off at sunrise before the streets and the traffic could come alive. It's a $35 zoned fare to the airport and it took 20 minutes.

Sadly there was no United Airlines club where we like to dwell and relax before our flight. Bummer. Having TSA pre I didn't expect to have to take out my laptop but I had to anyway which was a pain as it was buried under camera accessories and cartons of cigarettes. A first world problem. We were at the gate an hour prior to boarding Always Be Early!

Luckily Chicago is only a 3 hour flight away and we had sandwiches from Au Bon Pain i the terminal. Unluckily an Italian guy sat between us on the plane and began a long coughing fit, at first without his hand as a blast guard. Nice. He even coughed in his sleep.

When we landed I went out into the cold of Chicago after the half-mile walk from the gate and immediately felt unwell. Feverish. Next day I had a cough and it's still with me. (does anyone have a violin?)

The good news is Snowy was safe and sound and more than ready to annoint Carol's black pants with a thick layer of white cat hair! Welcome home!!!

A few hours later I began writing this, January 22nd.

I have enjoyed writing and hearing from so many of you. I have 4 cruises and two land trips to anticipate now-it's that cup runneth over thing, truly. I hope some of you will visit during my next two Princess reviews (October and January) and the two X beyond that.

I'll let you know when the reviews start using this thread.

As I said earlier I will now take a (Guinness) pause and embark on the RCCL 1986 Brochure ending to the thread. See how cruising was in 1986! See me! And some of my friends! Pricing and cabin layouts from way back when-how do they compare to today? Ships with two passenger decks-did they really exist? No balconies? I don't believe you!

One MDR, no specialty restaurants. Oh the humanity!

Stay tuned!

Norris

[tonto524]

Great, great, great review !!!!! Thank you ! And, speaking of he Song of Norway, what about that walk up the outside stairs to the Viking Crown Lounge?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[Bimmer09]

Once again thank-you so much for the awesome review and stunning pix, but most importantly for all the time and energy spent to take us on your vacation! Reading your reviews is a privilege and a joy :)!

 

Ken, thanks for taking the time to read the review and for the kind compliments!

I have plenty of reviews you may not have read and I hope you'll find time to check out some of the other great cruises we have enjoyed.

Stay with me until the end if you can.

Norris

[bones43]

Norris, you just keep on entertaining us . Looking forward to your memories on the Song Of Norway. The reading will keep me going until we leave on Friday to fly to Miami to take the cruise you have just finished reviewing. This will be our second Celebrity cruise. Thank you for your insight , it has helped with our planning and heightened our anticipation. Again thank you both for your long hours of dedication for us to to be able to travel along on your

Reflection Western Caribbean cruise. Looking forward to your next 4 cruises.

[Onelung]

Norris, just to say thank you for a great review. Just being nosey, but what job do you do these days that keeps you at work such long hours? Do you still play music?