Thread: Solstice a treat for the senses

Celebrity Solstice has been wowing cruise passengers from bow to stern since her recent debut.

The vessel sports a much-heralded half-acre-sized Lawn Club on the top deck, complete with real grass. Between games of bocce ball and croquet, even putting competitions, couples have also been enjoying picnics — sans shoes of course — as bare feet meets turf for the first time at sea.


The Ponte Vedra Recorder: Ponte Vedra Community News | Solstice a treat for the senses

"In fact, Solstice staterooms are 15 percent larger than those on other Celebrity brand ships, 85 percent of which feature private, outdoor verandahs."

15%? Not for your typical cabins of C1 and down.

An M Class C1 is 191, the Solstice 194. An M class OV is 170, the Solstice is 177. The big differences don't start to show up until you book a suite. SS in the M class is 251, 300 for Solstice.

I'm still going to REALLY miss those aft M Class FV cabins and all of the aft cabins with their great outdoor space.

What may be more interesting, though, is how the *effective* use of space makes the newer C1 and below cabins feel. I've heard good things about the ergonomics and use of space. Perhaps they'll just feel 15% larger?

We sailed on the stunning Solstice last September. The cabin (outside) was beautiful, and the bathroom was sensational - great use of space and plenty of storage and a big showe - brilliant.

Food and service was very disappointing though. Food was poorly presented, repetitive and tasteless which surprised us in what is supposed to be a 5* ship. They certainly could do with taking a leaf out of Princesses's book!

That's strange about what you'd said concerning the food and service on the Solstice because we were just on the Eclipse last month and we found the food and service on there to be absolutely wonderful! And the food and service in the speciality restaurants was awesome!!

But I do agree with the space; we had a category BD balcony cabin and found it to be very nice, and the bathroom to be extremely well laid out.

Overall, out of our 40 cruises (soon to be 41) we thought this was #2 on our all-time favorite list and can't say enough about it. Would sign up to do another one of these immediately.

We're Platinum members on Princess, so we've done alot of those and while we really like Princess, our best cruise with them wasn't as nice as the Eclipse.

But then again, it's like I always say, what one person loves another will hate. We're just lucky we have plenty of options from which to choose and there's something out there for everyone.

Pete

That's interesting, Pete. We even took photos of the food as it looked so poor. I am sure it has a lot to do with the executive chef and the Hotel Manager.

One example was that I always order vegetables with my main meal, and although they were on the menu our waiter huffed and puffed about it each evening, and made me feel very awkward. When they arrived they were not in a separate dish but dumped on top of the entree (with all the other bits and pieces underneath). One night my meal was just swamped with peas - and although I was delighted to see peas on the menu (as we always miss fresh vegetables when in the USA) this was a little too much.

There just didn't seem to be any finesse - the puddings, for example, were just dumped on the plate, not with any attempt to make them look pretty.

But cruising is such wonderful value these are small niggles, and we love trying something different which is possible with so many ships available. It certainly wouldn't put us off going back on Celebrity, because, as you say, each ship is different, and no two cruises are the same even on the same ship.

Originally Posted by ellie1145

That's interesting, Pete. We even took photos of the food as it looked so poor. I am sure it has a lot to do with the executive chef and the Hotel Manager.

One example was that I always order vegetables with my main meal, and although they were on the menu our waiter huffed and puffed about it each evening, and made me feel very awkward. When they arrived they were not in a separate dish but dumped on top of the entree (with all the other bits and pieces underneath). One night my meal was just swamped with peas - and although I was delighted to see peas on the menu (as we always miss fresh vegetables when in the USA) this was a little too much.

There just didn't seem to be any finesse - the puddings, for example, were just dumped on the plate, not with any attempt to make them look pretty.

But cruising is such wonderful value these are small niggles, and we love trying something different which is possible with so many ships available. It certainly wouldn't put us off going back on Celebrity, because, as you say, each ship is different, and no two cruises are the same even on the same ship.

Wow, what a difference! Ours was perfect, yet yours was so different.

But you're right about each ship being different - even the same ship can be different at different times. We sailed on one ship three times; the first two times it was not very good, while the third time was much better.

Just goes to show that each cruise can offer something unique and why it's not good to listen to reviews. Not only do different people like different things, but the same cruise line or even the same ship can offer completely different experiences.

Pete

Wow Ellie! We were also on the Solstice last September and our experience was quite different!

We did have AquaClass and ate breakfast and dinner in BLU rather than the main dining room so I can't compare apples to apples. It sounds like you got a real dud for a waiter! That happens sometimes and, hopefully, he was re-trained.

I did a "Live from" when we were on Solstice and if you want to read it here is the link (Live From the Celebrity Solstice 9/19/10)

Originally Posted by Char

We did have AquaClass and ate breakfast and dinner in BLU rather than the main dining room so I can't compare apples to apples.

Ah, maybe that is the difference, we were in the 'cattle class' dining room!
We had to wash up our own plates and re-set the tables, too! LOL

Hopefully our waiter was made to walk the plank....

Originally Posted by Cruise Planner

Just goes to show that each cruise can offer something unique and why it's not good to listen to reviews. Not only do different people like different things, but the same cruise line or even the same ship can offer completely different experiences.

Pete

Pete, I think what you have said is SO true. Indeed, it is true of everything in life.

I know that, for instance, 'Trip Advisor' has sounded the death knell for lots of hotels, often with little evidence or justification, just people's opinions - and one bad review is enough to affect business.

With reviews you always have to remember that it is a snapshot in time, just one person's experience, and one person may have very different expectations from another. So they need to be taken with a pinch of salt. Of course, if there are 50 reviews saying the hotel smells and is full of bed bugs that is a different matter. So it is with cruise ships. There are so many of them and they are so varied in what they offer that there truly is something for everyone.

Perhaps the trouble with cruising a lot (or going on any sort of holiday, I guess) is that we inevitably compare. In fact, I think cruisers spend an awful lot of time comparing - especially when they are on a ship! It's 'par for the course!'

I am sure, like me, you have overheard the conversations between passengers which go something like this:

'Have you cruised before?'

'Oh yes, we were on xxxxxxx in July. We loved xxxxx but the xxxx was awful.'

'Oh we like cruising with xxxxxx.'

'Really? We were on xxxxxx in 2009 and we thought the service was very disappointing.'

Sounds familiar?????

Actually, I think half the fun of cruising IS talking about it, and comparing, and convincing yourself that you have found the perfect ship - well, until the next cruise that it.

Ellie, those are very wise words! No 2 people share the same exact experience in anything in life and we should all remember that!

Hey...you got your first boat!