Monday, April 1, 2024

Celebrity Reflection Cruise Ship Review First-hand Expert Review

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Restaurants on Celebrity Edge are straight out of any big city, from a grab-and-go gourmet deli and a reservations-only sushi spot to a high-tech French bistro with an animated dining experience you have to see to believe. But none of the negatives is enough to deter us from taking another cruise on this lovely ship. Celebrity Eclipse is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful big ships we've ever sailed.

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Activities such as archery (yes, archery) and dance parties such as the Silent Disco take place here at all hours of the day into the night. Some of the more popular venues, such as Café al Bacio, Sushi on Five and the ice-covered Martini Bar, are located off the Grand Foyer; it's always a bustling area and sometimes can lack seating at prime hours. Celebrity Edge is a different ship from the rest of the Celebrity Cruises fleet and was designed to attract people who have never cruised before. Celebrity typically draws middle- and upper-class folks in their mid-40s and older. During school holidays, the line's ships usually see a number of families with children, and the same may occur on Celebrity Edge (although the ship was not designed with families in mind).

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Where does Celebrity Solstice sail to?

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With all these changes, there's a good chance past Celebrity cruisers, expecting the quiet sophistication that they've come to know and love from the line, are not going to be thrilled. The cabins on Celebrity Solstice are functional, with choices for different traveling groups. One thing we missed were outlets and USB ports near the bed, now a necessity on newer cruise ships. Purists who love real walk-out balconies will be happy with the choices on Solstice; the ship does not have the infinite balcony cabins that dominate the Edge-class vessels. The main specialty restaurants onboard provide Italian (Tuscan Grill); French (Murano) and Japanese (Sushi on 5) options.

While Kids Are Allowed, Celebrity Edge Is Best for Adults Looking for Lively Sophistication

For the second of its Edge-class ships, the cruise line partnered with some big-name designers -- including Kelly Hoppen and Jouin Manku -- to bring an airy, modern feel to every space onboard, inside and out. And while the 2,910-passenger ship is fancy, it's not stuffy – there's a relaxed vibe throughout. Reflection stands out with its exceptional variety of cabins, including its beautiful suites. The ship's 32 AquaClass Spa Suites might be the most coveted cabins on the ship, as passengers booked in AquaClass and AquaClass Spa Suites receive complimentary access to the ship's lovely Persian Garden thermal suite. They also receive complimentary access to Blu, which serves up healthier "spa cuisine." The "main" atrium opens fully to Decks 3, 4 and 5, around an area called the Grand Foyer.

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Apex also excels at innovation, with unique features like the heralded Magic Carpet, a cantilevered platform that juts from the side of the ship and can move up and down depending on its use. At the lowest deck, it serves as a gateway to ports, making embarkation and debarkation easy. While the pool can feel hectic on sunny days, the Lawn Club on Deck 15 provides a lush alternative. Although Celebrity has monetized some of the best spots -- the hut-like Alcoves are rented by the day -- there is still room for people to enjoy the greenery and play mini-golf or bocce ball. The Hot Glass Studio is up here as well; if you want to take a class, book as soon as you board.

Celebrity Reflection Dress Code

It's got a good selection of activities, the entertainment is high quality and cabins are bigger than the industry average. Cool sophistication is the unmistakable vibe onboard Celebrity Reflection, the biggest of the five ships in the line's mega-popular Solstice Class. Standout features include the Lawn Club (featuring real grass), a Martini Bar and brilliant variety of restaurants, including one of our favorites, the Lawn Club Grill, where you can cook up your own meal or have a chef do it for you.

How much does it cost to go on Celebrity Solstice?

Two are based in Murano -- the Chef's Table menu with Boulud dishes, and also a special Veuve Cliquot pairing meal. We also didn't act fast enough to snag a spot at a special extra-fee Alaska Seafood Shack lunch in the Tuscan Grill. If long epicurean feasts are your vacation jam, make sure you look for these, either before you go or as soon as you get onboard.

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Find a Celebrity Apex Cruise from $590

One side brings you past shops and venues like the Qasar nightclub, while the other takes you through the (happily,  non-smoking) casino. A smaller entertainment venue, Celebrity Connections, is often used for lectures and other events when there's a show going on in the larger theater. Nature is a theme on Solstice, with its large tree anchoring one of its atriums, a live plant wall in its Solarium pool and of course, the real grass that makes up the Lawn Club on the top deck. On the downside, the rampant upselling and fee surcharges are a bit of a turnoff. Service is sometimes overwhelmed, and on warm sea days, the pool deck can feel crowded, especially when the ship is at its maximum capacity of 3,148. Another hit is the ship's Lawn Club, with its half-acre of grass, upcharge restaurants (the Lawn Club Grill and The Porch) and eight alcoves, private rentable cabanas for those who want shade and a little privacy away from the pool area.

Celebrity Solstice broke new ground when it debuted in 2008, and while several sister ships have undergone what the line calls "Revolutionized" status, this vessel has not. That means that it lacks some areas and amenities that are now standard on the line. When the ship is in Europe, you can expect to find a fairly international mix of passengers.

Storage can seem tight at first, but if you're having trouble fitting everything, look up over the beds. We didn’t discover the large cabinets there until toward the end of the cruise; the space is perfect for storing bulky jackets and cold weather gear on Alaska itineraries. Holding 2,850 guests at double occupancy, Celebrity Solstice flourishes wherever it is deployed, be that Australia, Asia or Alaska. The Sky Lounge, with its bank of windows, is perfect for wildlife viewing in Alaska and scenic cruising anywhere else.

Its interiors blend sophistication with a bit of whimsy -- akin to a trendy W Hotel but with softer edges. Celebrity has been marketing itself to professionals 35 and older who love food and wine, although the ship still attracts a substantial number of baby boomers, as well as a large number of repeat customers. Passengers generally embody a low-key partying spirit -- in general, imbibing seems responsible.

The animated dining experience Le Petit Chef takes place nightly in the Silk Harvest restaurant. Still, you won't go hungry on Celebrity Solstice and the main dining room, the glass-filled  Grand Epernay, is an impressive home base. The Oceanview Café is likewise airy, although it can be difficult at peak hours to find a seat. The AquaSpa Café and Mast Grill round out the ship's complimentary options, although these venues do close at dinner. Suite guests have dining privileges at Luminae, with a menu boasting dishes from celebrity chef Daniel Boulud, while Aqua class passengers eat at Blu. It's a food-lovers paradise, with many options onboard from the complimentary Moonlight Sonata, which will satisfy almost any tastes, to the upscale but extra-cost French bistro Murano and the fun, animated experience at Qsine.

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