Reflections on a family cruise
With two children and the grand parents onboard, for Michelle Jackson there was only one holiday option…
I’m standing on the top deck of Celebrity Cruises ship, Reflection, there isn’t a cloud in the sky and the towers on Miami Beach recede into the distance in a balmy haze. I’ve been through the first-world dilemma of whether to go for the drinks package or not with Granddad and Granny; meanwhile, my teen and tween are in their cabin unpacking their bags quickly so they can make the most of every second on the ship.
It’s my father’s first cruise so he doesn’t know what to expect but I’m confident this is the perfect holiday for every generation. One of the great treats about cruising is travelling to different destinations without having to pack or unpack to do it. Celebrity Cruising is a five-star experience and the decor around the ship is modern refined luxury.
Being cruise veterans, the kids know the importance of the first day meet-up in the teen zone. Kitted out with table tennis, video games and a mini stage, the teen area is open all day and supervised until late at night. For parents, it’s good to know there are only so many places they can be.
Our first day is at sea giving everyone time to get their bearings and giving me time to try out the spa. The Persian Gardens offer hot beds looking out to sea and an array of spa rooms. It’s well worth joining for the week (it’s complimentary for Aqua Class passengers). I go for a manicure at Canyon Ranch SpaClub and enjoy the unspoilt ocean view as my feet are transformed with a French polish.
As well as the usual entertainment of theatre, comedy and casino, there’s a strong artistic vibe, and Granny and I go to view the exhibition at a wine event before trying our luck at the casino.
When we feel peckish, the dining arrangements never fail to inspire. To my surprise, I return home without having put on too much weight – a tribute to the Celebrity’s approach to portion size rather than a comment on the cookery. As it happens, Granddad’s birthday falls during our trip and the waiters make a fuss of him as they bring out a beautiful chocolate cake inscribed with his name.
However, life on the cruise ship isn’t all onboard entertainment. Our first port of call is San Juan in Puerto Rico, where the relaxed rhythm of the Caribbean island fills our souls as we head ashore.
This island paradise combines the modern trappings of modern brands with the symbols of its colonial past. But my daughter heads straight for the stalls that sell traditional sweets made from plantains and nuts. Our guide takes us through the history of the old town. Next stop is the bar where the piña colada was invented – they even make nonalcoholic cocktails for the kids.
Our itinerary takes us to the neighbouring island of St Thomas the following day. This beautiful island has all the ambience of Pirates Of The Caribbean including the infamous Blackbeard’s castle. We take a taxi from the ship and are left at the town centre among dozens of jewellery stores, even Tiffany & Co have a branch on this island. Not to be distracted, we walk the 99 steps up to Blackbeard’s Castle and enjoy the spectacular view. The Caribbean is full of interesting characters and one man in his 80s stands by a viewpoint and offers to take a photo for a dollar tip − how could we resist? After our castle tour we check out the local market where the kids find trinkets and souvenirs for their friends at home.
St Thomas is stunning, but the kids want to get back to the ship early to meet their friends. I find myself enjoying the half-empty ship, especially in such a beautiful setting. Granddad can’t wait to get to his cabin which has a balcony at the back of the ship. He has sunshine all day and he can sunbathe in peace. The travel agent at Tour America advised us about this when we were booking and it’s a good idea to discuss details like this with an operator before selecting a cabin.
Granny and I are invited up to the heli-pad deck to have a glass of champagne with the senior officers and to our delight a giant sea turtle puts on a display in the water below.
That evening we eat at Qsine, in one of the speciality restaurants. The kids have fun showing Granddad how to use the iPad menu. Some of the dishes are accompanied by a video cartoon, with ‘Disco Shrimp’ possibly the most entertaining.
Later I go with Granny and Granddad to the illusionist’s show. Entertainment on board is thrilling and the Beatles Show is on a par with the West End’s Let It Be. But equally enjoyable is the simple pleasure of sitting on the balcony of my own suite, reading my book and sipping a glass of wine. Carlos our room attendant refreshes the ice bucket daily and brings canapés each afternoon.
Day four and we wake in St Maarten. The skies are cloudy but the sun breaks through after an hour. We take a bus tour that passes Orient Beach, the famous ‘clothing optional’ strand, but are too early to see the naturists. This unique island is shared by the Dutch and the French. We loved the bustling French capital with aromas from the cafés. But the highlight is our stop at Maho Beach, noisiest in the Caribbean, where aircraft almost clip the holidaymakers as they come in to land at the airport. The YouTube clips you’ve seen do not exaggerate.
By the time we disembark finally at Miami, staying in the Biltmore Hotel, my children have made new best friends, and Granny and Granddad are talking about where they will cruise to next. Everyone agrees that on ‘Reflection’, our Celebrity Cruise was the best holiday ever.