Celebrity Reflection Review
Reflection not as good as Celebrity smaller ships
Rating by category
Additional details
This was our 4th cruise on Celebrity; second & last on Reflection. Prior experiences on Summit & Millennium were outstanding, and we thought that Celebrity would be our preferred line going forward - not so sure any longer - food & entertainment were disappointing.
We are 55/63, still working, and have cruised frequently since 2005. Started with Carnival in the Mediterranean, and used Carnival extensively, achieving platinum status. Also sailed Princess, Holland, and Norwegian. First Celebrity cruise on Millennium about 7 years ago, and we thought that we had found a new home.
The itinerary for this cruise was the selling point as we had never been to Columbia, Panama, or the East Coast of Costa Rica. A bonus was that it was on Celebrity.
Cabin Review
Family Ocean View
Very large (575 sq ft?) - not cheap, but good value. Room has a normal queen/split bed room with door, large shared living area (12X15) with TV, sofa, table with 5 chairs, shared bathroom, small bedroom with door & bunk beds. It even has a doorbell. Would book again.
Port Reviews
Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades)
Arrived FLL a day prior to allow for wine shopping prior to departure. Hotel & other arrangements on own. Easy to arrange transfers from/to airport. Good experience.
Grand Cayman (Georgetown)
Family member local resident - so spent the time with family
Prior experiences -
Sting Ray City a good time, excursions available on shore or one of the internet sites
Turtle Farm & Hell are worth your time
Botanical Garden also good
Cartagena (Colombia)
Joined a van tour on shore. In retrospect, should have used an 'authorized taxi' as suggested in shore shopping talk. Cost $20-25 pp. for our 3 people.
Tour was okay, but they obviously wanted us to buy from their emerald vendor, etc. Street vendors very pushy. Nice city, safe.
Colon (Cristobal)
Hired driver on internet - 'tours by locals'. Prepaid, but really good references. Cost about $70 pp for our party of 3 for full day. Met on dock at agreed time. He drove us across country to Panama City, showing some highlights as we went. Drive time less than 90 minutes each way. Toured Panama City (new & old). Went to Mira Flores Locks on the way back, and saw ships moving through the canal. Holiday in Panama that day, so there were lots of locals who could access locks tour for $5 making it a little crowded. Our Ticket into locks $20, a little steep, but that is why we went.
We would do this tour / process again.