Our First Cruise-------A WINNER!!!!

Celebrity Solstice Cruise Review to Alaska - Inside Passage

wa7tn

Contributor Level: Third Mate

Cruises: 1 cruise (first)

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 65

Overall rating:

5 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Alaska Sawyer Glacier (Seattle Roundtrip)

Sail date: June 20, 2014

Ship: Celebrity Solstice

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 7358

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 10 years ago

Review summary

After extensive research and input from blogs, we chose Celebrity Solstice for our first cruising experience. We were not disappointed and know we made the right choice. Every aspect of the ship met or in most cases exceeded our wildest imaginations. Specific onboard experiences that stand out include:

Staff: Waitstaff was very attentive and eager to please. Once they knew what we wanted they were quick to provide in a most expeditious manner. Courtesy and professionalism were hallmarks. They were very engaging in conversation. Cabin stewards were always considerate of our privacy and upon our departure immediately cleaned and serviced the cabin. They were willing to greet us and briefly talk even if engaged in cleaning acivities. They treated us as though we were cherished guests.

Food: Outstanding in the main dining room. Excellent changing daily choices with a static number of dishes as well. Steaks were perfectly prepared. Buffet had great choices but some dishes lacked the tasty factor. However it is a buffet for 2800 different palates. We did not visit any of the speciality restaurants. The Aquaspa cafe had a very good selection of alternative, healthy foods.

Activities and shows: There is no down time on this boat. Every waking minute contains opportunities for learning and personal enrichment, fun, and entertainment, The fund raiser for breast cancer was especially meaningful. The glass show was something we wished we had attended more often. The off boat excursion to Tracy Arm is NOT to be missed. It was the highlight of all the excursions we took.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Loved the main dining room food. Buffet was a buffet but very satisfying especially breakfast.

Onboard Activities

5 out of 5

Brent Nexon - we are spoiled now after listening to his presentation on Alaska ( as well as bears, eagles, etc.) Glass show was very interesting. Craft events were fun. Informative lectures about ship operations made the boat more personal.

Entertainment

5 out of 5

A surprise - we did not expect such fine entertainment and nightly as well as programs throughout the day. The entertainers were very versatile.

Children's Programs

Did not participate/just peeked in at the room (had no children with us); loved the idea of an area for teens to mingle and see their friends away from their parents/other adults

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Our cabin stewards, Oliver and Benedict, could not have made a bigger impression on us with their hard work and the level/quality of everything they did. Loved our waiter, Poltak , and his assistant, Mario.

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Well maintained. Public areas very clean and well policed. Even crew areas appeared very well looked after. Only a very little rust on our balcony.

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Roomier than expected. Loved the balcony especially in Tracy Arm with room service. Bathroom not as cramped as we had thought it would be. Be warned that a laptop cannot be connected to the TV. There is no DVD player. Limited TV channels but who cares. You're on a cruise. Good free recent movie selection.