| Sailing with a Group on the Solstice | | | | I got tired of seeing the same faces each night. |
| I am a travel agent that escorted a group of 44 | | | | On the night in St. Martin, there was no show at |
| people on the brand new Celebrity Solstice in | | | | all, just a movie ( Iron Man which I had already |
| March of 2009. Here is my graded review of the | | | | seen in theaters last summer). I wholeheartedly |
| ship. | | | | recommend Solstice, the Show. It was very well |
| Embarkation: A+. We arrived via bus at the Port | | | | done - not as good as an actual Cirque show, but |
| Everglades terminal at 12:15. By 12:45, all 44 | | | | considering that these are the same kids that do |
| passengers were checked in and on the ship. | | | | the production show, they did a fantastic job. |
| Embarkation is very well run with so many open | | | | The first nights show featured Oceans Four, an |
| windows that there were virtually no lines. Upon | | | | acapella group that sang during the week at night |
| entrance to the ship, we were given a glass of | | | | in various areas on the ship. Their first song was |
| champagne or a mimosa. | | | | barbershop quarter and I cringed, but then they |
| Ship: B+. This ship is a beauty. It is elegant with | | | | did some Frank Valli and the 4 Seasons and |
| subdued tones and warm, rich colors. The public | | | | others and were better. The Broadway style |
| areas were for the most part laid out very well. | | | | show on the second night was okay, but again - |
| We liked the fact that the Entertainment and | | | | because I go to Broadway shows all the time, I |
| Promenade Decks held of most of the | | | | compare to that and probably shouldn't. |
| entertainment and alternate dining venues. It was | | | | The night they had a featured xylophonist, we |
| convenient having all on two decks. | | | | couldn't stay more than 10 minutes. The guy was |
| The theater was lovely but there are quite a few | | | | good, but not good enough for a 45 minute show |
| seats that are obstructed by pillars. In addition, | | | | - it was interminable. If Celebrity is looking to |
| there were not enough seats to accommodate all | | | | satisfy the over 70 crowd - well, this is great |
| of the passengers who wanted to see the early | | | | entertainment. If they are looking for a younger |
| show. During the lifeboat drill we asked the | | | | passenger - this isn't going to cut it. |
| Celebrity employees how many passengers the | | | | The Cruise Director himself was also a bit |
| theater held and were told 1600 with the entire | | | | subdued. He had a joke each night at the theater. |
| rear of the theater filled with people who were | | | | But he was not one of those bouncy, overly |
| standing. While that would seem to be more than | | | | enthusiastic guys who continually tells you to |
| half of the passengers, the reality of several | | | | applaud, applaud, applaud. His staff was pretty |
| hundred people standing to watch a show is not | | | | good - the girls that were at the golf and bocce |
| viable. | | | | tournaments were good as was his assistants at |
| The only complaint our group had with the ship | | | | the Newlywed show. |
| layout was the fact that there are no aft | | | | I will say that the Celebrity Orchestra was great. |
| elevators. It was a very long walk for passengers | | | | They played in the foyer a couple of times and |
| who had rooms toward the back of the ship. | | | | were terrific. I could have listened to a whole |
| The new Lawn Club showed signs of wear. While | | | | show of them only - why didn't Celebrity think of |
| this is a new feature on a ship it is really wasted | | | | that? |
| space. While there were a few bocce, golf and | | | | In room entertainment - I liked the music channels |
| croquet tournaments on the ship, when these | | | | on the interactive TV, the free On Demand |
| activities were not taking place, we didn't note | | | | Movies (which I wish had a larger selection) but |
| anyone partaking in these sports on their own. | | | | the regular TV channels were awful. CNN didn't |
| The space could better be utilized for additional | | | | even show the weather temperatures from back |
| seating for the Hot Glass Show or for lounge | | | | home or any of the islands we went to. Cruise |
| chairs, as the pool area loungers were always | | | | lines need a little more mainstream TV. Two of |
| packed during sea days. | | | | the passengers in our group caught norovirus and |
| Cabins: A We had an inside cabin on deck 8 - | | | | were stuck in their room for 24 and 48 hours |
| 8188. The cabin was very spacious, on a par with | | | | and almost went insane from the awful TV. |
| some balcony cabins we've experienced on other | | | | choices. |
| lines. The bed was in the center of the room with | | | | Service: I will break out service in three areas - |
| plenty of room to walk around. Our luggage fit | | | | room stewards, food service and Customer |
| under the bed easily. There were two chairs in | | | | Service Desk. |
| the cabin, a small table and a desk with two small | | | | Dining Service: B. The service in the Grand |
| nightstands. Our only issue was that there were | | | | Epernay Dining room on the first two nights was |
| not enough drawers - only 5 small drawers next | | | | chaotic. It got a bit better after night 4, when we |
| to the desk. The closet was also small, but we | | | | spoke to the Maitre 'D. We were with a group of |
| surprisingly had enough room for our hanging | | | | 44 people spread out over 6 tables with four |
| clothes. But the lack of drawers required we put | | | | different servers. Celebrity did a fantastic job of |
| much of our clothing in the cabinet over the bed, | | | | keeping the group together. We were in tables |
| which was a bit difficult to reach. | | | | 123- 135 on deck three near a window. |
| The bathroom was also spacious with glass doors | | | | Celebrity waiters tend to like to wait for their |
| in the shower and plenty of storage space. The | | | | entire group of tables to be seated before taking |
| sink was a bit inconvenient as water splashed on | | | | orders. The first night, we sat for 15 minutes |
| the vanity and floor when you washed. The bar in | | | | before our Head Waiter came over to take our |
| the shower for leg shaving was a great addition, | | | | orders. The other tables had already ordered. We |
| but was a bit high for the older ladies to get their | | | | ordered drinks from someone else, and then a |
| foot on. We did miss a clothes line in the shower | | | | woman came over to take another drink order. |
| for hanging wet bathing suits - it took two days | | | | Why two people for drink orders? It took over |
| for our suits to dry hanging on hooks. | | | | 20 minutes to get our drinks (this went on every |
| We loved the flat screen tv. But there is a distinct | | | | night), until the Maitre 'D happened to be talking to |
| lack of channels. Besides two CNN channels and | | | | us at our table and asked how the service was |
| two ESPN channels, there was little else to watch | | | | and we told him that we had already been waiting |
| besides the many ship channels. Thank goodness | | | | 15 minutes for our drink and still they hadn't |
| there were Free Movies on Demand, as that was | | | | come. Even HE couldn't find the guy who took our |
| a life saver. The interactive features were a little | | | | drink order. After that, we ordered from another |
| tricky to use. We tried accessing the internet with | | | | server and our drinks were delivered in less than |
| the keyboard in the room but the mouse was | | | | 10 minutes. If you wanted iced tea, even |
| impossible to work and we ended up using the | | | | ANOTHER person had to take that order and we |
| Internet Café when we needed to check | | | | waited 15 minutes for that as well. The service |
| e-mail. | | | | was so nondescript in the dining room that I don't |
| Food: B. We ate breakfast and lunch most days in | | | | even remember the name of our Head Waiter. |
| the Oceanview Café. The buffet is set up | | | | Throughout the cruise, the dining room service |
| very well, with stations holding various related | | | | was slow, but did get better that last two nights |
| items. The set up eliminated long lines at the | | | | of the cruise. It was not the quality of service we |
| entrance to the café. There were the | | | | experienced previously on Celebrity. |
| usual lines for cooked to order eggs in the | | | | I will say that the Maitre 'D was very good. We |
| morning and hamburgers, steaks and hot dogs in | | | | had some issues with birthdays and anniversaries |
| the afternoon. The waffles were excellent, as | | | | that were supposed to have been delivered that |
| was the veggie pizza. The ice cream selections | | | | didn't happen. I spoke to the Maitre 'D and he |
| change daily and were very good. There were | | | | took care of making sure that these were |
| Asian selections daily for lunch and standard pasta | | | | celebrated. |
| and many different salads. | | | | We ate in Silk Harvest and Bistro on Five and the |
| What I found to be missing were sandwiches. | | | | service in both of these restaurants were |
| There was a station that had cold cuts and tuna, | | | | excellent. The quality of the service here is what |
| etc. with bread where you can make your own | | | | brought my overall rating to a B. |
| sandwiches, but I have enjoyed having paninni's | | | | Room Steward : B. Our room steward was good, |
| and small pre-made sandwiches on other ships. | | | | not exceptional. I noticed on the first day that the |
| We did eat here one night and I was very | | | | bathroom floor was dirty - there was hair in the |
| disappointed. Most of the stations were closed | | | | corners of the floor. The rest of the bathroom |
| and what was available was again pizza, pasta, | | | | was fine, but the dirty floor was a turnoff. We |
| pre-cooked steaks, salads. On other cruise lines, | | | | had a bottle of champagne in our room, and he |
| the buffet at night mirrored what was being | | | | brought ice for the first two days, but we didn't |
| served in the dining rooms. | | | | open it and the ice never reappeared after the |
| Grand Epernay Dining Room: We ate four nights in | | | | first two days. |
| the main dining room. We were at table 135. Our | | | | What we did like was that the room steward was |
| group of 44 dined together at six tables and | | | | very unobtrusive - we rarely saw him and he did |
| Celebrity did a great job of assigning the tables | | | | a decent job with the rest of the cleaning. I did |
| together. | | | | have to ask him to bring us a dry cleaning bag - |
| Food reviews are very subjective. Having | | | | there was none in our room and we usually do |
| traveled on Celebrity when the Executive Chef | | | | use this service at least once on a cruise. |
| was Michel Roux and having found the food at | | | | Customer Service Desk: D . Because we were |
| that time to be superb, we were disappointed in | | | | leading a group, we did have to use the Customer |
| the food quality on this ship. That said, we didn't | | | | Service Desk a few times for requests. The |
| starve, but were simply not as pleased as we | | | | people at the desk were very unfriendly and |
| expected to be. The first night I had the lamb | | | | condescending. I have never seen a group of |
| shank which was very good. I am also a great | | | | people who seemed to not like the jobs they |
| fan of the cold fruit soups and they were very | | | | were doing. Every one of them tried to brush off |
| good. But the rest of the nights, I found myself | | | | my requests and it seemed that I was bothering |
| ordering the always available steak, as nothing | | | | them. |
| struck me as particularly interesting. Now trust | | | | Two of our group went to the ship Dr. and were |
| me - we didn't starve, but we didn't think that | | | | quarantined to their room for 24 and 48 hours. |
| there was anything that stood out enough for me | | | | The ship Dr. told them they could have free room |
| on the menus that sounded interesting. Even the | | | | service, free pay per view movies, and free soda |
| desserts were so-so. | | | | during the time they were quarantined. They |
| We ate one night at Silk Harvest. The food and | | | | were told differently by room service - only one |
| service were very good. The sushi was excellent | | | | free soda, they could not order what was being |
| with some interesting choices. They brought | | | | served in the dining rooms, etc. They called the |
| plenty of dishes out and all were very good. | | | | Customer Service desk and were told that was |
| We also ate in the Bistro on Five and thought the | | | | the way it was. We tried to get answers for |
| food was very good here as well and again, great | | | | them and were brushed off as well. |
| service. One of us had a crepe and one had a | | | | Once they got out of their quarantined status, |
| paninni and the server told us we could order | | | | they went to the CS desk too and were |
| several items if we wanted, but we just couldn't | | | | brusquely dismissed by the Customer Service |
| eat that much. We had a dessert crepe that was | | | | person when they asked to have the auto tip |
| also very good. | | | | removed so they could tip accordingly, since their |
| We ate some of the free pastries at Cafe Bacio | | | | room steward was the only one permitted in their |
| and they were good as was the gelato at the | | | | room during the time they were quarantined. The |
| Gelateria. However, once we found the free ice | | | | desk rep. wouldn't allow them to speak to anyone |
| cream in the buffet every day, we didn't feel the | | | | but him and they became outraged. Only then |
| need to pay for gelato anymore. | | | | were they finally permitted to speak to the head |
| Pools and Spa: A - Mid-ship found two pools, the | | | | of Customer Service, who, when he sat down |
| Family pool and Sports pool as well as a wet zone | | | | with them, told them that they WERE given |
| that was never turned on along with four hot | | | | incorrect information from room service and that |
| tubs. At the front was the Solstice pool with two | | | | they should have been allowed to receive what |
| hot tubs. On sea days as usual the chairs around | | | | was served in the dining rooms and they should |
| the pool were always filled by chair hogs that | | | | have had soft drinks at no cost. They suffered |
| leave their items and never sit on the chair. Just | | | | unduly for 48 hours because of misinformation |
| once I'd like to see a cruise line with the guts to | | | | and the lack of assistance by Customer Service. |
| tell Pool Attendants to remove items after an | | | | I will say service in other areas of the ship - the |
| hour of no one sitting on the chair. We found we | | | | buffet, ice cream counters, etc. service was very |
| enjoyed the Solstice pool - it was slightly quieter | | | | good. |
| since no one under 16 was permitted and it was | | | | We also had an event coordinator for our group |
| enclosed. They do keep the room a little too cold | | | | who was outstanding; from the cocktail party we |
| - many were bundled under towels because the | | | | had to getting our group disembarked at the |
| air conditioning was too cold. | | | | same time when they received varying |
| My wife made an appointment for a manicure at | | | | disembarkation numbers. She was the one who |
| the salon on Thursday. Even though no one was | | | | did what Customer Service should have done. |
| having a manicure when she arrived she still had | | | | Disembarkation: A+. We got up and ate breakfast |
| to sit and wait 10 minutes before being taken. | | | | in the dining room, then went back to out room |
| The girl who did the manicure was very nice; she | | | | and retrieved our carryon and headed to the |
| had a pleasant conversation and a decent | | | | Theater to our waiting area at 8:20. We were |
| manicure. | | | | there merely 20 minutes when our number was |
| Entertainment: C+ This is one area that I, as well | | | | called. We found our luggage immediately and |
| as many of the others in our group, felt Celebrity | | | | headed to our bus for the transfer to the airport. |
| has really cut back on. Celebrity doesn't have | | | | Overall rating: B++ We enjoyed the cruise very |
| Headline Acts anymore. The majority of nightly | | | | much and so did our group. We did like the ship |
| shows in the Main Theater were done by the | | | | and would recommend it. Their Customer Service |
| production singers and dancers. Perhaps because | | | | Desk needs some improvement and they need |
| we live near New York City and frequent | | | | to get their act together in the dining room and |
| Broadway shows, I am a bit jaded about these | | | | perhaps do a little better with Entertainment. But |
| production shows at sea. They were okay,nothing | | | | none of these were deal breakers or would |
| more. The singers were adequate but not terrific. | | | | prevent us from sailing on the Solstice again. |