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Long line-ups for Reflection looks

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This week on the Celebrity Reflection — the fifth, last and best of the Solstice Class ships — there were tours of specialty restaurants and suites for the assembled guests. The attraction was that these are the places only the wealthy or the wishful get to go, at least on a regular basis.

The line-ups to get in were so long that Celebrity extended visiting time by an hour. The line-ups, however, were not for the restaurants, they were for…the Reflection Suite.

Ever since Celebrity announced this one-of-kind suite would have a clear-glass shower hanging off the edge of the ship, there has been a titillating buzz among the cruise community. There is only one Reflection's shower over the seaReflection Suite on this ship or anywhere else, and it’s a beauty, glass shower notwithstanding. Two hot tubs, two bedrooms, a dining room and another bathroom with two showers in the same stall, giving a whole new meaning to showering with a friend.

Oh yes, the cost. As unique as it is, the Reflection Suite is not sold out. The fact that it costs about $25,000 for six people on a seven-day cruise to stay in it may have something to do with that, even if you split the price equally (and who gets the master bedroom).

It’s just one of the unique suites on this ship. The Aqua Class suites afford the kind of privacy that money can buy and are complete with a butler, spa privileges with extras and access to the private restaurant named Blu, where at least the hors d’oeuvres are understandably superb.

By adding an entire deck, Celebrity had to widen this Solstice Class ship by 60 centimetres to stabilize. That and making better use of space that wasn’t popular enabled Celebrity to add 89 cabins and accommodations for 114 more passengers than can on the fourth Solstice ship, the Silhouette. As with all ships in this class, at least 85 per cent of the cabins have balconies.

Murano, a staple on Solstice ships

Murano, a staple on Solstice ships

The two that are new are The Lawn Club Grill ($40), where you can cook your own dinner, and The Porch ($5), open for breakfast and lunch and where panini is the main offering. The other specialty restaurants — Murano (French), Tuscan Grille (Italian) and Qsine (eclectic and crazy) — are unchanged from previous Solstice ships.

Of the 14 bars, the most significant change is Michael’s Club. It’s now a beer specialty place — don’t call it a beer joint — with 50 international craft beers and flat-screen TVs on every wall. The Celebrity Life Series also features beer and food pairings (now that’s new!) and an International Beer Challenge where guests can test their brew knowledge.

Celebrity’s people made a point of mentioning the Sunset Bar among the changes, but that’s mostly because of the drink menu, and the Alcoves — cabanas by The Lawn Club that can be rented — pointing out they have doubled in number to eight since the Silhouette’s arrival last year.

This is a line that’s getting more into what it calls “dynamic packaging” to enable its upscale customers to combine shore excursions or specialty restaurants for one price to save a few bucks.

In this era of “fiscal cliff” and “modern luxury”…is this just another pair of buzzwords to confuse us?

This is the final report from my Ports and Bows colleagues, Bob and Nancy Dunn, who are in Florida this week to see Celebrity’s new ship, the Reflection. Not only can you read accounts of their cruise on this final Solstice Class ship here, but there’s more at cruisingdoneright.com


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