Live from the Med on board Reflection - Barcelona to Rome - Cunard vs Celebrity

[groryjm]

Included with the Aquarium is a bio sphere and a panaramic veiwing pod called Bigo. Also both fun little extras

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[groryjm]

And for Lunch a we stoped at a quay side cocktail bar called Rebus. 

 

 

 

 

Ihad an Americano with my Pesto Lasagna and my gastrognome a Spritz with Fritto misti and a focachia with chees for the table.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mosttoyswin]

Thanks for the pictures. I've added the aquarium to my list of places to see in September when we are on the reflection

[Bo1953]

6 hours ago, groryjm said:

@Bo1953I wish the bar in our suite was as extensive 🙃 but saddly all we have is Camparri, Tanqeray Ten, Veuve Clicqout and citrus provided by the ship and the wine we brought on board,

 

We are allowed 2 bottles per person and between 4 of us in 2 suites we brought a bottle of Cava we were given in Spain , two botltles of Lillet and a bottle of Dubonet….. technically al wine  😉

 

g enjoy your sailing!!!

 

Cheers and bon voyage

[hawkesbaynz]

Was enjoying pictures of the Aquarium until I saw the dolphin. Keeping dolphins in captivity is shocking. Am surprised it happens in Europe! 

[hcat]

5 hours ago, Mosttoyswin said:

Thanks for the pictures. I've added the aquarium to my list of places to see in September when we are on the reflection

yes... looked great.  Photos were outstanding.  Was that a poisonous frog?

[groryjm]

Yesterday afternoon presented a conundrum of choices, a third helipad sail away invite from the retreat concierges at 5.45 or an captains club elite mixology and music event in the sky Lounge at 5.30. I had ascertained that it would be Joe from the WCB doing the cocktails for the CC event.

 

My daughter and her GF opted for the Mixology and my Gastrognome the helipad. I planned to try and do both!!!

 

The CC event started promptly with three cocktails being made.

 

A Manhattan….

 

 

A spiked Pimms…..

 

 

And A Mai Tia…..

 

 

While each was made waiters passed around finished drinks for us all to try and the band provided music to Joe’s flair interludes between cocktails.

 

 

I did promise Joe 😉 not to post the video of his oooops……..

 

 

As Joe was completing his set Captain Matt announced over the ships Tannoy that our next pot Messina was cancelled due to inclement weather in the straights, personally I reckon that Scylla and Charybdis are getting too feisty.

 

I took advantage of the pause in the CC event and headed down to the Helipad to join my Gastrognome for the sail away

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then a quick dash back to the suite to change for dinner with more of Mudit’s nibbles and a gin and bitters for my Gastrognome and a Campari Shakeroo for myself.

 

 

Dinner was up in the LGC and again excellent food but a mix up in the kitchen delayed our mains by more than half an hour. All power to Randy who handled the situation with professionalism and tact.

 

Then back to the room with a Calvados from Cranston for an episode of Bluestone 42 before bed. The chocolate strawberries in our room from Mudit got detoured to the girls suite…..

[groryjm]

Today was a sea day so no alarms. I woke at about 9.30m and nipped up to the OVC for breakfast. It was slammed. The only tables were on the outside which suited me fine so after my eggs I walked up the stairs to the Sunset bar and walked three times around deck 15 before heading down to check on my Gastrognome.

 

Deck 15 is 1600 feet so four laps is 1.2 miles and a nicer stroll than seven laps on the walking track. I measured a circuit on our first day to give a record of the distance.

 

 

A lazy morning of games followed with a brief interlude to peruse the shops so Mudit and I Wayan coud get to our room. It may be of interest to others on this ship this season as I gather that because of the Spanish there will be no spirits, cigarettes or cigars on sale in the shops until the ship returns across the Atlantic. Cigarettes or cigars are available ijn the passport bar however at certain times

 

 

Lunch was at LCG and the burgers were excellent.

 

 

 

I followed this by a quick three laps but recorded my track. Five and a quarter miles in twenty minuets !!!!!! 🤣

 

 

You can see from the speed chart that "I walk slower to the front than walking to the Back"

Edited May 19, 2023 by groryjm

[groryjm]

 

I followed this by a quick three laps but recorded my track. Five and a quarter miles in twenty minuets !!!!!!

 

We had another little invite for today. A very special visit to the navigational bridge from Captain Matt and as this is my daughter’s girlfriend’s first cruise particularly special for them. We have visited the bridge on seeral other ships but this was our first time on Reflection. There were ten of us, all retreat guests, in the party and after we had been patted down and asked to sign a log were shown through a hidden door onto the bridge. A glass of champagne in hand we were ably guided around the controls and given an insite into the opperations of the ship

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[groryjm]

These are the products and amenities in the bathroom

 

 

 

I'll be honest and say I preffered the individual Bulgari products of the past but these are ok and I do appreciate the less wastefull and more environmentally friendly approach.

 

On Cunnard we had little extras like perfume samples and a sewing kit butno cotton wool or lip balm so in general the Celebrity offerings are better

Edited May 20, 2023 by groryjm

[groryjm]

For dinner last night we opted for Sushi on five so the girls could enjoy a Chic night date night in Luminae without us and fish is not their thing.

 

The food was excellent but the poor waitress was run off her feet an service a little slow. This seems to be a theme in all of the specialities we’ve eaten in, excellent food and service but not just a bit too slow. Luminae however was too quick on the one night we have dined there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The cast were putting on a fun performance in the grand foyer as we headed out to Michaels for and après dinner drink.

 

 

 

[groryjm]

Yesterday I rung the changes and went to Luminae for breakfast. While the food and coffee were both good I personally thought the lavazza machine in our suit makes better coffee😎

 

 

 

[groryjm]

As this was an unscheduled extra day in Naples we decided to walk to Christmas Alley. The city was full and with a football match between Napoli and a rival team set for Sunday everywhere was blue and white. I deliberately left my camara on the ship so phone pics only

 

 

 

 

Lunch was of course Pizza, mine being with Mortadela accompanied by  Campari spritz 

 

 

[groryjm]

To conclude a great but tiring time in Napoli, we walked over 5 miles, what better than a lille and soda in the hot tub on the balcony 😎🥂

 

[chemmo]

Enjoying following…

 

Is Reflection showing her age or standing up well? Have you missed not having a Retreat deck? What are your balcony furnishings like?

 

We cruised on her some years ago in a RS…I know Reflection hasn’t been upgraded but simply wondering if the ship and the room are still in good shape.

[groryjm]

3 hours ago, chemmo said:

 

.....Reflection showing her age or standing up well? Have you missed not having a Retreat deck? What are your balcony furnishings like? 

She is looking good despite her age and quite frankly I prefer the old Michael's and room decor. The balcony furniture an mre comfortable than the "Hoppen" impractical grey. 

 

I do however miss the Retreat Sun deck and am very much looking forward to reacquainting myself with it in 7 weeks😎 when we are back on Silly to Iceland. 

 

Don't get me wrong I like Reflection but it can be a bit crowded in Luminae and generally about the ship 

 

[chemmo]

1 hour ago, groryjm said:

She is looking good despite her age and quite frankly I prefer the old Michael's and room decor. The balcony furniture an mre comfortable than the "Hoppen" impractical grey. 

 

I do however miss the Retreat Sun deck and am very much looking forward to reacquainting myself with it in 7 weeks😎 when we are back on Silly to Iceland. 

 

Don't get me wrong I like Reflection but it can be a bit crowded in Luminae and generally about the ship 

 

Thanks for your responses we are presently looking at booking a ‘something’ for next year and are dithering between ships and itineraries…

[Roccobigs]

Thank you very much for sharing the photos and the commentary. Our family is on Reflection June 1st. Never been on Celebrity and your posts are making me very excited! So many things to enjoy and appreciate on a cruise and your positivity is refreshing. 

Edited May 21, 2023 by Roccobigs

[LisaLeone]

8 hours ago, chemmo said:

Thanks for your responses we are presently looking at booking a ‘something’ for next year and are dithering between ships and itineraries…

Dithering is such an excellent word!

On a different note, I have often enjoyed reading your postings and am deeply sorry for your loss. I'm glad you are planning a trip. Living is a beautiful way to honor those we love.

[chemmo]

9 hours ago, LisaLeone said:

Dithering is such an excellent word!

On a different note, I have often enjoyed reading your postings and am deeply sorry for your loss. I'm glad you are planning a trip. Living is a beautiful way to honor those we love.

I must confess there is a lot I am dithering about at the moment! My son and his fiancée are going to be cruising with me so I hope to be a ‘semi-solo’ if there is such a thing! We will want some family time but I hope to do things on my own too. I know my next cruise will be hard in some ways but I know I will enjoy the memories of many past cruises and start to make some new ones.

 

They keep telling me ‘it is up to me’ where we go but for me I am more bothered about enjoying the ship. One bit of me would like to give Edge class a go but another bit of me wants the tried and trusted S class and a final nostalgic bit wants to return to the M PH…

 

At least I am getting lots of entertainment following CC live posters and their opinions!

[groryjm]

For dinner on Saturday night we dined together with my daughter and her gf in Luminae. I had the burrato followed by the ricotta cavateli, both delicious.

 

 

 

 

I of course sampled the signature cocktails too

 

Bourbon and peaches 

 

Vanilla Mojito

 

Ultraviolet 

 

To my daughter's delight (she is 23) on the kids desert menu there was an option for warm milk and cookies

 

 

I am always surprised by the salts which usually have the many holes for salt and one hole for pepper, which was the case a few days ago in Murano, but Luminae have finnaly got right this time with one hole for salt👍

 

 

 

[groryjm]

Saturday was a early up as we had small group tour booked for Herculaneum. We set off but had the enevitable detour to a cameo factory

... 

 

 

 

Herculaneum is an incredible archaeological site and far better, in my opinion, than Pompeii. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[groryjm]

We grabbed a quick bite at OBC and refortified ourselves with the shrimp plates Mudit brought at 3

 

 

A last afternoon watching the harbour traffic then dinner a LCG. 

 

 

 

 

 

This morning was our sad return to reality and breakfast in the BA lounge at Fiumicino

 

 

I will type in my conclusions and comparison when I'm back at my pc tonight. For now however I dream of our next trip on Silhouette....... in 52 days😎

[MikeMary4449]

1 hour ago, groryjm said:

Saturday was a early up as we had small group tour booked for Herculaneum. We set off but had the enevitable detour to a cameo factory

... 

 

 

Thanks for your very informative review, which we are enjoying with our morning coffee.

One quick question: Do you happen to recall if the cameo factory you visited was Giovanni Apa?  It was the one we stopped at on our tour of Herculaneum in November, 2012, and hope to go there again on our tour of Pompeii in the Fall of 2024.  Thanks in advance, Mike and Mary

[groryjm]

Well I’m back at home and once again the real world has taken hold. All those cares and worries that evaporate when one is on holiday and seem a world away take back over when back at home. Such is life. So I apologise for being a few days late so while I sit here in sunny Surrey drinking my coffee with my hoard of purloined pillow chocs here is my summary and conclusions from another excellent cruise.

 

 

Overall this cruise has lived up to all we wanted and expect from a cruise in the Retreat on Celebrity. There have been highs and a couple of not so’s. The change in itinerary at the end of this cruise, losing Messina, was a real frustration but with the storms in the Straits and the eruption of Etna on Sunday could have made times a little too interesting so overall a good call by Captain Matt. It was a little frustrating at the time but the extra chance to shop in Christmas Alley and a pizza in Naples was a plus we thought we wouldn’t get.

 

The food…… Bearing in mind that our last cruise was only six months ago and in Cunard’s Queens grill we were worried we might not find the food as good as we had gotten used to. On one hand with Cunard the quality of food was extremely high and being in QG the chance to order off menu pretty well whatever you wanted was great. Also on Cunard having the same table available breakfast, lunch and dinner, on sea or port days was nice but after a week I found I craved a change of view, whereas on Celebrity being in an upper suite we were able to eat in a different venue almost every night. The standard of food on Cunard is certainly higher but on a cruise there are days when another Dover sole with caviar to start, included in QG but an extra charge in Murano, does start to pale and all one craves is a ***** burger from the Lawn Club Grill.

 

I am perfectly able to bone a fish myself and have not had a waiter to bone my fish or even cut up my steak on land since the 1970’s but on both lines the tables side show seems unavoidable,

 

Queens Grill….

 

 

Murano…..

 

 

The resulting dish on both lines however was equally good.

 

I would say Murano and Queens Grill have a very similar ambiance the difference being that the Murano menu is fixed and the QG changes daily. The cheeses in Murano, however, are far better and of a greater variety than any we were offered on Cunard.

 

The money…. Both lines are price wise quite similar when looking at the initial cost and a QG suite is very close to a Celebrity upper suite but that is where the similarity ends. On Celebrity in an upper suite everything is covered including Speciality dinning and laundry. In fact it is hard not to book with Wi-Fi , Drinks package and  service charge included and even when in non-suite staterooms the upgrade to premium is not huge. With Cunard none of these are included if booked in the UK (On Cunard the premium drinks package equivalent we paid $1,656.00, $480 for the Wi-Fi and $424 for a service charge for two for a twelve day cruise)

 

………..beds, bars, shows and the ship to follow