4 Hits and Misses on the Celebrity Reflection
The Celebrity Reflection is a Solstice-class ship, the last of its design before Celebrity evolved it into their popular Edge Class. The mid-sized ship first set sail in 2012 but has had some touch-ups over time for minor updates. It’s not the newest and not the oldest in the fleet, so I was curious to see how the ship would fare.
I sailed on the Reflection on a 4-day Caribbean cruise, and here’s what I thought were the hits and misses of this ship.
Hits:
- A Classic Cruise Ship Layout That Still Works
- Sunset Bar and Sky Observation Lounge
- Quiet Spaces Were Easy to Find
- Number of Bars and Lounges
Misses:
- Not Enough Included Casual Food Options
- Some Areas Feel Dated
- The Wasted Opportunity of The Lawn Club
- Limited Activity Space and Odd Use of Atriums
Hit: A Classic Cruise Ship Layout That Still Works
When compared to Celebrity’s newest ships, the Reflection has a more classical layout. A central atrium with towering glass elevators, small bars located throughout, and nooks and crannies of peace and quiet. It gives the ship a quaint charm that works well. I loved the two-story corridor between the Grand Foyer and the Theater, with flowing curtains and art among the shops. I just wish they were used for more than stores since I’m not a “shopper,” and for me, it just ended up being a long hallway.
Another callback to “older” ship design is the large theater. On the Reflection, it seats up to 1,113, which is much larger than new ships that have downsized theaters to increase cabins and other revenue-generating spaces. The Edge Class theaters hold 20% fewer people, and they’re still fairly large compared to other lines. It means you’re not lining up half an hour before to see one of the shows.
One thing that really works is accessibility. Celebrity’s newest Edge Class ships have tons of different levels and steps throughout public areas like the pool, Grand Plaza, and Rooftop Garden. While it is more visually appealing, it makes it much more difficult for guests with mobility issues. The Reflection has much flatter spaces while still maintaining visual appeal.
Overall, I was really impressed with how well the Reflection’s design still works.
Hit: Sunset Bar and Sky Observation Lounge
You go on a cruise to enjoy the open ocean, so why is it that on some ships, you can hardly see it? On the Reflection, you have quite a few good opportunities to relax and enjoy the splendor of the ocean, from morning sunrises to beautiful sunsets.
The Sunset Bar, located at the back of Deck 15, is one example. This outdoor space is the go-to for sailaway, offering a beautiful vista as you leave port and sail off into the sunset. The circular bar is located in the center, with comfy couches and chairs on either side. On a sea day, it’s also a great place to get away if you don’t need a lounger but just want to sit and enjoy a book or the ocean.
The furniture here shows some wear, but that should be addressed during the next refit. The Sunset Bar is a feature on all Celebrity ships, and I wouldn’t call the implementation on the Reflection any better or worse than the other versions, but it is a standout compared to other cruise lines.
But my favorite space had to be the Sky Observation Lounge. Located at the front of the ship on Deck 14, it’s right above the bridge. The venue is really big, with various couches, chairs, and comfy seating located all along the windows.
While you can find some quiet from time to time in here, it’s often busy with activities. During the day, they host trivia, puzzles, putting, and more. It’s nice that you can enjoy daytime activities while still seeing the outside rather than being in a windowless dark room in the bowels of the ship.
At night, the place comes to life with vibrant LED lighting, hosting events like karaoke, dance parties, and live music. Its location on the upper decks means that although it has a large bar and dance floor, it doesn’t get overly crowded since many guests don’t think of venturing upstairs later in the evening.
What makes this space more notable is that it has disappeared from Celebrity’s newest class of ships, the Edge Class. On those ships, there is no forward-facing public area unless you are traveling in a suite and have access to The Retreat. It’s disappointing that some of the best views are reserved for an exclusive set of passengers.
Hit: Quiet Spaces Were Easy to Find
One big thing the Reflection has that many other ships don’t is ample lounging space. Cruise lines try to pack in as many people as they can, so non-revenue-generating spaces are harder and harder to come by. But the Reflection has plenty of places where you can get away from people and enjoy the space.
The best example is the area on most guest floors right off the main atrium. On Decks 7 and 8, they have the Hideaway. Overlooking the Atrium Tree, this space is full of comfy and unique seating. The space doesn’t really have a purpose. It’s just there for guests to use.
On Deck 9 is a dedicated gaming area called “Game On,” with tables for playing board games with friends. On Deck 10, they have The Library, a perfect place to read a good book, though there were almost no books available on the shelves for this sailing, so be sure to bring your own.
These spaces were all quiet and seemed like many people didn’t know about them, making them feel like hidden gems.
It’s nice to see space dedicated to relaxation like this, rather than being optimized for revenue. Surprisingly, they also appear to be here to stay. Usually, spaces like this are the first things cruise lines change during renovations, adding in profit-generating cabins, but during Solstice’s renovation, these spaces remained.
The Solarium also offered a place to getaway from it all. While it’s less hidden than the previously mentioned spaces, it’s equally peaceful. The main pool might have lively music or activities going on, but as soon as you step through the door, all the noise fades away.
Hit: Number of Bars and Lounges
There’s nothing more frustrating than wanting to grab a drink and finding the bar absolutely swamped. But even if you’re not drinking, bars are the nightlife on many cruise ships, coming to life with singers, activities, and places to socialize.
On the Reflection, bars are stationed throughout the ship, meaning you rarely have to battle a crowd to find bar seating. In addition to bars, during busy times they’ve implemented bar carts for sodas, beers, waters, and seltzers. I saw them on the pool deck, by The Lawn Club, and even in the theater. It’s a smart, low-cost way to keep crowds down.
On top of just the quantity of bars, I liked that almost every bar had its own dedicated menu. I like variety, especially on longer sailings, and having so many bar menus meant I could try a unique cocktail each night. Some cruise lines, like Norwegian, use the same menu at almost every bar, and that gets boring fast.
Each bar, for the most part, had its own vibe. The Ensemble Lounge, with its plush seating and purple accents, was perfect for relaxing and listening to an acoustic guitar performer. The Martini Bar and Passport Bar were much more social, with lots of seating to meet friends for a pre-dinner drink and live music coming from the atrium below. Cellar Masters had TVs for sporting events, but when one wasn’t on, it was a subdued place with deep, comfy chairs to relax. The Sunset Bar was the perfect place for sailaways, with live Caribbean music playing as we said goodbye to our last stop.
Miss: Not Enough Included Casual Food Options
Overall, I was very impressed with the food on Celebrity Reflection, but the one thing I was really missing was more included casual options for breakfast and lunch.
On newer cruise ships from almost every brand, they offer multiple smaller food options around the ship for breakfast and lunch. This helps disperse crowds and keep everyone from being in one area. But the Reflection doesn’t do that very much, so you have limited options. The result is that 3,000+ guests run to the buffet and main dining room for breakfast and lunch at once, causing crowds on sea days and early port days.
For example, if you don’t want to pay extra for food, your lunch options are the Oceanview Cafe, Mast Grill, or Main Dining Room. They also have two more venues serving light bites, the Spa Cafe and Cafe al Bacio, but it’s hard to make a meal out of either.
One problem is that Mast Grill is above the buffet, and I’d see people grab a burger there, then walk down into the buffet to get a table and more food. While I liked the options and the Mast Grill’s freshly cooked burgers were tasty, it didn’t help with spreading out crowds.
For breakfast, the options are the Main Dining Room, buffet, or Spa Cafe for very small bites.
That causes these areas to feel cramped, and it made me a little frustrated, especially on sea days.
One simple remedy would be switching one of the two outdoor dining venues in The Lawn Club to complimentary for breakfast or lunch. They have both The Lawn Club Grill and The Porch, standing less than 100 feet apart. While they do have different menus, I didn’t understand the need for two specialty restaurants there, especially when both were relatively empty for lunch on our only sea day.
Switching The Porch to a fast-casual venue would provide an extra option and alleviate crowding.
Miss: Some Areas Feel Dated
When we sailed on the Reflection, it was 14 years old, about halfway through the traditional life of a cruise ship with Celebrity. It definitely wasn’t an old ship, but it wasn’t new either. It didn’t feel worn down or dirty, just older compared to newer ships.
While I loved the charm of the glass elevator and tall atrium, some parts of the ship felt dated. The cabins, while spacious, just felt and smelled a bit “old.” The red carpet and lack of lighting made them feel more cramped than they actually were, and the oak paneling felt much more dated compared to newer finishes.
Want to charge your phone at night? There’s just one outlet right on the desk. Thankfully the ship does have showers with glass doors (ships from other cruise lines built around the same time often still had flimsy curtains.)
Some other spots on the ship also had a dated feel. The Fitness Center, as I mentioned in my daily blog, felt like 1990s South Florida chic, where the Golden Girls might go to work out.
And some areas simply needed a touch-up. The Solarium Pool’s fountains no longer worked, and you could see chipped paint in the water. The loungers in the Sunset Bar had some tears and scrapes. Again, they weren’t dirty, just a bit worn.
The last oddity was that when sailing at high speeds at night, the ship’s upper decks shook noticeably. I wouldn’t notice it in the theater, casino, or cabin, but when I was in the Oceanview Cafe or Sky Observation Lounge later at night, I could feel the ship vibrating.
While some of these issues will be addressed during the ship’s renewal, after seeing pictures of the cabins on Solstice following its dry dock, they will likely still feel somewhat dated.
Miss: Limited Activity Space and Odd Use of Atriums
The Reflection doesn’t have a dedicated multi-purpose activity venue, and you feel its absence throughout the sailing.
Perhaps Celebrity didn’t offer as many onboard activities when the Solstice Class first launched in 2008, but they clearly do now, and many feel shoehorned into spaces not designed for them. Activities like archery, street curling, and dance events all ended up in the Grand Foyer, a beautiful atrium flanked by glass elevators, but an awkward venue for physical activities. Watching staff set up an inflatable archery target between the elevator banks felt improvised rather than intentional.
The problem is that while the Grand Foyer is visually impressive, it simply doesn’t have enough usable floor space for how Celebrity uses it. During the sailing, it hosted live music, parties, games, and activities, but everything felt squeezed in between the staircase, elevator lobby, and guest services desk. At times, people were literally dancing next to guest services while others tried to navigate around them.
Then there’s The Entertainment Court, another space that feels like Celebrity never quite figured out what to do with it. This two-story open area on Deck 4 serves mostly as a hallway between the theater and the Grand Foyer, but it also hosts game shows, line dancing, archery challenges, and meetups. During these events, guests sat on folding chairs watching while passengers streamed by on both levels, making the whole setup feel temporary and awkward. It’s flanked by a dedicated bar that is uncharacteristically devoid of any personality.
To be fair, it’s nice to see Celebrity expanding its activity lineup, and these may be the only places available to host them. But compared to newer Celebrity ships, where many of these events take place in dedicated venues like The Club, the Reflection’s activity spaces feel like an afterthought rather than part of the original design.
Celebrity seems to realize these concerns. On Solstice, which just underwent a $50 million renovation, they removed the Conference Center and Future Cruise Vacations areas and turned them into a new bar/game room called The Parlor. They also expanded the bar there to make it feel more like a standalone venue, though it’s still primarily used by guests grabbing drinks before heading into the new Boulevard Lounge.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like the Grand Foyer will be improved as part of this renovation. During Solstice’s recent renovation, they left the Grand Foyer largely unchanged. It’s a shame, because even something as simple as removing the staircase would have made a big difference.
Miss: The Wasted Opportunity of The Lawn Club
The Lawn Club was the most disappointing part of the Reflection.
When I first read about the Solstice Class, I thought the idea of live grass onboard was incredibly novel. Conceptually, the space makes sense. Celebrity has beanbag chairs on the lawn, plus a large screen showing movies and TV. But in practice, it doesn’t work.
The first problem is that they rope off much of the grass, so you can’t actually step foot on large portions of it. The grass was dying in many areas, and signs everywhere reminded guests to be gentle.
And even when you can access the lawn, it’s enclosed by massive extra-fee cabanas that completely block the ocean views. So instead of feeling open and relaxing, the space feels boxed in and on display to the people who paid $300 for a cabana rental.
I’m not sure how Celebrity came up with this idea and kept it for every ship in the class. Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas was originally going to have grass hills in Central Park, according to a recently released design video, but they opted for winding concrete paths with natural plants and trees, which works far better.
Because of this, a large part of Deck 15 is effectively wasted space, crowding the rest of the upper deck.
Thankfully, it appears Celebrity recognizes this issue. All Solstice Class ships are undergoing the “Celebrity Renewed” project, bringing them more in line with the Edge Class offerings.
As part of that renovation, The Lawn Club will be removed. The side areas will become expanded seating for Sunset Bar, and the main area will become Sunset Park. On Solstice, it looks beautiful and makes the space significantly more useful. They even added another complimentary grab-and-go food venue.
Celebrity has not yet announced when Reflection will enter dry dock for its renewal.
Verdict: A Solid Ship That’s Proven Itself Over Time
I’ll admit, when I booked this cruise, I was a little wary of what the ship would be like. Having sailed most recently on newer ships, I was afraid it would feel dated and boring. I was totally wrong. What I found was classic cruise ship charm that felt warm and welcoming. I walked away pleasantly surprised.
While I can easily see how much of this ship’s design evolved into the newer Edge Class ships, I could also appreciate Reflection for what it is. Lots of quiet places to get away, the two-story hallway with billowing white curtains, and the Reflect Tree suspended in the atrium all give the ship real personality.
The ship turned out to be great for a short sailing, and I could also see it doing well on longer itineraries.
While you’re not getting the latest and greatest, you’re still getting a very good ship. Unlike other older ships I’ve sailed and wouldn’t rush to book again, such as Liberty of the Seas, I would sail Reflection again in a heartbeat, especially considering cabins are often priced significantly below newer ships.
You Might Like Celebrity Reflection If…
- You like traditional cruise ship layouts
- Celebrity Reflection has a classic cruise ship feel, with a central atrium, glass elevators, a large main dining room, a forward-facing observation lounge, and outdoor decks that are easy to find.
- You want a more relaxed cruise experience
- There are activities throughout the day, but the ship never feels like a floating theme park. It is a good fit if you want things to do without nonstop noise and stimulation.
- You like venues with ocean views
- Spaces like Sunset Bar and Sky Observation Lounge make the ship feel connected to the ocean in a way some newer ships do not. There are also plenty of outdoor areas where you can sit and watch the water.
- You want quiet spaces to escape
- The Solarium, Solstice Deck, Library, and Hideaway make it easy to get away from the busier pool deck or atrium events.
- You’re a first-time cruiser
- The Reflection is a perfect beginner ship for a new cruiser; not too big, not too small, with a good sampling of activities and features you’d find on other ships. It’s not overwhelming, but you also won’t be bored.
You Might Not Like Celebrity Reflection If…
- You want a new, flashy ship
- Celebrity Reflection is clean and comfortable, but some areas feel dated, especially compared to Celebrity’s Edge Class ships or the newest ships from other cruise lines.
- You want lots of included casual food options
- The ship has the buffet, Mast Grill, and Cafe al Bacio snacks, but it does not have as many included casual venues spread throughout the ship as some other ships do. While each eatery has a good variety, on longer sailings you might get a little bored if you don’t upgrade to some specialty dining.
- You like big onboard attractions
- You will not find water slides, surf simulators, ropes courses, go-karts, or other top-deck attractions here. The ship is much more focused on lounges, pools, music, dining, and relaxing.
- You want a party atmosphere
- Typically, 3-5 day sailings can skew toward “booze cruises” like weekend getaways, bachelor parties, girls’ weekends, etc. While Reflection definitely has the weekend getaway vibe and it’s not boring or stuffy, don’t expect things like booming pool parties, 1 AM nights at the disco, or people doing lines of shots at the bar.
- You are traveling with kids who need a lot to do
- Families can sail on Celebrity Reflection, but this is not a ship built around kids or teens. If your family wants big attractions and dedicated family neighborhoods, a newer Royal Caribbean ship would probably be a better fit. The Reflection does have a kids’ club and some kids appreciate that it’s less crowded than other lines, but it’s not a kids-first ship.
Follow Along on our 4 Day Bahamas Sailing
Celebrity Reflection - Cruise Blog - Day 1 - Fort Lauderdale
Celebrity Reflection - Cruise Blog - Day 2 - Key West
Celebrity Reflection - Cruise Blog - Day 3 - Perfect Day at CocoCay
Celebrity Reflection - Cruise Blog - Day 4 - Sea Day
4 Hits and Misses on Celebrity Reflection
Want to Stay Up-to-date on Celebrity and Other Cruise News?
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.
CruiseSpotlight is an Amazon Associate. We may earn a commission when you click links to retailers and purchase goods.
