Celebrity Reflection Cruise Review (4 Nights) – Worth It?
Was this our greatest vacation ever? It’s honestly hard for me to think of a better one.
We recently sailed on the Celebrity Reflection for 4 nights, and from start to finish, this cruise exceeded our expectations. Celebrity is owned by Royal Caribbean, but it’s marketed as their more upscale brand—and after this trip, it’s easy to see why.
We sailed out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale with stops in Key West and Perfect Day at CocoCay, and we stayed in an Aqua Class stateroom, which comes with spa perks and access to the exclusive Blu restaurant.
Embarkation
We flew in the night before and stayed at Hotel Dello, which is about 3–4 miles from Port Everglades depending on your terminal. If you’re cruising out of this port, I highly recommend this hotel—super convenient and easy.
The morning of the cruise, we grabbed a Lyft and got to the port quickly. We’ve sailed out of Port Everglades once before, and last time there was a long line just to get through security. This time? Completely different. We only had a couple cars in front of us.
Once we got through the gate, it was a short drive to the terminal. We grabbed our bags and were immediately greeted by a porter. No need to print bag tags—they handle everything. Just give them your stateroom number and ID, and you’re good to go.
Security was seamless. Within about 5 minutes, we were through and sitting down waiting to board. We waited maybe 15 minutes total before being called.
Celebrity really does a great job here. The whole process felt smooth, organized, and honestly relaxing. Compared to Disney—which felt a bit chaotic—this was a much more laid-back and enjoyable start to the vacation.
Cabin Review – Aqua Class
Once onboard, we headed to our muster station, checked in, and then went straight to our room. One thing we love—Celebrity lets you access your room right away. No waiting around.
We stayed in stateroom 1519, an Aqua Class cabin. If you’re not familiar, Aqua Class includes:
- Private veranda (balcony)
- Premium bedding
- Spa access (Persian Garden)
- Dining at Blu
- Spa concierge perks
First impression—the room is a little dated. The Reflection is an older ship, so that’s to be expected. But honestly, it was still very nice and comfortable.
The bed was great, the pillows were excellent, and the room had everything you need:
- Small fridge
- Desk/vanity area
- Plenty of storage
The bathroom is pretty standard cruise ship size—nothing special, but totally fine.
The balcony (veranda) was easily the best part. This was our first cruise with a balcony, and having your own private outdoor space is a game changer.
We didn’t take full advantage of all the Aqua Class perks—we only ate at Blu once and visited the Persian Garden once—but both experiences were fantastic. Based on that alone, we would absolutely book Aqua Class again.
Only real complaint? The TV. It was really small and pretty limited. Especially compared to the Celebrity Ascent, where the TV was much larger with on-demand options.
Dining
Celebrity has a ton of dining options, but we kept things pretty simple on this cruise.
We’re not big fans of the main dining room. It’s not the food—it’s the time commitment. It always feels like a long, drawn-out experience. We’ve eaten in the main dining room on the Ascent and the food was great, so I’d assume it’s just as good here—we just chose not to do it this time.
Instead, we ate dinner every night at the Oceanview Café (buffet)—and honestly, it was incredible.
Celebrity has a reputation for great food, and the buffet absolutely lives up to it. Every night, no matter what we tried, the food was consistently excellent.
Standouts:
- The Indian food was phenomenal
- Mediterranean night gyro—possibly the best gyro I’ve ever had
- Even the chicken nuggets were next level (seriously better than McDonald’s)
Breakfast, on the other hand, wasn’t our favorite. It gets very crowded and feels a bit more limited. That said—the hashbrowns are a must.
The only specialty dining we did was at Blu, which is exclusive to Aqua Class guests. We went for breakfast on our sea day, and it was fantastic.
Heidi had the asparagus frittata, I had the spinach eggs benedict—both were excellent. Blu was quick, relaxed, and a really nice alternative to the buffet. Definitely worth it if you’re in Aqua Class.
Bars & Drinks
There are plenty of bars and lounges all over the ship, each with their own menus.
One thing I noticed right away—a lot of the drinks are very sweet. After a while, we started asking for less syrup or custom ordering drinks.
Eventually, I found a bartender at the Sunset Bar who made an excellent spicy margarita that wasn’t overly sweet—definitely a highlight.
If you like martinis, the Martini Bar is a must. Huge selection, and the bartenders know what they’re doing. I even ordered a classic daiquiri off-menu, and they nailed it.
For something a little more elevated, check out the World Class Bar. This ended up being one of our favorites.
- Heidi had the American Pie Old Fashioned
- I had the Banana Republic
Both were great, and honestly we wish we had found this bar earlier in the trip.
Amenities
The Persian Garden (spa area) is one of the main perks of Aqua Class. We only went once, but it was a really relaxing experience and a nice escape from the crowds.
There are two main pools and a couple hot tubs, but like most cruise ships—they’re small and can get crowded pretty quickly.
The standout for me was the Solarium.
This is hands down the best solarium I’ve ever been in. Most feel like indoor hotel pools with that heavy chlorine smell—but not this one. It’s beautifully designed, quiet, and the loungers are super comfortable.
It’s climate controlled and even has a retractable roof. This became our go-to spot when we wanted to relax away from the main pool deck.
Ports of Call
This itinerary included Key West and Perfect Day at CocoCay, and both were incredible.
Key West
Key West was one of the main reasons we booked this cruise, and it did not disappoint.
We absolutely love Key West and highly recommend it to anyone. The vibe is just unmatched—laid back, fun, and a little wild.
We did the Duval Crawl, hopping from bar to bar down Duval Street, which definitely got a little crazy.
Highlights:
- Sloppy Joe’s – classic Key West stop
- Tropicado Mojito Bar – amazing mojitos
And of course, we had to stop at Kermit’s for key lime pie, which completely lived up to the hype. Easily one of the best slices we’ve ever had.
Perfect Day Coco Cay
CocoCay was absolutely beautiful.
Crystal clear water, clean beaches, and everything felt very well organized. There’s a lot to do, plenty of space, and tons of food options.
And this might be a hot take—but we actually liked it more than Disney’s Castaway Cay.
One tip:
Go to the Snack Shack and order the secret menu item—the chicken sandwich with a mozzarella stick on it. It sounds ridiculous… but it’s incredible.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we loved this cruise.
The ship, the food, the ports—everything just worked. Celebrity really hits that sweet spot of feeling upscale without being overly formal or stuffy.
The Reflection may be an older ship, but it still delivers a fantastic experience with great dining, solid service, and plenty to do.
We loved the cruise, we loved the ports, and we would absolutely sail with Celebrity again—and on the Reflection without hesitation.
If you’re considering this ship or itinerary, we highly recommend it.
Wondering about a drink package, check out our review on that here.
