Reflections on the Celebrity Reflection - Goodbye Princess?

Reflections on the Celebrity Reflection - Goodbye Princess? Yes ? No ? Never Again? BUY ME A COFFEE 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/handforgedtravelvideos Not at all ! This was a 4 night cruise and the clientele reflected it. 18th Aug 2025 Ship was super crowded and smacked of Royal Caribbean in everyway except for the food quality. The food was super Tasty but overall but we feel Princess is a better fit for us. 1. Celebrity Reflection – Reported Issues & Guest Complaints A. Dining & Food Quality Guests have often described meals as bland, poorly executed, or inconsistent: One review called the meal options “lacked flavor” and complained about “cleanliness in the dining areas,” including dirty tablecloths and utensils, as well as safety concerns such as mistaken placement of medication on a child’s bed. U.S. News Travel Another mentioned that food and portion quality had declined, attributing it to what felt like efforts to push passengers toward specialty dining upgrades. A traveler said: “food quality was mediocre… obvious use of shelf-stable pre-cooked sauce bases,” suggesting post-COVID cost-cutting. Others experienced poorly cooked steaks and spotty internet along with app glitches. One reviewer described dining as “awful” with rushed service, poor menus, and disappointing spa coordination. B. Cabin Comfort & Cleanliness Several reviews highlighted outdated and poorly maintained cabins: One guest called the ship “old, dark, noisy and crowded,” with Aqua Class cabins being excessively small, lacking convenient outlets, and suffering from sewer-like smells in the bathroom. Another complaint cited stains on bedding and a generally “beat up” cabin interior. C. Service & Upselling Many criticisms centered on aggressive upselling and perceived nickel-and-diming: One reviewer said servers couldn’t even bring water, yet multiple people approached to push specialty dining upgrades. One guest noted: “The focus now has gone to prying every last nickel and dime out of your pocket before you leave the ship.” Another detailed how Guest Relations policies felt inflexible and frustratingly technical. D. Embarkation & Disembarkation Logistics were a sore point for some: Complaints about slow and unpleasant check-in processes. Another review mentioned chaotic debarkation—“a lot of queueing and standing”—with poorly managed merging walking lanes. E. Entertainment & Amenities Mixed feedback here: Some praised the Reflection Orchestra and jazz acts, though overall entertainment felt “mediocre,” and acrobatic shows were missing. One review called entertainment significantly improved on a later sailing, but food and table seating problems persisted. Fitness facilities reportedly had broken machines—like Pelotons—not fully functional. F. Wi-Fi & Technology Persistent complaints about unreliable connectivity and technology glitches: On-board Wi-Fi described as “spotty and very expensive,” with app-related functional issues. Reddit users noted that even “Premium Wi-Fi will never be 100% reliable on a cruise.” G. Last-Minute Cancellations & Compensation Practices A high-profile complaint involved a honeymoon cruise cancelation: A passenger was left with only partial refunds via restrictive vouchers after her cruise was cancelled due to a technical issue, contributing to extreme emotional distress and even Bell’s Palsy. 2. Issues Broader to Celebrity Cruises (Beyond Reflection) Data Breach & Customer Service Faults 3. Summary Table of Key Issues with Celebrity Reflection Category Common Complaints Food & Dining Bland meals, over-upselling, poor execution, limited value Cabin Quality Outdated features, cleanliness issues, small and noisy Service & Guest Relations Aggressive upselling, inflexibility, frustrating policies Boarding/Disembarking Long waits, chaotic traffic flow Entertainment & Facilities Mediocre shows, missing acts, broken equipment Wi-Fi & App Tech Unreliable, expensive, glitchy Refund/Cancellation Tools Restrictive voucher compensation; emotional impacts Broader Concerns Security breach handling, past mechanical delays Music Chee Zee Beach - Latinesque by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100686 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ #cruise #celebritycruises#cruiseship