We enjoyed our cruise because we got to visit many ports and the price was competitive however the ship itself leaves much to be desired. There is nothing spectacular about Celebrity Reflection (more like 3 star not 5 star) that differentiates it from other lines such as Carnival, Holland, Princess. The ship interior especially the rooms look a bit dingy and need a deep clean. We would not book this ship again and consider a different line for our next cruise.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Luggage drop off was disorganized with no proper que and luggage handlers should have greeted passengers to receive luggage instead of standing in groups watching the chaos. The security line was short so rest of boarding was fast with plenty of staff to manage the que. **don't bother uploading your photo, they won't accept it and will take a photo of you at boarding**
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Buffet is crowded and chaotic with no proper ques or staff to manage ques. Egg and bread station at breakfast requires more staff and speedy service. Tables were cleared quickly but more can be done to ensure tables are properly sanitized.
Main dining room menu is quite boring but at least you avoid the crowds at the buffet. The food is very similar to buffet just presented better. The steak was terrible, no lamb options, lobster was additional cost. There are other cruise lines with much better food quality and presentation.
I would not choose Celebrity again and instead try another line.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Pool area is spacious with 2 pools and several whirlpools but floor is slippery.
Fitness center similar to other cruise lines.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
Nothing too spectacular, mostly musicals. Other cruise lines have same and even better entertainment.
Movie theater is very disappointing, seats are so uncomfortable, no cushion left, too low to ground, movie screen is small and there are no perks like popcorn or candy to make it more enjoyable. There is no seating for outdoor movies even though the screen seems to be bigger. Also there is an outdoor restaurant that faces the movie screen which doesn't make much sense. If I was paying to have dinner the noise of the movie might ruin the experience.
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
Waiters friendly and accommodating.
Room steward was friendly but the room was dirty, counters covered in dust and dirt, drawers stained and dirty. Need several reminders to empty the room garbage and refill soap bottles.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
The elevators are always busy and full. I never saw anyone sanitizing the buttons and railings. There are many places to sit, some quieter than others. Overall cleanliness was adequate but there should be better sanitization in busy areas like elevators and buffet.
Dishes were constantly sitting on floor outside rooms, there should be more frequent pick up of dirty dishes
Cabin / Stateroom
2 out of 5
Room size was as expected, difficult to maneuver around the bed but similar to other cruise lines.
Room was dirty, no mattress covers, sofa and counters dusty, balcony divider was broken, balcony window curtain was ripped, carpet was filthy
Shower ceiling was stained and dirty and the bottles of soap were empty. Thankfully the sink and shower drained well.
Ship tip
The ship looks a bit rundown, the rooms are old and shabby, we had many ports to visit so we didn't spend too much time on the ship. If you want to enjoy the ship experience, choose another cruise line perhaps a newer ship.
The elevators were full so it was a long wait with no staff to help manage the que. We required wheelchair assistance which made the whole exercise more difficult from elevator availability to luggage collection and taxi lines. There must have been 500 people waiting for a taxi so I would suggest you arrange transportation in advance if possible. We paid 16 euros to get from port to Barcelona hotel so it will probably cost more to book in advance but it might be worth it to avoid the chaos of line ups.
I’m sorry things were disappointing. I’ve sailed Celebrity 6 times, twice on Reflection. Our experience has always been satisfactory. Since gratuity is already covered, we rarely give additional tips. When we do, it’s usually to Celebrity personnel. Try the Apex. We love the “specialty included restaurant” choices and the food is superb.
I've sailed celebrity a few times and never had a problem with our room Stewart. Room always clean. Last time on reflection was February 2022 you could not walk 50 feet without seeing someone cleaning something. Had no problem walking around the bed. It seems you had some small issues from then on everything was a problem. Don't sweat the small stuff. It just makes for a bad cruise 🛳. Thanks for your review.
Older smaller ship in need of a refurbishment for sure but no excuse for not being cleaned well. Sounds like you had a bad cabin steward. Port intensive cruises always have busy morning buffets so that would be the same on every ship. Don’t be afraid to try Celebrity again on a different ship/itinerary. We went on a Celebrity recently that was so so but our next Celebrity cruise was much better.
2017 was last ‘overhaul’, about time to go in again. To me Celebrity is a bit better than Holland but of similar characteristics. Do not take if you are looking for a ‘scene’ like Princess, Carnival, or other more party ship. Buffet (if like Solstice) is a bunch of islands and counters forward and aft. I suspect the reviewer did not look at deck plans and other due diligence.
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