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Reflection vs Edge? Any thoughts?


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We've sailed both.   Reflection is my favorite Solstice class ship, and I really like Solstice as it has some nice upper deck features like a grass lawn.  Spacious interior, all the legacy Celebrity Dining options.  But after sailing Edge, we're hooked on that class.  Edge introduces new concepts to the experience.  I believe they provide more culinary diversity and choices.  Reflection has the standard MDR, but Edge breaks the MDR into 4 unique venues each specializing in a particular region like French, Continental, Italian, and Mediterranean.  If you spring for suite class, then the Edge configuration is far superior to that of a Solstice or Millennium class ship.  Edge designed special suite lounge areas into the baseline architecture so they're larger and offer more dining, drink, and relaxation options.   Reflection does have Michaels club which is the legacy suite lounge.  Very nice, but not the Retreat.  I would argue the original ice Martini bar featured in Reflection is superior to the Edge Martini bar configuration.  (On Celebrity, the Martini bars tend to be gathering place for bar tender entertainment and great drink options.)  While Edge put the Martini bar in the center atrium, they failed to provide sufficient bar space for seating and allowed the bar to go beyond Martini's which changed the character of the bar.  Reflection Martini bar holds to the fleet traditional way of menu, seating and entertainment.  (I believe Beyond corrects the errors in the original Edge Martini bar)  

We found Edge specialty dining options topped Reflection as did Luminae setting (its newer).  Again more options on Edge to include a Garden Terrance restaurant.   Eden is another option for bar, formal or casual dining, and entertainment.   Rolling entertainers roam the area during the evening.  On board shopping is notably different between Edge and Reflection.   Edge is all high end, Tiffany's, Bulgari, Cartier etc.  Reflection has the more mid-level concessions, designer, but not uber high end.   Edge casino has a lot of nice upgrades that Reflection doesn't have.    I would also like to plug Edge's jogging track.  Its a well thought out figure-8 that moves across 2 deck levels so you get to walk/jog up and down hill.   The figure 8 design gets it to 1/5 mi long which I think  is the length of an oval Oasis class track.

We're now hooked on Edge , but still plan on sailing Reflection in the future due to alternative itineraries.

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It always makes a difference if you are in a suite but with Edge that distinction is taken up a few notches with the Suite only Retreat on this class.  The Retreat is found across the fleet but there is more to it on Edge class.  While Reflection does have suite only areas you get less of a feeling like you are in steerage when you are not in a suite on the older ships.  That's kind of the direction that Celebrity is going, creating a suite only resort within a resort to match some other lines that are taking this approach.  So far that concept really hasn't been present on Royal ships.      

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22 minutes ago, twangster said:

It always makes a difference if you are in a suite but with Edge that distinction is taken up a few notches with the Suite only Retreat on this class.  The Retreat is found across the fleet but there is more to it on Edge class.  While Reflection does have suite only areas you get less of a feeling like you are in steerage when you are not in a suite on the older ships.  That's kind of the direction that Celebrity is going, creating a suite only resort within a resort to match some other lines that are taking this approach.  So far that concept really hasn't been present on Royal ships.      

i'm guessing we would not be doing suites on either line.  So do you feel that the not being in a suite on Edge would be obnoxiously stiffling?  I just don't think bumping up over 500 to move up to even aqua class is gonna be in the budget.  Jane

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11 minutes ago, mom2mybugs said:

i'm guessing we would not be doing suites on either line.  So do you feel that the not being in a suite on Edge would be obnoxiously stiffling?  I just don't think bumping up over 500 to move up to even aqua class is gonna be in the budget.  Jane

No, just be aware of this trend on Celebrity.  It's not something a Royal guest has encountered short of the suite lounge or suite sun deck on Oasis class.  

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4 hours ago, cruisellama said:

We've sailed both.   Reflection is my favorite Solstice class ship, and I really like Solstice as it has some nice upper deck features like a grass lawn.  Spacious interior, all the legacy Celebrity Dining options.  But after sailing Edge, we're hooked on that class.  Edge introduces new concepts to the experience.  I believe they provide more culinary diversity and choices.  Reflection has the standard MDR, but Edge breaks the MDR into 4 unique venues each specializing in a particular region like French, Continental, Italian, and Mediterranean.  If you spring for suite class, then the Edge configuration is far superior to that of a Solstice or Millennium class ship.  Edge designed special suite lounge areas into the baseline architecture so they're larger and offer more dining, drink, and relaxation options.   Reflection does have Michaels club which is the legacy suite lounge.  Very nice, but not the Retreat.  I would argue the original ice Martini bar featured in Reflection is superior to the Edge Martini bar configuration.  (On Celebrity, the Martini bars tend to be gathering place for bar tender entertainment and great drink options.)  While Edge put the Martini bar in the center atrium, they failed to provide sufficient bar space for seating and allowed the bar to go beyond Martini's which changed the character of the bar.  Reflection Martini bar holds to the fleet traditional way of menu, seating and entertainment.  (I believe Beyond corrects the errors in the original Edge Martini bar)  

We found Edge specialty dining options topped Reflection as did Luminae setting (its newer).  Again more options on Edge to include a Garden Terrance restaurant.   Eden is another option for bar, formal or casual dining, and entertainment.   Rolling entertainers roam the area during the evening.  On board shopping is notably different between Edge and Reflection.   Edge is all high end, Tiffany's, Bulgari, Cartier etc.  Reflection has the more mid-level concessions, designer, but not uber high end.   Edge casino has a lot of nice upgrades that Reflection doesn't have.    I would also like to plug Edge's jogging track.  Its a well thought out figure-8 that moves across 2 deck levels so you get to walk/jog up and down hill.   The figure 8 design gets it to 1/5 mi long which I think  is the length of an oval Oasis class track.

We're now hooked on Edge , but still plan on sailing Reflection in the future due to alternative itineraries.

Thank you so much!  We would definitely not be doing suites, so its really comparing the rest of the ship (the bars, dining etc).  I'm seeing about a 350 (interior) up to 900 (veranda) difference in price.  It sounds like Edge is worth it, especially for the interior staterooms.  I will have to weigh if the infinity balcony is worth it!  Or if we just stay with Royal.  So many choices!  Thanks for all your input!  Jane

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The infinite Verandah cabins have been panned pretty heavily. Apparently it’s just not the same as a true Verandah, even when the adjustable window is lowered as far as it’s able to go. I’m guessing it’s because even then the balcony section is still fully enclosed on the sides, so you don’t get the same wide views and ocean breeze. It sounds like it’s closer in design to the enclosed balconies I’ve seen photos of on some of Royal’s older ships. (Adventure? Radiance class?)

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6 hours ago, JLMoran said:

The infinite Verandah cabins have been panned pretty heavily. Apparently it’s just not the same as a true Verandah, even when the adjustable window is lowered as far as it’s able to go. I’m guessing it’s because even then the balcony section is still fully enclosed on the sides, so you don’t get the same wide views and ocean breeze. It sounds like it’s closer in design to the enclosed balconies I’ve seen photos of on some of Royal’s older ships. (Adventure? Radiance class?)

The room temperature control is connected to the window position so if you have the window open, the A/C is inhibited.   In some areas, this causes the room to heat up (solar loading) to the point where the a A/C can't recover the room temperature fast enough when the window is closed.    For those who haven't sailed with a balcony, the infinite veranda has good reviews.  For those have, the infinite veranda has less favorable reviews.

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14 hours ago, mom2mybugs said:

i'm guessing we would not be doing suites on either line.  So do you feel that the not being in a suite on Edge would be obnoxiously stiffling?  I just don't think bumping up over 500 to move up to even aqua class is gonna be in the budget.  Jane

Even if not in a suite, there are more dining options.  Four main dining options:  Normandy (French), Cosmopolitan (American), Cyprus (Med), Tuscan (Italian) - all included.  As the MDR consists of 4 separate venues/themes - they're a little more intimate, less noise as guests are spread out between the 4.  There are specialty dishes that go with the themes.   You can rotate across all of them or just use the one you favor.    Eden Cafe - breakfast and lunch, .   Oceanview cafe - buffet like the  Windjammer, Mast Grill, Specialty - Terrace Grill, Fine Cut (Steak), Le Grand Bistro (French), Eden (comes with entertainment), Le Petit Chef (dining with table special effects), Raw on 5 (Seafood), Magic Carpet dining (lunch/dinner - weather permitting).  Aquaclass gets you BLU and Suite gets you Luminae.  Both of those are also on Reflection.  Reflection has a single 3 level MDR.

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