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Life aboard the Celebrity Reflection

by Jeanne Horak on November 4, 2012 14 Comments in Cruise ships

Celebrity Reflection title © J Horak-Druiff 2012

When I was 19 years old, my father decided that it was time to take the family on an ocean cruise.  Strictly speaking it was not the first cruise I’d been on:  when I was about 2 he had attended a medical conference on a cruise ship that sailed around off the coast of Cape Town for 2 days, but I remember nothing of that (other than being told repeatedly by my mom that all I ate the entire time was 2 olives!). But I do remember the day my dad came home with tickets to the Achille Lauro.  Yes – that Achille Lauro.  Face it – the ship was cursed, suffering an onboard explosion in 1964; a huge fire in 1972 while being converted to a cruise ship; a collision with a cargo ship in 1975; an onboard fire in 1981; an infamous hijacking in 1985 in which a passenger was killed; and finally another huge engine fire in 1994 that led to her sinking off the coast of Somalia in December 1994 (and not a moment too soon!).  Understandably, we were less than ecstatic with my father’s plan to cruise to Mauritius on this deathtrap in 1989 (that is to say, somewhere in between the hijacking and the final sinking!). Since then, my memories of cruise ships have entailed: feeling seasick; being unspeakably claustrophobic in our cabin; the omnipresent smell of olive oil; and singing Rod Stewart’s We are sailing with tears in my eyes as we left Mauritus – I was ready to seek political asylum rather than re-board the Ship of Doom.

I think it is safe to say that expectations of cruising were not unduly high when I agreed to go on a 2-night pre-launch cruise to introduce 1500 travel writers to the Celebrity ReflectionSM, the fifth and final planned ship to be added to the Celebrity Cruises award-winning Solstice Class® series. Built by Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, she was completed on 12 August, and sailed backwards (impressive video available here) down the River Ems before being delivered to Celebrity Cruises for sea testing. The Celebrity ReflectionSM is the largest in the fleet with a weight of 126000 tons, a length of 1047 feet, and a maximum passenger capacity of 3046. Celebrity Reflection boasts an extra deck, 72 additional staterooms overall, more seating in the main and specialty restaurants, more sun loungees on the pool deck, and more seats in the theatre. After a flight and a long bus trip, we finally arrived in Eemshaven and caught our first glimpse of our home for the next 2 nights. Huge is an understatement.  Imagine a 10-storey block of luxury flats as long as a city block and you are coming close.  What also immediately struck me is how many of the cabins have balconies – I heard later that the figure is 85% – something which has radically changed in the world of passenger ship design since my encounter with the Achille Lauro. Soon, my fellow-traveller (the lovely Yvette from  Simply Luxury Travel) and I were checked in and walking up the gangplank, headed for our sparkly new AquaClass cabins.

 

CelebrityReflection dockside 1 © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Celebrity Reflection dockside 2 © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Celebrity Reflection balconies © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Celebrity Reflection departure 1 © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Celebrity Reflection departure 2 © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Celebrity Reflection perspex model © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

ACCOMMODATION ABOARD

The Celebrity Reflection offers 7 different types of suites (including the new and spectacular 2-bedroom Reflection Suite with a sea-view bathroom and shower cantilevered our over the sea) and 7 different types of staterooms (some of which are also available as wheelchair-accessibile options), including the AquaClass staterooms in which I stayed. The Aqua class cabins are identical in size to the more familiar Concierge class staterooms on other Celebrity ships 54 sq feet of verandah), but with added benefits, such as exclusive access to the Blu restaurant; unlimited Persian Garden thermal spa access; and free daily deliveries of water, tea and canapés. If I was expecting it to look anything like our ghastly 4-bunk “family” cabin on the Achille Lauro, I was in for a surprise.  At 194 square feet, the cabin is like a full-size hotel room, albeit a little narrower, with a double bed, sofa, coffee table, small console desk, bathroom with funky Grohe shower panel, lots of clever storage space, fluffy robes, slippers, and (my favourite part) sliding doors onto my very own 54 sq foot verandah, complete with a table and 2 loungers where I sat down to enjoy the complimentary canapés. Bliss. It also had “new ship smell” – like new car smell, only bigger 😉 The temptation was enormous simply to kick off my shoes and lock myself in the cabin for 48 hours, enjoying the 24-hour complimentary room service that is included in the price – but there was a giant ship to explore and less than 48 hours to do so.

 

Celebrity Reflection Aqua cabin 1 © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

CelebrityReflectionAquaCabin2

 

Celebrity Reflection Aqua cabin pillow © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Celebrity Reflection Aqua cabin 3 © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Celebrity Reflection Aqua cabin toiletries © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Celebrity Reflection Aqua verandah © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Celebrity Reflection Aqua cabin canapes © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Celebrity Reflection Aqua cabin view © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

During the trip we were also able to gain access to view some of the other stateroom and suite classes, although the show-stopper Reflection suite was sadly still being finished off, so we never did get to see that crazy cantilevered sea-viewshower. I would have been perfectly happy with the petite Signature suite – what I was really after was the hot tub on the terrace!

Here is a quick rundown of available accommodation:

  • Inside stateroom (183-200 sq foot) – no windows, sleeps max 4 people
  • Ocean View stateroom (177 sq foot) – window but no verandah, sleeps max. 4 people
  • Veranda staterooms (194 sq foot) – 54 sq foot verandah, situated throughout the ship, sleeps max. 4 people
  • Sunset Veranda stateroom (192 sq foot) – 54 sq foot verandah, situated in desirable locations aft, sleeps max. 4 people
  • Family Veranda stateroom (575 sq foot) – 53-105 sq foot verandah, separate sitting and sleeping areas, sleeps max. 4 people
  • Concierge Class stateroom (194 sq foot) – 54 sq foot verandah, special services like concierge, priority booking for restaurants, and priority check-in (amongst others), sleeps max. 4 people
  • AquaClass® stateroom (194 sq foot) – 54 sq foot verandah, special services such as priority access to the spa & priority booking at Blu restaurant (amongst others), sleeps max. 2 people – below you can view a video of my Aquaclass stateroom:

 

  • AquaClass® suite (301 sq foot) – 79 sq foot verandah, bathtub, special services including a butler service, some free dinners at speciality restaurants, reserved theatre seating and free access to the Persian Garden spa, sleeps max. 4 people
  • Sky suite (300 sq foot) – 79 sq foot verandah, bathtub, special services including a butler service, some free dinners at speciality restaurants and reserved theatre seating, sleeps max. 4 people
  • Celebrity suite (394 sq foot) – 105 sq foot verandah, bathtub, separate sleeping and seating areas, special services including a butler service, some free dinners at speciality restaurants and reserved theatre seating, sleeps max. 4 people
  • Royal suite (590 sq foot) – 158 sq foot verandah, bathtub, guest toilet, separate sitting and sleeping areas, hot tub on the verandah, special services including butler service, free dinners at speciality restaurants and reserved theatre seating, sleeps max. 4 people
  • Penthouse suite (1,291 sq foot) 389 sq foot verandah, bathtub, guest toilet, separate sitting, dining and sleeping areas, hot tub on the verandah, baby grand piano (!), special services including butler service, free dinners at speciality restaurants and reserved theatre seating, sleeps max. 4 people
  • Signature suite (441 sq ft) – 118 sq foot verandah, bathtub with opaque glass front, separate sleeping & sitting areas, walk-in cupboard, hot tub on verandah, ceilings 22% higher than normal cabins, special services including butler service, free meals at speciality restaurants & reserved theatre seating, sleeps max. 4 people. Situated in private area on deck 14, adjacent to Reflection Suite, that can only be accessed by private key card.
  • Reflection suite (1636 sq foot) – 194 sq foot wrap-around verandah, 2 bedrooms, separate sleeping dining and seating areas, seaview bathroom with spectacular cantilevered one-way glass shower, hot tubs with rain showerheads on verandah, ceilings 36% higher than normal cabins, special  services including butler service, free meals at speciality restaurants & reserved theatre seating, sleeps max. 6 people. Situated in private area on deck 14, adjacent to Signature Suite, that can only be accessed by private key card.

 

Celebrity Reflection inside stateroom © J Horak-Druiff 2012

Inside stateroom

Celebrity Reflection Sky Suite diptych © J Horak-Druiff 2012

Sky suite

Celebrity Reflection Signature Suite © J Horak-Druiff 2012

Signature suite

Celebrity Reflection Signature Suite diptych © J Horak-Druiff 2012

Signature suite

Celebrity Reflection Signature Suite tub © J Horak-Druiff 2012

Signature suite verandah

Celebrity Reflection Royal Suite © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 Royal suite

 Celebrity Reflection Royal Suite view © J Horak-Druiff 2012

Royal suite verandah

 

All cabins have en suite private accommodation and all the cabins are fitted out to an extremely high standard.  Even the cheapest inside cabin felt relatively spacious, which really surprised me. All prices for cabins are per person sharing and include the following (plus premium accommodation has extra amenities/services, as stated above and on the website):

  • friendly, personalized service with a guest to staff ratio of nearly 2:1
  • twice daily service (makeup and turndown)
  • daily ice service in stainless steel ice buckets
  • 24 hour complimentary room service
  • bathrobes
  • complimentary toiletries
  • premium bedding and 100% pure Egyptian cotton linens
  • hair dryer
  • bar fridge
  • safe
  • interactive Samsung flat-screen television system to view and select shore excursions, order room service (on-demand movies cost extra)
  • 3 meals a day in either the Opus main dining room or Oceanview Café

 

EATING AND DRINKING

If you picture cruise dining as night after night trapped in a cramped, dark below-decks dining room, sharing a 10-seater table with a ghastly bunch of strangers and fighting your way to the buffet table – fear no more!  Even if you buy the cheapest cruise package and do not want to pay any dining supplements, dining in the lovely double-volume, light, airy, sparkly Opus dining room seems like no hardship at all.  This restaurant split over 2 decks, open to all passengers for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and features a choice of fixed or open dining. A traditional two-sitting option is available on the lower deck, while on the upper deck you can choose the Select Dining option which enables you to eat whenever you want (prepaid supplement of $11.50 per person per day). There is also a funky glass-walled wine cellar containing an astonishingly large wine collection. Alternatively, theOceanview Café on Deck 14 is open for breakfast, lunch adn dinner and serves pretty much anything you can dream of (from eggs to order to pickled herring to fresh waffles to Canadian bacon sliced off a whole ham before your eyes) from numerous serving stations in a relaxed canteen-style environment with plenty of window and even outdoor terrace seating.  Another option for breakfast (at an extra charge) or a snack between meals is one of the 2 onboard cafés (Bistro on 5 and Café al Bacio), the former of which even makes crêpes to order.  For those who feel like something different to the dining room, there are a number of so-called speciality restaurants available for which you have to make a reservation and pay a supplement, but which all offer premium a la carte dining. These include Blu, the Tuscan Grill, the Lawn Club Grill, Murano, Blu and Qsine. My next post will be devoted entirely to these restaurants, so I will not go into detail about the meals we had here.

 

Celebrity Reflection Opus 1 © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Celebrity Reflection Opus 2 © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Celebrity Reflection Opus wine © J Horak-Druiff 2012

Celebrity Reflection Oceanview Cafe 1 © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Celebrity Reflection Oceanview Cafe food © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

If it’s bars you are after, you’ve come to the right place as there is a selection to suit everybody. Cellarmasters aims to transport you to a stone-walled Napa Valley winery, complete with Enomatic portion-control wine system so that all wines by the glass are as fresh as when they were first opened. The Ensemble Lounge is a large, plush live music lounge bar with live jazz conveniently located outside some of the speciality restaurants. My favourite was definitely the Martini Bar with its louche Art Deco look, its 26 varieties of Martini, and its frosted bar counter – a whole other level of awesome.  When it’s not too busy, the barmen are also pretty adept at doing a passable impersonation of Tom Cruise flicking glasses and bottles a la Cocktail. For the more traditional there is Michael’s Clubstocks over 50 international craft beers as well as whiskies, and offers food plus occasional live music.  The Molecular Bar provides a slightly more off-beat cocktail experience as the resident mixologists create innovative cocktails from unusual natural ingredients right before your eyes. If you want to have a drink while the sea breeze ruffles your hair, head for thePool Bar between the solarium and main pools the Sunset Bar at the back of the ship, which has been given a Moorish  makeover; or the Mast Bar. The Passport Bar right off the grand Foyer is the first and last bar you encounter when embarking and disembarking the shop, making it the perfect place to stop for a glass of champagne. And for stunning views at any time of the day or night, try the Sky Observation Lounge on Deck 14, a space which provides a glamorous refuge by day for gazing out to sea sipping a cocktail, but comes alive at night with music and dancing.

 

Celebrity Reflection Martini Bar 1 © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Celebrity Reflection Martini Bar 2 © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Celebrity Reflection martini bar negroni © J Horak-Druiff 2012

Celebrity Reflection Molecular Bar

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Riley

Celebrity Reflection Molecular Bar cocktail

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Riley

Celebrity Reflection Pool bar © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

 

 

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Riley

CelebrityReflectionSkyObservationLounge

 

RELAXATION AND ENTERTAINMENT

Where to start?  To acquaint yourself with the ship, take one of glass elevators through the hugely impressive central atrium, from where you can get a view of various quiet relaxation areas including the Library, the Hideaway, and the Celebrity iLounge.  There is also an usual mid-air tree sculpture in the centre of said atrium, one of the many pieces of unusual public part on board. If you are a water baby, you will love the numerous opportunities that the ship offers for getting wet.  There is a large outdoor swimming pool as well as four hot tubs; and for chillier days, there is the Solarium with its heated pool and a further hot tub under a glass conservatory.  If lazing about is your favourite way to spend a day, there are literally miles of sun loungers available both around the pools and along the deck. On Deck 15 you will find the Lawn Club featuring a surprisingly large area of real grass lawn for passengers’ enjoyment – you can even play croquet or boules.  On either side of this are the Alcoves, private cabanas with a retractable sun shade that can be booked for private use all day for a supplement ($99 on port days, $149 on sea days).  For the more energetic, a demarcated jogging track runs along the deck too, and there is a small basketball court aft.  Even more impressive are the facilities in the fitness centre: a main exercise area packed with stationary bikes, weight machines, free weights and more treadmills than I have seen in most land-based gyms, all facing out to sea.  If all gyms looked like this, even I would exercise!  There are also fitness rooms for Flywheel (think competitive spinning class in the dark) and TRX training, which uses suspension cords for a full body workout.  There are also two private gym rooms each containing a weight machine, a treadmill, a stationary bike and an elliptical trainer which you can rent for up to two people from $45 an hour.

CelebrityReflectionLobby1

 

CelebrityReflectionLobbyTree

 

CelebrityReflectionOutdoorPoolDay

 

CelebrityReflectionOutdoorPoolNight

 

CelebrityReflectionOudoorJacuzzi

 

CelebrityReflectionSolarium1

CelebrityReflectionSolarium2

CelebrityReflectionLawnClub

 

CelebrityReflectionLawnClub2
CelebrityReflectionFitnessCentre1

For those who are into more relaxing pursuits, there is much on offer other than lounging about on the numerous deckchairs and watching the world go by (tempting as though that may be!).  The AquaSpa® by Elemis® provides the perfect space to pamper yourself. There are two floors of Elemis treatment rooms (massage below and beauty treatments above), two rooms (and a doctor) dedicated to non-surgical treatments like Restylane, a barber shop, and a hair & nail salon.  I was treated to an exceptionally lovely Elemis Pro-collagen Quartz Lift facial (from £77) in one of the treatment rooms which are serene, white spaces amid the colourful mosaics of the rest of the spa.  My facial lasted about an our and included a head, neck and hand/forearm massage – I have seldom left a facial feeling so blissed out! After your treatment, if you have more time than we did (!), slip on a robe and head to the Persian Garden thermal spa, a series of beautiful calm mosaic-tiled spaces filled with a variety of dry heat, steam and aromatherapy-scanted mists. For those who like to learn new things while cruising, The Art Studio can be found near the entrance to the Lawn Club.  Its large central table makes it a great informal venue for art demonstrations and a variety of other classes on topics such as painting, drawing, beading and mixology. (Dance and wine-tasting classes are also on offer). If you prefer looking at art to creating art, there is an art and photo gallery on Deck 5; and shopaholics also needn’t worry – they can get their fix at the rather plush gallery of shops and boutiques on Decks 4 and 5. While mom and dad are off enjoying all the ship has to offer, the Fun Factory and X-Club have activities for children from age three to 17, in a secure and attractive environment on Deck 15: think board games, table football, Playstations and even a dancefloor for the teenagers complete with disco lights. And for after dinner entertainment for the grown-ups, there is the casino, complete with both machines and tables.  Alternatively, grab a martini from the Martini Bar and do what we did, which is to visit the quite jaw-droppingly large Celebrity Theatre. I have seen smalled theatres in the West End – it’s huge, with two lower tiers and a balcony.  I particularly liked the bar counter seats around the sides of the lower tiers – good fo martini-toting theatre-goers!  Once per cruise, passengers will be treated to “Reflection – The Show” which is what we saw – think We WIll Rock You meets Cirque du Soleil and you will not be far off.  Cruise entertainment has evidently come a long way.

 

CelebrityReflectionElemisSpaLobby

 

CelebrityReflectionElemisSpaProducts1

 

CelebrityReflectionElemisSpaBarber
CelebrityReflectionElemisSpaSalon

 

CelebrityReflectionShoppingArcade
CelebrityReflectionKidsClub1

 

 

CelebrityReflectionCasino1

 

 

CelebrityReflectionTheatre1

 

CelebrityReflectionTheatre2

 

 

CelebrityReflectionShow2

MY VERDICT

As I said, I arrived fully expecting not to be convinced by the idea of cruising.  I left a believer.  In a nutshell, I would say the Reflection is an ideal boat for people who think they do not like cruising.  It is often easy to forget it is a ship, given its size, and there really can be no question of claustrophobia, given the generously proportioned staterooms (even the inside cabins) and public areas.  Then there is the variety of public areas.  Don’t like the indoor pool?  Try the outdoor one.  Don’t like the Martini Bar?  Try the Sunset Bar. Don’t like Qsine? Try eating at the radically different Murano – and so the list goes on.  I also loved that the design is the antithesis of what you’d expect from traditional dark wood panelled ship’s decor – it is light and lovely throughout and very modern.  The pieces of art scattered throughout the ship are a nice touch (the “painting” which is set alight by one of its occupants and self-destructs outside Blu is particularly amusing!) and even the perspex “you are here” ship’s models in each lift lobby are tactile and lovely. But by far the best aspect of the ship for me was the staff – from Jesus, our eternally smiling cabin attendant, to the lovely South African chap who was managing the Oceanview Cafe on the morning we visited, to the waiter in Blu who has been with the company for decades and told us this was his fourth launch with Celebrity. Everybody seemed genuinely to enjoy what they were doing and truly engaged with passengers, and it was striking to hear how many of them had been with the company for years and years.

With some of the eastern-Caribbean 7-night cruises this year starting from just £466 for an inside cabin or £588 for a veranda cabin (per person sharing); or 15-night transatlantic cruises in 2013 starting from £927 for an inside cabin or £1,200 for a veranda cabin (per person sharing), I was quite surprised at how reasonable the prices can be.  However, that said – it is easy to see how things can quickly mount up.  Many things that you might take for granted cost extra, for example non-alcoholic branded drinks packages (so Coke, not generic cola) come at a per person per day cost, as do various levels of alcoholic drinks packages.  Renting a Lawn Club cabana costs money, as do shore excursions, some of the courses aboard, and of course all dining in the speciality restaurants (more on this in my next post).  Also, you submit your credit card details upon embarkation and are then issued with a guest card which you can use for all purchases on board (all of which are priced in US dollars, and none of which may be paid for in cash) – so it is easy to rack up a large bill for extras without thinking about it.

But, that said, if it is a special luxury and glamorous experience you are after, I think you will find it hard to find fault with the beautiful Celebrity Reflection.  I know I did.

Click here for Yvette’s version of our adventure onboard.

GOOD TO KNOW

After a couple of cruises in Europe, the Celebrity Reflection crosses to the Caribbean where it will remain, sailing out of Miami, till about May 2013 when it returns to these shores for the summer season.  As mentioned, prices for a 7-night eastern-Caribbean cruise in November 2012 start from just £466 for an inside cabin or £588 for a veranda cabin (per person sharing); and from £927 for an inside cabin or £1,200 for a veranda cabin for 15-night transatlantic cruises in 2013 (per person sharing).  More information on forthcoming cruises and prices are available on the website www.celebritycruises.co.uk or call (0845 456 0523).

 

DISCLOSURE:  I enjoyed this pre-launch cruise as a guest of Celebrity Cruises.  I received no remuneration to write this post other than the cruise itself and all opinions are my own. 

 

CelebrityReflectionBowView

CelebrityReflectionChampagne

CelebrityReflectionEemshavenSunset

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  1. Coffeenvanilla says

    November 26, 2012 at 2:01 pm

    Oh, I just realized I actually miss ship life…

    Reply
  2. Krista says

    November 26, 2012 at 2:02 pm

    I have never been on a cruise – for many of the same reasons you listed at the beginning of this post!!! But this sounds like a much, much better experience. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Firefly says

    November 26, 2012 at 2:03 pm

    It looks like an amazing ship. We took a cruise out of Durban over 12 years ago and I loved it. Just haven’t had the cash to do it again yet.

    Reply
  4. Rosa says

    November 26, 2012 at 2:03 pm

    Wow, what a beauty! This floating palace is amazing. Never went on such a ship (unil now I’ve only sailed on ferries)… I really love the cute balconies, awesome view and pretty pillows.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply
  5. Jamie says

    November 26, 2012 at 2:04 pm

    Wowee! Stunning and how exciting! I have long wanted to go on a cruise – and I think taking the 15-day cruise to the US would be a dream but you-know-who has a horror of cruises and refuses to go. Maybe we need a girl cruise weekend? The ship looks incredible and the whole experience amazing!

    Reply
  6. Zirkie says

    November 26, 2012 at 2:05 pm

    Wow, this is much better looking than the Achille Lauro! We wemt on a cruise with it in 1986!! LOL, I must actually post some pics!

    Reply
  7. P Cruise says

    November 26, 2012 at 2:06 pm

    Fabulous article! Worth mentioning that not only is the Reflection a great ship, Celebrity are a superb cruise line!

    Reply
  8. Joan Nova says

    November 26, 2012 at 2:06 pm

    Happy to see this post as I have the same opportunity in Miami the beginning of December. Your photos foretell a great weekend!

    Reply
  9. Meeta says

    November 26, 2012 at 2:07 pm

    Never been on a cruise and I always imagined it to be tight and cramped but this looks anything but. Luxurious and rather relaxing. Lovely images Jeanne – I think we need to set sail and take a break together!

    Reply
  10. Jan Healy says

    November 26, 2012 at 2:08 pm

    Hello Jeanne, I was also onboard Celebrity Reflectionon the 2day cruise to Amsterdam. I won this cruise in a competition! How lucky was I and my husband to have such anexperience. It was fantastic and loved every moment. We even got to do a short film for Planet Cruise which was shown on t.v. just last night! Loved looking at all the fab photos (we can even be seen in one of them relaxing by the pool) Just remembering what a fantastic time we had just a few weeks ago! Thank you xxx 🙂 Jan & Tony

    Reply
  11. Ian says

    November 26, 2012 at 2:09 pm

    It is a SHIP not a BOAT!!!

    Reply
  12. Jeanne @ CookSister! says

    November 26, 2012 at 2:09 pm

    @Margot – I can see why!! Although I imagine it is a hard life, especially if you want a family.

    @Krista – I was truly pleasantly surprised! I think you just need to choose the right ship, and the right itinerary – transatlantic crossings might be a bit much LOL!

    @Firefly – Which ship did you cruise on? When I was growing up it felt as if EVERYBODY had been on either the Achille Lauro or the Oceanos.

    @Rosa – I never wanted to leave my little balcony… and the linen was quite divine – cotton percale, so soft…

    @Jamie – yes! yes! A girlie cruise in the Med! Something to plan towards 🙂

    @Zirkie – Hahaha, how funny! Are your memories as erm… mixed as mine? I do remember the food being very good, especially the midnight buffet by the pool 😉

    @P_Cruise – If the other Celebrity ships are anything like this, I can’t imagine a company I’d rather cruise with!

    @Joan – Are you also going on the reflection?? OMG you are in for a treat. Look out for my next post on dining aboard!

    @Meeta – Like I told Jamie, we need to plan a girlie cruise with LOTS of time in the spa!

    @Jan – Thanks for stopping by! And wow – lucky you winning such a fab experience. A crazy coincidence that I managed to snap a pic of you and your husband by chance, in a shop of 1,500 passengers 🙂 Let me know if you want me to send you a high-res copy of the pic. It was a fantastic experience – I just wish it had been a little longer so I’d actually had time to relax haha!

    @Ian – After reading 3500 words in which I used the term SHIP 22 times, you zoomed in on where I used the word BOAT(!!!) twice in the last paragraph and it offended you straight into CAPITAL SHOUTINESS? I am guessing you need to take your medication. Or more medication. Or different medication. Have a lovely day 🙂

    Reply
  13. Julio says

    November 26, 2012 at 2:11 pm

    Hi, do you have any info on the problems the ship is having? Any chance they will cancel the transatlantic voyage? It is easy to go back to port when you are near Spain… but not when you are in between both continent.

    The note below was delivered to the stateroom of those that will stay in the ship once it gets to Barcelona, and continue to Miami (arrival Dec. 1)

    4pm Saturday November 17th.
    As you are aware, during Celebrity Reflection’s previous sailing the ship experienced a technical issue, which caused the ship to sail at a reduced rate of speed. Our onboard engineers and additional specialists worked on the issue and corrected part of the problem, but unfortunately, the ships is still travelling at less speed than normal. It should be noted that this issue has no impact on the maneuverability of the ship or on the safety of our guests and crew.
    After reviewing our scheduled itinerary and taking the ship’s reduced speed into account, it is necessary to make some adjustments.

    Reflection will bypass Tenerife on Friday November 23.
    Celebrity Cruises will provide your stateroom with an onboard credit.
    Sincerely,
    Celebrity Cruises.

    Reply
  14. Gretchen Hatton says

    January 8, 2017 at 10:22 pm

    Thank you for the thorough blog. We are leaving in March on the Reflection to celebrate our 30th Anniversary. Can’t wait!

    Reply
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Jeanne | Stylish food & travel


Are you a cook... or a baker?
I fall firmly into

Are you a cook... or a baker? 
I fall firmly into the "cook" category. Baking is too precise, too fiddly - and best left to those with an affinity for it, I always say! But every now and then, only a cake will do. Say, for example... when you celebrate your blog's SIXTEENTH birthday!! 🎉🍾 Yes, last month Cooksister.com turned sweet sixteen, and to celebrate I baked this sticky spiced plum upside down cake. It's a very forgiving recipe and it's worth every single calorie 😁. Click on the link in my profile to see the recipe or save this post so you can find it later: https://www.cooksister.com/2020/06/sticky-spiced-plum-upside-down-cake.html

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappoint
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain

Anybody else got Lockdown Itchy Feet Syndrome...?? If it isn't an official disorder,  it certainly should be!

I have always been a dreamer, a planner, an explorer. Few things excite me more than stepping onto the soil of a country I have not visited before. When I am going through tough personal times, my go-to self-help therapy has always been to arrange a trip - to throw off the metaphorical bow lines and sail away to a new adventure. 
But then... Corona 😞  I can honestly say that I am enjoying working from home; enjoying having the time to run every day; enjoying cooking proper meals; enjoying my own company; enjoying the lack of FOMO. But OH MAN, I miss travel. 
This image was taken 2 years ago in St George's, Grenada - my first visit to the Caribbean but  certainly not my last. This photo has me dreaming of the day I can throw off those bow lines and travel again... How are you dealing with the lack of travel during this time?

Am I the only one feeling faintly sad at all the S
Am I the only one feeling faintly sad at all the Spring bulbs that were planted last year that have been flowering in parks and public gardens with nobody (or fewer people, anyway...) around to admire them? Spare a thought for the gardeners at Holland's famous Keukenhof who planted SEVEN MILLION bulbs last winter in preparation for the garden's annual 2-month opening... but because of Covid-19 Keukenhof did not open at all in 2020. 
But the good news is that for the first time in its history, Keukenhof was virtually open this year, meaning you can enjoy the best of the Spring flowers virtually, from the comfort of your armchair.  Keukenhof posted an amazing series of videos to their YouTube channel featuring magnificent 360 degree tours of the 2020 flowering bulbs; a run-down of the best photo spots; talks by various Keukenhof gardeners; and even a visit from Spongebob Squarepants!  You can check out their YouTube channel here https://bit.ly/2WWkahW. Or you can visit my blog  https://bit.ly/2zMgrLL  to see more of my Keukenhof images like this one of a river of tulips from when I visited a few years ago.

Have you visited Keukenhof?  What were your favourite Spring flowers? ⚘⚘⚘

When people tell me they don't like Brussels spro
When  people tell me they don't like Brussels sprouts, my inner voice always cries out the same response: oh honey, you're just doing it wrong! Sesame ginger sprouts are nutty, zingy and delicious - the opposite of the overcooked grey stinky sprouts of your youth, and so easy to make! 🔖 Remember to save this post so you can make the recipe later! The recipe is also on my blog - click the live link in my profile. 
For 4 people you need:
500 g Brussels sprouts, trimmed, halved and cooked (I roast mine in a hot oven)
1 x 2cm piece of ginger cut into fine matchsticks
2 Tbsp sesame seeds, toasted
1 Tbsp canola oil
2 tsp toasted sesame oil
Salt & pepper 
Heat the oil in a non-stick pan and fry the ginger till fragrant. Add the sprouts, mix well and heat through. Remove from heat, add the sesame oil, season and serve topped with toasted sesame seeds.

Did you know that 6 February is Waitangi Day, the
Did you know that 6 February is Waitangi Day, the national day of New Zealand? .

I am marking the occasion with this photo was taken just over 3 years ago on the shores of beautiful Lake Pukaki on the South Island, looking across at Mt Aoraki.  I loved my visit and planned the trip completely independently – here are some tips for anybody thinking of visiting the South Island. .
🔖Click “save” to bookmark these tips for later! ➡️ 1) Take more time than you think you need. In a week you will barely scratch the surface of the South Island - I would say 2 weeks is a comfortable amount of time. ➡️ 2) Don’t assume that summer means hot weather! Even in December (the height of summer) temperatures peak at about 21C in Christchurch. Pack layers. ➡️ 3) Do spend time in Queenstown. It is stunning and one of my favourite places I have ever visited – great for hiking in summer, skiing in winter, sailing on the lake, adventure sports and a base for many surrounding natural attractions. ➡️ 4) Take day trips from Queenstown to Milford Sound and the Franz Josef glacier (but be aware that the weather is often not great). ➡️ 5) Take a road trip! The roads are excellent and generally empty – and it means you get to pose in places like the shore of Lake Pukaki 😊 .
Have you visited New Zealand’s South Island?  Would you like to?  Let me know in the comments!

"Don't just stand there, let's get to it: strike a
"Don't just stand there, let's get to it: strike a pose there's nothing to it!" (Madonna)

Nicole Kidman's is both hands on hips. Meryl Streep's is only left hand on hip. Victoria Beckham's is right hip out, left foot forward (and no smile!). Mine started as a joke many years ago - the earliest evidence I have is from 2005 😎 Do YOU have a signature pose? Tell me in the comments or DM me a pic!

This particular pose was struck on the @chateaulhospitalet estate in the Languedoc, looking out over @gerardbertrandwines vineyards all the way to the Mediterranean. You can read all about my stay there now on the blog - click on the live link in my profile

Even if you are not a French speaker as such, you
Even if you are not a French speaker as such, you may be surprised by the number of French words you already know: rendezvous, entrepreneur, souvenir and ricochet need no introduction. All have been adopted into English wholesale, with their original French meaning and spelling. Perhaps they should apply for settled status post-Brexit... But sometimes a word’s literal translation in French bears no resemblance to what the word has come to mean, such as canape. Although we know the word as meaning a small piece of pastry or bread with a savoury topping served at drinks receptions, the literal translation is a decorative antique sofa. When a clever chef first came up with the idea, the topping was thought to sit on the bread or pastry like a person reclining on a sofa, and the snacks came to be known half-jokingly as canapes. Fact! 
I enjoyed these very elegant canapes (LOVED the lacy little potato lattices!) with Code Rouge sparkling wine before a jazz dinner at Gerard Bertrand’s flagship wine estate Chateau L’Hospitalet in the Languedoc.  The dinner was as  spectacular as the canapes and you can read all about it on my blog now – click the live link in my profile above.

The Christmas decorations may be long gone, but Ol
The Christmas decorations may be long gone, but Old Spitalfields Market where this photo was taken is very much open and is one of my favourite London markets. Here are my top tips for visiting Old Spitalfields:

1.  The closest station is Liverpool Street which is only a 5 minute walk from the market.
2. It's open daily, with over a hundred stalls, but on Wednesday the focus is on fashion & on Thursday the focus is on antiques & vintage.
3. The busiest day is Sunday - get there early to beat the crowds!
4. Make sure you sample some of the excellent street food on offer - I love the 8-hour pulled pork bagels from Dirty Bagel, topped with cheese melted by blowtorch in front of your eyes; or the traditional raclette at Abondance.
5. Don't forget to check out the amazing Shoreditch street art in the area around the market, either on a tour or self-guided walk.
6. The Truman Brewery just east of Spitalfields hosts a massive collection of vintage clothes stalls, and more street food - don't miss it!

Thanks @meetakwolff for the 📸

"You're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Yo
"You're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting so... get on your way!" (Dr Seuss)

How are you starting the new decade? Staring at the mountains ahead, worrying about how hard they will be to climb and whether your shoes will be comfortable and whether it is going to rain along the way? Or striding confidently towards the mountains ahead, looking forward to the fresh air filling your lungs and the sense of purpose as your legs carry you ever higher, and relishing the prospect of an amazing view from the top?

There is no finer metaphor for life than a walk in the mountains and I have already made my choice as to how I plan to tackle the mountains of 2020. What's your choice? 
Wishing you all a very happy new year and amazing views from the top of every personal and professional mountain that you climb!

This particular mountain is in the Austrian Alps where I hiked last summer. Thanks to @thepassionatecook for the 📸!


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Jeanne Horak is a freelance food and travel writer; recipe developer and photographer. South African by birth and Londoner by choice, Jeanne has been writing about food and travel on Cooksister since 2004. She is a popular speaker on food photography and writing has also contributed articles, recipes and photos to a number of online and print publications. Jeanne has also worked with a number of destination marketers to promote their city or region. Please get in touch to work with her Read More…

Latest Recipes

Brussels sprouts with chorizo & hazelnuts
Plum upside down cake
plum flapjack crumble
Sesame ginger Brussels sprouts
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