{"id":15641,"date":"2024-08-17T08:32:05","date_gmt":"2024-08-17T13:32:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/postcardjar.com\/?p=15641"},"modified":"2024-08-18T07:56:47","modified_gmt":"2024-08-18T12:56:47","slug":"postcard-jar-friends-group-cruise-on-celebrity-reflection-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/postcardjar.com\/postcard-jar-friends-group-cruise-on-celebrity-reflection-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Postcard Jar Friends Group Cruise on Celebrity Reflection (Part 1)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our first Postcard Jar Friends Group Cruise on the Celebrity Reflection was such a blast! Here are a few highlights from our inaugural group cruise to the Eastern Caribbean with Celebrity Cruises.<\/span><\/p>\n

Arriving in Fort Lauderdale<\/span><\/h2>\n

All 58 sailors in our group arrived in Fort Lauderdale at least one day before our cruise. After chatting in our Facebook group and seeing each other on Zoom calls, it was so nice to finally so many friends in person the day before our cruise.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Gail<\/p>\n

Embarkation day for our group cruise on Celebrity Reflection<\/span><\/h2>\n

After anticipating the Postcard Jar Friends Cruise for more than a year – <\/span>embarkation day<\/a><\/strong> was finally here! We got on board as quickly as possible and delivered customized door magnets and lanyards to each cabin in our group.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"door<\/p>\n

\"Ann<\/p>\n

Our thoughtful travel agents at Dream Vacations also made arrangements for chocolate covered strawberries and wine to be delivered to each cabin as a welcome gift.<\/p>\n

\"Strawberries

Photo by Sonja Hoyt of @happyhoyt<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Everyone made their own arrangements to get to the ship and we all met onboard that afternoon near the Sunset Bar for the sail away from Fort Lauderdale. Several of our cruisers purchased Postcard Jar Friends Cruise t-shirts so we could easily recognize people from our group.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Steve<\/p>\n

\"Koerner<\/p>\n

\"Meghan<\/p>\n

\"Guerton<\/p>\n

\"Johnston<\/p>\n

A few people from our group took advantage of the embarkation day spa specials and treated themselves to a luxurious facial or relaxing massage that afternoon.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Thermal<\/p>\n

Dinner in Opus (main dining room) <\/span><\/h2>\n

Each night, everyone had the option of meeting others from our group in the Opus main dining room (MDR) for dinner at 6 p.m. Most of us gathered to enjoy relaxing dinners at long tables designated for our group. We all got acquainted as we enjoyed appetizer, entr\u00e9e and dessert courses each night. On a cruise, the fare includes all of this, so no bill at the end of the evening!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Dinner<\/p>\n

Dining together gave us a chance to meet new people or enjoy a meal with friends or family who traveled together. It was also an opportunity to try new foods, like the escargot that Kayla and Shari tried (below).\u00a0<\/span>Those who did not want to dine with the group were also welcome to have dinner at their own table in the MDR or just with their friends and family.<\/p>\n

\"Kayla<\/p>\n

After dinner activities<\/span><\/h2>\n

After dinner, some people enjoyed cocktails (they were included with the cruise fare, after all) at one of the nine bars onboard, while others went to the nightly show or listened to live music in one of the many lounges. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"Steve<\/p>\n

Several of us gathered that first night for Silent Disco, which was so entertaining! It was a perfect way to break the ice on our first group cruise on Celebrity Reflection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t