REPORT: THIRD OASIS-CLASS SHIP ON ORDER

Looks like it's official: Cruise Industry News is reporting Royal Caribbean has ordered a third Oasis-class ship from STX France for delivery in 2016, with an option for a fourth in 2018. Anyone who has cruised on either Oasis or Allure knows they truly are in a class by themselves. Great news for the cruise industry! -- Gerry

TRIBUTE TO HOLOCAUST VICTIMS

Empty shoes, empty hearts
Tribute to Holocaust victims

By Bob & Sandy Nesoff
Members: American Society of Journalists and Authors
Special to Cruising Squared

Part 2 of 3

The Monument of The Shoes on the Pest side
of the Danube (Photos: Bob and Sandy Nesoff)

Winter on the shores of the Danube River in Budapest can be especially cold. The wind whips downstream over the waterway between the Buda and Pest sections bringing a bone-chilling frost that even those wrapped in furs and layered clothing cannot escape.

The winter of 1944-45 was especially cold and the sight of more than 1,000 men, women and children standing, naked, on the edge of the Danube’s banks, shivering as the wind bit into their uncovered skin, was jarring.

Uniformed men walked behind them, lining them up at the edge of the river embankment and facing the rapidly flowing Danube, chunks of ice moving downstream. The naked prisoners, Jews who had been taken from their ghetto and marched to the river, must have known what was coming, but they could not have guessed at the brutality of the Hungarian Arrow Cross fascists, allies of the German Nazis.

A SOUTHERN FEAST ABOARD 'REFLECTION'

The Lawn Club Grill (Photos by Gerry)

 ABOARD CELEBRITY REFLECTION -- Up on deck 15, adjacent to that wide expanse of real grass known as the Lawn Club, is where you'll find the Lawn Club Grill. It's a specialty restaurant described as "interactive, open-air grilling with an ocean view."  Guests can grill their own food while getting advice from a Celebrity chef.

On the occasion of the ship's U.S. coming-out party, Celebrity had enlisted Jeff McInnis, the executive chef for Yardbird, Miami's mecca to Southern cooking. In this case, Jeff would be doing all the cooking, and all we had to do was enjoy it. And enjoy, we did.

The motif was family-style, which means big portions and communal sharing. McInnis, a former contestant on the Food Network's "Top Chef," pays homage to his deep Southern roots in all his dishes, and this menu was no exception.

Jeff's team prepares the flatbread

For starters, we had baskets of cornbread and buttermilk biscuits, accompanied by honey butter, apple butter and homemade strawberry jam. It was so melt-in-your-mouth good we had to force ourselves to stop and save room for the courses to come.

Along with the biscuits there was the "Yardbird Charcuterie Board" (charcuterie refers to cooking with prepared meat products). Selections here included molasses beef jerky, wild boar "slim jims," South Florida Herford head cheese with mustard, pickles, pimento cheese, smoked duck ham, house-cured country ham and crackers. While we didn't sample everything, we can report the pimento cheese rated an "A-plus."

A VERY, VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS

Christmas is always a special day, but this Christmas is a very, very (that's two very's) special day because we are sharing it with our new, and first grandchild, Catherine. Also, we started this blog in April, which makes 2012 special in that way as well. So today we want to pause and wish all of you a very Merry Christmas, happy holidays and our sincere wishes for a safe and prosperous 2013!

Catherine Barker -- her first Christmas (Gerry)

FONTAINEBLEAU COMBINES HISTORY, LUXURY

The pool at the Chateau Tower (Photo: Gerry)

MIAMI BEACH -- When you talk about iconic South Florida hotels, they just don't get more iconic from the famed Fontainebleau Hotel on Miami Beach. Opened in 1954, the hotel is synonymous with big name entertainers like Frank Sinatra, and for movies like the James Bond classic, "Goldfinger," which featured the hotel's pool area in the opening scenes.

Of course Pam and I had to check it out for ourselves, so we booked a stay. If you love modern luxury with classic touches, over-the-top service, opulent surroundings and dramatic architecture (and money is no object), this is the hotel for you.

Re-opened in 2008 after a $1 billion renovation (check Wikipedia for its history), it glistens like a ornate present under a giant Christmas tree. Some quick-hit observations:

• The outdoor, beach-side restaurant La Cote is a great place for lunch. Be sure and ask for Edmundo as your server. He will take good care of you while you gaze transfixed at the translucent blue waters of the Atlantic.
• Go ahead and splurge for a drink at the Bleau Bar in the lobby of the Chateau Tower. It's the perfect place to relax, people watch and set the mood for your evening.
• Apple enthusiasts will be thrilled -- the rooms are equipped with iMacs.
• Enjoy a late afternoon stroll on the boardwalk that runs along the Atlantic.
• Soak up some rays by that gorgeous swimming pool (although sad to say,we saw no sign of Goldfinger).
• There are several high-end restaurants to choose from. We opted for Scarpetta, which specializes in Italian cuisine. Ask for table 77 on the terrace.

Bottom line: If you want to experience the best Miami Beach has to offer, and feel the connection to its iconic past, book one of their 1,500-plus guest rooms. You might even make into the ultra-chic LIV nightclub, if your name is on the list.

Here's a photo tour:

A HISTORY OF CAROL SINGING IN PUBS

Editor Note: In the spirit of the season here are a few words from our correspondent in the U.K., Brian Wilson. Thanks for sharing, Brian, and the merriest of holiday wishes to you and Mo! -- Gerry and Pam

By Brian Wilson
UK Correspondent
Special to Cruising Squared

In my youth I can remember carols being sung in pubs (bars). In Georgian times e.g. 1700 to 1800's, before country churches could not afford an organ, the church choirs would include a collection of instruments that would play during services.

Choir and "orchestra" (for it would often just include 4 players) would play in a gallery. Many new tunes were composed to well known words - and "Whiles shepherds watched" was one of them

Here is a version - called "old Foster" - no videos just pics and a good sound - yes it was taken that quickly as people enjoyed their singing (any why not!!)




By the way - you may ask "why were carols performed in pubs/bars?" 

The answer is that after church service, the choir and players would tour the local houses and bars singing - and getting paid in drink.

So, by the last service of the day you can imagine the "quality" of the music!!

In early Victorian times the clergy were getting "worried" about the "goings on" in the choir gallery and the level of drinking. So, with the advent of smaller and cheaper organs even the smallest church could afford to disband these gallery choirs!

If you want to find out more you could read some thomas Hardy (books based around his native County of Dorset) e.g. http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/h/hardy/thomas/under/chapter7.html

A TRIP DOWN THE DANUBE: PART ONE

From Medieval to modern world
Part 1 of 3

By Bob & Sandy Nesoff
Members: American Society of Journalists and Authors
Special to Cruising Squared

Some people look at the world through rose colored glasses. Johann Straus may have been looking at the Danube River through sepia toned lenses.

The composer of the Blue Danube Waltz may have been putting his own spin on a river that could have been blue on Feb. 13, 1867 when it made it debut but today’s river is a calm and smooth flowing brown.

But that does not take the romance away from the famed waterway.

Several noted cruise lines have trips that go up and down the river. Our host was Uniworld Cruises, leaving Vienna, home to Strauss, and doing downstream to Bucharest over a very relaxing and gentle two week period. Most of the passengers on board were seasoned travelers who had chosen Uniworld because of its reputation for affordable luxury.

VIKING HELPS YOU CREATE A GINGERBREAD HOUSE

What could be more Christmas than a Gingerbread House? Viking River Cruises, who take guests into the heart of the European Christmas markets, share a "how-to" video featuring one of their pastry chefs for any of us who want to create their own gingerbread house. Check it out, or go here for more Christmas videos.

CARNIVAL 'ECSTASY' COMING TO MIAMI

This news from Carnival: "Carnival Ecstasy, currently sailing from Port Canaveral, Fla., will reposition to Miami to assume Carnival Imagination’s current three- and four-day Bahamas/western Caribbean itinerary. A sister ship to Carnival Imagination, the Carnival Ecstasy features a number of balcony staterooms, which is a ‘first’ for a Carnival ship operating short cruises from Miami. Carnival Ecstasy’s first voyage from Miami will depart January 10, 2014. Three-day cruises departing Fridays visit Nassau and four-day cruises departing Mondays visit Key West and Cozumel." -- Gerry

PRINCESS UNVEILS NEW YOUTH FEATURES

Increasingly, many cruise lines are catering to their younger passengers. It makes sense, since taking a cruise is one of the best family vacation options. Today, Princess Cruises unveiled the new features for kids and teens on their newest ship, Royal Princess, debuting next June. You can see more in this video:




Here are additional details from Princess:

GET THE CELEBRITY SLEEP EXPERIENCE AT HOME

Celebrity Cruises knows he value of a good night's sleep to the guests on their ships. And off as well. That's why Celebrity has joined with the maker of its on-board sleep system, Reverie, for a new retail program. Consumers can now purchase exclusive Celebrity eXhale linens, Reverie pillows and other accessories for home use. Andsthrough the end of the year, get $200 off any mattress or sleep system purchase, by using code BESTBED1, and 10% off eXhale linens with code TENOFF. Go to http://celebrityexhalebedding.reverie.com/ to learn more or order. --Gerry

GIOVANNI'S SERVES ITALIAN FAMILY-STYLE

Love Italian food served family style? So do we! And so does Royal Caribbean. You can have an authentic Italian dining experience at their specialty restaurant, Giovanni's Table. That's the topic of this week's video. Mangiare bene!

DUCHESS JOINS 'VICTORIA' CELEBRATION

HRH The Duchess of Cornwall unveils a specially commissioned
portrait (Credit: Cunard)

 Earlier this week we reported on the fifth anniversary of the Queen Victoria, which was named by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall in December, 2007. On Thursday The Duchess made a return visit to unveil a specially-commissioned portrait of herself.

Cunard notes "this new portrait of The Duchess is in keeping with the Cunard tradition of commissioning commemorative sculptures or portraits for display on board each ship named by a member of the Royal Family. The three-quarter length artwork shows The Duchess seated and dressed in a cream suit with ruffle detailing. It replaces a photograph of The Duchess which she signed just before naming Queen Victoria, and will be given a prominent place in the ship’s Grand Lobby."

Cunard commissioned artist Richard Stone to paint the new portrait. He has been a portrait painter for 35 years and has painted most members of the Royal Family. The Duchess sat for Stone three times at Clarence House.

A special birthday cake accompanied by the ship's "madrina," Maureen Ryan,
one of Cunard's longest-serving crew members. (Cunard)

TOP 10 AWE-INSPIRING PLACES

Tolltunga (Credit: TripAdvisor, Photo by live 1284)

Don't you just love a Top 10 list? Travel website TripAdvisor is one of the best at producing "Top 10 (Fill in the Blank)" lists, and this latest one is no exception. The title is, "10 awe-inspiring places around the world," and for once, the places live up to the hype. Take this one, for example: Trolltunga, in Odda, Norway. The reviewer called it "unbelievable." No argument there. The review also noted, "wear dark clothes" when having your picture made -- you'll stand out better. This is one time we would rather be the photographer than the subject! -- Gerry

NEW VIKING CRUISE EXPLORES BORDEAUX REGION

(Credit: Viking)

If you love wine (and we do), you'll welcome this news from Viking River Cruises: Today they announced a new itinerary in 2014 that highlights the Bordeaux region of France. The eight-day cruise called "Châteaux, Rivers and Wine," explores the Bordeaux and Aquitaine regions aboard Viking Forseti.

Here are the details from Viking:

"Châteaux, Rivers and Wine takes guests on a unique exploration of the Dordogne, Garonne and Gironde Rivers, through the region that has for centuries produced France's most remarkable wines including Margaux, Pomerol, St. Emilion and Sauternes. The eight-day cruise journey begins in Bordeaux and makes its first stop in Pauillac, where guests can sip the full-bodied blends of the renowned Médoc and Margaux wine regions and travel along the famed Route des Châteaux for an insight into authentic château life. Next, guests have the opportunity to explore the Citadel in Blaye and the charming town of St. Emilion—both UNESCO World Heritage sites—before continuing on to picturesque Cadillac, where they can taste the sweet Premier Cru wines from the Sauternes region. The unhurried voyage concludes with an in-depth tour of the beautiful churches, grand Louis XV architecture and charming cafes of Bordeaux.

"Guests may learn to make tender canelés, a caramelized custard pastry, observe the winemaking traditions that have made the area so famous, begin or expand their appreciation of fine Bordeaux wines with the guidance of a master sommelier, and brush up on their conversational French with optional onboard lessons." -- Gerry

WHAT IS IT?

(Photo by Gerry)

Can you guess what this is, and what ship it's featured on? For the answer, "read more."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, QUEEN VICTORIA!

Credit: Cunard

Can we get a chorus of "Happy Birthday"?

Cunard's Queen Victoria celebrated her fifth anniversary on Tuesday, Dec. 11. Since her maiden voyage from Southampton, Cunard notes she has sailed over half a million nautical miles, called at 196 ports in 63 countries and carried almost 250,000 guests. Also, 20,300 bottles of champagne – enough to fill six Olympic-size swimming pools – have been drunk and 9,125,000 cups of tea and 1,460,000 scones have been served over the last five years.

Afternoon Tea (Photo: Gerry)

I think Pam and I made personal contributions to all those categories, especially those sinfully delicious scones that get served with the Afternoon Tea. Here's more from Cunard:

"To mark this special birthday, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall will make a return visit (her third in five years) to her ship on Dec. 13 in Southampton and spend time meeting crew before unveiling a specially-commissioned portrait of herself and cutting a special birthday cake.

'We are very proud of Queen Victoria, her crew and her achievements since she entered service. To have a visit from Her Royal Highness will be a very special moment for the ship’s company. Queen Victoria is known as a happy ship and is certainly extremely popular with Cunard’s discerning guests.'

"Queen Victoria made Cunard history when in December 2010 the company’s first-ever female Captain, Inger Olsen, took command."

MAKING EVERY SHIP THEIR BEST SHIP

Under the mantra, "Now every ship is our best ship," Royal Caribbean is undertaking a comprehensive makeover of its entire fleet, incorporating some of the best features from their Oasis-class ships along with other new features. Those include new dining options, new entertainment venues and new ways to have fun throughout. A recent example of the program in action was the debut party for Grandeur of the Seas. You can find our coverage of that here and here. That's also the topic of this week's video:

APPRECIATING ART ON 'REFLECTION'

The Art Studio on Reflection (Photos: Gerry)

ABOARD CELEBRITY REFLECTION -- With millions of dollars worth of fine art on board, it just seems fitting that Celebrity would extend their art appreciation to its guests as well. That may be why adjacent to the Lawn Club you'll find the Art Studio. Affiliated with the nonprofit ArtCenter/South Florida, it offers a variety of instructional classes and lectures for both beginners and the more advanced among us.

Pam makes jewelry

On our visit, Pam tried her hand of jewelry-making (somewhat disappointed when she found out they used beads and not precious stones) while I opted for creating a postcard using watercolors (I though the small canvas more suited to my talent level).

Gerry's masterpiece

Despite a sometimes impatient teacher, Pam produced a beautiful set of earrings, while I created a stunning visual interpretation of a sunset on the ocean. My words, not the instructor's. Afterwards, reward yourself with lunch at The Porch or relax in one of the giant hammocks on the Lawn. -- Gerry

Earrings in the making

'GETAWAY' SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

Credit: Norwegian

Norwegian Cruise Lines has released it 2014 sailing schedule. Their newest ship, Norwegian Getaway, will sail year-round from Miami to the Eastern Caribbean on seven-day cruises every Saturday beginning February 1, 2014. Ports of call include: Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas. Contact Norwegian for details on all their ships and itineraries. -- Gerry

THE PERFECT 'REFLECTION' HIDEAWAY

The Hideaway (Photos by Gerry)

ABOARD CELEBRITY REFLECTION -- What would you get if you crossed an old-fashioned treehouse with "Modern Luxury"? If you happen to be sailing on Celebrity Reflection, you would get The Hideaway, a retreat that spans decks 7 and 8 where you can kick back, sip a mocha and meditate on such weighty issues as "what specialty restaurant should I try tonight?" Slip into one of the almost sound-proof pods or any one of several other seating options tailor-made for reflecting on Reflection or whatever suits your fancy.  -- Gerry and Pam

Pam, left, waits for her coffee to arrive while Gerry, above,
is hard at work on his next blog post. Right.

CARNIVAL 'BREEZE' HAS NAMING CEREMONY

John Heald and Tracy Mourning
(All Photos by Gerry)

 PORT MIAMI -- Carnival Breeze, the newest and brightest star in the Carnival firmament, had its official naming ceremony here at its home port Saturday. On hand to mark the occasion were Carnival top brass, VIPs, media, and the official Godmother of Breeze, Tracy Mourning. Also there to cheer Tracy was a large contingent from her charity, Honey Shine, which mentors young women in South Florida. Plus her children and husband, basketball great Alonzo Mourning.

Emceeing the event was Senior Cruise Director John Heald, who is marking his 25th year with the company. It was a fitting party for the pride of the Carnival fleet. Here are some party pictures. Congrats, Carnival! -- Gerry

Stars from "Divas" perform at the Naming Ceremony

John introduces Tracy

The audience cheers for Tracy and the Divas

John Heald and Alonzo Mourning

Tracy's charity, Honey Shine, gets a $25,000
donation from Carnival

Tracy and the Breeze captain prepare for
the traditional champagne christening

Confetti rains down as the champagne "pops"

GRAZIN' IN THE GRASS ON 'REFLECTION'

One of our favorite spots when we cruised on Celebrity Eclipse was The Lawn Club. One thing you never expect to see at sea is a large expanse of real grass. On Celebrity's newest and last ship in the Solstice class, Reflection, they're made a good thing even better.

(Photo: Gerry)

The Alcoves (Photo: Gerry)

Take, for example, The Alcoves: Private cabanas that provide what Celebrity calls "an escape within an escape." Each Alcove accommodates up to four guests, and can be rented by the day or longer. While you enjoy your chilled towels and fruit plate, your Alcove Attendant is never more than a phone call away. You can also arrange for a picnic at sea by ordering up a picnic basket of goodies from one of the specialty restaurants on board. 

There are plenty of other ways to relax as well. Settle in to one of eight over-size hammocks, or slide into the biggest Adirondack chairs you've ever seen. (You may even need someone to help get you back out.)

The Lawn Grill (Gerry)

Adjacent to the Lawn Club is the Lawn Grill, an interactive specialty eating experience that features its own unique delights (more on that in a future post). Around the corner is The Porch, featuring more casual fare.

Outside The Porch (Gerry)

Throughout the day you can also participate in lawn games, such as that old favorite, croquet. Altogether, it conjures those famous verses from Omar Khayyam:

A Book of Verses underneath the Bough, 

A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread-and Thou 

Beside me singing in the Wilderness- 

O, Wilderness were Paradise enow!

Celebrity Reflection's Lawn Club is certainly our idea of paradise. -- Gerry

Now this is relaxing!

AMTRAK MODEL TRAIN CIRCLES NATIONAL TREE

With fond memories of my own boyhood train sets, Amtrak has a model train circling the National Christmas Tree in Washington. They worked with the National Park Service, the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America's national parks, and the National Christmas Tree Railroad, to have an Amtrak model train circle the 28-ft. evergreen located at President's Park just south of the White House through January 1, 2013.

According to Amtrak, "the Amtrak model train is a G scale (1:22.5) and includes two GE Genesis P42 diesel locomotives and four single-level Amfleet passenger cars plus a café car. The model represents Amtrak's Midwest Corridor service, as well as the Northeast Regional service south of Washington, D.C. where the trains operate using this type of equipment." Sure piece that old piece of plywood I used back in the day. -- Gerry

HOLLAND AMERICA ADDS 325 VIDEOS

(Credit: Holland America)

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth a library.

That could be one reason Holland America Line has increased its video offerings on their website, www.hollandamerica.com, with the recent addition of 325 short videos showcasing the line’s shore excursions in Alaska and select ports around the world. "Featuring 275 videos on Alaska tours and 53 port overviews with shore excursion details, guests can get a glimpse of select tours before departing on a cruise and deciding which ones to book." We love the idea but do have one suggestion: Make the videos embeddable and let social users help spread the word. -- Gerry

VIKING ORDERS 10 ADDITIONAL SHIPS

(Credit: Viking)

Need more evidence on the popularity of river cruising? Viking River Cruises announced it has placed an order for 10 additional Viking Longships. That brings the total number of new ships launching next year to 10 and the number launching in 2014 to eight. They report by the end of 2014, they will have introduced a total of 24 new ships in a three-year period.

"Viking plans to inaugurate the first eight Viking Longships of 2013 in a first-of-its-kind simultaneous christening ceremony in late March in Amsterdam," according to their release. "The two newest ships, Viking Baldur and Viking Magni, will join the fleet in late August and September, respectively. Both vessels will sail Viking’s 15-day Grand European Tour (Amsterdam-Budapest), with Viking Baldur also sailing the 8-day Rhine Getaway (Amsterdam-Basel) and Viking Magni also sailing the 8-day Danube Waltz (Passau-Budapest)."

Here's more from the company:

TOURING THE 'MODERN LUXURY' OF SUITE 4101

The hallway to the Reflection Suite

Suite 4101

ABOARD CELEBRITY REFLECTION -- You already know about the Reflection Suite's famous shower. For anyone lucky enough to stay here,  the 1,636-square-foot suite has a lot more to offer as well. For starters, it's Celebrity's first two-bedroom suite. Located on deck 14, it's adjacent to five "Signature Suites" in an area with restricted card access. Like everything on the ship, it radiates "Modern Luxury" with the smallest details.

Let's take a "tour."

A mega-size TV for movie nights (All Photos - Gerry)

Two French Martinis, if you please

Perfect for a smart dinner party

You can't beat the view for the morning toilette

NEW SOCIAL REVIEW CRUISE SITE DEBUTS

We all know the impact of social media. Facebook and Twitter have become part of the daily routine for millions. Cruisers are no exception. Sharing and interacting with fellow shipmates is a critical part of planning for that next cruise. That's where Cruiseline.com comes in.

It's a just-launched social cruise review website where readers can post or browse over 36,000 cruise reviews and participate in forums about cruise-related topics. Half of those reviews are verified, which means Cruiseline.com has partnered with five leading cruise agencies to verify that reviewers did in fact sail on the cruise they reviewed.

"Finding the perfect cruise is a complex decision given the hundreds of options for ships, itineraries and even cabin choices," said Faraz Qureshi, general manager of Cruiseline.com in a release. “Consumers are looking for objective recommendations to help with this decision, specifically from travelers with similar interests. We want to be that trusted resource for the cruising community as well as provide cruisers the ability to interact before, during and after their cruise."

Interactive features on the site include:

GOT TO LOVE THOSE 'REFLECTION' SHOWERS

ABOARD CELEBRITY REFLECTION -- There were many things to like about our Aqua Class stateroom: The floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, the large, private veranda, an abundance of closet and storage space (never have enough of that), the 32-inch flat-screen TV. But my favorite thing was the shower.

The Aqua Class shower (Photo: Gerry)

It was sleek, and round, with double sliding doors. And like most stateroom showers, still a tight fit if you're very tall or very broad. But once you actually turn it on, so nice! While you enjoy the steady stream from the rain shower head on top, you can activate jets located up and down. it's a little like a stand-up Jacuzzi.

Of course, Reflection has been making headlines for its showers for months. Specifically, the shower in the new 1600-plus square foot Reflection Suite 1401. How does a shower make the news? In this case, because it's cantilevered, transparent, and hangs off the side of the ship.

While there was much to "ooh" and "ahh" about in the suite itself, everyone wanted to linger in the shower during the inaugural cruise open house. What about privacy, you ask? The shower comes equipped with a dimmer feature that makes the walls opaque for the shower-taker. (We didn't get to test it, sad to say.)

The Reflection Suite shower (Photo: Gerry)

When I asked Celebrity Cruises president and CEO Michael Bayley if he had personally tried it out, he said no, but thought it was a good idea. Now that would make for a good testimonial.

What is the shower's "secret sauce"? In an earlier release, Celebrity's Senior VP of Hotel Operations Lisa Lutoff-Perlo talked about privacy: "We made a big investment in ensuring our guests can enjoy the shower entirely free of any concerns of being seen," said Lutoff-Perlo. "They can enjoy breathtaking sea views while discreetly showering, courtesy of the shower's special reflective glass. But, if they seek even further privacy, the shower also features 'smart glass.' At the flick of a switch, guests can activate an electrochromatic technology which instantly transforms the glass from transparent to translucent."

Next up: A tour of what else the Reflection Suite offers. -- Gerry

Inside the shower (Gerry)

The shower has an adjoining porch (Gerry)