Passengers: 3,046
Best for: Couples who love food and wine
Sails: The Caribbean, Central America, the Mediterranean, Mexico, South America
At a Glance: The newest of Celebrity’s Solstice Class ships, this 3,046-passenger food-focused vessel debuted in 2012. You won’t find bumper cars or waterslides here, just sleek suites, creative cuisine, and jazz concerts on a real grass lawn.
Some Cabins Come With Perks
On the Celebrity Reflection, cabins range in size from 177-square-feet for an Ocean View, Stateroom (Inside Staterooms are slightly bigger, starting at 183-square-feet) to the two-bedroom, two-bathroom 1,636-square-foot Reflection Suite. Floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the latter offer maximum views, but the biggest draw is the bathroom, which has a glass-walled cantilevered shower that juts off the edge of the ship. Passengers in a Royal Suite or above get a complimentary beverage package and unlimited specialty dining. Some cabins come with other kinds of benefits. Splurge on one of the AquaClass spa staterooms and you’ll have exclusive access to Blu, the healthy-cuisine restaurant, and get unlimited time in the spa’s Persian Garden relaxation area. Suite passengers have their own lounge, Michael’s Club, to call their own, as well as their own restaurant, Luminae, which has a rotating “modern eclectic” menu with some of the best food on the ship. (Think chestnut tortellini with butternut squash and black truffle butter and peppered tuna with a pinot noir sauce.)
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The Specialty Restaurants Are Inventive
Creative food is a priority on Celebrity ships, and Reflection has so many restaurant options, you could spend a week at sea and never eat at the same place for dinner twice. Carnivores gravitate to Tuscan Grille, the Italian steakhouse. (The antipasti board and creamy burrata are musts, as are the frutti di mare rigatoni and the ribeye.) Sushi on Five serves up Kobe beef ramen sliders and hot pots, as well as sushi and sashimi. For refined French food, head to Murano, where the cognac flambéed lobster is served tableside and the cheese course is stellar. If you want to eat outdoors, head to the al fresco Lawn Club Grill, where you can grill your own veal chop or bratwurst or have the chef do it for you. Or check out the raw bar at The Porch, a Hamptons-inspired restaurant with an excellent seafood tower. The quirkiest option, however, is Qsine, where menus come on iPads and meals take unexpected forms, such as sushi lollipops and filet mignon with sauces served on a painter’s palette. Note for oenophiles: you’ll see a sommelier in almost every restaurant, and the wine lists are excellent—there are more than 400 choices onboard.
It Has a Top Chef Program
Bravo fans rejoice: as part of Celebrity’s partnership with Top Chef, passengers with culinary skills get a chance to face off against other guests during a Quickfire Challenge cooking competition. And on “Top Chef Night” in the main dining room, guests can geek out over dishes created by past chef-testants, such as Tiffany Derry’s roasted spiced pork tenderloin and Chris Crary’s ginger cake with salted caramel, puffed rice, cereal ice cream, and Thai foam.
There’s Plenty of Outdoor Space
There are two pools on the main pool deck, and one tucked under a glass roof. But the best place to soak in the sun may be the Lawn Club, half an acre of real grass on the top deck. Grab a bite at the Lawn Grill or The Porch, play croquet or bocce, spread out a blanket for a picnic, or book one of the chic cabanas in The Alcove.
The Spa Impresses
The ship’s Canyon RanchSpa Club has a small fitness room and a serenity-inducing relaxation area fronted by floor-to-ceiling windows. But the real reason to come is the deep list of treatments, everything from Ayurvedic body wraps to reiki to lymphatic massages. And then there are the Take Care of Your Selfie experiences—digital detox services curated by Randi Zuckerberg, such as a facial designed specifically to counteract the effects of too much screen time.
