Hopeaship

My favorite part of the cruise was going to the Islands, the Billboard piano players Sarah and Will and most of the shows.  I didn't like, my cabin location, the food, the embarkation where you were boarded by your number and sat and waited and I felt like I was living in a nursing home for 11 days!  I expected much more going on in the evening then the same two B B King and Billboard for 11 nights, early closures of lounges and eating places and I don't go in a smoke filled Casino, which was really disappointing.  This was my first Holland America Cruise as I'm a Celebrity Cruiser and I don't plan on taking Holland America again.  Very disappointed.  It would be great if I was in my 80's and 90's!  Good for those folks to be able to enjoy.

Over the years I have taken about 9 or 10 celebrity cruises and that includes 3 on the Reflection.  There was a big change in the food and entertainment, in the negative way.  I have loved celebrity for the service, food, entertainment and a class of people above the other lines - I'm not a snob, but I have never been on a ship where in the evening people are walking around in bermuda shorts and a are allowed in the dining room in blue jeans.  The food in Oceans Cafe where I go for breakfast and lunch was quite the step down.  Lunch was the same thing everyday.  I usually make a big salad with lots of veggies and there is cold small shrimp or get sliced chicken or turkey and beets and artichokes - all this was missing.  Dinners were not up to par by any means and came cool to cold.  I had asked for a table tor 6-8 and was put at a table for two, just me and no one was at the next table for two.  I asked to be switched and Jason, the Matra' D quite rudely said he had another table for two, I would be alone or a table for 6 at the back of the restaurant and he didn't care or follow up or what I did.  This table was the last table in the dining room on 3 right side in the corner, like you were being punished.  You couldn't even see the rest of the dining room.  Jason said that is all he had as the group of "Boys" of 700 all wanted late seating and were in the center and around the center of the dining room.  Why did I have to be punished because of the group?  The "Boys" also consumed areas that I normally go, Martini Bar, Swimming pool, and several other areas, so there was no room for me.  The ship and crew totally catered to the "Boy" and that was very unfair.  Many people complained and felt that the food and entertainment also were really poor.  This was regular cruisers and first time Celebrity cruisers that said they would not sail Celebrity again.  My waiter and Asst. Waiter were terrific, but there was a couple that caused trouble most nights and called the Matra' D's over.  They had to be catered to so our dinner orders were taken last and our food was served last and was barely warm to cool, to cold once or twice.  No, I didn't send it back as I didn't want to get them in any trouble because they were very good and attentive to me.  But I don't like to eat cool food.  A few nights there were 4 entrees that looked good and they should have been spread out as other nights there was nothing that I liked so had to have salmon several times - and I eat that at home all the time.  The entertainment was very poor and is usually great every night.  Every other night used to be a nice Broadway show and good entertainment the other nights, with the shows at 10:30 for late seating, which I like and sometimes an additional show at 7:00 (both of these for late dinner).  All in all, I was very disappointed, especially comparing the Reflection to my sailing in 2013 and 2014.  As much as I love Celebrity and rave about the line to everyone I know, I don't know if I will sail on the line again.  The group, other than the"Boys" was very different, much lower class.  I watched and the Reflection for several months before booking.  I guess because the ship was so empty until a few weeks before sailing, they just gave it away so anyone could afford it.  I usually cruise by myself and have to pay double - this time someone from home came along.  Had I payed double, I would have been even more upset!  I'm so disappointed as I was hoping to cruise in January or April on Celebrity.