Ports fabulous; cruise line lacking

Item: Celebrity Reflection
Rating: 3
Author: DHFL

Celebrity Reflection Cruise Review to Europe - Mediterranean

DHFL

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 52

Overall rating:

3 out of 5

Verified Review

10 Night Italy & Greek Isles (Rome Roundtrip)

Sail date: June 17, 2016

Ship: Celebrity Reflection

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 8233

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

Celebrity seemed like a ship of (classist) exclusion right from the start - upon checking in, we were asked if we were aqua, concierge, or suite class. When we delayed in responding, staff asked, "Or do you have a regular ticket?" Then there were the hardest sales pitches aboard any ship we've ever been on for packages, specialty restaurants, and merchandise. Aside from our wait staff in the main dining room and our cabin steward, staff was sometimes less than friendly, even irritable and arrogant at times. The food was good. The ship was clean. The room was a nice size. The entertainment varied from excellent to poor. The ports of call were fabulous.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Onboard Activities

1 out of 5

Too many fees, not enough activities.

Entertainment

3 out of 5

The MacDonald Brothers, Amy Lee, and Tenors of Rock were excellent. The ship's main band was also very professional.

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

Our waiters in the main dining room were great (Xavier and Deepuksing). The hostess there, Anne, was also terrific, as was Anecento, our cabin steward. The staff in general, though, were not as friendly as we are accustomed to on cruises.

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Starboard side would have been better for views. Plenty of room/storage in cabin and well maintained.

Ports of call

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

5 out of 5

We made our own arrangements to and from Rome and saved a lot of money.

Thumbs Up 3

Messina, Sicily

5 out of 5

Mykonos, Greece

3 out of 5

If you want to go to the beach, you'll need transportation.

Thumbs Up 0

Rhodes, Greece

5 out of 5

Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey

3 out of 5

We should have asserted ourselves out of the carpet sales show sooner. Very aggressive salesmen at the end of the Celebrity excursion.

Thumbs Up 1

Santorini, Greece

5 out of 5

Piraeus (Athens), Greece

3 out of 5

Naples, Italy

5 out of 5

We did Amalfi Coast and Pompeii excursion - very good, but view on bus is only from righthand side while driving south (does not return the same way).

Thumbs Up 0

8 Comments

Shootingstarz04 8 years ago

What company did you book the Pompeii excursion from?

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

noname111 8 years ago

Perhaps crew changes since our previous experience which was wonderful. We are booked on 2 B2B cruises next winter on the Reflection. Hope not to have the experiences you mention.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

fdubiel1 8 years ago

They have the best service in the industry. We never had a bad experience on this Celebrity. I think the options that they give are not meant to offend but to offer those who want more. Options are all good for a trip. 😄

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

norrieosborne 8 years ago

We were on this ship earlier in the month, no hard sell to us just excellent service & memories, we will be on it again

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

jallaway 8 years ago

I have heard that about Celebrity. The long green gets you a different experience than standard cruiser.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

meghad23 8 years ago

sales pitches ar on all ships. the class question though would perturb me too

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

sccruiser1952 8 years ago

going on this ship next March to the Caribbean, does everyone have the same sales pitch that I hear about from other posts?

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

DHFL 8 years ago

It was fun to stay in Rome for a few days, too.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

Other reviews of this sailing

Too much additional to have to pay for