This is one of my favorite Rituals. Taking the time to steal away from everyday life and do something that completely relaxes, rejeuvenates and gives me a full reset. I’m sharing what it is that I do. I’m lucky, I live under 1.5 hours from multiple ports, so the expense of cruising is less than staying in a hotel for a weekend for me.
I boarded Celebrity Reflection thinking I was there for the ocean. The gentle roll of the ship. The deep blue views that reset my nervous system the minute I step onto a balcony. That part absolutely delivered. But what surprised me yet again was how quickly my entire trip began to orbit around the spa. Not just any spa. The Persian Garden. And that is exactly why AquaClass has become one of my favorite ways to cruise.
This was a quick four-night sailing. The kind that slips perfectly into real life without requiring a full week off or a massive mental reset to prepare for it. I love that the Reflection offers these four-night weekday cruises. You leave Monday, and you are back Friday. It feels indulgent but completely manageable. And for people who truly cannot get away from work for long, the three-night Friday to early Monday sailings are genius. Especially for locals (like my husband and me). You can walk off early Monday morning and realistically go straight to work. That flexibility alone makes the Reflection feel thoughtful and modern, even though to me it also feels like old-time cruising in the best possible way.
From the moment I stepped into my AquaClass stateroom, I felt taken care of. All AquaClass cabins on Reflection are Veranda staterooms (or suites), which already sets the tone. Natural light. Fresh air. That quiet moment in the morning when you slide open the door and remind yourself that yes, you are really at sea. Inside the cabin were all the little details that make AquaClass feel different. Daily bottled water waiting for me. Two yoga mats were tucked neatly away so I could stretch without improvising on the carpet or having to pull one from the fitness center. Binoculars ready for sail-aways and shoreline views. And waiting in the refrigerator, a perfectly chilled bottle of sparkling wine. It was a small thing, but it felt celebratory. Like the ship was saying, welcome back, slow down, we’ve got you.
Photo courtesy of Celebrity Cruises
What truly elevated this trip, though, was proximity. My stateroom was just five doors away from the entrance to The Persian Garden. That might not sound like a big deal until you experience it. I could throw on a robe, grab my book, and be immersed in calm within minutes. No long walks. No elevators. No planning. Just an easy rhythm that quietly reshaped my days onboard.
The Persian Garden on the Reflection is especially beautiful because she is a Solstice Class ship. The space feels expansive and intentional. Soft lighting. Natural textures. And the best part, the view. The spa looks out over the aft of the ship, so when you are lying on the thermal loungers, all you see is endless blue ocean stretching behind you. No buildings. No ports. Just water and wake and sky.
My routine quickly became sacred. I would start in the cold room. It is bracing in the best way, especially for someone who deals with back and shoulder pain as I do (ice then heat – that’s what my doctor always tells me). It’s the kind of cold that makes you inhale sharply and then laugh at yourself. I traditionally carve my initials into the ice on the column next to me and attempt to slide my back against the wall for the healing effect. From there, I would move to the steam or the infrared sauna, letting the heat undo whatever tension I had brought onboard from everyday life. Sometimes I used the aromatic steam. Sometimes I wandered through the tropical rain showers. Then I would settle onto the heated thermal loungers, book in hand, doing absolutely nothing productive. Just reading. Breathing. Letting my mind slow down to match the pace of the sea.
AquaClass guests enjoy unlimited access to the Adults-Only The Persian Garden, and that alone feels like a luxury that changes how you cruise. You are not squeezing in a spa visit. You are living in it. You can stop by for ten minutes or two hours. Morning or afternoon. It becomes part of your day rather than a special appointment you rush to keep.
Photo courtesy of Celebrity Cruises
Another AquaClass perk that quietly makes a big difference is the Spa Concierge. There is someone dedicated to helping you book treatments, adjust appointments, and answer questions. And yes, AquaClass guests receive a discount on spa services. Which means that if you are already this relaxed, you might as well lean into it. I always recommend booking your favorite treatment early. A massage. A facial. Something indulgent that layers perfectly on top of all that thermal goodness. Note that there are major discounts when you book multiple services (at the time of my sailing, it was “save up to 30% when booking 3 services) as well as Spa Specials that on port days. We were scheduled to stop at Perfect Day (which was changed because of a weather issue), and the spa dropped off a special that included a Full Body Massage, Invigorating Skin Brushing, ELEMIS Eye Treatment, Foot & Ankle Massage, and Scalp Massage, all for $179 as well as a 20% off acupuncture treatments and an Ultimate Facial for a ridiculously at $70 off. A simple call to the spa, and your concierge will take care of making sure that you are booked.
Of course, no AquaClass experience would be complete without Blu. Blu is the designated main dining room for AquaClass guests, and it is one of my favorite dining rooms at sea. The atmosphere is calmer and more intimate than the main dining room, with deep blue flowers against a white background (I love the large white sculptured-flower wall that feels like a combo of petals and waves to me), and the menu focuses on clean, fresh flavors that somehow feel indulgent without being heavy.
Breakfast at Blu is non-negotiable for me. I cannot start the day without one of their smoothies, and the Blu-berry Blast has my heart. It is fresh, flavorful, and feels like exactly what your body wants after a steam session. At home, breakfast is usually a smoothie or a bowl of oatmeal eaten quickly. Onboard, breakfast becomes an event. A pause. A moment to sit, sip, and look forward to the day.
Dinner at Blu is just as satisfying. I love that the menu always includes lighter options alongside comfort favorites. On this trip, I leaned into the vegetarian offerings, and one night I ordered a stuffed portobello mushroom filled with spinach and goat cheese, garnished with crispy onions. It was hearty and flavorful and didn’t leave me feeling weighed down. That balance is what Blu does so well. You leave the table satisfied, not sleepy.
Photo courtesy of Celebrity Cruises
AquaClass cruising also creates a rhythm that feels natural to me. Mornings begin at Blu. Then I check in on my husband, grab my book, and head back to the Persian Garden. And if you forgot to bring a book, don’t worry. Reflection has a genuinely lovely library. It is one of those understated spaces that reminds me why I love this ship. Quiet. Comfortable. Unhurried.
Afternoons drift easily into evenings, and while the spa might be my anchor, there is so much more to Reflection. The shows are fabulous. Polished and entertaining without feeling overproduced. There are movies, activities, live music, and always something happening somewhere onboard.
Photo courtesy of Celebrity Cruises
My evenings often split neatly in two. A little time at Fortunes Casino, because I do love the energy of the slot machines and the social buzz of that space. And then, when the music starts drifting up through the ship, I make my way to the Grand Foyer. There is something irresistible about dancing there. It feels spontaneous and joyful and a little bit old school. People of all ages. No pressure. Just movement and music and laughter.
That combination of wellness and play is what makes AquaClass so special to me. I can spend the morning doing absolutely nothing in the spa, and the evening dancing as I did decades ago. It feels balanced. It feels human.
Docked in Nassau
The Reflection herself plays a huge role in this love affair. She is not overwhelming in size. She is easy to navigate, and you learn her rhythms quickly. To me, she feels like cruising as it used to be. Elegant without being stiff. Lively without being chaotic. Comfortable without being boring.
And there is one more reason to experience her sooner rather than later. Reflection is scheduled to go into dry dock in 2027 for a full glow-up. While I am excited to see what comes next, there is something special about enjoying her exactly as she is right now. Familiar. Graceful. Perfectly broken in.
I came for the ocean. That part never disappoints. But I stayed for the spa. For the ritual of cold and heat and stillness. For breakfasts at Blu and quiet afternoons reading while the wake trails behind the ship. AquaClass gives me a rhythm I crave. A way to cruise that feels restorative rather than rushed.
If you are looking for a short escape that truly resets you, a four-night AquaClass sailing on Celebrity Reflection might be exactly what your body and mind are asking for. And if you find yourself spending more time in a robe than you planned, consider yourself warned.
- Book now as they have some great specials at Celebrity Cruises, or call your travel agent
