Celebrity Flora Day 1 Overview

• Celebrity Flora Outer Loop Cruise – Day 1 Schedule
• Breakfast at Botanica Restaurant
• Travel to Quito Airport
• Flight to Baltra
• Baltra Airport – The Gateway to the Galapagos
• Boarding Celebrity Flora
• Celebrity Flora First Impressions
  • Celebrity DNA on a Smaller Scale
  • Designed Explicitly for the Galapagos
• Standard Verandah Cabin on Celebrity Flora
  • Every Cabin is a Suite
  • Bathroom and Storage
  • Balconies on Celebrity Flora
• Lunch in Seaside Restaurant
• Muster Drill
• Top Decks on Celebrity Flora
• Ship Wi-Fi
• Our First Expedition Briefing
• Picking Excursions for Tomorrow’s Adventure
• Suiting Up
• Welcome Toast and Boat Familiarization
• First Dinner Onboard
• After-Dinner Plans

Celebrity Flora Outer Loop Cruise – Day 1 Schedule

Breakfast at Botanica Restaurant

We started our day by heading downstairs to Botanica Restaurant for the included buffet breakfast at the JW Marriott Quito. It was open from 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM.

The options were pretty similar to the ones the day before, with dishes like pancakes, waffles, omelets made to order, fresh pastries, and lots of fruit. They also had more savory options like cold cuts, soup, and rice.

The fruit and juices rotated each day, and I got to try more local selections. My favorite local fruit to try was “tree tomato,” technically called a tamarillo. It had an interesting flavor profile, equally tart and sweet, with notes of kiwi, guava, and passion fruit.

The buffet was slightly busier than the previous morning, but it was still only about one-quarter full, with no lines.

Travel to Quito Airport

At 8:10 AM, we met at the same meeting point in the lobby as the previous day. You could tell energy levels were much higher, with everyone buzzing with excitement to get moving. Since people had become friends with their tour groups, they talked much more than the day before.

Our guide, Pedro, gave us our boarding passes and the forms required to get on the flight. He told us the airline representative had already inspected our bags that morning, approved them, and put them on the buses waiting for us.

We loaded onto the same bus we were on the previous day and headed out. Although there were probably about 70 to 80 of us on this pre-cruise portion, it always felt more intimate. That’s because we were always in our groups of 10 to 14 people. It never felt like a massive group. When our group was ready, we headed out. We didn’t have to wait for other groups or coordinate with them. It was done really well.

As we started the roughly hour-long trip to the airport, Pedro explained the upcoming process in detail. Then he filled us in more about the geology of Quito, which is surrounded by volcanoes, some active and some inactive.

Flight to Baltra

When we got to Quito Airport, he walked our group over to the check-in counter. The staff had already tagged our bags for the plane, but for security purposes, we had to physically roll them about 5 feet to check them in. Then he walked us over to the domestic security checkpoint.

We said goodbye to Pedro and then scanned our passports. We headed through security, which was a lighter version of what you’d see in the U.S. There was no full-body scanner, just a metal detector, and we were allowed to have liquids in our carry-ons because this was a domestic flight.

Tip: You can carry liquids in your carry-on because this is a domestic flight.

The level of service was impeccable. I think the longest we went without a Celebrity representative with us was maybe 50 feet for the security check. On the other side was another Celebrity representative, Gabby, who’d be flying with us.

After security, we went to a dedicated airport area that was basically only for our privately chartered flight. The flight was operated by Avianca, the same airline we flew to get to Quito, but this time it was different. Celebrity booked the whole flight for guests on the 10- and 11-day sailings.

That meant every row had only two people, with a window and aisle seat occupied and the middle seat kept open. The seats were assigned by cabin number. Like our flight to Quito, the seats were pretty tight with little leg room.

I’ve never flown private or on a charter, but this whole experience felt very exclusive, even though it was a budget airline. We were sitting in an international airport with basically our own boarding gate. All the guests sitting near us were on the cruise as well, and the gate agents welcomed all the Celebrity guests in the announcements. And since the plane wasn’t anywhere near full, boarding was a breeze.

Each guest was allowed (1) 23 kg bag (just a little over 50 pounds), one carry on, and one personal item. Most of Celebrity’s official documentation said 40 pounds, but that was outdated.

The flight was scheduled for 10:19 AM and would take 1 hour and 50 minutes. Even though it was a short flight, Celebrity provided meal options along with wine and beer, which isn’t standard on Avianca. While the meal wasn’t amazing by any means, it was really nice of them to provide it and, again, brought a feeling of luxury. The food cart even had Celebrity drapery on it.

Baltra Airport – The Gateway to the Galapagos

We arrived at Baltra Airport around 12:30 PM, right on time. The airport doesn’t have a jet bridge since it’s small, so we deplaned by walking down a set of stairs onto the tarmac.

Immediately, I could see how different the landscape was compared to Quito. Baltra was much more desert-like. As we walked toward the airport, we saw several land iguanas. They seemed large at the time, but after visiting the islands, we realized they were just babies.

The next step was the part Celebrity couldn’t control much: Galapagos security. Celebrity had prepared all our forms and already paid the $200 fee for us to enter the national park, but we still had to go through the process ourselves. (If you skip the tour and just book the cruise, you have to pay the $200 fee yourself, but then Celebrity will reimburse you).

That line was a bit long. It took us about 30 minutes to get through security, with our passports checked and our bags X-rayed again to make sure we weren’t bringing anything dangerous onto the islands.

As soon as we exited security, smiling Celebrity naturalists greeted us. They gave us our room keys and directed us to a line to exit the airport and take a bus to the pier.

Tip: You don’t need to print or download your boarding pass as you do on other cruises. They look you up by cabin number.

This was probably the most frustrating part. I was ready to start the adventure, but it’s the national park’s buses that shuttle guests, not Celebrity’s private transportation, so we were at their mercy.

After what felt like an eternity, but was really only 15 minutes, our group loaded onto a bus and started the 6-minute ride to the pier.

Boarding Celebrity Flora

We arrived at a small pier, where more naturalists instructed us on how to put on our life jackets and get ready to board the Zodiacs.

Celebrity Flora never actually docks at all. The only way to access the ship is through 10- to 15-minute tender rides back and forth. Our large bags would be brought onto the ship later, but any carry-ons and backpacks would come with us in the tender.

As we waited to board, a sea lion lounged on the dock, bringing joyous gasps from passengers getting their first close encounter. We’d have so many more.

Tip: At this point, they also shared that we’d be staying on Quito time for the sailing, which is the same as the Central Time Zone in the U.S., rather than switching to Galapagos time, which is another hour earlier. Everyone adjusted their cell phones so they wouldn’t automatically change to the new time, and we’d all be on the same page.

The tenders usually hold 10 to 14 people, so it took about 20 minutes for us to board one. It felt so adventurous to get onto the tender and head out.

As the zodiac, or tender as they refer to them, bounced along the water and small bursts of mist hit our faces, I felt like I was on the first episode of “Survivor,” with a bunch of strangers sitting in complete silence as we headed out on our first adventure, surveying the landscape and sizing each other up.

Within a couple minutes, the Celebrity Flora slowly come into focus. The executive staff of the ship, including the captain, were all on the back of the ship to greet us as we arrived, waving hello to everyone. It almost felt like something you’d see in a TV show like “The White Lotus” or “Fantasy Island.”

We climbed out of the tender using steps that lined up with the deck, took off our life jackets, and tagged in by tapping our Celebrity room keys at the kiosk. Then we were given a glass of champagne and escorted to our room.

Celebrity Flora First Impressions

Celebrity Flora isn’t your traditional cruise ship at all. In reality, it resembles a mega-yacht more than one of the Celebrity ships you’ll see sailing out of Florida or in the Mediterranean.

It’s an expedition cruise ship purpose-built for the Galapagos. It’s the largest ship, by tonnage, to operate in the Galapagos and replaces the two previous, smaller ships, Celebrity Xploration and Celebrity Xpedition, which now operate under National Geographic as Gemini and Delfina.

That doesn’t mean Flora is large, though. The ship is only 5,922 gross tons, with just 50 cabins for a total of 100 guests. It’s roughly 1/15th the size of the next smallest ship in the Celebrity fleet, Celebrity Millennium, so it almost feels silly to compare it to a traditional ocean liner.

You really understand how small it is when you realize that some bars on Royal Caribbean ships can hold more people than the entire capacity of Flora.

Celebrity DNA on a Smaller Scale

Even with its small size, though, the ship still feels unmistakably Celebrity. Celebrity Flora was built in 2019, just a year after the revolutionary Celebrity Edge debuted, and you can feel that influence throughout the ship. It’s almost like an “Edge Lite” experience.

From the contemporary art and copious amounts of floor-to-ceiling windows to the highly debated Infinite Verandas, there are plenty of familiar Celebrity design elements. But they’ve been adapted for a very different type of ship. The whole ship felt very high-end without being stuffy, while still feeling incredibly open and airy.

Designed Explicitly for the Galapagos

Because Flora was designed specifically for the Galapagos, you can see choices throughout the ship that are meant to make the scenery and expedition experience the focus. As we sailed up to it, one of the first things I noticed was that you could literally see through the ship across much of Deck 4.

The interior uses an “outward-facing concept,” with the main dining room and lounges surrounded by panoramic windows so you’re rarely disconnected from the scenery outside.

That idea carries throughout the ship. On the top deck, guests can enjoy a casual meal outside in the fresh air with unobstructed views. The ship’s lone hot tub is elevated above the railings so they don’t block your view while you’re using it. Outdoor camping cabanas also let guests spend the night under the stars, one of the few extra-fee experiences aboard Flora.

The expedition side of the ship is just as thoughtfully designed. Flora has dedicated space to store the Zodiacs that serve as tenders throughout the cruise, since the ship never docks at the islands. The Marina on Deck 3 is designed specifically around getting guests on and off those Zodiacs, with space to store wetsuits and shower off before heading back inside.

It quickly became clear that nearly every part of Flora was designed around making it easier to get guests off the ship and out exploring the Galapagos.

Standard Verandah Cabin on Celebrity Flora

One of the Food and Beverage staff members immediately showed us to our cabin, and we took a short walk down the modern-looking hallways.

Every Cabin is a Suite

Let’s start off by saying I’m not a suite person. I’ve never stayed in a suite, and usually the cabin is the least of my concerns when booking a cruise. I’m pretty low-maintenance, so standard cabins typically suit me fine.

But on Flora, every cabin is a suite. In fact, you’ll never hear them say the word “cabin” while sailing. It’s always “suite.”

I tapped my room key against the door and opened it to be greeted by bright sunlight pouring through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows and glass door. I immediately noticed the size of the cabin.

The standard cabins come in at 330 square feet, 65% larger than a standard cabin on Celebrity’s Edge Class ships. The size made a huge difference. Not once did I have to shimmy or walk sideways while going through the room like you might have to in newer cruise ship cabins that have little clearance between the bed and the wall, sometimes as little as 18 inches.

The entryway is lined with dark brown wood hiding massive closets that can easily accommodate a week’s worth of clothing. Further in, the walls switch to a soft cream color. The whole color palette is muted and relaxing, a bit more subtle than the pops of orange Celebrity is using on its new and renovated ships.

Unlike typical cruise ship cabins, the beds on Flora face the balcony and windows, further emphasizing the inside-out design. Behind the bed is a large glass wall that separates the room from the bathroom. It’s completely frosted, so you can’t even see an outline of whoever is in the bathroom.

In the corner sat a comfy white couch and a driftwood-style end table, with chilled white wine and snacks waiting for us on arrival. A large TV hung on the wall across from the couch and could tilt toward the bed if needed. I never even turned it on.

Tucked under the desk was a fully stocked mini-fridge and, unlike on other Celebrity ships, everything inside was included. It had a variety of sodas, water, and the Ecuadorian beers they have onboard. I got totally spoiled by having two emergency diet sodas in the cabin at all times, and our cabin steward would restock the fridge twice a day (although it was Coke Zero, not Diet Coke, which I would have preferred).

In terms of outlets, a standard suite has two U.S. outlets on the side of the bed closest to the hallway. The counter has one U.S. outlet, one standard USB outlet, and one EU outlet. In the bathroom, you’ll find two U.S. outlets as well.

Tip: If you like to charge your phone overnight next to you but will be sleeping on the wall side of the bed, consider bringing a 10-foot USB cord that can easily tuck behind the bed to reach the other side (see the cord I used here).

Bathroom and Storage

The bathroom was just as spacious as the room, with a double vanity and a beautiful glass shower with polished river rocks embedded along the sides. Both sides of the vanity have shelves and drawers that can easily hold a week’s worth of toiletries.

On the counter, Celebrity provided high-end, reef-safe sunscreen and SPF lip balm with cocoa butter. I’m very particular about sunscreen, but it was probably one of the best mineral sunscreens I’ve ever tried (I still bought a separate mineral face sunscreen just in case). You can always ask for more of both if you run out. They also provide Q-tips and cotton balls.

Tip: Your cabin has a dedicated water bottle refill tap for the refillable bottle they give you. All water on Flora is safe to drink, but the bathroom tap has an additional charcoal filter that removes any chlorine taste you might get from the regular tap water.

Most cruise ship bathrooms feel dark and cramped because they’re in the interior of the cabin and surrounded by metal walls. A frosted glass wall in front of the vanity lets sunlight into the room and bathes the bathroom in soft light, making it feel almost like you have a window, even though you can’t see through the frosted glass.

Under the sink is an always-on, gentle blue-hued light. It’s needed because while the glass wall design is great during the day, at night, if you turn on the bathroom light, the entire cabin is filled with nearly blinding white light. I’m guessing they didn’t think that through when they designed this bathroom.

Balconies on Celebrity Flora

Flora has two main suite configurations. Deck 5 has standard, traditional balconies, or verandahs as Celebrity insists on calling them. In contrast, Deck 6 has the highly debated Infinite Verandas with a large window that can lower to provide a balcony-like experience.

Our balcony was the biggest I’ve ever had, with roughly double the space of a standard balcony on most lines. It had a comfy daybed in one corner and a regular chair in the other.

The balcony doors had large windows that blurred the line between regular windows and a door. Opening the curtains, you could see everything without even going onto the balcony.

There were quite a few days when I just relaxed on the bed with the sliding balcony door open, enjoying the breeze, ocean sounds, and views of the Galapagos. The air conditioning does turn off if you open the door, but the room cools down quickly once it’s closed.

I do wish they had a way to latch the balcony from the outside so one person could enjoy the air conditioning in the cabin while the other was on the balcony.

Tip: In your cabin will be the whole schedule for the week (rather than Celebrity Daily left each night like the rest of the fleet. You can scan a QR code so you can have the PDF on your phone as well, which is handy for planning later in the week.

Lunch in Seaside Restaurant

Even though Celebrity had already fed us on the flight over, they were serving a full lunch onboard from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM. They served it in the main dining room on Deck 4.

I was hoping to eat outside on the top deck, as I’d heard others had that option on their sailings, but ours was just inside.

Like the rest of the ship, the dining room featured huge windows that let bright sunlight pour in. Tables were arranged throughout the space, with standard two-tops, four-tops, and larger round tables for groups.

The maître d’ said that for breakfast and lunch, you could seat yourself, and meals were buffet-style in the back of the dining room. Dinner was also served here, but it was table service.

Being such a small ship with so few people, the buffet section was smaller than what you’d see on a normal cruise ship. It felt more like the size of a hotel buffet. But they still had a large selection, including light sandwiches, salads, soup, fish, and a whole variety of other options.

Waiters came around to take drink orders and bus tables.

Muster Drill

Because Flora is so small, Celebrity still uses the old-fashioned physical muster drill for the safety briefing, rather than the newer eMuster in the Celebrity app.

At 3:30 PM, all guests had to report to Deck 7, the top-deck, open-air location for a quick muster drill demonstration.

I forgot how frustrating it was to have to wait for everyone to come up before beginning. Even with just 100 guests, it took a while for everyone to trickle up to the deck. It’s like herding cats.

Still, it took less than 15 minutes, and we got to take in the scenery as we waited.

Top Decks on Celebrity Flora

Deck 7 is a large outdoor space. At the aft of the ship is a 12-person hot tub that’s elevated above the deck to provide perfect views of the landscapes while you’re in it. It’s another great little design decision made by the Celebrity team.

Dotted across the back area are clamshells, loungers, and chairs. You’ll also find a small smoking area here.

Midship on the top deck is Ocean Grill & Bar. It’s only open for lunch, and it wasn’t available on embarkation day. Here, you’ll find tables, couches, and lounge seating you can use anytime.

It’s shaded by a curved ceiling structure with dotted openings that allow light to still pour into the seating area without exposing guests directly to the strong equatorial sun.

At the front of the ship is The Observatory. Located right over the bridge, the space provides some of the best forward views from the ship. It was filled with tables, loungers, and games, along with strong air conditioning to fight off the sun pouring into the room.

Above it is a small stargazing area that’s used at night to look at the stars with no light pollution.

I was really impressed with how well they’d designed the whole top-deck area. You can tell they really thought about how to make this space perfect for a nature cruise.

The only thing that was a shame was that it was rarely used. Cruises on Flora are so jam-packed, that you don’t have much downtime to use the ship.

While the tables at Ocean Grill & Bar were used at lunch and dinner, the loungers in the back, in an area called The Vista, almost never had anyone in them until the last day. I wish they had found a way to better utilize these spaces, maybe for cocktail hours or after-dinner parties.

Ship Wi-Fi

At this point, it was time to connect our devices on the onboard network. The Celebrity app doesn’t work at all for Flora, so unless you want internet access, there’s really no reason to connect to the onboard network.

Wi-Fi is complimentary on Flora, with each guest getting what would normally be considered the four-device Premium streaming package.

The internet connection was really good, pulling down around 15 Mbps most of the time with little to no lag. It’s some of the best internet connectivity I’ve had in years, likely because only 100 guests share the Starlink connection compared to thousands on larger ships.

Our First Expedition Briefing

At 4:00 PM, we met in Discovery Lounge, the main congregation area of Flora on Deck 4.

With plenty of varied seating styles, a bar, a massive LED screen, and floor-to-ceiling windows, it would be one of the places where we spent most of our waking hours on Flora.

It was a really well-designed space, except for the fact that when they show presentations on the big screen, only guests in the front row can see the bottom third of the screen.

This was our first expedition briefing. Embarkation day followed a slightly different schedule, but for the rest of the cruise, we’d have a briefing around 7:00 PM each evening to go over the following day’s adventures.

There, we met Gio, the Expedition Director. Flora has no cruise director; those responsibilities are split between the Expedition Director and Hotel Director.

Gio explained all the rules of the Galapagos, which aren’t necessarily Celebrity rules but are set by the Galapagos National Park Directorate. The rules include not being able to go anywhere in the national park without a guide, not bringing any food onto the islands, and staying at least 8 feet away from animals whenever possible.

The ship had nine naturalists onboard who’d be with us throughout the week, helping us explore the different islands in the Galapagos. They’d undergone extensive training on the islands and were incredibly knowledgeable.

Picking Excursions for Tomorrow’s Adventure

Gio started the presentation about the next day’s activities. On Flora, all excursions are included in the price of the cruise. Usually, there was one set of excursions in the morning and another in the afternoon. The ship would change locations during lunchtime.

For the rest of the cruise, at 7:00 PM, they would present our options for the following day, and then we’d sign up with the naturalists.

The excursions usually ranged from passive activities, like simply taking a tender ride, to a “long walk,” which could be 1 to 2 miles. During the briefing, they showed pictures and shared tips on what kinds of people could handle each activity.

You could tell they usually got an older clientele, some of whom might have unsure footing or mobility issues, so they made a point of clearly explaining the difficulty level.

After the presentation, we walked up to one of the naturalists, gave our cabin number and the activities we wanted, and we were all set.

Suiting Up

At the briefing, each cabin was given a time to go down to the Marina and get suited up for snorkeling.

Each person who wants to participate in water activities for the week goes down to be fitted with a snorkel, a shortie wetsuit, and fins. All of those items are placed in a personalized bag with your cabin number on it and hung up so they’re easy to grab before heading right out on an excursion.

If you’re unsure if you’ll be doing water activities, just go down and get fitted. It only takes a few minutes, and then you’ll be set throughout the week. Otherwise, it’s a whole process for them to get you the equipment you need later.

The whole process of outfitting all the guests was incredibly well-run. It took less than 10 minutes to get everything squared away.

Tip: When you go to the fitting, wear what you’ll be wearing when you go swimming, like your bathing suit and rash guard. That way, you can make sure everything fits properly.

After that, we had a couple of hours to ourselves before the welcome toast and boat familiarization meeting at 7:00 PM. I used that time to unpack into the spacious closets.

Welcome Toast and Boat Familiarization

At 7:00 PM, we headed down to Discovery Lounge for the meeting. Even though the whole ship was there, plenty of seats were still available.

Waiters greeted us with a glass of champagne for a toast as we arrived, and other waiters circulated, taking additional drink orders during the presentation.

Lauren, the Director of Hotel Operations, handled this briefing. On this ship, it feels like the position is much more of a hybrid role, part cruise director, part hotel director, and part officer.

She was everywhere on the ship, greeting us on excursions, checking in before briefings, and even knowing us by name as we returned. At one point, she was helping a waiter bus a table at the upstairs café. It was so impressive.

But she did mention that things are a bit different on Flora because it’s so small. Most of the crew have hybrid roles. The Director of Security was also involved in navigation, and all the servers handled meals, drinks, and bussing tables.

It meant everyone knew a little bit of everything about the ship, which I liked. But it also meant you might not get the same level of service you would on a Celebrity ship in The Retreat.

Still, our sailing had 97 guests onboard, and 90 crew members, so the crew-to-guest ratio was fantastic.

First Dinner Onboard

After the presentation, everyone headed across the hall to Seaside Restaurant for our first dinner onboard.

Lauren warned us this might be a bit harried, not because it was the first night, but because all the guests were heading to dinner at once.

On other cruise ships, there’s usually an early seating, late seating, and then anytime seating. This means service and food preparation are stretched out over four hours, helping improve service.

On Flora, there’s only one dinner service at 7:30 PM, with everyone on the ship dining at the same time. On other nights, it wouldn’t be as much of an issue since there would be an excursion signup after the presentation and before dinner, which would naturally stagger the flow of guests.

We got in the short line, and within a few minutes, they showed us to our table.

It was the same dining room where we had eaten lunch earlier in the day, but it felt so different. Sunset is always around 6:30 PM in the Galapagos, so the large windows were already black by the time we arrived.

The lights were dimmed, and the color temperature warmed to an amber hue, creating a warm, intimate feeling.

Celebrity even designed a solid wall with décor that slides over the buffet portion. If I hadn’t looked for it, I wouldn’t have realized the restaurant ever had a buffet area. Other cruise lines have tried mixed spaces with buffet service at lunch and specialty dining at dinner, but none have executed it as well as this.

Our waiter this evening was Wellington, the same staff member who had shown us to our cabin on arrival and served us champagne at the event earlier. As on other Celebrity ships, each meal was three courses. For all courses, Celebrity has a “classics” menu that stays the same each day, along with a rotating section.

For dinner, all the rotating selections had an Ecuadorian focus. All produce and meats have to be sourced directly from Ecuador, so you won’t find many of the staples you’re used to on Celebrity, like French onion soup and escargot.

They also have a much more limited wine selection. Each night, there’s typically a red and a white wine to choose from. You won’t find a wine or drink menu anywhere on the ship.

On a normal Celebrity ship, you typically have a waiter, assistant waiter, and sommelier handling each table. On Flora, you only have one waiter, so the service wasn’t at the same level you might see across the fleet.

The staff was always personable and friendly, but you could tell they had a lot to do. For example, each night you’d get three custom breads and three dips, like on other Celebrity ships, but they never explained what they were. On other ships, it’s usually part of the opening spiel.

It didn’t bother me at all, but it was noticeably different.

Still, even with everyone arriving at once, we finished dinner service within an hour, at 8:30 PM.

After-Dinner Plans

The after-dinner activities on Flora are usually pretty light. And it’s not because Celebrity hasn’t planned anything, but because people are just too tired to do much after long days of activities.

Tonight’s activity was piano music in Discovery Lounge, but I decided to skip it and get ready for bed. We’d have a long day tomorrow with snorkeling and hiking.

Overall, I was really impressed with Celebrity Flora. The ship was stunning, the staff was warm and welcoming, and the whole operation seemed like a well-oiled machine.

But as impressive as the ship was, tomorrow was what we had really come all this way for. We’d finally head out into the Galapagos, with our first hikes, snorkeling trips, and wildlife encounters of the expedition.

Follow Along on Our Galapagos Adventures

• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Pre-Cruise - Quito
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 0 - Quito
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 1 - Baltra (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 2 - Española Island (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 3 - Floreana Island (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 4 - Isabela Island (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 5 - Fernandina and Isabela Islands (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 6 - South Plaza and Santa Cruz Islands (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 7 - Santa Cruz Island (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 8 - Baltra and Disembarkation (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 9 - Quito and Home (coming soon)

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Celebrity Flora Galapagos Cruise Blog – Quito Overview

• Full Day Tour of Quito
• Included Buffet Breakfast at Botanica Restaurant
• Meeting the Tour Group
• Virgin of El Panecillo Statue
• La Compañía – Jesuit Church
• Basilica and Convent of San Francisco
• Mistelas
• Ecuadorian Lunch
• Intinan Equator Museum
• Dinner at La Gloria
• Preparing for Tomorrow’s Travel
• Quito Wrap Up: Celebrity Excellence

Full Day Tour of Quito

The day before, Celebrity gave us a paper with a rundown of what to expect over the next two days, but for today’s activities, it was a pretty rough outline. It felt so odd, though, that I didn’t have to plan any of it. I’m normally a big planner, so having it all laid out for me was pretty different from what I’m used to.

I got dressed and prepared for the day. I was really surprised how chilly it would be in Ecuador in the mornings. Today, it was only in the 40s to 50s until closer to 11 AM. I wore a light pair of hiking pants and a long-sleeve button-down UV-protection shirt. It wasn’t supposed to be overly hot, but it would be sunny, and since I didn’t know if I’d have time to reapply sunscreen, I went with a long-sleeve shirt.

Tip: Bring your water bottles and backpacks. You can leave them on the van/bus, so they’re not that annoying to carry around, but they’re handy to have around.

Included Buffet Breakfast at Botanica Restaurant

We started our day with an included breakfast buffet at the Botanica Restaurant at the JW Marriott Quito. It was open from 6 AM to 8:45 AM. Located on the bottom floor and at the back of the hotel, the space felt like a garden. The restaurant opens onto the indoor solarium with palm trees and a koi pond, and it has massive windows overlooking the garden. It made for a very relaxing, calm breakfast as we fueled up for the day.

The buffet had all the stuff you’d usually expect: omelets, pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausages, cereal, and pastries. I always like to try local foods and fruits while visiting another country, and the buffet had a good assortment of fresh fruits and freshly squeezed juices.

Overall, the food was pretty good, although I think it was the first time in my life I didn’t eat the bacon. It was cooked properly, but the texture was almost like shoe leather. I eventually learned that this is how bacon is in Ecuador, and as a result, it was the least bacon I ever ate on vacation.

As we sat, I looked around at the other people at the restaurant. It was only half full, but I was wondering how many were in our group. I couldn’t figure out what the age range would be or the other kind of guests we’d be sailing with. At one point, I saw an older woman arguing with a hostess, complaining that the table she was sitting at wasn’t good enough. I thought, “I sure hope she’s not on our cruise.” About 5 minutes later, her granddaughters came down with their Celebrity backpacks and dashed those hopes. I’d run into that family a lot on this sailing.

Meeting the Tour Group

We were asked to meet in the lobby at 8:45, where they’d assign us to our groups for the next two days. Then, at 9 AM, we’d head out in our individual groups.

The whole thing was very well orchestrated. The groups were all around 10 people, small enough to make them feel very personable and to make it easy to get around the city. I can’t be sure, but it felt like they assigned the groups a bit according to age ranges. It could just be how it worked out for us, but it seemed that people in the same groups were roughly the same age or fitness level. Some people weren’t as mobile or maybe a bit older, and they were assigned to the same groups.

At 9 AM sharp, our guide came to our group and introduced himself to everyone. Before we started, Pedro checked in to see if we were experiencing any altitude sickness. We were at 9,400 feet at the moment and going up to 10,000 feet. No one in my group reported having any problems. I had a slight headache, but it could also have been from lack of sleep on the red-eye flight. It was nothing that stopped me, though, and we made sure to stay hydrated.

Once that was done, we headed out to the bus. Some groups had smaller shuttle vans, but our group went onto a larger, tourist-type bus with another group.

Virgin of El Panecillo Statue

Our first stop was climbing even higher to a statue of the Virgin Mary called the Virgin of El Panecillo. It was still very early; the local vendors and shops hadn’t opened yet, so we basically had the site to ourselves.

I’m not usually one for statues, but I had to admit, it was way more impressive than I thought. At 135 feet tall, it towers over the city. Its aluminum composition, which makes it the tallest aluminum statue in the world, meant it shined in the powerful equatorial sun. The statue depicts the Virgin Mary with wings and taming a serpent; not your usual way to see her.

During the visit, Pedro explained how this was important to the city, and also a bit controversial (the back of this impressive statue faces the poorer part of the city).

We spent about 30 minutes here, learning about the statue and taking in the views of the historic district it overlooked, before getting back on the bus.

Quito Historical District

We headed back onto the bus, and it made its way down into the heart of the historic district. Here, the city had so much more personality than the financial district where our hotel was. Buildings were colorful and had ornate details, a far cry from the concrete and glass construction in the hotel’s part of Quito. Here, it felt like the city was more alive with little shops and street vendors.

As we got closer to our next sites, the streets became too narrow for the bus, so we got off and headed on foot. At each stop, we were escorted by our guide Pedro and one “security officer.” He was in charge of keeping the group together and making sure pickpockets stayed away from the group. When I first read about having a “security officer,” it made me a bit apprehensive about the town, but in reality, it was a second-in-command to help with the group and watch us, not an armed guard or anything like that.

La Compania – Jesuit Church

Our first stop was the Church of the Society of Jesus, also known as La Compañía by locals. Construction began in 1600, and it took over 160 years to finish.

We walked through the massive wood doors and turned the corner to see a golden room. Nearly every surface of the walls and ceilings in this church was covered in 23K gold leaf. I’d seen pictures before, and I’ll post one here, but none of them do it justice. To walk into such a massive room that’s coated in gold is just a completely unique experience.

Pedro walked us through the history of the building and how it was built in the Spanish Baroque style with intricate carvings and art. Of course, when it was built, candlelight was the only light source, so they built small windows along the top to let the sun shine in and illuminate the gold. It was a really smart design.

Paintings hung around the walls of the church. The most interesting to me was this massive painting they used to educate the locals on what sins were and the punishment…hell.

Basilica and Convent of San Francisco

Our second stop was the Basilica and Convent of San Francisco. It’s larger and older than the previous building, with construction starting around 1535, but the outside actually felt newer because of the whitewashed walls.

We walked across a large, busy public plaza, which was filled with the bustle of locals and some tourists. It didn’t feel like a typical tourist area. In fact, we got many strange looks because of the listening devices we had on our ears. I’ve used them in other cities around the world and never saw reactions from people in the streets, so it must be fairly uncommon.

Currently, the facility is a Franciscan monastery, but it was originally designed as a convent. Inside the complex is a beautifully maintained tropical garden dotted with palm trees and sculpted shrubs. It felt like a calm, tropical retreat in the middle of a bustling city outside the walls.

Our guide took us up the stairs for a look at the large cathedral from the choir level. The space had a completely different feel than the previous cathedral, being longer and a bit more ornate. It was darker since there wasn’t an active service in progress and they were preparing for a wedding, but the skylights still let us see all the artwork.

Mistelas

The streets were so much busier at this point. I have to say, this part of Quito was probably the loudest city I’d ever been in. Music played from several restaurants, and people shouted out the goods they were selling, “agua, meringue.” It almost made New York City seem quiet.

On the way to lunch, Pedro stopped by a small shop in Quito that sells Mistelas. These are sugary candies with a hard sugar shell filled with real alcohol. They were invented during the colonial period when it was frowned upon for women to drink alcohol. These candies were a more acceptable way of doing it.

Biting into one of the candies was certainly a unique sensation. I’ve had liquor-filled chocolates, but they had a soft outer shell and a creamier center that would ooze out. Biting into these was more like puncturing a hard shell and getting a straight liquor shot.

Tip: Be careful if you want to bring these home, as they’re a bit fragile. We got a box of 16 for only $5, but only 3 of the 16 survived the trip home after being packed in our luggage.

Ecuadorian Lunch

At 12:15 PM, we arrived at yet another convent called Convent of Saint Augustine, but this time, not for sightseeing but for lunch. A long reception room was lined with tables for each tour group, while the buffet tables were just outside.

Tip: Make sure to bring your water bottle if you want to fill up. It was the only midday stop to get more filtered water.

The staff here was extremely welcoming and suggested you try all the different specialties of the area. Ecuador is known for its seafood, so there were plenty of seafood options, but you also had grilled chicken, empanadas, etc. Any food allergies and restrictions were already passed on to the staff.

A favorite of many was the shrimp ceviche, which you put popcorn on, but my favorite was the potato soup, which they served with avocado and cubes of cheese.

Soft drinks and soda were included in the meal, or you could pay for wine or beer. It was $5-$7 for a beer and $7 for a house red or white wine.

They gave us a full hour, which was plenty of time to have a relaxed meal and talk more with your tour group you were seated with.

Intinan Equator Museum

At 1:30, we left lunch and headed back to the bus for a trip to the Intinan Equator Museum. We had a 50-minute trip to get to the museum from the city. Pedro filled us in a bit about the city for the first 10 minutes, and then we got to rest for the remainder of the trip.

The Intinan Equator Museum is not your typical museum. It was originally built as a museum about the local culture, but years ago, with the advent of GPS, they realized the equator ran right through the museum, so it became a dual-purpose museum. It’s all outdoors, not some massive dark building you walk through.

Our guide turned us over to our local guide, who would take us through the museum. It took about an hour, with about 40 minutes learning about culture and natives and 20 minutes about the equator.

It was really interesting. Cacao is a big part of Ecuador, and they’re known for having some of the best cacao in the world. In fact, some of the best Belgian chocolate makers will only use Ecuadorian cacao. In one hut, we watched as a woman chopped a raw cacao bean and let us each taste the raw product. I’ve been to plenty of chocolate-making demonstrations, but never one where I tasted the raw cacao. It was slimy and really sweet, not chocolatey at all. I have no idea how an ancient person figured out that by roasting and grinding them, you could turn them into a completely different product.

After we learned about the culture, we went to the equator itself. Here, we could stand on both sides of the equator and try some experiments. In one, you’d balance an egg on the head of a nail, supposedly made easier at the equator (I could not do it).

In another experiment, you’d see the difference in the way water swirled at the equator and north and south of it. The Coriolis Effect works differently in the two hemispheres. While most people think the best example is how toilets flush, in reality, the jets and pipes affect the direction more than the Coriolis Effect. Here, though, they had a tub of water to show you the differences. In reality, it’d have to be much larger bodies of water to show the real Coriolis Effect, but it was a good illustration.

We finished at the museum at 4:10 PM and were back at the hotel by 5 PM. It was a long day, but very interesting and didn’t feel too rushed. Overall, I walked about 4.8 miles.

Dinner at La Gloria

As part of the tour, Celebrity arranged a private dinner for us at a local restaurant, La Gloria. We met in the lobby at 6:10 in our same tour groups and headed out. The local restaurant was a quick 10-minute bus ride away.

Because Celebrity rented out the whole restaurant, we could wear whatever we wanted. The menu here was a 3-course prix fixe meal of Peruvian and Ecuadorian dishes. Soft drinks were included, but wine cost extra.

The space actually felt like how Celebrity would design some of its own dining rooms, with dark burnt-orange walls lined with bottles of wine and yellow chairs. The space was a bit loud with 80-some people and few soft furnishings, but it still felt intimate.

I started with the grilled Ecuadorian shrimp since that’s one of the country’s main exports. They were tender and seasoned perfectly, with the avocado mousse adding a nice texture to the bite. For the main dish, I got the “Slow-Braised Beef Hind in a Clay Pot.” It was quite tasty as well, flavorful but not spicy.

For dessert, everyone received the same 3-dessert sampler with crème brûlée, banana flambé strudel, and chocolate cream.

Preparing for Tomorrow’s Travel

On the bus ride back, our tour guide let us know what we had to do this evening to be ready for the flight to Baltra.

First, we had to bring our checked luggage down for inspection. Normally, if you’re going to the Galapagos, all your luggage must be checked at the airport for things that may contaminate the islands. This can be quite a lengthy process, apparently, so Celebrity arranges to have an inspector come to the hotel at 5 AM to inspect the bags before the flight.

Tip: While Celebrity Flora doesn’t use the Celebrity app and you don’t need your boarding pass, having the luggage tags you get when you check in online is useful. If you don’t have them, they’ll just tag your bag manually.

We could bring our bags down to the lobby between 8:30 PM and 10:00 PM. There, the staff would sign off that they received them, zip-tie them, and lock them in a room. The next morning, the inspector would cut the zip ties, inspect the bags, and re-tie them for the rest of the trip. What they’re looking for is to make sure people aren’t bringing fruits, nuts, or seeds that could contaminate the islands. They also frown upon spare plastic bags, as they could float into the ocean, but they had no problem with my garbage bag of dirty clothes or the baggies for sunscreen.

In your carry-on/backpack, you’d keep your clothes for the next day, any medications, tablets, chargers, etc. Because it was a domestic flight to the Galapagos, you could bring liquids onboard, which made packing for one night a lot easier.

After that, Celebrity told us to fill out a form using a QR code that we’d need at the Galapagos Airport. They told us everything we needed to fill out on it and to take a screenshot of the approval QR code in case cell phone reception wasn’t working. It was impressive how well they walked us through the entire process of traveling to the Galapagos.

Quito Wrap Up: Celebrity Excellence

I couldn’t help but be blown away by Celebrity’s pre-tour excellence. They have thought of every little thing you need on your trip and take care of it. From greeting you by name at the airport, to providing quality meals, to shepherding you through all the sites of the city, the team took amazing care of everyone. It was a well-oiled machine, but it didn’t feel too rigid at all.

Quito really wasn’t on my radar as somewhere I wanted to visit; it was just a destination on the way to my ultimate goal, the Galapagos. It turns out I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It had so much history, and I didn’t realize how much I didn’t know about the country of Ecuador. And while people say Quito can be dangerous, in Celebrity’s hands and on my own the day before, I felt perfectly safe. In fact, I felt more unsafe walking to my car in NYC at 1 AM when I got home from this trip.

Follow Along on Our Galapagos Adventures

• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Pre-Cruise - Quito
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 0 - Quito
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 1 - Baltra (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 2 - Española Island (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 3 - Floreana Island (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 4 - Isabela Island (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 5 - Fernandina and Isabela Islands (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 6 - South Plaza and Santa Cruz Islands (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 7 - Santa Cruz Island (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 8 - Baltra and Disembarkation (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 9 - Quito and Home (coming soon)

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Since it was hard to find a lot of information about these sailings, I’m going to give you a play-by-play of my experience on this amazing vacation.

Celebrity Flora Galapagos Cruise Tour – Day 0 Overview

• Picking the Right Tour Operator for the Galapagos
• Celebrity Cruises 10-Day Tour Cruise
• About Me
• Arrival in Quito
• First Impressions of Quito
• Checking Into the JW Marriott Quito
• Exploring La Carolina Park and Quito Botanical Gardens
• Trying Some Local Food
• A Quick Stop at the Mall
• JW Marriott Pool
• Dinner at JW Marriott

Picking the Right Tour Operator for the Galapagos

There are several options for picking a tour operator if you want to visit the Galapagos. You can fly to Baltra and do it yourself. But that usually means taking a speedboat back and forth to the individual islands each day. A cruise provides a much more immersive experience where you stay on the ship, and it goes between the islands, with it never docking in between.

While there are a few cruise tours out there, I chose to go with Celebrity, mainly because I’ve had great cruises with them in the past and the experience looked amazing in the videos and brochures. I loved their Edge Class of ships, and their dedicated ship for the Galapagos uses the same design language. I also had the benefit that it would count towards Celebrity’s loyalty program, or in my case, I could use Points Choice and reassign them to Royal Caribbean, where I have higher status.

Celebrity also has one of the largest ships operating in the Galapagos, holding 100 people (the most the National Park will allow). Some other options are ships that hold around 15 or 50 people, but in this case, I wanted a larger ship. Because Galapagos cruises tour tend to skew to older clientele, having more people onboard meant a better chance of having some more active people on board with us (more people means more diversity of guests).

Celebrity Cruises 10-Day Tour Cruise

Celebrity’s Galapagos expeditions have a few different options.

Your first choice if you want to go on the Inner Loop or Outer Loop sailing. Both sailings are 7 days, but they differ in the islands they visit. The biggest difference between the two is the types of animals you might see. But, for me, I didn’t find a difference that would sway one way or the other; it was more about a time that worked for me.

Once you pick your cruise, you can extend it with a Cruise Tour. A 10-day option includes 2 hotel nights in Quito before the cruise, an extensive city tour the day before the cruise, and 1 hotel night in Quito after the cruise before flying home. The 11-day option adds an extra day at the tail end, during which you can pick your own excursion for the last day. They also offer an option to combine it with a trip to Machu Picchu, extending it to 16 days.

With the cruise tour options, Celebrity takes care of almost everything. They pick you up at the airport in Quito, check you into the hotel, handle all the paperwork and requirements you need to enter the Galapagos, and put you on a private charter flight from Quito to Baltra to start your cruise. They take care of everything, every step of the way. If you book the 7-day version, you need to figure out how to get to Baltra yourself for the cruise departure. And while it’s not impossible, it is much more of a hassle according to those I spoke to.

For this vacation, we did the 10-day version of the Outer Loop cruise. I booked it only 92 days before it left because other vacation plans fell through. That meant I didn’t have a ton of time to figure out all the logistics; going with the cruise tour meant Celebrity would just take care of everything for me.

About Me

Before I got into the meat of the article, I wanted to briefly explain who I am so you can understand where I’m coming from for this article. In all my research before this cruise, I had trouble really understanding where people were coming from when they gave feedback. If they said the hikes were hard, would I agree? If they thought the food was amazing, what were they comparing it to?

So for my background, I’m in my 40s, and this was my 18th cruise. I’m from the Northeast in the U.S., and I first cruised in 2004 and have cruised with almost all the main North American brands. I’m a pretty low-maintenance cruiser. I usually book a standard balcony cabin (or interior if I’m trying to save cost). I rarely purchase specialty dining, and while I do enjoy food, I usually find the main dining rooms on most sailings meet my needs.

When it comes to excursions, every once in a while I might book a beach visit, but more often I prefer ones that explore local culture, nature, or wildlife. Excursions that let me see unique places in nature are some of my favorites. I have no problem with cruise line excursions, but I’m also just as likely to book something and explore on my own.

This just gives you a lens through which I saw this sailing.

Arrival in Quito

Finding direct flights from the NY/NJ area to Quito was a struggle, and the only one was a red-eye landing at 6 AM Quito time. We booked Avianca, an airline I’d never heard of before, but soon learned it was a budget airline from Colombia; similar to Spirit Airlines or Frontier in the USA. Because of that, legroom was very tight.

The plane only had 28-29″ between rows (United and American average 30″ while Delta is 31″). On this plane, upgrading to plus didn’t get you any more space. The only options with more legroom were exit rows, but you had to speak fluent English to sit in those seats. Thankfully, the plane was clean, and service was great. Like other budget airlines, the seats reduce the padding (in order to save fuel costs), so I purchased this inflatable pillow that really helped (see it on Amazon).

The flight was uneventful; just 6 hours, not much more than a flight to the West Coast from JFK airport in NYC. We arrived at 6 AM, and I was pretty worn down. I have a terrible time sleeping on planes, so I got maybe 20 minutes of sleep on the flight, meaning I’d been up for nearly 24 hours at that point.

We deplaned and went through passport control, a simple process that took about 25 minutes due to the queue. Then we grabbed our bags and went through a customs X-ray scanner. Once we exited the customs area, we immediately saw a well-dressed gentleman in a tailored navy jacket holding a Celebrity sign.  

The host, Pablo, greeted us by name and took us to meet two other people who had also just arrived. Then we took a short walk outside to the arrivals lane to meet our shuttle.

Tip: We booked our flights through Celebrity so they already had our flight information. If you book your own flights and are on the 10- or 11-day cruise tour packages, you’ll receive an email a month or so before the cruise to input all your information so they can pick you up.

As we stepped outside, I was surprised by how cold it was. This was the beginning of August, and it was only 43 degrees at 6:45 AM. I regretted not having a light jacket or sweatshirt with me (they were in my luggage). The air was crisp and fresh, which helped wake me up a bit as I looked out at the towering mountains and volcanoes around us.

A 12-person shuttle pulled up and the four of us plus Pablo got into the van. The seats that were much more comfortable than the discount seats on the Avianca flight. Once the driver turned on the heater, I was so much more comfortable.

With that, we were on our way to the JW Marriott in Quito, Ecuador, the official hotel of the cruise-tour version of the sailing. It was a 50-minute drive to the hotel. Along the way, Pablo explained in detail what we could expect for the next two days in Quito. For the first day (Friday), we had the day to ourselves, with no official tours, meetings, or meals scheduled.

The very first thing he did was explain possible altitude sickness. Quito is the highest capital in the world, and at 9,350 feet in elevation, it’s nearly double that of Denver, Colorado. To combat that, his main tip was to stay hydrated, take it easy, and avoid alcohol while you acclimate. He gave us a big bottle of water to get us started. Thankfully, while I felt some minor effects (it could also have been from not getting enough sleep), the altitude didn’t impact me too much or affect my time in Quito.

Along the drive, Pablo shared tons of details about Quito and Ecuador: the history, the culture, and the people. I didn’t know much about Ecuador or Quito going in, so it was interesting to learn all about it.

First Impressions of Quito

He also shared some information about the safety in Quito, which I had read about a lot in my research before the cruise. Overall, the biggest danger in Quito is pickpockets, much like you’d experience in other touristy cities around the globe. Because the area the hotel was in had a bunch of tourist hotels, he cautioned us to be alert if walking around, as it could be a target for pickpockets. The risk was much lower in busier areas populated by locals.

For those who didn’t feel comfortable walking, he said the hotel could arrange a driver if you wanted to visit places, and they could wait for you and bring you back if you wanted. Since it would be arranged through the hotel, it could be paid by credit card or even charged to your room. Quito also uses Uber, which was safe. He did say not to use local taxis as they can scam you.

Checking Into the JW Marriott Quito

We arrived at the JW Marriott around 8 AM. Quito is huge (25 miles long), so you can’t say it’s in the heart of the city, but it is nestled in the Iñaquito neighborhood, near the city’s financial district. It’s a very industrial-looking part of the city, not particularly different from any other business district in a metropolitan area. It’s next to a McDonald’s and across from a car rental place; not the most picturesque of neighborhoods.

As we arrived, two impeccably dressed doormen welcomed us and then grabbed our bags from the van while Pedro showed us into the lobby. I was immediately impressed by the open and airy feeling of the hotel lobby. It was constructed almost like a greenhouse, with huge glass panels forming the walls and ceiling and trees living inside. The city’s industrial feel seemed to melt away as we entered this little private resort paradise.

Tip: For those worried about traveling abroad and not knowing the language well, everyone at the JW Marriott spoke very good English and made you feel right at home.

Pablo told us to check in but warned that rooms might not be ready this early, as the hotel was fully booked. The desk attendant checked us in and said if we wanted, we could check in early for $45. Otherwise, we’d have to wait until 1 PM for a room (which is still earlier than the 3 PM they usually publish). Because I desperately needed some sleep, I opted for the early check-in, which also got us an upgrade to an “executive suite,” although I’m not sure what that actually meant.

Once we got our room keys, Pablo gave us Celebrity backpacks and metal water bottles that were labeled with our cabin numbers. We’d use both of these a lot on the trip. He suggested not drinking the water in Quito to avoid stomach troubles, so the hotel provided two large bottles of filtered water in the room, and the lobby also had a refill station.

Pablo also pointed out Celebrity’s dedicated hospitality desk that we could stop by if we had any trouble. Other cruise lines were also in the lobby with their own desks as well, so this hotel must be the base of operations for quite a few tours each week.

Tip: all the backpacks look alike, and when they’re piled on the beach in the Galapagos, it can take awhile to find yours. Consider bringing a ribbon or unique identifier; I used these bright green luggage tags from Amazon.

We headed up to our room, and the bellman brought out bags a few minutes later.

The room itself was spacious and well-appointed. Rich brown wood floors and expansive windows let in lots of natural light gave the room a very homey but still distinctly vacation-like feeling. This room had a view of the beautiful pool located behind the hotel.

For a city hotel, the size of the room was quite large, with plenty of space and a really big bathroom. The hotel had a good number of outlets (they use standard US outlets) as well as a min-fridge and coffee maker.

Exploring La Carolina Park and Quito Botanical Gardens

After a quick 2-hour nap to recharge, we decided to explore the city a bit. Celebrity’s cruise-tour package included a fairly comprehensive Quito tour on Day 1, so there wasn’t a ton that was on our list to do in Quito. One thing we had on our list to kill time was their botanical garden located in La Carolina Park.

The park was located a short 20-minute walk from the JW Marriott. It didn’t feel unsafe while we were walking, and the path from the hotel to the park was a designated walking lane that felt safe, at least in bright daylight.

Quito Botanical Gardens was in the middle of the park, and signage was a bit lacking, so we had to wander a bit to find it. Once we found the entrance, we headed to the ticket booth, but figuring out the cost was a bit confusing. General admission to the garden was just $6 per person, but they also offered a limited-time dinosaur-themed exhibition for an additional fee.

Tip: Ecuador uses the US dollar, so there’s no need to change money. Make sure to bring a lot of smaller bills like 5’s and 10’s; things are relatively inexpensive in Ecuador, so if you bought a $1 soda and gave them a $20, it could be hard for them to make change.

The Botanical Garden was a good size, with paths all leading through different areas. Staff greeted us upon entry and gave us a large, laminated map to navigate the space. She also gave us some “tips,” but I only understood about 25% of them because my high school Spanish classes were only minimally helpful 20+ years later.

The garden was well-maintained and had a lot of local species. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the right season to see everything blooming, but there was still lots of plants. About half the signs were in English and Spanish, which made it easy to fully understand what we were seeing. For the remaining signs, I used Google Translate, which did a great job.

Some of my favorite sections in the garden were a room with carnivorous plants, a well-designed cactus garden with massive cacti, and a whole bonsai section.

Overall, we spent about an hour in the garden. It was a worthwhile little side trip and got us up, moving, and acclimated to the altitude.

Trying Some Local Food

We exited the garden and walked around the park a bit. On the path right next to the park stood a bunch of food stalls manned by locals, so we grabbed a quick lunch there.

We tried some delicious ice cream that was $1 a scoop. Ecuadorian ice cream is much more fruit-focused than what you’d see in the US. It was more like sorbet, but still had dairy in it. The flavors were incredibly fresh and used way less sugar than you’d expect, providing a really refreshing dessert.

We walked farther into the park, where I saw more food stalls offering lunch options. For some of the meats, I couldn’t understand what they were, and Google Translate wasn’t processing them properly. I’m guessing that meant the food was more local names than generic types of meat. I was a bit cautious because I didn’t want to accidentally order guinea pig (an option in South America) or another meat I didn’t know what it was.

I ended up finding a special French Fry place where you could get fries with fried eggs or chopped meat on them. I ended up getting French Fries topped with a fried chicken breast. The chicken was really moist and flavorful; it must have been marinated in something, but I couldn’t place it. The shopkeeper suggested I try the guava ketchup,, which was sweeter than our ketchup; it was closer to a sweet-and-sour sauce at a Chinese take-out restaurant. For $2, it was really tasty and impressive.

While I understand and speak some Spanish, I’m far from fluent, but everyone we interacted with at the shops was very friendly and helpful. Even if they didn’t speak English, they were understanding and didn’t give dirty looks when we encountered a language barrier. I always appreciate that. I don’t expect people to know English at all; after all, I’m in their country, but I appreciate when locals have some grace when I butcher the language goes a long way.

For example, at one point I was trying to get a Diet Coke. I asked “Tienes Coke Light?” which is what they call Diet Coke in Mexico. Apparently, they don’t call it that in Ecuador. So I tried saying “Coke Zero,” which is apparently much more popular everywhere else in the world. That didn’t work either. Thankfully, another cashier saw me struggling and said: “Coca sin azucar” (Coke without sugar), and the problem was solved.

A Quick Stop at the Mall

After lunch, we headed to a mall located right next door to the park, Mall El Jardin. It was just like a mall as you’d typically find in the U.S. (well, until they all go out of business), with some familiar chain stores and some local ones as well.

If you were in Quito and realized you forgot something, there was a large pharmacy and a chain grocery store in this mall. I always like going into a local store to see what kind of foods they have and what they offer. Sometimes you’ll find unique fruits, snacks, or desserts that we don’t have at home (also, they make cheap gifts for those at home).

Because we were going to the Galapagos next, which had very strict restrictions on what we could bring, we opted not to stock up on much. We did find some unique craft beers for just $4.

JW Marriott Pool

We got back to the hotel around 2 PM and decided to try out the pool. The JW Marriott’s pool is quite large with a waterfall in the center, a hot tub, and lounge chairs all around. The bar wasn’t staffed at this point, but you could use a QR code to order drinks or light food bites, and someone would bring it out.

It was only 70 degrees and breezy, so a bit too cold for reading a book in a chair. The pool was heated, but only minimally. When the sun went behind a cloud, it became too cold to be in the water. We only spent about 45 minutes in the pool, but it was refreshing.

Dinner at JW Marriott

The JW Marriott has a few onsite dining options if you don’t want to leave the hotel. Fogo de Chão is a Brazilian steakhouse with all-you-can-eat meat, and Kaori is Japanese sushi. There’s an executive buffet downstairs called Botanical Garden, and Raíces, an Ecuadorian restaurant. All the places were probably average prices for what I’d see at home in the NY area, but since things are cheaper in Ecuador, they could be considered pricey dinner options.

We planned to have dinner at Raíces to try some local food, but we didn’t think to make a reservation. When we stopped by around 6 PM, they said they were booked until 8:30 PM. Normally that would be fine, but I was still running on too little sleep, so we opted to try another place.

On the website, they list the restaurant downstairs as Kaori, Japanese/sushi, but in reality, it’s “The Exchange,” basically the hotel bar with normal bar foods and then a small sushi counter at one side. The decor was modern, but they didn’t really have regular dinner tables; it was more lounge-style seating. You could tell it was catering to the tourist market with American pop music playing in the background and football on the TVs.

At 6 PM, the place was empty, but it quickly filled up as the night went on. The staff was super friendly, though they got a bit overwhelmed when it got crowded closer to 6:30/7. The food and drinks were reasonably priced: $10 for a cocktail, $7 for a beer, comparable to what we’d see at home (again, it’d usually be cheaper in Ecuador, so we’re paying for convenience).

After that, we turned in early so we’d be ready for the next day, as it’d be a full-day tour followed by a group dinner.

Follow Along on Our Galapagos Adventures

• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Pre-Cruise - Quito
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 0 - Quito
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 1 - Baltra (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 2 - Española Island (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 3 - Floreana Island (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 4 - Isabela Island (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 5 - Fernandina and Isabela Islands (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 6 - South Plaza and Santa Cruz Islands (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 7 - Santa Cruz Island (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 8 - Baltra and Disembarkation (coming soon)
• Celebrity Flora - Galapagos Cruise Blog - Day 9 - Quito and Home (coming soon)

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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

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Celebrity Reflection Day 4 Overview

• Celebrity Reflection Day 4 Schedule
• Breakfast at the Oceanview Cafe
• Fitness Center
• Street Curling
• Pool Time on the “Poolest Day Ever”
• Solarium Pool on a Sea Day
• Special Sea Day Lunch Buffet
• Upper Decks on the Reflection
• Cafe Al Bacio for Snacks
• Pre-Dinner Drinks at the Martini Bar
• Final Dinner in the Opus Dining Room
• Poor Service at Cellar Masters
• “Feel the Funk” Production Show
• Silent Disco
• Debarking and Heading Home

Celebrity Reflection Day 4 Schedule

Breakfast at the Oceanview Cafe

After the jam-packed day before (read about that here), I got a late start at breakfast. I didn’t go to the buffet until 9:45 AM, which is pretty late for me. As the buffet is usually on any sea day, it was busy; busier than I’d seen it so far this sailing.

All the same options were out again: made-to-order omelets, a full English breakfast, a variety of pancakes, waffles, and French toast, yogurt, cereals, and breads. I realized I made a mistake by getting all the stuff I liked on the first few days, so breakfast was starting to feel repetitive. With the same offerings every day, it’d be better if I just stuck to one type of food each day to keep from getting “bored.” Today, I went for cereal, yogurt, and fresh fruit; something I would rarely get at home. Of course, I had to grab a side of bacon too; it’s my biggest vacation treat.

Getting the food was again a little frustrating. The food service area on Reflection has plenty of room, but people were really slowing down the process. Today, there was only one station with pancakes, waffles, etc., and the line was so long because people would stay and look at all the choices, then slowly take one pancake and stand there still thinking. It’s frustrating, but not something Celebrity could necessarily fix.

The one thing under their control that I mentioned previously was the flow of people in the lines. The custom-made-to-order egg line was right next to the hot breakfast options, blocking access to the waffles and pancakes. The egg line was long, but because it was placed there, everyone had to wait for breakfast staples.

Once I grabbed all my food, I tried to find a table. This time, it required a full lap of the buffet to find one. Many of the tables were full, but as soon as people got up, the staff cleaned and turned the tables for the next group.

Fitness Center

Stepping into the Fitness Center, it was hard to believe this ship was built in 2012. The gym felt like it had been lifted straight out of a 1990s Florida resort. I could practically picture the cast of The Golden Girls working out here, trying to burn off the cheesecake from the night before. The seafoam green accents, patterned carpeting, and drop ceilings are a far cry from the sleek, minimalist fitness centers found on most newer cruise ships.

Still, dated decor aside, the Fitness Center itself was clean and well maintained, and the equipment appeared newer than the rest of the room. Panoramic windows wrapped around the front of the ship, flooding the space with natural light and helping it feel bright and airy despite the retro aesthetic.

The gym is also quite large and well equipped, with plenty of treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, rowing machines, and strength equipment. Celebrity also offered a few nice touches, including cucumber water, chilled towels, and even complimentary headphones for guests.

By the time I visited that morning, the gym was surprisingly busy, probably around two-thirds full. The strength-training area was fairly crowded and would have been difficult to use comfortably, though there was still plenty of cardio equipment available.

Tip: The Fitness Center has large showers and a sauna available in the individual locker rooms for use by all guests at no additional charge.

Next to the gym is the Persian Garden, the ship’s thermal spa area with heated tile loungers, sensory showers, an aromatic steam room, and sauna. I did not purchase access for this sailing; voyage-long passes were priced from $75 to $159, depending on when you booked. Access is also included for guests staying in AquaClass cabins.

Street Curling

Keeping up with the physical activity, the next stop was “street curling” at 11:30. This event uses a large inflatable rink and special stones on casters to simulate the curling experience. Unlike real curling, you won’t have to do any sweeping or sliding in this version. In reality, it’s probably closer to shuffleboard than actual curling, but it still sounded like a fun activity.

The event takes place in the Grand Foyer, nestled between the two banks of elevators. Again, it was so weird to see this space used for sporting events. I really wish the ship had better places for activities like these, but I have to give Celebrity credit for coming up with a solution like this. Back when the ship was built, I’m sure they didn’t have as many physical activities like they do now, so they had to make do with what they had.

I’m not sure if it’s because we had just come off the Winter Olympics, where the US had a strong curling showing, but this event was very well attended with a crowd forming about 15 minutes before. You signed up in teams of two, and the sign-up sheet filled up rather quickly; they had to close sign-ups, but still got at least 40 teams.

You would compete against one team to see who got the most points. Each person had a chance to slide three stones down the rink, alternating between teams and players. It was hard to predict how hard you had to throw it, and with only three turns, it was hard to really get the hang of it. We didn’t win our match, but it was still fun, and Celebrity handled a good-sized crowd pretty well.

Pool Time on the “Poolest Day Ever”

After realizing we’ll never be Olympic gold medalists, we headed up to the pool decks to enjoy the gorgeous weather. It was a perfect day, sunny and 78 degrees with a gentle breeze blowing over the decks.

Celebrity’s new marketing spin is to have the “Poolest Day Ever” on their Caribbean sailings. It’s a clear marketing effort to make the brand resonate more with millennials and get rid of the “stodgy” old feeling that might have been associated with Celebrity. That said, it’s balanced well; less “Vegas Pool Party” than Hideaway Beach on Perfect Day or The Hideaway adult pool area on Star of the Seas (see more here).

Visually, it’s not a huge transformation, but it does make the space feel a bit more fun. Bright orange inflatable balls are added to the pool deck. They put patterned fabric drapes in some areas to make the place feel more playful. And, as with anything targeting the younger generation, they added an Instagram backdrop near the stage.

I walked around the area to see what the crowds were like. I always say, a sea day is the true test of how a ship handles its capacity, as there are thousands of people walking around looking for something to do. So far, the ship has felt uncrowded and handled crowds well, but what about the pool decks?

The pool decks were certainly busy, but they didn’t feel crowded or cramped. Finding a lounger was a challenge as most of the chairs were occupied, either by people or by placeholder towels. I liked that the Reflection had a good number of both shaded and direct-sun chairs.

The pools and hot tubs were also busy. Because the two pools and four hot tubs are so close to each other, the area visually felt more crowded than it really was.

Solarium Pool on a Sea Day

As I walked through the doors from the main pool to the Solarium, I was shocked by how little noise bleeds into the more relaxing space. The deck music faded into the background as I walked into the warm, serene area. All the loungers in this space were occupied, but the pool was surprisingly empty. I guess most people wanted to use pools outside in this beautiful weather, but I liked the extra space in the Solarium.

I jumped into the pool for a bit. Unfortunately, Celebrity doesn’t put any cubbies here to hold your belongings, so we had to take up a chair with our towels, shirts, and shoes. It’s frustrating because I didn’t need a lounger; I just needed somewhere to put my stuff. Thankfully, on newer ships, they’ve learned. The Xcel has a whole locker system on the pool deck, and on sister cruise line Royal Caribbean’s newest Icon Class ships, every pool and hot tub has a cubby nearby to store personal belongings without taking up space.

I still found it odd that the Solarium didn’t have a bar or a bar cart, but the drink service was prompt. Nearly every couple of minutes, a waiter came by to take orders, both from the loungers and from the pool. I will say, I did feel spoiled by having a drink brought to me without even having to get out of the water.

Another thing I didn’t love about the space was the view from the pools. While the glass windows all around the Solarium let you enjoy the beautiful ocean views from the loungers, the lower position of the pool means you miss out on them. Newer ships use infinity pools and glass edges to make you feel more connected with the outside. That said, I still really enjoyed the Solarium here.

While this pool is adult-only, there was one father with his two children who were probably around 8, and no one asked him to leave. They weren’t causing any commotion, so it wasn’t a problem, but I’ve heard many other cruisers complain that Royal Caribbean and Celebrity don’t enforce their policies like other lines do.

After relaxing for a bit, we decided to dry off and head to lunch.

Special Sea Day Lunch Buffet

Heading to the buffet at 1 PM, it was absolute chaos. The crowds coming in from the pool, plus all the other guests looking for lunch, swarmed the Oceanview Cafe. And because it was the last day of the cruise, it was a special elevated buffet.

Tip: If crowds aren’t you think, head to the buffet around noon or after 1:30 on the last day. Crowds are much more manageable.

A line of beautiful cakes replaced one of the dessert stations, while a chocolate fountain across the way offered another delicious dessert option. For entrees, they had a huge tower of chilled shrimp and special dishes like lobster mac and cheese.

While the elevated dishes were nice options, each had to be served by a staff member, which created lines throughout the space. And since the buffet isn’t really meant to handle lines, they all kind of jumbled into each other, creating a confusing mess.

It was my first fully disappointing meal on board the ship. I tried an Indo-Chinese dish, chili chicken, which was cold. The breads I tried were very dry. The shrimp was definitely a little soft, not exactly premium grade. The lobster mac and cheese was at least tasty.

It also illustrated what I thought on Day 1 (read about that here): the Reflection needs another quick-service lunch place onboard that’s not nearby. While Mast Grill served burgers and hot dogs, it was just one deck above, and I’d see people walking back and forth between the two places. Royal Caribbean had the right idea on their new ships by spacing out food venues to disperse crowds. I’ve been on ships with thousands more people and haven’t had to experience crowds like this in the buffet.

Upper Decks on the Reflection

After lunch, we decided to spend some time on deck reading and relaxing. I had brought my Kindle with a brand-new book for the trip, fully expecting to make decent progress, but by this point I had barely made a dent in it. So we headed up top to find somewhere to settle in.

The upper decks were buzzing with activity, and finding an open chair proved more difficult than expected. Everywhere we walked, I saw the same thing: other passengers circling the deck in search of a spot, hoping someone would get up before they completed another lap.

Eventually, we made our way to the front of the ship to the Solstice Deck. This tucked-away area is accessed by two small stairways at the forward end of Deck 15 and feels almost hidden if you do not know it is there. Compared to the busy pool deck with music blasting and constant activity, it offered a much calmer, more peaceful atmosphere.

The space features a good number of loungers, with options in both direct sun and shade. Beneath it sits the ship’s netted basketball court, which is so tucked away that if I had not wandered up there myself, I probably never would have known Celebrity Reflection even had one.

Drink service in this area was fairly infrequent, but Mast Bar was close enough that it was easy to walk over when needed. Even with the bar staying busy, service moved quickly enough that it was never much of an inconvenience.

We spent the next couple of hours relaxing up there, though I kept finding myself repeatedly dragged back into the sun despite intentionally choosing a shaded lounger. Eventually, I checked CruiseMapper and realized why. Rather than sailing directly south, Celebrity Reflection had gone north past Fort Lauderdale before turning back around and slowly looping offshore. Most likely, the ship had time to kill since Perfect Day at CocoCay is so close to Port Everglades. Because of the ship’s constant turning, the angle of the sun kept shifting, and the shade moved with it.

Around 3 PM, we had to leave as the area was being closed for a private event.

I ended up liking the Solstice Deck quite a bit, which makes it disappointing that this space will likely disappear in the future. The first ship in this class, Celebrity Solstice, recently underwent a $50 million modernization, and part of that renovation included removing both the basketball court and Solstice Deck to add an additional deck of suite cabins, along with a new forward-facing suite-only outdoor area for The Retreat.

It is a shame to see such a peaceful public space converted into another suite-exclusive venue. Thankfully, Celebrity has at least kept the indoor forward-facing Sky Observation Lounge. Both of these features were sorely missing on newer Edge Class ships.

Cafe Al Bacio for Snacks

Since I had some time before dinner, I headed to Cafe Al Bacio for some snacks. I’m not a coffee drinker, so normally on most cruise lines, I’d never visit the coffee place. But Celebrity has a large display case of complimentary snacks at the cafe that I went to quite a few times. On the lower shelves, you’d find small sandwiches, while on the top was a selection of desserts, some that were better than what was in the main dining room. And, of course, they always had cookies ready to go. I really enjoyed having this option available almost anytime.

On my last sailing on the Apex, Cafe Al Bacio was almost always crowded, but that was a cool-weather Norwegian Fjord cruise (see that cruise blog here). On the Reflection, it was much less crowded except during peak periods in the morning. In the afternoon, you could easily grab a coffee or snack without much wait. I do wish the area had more seating, though.

On my last cruise, I had their pour-over iced tea, which I loved, but I just didn’t have time for it this sailing. We didn’t walk by Cafe Al Bacio as much, so I was also less tempted to stop and get one.

Cafe Al Bacio on the Reflection also has a gelateria where they offered alcoholic ice cream for an additional cost, but it didn’t seem very popular.

Tip: Complimentary, regular, hard-scooped ice cream is available in the Oceanview Cafe with a variety of flavors that changed daily, and toppings.

Pre-Dinner Drinks at the Martini Bar

At 5:30 PM, we headed to the Martini Bar on Deck 4 of the ship, right outside the Opus Dining Room. The Martini Bar is a staple on nearly every Celebrity cruise ship, offering a wide selection of martinis and, a few times a night, a performance as the bartenders put on a show with their flair bartending skills.

Throughout the cruise, the Martini Bar proved to be the most popular bar onboard. Before dinner, there was always a crowd. It didn’t help that Celebrity offers guests in the “Elite” level and higher of its loyalty club a cocktail hour with free drinks from a set menu. It seems to really back up the bars, especially the Martini Bar.

Having sailed on Celebrity’s Edge Class ships before this sailing, I had high expectations for this bar. On the Apex, the Martini Bar was the heart of the ship, with large-scale chandeliers installed over a huge open bar area. Seeing it on Reflection felt like a huge step down, although since Reflection was built first, it really just shows how much the concept has evolved.

The oval-shaped bar is right off the second level of the Grand Foyer. With seating for 20 guests, it’s not small by any means, but it couldn’t keep up with the pre- and post-dinner crowds. The surrounding area had seating as well with waiters circulating to take orders.

One thing I never get about the Martini Bar is the really low stools. The Celebrity Apex had a similar setup. I’m not sure why, but it makes talking to the bartender feel really awkward. The large art installation/chandelier also makes the space feel very confined and dark.

While Celebrity markets the bar as “ice-topped,” it feels more like a “frosted” bar top. The bar top is refrigerated and develops a light layer of frost when powered up. It’s a neat gimmick, but I’m not sure why they did it. The whole point of using martini glasses is that the long stem is supposed to keep the drink from getting warm; I’m not sure if having the drink on the cold bar top would chill it any more than it already is.

Although the bar was full, we had no problems getting drinks within a couple of minutes once we found a seat. A server came over promptly and took our order. Celebrity has consistently had some of the best drink service out of any cruise line I’ve sailed on, including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Virgin Voyages.

Out of all the bars on the ship, the Martini Bar probably had the best menu options in my opinion, and I found both the menu and service to be quite a bit better here than at the World Class Bar. Some of my favorite martinis here were the Cucumber Martini and the Lychee Martini; both were well balanced and were a nice play on a traditional martini. If you’re looking for a post-dinner or dessert cocktail, the Bananas Foster Martini was quite tasty.

Final Dinner in the Opus Dining Room

We headed to the podium in the Opus Dining Room for our 6 PM reservation and were promptly seated. Even though we didn’t have “set time” dining, they were able to assign us the same table and dining room team each night, which I really enjoyed. Our sommelier came over immediately and knew exactly what we wanted to drink.

I was really going to miss the three fresh breads and dips they brought out every day. It’s just so far beyond what other cruise lines are doing.

For the main meal, I started with the Beef Carpaccio. It’s something I’d never order at home, but the beauty of a cruise is getting to try new things. It came with a zesty Dijon aioli and Parmesan that really complemented the meat. For my entrée, none of the daily entrees were calling out to me, so I got the broiled salmon with hollandaise.

For dessert, I got the Apple Tart Tatin, which was ok, but I think I preferred the Apple Crumble from a few nights before. Overall, I think dessert was Celebrity’s weakest part of the main dining room experience. It was not bad at all, but nothing blew me away.

Poor Service at Cellar Masters

After dinner, we headed to a venue we had not tried yet: Cellar Masters. Part wine bar and part sports bar, it is located on Deck 4 across from the Martini Bar. Because it is one of the few enclosed bars on the ship and not open to the main walkway, you could easily miss it if you were not specifically looking for it.

Inside, Cellar Masters has a warm, cozy atmosphere with natural wood tones, stone textures, and soft floor lighting that gives the space a comfortable glow. Plush seating and couches are scattered throughout, making it feel more like an upscale lounge than a typical cruise ship bar. Large TVs on either side of the room were showing sporting events, adding an unexpected sports bar element to the otherwise refined setting.

The venue was fairly busy that evening, likely because a soccer match was on the TVs. Oddly, Cellar Masters does not appear to have traditional bar seating or any area where guests can walk up to order. Instead, it operates entirely with table service.

Unfortunately, that setup was not working well. There was only one server covering the entire venue, and he seemed completely overwhelmed. Despite staying for 22 minutes, no one ever stopped by to take our order. It honestly caught me off guard given how strong the service had been everywhere else on Celebrity Reflection up to that point.

Eventually, we gave up and left, heading instead to the World Class Bar, which was noticeably less crowded. While the bar stools were all taken, plenty of nearby seating was available, and, more importantly, we were able to get a drink.

“Feel the Funk” Production Show

For entertainment this evening, we went to the 9 PM showing of “Feel the Funk.” The daily schedule promoted the show saying, “Feel the Funk electrifies the stage with powerhouse vocals, irresistible grooves, and chart-topping hits, from soulful R&B to high-energy pop and Latin beats.”

We arrived about 15 minutes before the show and had no problem finding a seat. I love how big the theater is and how nearly every seat offers good views of the stage. In this case, though, it didn’t matter. The theater was less than 50% full when the lights went down.

Unlike the last show, which had a slight story, “Feel the Funk” is just a straight performance with vocals and dancing. I really appreciate that there aren’t backing tracks here; you still have a full band playing live on stage, four vocalists, and a team of dancers. They performed songs by George Michael, Bruno Mars, and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.”

Again, the show brought out two acrobats for one song. Their act was impressive, but it feels so odd that it’s just reserved for one small portion of two shows.

At the end, the cast tried to get the audience to sing along to “Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. It was a good attempt, but it’s a very fast song with lyrics that are hard to understand, let alone sing along to. It was an odd choice for a finale.

Overall, it was an ok show. I definitely preferred the “Broken Strings” show from Day 2, and this probably ranks in the middle tier of every cruise show I’ve seen. It was amazing how much more production quality they put into the shows on the new ships compared to what’s on these older ships.

Silent Disco

This evening was the Silent Disco, a favorite of many cruisers. Guests get a pair of headphones and then can choose one of three different stations to play. The headphones light up with a color, red, green, or blue, showing which station they’re listening to.

The disco started at 10, and they actually started by playing the music loudly, which is an odd choice for a “Silent Disco.” Eventually, they turned the music down a bit, but it was still playing in the background. When I went to the Silent Disco on Royal Caribbean, part of the fun was hearing only the sound of people shuffling on the dance floor and singing along to the lyrics.

Even if you’re not a dancer, the Silent Disco is fun to watch. You see people doing the YMCA next to people doing the Macarena, all in their own world.

On the Reflection, the dance party took place in the Grand Foyer. Again, the dance floor felt a bit small for an event like this, but with it being the “heart” of the ship, it kind of makes sense on the final night.

Debarking and Heading Home

After a good night of sleep, I got ready to make the trip home. You can choose whether to carry your bags with you or put them out the night before for the staff to carry. Normally, I just put my bags out, but it is a pain to get everything you need out of them for one night, so I opted to keep my bag with me this time.

We had to be out of our cabins by 7:30 AM, so I headed up to breakfast, where it was pleasantly quiet. A lot of people must have skipped breakfast or were still packing up.

During this sailing, the US was experiencing a horrible TSA problem with waits that could be hours long, so we wanted to make sure we got to the airport in plenty of time. Because of that, we ended up booking a transfer with Celebrity to FLL rather than taking an Uber. The cost was $18.95 per person, and we booked it pre-cruise just like any other excursion or onboard expense. Note, it didn’t show up until a couple of weeks before the cruise.

After breakfast, we grabbed our bags and headed to the main theater at 8 AM as instructed. Getting an elevator was a challenge. It took 10 minutes to get one, as the elevators were jam-packed with people and their luggage; it seemed no one had put their bags out the night before. I would have used the stairs, but it’s much harder with heavy bags.

At 8 AM, they called our number, and we walked off the ship. For passport holders, customs is as simple as walking up and taking a picture, so we were off the ship within minutes. By 8:25, our bus took off for the airport.

We arrived at the airport at 8:45 AM and by 9:30 AM were through security and at our gate. One note about Fort Lauderdale airport: there’s not enough seating, so if you get there early, be prepared to stand. People were sitting on the floor in the hallways, with every seat packed.

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

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Celebrity Reflection Day 3 Overview

• Celebrity Reflection Day 3 Schedule
• Starting Off the Day
• Breakfast at the Buffet
• Spa Cafe Breakfast Options
• Heading to Perfect Day at CocoCay
• Walking Around Perfect Day at CocoCay
• Hideaway Beach Adult Only Area
  • Hideaway Beach Experience
  • Hideaway Beach Layout
  • Hideaway Beach Swim-up Bar and Heated Pool
  • Hideaway Beach Food
  • Overall Thoughts on Hideaway Beach
• Sunset Bar for Sailaway
• Main Dining Room for Dinner
• Splitting Onboard Credit at Guest Services
• Trying Our Luck at the Reflection Casino
• Pub Style Trivia in Sky Observation Lounge
• Ensemble Lounge for Live Music
• Shine the Night Party
• Day 3 Wrap Up

Celebrity Reflection Day 3 Schedule

Starting Off the Day

I had another great night of sleep onboard. The room was beautifully cold, pitch dark, and quiet. Even though I could feel the ship shaking a bit the previous night on the higher decks, in my cabin, I didn’t feel it at all.

I awoke to another beautiful morning, a sunny day. The high would be 78 degrees with no rain expected. I opened my curtains and stepped out on the balcony to feel the cool air. The Bahamas is perfect this time of year, before the humidity and heat hit. The ship docked at 8 AM.

Tip: When waking up in port, always make sure you’re prepared for an audience when you open your curtains. We were docked right next to Utopia of the Seas and could see everyone on their balconies and in their rooms.

But by the third day in the cabin, a few issues started to pop up. For example, the toilet had not been working right since yesterday afternoon. You could press the button to flush, but it wouldn’t, and then it would randomly flush 30+ minutes later. I called the room steward, and she just said, “Ok.” It wasn’t just my cabin either. It happened to others sailing with me in the same hall. Most likely, it meant someone flushed something they shouldn’t have, but I’ve never had this problem before.

Another annoyance was that the only two power outlets were on the desk, and right next to them were glasses and large glass bottles of water for an extra charge. I paid enough for this cruise. I don’t need you to take up space and try to sell me water. The mini-fridge was also pre-stocked with things at an extra fee, which I don’t like. You can always ask your steward to remove those, especially if you have kids, but I didn’t want to add more work for our room steward, who already seemed frazzled.

Breakfast at the Buffet

I headed to the buffet for breakfast before heading out onto the island. At 8:30 AM, the buffet was busy but much more manageable than yesterday. People seemed to know where things were now, so you didn’t have people standing in the middle, looking around and lost.

Still, some flow problems persisted with the food setup. They would put the syrup and butter before items like pancakes and waffles, which made no sense at all, and made people go back through the line to top their items. Also, the line for made-to-order things like omelets and toasted items would flow into the general areas. So there was no wait for pancakes, waffles, and bacon, but you couldn’t get to them because people were standing there waiting for eggs at the next station. It’s something Celebrity could easily fix with a sign. I chose to eat very light today because I wanted to save room for a lot of the food on the island.

I loved how the Reflection buffet has a nice outdoor seating area at the back. It was a beautiful day, and I wanted to sit out there, but for some reason, those tables weren’t being bused. Tables were piled with dirty dishes and used napkins, while inside, the staff was working hard to clear them. It was very uncommon for Celebrity, so I’m not sure what was going on there.

Spa Cafe Breakfast Options

In addition to the buffet and the main dining room, guests who want a really light breakfast can also try the Spa Cafe, which most people miss. It’s tucked into a corner of the Solarium, where you’ll find light bites and freshly made juices to order.

For breakfast, they offer cereals, muffins, and dishes like a bagel with peanut butter, apple, banana, and berries, or avocado bruschetta. Each dish is already plated in a grab-and-go style setup.

You can also order fresh-pressed juice or smoothies, which typically have a line. These are an extra charge or included with the Premium Drink Package or the Non-Alcoholic Drink Package.

Overall, I don’t really get the appeal of Spa Cafe. I know some people love it, but it feels like wasted space in the Solarium that could be put to better use with more seating. The food options and portions are quite small, and because it’s not a real counter setup, making the drinks takes them a while. I’m surprised they couldn’t find a better venue for this, like up in the Lawn Club area, where they have two additional fee restaurants.

Heading to Perfect Day at CocoCay

Around 9 AM, we finished breakfast, went back to our cabins to get our stuff, put on sunscreen, and headed out to the island.

Tip: For Celebrity cruises, your cabin steward will leave towels in your cabin the night before for Perfect Day. If you want a fresh towel while on the island, just exchange it at a towel hut. Celebrity has different colored towels from Royal Caribbean, so they’ll make sure they give you the right ones back.

Then we took the elevators down to Deck 2 to walk off the ship. It seemed like a lazy day with not a lot of people rushing to get off the ship, so we were able to walk right off.

Perfect Day at CocoCay is Royal Caribbean International’s private island. Since that’s the parent company of Celebrity Cruise Line, Celebrity ships can also stop at Perfect Day as of April 2024. Not as many sailings stop there as Royal Caribbean does, where a majority of cruises sailing out of Florida stop at Perfect Day.

Perfect Day at CocoCay represents how Royal Caribbean thinks a guest’s island vacation should be. Think of it as an extension of the cruise ship. Your Wi-Fi packages work on the island. Your drink packages work on the island. Nearly all the food is included, and the few extra-fee places can be charged to your ship account. It’s a place where the cruise line can control nearly every aspect of your experience, except weather, but give them a decade or so.

Perfect Day at CocoCay can only accommodate two ships at a time. Today, we were in port with one of the largest ships in the world, Utopia of the Seas. It’s just behind Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class in terms of size. That meant, on top of the 3,000 guests from the Reflection, there might be another 6,000 guests on shore from Utopia.

Walking between the two ships, you really get a good sense of how massive these ships are. Standing on the pier, the Reflection towers 13 stories over you while the Utopia of the Seas adds three more stories. It’s not until you walk away from the ships that you see the big difference. Utopia is so much wider than the Reflection. It has a split superstructure design with interior neighborhoods lined with interior cabins, accommodating so many more guests.

From the pier, you can see the other big differences between the ships. Utopia has its vibrant purple 10-story dry slide, Ultimate Abyss, snaking its way down from the colorful dry playground, The Playscape, all the way to the AquaTheater, where they do shows at night. In comparison, the Reflection looks a bit plain. The blue hull at least makes it feel more modern, but from the outside, with no waterslides and no vibrant color, it might seem boring at first. You can’t see the Lawn Club, beautiful atrium, or the things that make the ship shine by just looking at the exterior.

Walking Around Perfect Day at CocoCay

Before we settled down for the day, we decided to walk around the island, as some in our group had never been. I had only been once before, when I was on Star of the Seas (follow that blog here), so I wanted to get a feel for how the crowds were today.

I’m still impressed with how quaint and natural the island actually feels. Before I visited the island, the marketing had convinced me it was a massive theme park at sea, not an experience I thought I’d be looking for. While the island does have a large waterpark with one of the tallest waterslides in North America that you can see from miles away, it’s not all like that. In reality, the island still holds much of its natural beauty, even more so because it’s been enhanced with millions of dollars’ worth of new plants.

Walking through the different neighborhoods, you really appreciate what Royal did with the island. There are two different splash areas for kids that are away from adult areas, a large freshwater pool with a swim-up bar, white sand beaches, and a straw market with souvenirs. You could easily walk through the whole island in about 30 minutes, but if you’d prefer, they have trams running constantly to get you between areas.

Personally, my favorite area is South Beach. It’s the furthest away, but worth the little hike. You access it by walking through a beautiful nature walkway with thick green foliage. Once you arrive, you’ll find thousands of chairs with umbrellas, sports courts, food stands, equipment rental, and they even have a bar station in the middle of the ocean you can walk or swim out to.

By the time we reached South Beach, it was 9:30 AM, and everything was still pretty empty. Once we got a feel for the whole island, we headed over to where we’d spend our day, Hideaway Beach.

Hideaway Beach Experience

For this specific day, we booked one of the two extra-fee areas available on the island called Hideaway Beach. It was a recent addition to the island that opened in early 2024. Its biggest appeal is that it’s the only adult-only area on the island. But that’s not why I booked it. I booked it because it had a heated pool. The main Oasis Lagoon pool is not heated, and because it was mid-March, the ocean temperature was only 72 degrees. I was afraid it would be just too cool to comfortably enjoy the rest of the island, so we upgraded to the Hideaway Beach experience.

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity use demand-based flexible pricing, so the cost can vary widely for Hideaway Beach. I’ve seen it priced as low as $35 and as high as $120. I purchased it a few months before my cruise for $65 per person. The day of, they were selling access for $85 per person.

Tip: If you book an excursion, onboard package, or activity for your Royal Caribbean or Celebrity cruise, keep checking back. They often run sales, and if you see a lower price, you can cancel online and instantly rebook at the lower price.

Because Hideaway Beach is an addition, it’s a bit of a walk to the compound. From the welcome area, it’s about a 25-minute walk, so most people just opted to take the dedicated tram running to Hideaway Beach.

We walked up to the station, and the staff made sure we knew this was for an adult-only area and that we had to have purchased access or be prepared to pay $85. We jumped on the tram, and it was a quick 3-minute ride to the entrance. Then we scanned our room key and we were in.

Hideaway Beach Layout

Hideaway Beach has a much more beach club feel than a natural oasis or high-end vibe. In the area, you’ll find four bars, two grab-and-go restaurants, a huge heated pool with a swim-up bar, a protected calm ocean cove with white sand, and thousands of chairs.

Throughout the day, there were plenty of chairs and loungers available. Most people, though, seemed to be spending time in the water. In the morning, people were mostly in the pool, but by the afternoon, some began to work up the courage to go into the cold ocean.

Tip: For those who don’t feel comfortable leaving their belongings on a chair, Hideaway Beach offers complimentary lockers.

We started off by finding some chairs. While the ones directly next to the pool were all taken, there were hundreds of chairs with umbrellas on the sand beach right next to the infinity pool. They were the same chairs you’d find throughout the island, so not elevated, padded loungers, but they were comfortable and sturdy. They were very close to each other, though. For an additional fee, I would have liked a little more room between them.

The poolside DJ’s music thumped throughout the area. The further away from the swim-up bar area you go, the less you’ll hear, but at no point will it give you peace and quiet with just the ocean waves in the background.

Hideaway Beach Swim-up Bar and Heated Pool

Then we headed into the pool for the swim-up bar. With it only being 78 degrees out, the heated pool was definitely needed. You don’t realize how absolutely massive the pool is until you get in and walk around. The water is about 3.5 to 4 feet deep throughout, so it’s easy to walk around with a drink without splashing it.

The swim-up bar is quite sizable, and in the shade thanks to an overhang above. On a day like today, the shade meant there weren’t many people camping out on the stools at the swim-up bar. It was too cold without the sun. Instead, people got their drinks and headed to the edge of the infinity pool to talk with their friends.

The drink service was really quick. The only thing slowing it down was when people ordered frozen drinks, since they had to be made from scratch. If everyone in front of you was ordering beers or cocktails, there’d be no wait at all, but it could be several minutes if people were getting piña coladas or daiquiris. The music at the bar was the loudest, so hearing the bartenders was a bit of a struggle.

Tip: I used my phone case (see it here on Amazon) to carry my phone and room key. Others in my group used their lanyards clipped onto their bathing suits. While the bartenders could look up your cabin number, with two different ships at the island, it was more of a hassle having them find the right information.

We relaxed in the water and enjoyed the atmosphere. The pool had a decent crowd, but it didn’t feel like “people soup” at all. Everyone had plenty of personal space. Around the area, people were playing floating games like basketball, a small volleyball net, and beer pong.

The crowd was just as diverse as the ships. You had everyone from college-age guests to seniors enjoying the space.

After a while in the pool, we headed back to our chairs to relax. The umbrella gave me enough shade to enjoy a few chapters of my book. While we were there, waiters were circulating, taking drink orders, so you didn’t even have to get up.

Since I had the drink package from my Celebrity cruise, I could basically order anything on the menu here. I tried a few drinks, including the rum punch and Bahama Mama, which both just scream vacation to me. I also ordered the CocoLoco, which people always say to try here, but it’s never been the same drink twice. It is always delicious, though.

One interesting thing about Celebrity now visiting this island is that it uses Royal Caribbean’s pricing. Celebrity has some of the highest alcoholic beverage prices in North America, and this makes it pretty transparent. On Royal Caribbean, Corona or Heineken is $7.99. On Celebrity, it’s $10. It makes it quite clear that Celebrity really overcharges for its liquor, likely to make its drink packages more attractive.

When 11 AM finally hit, it was time to get some snacks. I really loved all the complimentary food on the island on my last sailing (see that trip to CocoCay here), and I had been looking forward to it.

Hideaway Beach Food

In Hideaway Beach, there are two areas to get food: Snack Shack and Slice of Paradise.

The Snack Shack in Hideaway Beach is almost identical to the other Snack Shacks found around the island, except for 3 additions: ceviche, coconut shrimp, and a fish sandwich. I already had my plan laid out. I was going to start with a “snack” and get more of a “lunch” later, before getting dessert.

I walked up to the Snack Shack, and there was no line at all. I started off with the mozzarella sticks, which I loved last time. They held up again this time, crunchy on the outside, gooey on the inside, and nice and thick. I don’t know how they also keep them hot and ready. Mozzarella sticks have a notoriously short shelf life after being fried. I also ordered the ceviche, which comes in a small plastic cup with plantain chips. While the presentation in a plastic cup was a bit underwhelming, the ceviche was nice and refreshing with a good bit of acid.

Later, when I went back for lunch, I got the Crispy Island Fish Sandwich which oddly, fell flat for me. The cheese wasn’t really melted, and it felt like a reheated frozen fish fillet. I went back and got the Hideaway Burger to compensate for the disappointment. That was much better, fresh and juicy. I loved their shack sauce on it, and they had a whole fixings bar next to it where you could customize your sandwich.

Later, I went back for dessert, which was a personal funnel cake. At home, I almost never get funnel cake because they’re huge and I can’t eat a whole one, but this is the perfect size and fried to perfection. I also grabbed a few chocolate chip cookies. Food like this would have been an extra cost at other private destinations like Carnival’s Celebration Key.

On the three separate trips I made to the Snack Shack, I never waited more than 2 minutes for food. I had a similar experience last time in the general area of Perfect Day. It’s absolutely amazing how Royal Caribbean can pump out relatively high-quality food so quickly and at no extra charge.

On the other side of Hideaway Beach is the other food stand, Slice of Paradise. None of the food here is available anywhere else on the island. They have four types of pizza, including Island Guava Barbecue Chicken and Bahamian Seafood Escabeche. They also had chicken, beef, and apple empanadas.

The pizza was decent. It was very similar to Royal Caribbean’s Sorrento’s crust, which is shockingly so much better than the pizza on Celebrity. The empanadas were ok, but they didn’t have a ton of flavor. Both were decent, but considering they’re the only unique food items you get by paying to be at Hideaway Beach, I’d expect them to be better.

Overall Thoughts on Hideaway Beach

In principle, I don’t love the concept of Hideaway Beach. I hate having to pay extra for an area with no kids. Since Royal Caribbean recently decided to focus its marketing on being a “family vacation,” they’ve brought thousands of kids on board each sailing. I shouldn’t have to pay extra to get away from that. It’s especially true for those arriving on a Celebrity ship, who paid extra to be on a higher-end line with fewer children. They should automatically have access to Hideaway Beach, or at least receive a discounted rate.

The overall experience wasn’t elevated. Except for pizza, empanadas, and ceviche, the same food was available for free everywhere else on the island. The chairs were the same chairs found in other parts of the island, not elevated or padded, and they were jam-packed next to each other.

The only thing that made it totally worth it for me on this sailing was the heated pool. If I were sailing in summer, when I didn’t need that, I don’t know if I’d be willing to shell out more than $40 for this area. To be fair, the swim-up bar was way less crowded than the Oasis Lagoon one, but that’s not a deal breaker for me.

Sunset Bar for Sailaway

We all headed back to the ship around 3:30 PM, taking the quick tram ride and walking back up to the ship. We had until 4:45 in port, but there was a steady stream of people heading back by then, as the food had closed and they had already had a pretty full day on the beautiful island.

After a quick shower and outfit change, we met at the Sunset Bar for a pre-dinner drink around 5 PM. The Sunset Bar is a great staple on Celebrity ships, and it’s the perfect place to watch sailaway. A gentle breeze carried the sound of steel drum music as a musician played nearby, the rhythm perfectly matching the relaxed pace of the afternoon. Guests lingered with drinks in hand, chatting and laughing as the day slowly melted into evening.

It was a popular spot, but we were still able to find a seat, and waiters came over within minutes to take our drink orders. I decided to go off-menu and get a standard piña colada, which the server suggested with a Meyer dark rum floater. It was the perfect sunset cocktail.

In the distance, I could see Norwegian Cruise Line’s private island in the middle of its construction project. They’re working on expanding their island, adding a waterpark to rival CocoCay’s, and putting in a dock to finally allow guests to walk onto the island rather than wait on slow water tenders. Unfortunately, the project is slow-moving, and I’m guessing many guests on Norwegian ships look enviously at Perfect Day as they’re waiting to tender back or miss the island altogether because the water is too choppy to tender safely.

Main Dining Room for Dinner

Again, we returned to the Opus Dining Room for our 6 PM dinner reservation. Even though we had anytime dining, we were seated at the exact same table and with the same great dining room team again. Upon arriving at the table, our waiter greeted us with, “Did you have a Perfect Day at CocoCay?” At least four other staff members told us that to us that evening. Either it’s a tired joke they like to use, or Celebrity is pushing their staff to say it to reinforce the idea that it was a “great” day in your mind.

For dinner this evening, I started with the French onion soup again. You’d think after a day in the warm Caribbean sun, soup would be the last thing on my mind, but Celebrity just does it so well. I also made sure to enjoy the three new breads and dips we received this evening. The garlic butter was so delicious.

For my main entree, I got the slow-braised lamb wrapped in phyllo. The presentation was very elevated, and although it was probably on the small side, after eating way too much on CocoCay, it was the perfect size for me.

It was another amazing meal onboard the Reflection. The whole meal took 1 hour and 12 minutes.

Splitting Onboard Credit at Guest Services

After dinner, we headed to guest services for a billing adjustment. When you sail on Celebrity, or just about any cruise line at this point, you’re charged daily gratuities. This money goes toward your room steward, wait staff, back-of-house hotel employees, etc. On Celebrity, the cost for a standard cabin is $18 per person per day, charged to your onboard account.

The charge is applied to each person’s onboard account, which is charged to their own credit card. That was fine, but when we booked our cruise, our travel agent got us $100 in onboard credit per cabin. But that was only assigned to the first person in the cabin. So we went to guest services and just asked them to split the $100 between the two people in the cabin.

Tip: Don’t wait until the last day to make adjustments to your account. Guest services lines are always worst on the first and last day of the cruise. If you go during the middle of the cruise, you’ll usually have a minimal line.

The guest services rep was very helpful, and we were done within a few minutes and on our way.

Trying Our Luck at the Reflection Casino

We decided to check out the casino this evening. Located mid-ship on Deck 4, while the casino is easily accessible, you don’t have to walk through it to get to other parts of the ship, unlike on some other cruise lines, so we hadn’t really looked at it very much at this point.

The casino itself was probably on the smaller side compared to lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean, but on par with Virgin Voyages. It’s completely smoke-free, so you don’t have stale air lingering or overly powerful fans running all the time making it feel like a hospital. It just makes the experience feel more elevated. The casino had a mixture of table games and slots spaced out nicely.

The casino has a dedicated bar that’s actually quite sizable, with four TVs behind it showing sporting events. During my time in the casino, no one came by to offer drink service, which was odd considering that almost everywhere else on the ship, people were asked within minutes of sitting down. I had the same problem on the Celebrity Apex last year (see that blog here), so I’m not sure if it’s just how they do it. Still, the bar was only steps away, so it wasn’t an issue.

The casino wasn’t too busy at all, with plenty of slot machines available and most table games having at least a seat or two open.

Tip: If you do like to gamble and participate in the casino programs, it should be noted that while Royal Caribbean and Celebrity’s loyalty programs are now linked, their casino programs are not. So if you get points on the Reflection, they won’t count toward your Casino Royale points on Royal Caribbean.

Pub Style Trivia in Sky Observation Lounge

After making a small donation to the casino, we headed up to Deck 14 to the Sky Observation Lounge for “Pub Style Trivia.” While this space is beautiful during the day, with its panoramic windows looking out over the front of the ship, it also comes to life at night with colorful LED accent lighting that brightens the space.

The whole lounge was abuzz with activity. The round bar was full of people chatting, and most of the general seating was filled with people coming for the trivia. The turnout for the event was really good. Given how busy this venue was, I wasn’t sure how many people attended the magician, the entertainment option in the main theater that night.

For Pub Style Trivia, there are four categories, each with five questions. With this type of trivia, the categories can make or break your success. Luckily, the questions were right in our areas of expertise, and my team ended up winning the “grand prize,” a deck of Celebrity playing cards.

It was a fun event, but toward the end, the space got rowdier as people began arriving for the next activity, karaoke.

Ensemble Lounge for Live Music

We decided to go down to the Ensemble Lounge to see what kind of music was playing. The Ensemble Lounge has a bit of an odd layout. It’s a bar that also serves as a hallway on Deck 5 between the Grand Foyer and the specialty dining venue. It also has the entrance to the suite area, Michael’s Club on this ship, and the specialty restaurant Murano, so it felt more like a pass-through than a dedicated space. While we had been there once before to check in for our muster station on Day 1, we hadn’t passed through the venue since then.

At night, the bar is quite dark and cozy. The deep purples of the carpet and dark green walls make the space feel intimate. LED lights flicker on each table, bringing warmth to the room. An acoustic guitarist sings in a small area in the corner, adding to the relaxing atmosphere. Unlike the Sky Observation Lounge, which was buzzing with energy, the vibe here was much more subdued. It was still pretty full, but people were making small talk with the music in the background.

The cocktail menu here was relatively limited. The Ensemble Lounge has a full bar, but I usually like to try specialty cocktails from the dedicated menus when they’re available. They had wines by the glass and a cocktail list of “vintage cocktail revivals.”

Within a minute, a waiter came over, and I ordered the Dirty Martini. It’s not something I’d ever order if I were paying, but since I had the premium drink package, I figured I’d give it a shot. Since my Mediterranean cruise a couple of years ago (see that blog here), I’ve found myself enjoying green olives more, so I thought this would be a good test. While I doubt a Dirty Martini will ever be my go-to drink, it was quite nice. I enjoyed the salty, briny flavor.

The guitarist was very talented, and her style worked perfectly for the space. Overall, I was really impressed with Celebrity’s live music options on the ship. They had a variety of different types of acts, and they were all over the ship, so you had your choice. They also seemed to rotate quite a bit, meaning you didn’t have to go to the same bar or lounge every night. On my last Celebrity cruise on the Apex (see that blog here), while I appreciated the variety, I didn’t find the performers to be as good as I’d expect. That definitely wasn’t the problem here on Reflection. Of course, performers rotate out every few months, so your experience may vary.

Shine the Night Party

This evening was Celebrity’s “Shine the Night” theme party, which started at 10 PM on the pool deck. It’s an event where Celebrity encourages you to “wear your shiniest metallic outfit and join us for an unforgettable evening of fun, vibrant energy, surprise performances, and a celebration of all that shimmers.”

Honestly, it’s an odd concept to me. How many people own metallic outfits? Maybe it’s more common for women, but I don’t own a single piece of shiny clothing. And maybe I’d be willing to buy one, but they didn’t really tell people about the party ahead of time. Looking at the crowd, I’d say maybe 5% dressed the part.

The event feels like a rebuttal to Virgin Voyages’ popular “Scarlet Night” parties, which nearly everyone participates in and which turn the ship into an all-evening event, (see my experience here). It also replaces the White Parties that used to be on the ship, which were much easier to dress for.

Thankfully, it was a beautiful night in the Caribbean, with cool air and clear skies, the perfect night for a deck party. The deck was bathed in blue LED lights, and the cruise director and entertainment staff came out in their shiniest outfits, where they led line dances. Then the cast from the Reflection Theater came out and did choreographed dances twice. The crowd seemed to enjoy it, dancing along to songs like “24K Magic” by Bruno Mars and “Levitating” by Dua Lipa.

Overall, the party was pretty well attended for the space, but it was only a couple of hundred people out of the 3,000+ on the ship. It didn’t have the same participation rate as something like Virgin Voyages’ “Scarlet Night,” but still respectable. They could do it better, though, by communicating it more clearly to people before their upcoming cruises, or by having a theme that’s easier to dress for than “shiny.”

Day 3 Wrap Up

Overall, it was a fun, relaxing day both on the island and on the ship. While many of my cruises feature some element of adventure or more thrilling excursions, this one was all about relaxation, and it did the trick. We had absolutely amazing weather in CocoCay, and I came to appreciate the island even more. And at night on the ship, it was proven to me again that Celebrity isn’t the boring, stodgy cruise line I thought it was before I first sailed with them.

I turned in late knowing that I had an entire day at sea tomorrow to do absolutely nothing, and I was looking forward to it.

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

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Celebrity Reflection Cruise Blog Day 2 Overview

• Celebrity Reflection Cruise Blog Day 2 Schedule
• Arriving in Key West
• Breakfast at the Oceanview Cafe
• Exploring Key West
  • Southernmost Point Buoy
  • The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
  • Willie T’s Bar
  • Nancy Forrester’s Secret Garden
  • Trying Key Lime Pie
  • Heading Back to Celebrity Reflection
• Booking a Future Cruise
• Archery in the Grand Foyer
• Trivia in the Sky Observation Lounge
• Evening Chic Dinner in the Opus Restaurant
• World Class Bar
• “Broken Strings” in the Reflection Theater
• ABBA Sing-Along Party
• Late Night Life on Reflection

Celebrity Reflection Cruise Blog Day Schedule

Arriving in Key West

The Reflection docked in Key West around 7 AM. I looked out the balcony window to see a quaint little island in the distance. The actual city of Key West was on the other side of the ship. I stepped out and felt the fresh, cool air. It was about 65 degrees now, with a high of 75 degrees predicted, which was perfect weather.

Overall, I slept very well. The room was nice and dark, and it was able to get nice and cold overnight. It was also pretty quiet. If people were talking in the hall, you could hear them, but that really only occurred right as I was going to bed and after I woke up and was getting ready.

I jumped into the shower to get ready before heading to breakfast. Again, I was taken aback by how roomy the bathroom was, but that came at the expense of a smaller stall-style shower. The water pressure was really powerful, and the water was able to get super hot.

While in the bathroom, I noticed a few nice touches. A small light stays on in the bathroom at all times, which is great if you have to get up in the middle of the night. Also, the bathroom door can prop open without slamming closed, which helps when getting ready in the morning.

Breakfast at the Oceanview Cafe

We all headed up to breakfast to get some food before heading into the city. They said we’d be able to get off around 8 AM, so we weren’t in a huge rush.

The buffet was busy, but not overly crowded. The biggest issue was that, because it was just the first breakfast, people were standing around not knowing where to go. It could be a bit overwhelming, and while the island design of the food stations reduced lines, it also meant your food might be spread out throughout the area.

The Reflection had all of the standards you’d expect for breakfast. They had two stations with traditional American offerings like pancakes, waffles, sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, and more, although they made the puzzling decision of putting the toppings like syrup and jams before the actual food offerings. Another station had more European breakfast offerings like beans, toast, and cold cuts. The buffet had a large selection of fruit, yogurt, and breads, which would be toasted to order. A made-to-order omelet station was available and had pretty much the only line in the place. All the food was fresh and constantly being rotated out and replenished.

After I grabbed a smattering of the American breakfast options, I went to look for a seat. On early port days, that can be a problem on some ships, but I had no problem finding a table. The staff was quickly bussing all the tables and turning them over, so as soon as someone got up, it was ready for the next guests.

Exploring Key West

We headed down to Deck 3 to walk off the ship into Key West. Over the past day, and as we were about to leave, the staff kept reminding us we had to have a photo ID and cruise card to get off. While the cruise card is always required, photo IDs are not always required or enforced, but apparently, Key West is very strict. We didn’t experience any lines and just walked right off the ship.

Key West is a really walkable town, and the cruise ship docks right at Pier B, which is just a couple of blocks from the main Duval Street drag and by Mallory Square. That means you can easily walk to most of the main attractions. For those who prefer going a bit farther, golf cart rentals seemed very popular, with a few booths offering the service right off the docks. They also had a hop-on, hop-off bus that seemed like an easy way to get to the main sites in the area.

Southernmost Point Buoy

It was just a little after 8 AM, so really nothing was open yet in Key West. It really felt silly that the ship got there and left so early. Key West seems more like a day-and-night town. It meant the streets were still sleepy and quiet. As we walked, I saw more chickens than actual people for the first 15 minutes.

We decided the first stop would be the tourist attraction of the Southernmost Point Buoy. Traditionally, this spot has a buoy that signifies the southernmost point in the continental U.S. and notes that it’s only 90 miles from Cuba.

The traditional site where this buoy would be located was under construction, though, so it was relocated to 1499 Duval Street. It was a quick 30-minute walk down Duval Street to arrive there, about 1.3 miles.

The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory

Our next stop was the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, another popular spot on the small list of must-do things in Key West. It was conveniently located right next to the buoy, and it had just officially opened, so we walked over.

Tip: You can buy tickets on their website ahead of time and save $2.

It’s located in a quaint little house, in this case decorated for Easter, which was just a couple of weeks away. You enter through a store with a small entrance and ticket counter to the left. Tickets were $17.50 per adult at the door.

You start in a small education room before entering the larger exhibit outside in a solarium. It’s climate-controlled to be the perfect temperature for the butterflies, which actually feels very humid to people. Thankfully, since it wasn’t too hot outside, it was bearable.

As you walk out, you immediately notice the towering greenery and lush plant life. Looking around, you could see butterflies everywhere. Some are on trees or on stands with fruit to eat, but many are also flying through the air. Signs throughout the area provide information on the types of butterflies and plants in the exhibit.

Halfway through the area is a small pond with two flamingos, who were very noisy as the male made mating calls to his partner. At the end, there’s an enclosure with box turtles that move much faster than I would have expected.

Overall, the experience was really relaxing and interesting. We spent about 45 minutes walking through the conservatory.

Willie T’s Bar

We stopped by for a drink and snack at Willie T’s, a dive bar on Duval Street. You could recognize it by the thousands of dollar bills plastered to the walls, railings, and ceilings. Guests can sign a dollar and staple it there. Periodically, they’re taken down and donated to a charity like the Wounded Warrior Project.

It was warm in the sun, but the patio had big umbrellas that helped. They had a guitarist playing while we got snacks. I tried the frozen peach bellini, which was delicious, and then the conch fritters, which had a really good curry-like sauce that gave it a bold punch. Overall, it was the perfect mid-day snack.

Nancy Forrester’s Secret Garden

On our way back to the ship, we stopped at a place we’d seen mentioned in a few places: Nancy Forrester’s Secret Garden, a parrot rescue. Nancy is an environmental activist who took in parrots that were abandoned by their owners.

I knew it was small, but I was unprepared for just how small it was. You literally walk up to a house, go around back, and leave the $10 admission fee, which goes to supplies for the parrots, in a container before walking into the backyard.

In the back, you could see a lot of the rescued parrots in their cages. Each one had a story of where they came from and why. Many parrot species live 30 to 80 years, so they can outlive their owners.

It was interesting to see their personalities come to life, whether they were playing with their favorite toys or saying their favorite words. A volunteer demonstrated some of the enrichment the birds need to stay sharp.

We spent about 15 to 20 minutes here. Overall, I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit, but if you’re walking around and have some time to kill, it’s nice to stop in.

Trying Key Lime Pie

While in Key West, I figured I should try their signature dessert, Key lime pie, since I’d never actually had it before. There are plenty of places serving Key lime pie in the area. Based on research I did beforehand, people said some of the best Key lime pie was from Pepe’s, Mattheessen’s, Key Lime Pie Bakery, and Old Town Bakery.

But in this case, convenience won. We saw Kermit’s Key Lime Pie Shop, which had a few locations on Duval Street. I went in and ordered one slice of original Key lime pie and a frozen, chocolate-covered strawberry Key lime pie on a stick.

The pie was sweet at first, but it had a tartness that made me suck in my cheeks at the back end. It wasn’t really my kind of dessert; I’m not a fan of sour desserts or candies, but I could see the appeal. The frozen strawberry one was much more my speed. The sweetness of the strawberries and chocolate helped tone down the tartness, making it a really refreshing dessert on a warm day.

Heading Back to Celebrity Reflection

After walking around some more, we decided to head back to the ship. Key West was cute, but there wasn’t as much to do as I would have thought. There were a few more museums, like the Ernest Hemingway Home or a small aquarium, but they weren’t really our speed. It was still a beautiful, relaxed place, though, and a nice way to spend the morning.

We got back to the pier at 1 PM, where we just had a short line to get through before reboarding the ship.

Everywhere on the ship was busy, as most people were back, or perhaps had never left. Both of the two pools outside and the Solarium pool had decent crowds. It was full, but not as bad as the adult-only pools when I sailed on Star of the Seas in August (read that cruise blog here). Music filled the decks, creating a fun atmosphere as the ship prepared to leave and head to our next stop.

Booking a Future Cruise

Since we had nothing pressing to do, I stopped at the Future Cruise office to book my next cruise. Typically, I book with my travel agent, but for my next cruise, I wanted to do one of Celebrity’s Galapagos sailings, which are very unique. The one I wanted also came with a pre-cruise tour, and Celebrity was offering a deal that included airfare. My travel agent said it would be better to book onboard, then have the office transfer it to him for extra credit so he could service the reservation.

Since I had a sailing in mind, I was in and out in about 15 minutes. The representative was able to book everything we need and he automatically connected it to our travel agent we used to book the current sailing.

Tip: The Future Cruise desk can get busy on the last day of the sailing, so if you’re planning on booking one, do it earlier in the cruise.

Archery in the Grand Foyer

Celebrity offers a good number of activities throughout the day, both while the ship is in port and at sea. You can either look at the daily schedule that’s left in your cabin every night or use the Celebrity app to see what’s happening.

We wanted to check out the archery activity at 3 PM in the Grand Foyer, which I thought was an odd choice. Throughout the cruise, they had activities in this area, not as much trivia and talks as dances and physical activities. It felt like an odd place for it, shoehorned into the small atrium between the glass elevators. On the newer Celebrity ships, these events would usually be in The Club, a two-story multi-purpose venue, but the Reflection doesn’t have an area like that. So instead, it’s in the main lobby.

Arriving a few minutes before, we saw the entertainment staff setting up a large inflatable target area for the activity. People were already gathering in the area, getting ready for it. It was a mixed crowd, some families with kids, some couples, some single adults. The event had a pretty broad appeal.

Right at 3 PM, the entertainment staff introduced themselves and had all the participants line up so they could take turns. Each player got to fire three arrows at the targets, which were balls floating in the air from the compressor in the inflatable archery stand. The arrows weren’t sharp, just dull-ended.

The event had a pretty good turnout. No one managed to get all three targets at once. It would probably take quite a bit of practice to master it. Even if you’re a seasoned archer, these aren’t standard arrows and would take time to get used to. Because there was a decent crowd, people really only got one turn to fire their three arrows. Still, it was a fun activity.

Trivia in the Sky Observation Lounge

Next, we decided to try our first trivia of this sailing. This was a music trivia event held in the Sky Observation Lounge at the front of the ship on Deck 14. So far, we hadn’t really explored this part of the ship. It’s through the Solarium, and you might not even realize this space was there if you weren’t looking for it.

The Sky Observation Lounge was one of my favorite parts of the ship. It’s part lounge, part nightclub, part activity space. It’s surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of where you’re headed and was filled with a variety of comfy seating options. It reminded me of the observation lounge on Norwegian’s Prima Class ships or the Viking Crown Lounge on Royal Caribbean’s older ships. It’s a great space, and it’s really sad Celebrity got rid of it on their Edge Class ships in favor of suite-only areas that general guests can’t use.

Everyone got a sheet of paper and a pencil and had to answer with the name of the song for 20 different clips the host played. The host was personable and controlled the event well. The event was well attended, with most of the closest seats filling up. Luckily, you could play from anywhere in the room. The event was well timed and fit within the allotted 30 minutes. Out of the 20 questions, some teams got 18 right. We only got 12 right.

Next up, they switched hosts, and it changed to general trivia. It got even busier for this one, with the place getting pretty full and most seats being taken. Throughout both trivia events, waiters circled constantly, taking drink orders and bussing tables. It was impressive, since it seemed like most people had a drink package. Usually, if that’s the case, there’s less push to get drinks out because they’re not generating more revenue, but I never felt that way on Celebrity. On a previous sailing on Norwegian, where 90% of guests get the drink package, I was able to go to the bar and get a drink, but I rarely saw servers walking around proactively.

The general trivia was even tougher than the music trivia and covered just about every kind of question. We ended up doing pretty well at this one with 17 points, but still shy of the 20 needed to win.

Evening Chic Dinner in the Opus Restaurant

According to the cruise schedule, today was the “fancy” night on our sailing. In the old days of cruising, cruise lines used to have formal nights when men wore tuxedos and suits, and women wore ball gowns and dresses. Now, it’s been scaled back considerably. On Celebrity, they call it “Evening Chic.” On this 4-day sailing, people really didn’t dress up much at all. It was slightly dressier than the previous night, but it didn’t feel like anyone went all out. I wore dress slacks and a button-down shirt with no tie and felt appropriately dressed.

We returned to the Opus Restaurant for our 6 PM reservation. We had Anytime Dining, but scheduled dinner for the same time each night. We walked right up to the podium and were immediately brought back to our same table with our same waiter team. They came and greeted us, and the sommelier asked whether we wanted the same drinks as last night or something different.

For dinner, I started with the French onion soup again. Celebrity really does this so well, and it’s been my favorite at sea. For the main entrée, I originally planned to go with the seared duck, which I tried on the Apex last year (read that cruise blog here). I loved the fried wild rice that came with it, and the orange duck jus added just enough citrus to brighten up the dish. I also never order duck at home, so it’s a cruise treat for me.

But then the waiter said tonight’s special, which wasn’t on the menu, was an ahi special. I love ahi, but again, it’s not something I’d ever order at home. I asked the waiter which he’d recommend, and he just said, “I’ll bring them both to you.” Full disclosure: I knew he’d just say to get both dishes, but I didn’t want to sound greedy by ordering two entrees unprompted. Both dishes were really tasty and very well done.

Tip: Some menu items, like the “classics,” may be available available multiple nights, but others are only available once per sailing. If you’re between two dishes (appetizers, entrees, desserts), order two. Celebrity’s dishes are moderately-sized so you should be able to eat both without wasting food. You can also ask your waiter if the item will be back on the menu later on in the cruise.

For dessert, I saw chilled strawberry soup and was intrigued. One of my favorite dishes since my first cruise on Carnival was their Strawberry Bisque, served as an appetizer. It was like strawberry ice cream in a bowl (see the recipe here).

I was hoping this would be similar, but unfortunately, it was not. It wasn’t very creamy and had way too much basil flavor. The panna cotta also felt a bit rubbery, but I’m not a huge panna cotta fan in general. It might have been well-made, but it definitely wasn’t my style of dessert. Others at my table got the warm apple crumble, which they raved about, and it looked amazing.

Overall, dinner was very enjoyable and relaxing. The whole meal took 1 hour and 20 minutes, but we could have finished sooner. We just took a while with our entrées.

World Class Bar

After dinner, we headed to the World Class Bar, which Celebrity describes as a “fine drinking” experience. Here, you’re supposed to enjoy the process of the bartenders making high-end craft cocktails using only the freshest ingredients and finest spirits. I’d heard rave reviews from my friend who sailed on a sister ship last year, but I hadn’t gotten to try it out yet because the Celebrity Apex didn’t have one. They omitted it from the first two Edge Class ships but brought it back for the rest after apparently realizing they needed more bars.

The bar is in kind of an odd location. It’s on Deck 5, past the Grand Foyer and past Cafe al Bacio. It’s surrounded by high-end stores and has a hallway that leads to the upper level of the theater. Compared to the bars off the main lobby, the Martini Bar and Passport Bar, this bar was almost always empty. You’d find a few people at the bar, but the surrounding table areas were never used while I was onboard.

The World Class Bar decor felt a bit strange. The yellow seats didn’t really fit in with the rest of the ship. When it was lit up and open, the lighting was very yellow too, making things appear a bit off. It didn’t have a very high-end feel to it for me. I thought the Martini Bar felt much more elevated.

The menu was a mixture of high-end creative takes on cocktails, think smoke, delicate pours, and mists of flavor. Annoyingly, even though I had the Premium Drink Package, 40% of the drinks here were over that limit. You rarely feel like Celebrity nickel-and-dimes you, but this is the one thing that always gets me. The Premium Drink Package is not cheap, and if 40% of your standard menu items are over the limit, that’s a bit ridiculous. They also didn’t have any wines that were in the Classic package at this bar when we were there.

Tip: I rarely get the drink package on a cruise, but Celebrity has some of the most expensive drinks at sea. A beer starts at $10, and a standard cocktail is $12 to $19. In this case, the package was worth it for me. Use our Drink Package Calculator to see if it’s worth it for you.

I got the American Pie cocktail, which was made with Bulleit Bourbon, apple cider, and brown sugar. It was quite tasty and, while not my favorite cruise drink, it was solid. Overall, the bartenders also didn’t provide the level of service I’d expect. They were prompt and made the drinks well, but typically, if you have a high-end bar like this, service gets taken up a level. Here, they just seemed to have no personality.

“Broken Strings” Show in the Reflection Theater

At 9 PM, we headed to the Reflection Theater for their show “Broken Strings.” Celebrity called it a “hand-clapping, foot-stomping, live music performance” that’s a “heartfelt music journey of love and connection.” Does that mean anything to you? Because it didn’t to me. Still, it drew a good crowd. The theater was probably 75% full as the lights went down.

Before the show, the cruise director came out and brought on the captain to do crew introductions. Celebrity’s captain and leadership team have more involvement with the general guests than I’ve seen on any other cruise line. The captain would speak before most theater productions, and the executive staff was on the gangway greeting guests and talking to them most days. This captain wasn’t as engaging as the one on my last Celebrity sailing, but he tried to make jokes. I imagine it’s hard because you sign up to be a captain, not a cruise director, and not everyone is suited for it.

The set was an English pub for someone’s birthday. There wasn’t much of a story here, so don’t worry about any plot. It’s basically just a musical revue. The music is all live, with the Reflection Orchestra stationed around the stage. The cast consisted of four singers, about eight dancers, and two aerialists/acrobats.

The songs were a mixture of contemporary tunes like “All of Me” by John Legend, “Don’t Wake Me Up” by Avicii, and “Rather Be” by Clean Bandit. Overall, it was decent cruise ship entertainment. I’d rank it over what I’ve seen on Norwegian’s ships, but not as strong as Royal Caribbean or Carnival’s newer shows, or even the shows on Celebrity’s newer ships, which lean into the acrobatics even more.

ABBA Sing-Along Party

After the show, we headed right to the Grand Foyer, where they were holding the ABBA sing-along party. In between the elevators of the Grand Foyer, they put up a large inflatable screen that showed the lyrics to the songs. Then people lined up along the lower floor and the upper level overlooking the Grand Foyer to watch and sing along.

Even if you’re not a huge ABBA fan, you’re sure to know some of their songs like “Dancing Queen,” “The Winner Takes It All,” and “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” The party was well attended, and the dance floor was pretty packed.

I didn’t love the Grand Foyer for this event, though, as it’s still a main thoroughfare on the ship. People would be trying to walk through and get stuck in the party. And people would be dancing between couches and sculptures, so the dance floor itself was pretty small. On newer Celebrity ships, it’s held in The Club and makes more sense there, but this really is the only space that could accommodate it on Reflection. One benefit was that because the foyer is open all the way from the bottom decks to the top decks, the music spilled throughout the ship and really brought it to life. We didn’t hear it in our cabin, but I’m not sure about the ones on the Grand Foyer level that are just a hallway away from the party.

Late Night Life on Reflection

After that event, I checked out what was going on around the ship before going to bed. A bunch of the other bars also had live music going on. It’s nice to have so many options at that hour, and originally I thought Celebrity would have much less to do.

We went up to the Sky Observation Lounge and the place was absolutely deserted. I felt bad for the band, who were very talented and had to perform as if there were more than five people there. I’m guessing everyone was still at the ABBA party or at the adult comedy show in the theater. This lounge would become a nightclub closer to 11 PM, but we didn’t stay for that. Instead, I headed to the buffet for some mediocre pizza. Come on, Celebrity, it’s the only sad food I’ve had onboard. Then I headed to bed to prepare for our next day at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

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

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One thing I did know was that I was long overdue for a vacation and needed some time to turn my brain off, so I was looking forward to it.

Celebrity Reflection Day 1 Overview

• Staying in Fort Lauderdale the Night Before
• Getting to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale
• Checking in and Boarding the Reflection
• Stepping Onboard the Celebrity Reflection
• Celebrity Reflection Day 1 Schedule
• Balcony Cabin on Celebrity Reflection
• Elevators on Celebrity Reflection
• Boarding Drinks at the Sunset Bar
• Oceanview Cafe Buffet for Lunch
• Pool Time on the Reflection
• Solarium Adult-Only Pool
• Anytime Dining in the Opus Restaurant
• Headliner Comedian in the Main Theater
• 80’s Party in the Foyer
• Late Night Bites in the Buffet

Staying in Fort Lauderdale the Night Before

I never fly in on the day of a cruise. It’s just way too risky with airline delays and cancellations. So we flew in the night before and stayed at Hyatt Place Ft. Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port. We stayed there a few years ago when I sailed on Harmony of the Seas (read about that cruise here), and it was a decent cruise hotel at a good price, so we booked it again. The hotel offers a free airport shuttle and breakfast, making it even more affordable.

We called the shuttle driver once we got our bags, and within 15 minutes, he arrived to take us to the hotel. We checked in around 3:30 PM, and the rooms were clean and spacious. These are more business-class hotels, so they have a separate couch and seating area, a microwave, a mini fridge, and a desk.

The hotel is close to Dania Pointe, an outdoor retail shopping area. It makes it easy to walk to a bunch of stores to fill time. Unfortunately, there are no drug stores around here, so if you forgot toiletries or sunscreen, you’re out of luck.

We had dinner at Firebirds, which was empty when we arrived at 5:30, but then filled up around 6:30. The food was good, but the service was a bit slow. We didn’t really mind, though, because we had plenty of time to kill.

After dinner, we walked over to Lucky Strike bowling alley to play a game. It was around $8 per game and $4 for shoe rental. It was a good way to kill an hour before bed.

Getting to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale

Our boarding time was 11:30 AM. I stayed up the night the cruise check-in opened to get the earliest time slot, but that was the only one available. It felt a bit late, as I’ve usually seen 10:30 AM as the earliest boarding on other cruises.

We enjoyed the complimentary breakfast at the hotel, then walked around some stores until 10:45. Then, we checked out of the hotel and started our journey.

Tip: Cruise shuttles for the hotel are nice, but check the price. Our hotel offered a cruise port shuttle for $15 per person, but since we were a group of 4, it was much cheaper for us to book an Uber or Lyft. It was $37 for a Lyft XL, which we needed to accommodate our 4 bags. It was a 5-minute wait at the hotel for a driver.

Fort Lauderdale port is a quick drive from the airport area, but because it’s also an industrial port, it’s a pain to get into. Each car must show an ID for everyone entering the port. That means on a day with 3 ships in port, the lines to get into the cruise terminal can be longer. For us, it took 20 minutes from the port entrance to the luggage drop-off.

We ended up arriving at 11:20 and walked right into the cruise terminal. For 4-day cruises that leave on Monday, the Reflection is typically at Terminal 25. It arrives back at Terminal 29.

Checking in and Boarding the Reflection

The cruise terminal was busy, but we didn’t experience any lines. While the terminal didn’t look as fancy as Royal Caribbean’s newest terminals in Miami or Orlando, it’s still modern, spacious, and embarkation is streamlined.

Attendants immediately rushed us onto the ship, not bothering to look at the embarkation time we had in the app. Boarding has gotten so much better over the years, but in their effort to streamline things, they make it a bit hectic. You’re ushered from one station to another and told various things like “put your metal away” and “passports out.” And since there were few lines, it was hard to get situated between stations in the check-in process. It’d be even harder for families with children.

For this terminal, we started at the metal detectors, so we didn’t need anything out. We put our phones in our bags and sent them through the airport-style X-ray machines as we walked through the metal detectors. Then, we went to the next station where we’d need our boarding pass, available through the Celebrity app, and passport.

At least 20 agents with tablets quickly checked in guests; lines were only one or two parties per agent.

Check-in should be nearly instant, since you already take a picture, enter your passport info, and answer health questions beforehand. The agent only needs to verify your information and double-check your passport. However, here they retook everyone’s pictures and repeated the health questions, which slowed things down.

Once we got through, we were led to a seating area where we sat for about 5 minutes until the gangway was clear enough to let more people on. Because this was a shorter cruise, more people than usual were bringing on carry-on luggage, which slowed the walk up the ramp more than I’d experienced in the past. Since this was a smaller ship than the mega ships I’ve sailed recently, it had only one boarding ramp, which also meant it was still a bit slower.

Overall, boarding took less than 20 minutes from drop-off to stepping on the Reflection.

Stepping Onboard the Celebrity Reflection

I didn’t really know much about Celebrity’s Solstice Class of ships. While it’s a staple of the fleet and a favorite of many longtime Celebrity cruisers, so far I’ve only sailed on their Edge Class of ships, a newer and more modern take on cruising. I really wasn’t sure how the Reflection would feel and if it would suit me.

I originally thought that the Reflection was smaller than the last Celebrity ship I sailed, but in doing research, I realized it was roughly the same size, just 3% larger. The Reflection holds roughly 3,000 guests at double occupancy, slightly more than the Apex, mostly because the Apex has larger suite sections.

This puts the ship as a midsize ship, smaller than Royal Caribbean’s Voyager Class and closer to Carnival and Disney’s Wish classes or Princess’s Grand Class. That means it feels much more intimate and not like a mega ship or theme park.

The Reflection doesn’t have a grand entrance like some other ships have. For example, on Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, we walked right by the impressive Pearl structure in the Royal Promenade. On the Norwegian Viva, you enter through the beautiful atrium. On the Reflection, you just step into a hallway, although this particular one was anything but “regular.”

Immediately upon entry, the staff directs you to check in at your muster station. They don’t give you much of a chance to do anything else. It’s good because it means the process is done quickly. On Carnival, we’d hear announcements for hours telling people they still needed to check in.

In the old days, you used to sit in a large theater for 20 minutes for the safety briefing. Today, though, it’s so much easier for cruise lines. On the way to the port, we watched a video explaining how to put on the life vest and what to do in an emergency. Then, as soon as we boarded, we were directed to our muster station to have our boarding passes scanned, and we were all set.

Because Celebrity was directing everyone to their muster stations immediately, it was creating long lines. Our area had several muster stations, yet only one person checked them all in. It took about 5 minutes, so it wasn’t bad, but it was the longest I’ve waited since COVID.

Celebrity Reflection Day 1 Schedule

Balcony Cabin on Celebrity Reflection

Once we were checked in, our cruise officially began. We took the stairs up from Deck 5, where the entrance was, up to Deck 7 where our cabins were located. We were a good walk down the hallway, but because the Reflection is a midsize ship, it was nowhere near as bad as being at the end of a long passage on a ship like the Oasis of the Seas.

Tip: Although cabins aren’t ready until 1:30, Celebrity lets you go to your room as soon as you board to drop off any bags and pick up your room keys. It’s so much better than carrying a backpack around the rest of the day.

I grabbed my card from the envelope in the mailbox and pressed it against the door to open it. It’s an RFID, touch-enabled card, not a magstripe like older ships typically use.

The first impression of the room was that it was a nice setup, just a little dated. The cabin had an older smell, not quite musty, but not fresh either. The red carpets and curtains definitely felt older. The lights were pretty dim, and at night I wished they were brighter, but for now the natural light pouring in helped.

The couch in the room was comfortable and looked like it’d been reupholstered at some point, though it was starting to wrinkle. The ship is likely to get a refurbishment in the near future, so it makes sense that it feels a bit long in the tooth.

That said, the room was very clean. Unlike my sailing on Virgin Voyages, which had wine stains on the carpet, or Liberty of the Seas, which had faded and frayed carpet, the room on the Reflection didn’t feel worn, just a bit dated.

Tip: There aren’t many outlets on the Reflection and they’re not near the bed. If you need your phone next to your bed, bring a rechargeable battery back. If you have a CPAP, contact Guest Services before you leave for an extension cord.

The cabin had a good amount of storage, with a sliding closet along the bathroom wall, 3 drawers, and storage over the bed, which made good use of a “dead” space. I would have liked a bit more storage for a longer cruise, but it was fine for a 4-day sailing.

The bathroom was actually very spacious. On new ships, cruise lines have increased the shower size to rival what you might have at home. While I appreciate that, I realized that it does so at the expense of floor space in the bathroom. On the new Icon Class ships and Carnival’s Excel Class ships, you basically walk in, and that’s all the movement you can make. On the Reflection, you can actually walk into the bathroom and maneuver around. This is because the shower is a curved model with clear doors that slide shut. It means the shower isn’t as big, but it does make the bathroom feel more comfortable.

The balcony has two chairs and a large round table. They felt relatively private, with solid doors between cabins that went nearly to the floor. In my cabin, right underneath were the orange lifeboats. They didn’t block the view when looking out, but if you looked down, you wouldn’t see the water.

Elevators on Celebrity Reflection

I left my cabin and headed up with my group to the Sunset Bar. My cabin was on Deck 7, so rather than walk the 7 decks, I headed to the midship elevators. The Reflection has only two banks of elevators, forward and midship, which creates some bottlenecks. The elevator lobbies were modern, with blue lights over each elevator. When an elevator arrived, its color would change to red or green, making it easy to know which elevator was there and which direction it was going, though most people still got on the wrong one.

The midship elevators are beautiful glass elevators that run from Deck 3 to Deck 15, offering impressive views of the central atrium. I must say, I miss the old ship designs with the glass elevators. They just feel so elevated. They also have the benefit of great people watching as they move between the floors.

That said, the elevators definitely struggled during the cruise. While they were all working, during peak times like dinner, it’d be quite a wait. The elevators themselves are quite small, and people would pack in as many as they could, making the ride uncomfortable. The worst was debarkation day, when we had to wait 10 minutes before we could board an elevator.

To be fair, the elevators were probably standard for a ship of this age, although a third elevator bank would have helped. I’m just spoiled by the elevators on new ships. The destination elevators I experienced on Star of the Seas earlier this year were far superior. I never had a wait; they were so roomy, and you never had one that stopped on every single floor. It’s just an example of how far cruise ships have come in a decade’s time.

Boarding Drinks at the Sunset Bar

After dropping our stuff in our cabins, we headed to the Sunset Bar at the back of the ship. All Celebrity ships feature a Sunset Bar with amazing aft views, perfect for an outdoor cocktail away from the pool area. So far, on the only other ship I’ve sailed on, the Celebrity Apex, the Sunset Bar was in a great location, but quite cramped, and the bar wasn’t really big enough to service the area.

The area on the Reflection seems much better suited. It has a full circular bar with a good amount of bar seating, and comfy couches and chairs along the aft of the ship. The furniture was showing its age, marred by wrinkles, small cuts, and some fading, but it was still clean. Thankfully, you almost don’t notice those things, because you’re too busy looking at the impressive vistas off the back of the ship.

Within a couple of minutes, a waiter came to our table to take our drink order, and within 5 minutes, we had our first cocktails on board. I was hoping to have the Dill-icious, which I fell in love with on my last sailing, but unfortunately, Solstice Class ships don’t seem to have this offering on the Sunset Bar menu. Instead, I went with “Key West Daiquiri” since we’d be visiting the next day. It definitely wasn’t my cup of tea, being too citrusy, but still, it was the perfect way to kick off the cruise.

Oceanview Cafe Buffet for Lunch

At around 1 PM, we decided to grab lunch before spending some pool time. On the Reflection, you really only have two options for complimentary lunch on embarkation day: the buffet, Oceanview Cafe, and Mast Grill, which was a grab-and-go place serving burgers and hot dogs.

The buffet on boarding day is going to be the worst you’ll ever see. It’s the go-to place everyone goes when they board, and because they don’t know where anything is, people are walking around aimlessly and bumping into each other. And while the Reflection has two food places, the Mast Grill is located just one deck above Oceanview Cafe, which means the design doesn’t split the crowds, unlike larger ships like Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class or Carnival Excel Class, which put food venues farther apart to break up crowds.

The first thing I noticed when walking into the buffet was the lack of hand-washing stations. While newer ships all have sinks to wash your hands before entering the buffet, that wasn’t the norm in 2012 when this ship was built. As a result, there’s a single staff member trying to get people to use hand sanitizer while they enter.

Tip: Hand sanitizer is not effective against norovirus, so if you’re seeing a lot of reports of norovirus on cruise ships near your sailing, go to the bathrooms, which are right inside the entrance to the buffet, and do a proper wash.

The buffet setup was similar to the one on the Celebrity Apex, the ship I sailed on last summer. Just inside the entrance is Il Secondo Bacio, the secondary coffee bar on the ship, and it also serves as the full-service bar for the buffet.

The buffet layout is spacious, with island setups grouped by cuisine, which helps avoid long lines that can form in a traditional buffet. It takes a bit of time to find where things are, but by the second day, you get a feel for it.

The food at the buffet was good quality, as I’ve come to expect from Celebrity. They had a Tex-Mex station, an Indian station, salad stations, carved meats, and pasta dishes. There is something for everyone there, and the food was fresh and changed out quickly. The staff were all smiling and friendly, helping direct people around.

One thing that impressed me was that the food quality was just as good as on some newer Celebrity ships. Sometimes, cruise lines serve lower-quality food on their older ships to compensate for the lower prices people are paying. The food selection and quality here was very similar to what I experienced on one of their newer ships the previous year, which means you really get value for your money on this ship.

While the buffet was busy, it was probably one of the smoothest, least chaotic buffets I’ve experienced on embarkation day on a ship. Probably helping with this is the fact that there aren’t many children on a Celebrity ship. Not only does it mean there are fewer people running around and bumping into you, but it also means parents aren’t having to carry two or three plates for themselves and a kid.

We had no problem grabbing a table by one of the large floor-to-ceiling windows. Fort Lauderdale isn’t the most picturesque port, but it was a beautiful day out, so it was nice to enjoy it. The Reflection also had a good-sized section of tables outside at the rear of the buffet if you preferred dining al fresco. The only thing that the buffet was missing was a second place to get a drink or soda. On other ships, they sometimes have bar carts at the far end of the buffet for soda service or canned drinks. They didn’t have that on the Reflection, and while you could ask a roaming server for a drink, it could take a while. It was probably my only real criticism of the buffet.

Pool Time on the Reflection

After a long, cold winter in NJ, it was time to enjoy the beautiful weather in Florida. We headed out of the buffet, which opens right to the main pool area. The Reflection has two pools, separated by a walkway, on its main pool deck. In pictures, it may look like one pool with a bridge over it. One pool was about 4 feet deep, and the other was 6 feet deep.

Combined, the two pools were a decent size for a ship of this capacity, but I would have preferred them to be larger. While I don’t have measurements, the pools on the newer Edge Class ships are definitely bigger.

The pool area had one stationary bar, two bar carts on either side, and servers constantly taking drink orders. While it was definitely busy, you never really had to wait to get a drink if you wanted one. The one exception was frozen drinks, which you could only get from the main pool bar and which inherently take longer to make.

The pool was pretty full, but not people soup at this point. Because this was a Celebrity ship during the beginning of spring break, there weren’t a lot of kids, maybe 10 to 15 between the two pools, mostly favoring the shallower pool.

As we were in the pool, I noticed the pool deck itself did feel a bit enclosed. The deck above the pool deck has a high awning providing shade to that deck, but it makes the pool feel a bit more like you’re in a canyon rather than on the ocean. The hot tubs are also right next to the pool, which creates a more crowded feeling. One nice thing was that the area had plenty of shaded seating along the pool, covered by the deck above, and with windows offering beautiful ocean views on sea days.

Around 3 PM, the DJ came on and started ramping up the party atmosphere. The pool was getting pretty crowded, so we headed to the Solarium next door.

Solarium Adult-Only Pool

The music fades away almost instantly as you walk away from the main pool and into the Solarium, a peaceful two-story space right next to the main pool area. The space is adults-only and has two hot tubs on the sides, so you can see the ocean, and a large, 6-foot-deep pool in the middle. The space is adults-only, though I saw two kids around 10 years old in the pool with their parents, and they weren’t asked to leave.

This pool was much less popular at this point because the weather was beautiful, so everyone wanted to be outside. That meant there were plenty of loungers and chairs. It was warm in the Solarium, and the pool was a bit warm. The Solarium doesn’t have a bar, but within a couple of minutes of being in the water, a server came over and asked if we needed anything.

While I did enjoy this space, you could see where the ship was showing its age here. The edges of the pool were worn down, paint was peeling, and the architectural wall at the end was dry, as if the paint was wearing off. The large greenery installation which was once at the end of the pool is gone (now the ladder structure in the picture), and the fountains on the other end no longer work. No one in my party noticed these things, but since I was looking specifically to see how this ship compared to newer ones, I did take note of them. Everything was still very clean, though.

Anytime Dining in the Opus Restaurant

For this sailing, we requested an early seating for dinner, which on the Reflection was 5:30 PM. With this option, we’d have a set table, the same waiters, and the same time every night for dinner. Unfortunately, even though we booked this sailing 6+ months in advance, the early seating was completely filled. Instead, we were given Anytime Dining.

With Anytime Dining, you can either make reservations before the cruise using the Celebrity app or just show up to the hostess table when you’re ready for dinner and then wait for a table. As soon as I saw I couldn’t get an early dinner, I went in the app and requested a 6 PM dinner time, the earliest possible for this sailing, for each of the four nights.

Anytime Dining was on the second floor of the Opus Restaurant, on Deck 4. The front of the dining room has two podiums, one for those with reservations and one for walk-in guests. We arrived promptly at 6 PM and were immediately shown to a table.

It turned out we were given the same table and the same waiters each night, which I really prefer. It’s nice when you get to know the servers, and they know your preferences over the course of the sailing. It’s usually something I really miss with flexible dining, but Celebrity gave us the same time without even asking.

The two-story Opus Restaurant was impressive with a modern, upscale feel. The sweeping white curved columns leading from the first floor up to the impressive chandelier made the space feel even taller than it was. The white tablecloths and place settings at all the tables gave it a formal feel.

The restaurant had a lot of windows for those closer to the sides of the dining room. You didn’t get the amazing ocean views you’d find on some newer ships, but it still let in lots of natural light. We were given a table in the center, right next to the railing overlooking the first floor.

The space felt less intimate than the newer Celebrity ships, which have 4 smaller dining rooms for a more restaurant-like experience, but this dining room didn’t feel chaotic. It felt more like the traditional fancy dining room you’d see on the Titanic or older ocean liners.

The assistant waiter dropped off our bread. Each night we’d see three new breads and dips, all made from scratch. It’s a silly little touch, but it makes it feel so much more elevated than what I’ve seen on other cruise lines.

Our sommelier then came over for our drink orders. He already knew our names and didn’t have to ask to see our room cards. Our table had a mixture of people with the Classic Drink Package, which covers drinks up to $12, and the Premium Drink Package, which covers drinks up to $19, and he proactively looked up who had which so he could recommend drinks that fit within the package. I asked for a wine that I really enjoyed on my last Celebrity sailing, and he knew off the top of his head that it had been discontinued and recommended a similar wine, which I really enjoyed. Again, it’s this attention to service and detail where Celebrity really seems to shine.

The food was delicious. I got the French onion soup, which Celebrity always does really well. It’s my favorite out of every cruise line. I also went with the prime rib, which I never order on land, but is a staple for me on a cruise ship. For dessert, I got the apple pie à la mode, which was good, but not my favorite. Ironically, I think it was too apple-heavy for my taste; the apple-to-crust ratio was a bit off.

Overall, dinner took one hour and two minutes. The service and food were top-notch, setting the bar high for the week.

Headliner Comedian in the Main Theater

At 9 PM, we headed to the Reflection Theater to see the headliner act. Traditionally, I’m not a fan of the “Headliner” entertainment that Royal Caribbean and Celebrity use. Typically, half the nights in the main theater feature in-house production acts. The other nights, they bring in guest entertainers for a few weeks as “headliner” entertainment. It could be an opera singer, a comedian, or a magician. You never really know until you’re on board, and even then, it’s not always described well in the daily program. I prefer something more consistent and well-programmed, personally, but since it was the first night, we thought we’d give it a shot.

The Reflection Theater is a large traditional theater spanning 3 stories and seating over 1,200 people, so getting a seat was not an issue. The seats were plush and comfy, and while the theater doesn’t have a dedicated bar, bar carts were located at the entrances so people could grab a drink before the performance. Impressively, I’d say the theater was about 80% full this evening.

Tonight’s entertainer was a comedian, Spencer James. He’s a veteran cruise performer who has worked with Celebrity before, as well as Carnival, which raised my hopes a bit. Carnival has some of the best comedy programs at sea. Doing comedy in a setting that large can be tricky, but Spencer did a great job getting the audience laughing throughout his set. The crowd was definitely enjoying the opening show, and I think he was one of the better cruise comedians I’ve seen.

After the show, the cruise director came on stage to welcome us. She took a poll of how many first-time Celebrity cruisers there were in the theater, and I was quite surprised by how many. It seems many thought this 4-day cruise would be a good introduction to the line.

80’s Party in the Foyer

After the show, we walked to the Grand Foyer, the heart of the ship, to see the 80’s Party. It was structured as trivia, where two teams were competing to see who knew the song and artist each time. It was a bit redundant. It was 20 songs long, and by the end, people just wanted to play the music, not the trivia that only a handful of people could participate in. Only two Celebrity entertainment staff were on hand for the event, and they seemed to struggle to control it and keep things on track. Still, the crowd was having a great time.

Unlike other cruise lines, where an 80s party might have a lot of people dressing up, it didn’t really happen on the Reflection. It’s mostly because it wasn’t an “official” theme night. On this sailing, the thing we really saw people dress up for was the “Shine the Night” party that occurred later in the cruise.

Late Night Bites in the Buffet

For me, it’s not a cruise if I don’t stop by and grab some late-night food before bed. Over the years, cruise lines have cut back on their late-night offerings, and every line does it a bit differently. Celebrity opens a small section of its buffet from 10 PM to 1 AM each night.

The pizza is probably the biggest draw, as that’s usually the late-night cruise staple, but on Celebrity, the pizza is ridiculously mediocre, if not just plain bad. I had the same problem on my last sailing on the Celebrity Apex. I don’t know what’s wrong. I see them stretching the fresh dough, topping it with fresh ingredients, and serving it right out of the oven, but the resulting food is not good. It’s greasy, with no bite to the crust, and almost no flavor. It’s so puzzling to me, as Celebrity otherwise knocks all the other food out of the park.

Thankfully, in addition to the pizza, they had a lot of other options that tasted much better. Fresh fruit, small desserts, bread, pasta, and fresh sandwiches that were quite tasty. Overall, it was a really nice spread with options for everyone, unlike Royal Caribbean, which just has pizza on most ships.

At 11 PM, it wasn’t overly crowded, and since all the buffet seating was available, crowds were spread out as people just relaxed together. As I ate my food, I noticed a deep rumbling as the ship was picking up speed on our way to Key West. I didn’t notice it back in my cabin on Deck 7, but at night, you really felt the top decks shaking.

After my late-night snack, I headed back to my cabin. I opened the door as my room steward had turned down the bed, put a chocolate on the pillow, left the schedule for the next day, and turned on the soft lighting next to the bed. It’s a nice touch that many cruise lines have cut to save money, but it just makes your cruise feel even more special, and I’m glad Celebrity continues to do it.

Overall, it was a great day, and I was surprised by how much I really enjoyed the Reflection so far. The next day, we’d have until 2 PM to explore Key West and then see more of the Reflection.

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

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While these hits and misses are based directly on my experience on Star of the Seas, nearly everything I mention also applies to Icon of the Seas. Besides an extra hot tub, some changed-up artwork, different shows, and a few swapped dining concepts, Star of the Seas is not all that different from Icon of the Seas.

Hits

• Great Design Keeps Crowds Away
• The Ocean Is Front and Center
• So Many Food Options (Especially Included Ones)
• Amazing Pools and Pool Area
• So Much to Do Onboard
• Destination Elevators

Misses

• Hard to Find Peace and Quiet
• Adult-Only Space Falls Short
• Bar Layout and Scheduling Kill the Nighttime Energy
• Outdated Casino Layout
• Awkward Layout Around Playmakers

Polarizing

• Infinity Verandah Cabins

Hit: Great Design Keeps Crowds Away

When you tell most non-cruisers, and some old-school cruisers, that you’ll be sailing on the largest cruise ship in the world with 7,600 other guests, the first thing they’ll likely say is, “It’s going to be way too crowded.” And if you look at message boards and social media, anytime a big ship is mentioned, people chime in to complain about crowds and how they’d hate to sail with 5,000+ people. I’ve cruised on 17 different ships and can confidently tell you they’re full of it.

When Royal Caribbean debuted the neighborhood design on Oasis Class ships, it was a game-changer. The principle of having eight different areas was extremely effective at splitting crowds up among the ship. The Icon Class takes that concept even further and evolves the design.

There’s no point where all the guests are in one part of the ship at once.

In the evening, they often have three theaters (AquaTheater, Absolute Zero, and the Royal Theater) running at the same time. During the day, there are seven different pools split across five decks. You have 18 bars and lounges to choose from. And when it comes to dining, not everyone is packed into the Windjammer; there are 11 complimentary and 14 extra-fee restaurants onboard.

It absolutely makes a huge difference. Last year, I sailed on the Liberty of the Seas (see that cruise blog here), a Freedom Class ship that is 37% smaller and holds 3,000 fewer people than Star of the Seas, and it felt so much more crowded. The buffet was always busy, the Royal Promenade felt cramped and congested, and the walkways filled up with people. I never felt that once on Star of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean also made huge strides with the Royal Promenade here. The Royal Promenade is a long strip in the center of the ship with bars, shopping, and restaurants. It first debuted on the Voyager of the Seas and has since been the heart of every new Royal Caribbean ship. On Star of the Seas, they evolved the design to be two stories and much wider, taking up the full width of the ship. That makes it feel more like a public square or street than a small mall, like it does on the other ships. It’s far less crowded as a result.

Hit: The Ocean Is Front and Center

Oasis Class ships could feel like floating malls with limited connection to the sea. The Icon Class fixes that.

The Royal Promenade now has massive midship windows, aided structurally by The Pearl, plus two outdoor promenade areas to sit and get fresh air. Competitors like Norwegian’s Waterfront and Ocean Boulevard, Carnival’s Lanai and Summer Landing, and Virgin Voyages’ The Dock set the standard here, and Royal has caught up.

On the pool decks, many loungers angle toward the ocean. Four pools sit along the sides of the ship, giving sea views while you are in the water.

Aft views also improved. On Oasis Class, the space was dominated by the AquaTheater and Ultimate Abyss. On Star of the Seas, The Hideaway has tiered seating and an infinity pool overlooking the wake. The Surfside Neighborhood has its own infinity pool with great views as well.

Even the FlowRider flips to face the ocean, so your photos have a blue horizon instead of a metal wall.

At the front, The Overlook in the AquaDome offers panoramic views through the massive 4-deck-high glass dome. It’s hard to understand how massive this space is until you set foot in it. You can spend hours just watching the deep blue water as the ship sails toward your next destination.

Overall, the design of Star of the Seas brings it way closer to the ocean than any of the Oasis Class ships.

Hit: So Many Food Options (Especially Included Ones)

Star of the Seas has so many food options available onboard that you might not even be able to try them all during one sailing; I know I could not on my 4-day cruise.

The food is all over the ship, so you are never far from a snack or bite to eat. When I cruise, I almost never pay extra for food, so I was pleasantly surprised to have so many options on Star of the Seas.

Included Food

For included food, you have a lot of really good options onboard. Previously, I found Carnival to have the best included food options, but Star of the Seas gives them a run for their money, if not surpassing them.

I loved El Loco Fresh, which is a staple on many Royal Caribbean ships. They had delicious tacos, burritos, and my favorite, a make-your-own nachos bar.

Basecamp is a hidden gem that many people overlook. Located in Thrill Island under the Sports Court, this area serves grab-and-go pretzel nuggets, chicken fingers, and a smash burger that is far superior to any included burger I have had on a Royal Caribbean ship.

For families, the Surfside Neighborhood has three venues right in the area, so you do not have to have your kids dry off and trek up to the Windjammer buffet on Deck 15. The grab-and-go Surfside Bites made it really easy to get kids popcorn chicken, fruit skewers, or mini cinnamon-sugar churros while they are playing or on break from the kids club. Then there is the dedicated family buffet, Surfside Eatery, which had a wide selection for both adults and kids, but with a manageable layout.

Tip: On our sailing, Surfside Eatery was much quieter and more enjoyable for breakfast than the Windjammer because many people did not think of it.

The ship also has the AquaDome Market, a food hall with five complimentary food stalls. The food is all made to order, not a buffet, so it can take a few minutes, but except for the crepe station, the lines were never more than five minutes during my visits.

I did miss the Solarium Bistro on other ships. It was my go-to for a quiet breakfast buffet since few people knew about it. Unfortunately, AquaDome Market, which kind of takes its place, is not open for breakfast at this point. It sounds like it may be open for breakfast on the next ship, Legend of the Seas.

Extra-fee / Specialty Dining

You could easily go a whole sailing without paying a dime for extra food, but for those who wish to pay extra, Star of the Seas also has Royal Caribbean staples. Chops Grille provides the usual steakhouse experience, Izumi Sushi and Teppanyaki has hibachi dining tables, Giovanni’s covers Italian cuisine (albeit in a less-than-ideal location with a walkway through it), and Playmakers is tucked away for bar bites. The ship also has the Lincoln Park Supper Club, the most elevated dining experience on any Royal Caribbean ship, with a six-course meal paired with music and cocktails for $200.

Hit: So Much to Do Onboard

One of the benefits of being on a megaship is just how much there is to do onboard. When I was on the Celebrity Apex a month prior, people were struggling to find places for activities, with a makeshift pickleball court in the Rooftop Garden and ladder golf in a walkway next to the pool. On Star of the Seas, there are so many options, with many of them included.

The ship, of course, has the Royal Caribbean staples. That includes a FlowRider surf simulator, ice skating, and a rock-climbing wall that’s been supersized. They also have a sports court that switches between basketball and pickleball throughout the day.

New for the Icon Class is a full waterpark with six different water slides.

In addition, kids will love all the activities in the Surfside Neighborhood like the Splashaway Bay splash park, their dedicated pool, dry play structure, and merry-go-round.

On some sea days, the Absolute Zero ice rink transforms into a laser tag arena, which is also complimentary.

There are a few activities for an additional fee as well. The Crown’s Edge ocean walk is a sky walk and quasi-ropes course where you fly out over the side of the ship (although it’s not really worth it compared to the free versions on other cruise lines). Star of the Seas also has two escape rooms, which are a fun challenge for a group or just a couple who wants to join in (each room holds 12 people at a time).

For shows, Star of the Seas has three different venues for performances: the Royal Theater with “Back to the Future: The Musical“, Absolute Zero with the ice-skating show “Sol“, and the AquaDome with two shows, “Torque” and “Pirates and Mermaids”. The Attic also has stand-up comedy, and the Royal Theater will feature “headliner entertainment” that swaps out every few weeks, along with “The Price Is Right”, where audience members are selected to play for real prizes. All of these are included with your cruise fare, but you need to book reservations as soon as possible using the Royal Caribbean app (typically they open at the beginning of the month before the sailing).

Of course, you’ll also find the standard activities throughout the day, like trivia, karaoke, bingo, and lectures. The schedule is jam-packed, but there really is something for everyone onboard.

Hit: The Pools and Pool Area

The Star of the Seas has seven different pools onboard (MSC’s World Class of ships holds the record for most pools at eight). Rather than just having a few pools in the center, Royal Caribbean split the pools up, putting them on five different decks. This meant there was no “one” pool to go to, giving options and splitting up crowds.

The pools themselves have a great design. Adults in pools aren’t swimming laps or treading water; they’re just relaxing in the water and cooling off. Because of that, many of the pools are shallower and have space for sitting or in-water loungers. For example, the Cove Pool has tiered steps to sit on while in the water, and most of the pools are waist level, making it easier for adults to lounge around in the cool water on a hot day.

A lot of the pools also have amazing views. Whether watching the sail away from Port Canaveral from the Cloud 17 pool or enjoying the view of the ship’s wake from the Hideaway pool, I spent more time in the pools on this ship than on any other cruise ship I’ve been on.

I’ve seen a bunch of complaints that the pools are too small, but I will happily disagree. Water weighs a lot, and ships can only have so many pools. Royal Caribbean put in absolutely as many as they could. And while some are on the smaller side, they’re just some out of seven options. If one is crowded, walk to another.

During peak summer sailings when the ship is completely full (including third and fourth beds in cabins), yes, it will be hard to find pool space, just as on almost any other cruise ship in the world. There’s really no way around that except to have fewer people on the ship but keep the ship the same size, which isn’t going to happen.

Star of the Seas also has ten hot tubs, but because this was a hot sailing, they were almost never used any time I walked by. I wish they had an option to turn them into cooler water when it’s hot and humid outside so they could be used more.

And the pool decks in general were also just so well designed. By every bar there was a towel station to get or exchange your towels. Bars were all over the place, and bar service was coming by every pool. Thousands of loungers were on the deck, and while you might not get one right next to the pool, you could still find one. And I loved that every pool and hot tub had a cubby station so you could put your towels, room key, and shoes while you were in the water, so you didn’t have to take up a chair just to hold your belongings.

The pool area also has four different Lime & Coconut bars, meaning you never have to walk far or wait long for a drink.

Hit: Destination Elevators

It seems silly to consider something as seemingly trivial as an elevator a “hit” on a ship, but on Star of the Seas, the elevators absolutely make a massive difference in the cruise experience.

Star of the Seas and its sister ships use destination elevators. Destination elevators don’t have any buttons inside. Instead, when you call the elevator, you select the floor you want on a touchscreen, and it tells you which elevator to get on. Then you wait by that door until it opens, you hop in, and you’re on your way. The benefit is that the computer systems can better route traffic, so you don’t have an elevator that stops at every floor. Instead, they often stop just once or twice on your journey.

Now, destination elevators are nothing new. They’ve been used in skyscrapers for years. For cruise ships, Carnival debuted destination elevators on the Vista in 2016, but they were so disliked on Carnival’s Vista Class ships that the line reverted to standard elevators on its Excel Class ships. (Note: MSC has also implemented destination elevators on its ships since 2017.)

But it’s not just the fact that they’re destination-based; it’s how Royal Caribbean designed them. The elevator lobbies are massive on Star of the Seas. There’s plenty of room to walk around, preventing crowding and congestion. In addition, the elevator lobbies are in the center of the ship, meaning you have access to both the starboard and port-side elevator banks at once. On Oasis Class ships, they’re separate on each side, meaning the starboard elevator lobby might be jam-packed with long waits while the port side could be empty.

Does it make a difference? Absolutely. On the Oasis Class Harmony of the Seas, I resented having to use the elevators, as it meant waiting five to ten minutes to get around during peak times (unfortunately, my cabin was four decks from both the interior promenade and pool levels, making it equally inconvenient in either direction).

On Star of the Seas, I never waited more than a couple of minutes. And when I did board, the elevators were never jam-packed like sardines; the same couldn’t be said for my sailing on Carnival Celebration.

The only downside I experienced was that sometimes you’d hit a button, and it would assign you an elevator that had just opened on the opposite side of the lobby, which was quite a walk. But if you missed it, you could just press the button again and get assigned a new elevator.

Miss: Hard to Find Peace and Quiet

As I’ve mentioned, Star of the Seas is a massive ship filled with thousands of people, but it doesn’t always feel that crowded. But it does feel busy all the time. You just can’t seem to get away from the energy and music on the ship. The pool decks are all pumping music, whether it’s the live Caribbean band performing on the outdoor stage at Deck 16, the DJ at The Hideaway, or music playing in the Royal Promenade; it’s pretty loud everywhere onboard. In fact, getting away from it was probably the hardest challenge. 

On two of the sea days, I wanted to sit on the pool deck and read a book. I had no problem finding tons of loungers, both in the sun or shaded, but finding a place quiet enough to relax and read was nearly impossible.

At night, it was also a challenge, although not impossible. You won’t enjoy a quiet cocktail at the Schooner Bar or the 1400 Lobby cocktail bar, because the music bleeds in from all the other venues around, or the massive Royal Promenade parties if it’s later at night. Quieter atmosphere can be found in Central Park, where you might have a harpist or jazz music that’s more subtle, but it is subject to the weather.

I wouldn’t say it was a complete miss, but if you enjoy getting away to a quiet place on a sea day, it will be more challenging on Star of the Seas than on some other ships.

Miss: Adult-Only Space Falls Short

As a cruiser who doesn’t normally travel with children, I often spend quite some time in the adult-only area of the ship. I like being able to get away from the busyness of the kids’ areas and enjoy some quieter time (note: adult-only spaces aren’t always serene; sometimes adults are louder and more rowdy than children).

On Royal Caribbean’s Quantum and Oasis Class ships, they have beautiful adult-only Solariums at the very front of the ship, above the bridge. Originally, the Oasis Class versions were semi-enclosed, but on the Quantum Class ships and the newer Oasis Class ships (Wonder and Utopia of the Seas), the area is fully enclosed and climate-controlled. That made it one of my favorite adult-only areas at sea.

On Star of the Seas, the area that was previously used for Solariums is now the AquaDome, similar in principle but much higher. It houses an AquaTheater, two bars, and the AquaDome Market. But the area is no longer adult-only and has no pools or loungers; it’s specifically an indoor lounge.

The adult-only area on Star of the Seas is The Hideaway on Deck 15. The area has a dedicated bar, two hot tubs, and an infinity pool that’s floating seven decks above the Surfside Neighborhood. While it doesn’t have a dedicated restaurant, Basecamp is only a few steps away.

Unlike the Solariums on Royal Caribbean’s ships, this area doesn’t have a relaxing vibe; they wanted a Vegas pool party atmosphere. While the music is quieter in the morning, they crank it up at 11 AM for a more party-like scene.

The Hideaway also has tiered lounge chairs overlooking the ocean and more casual table seating by The Hideaway Bar but nearly every bit of seating and the pool are in full sun at all times. I also didn’t like that area also has a lot of extra-fee rental areas, like the pool beds in the picture above and the seating closest to the edge in the picture below. On almost any other cruise ship these would not cost extra. It’s even more frustrating because The Hideaway pool gets jam-packed in the afternoons and the rentable day beds take up space other guests can be using.

The pool, while nice, is usually jam-packed. When Icon of the Seas first launched, it was the only adult-only pool, but thankfully, with the launch of Star of the Seas, the Swim & Tonic swim-up bar is now adult-only, helping with capacity (although during peak times, both are jam-packed).

Miss: Bar Layout and Scheduling Kill the Nighttime Energy

Having sailed on quite a few cruise lines, I’ve found Royal Caribbean has always had some of the best live musicians onboard. I’ve spent many a night listening to a guitarist in the pub or enjoying the pianist in the Schooner Bar. While they had just as many talented performers onboard Star of the Seas, the layout of the bars and Royal Promenade, and the odd scheduling meant we really didn’t get to enjoy them.

Most of the main bars to enjoy in the evening are along the Royal Promenade. The Latin bar Boleros, the Schooner Bar, and the English pub are all situated right next to each other. But Royal Caribbean made the poor choice of having them all be more like open-air bars. They have no walls, and the seating pours out into the Royal Promenade. While it makes the promenade on this ship feel more like a lively street at night than a mall, it also limits how much can go on at once.

Want some live music with pre-dinner drinks? If it’s before 7 PM, you’re out of luck. The only option is the “Resident DJ” playing across the whole Royal Promenade or the harpist in Central Park. Some music in the bars would start at 6:45, but that’s right around peak dinner time and also flows into most of the show times.

Another problem is that, because of the open design, the entertainment in the promenade itself and the various bands have to trade off. So from 8 PM. to 10 PM, you might have guitar in the English pub, the piano player at Schooner, and the dueling pianos going strong, but then it all has to shut down because of the Royal Promenade party. Not interested in the Y2K Millennium party? Too bad—that’s what’s happening tonight, and you have few options outside of it.

According to videos released by Royal Caribbean, the design was done on purpose to have music and energy throughout the space. I honestly hated it. The bleed was annoying (I’ve had similar issues on the Royal Esplanade on Quantum Class ships), and the schedules meant there wasn’t much time to enjoy the live music.

A last issue with the design is that some of these purpose-built spaces are dark on some nights. So one night, there might be no live music at Boleros or the dueling pianos. Of course, performers need some nights off, but the problem is that by not substituting other music, the venues go empty. Two nights on our sailing, Boleros had the bar open, but it was completely dead because there wasn’t live music there. It was such a waste of space and goes against Royal Caribbean’s philosophy of dividing up crowds into smaller venues, because everyone is flocking to the places with entertainment at that moment.

One thing I didn’t mention yet, but is an issue, is the space for the venue Dueling Pianos. It’s very popular event at night and the space is at maximum capacity for all performances with people having to stand on the Royal Promenade. That being said, it’s already the bar with the largest capacity on the ship. Royal Caribbean really needs to add additional performances, rearrange the space (the bar blocking the view from the Royal Promenade is a really poor design choice), or find a way to increase the size without destroying the intimate experience you’d expect.

Miss: Outdated Casino Layout

The Casino design on Star of the Seas is generations behind other implementations out there, but from other cruise lines and Royal Caribbean itself. 

First off, the casino is a mixed-use smoking and non-smoking space, unlike every other new class of cruise ship sailing from North America. Royal Caribbean has powerful vents in the floor, cleaning the area, which makes it feel less smoky, but with no physical barrier between the smoking/non-smoking sections, there is drift between the smoking/non-smoking sides. In addition, if you’re walking in using the entrance at the Royal Promenade, you must walk through the smoking section to get to the non-smoking section. 

The casino is laid out poorly as well, without a real walkway through it. You have to wander through machines and tables to get from one side to the other, making it frustrating. 

The casino does have a large bar in the middle that services the area well, but I saw minimal drink service while in the casino. 

Personally, I’m not a huge casino player, spending maybe an hour a sailing the casino, but the specific sailing I was on was a Prime Sailing with discounted rooms being given to Club Royal Casino Club members. That meant it was absolutely jam-packed the whole sailing, and many in the Facebook group were complaining about the sub-par design. One person posted, “Who approved the design? It’s awful. There are so many thoughtful areas on this ship, and the casino is like a jr high kid threw it together.“

That being said, Royal Caribbean has seemed to understand this issue as they have released that the next Icon Class ships, Legend of the Seas, will have a two-story casino. 

Miss: Awkward Layout Around Playmakers

Any cruise ship aficionado can’t help but appreciate the incredible amount of planning and thought Royal Caribbean put into introducing the Icon Class. But one of the glaring exceptions is Playmakers, Royal Caribbean’s very popular sports bar. I’ve tried looking at it every which way, but I can’t think of one reason why they put Playmakers where they did and designed it the way they did, except for “we have no space anywhere else.”

Playmakers is tucked away at the back of Deck 6. When I say tucked away, I mean it. The only way to access it is by walking toward the Surfside neighborhood and through a store to get to it. You’d think its isolated position would make it kind of private, but it’s also the only way to get into Absolute Zero, the ice-skating rink and home to other activities on the ship, as well as the Teen Club.

The walkway to get to these areas literally cuts right through the venue. It creates lines and crowds before ice-skating shows and popular activities.

The space itself feels very cramped, even without lines going through it. Tables are scattered somewhat haphazardly. The area also has a secondary “arcade” with some extra-fee games and pool tables as well. It’s really dark, giving it more of the feel of a sports bar in the basement of your favorite local pub—and not in a good way. I’d much rather spend time in a Buffalo Wild Wings than in this establishment.

Like the other Playmakers in the fleet, the sports bar has a good amount of seating and lots of big-screen TVs playing various sporting events. It also serves food that can be purchased à la carte. We visited one evening when we were onboard Star of the Seas, just after 11 PM (when the kitchen closed), and the place was nearly empty except for some entertainment staff enjoying their night off and a few teens in the arcade area. To be fair, no major sporting events were on, and it could have been much busier during the day, but the pitch-dark feel of the space wouldn’t make me want to visit during daylight hours on a beautiful day.

When it comes to Absolute Zero, guests have to go through Playmakers and walk down a flight of stairs to get into the entertainment space, an odd path when you need masses of people moving in and out. Thankfully, Royal Caribbean seemed to anticipate what a mess the mass exodus from this venue could be, as they let guests exit through the sides and walk along the outside jogging track to enter the Royal Promenade at midship.

Polarizing: Infinite Balcony Cabins

Star of the Seas has 28 different types of rooms, offering cabins that suit everyone, from sprawling suites to standard inside cabins. But the most controversial type of cabin on Star of the Seas (and first debuted on Icon of the Seas) is the Infinite Balcony.

The concept of the Infinite Balcony first debuted on Royal Caribbean’s sister cruise line, Celebrity Cruises, on its Edge Class ships, to mixed reviews. Rather than a cabin with a standard balcony, these cabins have floor-to-ceiling windows instead. The glass is split into two panels. With the push of a button, the top panel will lower to form a balcony-like experience. When it’s in the down position, the window drops to about the height of a standard balcony railing.

This new class of balconies is especially polarizing, with people seeming to either love or hate them. So it’s surprising that Royal Caribbean decided to adopt them on the newest ship. But, in an attempt to split the difference, not all balcony cabins are Infinite; roughly 40% have Infinite Balconies, and 60% are traditional balconies. (Note: On Star of the Seas, there are also interior-facing balconies in Surfside and Central Park, so make sure to book an ocean-view one if you want to see the ocean.)

For my sailing, I booked an Ocean View Balcony Guarantee and was assigned an Infinite Balcony. Having just had a similar cabin on my Norwegian Fjord cruise on the Celebrity Apex and really enjoying it (read about that cruise here), I was curious to see how it would be on a warm Caribbean cruise.

Infinite Balconies have a few positives. First, you get extra space in your cabin. Standard balcony cabins are usually around 200 square feet inside with 50 square feet on the balcony. Infinite Balconies have that extra 50 square feet in the cabin, making it feel especially spacious. The cabins also feel much more private; you don’t hear neighbors while on the “balcony” like you do on regular balconies. The windows are also massive, letting in more light than a standard balcony, so the cabin feels brighter when you’re indoors.

But there are some downsides. In a regular cabin, one person can sit in the warm sun on the balcony while the other naps in the cool air conditioning. The Infinite Balcony removes that separation of space, so it’s all or nothing (the air conditioning turns off when the window is open). Unlike the Celebrity ships, there aren’t folding doors separating the spaces, just a curtain you can use to shield some of the light from coming in. While air does flow into the room when the window is open and the ship is moving, it’s not the same as the rush of air you get while sitting on a traditional balcony because the side walls block some of the airflow.

Overall, I can see why it’s polarizing. While I really enjoyed the Infinite Balcony on my cold-weather cruise on Celebrity Apex, I noticed some of the drawbacks in the Caribbean. The minute I slid down the window, humidity rushed into the cabin, fogging up the mirrors. The powerful air conditioning was able to cool down the cabin in less than five minutes after closing the windows.

Verdict: A Thoughtful Mega Ship for All Ages

Overall, when I left Star of the Seas, I couldn’t help but be completely impressed. It blew my preconceived notions out of the water. It didn’t feel like a massive theme park at sea. The ship is incredibly well thought out, and they went to almost a Disney-level of planning and attention to guest needs and expectations to deliver an amazing cruise experience. Even when making this list of “misses,” I struggled to find flaws and most can be easily overlooked.

I think Royal Caribbean has done a disservice to itself by advertising these ships as the “ultimate family vacation.” It makes many people, especially those without kids, think these ships are just for families. As someone who doesn’t often travel with children, I found myself really enjoying the ship. It’s not that the ship isn’t for adults; it simply has the benefit of offering plenty for kids to do, and by keeping them in a dedicated kids’ neighborhood, it provides a superior experience to the Oasis Class.

You Might Like Star of the Seas If

• You like things to do and activities
  • There is no way to be bored on an Icon Class ship. Pools, activities, food, and shows are everywhere.
• You have kids
  • Star of the Seas is excellent for families, possibly one of the best family ships at sea outside of Disney. The Surfside Neighborhood clusters food, wet and dry play, an arcade, and the kids clubs in one convenient zone.
• You like ships with bells and whistles
  • If you enjoy modern cruising with the latest tech and design, this ship checks nearly every box.
• You are planning a multi-generational trip
  • There is something for everyone. Kids can live in Surfside while adults relax at Swim & Tonic. Those seeking exclusivity can even book in The Grove suite neighborhood, while others choose standard cabins.

You Might Not Like Star of the Seas If

• You like quiet
  • The ship is energetic and can be loud. If your ideal day is a book and the sound of waves, finding serenity may take effort.
• You want fewer kids onboard
  • Even though I believe Star of the Seas is good for all ages, there’s no getting away from the fact that there will be a few thousand children sailing with you on this ship. If you prefer fewer kids, you’re better off with Royal Caribbean’s older ships sailing longer itineraries, or looking at sailing Celebrity, Virgin Voyages, or Princess Cruises. 
• You like small ships
  • No amount of traffic planning or ship design can get away from the fact that Star of the Seas is huge. While I still think that it doesn’t feel crowded, some people prefer the allure of a small ship. They like seeing the same people everywhere, having a couple “regular” bars, and not having to walk a lot.
• You are on a budget
  • Icon Class pricing carries a premium right now. Better deals exist on older ships or other lines. That may change as Legend of the Seas and future Icon ships enter service and the class becomes less unique.

Follow Along on our 4-Day Star of the Seas Cruise

• Star of the Seas - Cruise Blog - Day 1 - Port Canaveral
• Star of the Seas - Cruise Blog - Day 2 - Sea Day
• Star of the Seas - Cruise Blog - Day 3 - Perfect Day at CocoCay
• Star of the Seas - Cruise Blog - Day 4 - Final Sea Day
• 6 Hits and Misses on Star of the Seas

Want to Stay Up to Date on Cruise News?

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Star of the Seas Day 4 Overview

• Day 4 Cruise Compass
• Meeting Star of the Seas Celebrities
• Trying Surfside Eatery for Breakfast
• Bellinis and Mimosas at Bubbles
• The Hideaway Adults-Only Area
• Category 6 Waterpark Again
• Basecamp for Lunch
• Surfside Bites for Second Lunch
• Lemon Post Bar
• Star of the Seas Casino
• Pearl Cafe
• Royal Trivia at Spotlight Karaoke
• Guitar Music in Thorn & Thistle English Pub
• Bon Voyage Dinner in the Main Dining Room
• “Torque” Aqua Show
• Noisy Night in the Cabin
• A Last Breakfast
• Debarkation
• Star of the Seas Day 4 Wrap Up

Star of the Seas Day 4 Cruise Compass

Meeting Star of the Seas Celebrities

On our way to breakfast this morning, we met two Star of the Seas celebrities.

The first was Bob, the cleaning robot. This robot runs in certain areas, vacuuming and cleaning up. Usually, he can be found in The Overlook, which makes sense because it is large, flat, and carpeted. Today, we saw him in Central Park.

At the same time, we got to see Sailor, the resident dog onboard Star of the Seas. CEO Michael Bayley is a dog fan, so he announced that the Icon Class ships would have a resident dog onboard.

Sailor is a 7-month-old Golden Retriever. She does not have any official meet and greets or times, so you have to be lucky to get a chance to see her. All cruise we had an eye out, but no luck. This morning in Central Park, we saw a bit of a crowd, and there she was, saying hi to everyone. The Facebook group had been tracking where she was so people could try to see her, but I was glad we found her on our own.

The sweet dog has been working on taking pictures and shaking hands with guests. Recently, she got off the ship at Perfect Day at CocoCay for some land time, and she got to see her counterpart on Icon of the Seas, Rover.

Trying Surfside Eatery for Breakfast

This morning, we decided to try Surfside Eatery, the secondary, smaller buffet located in the family-friendly Surfside Neighborhood. We headed over to Deck 7 and entered the neighborhood. The whole area was quiet. It was sleepy even though it was 10 AM.

Surfside Eatery is not huge, but it has all you would need for breakfast. They had some really nice options you would not find in the Windjammer, and no lines at all. I loved that they had fresh fruit to go, also available in the Pearl Cafe sometimes, and Park Cafe. It made it easy to snack on healthy foods for a change.

The inside seating was maybe half full, but we went outside since it was a nice day. It reminded me a bit of having breakfast at Johnny Rockets on Harmony of the Seas (read about that cruise here). It was not overly scenic, but it was nice to be outside and have another included option for breakfast.

Bellinis and Mimosas at Bubbles

Another new venue on Icon Class ships is Bubbles, a counter in Central Park that serves champagne and sparkling wine throughout the day. At first, I did not understand why they were installing it. I thought, “How many people really drink champagne?” Apparently, it has been a hit. Royal Caribbean says it is the highest revenue per square foot venue in the fleet, which makes sense since the space is literally about 16 square feet. It is just a person standing at a counter with a bunch of bottles on ice.

I believe it. Throughout the ship, I saw people walking around with champagne flutes filled with champagne or bubbly cocktails.

I ordered a bellini, which I enjoy more than a mimosa, as the peach purée is more refreshing to me. I was impressed that most of the available drinks here were under the drink package maximum.

The Hideaway Adults-Only Area

After breakfast, we headed to The Hideaway, the adults-only area on Star of the Seas. On the Oasis Class ships, the adults-only area was at the front of the ship in the Solarium. On Icon Class, Royal Caribbean decided to do more of a Vegas pool club type venue. I had seen the area several times already on this sailing, but today would be the first time I tried it.

The highlight of The Hideaway is a long, suspended infinity pool in the center of the area, with floating decks above the Surfside Neighborhood. The pool is meant for relaxing with a cocktail. The water is only 3 feet 11 inches deep, so just about waist level. There are dividers in the pool where you can put your drinks.

While the pool is a good size, it is almost always full. At 11 AM, we were able to go in without feeling packed in like a sardine, but many other times when I walked by, it looked like people soup. The pool is not big enough for the demand. There is another adults-only pool, the Swim & Tonic bar, and that was also very packed on sea days.

The most frustrating thing about the pool is Royal Caribbean’s choice to put three daybeds at the entrance of the pool and charge $200 to $500 for a day. These beds take up space in the pool that could have been used for stairs or platforms people could sit on. Instead, people pay a premium to have others standing all around the beds they paid for, and guests put their cocktails on the beds. I cannot see why anyone would pay for those beds.

The music in the area started getting louder at 11 AM, and it took on more of a Vegas beach club vibe. It does not have the same feel as the Solarium you will find on Quantum and Oasis Class ships. It tries for a party feel, which some guests seemed to appreciate, but others left as the music went up.

Tip: The floor in this area is scorching if the sun is out. Carry your flip flops with you to minimize burning your feet. They have cubbies right by the pool.

On the starboard side of The Hideaway is The Hideaway Bar. It continues the beach club theming with a modern-looking bar and elevated cocktails.

On the other side of The Hideaway is tiered seating overlooking the ship’s wake, as well as two decent-sized hot tubs. While there is a decent amount of seating here, none of it is in the shade. It is all full sun.

One thing I really disliked about this area was the extra-fee bed rentals. Not only do they charge for the three poorly placed beds in the pool, but the seating closest to the railing on both sides of The Hideaway is also reserved for those paying an extra $150 to $400s. These types of beds can be found on Norwegian and Virgin Voyages for no extra cost, but Royal Caribbean decided to make this an extra charge. On this sailing, most of the beds were not rented.

Category 6 Waterpark Again

As the pool filled up, we decided to get out and try the waterslides again. Being a sea day, the lines were longer than those we experienced on Day 1. For the mat slides, the wait was 10 to 15 minutes. For the raft slides, the wait was 15 to 20 minutes. The yellow drop slide, Pressure Drop, had no wait at all. The slide just did not seem as popular as the others.

Tip: For the shortest lines, try Category 6 Waterpark on the first day. The lines were half of what we saw on the sea day, although the lines were still acceptable for a waterpark.

Today, it was a much more diverse group of people using the waterpark. Adults with their friends, teenagers, and families. It seemed like everyone wanted to try it out.

Learn more about Category 6 Waterpark and see height requirements.

Basecamp for Lunch

Since we were in the area, we decided to grab a quick bite at Basecamp. Again, there were no lines at all and plenty of tables, even though it was the peak time of 12:30. I got the Smash Burger, which was constantly being cooked and took less than two minutes. It had a nice char and was still juicy. I would say it came close to the quality of my favorite burger at sea, Guy’s Burger Joint on Carnival ships. What was missing, though, was a topping bar.

Basecamp was loud, with the music from Thrill Island, separate from the music at The Hideaway, filling the space.

Surfside Bites for Second Lunch

After Basecamp, I headed down to the Surfside Neighborhood to try some food from Surfside Bites. The venue is a new concept for Icon Class ships and is grab-and-go right by Splashaway Bay. The kid-focused menu makes it easy to make sure your kids are fed without wasting time drying off and going into a buffet.

I ordered the Pizza Toasty, which was made to order and took three minutes in their turbo oven. It was basically a quesadilla with mozzarella and tomato sauce. Overall, it did not have a ton of flavor, which was disappointing, but probably just up the alley for younger palates. The cinnamon sugar churros were also tasty and came in a convenient little bag to carry around the ship.

If you want something a little colder, right next door to Surfside Bites is a Sprinkles ice cream machine. You do not have to go far to find food in Surfside.

The whole Surfside area was pretty busy, with kids playing in the water area, pool, and dry area. It was the first time all sailing that I heard a child scream, a testament to the family neighborhood design.

Supposedly, this area was adapted to skew older, to appeal to kids up to 10, but it still feels like it is more suited to younger cruisers, except for the arcade, maybe.

Lemon Post Bar

On top of all the kid-friendly spaces in the Surfside Neighborhood, there is also an adult venue, The Lemon Post Bar. When Royal Caribbean first announced it in videos, the designers referred to it as a “mommy and me” bar, which makes me cringe. To their point, the menu at The Lemon Post Bar has both alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks. For kids, they have juices that come in reusable pouches like a Capri Sun.

The cocktails on the menu are fruity plays on lemonade. I got the Peachy Passion, which had peach and orange blossom vodka, banana purée, and house-made lemonade. It was quite refreshing and not sugary sweet, unlike daiquiris.

The bar was pretty busy with parents grabbing drinks for themselves and their kids while they were in Splashaway Bay right next door. I would not say you would relax at that bar, but it is a convenient place to grab a drink while with your kid. If you have a soda package, you can just use the Coke Freestyle machine right next door.

Star of the Seas Casino

We decided to check out the casino since we had not spent much time there yet. It spans the middle of the ship on Deck 4 and can be accessed from either elevator bank or the escalators from the Royal Promenade.

For this sailing, the casino was always absolutely packed. Apparently, Club Royale, Royal Caribbean’s casino program, was offering free cruises on most of the showcase sailings. Because of that, a lot of people were in the casino trying to earn a free cruise.

The layout of the casino is pretty convoluted. There is no direct walkway from one side to the other. You have to meander through tables and slot machines, which is annoying when leaving the Music Hall and trying to get to the main areas of the ship.

Half of the casino is smoke-free, while the other half allows smoking. Oddly, Royal Caribbean decided not to close or wall off the smoking section. They installed powerful fans or blowers in the floor to try to address the smoke, but you definitely smelled it walking through the smoking section to get to the non-smoking side. It also wafted to the first machines in the non-smoking section, but if you were at the far side, you could not smell it.

It was an odd choice for Royal Caribbean. All new classes of ships for the North American cruise market have a separate, dedicated smoking space. Carnival’s Excel Class splits it down the center with a hallway in between. Norwegian’s Prima Class has it in a separate room behind a glass wall. Celebrity and Virgin Voyages do not allow smoking in the casino at all. I do not get Royal Caribbean’s thought process here.

In the middle of the casino is a large bar. There is no dedicated bar menu here. They use the Fleet Menu. Servers also circulate around the floor, but it was almost impossible to get one.

Overall, the casino just did not seem to work. It was crowded, noisy, and cramped. Maybe on sailings that are not featured by the casino program, it would be less crowded. This cruise might have been a worst-case scenario, but the consensus in the Facebook group for our sailing was that the design needs adjustments.

Note: Royal Caribbean must have had this on their radar, and they recently announced that on the next Icon Class ship, Legend of the Seas, the casino will be two floors. (Learn more)

Pearl Cafe

After some gaming, I wanted a quick snack, so I headed to the Pearl Cafe. Located on the second story of the Royal Promenade behind The Pearl, this venue replaces the Cafe Promenade found on many other Royal Caribbean ships.

To get there, I walked up the stairs in The Pearl, with the panels inside subtly moving and shimmering. At the top, I was greeted by a beautiful view of the ocean through the massive windows along the side of the ship. Suspended from the ceiling were sea life elements, like a school of fish and a turtle, floating in the air.

The area had tons of seating, which people were using to read, catch up on work, and FaceTime with people back home. It was not necessarily quiet, but it was one of the few places onboard without music blaring.

This area is where you can really see the Royal Caribbean team rethought the experience. The massive windows let natural light into the Promenade, getting rid of the dark, mall-like feel on some of the older ships. The seating is comfortable and practical, great for a snack or relaxing.

Looking at other ships, this is what Carnival’s Grand Central on their Excel Class ships should have been. Carnival installed massive three-story windows in the space, but put stage seating around it that cannot or will not be used most of the day. The place where people actually would sit, by their coffee shop, JavaBlue Cafe, is dark and windowless.

The Pearl Cafe serves specialty coffee, which is an extra cost but included in the drink package, unlike the nearby Starbucks, which is always extra. Complimentary coffee, juices, lemonade, and a Coke Freestyle machine (for those with a drink package) are also available in the area.

The cafe also has a variety of snacks throughout the day and night. The selection here is much more diverse than you would find on other Oasis Class ships, with a large selection of sandwiches, pastries, pasta salads, and even grab-and-go hummus and veggies. I liked all the quick grab-and-go options. Both the drink and snack counters usually had a line, but I never waited more than a few minutes.

One thing I did not love was the sandwich selection. They had some odd-sounding sandwiches, like an apple-mozzarella sandwich, a mushroom sandwich, and a curry chicken sandwich. I never went to the counter and thought, “Wow, I want to try that.”

Royal Trivia at Spotlight Karaoke

At 5 PM, we headed to Spotlight Karaoke to try “Royal Trivia LIVE! (Your Phone, Your Power!).” We have done plenty of trivia on cruises before, but I had never heard of something like this.

Spotlight Karaoke is technically the dedicated karaoke venue onboard, but the space is also used for events throughout the day. It is on the lower level of the Royal Promenade, directly under the Dueling Pianos bar. Unlike Dueling Pianos, the bar is at the side of the venue, so it does not block the entrance or people who want to watch from outside.

By the time the event started, it was full. The game format is similar to Jackbox online games you might have played in the past. When you arrive, you scan a QR code and join the game on your phone. You use the phone to answer questions, and then it keeps score.

Tip: You do not need an internet package to participate. You just have to be connected to the Star of the Seas network, which is free. That is how you access the Royal Caribbean app.

The hostess suggested not playing in teams, because you are rewarded for fast answers, and even a slight delay while talking to your teammates would cost time and points. For the event today, there were 60 different players participating.

The game is really fast-paced, broken into four rounds with topics ranging from TV and entertainment to geography and history. The questions go very quickly, but we learned how to look at the question on the TV or screen and figure out where the button would pop up on the phone.

The crowd really seemed to be enjoying it. It was much more intense than standard cruise trivia. At the end, the top three contestants are announced and brought to the front to get a medal.

Overall, it was a lot of fun and a nice change of pace from normal cruise trivia, which can feel a bit slow at times. That said, I think this was a bit too fast. If they had allowed 45 minutes instead of 30 minutes, the host would have had some time to address the crowd and give a breather between rounds.

Guitar Music in Thorn & Thistle English Pub

Usually, when we are on a Royal Caribbean cruise, the pub is where we spend a lot of our evenings, enjoying live entertainment and relaxing. So far this cruise, we had not spent any time in the English pub, called Thorn & Thistle on Star of the Seas.

Like most of the bars on the ship, Thorn & Thistle is an open bar that spills out to the main level of the Royal Promenade. Because of that, it loses a bit of the traditional pub feel, but if you are farther inside, you get the usual pub vibe. On Star of the Seas, Royal Caribbean upped the atmosphere a bit, adding a dartboard in the back and a hook-and-ring on each table. In the front corner is a small stage for a live musician, usually a guitarist.

The pub was not too crowded, but it was close to full. Royal Caribbean does not provide capacity for the English pubs on the ships, but it felt about the same, if not slightly smaller, than the ones on Oasis and Quantum Class.

The musician was talented and the crowd was enjoying it, but, annoyingly, the guitarist’s set overlapped with all the main shows, “Back to the Future,” the aqua show, and the ice show.

Bon Voyage Dinner in the Main Dining Room

We originally did not have a reservation booked for our final dinner because we had a show tonight, and the app kept saying we could not reserve dinner because it conflicted with a show. The previous night, I went to the host desk at the front of the dining room on our way out and asked to have the same table for 6:30 tonight, and had no problem. We showed up at 6:30 and were seated immediately.

Tonight’s menu was the “Bon Voyage” dinner, which had a slight Mediterranean focus.

I started with the Mediterranean Tapas Medley, which was a bit underwhelming. It was a pita cut into four pieces and two small bowls of hummus and tzatziki. It was tasty, but did not feel like a full appetizer.

For the entrée, I went with spaghetti bolognese, which was meaty and rich, with the pasta cooked perfectly. Dessert was the Warm Apple Cobbler, which was very similar to the blueberry cobbler the previous night, but at least the apples felt real.

Dinner took 50 minutes, so we still had plenty of time before the show.

Overall, I was pretty impressed with the main dining room this sailing. It never took longer than an hour, the wait staff was very attentive, and the food was always hot and fresh. It was starting to feel repetitive, which is odd considering it was just a 4-night sailing. Every night, we had the same breads and packaged butter, and while the menu rotated, it felt limited. How many cobblers can you offer?

I think part of the problem is that my last sailing was on Celebrity (read about that cruise here). Because Celebrity is a premium cruise line, the food in the main dining room was much better with a broader selection. Each night there, we had three new breads, three fresh dips, and twelve main entrée selections to choose from. The food on Royal Caribbean was not bad at all, and I was happy with it, but it really illustrated the difference between the mainstream and premium cruise offerings.

“Torque” Aqua Show

Tonight, we had tickets for the aqua show called “Torque.” These were the toughest reservations to get for this cruise because the AquaTheater is the smallest performance venue on the ship (Royal Caribbean doesn’t provide exact capacity).

Tip: Make reservations as soon as you can for shows. They usually open the first day of the month before you are sailing, but especially with Star of the Seas, it has been inconsistent since the ship just launched. Keep checking the app to see if they are open, or better yet, join the Facebook group for the sailing, and your fellow sailors will share it when they see availability.

We got to the AquaDome 50 minutes early and scanned our SeaPass cards to get in. At that point, about 20 percent of the seats were already taken. On Icon of the Seas, guests complained about how uncomfortable the wooden benches were, so on Star, they made some adjustments. About half of the benches received wooden backs, and before a performance, they put chair pads out to cushion the wooden benches a bit.

Thirty minutes before the show started, the venue was already about 80 percent full. Staff went through the rows and pushed people together, and tried to enforce one cushion per person. Some inconsiderate people were taking up two spaces so they had more personal space. It would not have been an issue if Royal Caribbean had put seats in here instead of benches. Fifteen minutes before showtime, they started letting in people from the waiting line.

The acrobatic and aqua spectacular is all about torque and cars. According to Royal Caribbean, it is their largest aqua show cast yet, with talented divers, swimmers, and slackliners.

The show was fast-paced and loud, filled with rock and metal to start, then some car-themed songs like “Drive” by Rihanna and “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman, and lastly some more pop music like “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims. Again, it was a nice change from the older Royal Caribbean shows that tried to be artsy for the sake of being artsy rather than fun.

Royal Caribbean spared no expense with the technology behind the venue. At one point, a waterfall falls from the top of the dome while two dancers fly through the air using a patented new technology. Throughout the show, the floor of the stage seemingly slips under the surface of the water for impressive transitions. One silly expense, though, was the four massive robotic arms that were basically glorified flashlights for this performance. This performance was technically a preview, so maybe they do more in the full show, but as I saw it, the million-dollar arms felt like a waste of money.

The performers were incredibly talented. Slackliners bounded 10 plus feet in the air while doing flips. The divers pumped up the crowd before jumping off huge platforms and plummeting into the water, and synchronized swimmers appeared from almost nowhere from underneath the water.

The finale of the show is a “globe of death,” where an electric motorcycle drives in a metal sphere cage. When it first came out, I rolled my eyes. It seemed silly, but watching a motorcycle drive up and around the ball at top speeds was impressive. When a second motorcycle entered, the crowd went wild.

I am not sure if the show was finalized or they were still working on it, but it was odd how it just came to a stop. Then the performers came out for applause, and people dispersed. Throughout this whole cruise, we never got the cruise director or an entertainer thanking the crowd after a show and saying what else was going on. Maybe that is Royal Caribbean’s new direction, with less staff interaction, but I did not care for it.

Overall, the show was fun and visually impressive, and I would definitely recommend trying to get tickets. When you think about it, it is crazy that a show like this is on a cruise ship. On land, this would be a hugely expensive theater with very expensive tickets. The venue is a big step up from the AquaTheater on Oasis Class ships, which often cancels performances because of rain or wind. Thankfully, the AquaDome here means that these performances do not have to worry about that.

That said, the theater is still too small, the seating is uncomfortable, and the angle is poor. Most guests cannot even see many of the things going on in the water, like synchronized swimming, because the seating is not steep enough.

Noisy Night in the Cabin

Since this was a short sailing, it seemed like people did not want the cruise to end. All the venues were busy when we turned in around 11 PM. All night, you could tell people were still up. I heard banging on the floor and doors slamming from above us at midnight, 2 AM, and 4 AM. It did not feel like it was all coming from one cabin, but noise from all over the place. I did not hear anyone in the hall, a common problem on cruise ships, but this was very annoying and probably the loudest cabin I have experienced in a while, if not ever.

A Last Breakfast

Debarkation morning was really smooth, maybe the easiest and most relaxed I have ever had. We brought carry-on luggage with us, so we did not bother putting it out the night before. At 7 AM, we went to the Windjammer to get breakfast. I have never seen a cruise buffet so empty. Hundreds of tables were open. There were no suitcases all over the place and no lines for any of the food. It was actually calm, something you almost never see in a buffet on the last day. This lack of crowd might have been because it was a short sailing and many people rushed off the ship as soon as they could, but it was really nice.

Debarkation

Debarkation was a breeze. We received a notification in the app when it was our time to leave and headed off the ship at 7:35 AM. We just walked right off. There were no lines to get off. Royal Caribbean’s terminal made a smart choice by using ramps to get to the main area, so you do not even have to wait for an escalator.

We picked up our car from Port Parking Space and were back at the MCO cruise terminal by 9:30 AM to wait for our 1 PM flight home.

Star of the Seas Day 4 Wrap Up

Day 4 aboard this megaship still impressed me with crowd management and food options. That said, there were some new pain points onboard for me, like the cabin noise from above, the too-small AquaTheater, and the entertainment schedule. Overall, Star of the Seas goes down as one of my favorite ships.

The biggest complaint I have is that it is not possible to do everything on a 4-day sailing. Thankfully, Icon Class ships will be sailing 7-day itineraries for now. If Royal Caribbean starts running short cruises on these, like they have done recently with the Oasis Class, they are going to be doing a disservice to guests. Their hope may be that guests cannot do everything, so they come back on board. I think it is more likely that people will not realize they missed things, think the ship is done, and look at another possible cruise or vacation.

Follow Along on our 4-Day Star of the Seas Cruise

• Star of the Seas - Cruise Blog - Day 1 - Port Canaveral
• Star of the Seas - Cruise Blog - Day 2 - Sea Day
• Star of the Seas - Cruise Blog - Day 3 - Perfect Day at CocoCay
• Star of the Seas - Cruise Blog - Day 4 - Final Sea Day
• 6 Hits and Misses on Star of the Seas

Want to Stay Up to Date on Cruise News?

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