Celebrity Reflection January 14 to 21 2017

[Deck Chair Queen]

How far is the Art Deco district from the Miami cruiseport?

 

We are on a B2B and this sounds like a fun activity for the turnaround day.

 

 

I highly recommend that you purchase the marvelous map published by the Miami Design Preservation League. It shows every significant building, the year it was built, and the architect, and is a steal at three bucks (proceeds go towards the preservation of these glorious buildings). They run walking tours from near their offices at 1001 Ocean Drive, which is in the thick of it all.

 

It turns out the street fair you see in the Segway video was for the fortieth annual Deco Weekend, a fact of which we were unaware as our tour guide was not, let us say charitably, an architecture buff.

 

But then neither were the throngs on the street, as far as I could tell.

 

Regards, Carol

 

 

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[SHIP TRAVELER]

Thanks for sharing your "drummer" history with us. Amazing what how one thing leads to another. Great story.

 

I am amazed that you still enjoy cruising after working on cruise ships.

 

I am loving your review. It is my first one. It caught my eye because we

sail on the upcoming Reflection Super Bowl cruise and I wanted to feed my anticipation.

Thanks Phyllis

[Jasperdo]

Enjoyed your sailaway photos and video. We've only sailed out of Miami once. You're right about it being more interesting than Port Everglades. Miami Main Channel is much longer. In Fort Lauderdale you just pop out into the ocean. But either one is still exciting. There is no boring sailaway!

[CMW5060]

Thank you for your wonderful review! I am so enjoying 'sailing' along with you and the Mrs! We are on Reflection for the March 4th sailing. Our first time on Celebrity and we can't wait!

[Lois R]

Norris, you worked on cruiseships? Which lines and what did you do? (If you don't mind me asking).

[Bimmer09]

The nap was one of those "I'm just going to lay down for a minute and close my eyes" which became, due to the swooshing sound of the wake, the gentle motion of the ship and the approaching darkness a 90 minute spelunking into warm dark caverns of sleep.

 

I woke first at 6.59 p.m due to an innate sense of time even when I am asleep and realized that the 7 p.m comedy show would have to start without us. We would see the same comic later that week.

 

I picked up the phone message that had been blinking at us since we got to the room at 1 p.m and it was to notify us that we would get 50% off the price in any of the Specialty restaurants tonight. I had booked the Lawn Club Grill earlier in the day.

 

Here are some photos taken between 4.30 and 9 p.m on that Saturday evening...

 

 

LCG early in the evening

 

 

 

 

Elevator's-eye view of the Library on deck 10

 

 

The little-used outdoor room just outside the deck 15 elevator, port side.

 

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Norris, you worked on cruiseships? Which lines and what did you do? (If you don't mind me asking).

 

Lois I worked on only one line-Royal Caribbean and on one ship only-the Song of Norway as a drummer in the night club band. I also played in a Polish 5 piece jazz standards band when their drummer drank too much vodka and fell from the top bunk bed onto the floor face first and in the same week also played in the steel drum quartet by the swimming pool when their drummer was caught bringing ganga back on board in Ocho Rios-so I played in 3 bands for a week and had to hustle from one show to the next.

 

I worked 6 days a week (Tuesday , Formal Night after leaving Ocho was our night off) 3.5 hours a day and ate in the MDR with the passengers.

 

I had a choice of 8 different meals a day (crew galley and MDR)and as I was friendly with the Norwegian Night Security guard was welcome in the officers mess at 3.30 a.m where there was always steak and potatoes waiting in the oven. I ate like a horse but was the same weight I am now. I usually went to bed around 6 or 7 am and would be up again for buffet breakfast by the pool around 10 a.m. I stayed on board and slept on some port days.

 

I was on the ship from August to November 1985, including a week when the ship was in dry dock in the Bahamas (we stayed in Miami in a hotel) and then again with a new band from March 86 to November 86 when I came to live in the USA. I was put off the ship for a week in Miami when I had pneumonia in mid 86 and they gave me a nice room in the Holiday Inn, Brickell Point so I had some time to see Miami apart from my usual Saturday afternoon walk from the port to Walgreens to pick up last week's photos as I had a Nikon film camera. We changed our band name a few times for fun-The Bowthrusters and Slippery Decks to think of two . We laughed ourselves to sleep every night.

 

I got some experience sailing in hurricane season which was an adventure!

 

 

Thanks for asking.

 

Norris

[Lois R]

Lois I worked on only one line-Royal Caribbean and on one ship only-the Song of Norway as a drummer in the night club band. I also played in a Polish 5 piece jazz standards band when their drummer drank too much vodka and fell from the top bunk bed onto the floor face first and in the same week also played in the steel drum quartet by the swimming pool when their drummer was caught bringing ganga back on board in Ocho Rios-so I played in 3 bands for a week and had to hustle from one show to the next.

 

I worked 6 days a week (Tuesday , Formal Night after leaving Ocho was our night off) 3.5 hours a day and ate in the MDR with the passengers.

 

I had a choice of 8 different meals a day (crew galley and MDR)and as I was friendly with the Norwegian Night Security guard was welcome in the officers mess at 3.30 a.m where there was always steak and potatoes waiting in the oven. I ate like a horse but was the same weight I am now. I usually went to bed around 6 or 7 am and would be up again for buffet breakfast by the pool around 10 a.m. I stayed on board and slept on some port days.

 

I was on the ship from August to November 1985, including a week when the ship was in dry dock in the Bahamas (we stayed in Miami in a hotel) and then again with a new band from March 86 to November 86 when I came to live in the USA. I was put off the ship for a week in Miami when I had pneumonia in mid 86 and they gave me a nice room in the Holiday Inn, Brickell Point so I had some time to see Miami apart from my usual Saturday afternoon walk from the port to Walgreens to pick up last week's photos as I had a Nikon film camera. We changed our band name a few times for fun-The Bowthrusters and Slippery Decks to think of two . We laughed ourselves to sleep every night.

 

I got some experience sailing in hurricane season which was an adventure!

 

 

Thanks for asking.

 

Norris

 

Thanks for the reply:) you sound like a really, neat, fun, interesting

person! And a musician to top it off......it would be a pleasure to meet

you.

[Bimmer09]

It's our favorite dining experience onboard which led us to sail the Silhouette and Reflection as our first two X cruises.

 

It's basically outdoor dining but with windscreens as the top deck has little shelter from those warm Caribbean breezes.

 

X encourages you to grill your own steaks and learn how to make flatbread and toss the dough up in the air-like Puta on the Silhouette....

 

[YOUTUBE]_UW-XqFPWKI[/YOUTUBE]

 

We hoped it would be quieter at 9 p.m but there were a couple of 12 tops who had been enjoying adult beverages as if they had a Premium Beverage Package and it was raucous to begin but later settled down when they were stretchered off to their cabins-or the Martini bar, I forget which.

 

The kitchen is open and TV monitors high on the wall let you watch the cooking.

I needed to get closer and took some shots and video.

 

 

( I wanted to just dip some crusty bread into that pan on the left!)

 

 

Our food-filet mignon, lamb chops and various skewers are now on the grill

 

 

Were we ready to eat? Hell to the Yes!

[Bimmer09]

Lawn Club Grill has the simple food we like to cook and eat ourselves in the summer time when I fire up the Weber Grill with a bunch of charcoal.

 

They have a modest salad bar and a short menu of grilled meats and salmon.

 

We love outdoor dining and that warm breeze I mentioned and having the Lawn

as our view is like being in someone's big back yard with a huge blue funnel blowing smoke into the night sky.

 

We had a good server who liked to banter-that's key for both of us as we like to be loose in conversation and put the servers at ease.

 

I had 2 lamb chops, filet mignon (medium) and skewers of shrimp and scallops and one of Tandoori chicken. My side was baked beans. I stuffed my face with charred meaty goodness washed down with Stella beer. Carol had a tenderloin, a vegetable and a chicken skewer with creamed corn.

 

 

Good quality meats! We both had to have the warm chocolate chip cookie with ice cream but I attacked it like a bear would a leaping salmon and there was nothing left to photograph. It is piping hot from the oven and should be illegal.

 

A fun, fantastic dinner-and at half price. While we were there I told the Head Waiter that we had an Alcove booked for tomorrow and told him which one we preferred. As he serves and sets them up with name tags that was a good thing to take care of before they become available at 9 a.m

 

[YOUTUBE]y8RouHRbg3U[/YOUTUBE]

 

Bon appétit !!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Norris,

Next time into Miami, take a look at Casa Blanca, IMHO, Carol, as we were, would be in Stone heaven! They have a great patio that overlooks the Miami River, and locals stop for dock side pick up!

Plus all you want half shell with a drink!:eek:

 

Thanks for the recommendation and I'll check it out via TripAdvisor.

 

Cheers!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Norris!

 

I was combing through the X forums today and happened to see your handle, a tad curious for what might be in store for another Norris post - and I couldn't be more excited.

 

Before you think I'm some crazy stalker, allow me to explain ... I'm a bit of a X fan-boy (although I haven't tried Princess yet ... maybe once I reach Elite with X, I'll start checking out the competition) and was really captivated with your Silhouette review last year. It just so happened that my partner, and our two friends were sailing on the Silhouette about a month after you did, so your review was a perfectly timed pre-cruise thread. We all followed along, captivated by your in-depth review and loved it. We ended up meeting another couple on the ship who had been following along your review and we all talked about how it really got us super excited for our cruise (not that we weren't already).

Fast forward to today ...

I was on the Reflection the week before you, for the Eastern Caribbean trip, taking my parents on their first ever cruise (they loved it!). It was my first time on the Reflection, and I really loved the improvements over the rest of the class, especially the Sunset bar!

 

It also happens that I'm headed back on the Reflection in about 45 days for a Western Caribbean sailing with a huge group of friends, about 12 of us in all. Needless to say, I was ecstatic to see you doing a review of, once again, the very cruise that we're booked on, only a few weeks before we're going -- another great pre-cruise thread!

 

I'm curious to see how you found your second X sailing and very curious to find out if there was another visit to the Future Cruise office at some point during your sailing.

 

Thanks for telling me about the part I highlighted in red above-that's very gratifying to know that 4 people remembered my review and used it to help them in some way!

 

I hope this will will have the same effect. I am excited each day when I open up Lightroom to see what will appear on CC that day.

 

Cheers! You and your friends will have a blast. Give Tadfy and Jingle Bells my regards-they know me as Sir Norris, the Guinness Man and you'll find them at the Sunset Bar. I'll include a pic much later on.

 

Norris

Edited January 29, 2017 by Bimmer09

[Bimmer09]

After a great meal at LCG it's just a short walk aft to the perfect relaxation spot

 

 

 

(I held the shutter open for that shot for 2 seconds -no tripod! Yikes! which will explain the soft focus. I have a note from my mother which will explain everything)

 

The bar there is round and sunken and away from the walls unlike on the Silhouette and they have created some cosy, sheltered seating areas.

 

 

A walk on deck 5 looking at the moon before turning in at 11.30

 

 

 

Tomorrow Sunday January 15th is a sea day so lots of time to take photos....

 

Norris

[juniorsmom]

I am enjoying your review. I will be on the Reflection in December. Thank you.

[MERLOTCHAMPAGNE]

Norris, love your reviews. Got hooked after we met at the M&G on Emerald TA fall 2015. I worked on cruise ships back in the mid 80's and was a CD and Purser in my former life as well. Any chance you knew Rob Lowenburg on SON. He was in the deck department in fall 85. We're on Reflection next Saturday for our 1st Celebrity cruise and looking forward to exploring the ship and its specialty restaurants and bars. Your review and pics have peaked our interest. Thanks for your efforts.

 

Pam

 

 

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[willcruiseanythyme]

I'm a newbie to your reviews! Thanks for the pics! We will be on the Reflection on March 18th but doing the Eastern side. Can't wait to read about the sea days. This will be our first Celebrity but 8th cruise.

Can I just say that the fact that I do the same thing your wife does at the beginning of each cruise...wipe down the room with clorox wipes...makes me feel so proud! Haha! Those I've traveled with, roll their eyes at me, but hey! Haven't been sick yet! I think you must be married to one smart lady!😁

 

 

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[rdsqrl]

Norris, I'm know I'm late to arrive, but I have a note from the principal's office.

 

Silly me: when I saw the thread was 11 pages, I thought, oh, rats, he's already finished the review. I should know better than that. For you, 11 pages is merely prelude.

 

I'm off now to start at the beginning and savour. Catch up with you here later.

 

Oh, and before I forget. One of my friends is going to Houston for a long-term assignment, and I passed on your high praise of the opera scene there. He's also an opera devotee and is now looking forward to his enforced TDY. You should get a commission check from the Houston Opera shortly.

[QuakerBoy]

Norris: I'll be redundant here, but awesome photo review.

 

One question: last time we were on the Reflection, we enjoyed the nightly entertainment set at the Sunset Bar, right around sunset time (generally about 6:00 PM in the Caribbean). I have not seen any entertainment listed there in the dailies, even on sea days. Have they discontinued that? Sad, if so.

[perfect match]

I have known from your previous revious reviews that you were a drummer on the SON, but I had never heard your story about how you ended up working on her. Some things in life are meant to be, and that sure sounds like one of them. :D

 

We have not yet sailed out of Miami because it is a much longer drive for us than Port Canaveral for us, and the little bit farther that Miami is past Port Everglades has put us just a bit outside our comfort zone to drive down on the day we cruise. After watching your sailaway video I do think I would love that sailaway, so I may just have to re-think that comfort zone! :D

 

The LCG looks like one specialty restaurant we would really enjoy! When we finally book a cruise on Celebrity, I will have to make sure it is on a ship that has a LCG.

[easyboy]

Great review and very nice photos!

[Bimmer09]

Norris, I'm know I'm late to arrive, but I have a note from the principal's office.

 

Silly me: when I saw the thread was 11 pages, I thought, oh, rats, he's already finished the review. I should know better than that. For you, 11 pages is merely prelude.

 

I'm off now to start at the beginning and savour. Catch up with you here later.

 

Oh, and before I forget. One of my friends is going to Houston for a long-term assignment, and I passed on your high praise of the opera scene there. He's also an opera devotee and is now looking forward to his enforced TDY. You should get a commission check from the Houston Opera shortly.

 

Annie-11 pages in and I have just covered the first day on the ship....yikes!

 

We will be back in Houston for Opera on May 1. Regal Princess in Oct will round out the year.

 

I hope you are happy with the food porn thus far.(?)

 

How did you find the review? Surfing or through that link put on the PCL board?

 

Always great to have you on board!

 

Cheers!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Thanks for sharing your "drummer" history with us. Amazing what how one thing leads to another. Great story.

 

I am amazed that you still enjoy cruising after working on cruise ships.

 

I am loving your review. It is my first one. It caught my eye because we

sail on the upcoming Reflection Super Bowl cruise and I wanted to feed my anticipation.

Thanks Phyllis

 

 

Phyllis, thanks for the response and for joining us here.

 

Yes the drummer story was an unexpected turn in my life with far-reaching consequences and was a rush of adrenalin at the time as it happened so fast.

It was a very fun job.

 

Cruiseships now are very sophisticated in comparison to the 1200 pax SON. So many choices of cabins, restaurants, entertainment and things to do during the day. We have done 11 in the past 5.5 years and they are all memorable and moreso because Carol takes notes and then I write about them.

 

You'll have a great time on the Reflection!

 

Enjoy!

 

Norris

 

[Bimmer09]

Sunday, our first full day onboard began when I woke up early at 6 a.m and established my routine for the week. Coffee in Oceanview Cafe then walk up to Sunset Bar in the dark to drink it and wait for the sunrise.

 

 

There's New Age techno dance music playing up there at 6 a.m. Silence would be nice but I have the place to myself apart from an Asian man who would be there to start each day.

 

I caught the sunrise from our balcony when I went down to get my laptop thinking it would be a good time of day to work on my photos so far in Lightroom.

 

 

The color was short-lived and I hoped for better sunrises as the week went on (and my wishes came true)

 

I could see land in the far distance. The city of Havana as we were sailing along the coast of Cuba, which we hope to visit some day.

 

 

I left my seat at the lawn (sigh)

 

 

I would soon have to go and meet Carol at Blu for breakfast. This was our breakfast place on the Silhouette as we preferred it to Luminae which hadn't hit the bullseye on that ship.

 

While I waited there for her I took some pics of the art that adorns the corridors where the specialty restaurants live.

 

 

[Pier290]

Good morning and thanks to all who have responded so far. I usually respond immediately but having gone to bed early last night and waking up at 5.30 to continue the review prior to taking the car in for service I found that our wi-fi didn't want to play ball and spent a frustrating hour restarting the router, tapping it with a hammer, shaking it etc.

 

To start your reading day with a long list of thank-you posts is not good so I'll sprinkle in my responses between photos of our journey.

 

With that said here is the first which shows the time of 3.39 a.m on our day of departure from Chicago. We had a 7.30 flight to Miami.

 

 

With cat sitter arranged we got in a pre-ordered cab at 5 a.m and set off for O'Hare airport. We breezed along the highway and commented on how smooth the traffic was. A police car whizzed by with his lights flashing and we soon ground to a halt in 5 lanes of red tail lights. At the first opportunity our driver left the highway and took back streets to get ahead of the blockage, most likely an accident. The Wayz app showed the extent of the holdup. We kept our eyes on our watches and to our relief we made it to the airport before 6. With TSA Pre, security was a breeze and we were soon walking under the tarmac to Concourse C which is a major trek.....

 

 

 



 

 

Soon we were up in the air and leaving Chicago and the freezing cold below





 

After a couple of hours the scenery below changed



 

 

At this point a child from the bowels of Hell began a lusty screaming fit in First Class. Maybe he was being attacked by someone with a branding iron from the Lazy Z ranch or a swarm of bees from the overhead compartment but not even my Bose Noise cancelling headphones could dim his high decibel output. His parents pretended not to be with him.

 

Soon we were on the ground and making the long trek through Miami airport and reached baggage claim just on the outskirts of Fort Lauderdale.

 

Alas Carol's luggage was still in Chicago but we were assured it would be sent to our hotel later that afternoon. I recalled the luggage loading geniuses who delight in body slamming each suitcase onto the conveyor belt as it makes its way up to the aircraft hold.

 

We took the $35 fixed rate cab fare to South Beach. Originally we had booked the Marriott Stanton boutique hotel but once Carol saw it on our Streetwise Miami laminated map she realized it was a long walk to the Art Deco district and so we changed to the Ritz Carlton which was right smack in it....

 

Norris letting you know that all the air pics were taken with an iPhone

Norris. ...u are from Chicago? ! Us too! Where about? ?

 

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[Bimmer09]

There was a special event breakfast in Tuscan Grille

 

 

No breakfast served in Qsine

 

 

Time to eat!

 

 

Blu is open to Aqua class passengers and Suites (on an availability basis)

 

 

As expected good food and service, although my American bacon was like shrapnel. English Back Bacon was nice to have though.

 

 

[YOUTUBE]KcATMjLz7bs[/YOUTUBE]

 

Norris