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Wow; I just ran across this site! Have been on several RCL cruises and wife & I are booked on ReflectIon’s repositioning cruise in April-May 2020 (1st time on a Celebrity boat). Have some family business to take care of in Ireland, and when I saw this cruise ends in Dublin…well…sounds like a road, er, water trip to me!!! I have a question hopefully someone is knowledgeable about. Is either of the pools on Reflection salt water? I have psoriasis and salt water & sunshine are the 2 best things for it. With so many sea days, there’s no chance to ‘take a dip’ in the ocean. Hoping I can get my ‘fix’ in a pool.

With the recent news of a child nearly drowning on Independence of the Seas (nearly drowned, contrary to article's title), do you think that Royal Caribbean needs to staff lifeguards poolside? According to a recent CC article, Disney Cruise Lines is the only major line to staff lifeguards. As a certified lifeguard myself, as well as Lifeguard Instructor: American Red Cross, Basic Life Support Instructor: American Heart Assocation, and a Certified Community Emergency Responder, I have my own opinion. Legally speaking, SOME states have passed laws that state ALL businesses operating swimming pools must provide a lifeguard during operating hours. Other states say that "Swim at your own Risk" signs are sufficient. Regardless, I think the only thing that the family COULD argue if they wanted to come after RCI is the notion of a "gate" of sorts--basically means to keep young children from inadvertently venturing into a swimming pool. Beyond that, I am of the opinion that staffing swimming pools with lifeguards would a) change the ambiance of the pool deck, even if they didn't enforce any rules, and were just there as a precaution, and b) provide parents with an even larger false sense of security, potentially leading to more emergencies. What are YOUR thoughts?