Celebrity Reflection arrives in Miami for Caribbean cruise season

Inaugural ceremony to honor ship’s four Godmothers

Fresh from a successful first season in the Mediterranean, the Celebrity Reflection arrived this morning to the Port of Miami. Though the Celebrity Reflection spent the inaugural summer season cruising the Med, as is maritime tradition, there will be an official naming ceremony today to celebrate the ship’s new winter home.

The fifth ship in the sophisticated yet trendy Solstice Class fleet, the Celebrity Reflection will be named by not one but four Godmothers. All are Celebrity Cruise Lines employees whose lives have been affected by breast cancer; either themselves or a close relative.

Two of the Godmothers work in Celebrity Cruises’ corporate office in Miami; Community Relations Manager Helen O’Connell; and shoreside Special Events Manager Rosey Rodriguez. Representing the Celebrity Reflection is Jovanka Goronjic, the AquaSpa Manager and Megan Mathie, a glass-blowing artist from the Hot Glass Show aboard other Solstice Class ships.

As is a Celebrity Cruises Solstice Class tradition, three other Godmothers from the Celebrity Reflection’s sister ships will be on hand for the ceremony. In addition, Chairman & CEO, Richard Fain, Celebrity’s President & CEO Michael Bayley and the commander of the Celebrity Reflection, Captain Nicholas Pagonis will be participating on stage.

Being the fifth ship in the Solstice Class, Celebrity Reflection’s design isn’t brand new. Some things needed to be different from the original 2008 Celebrity Solstice. To shake things up a bit, five Signature Suites, measuring a whopping 441 sq. ft., have been added. For spa lovers, 34 spacious, new AquaClass Suites offer around-the-clock services of a professionally trained butler.

But the real show-stopper is the innovative Reflection Suite. This apartment-sized suite has two bedrooms for a total stateroom size of 1636 sq. ft. and showcases the all-glass shower that extends out over the edge of the ship. So as not to offend any portside onlookers, the glass is equipped with a device that will “fog” the glass on demand so you can see out, but no one can see in. Very helpful when showering while the ship is docked.

Green grass grows onboard this new ship as it does on the other four Solstice Class ships, including the addition of the hands-on Lawn Club Grill where guests can opt to grill their own meats under the guidance of a ship’s chef. Or relax in the private, wi-fi-equipped cabanas called The Alcoves.

The ship also will present another entirely new venue, The Hideaway, described by Celebrity as “an intimate, quiet space reminiscent of a childhood tree house, not to mention the diverse array of other modern venues and attributes already associated with Celebrity’s Solstice Class ships”

The Celebrity Reflection will host two, invitation-only 2-night cruises immediate following today’s celebration. Beginning December 5, the ship will then begin her inaugural season in the Caribbean before returning to Europe in Spring, 2013.

I’ll be onboard the Celebrity Reflection this week so check back soon for more updates and photos at CruiseMaven.com

Photo credit: Sherry Laskin; Celebrity Cruises