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seven of eight of us got very sick

Celebrity Solstice Cruise Review to South Pacific - Australia

Cruises: 4-6 cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 48

Overall rating:

3 out of 5
Verified Review
Celebrity Solstice

12 Night New Zealand (Sydney To Auckland)

Sail date: February 05, 2017

Ship: Celebrity Solstice

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 1553

Traveled as: Singles/Friends

Reviewed: 7 years ago

Review summary

I believe this ship is not clean.  I was not sick when I boarded the ship, but by day 4 I was very sick.  So were so many of us.  Four years ago on this same ship I saw employees cleaning everywhere - hand rails, elevator buttons, elevator doors, and I saw purell dispensers everywhere too. Not this time.  It did not seem as clean; the attention to detail in the service was different.  3 of our party saw the onboard doctor.  i had brought antibiotics with me, but am still sick.  two of our party are going to the doctor tomorrow.  I went today.  There is something wrong.  Many people complained of being sick.  People coughed and hacked constantly in the elevators and in the buffet dining room.  Not good.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5
the specialty dining was good, especially the Tuscan Grille. The buffet was abundant but very repetitive; the Epernay was fine but repetitive.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5
Nothing terribly inspiring. I missed the free Zumba classes. The paid Zumba, I went to but was sick most of it and could not. The Zumba was in a hot small room. The instructor was great.

Entertainment

3 out of 5
The house band was not good; the shows were awkward, despite the very talented singers, dancers and acrobats The hypnotist was excellent. the cruise was a little dead, actually.

Service and Staff

3 out of 5
There were a variety of staff people who were wonderful and others who were condescending and not well trained. It was a mixed experience.

Ship Quality

1 out of 5
We enjoyed this ship 4 years ago, same ship, for a transAtlantic from Florida to Barcelona. It no longer makes that route, I understand. this time, the illness and the weather and the kind of dead activities, despite the talented cruise director, made this a mediocre experience for me.

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5
Nothing special. Nothing grand. The perks: we discontinued the tea every day, and the terrible canapés every day. We didn't go to the BLU because our friends were not allowed to. The spa is not free or cheaper, so what good is the Aqua Class? At first we had fresh fruit every day but New Zealand prohibits that, so not even that.

Ship tip

Take antibiotics with you. Get travel medical insurance: $130 to see the doctor.

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Ports of call

Sydney, Australia

5 out of 5

Melbourne, Australia

5 out of 5

Akaroa, New Zealand

3 out of 5

Wellington, New Zealand

5 out of 5

Tauranga, New Zealand

3 out of 5

Bay Of Islands, New Zealand

5 out of 5

Auckland, New Zealand

5 out of 5
If you have an extra day, take the ferry to Waiteke Island and the hop on hop off bus there to visit several wineries. Lovely and wonderful
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7 Comments

tazdevil    6 years ago

Well this was very sad to read as we're about to in leave next week on our very first Aqua Clasd cruise from Auckland Sydney to Auckland
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HappyCamper49    7 years ago

We sailed May 26 - June 2, 2017 on the Alaska Inner Passage cruise on the Solstice.  The ship was SPOTLESS in all areas.  Everyone remarked on how CLEAN the ship remained for the entire cruise.  Plates were removed immediately after people finished eating, public restrooms remained spotless 24 hours a day.  I had brought a package of Clorox wipes and never opened it!  Employees were constantly seen polishing and cleaning.  You were required to use the Purell hand sanitizing station before entering a restaurant also.   I am sorry for your experience, but ours was wonderful.

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HappyCamper49    7 years ago

We sailed May 26 - June 2, 2017 on the Alaska Inner Passage cruise on the Solstice.  The ship was SPOTLESS in all areas.  Everyone remarked on how CLEAN the ship remained for the entire cruise.  Plates were removed immediately after people finished eating, public restrooms remained spotless 24 hours a day.  I had brought a package of Clorox wipes and never opened it!  Employees were constantly seen polishing and cleaning.  You were required to use the Purell hand sanitizing station before entering a restaurant also.   I am sorry for your experience, but ours was wonderful.

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axis7477    7 years ago

4 years ago Solstice had an amazing Hotel Manager who is now in Miami Head Office. Pity he is not on board any more!! He was pedantic about cleanliness and service.
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Stargatefan    7 years ago

I cruised on the Solstice in Sept 2016 for 19 nights. Everything was constantly being cleaned. Whenever you walked into buffet area you had to sanitise. Also sanitizer stations avaiable too.
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wynstay    7 years ago

I always take a can of Glen 20 and spray the air con unit outtake, pillows and bed..no different than staying in a hotel. also some virus can take 24-48 hrs to show symptoms. doesn't hurt to have a flu shot about a month before leaving, in some countries you might visit a hep shot too... couldn't hurt either. some say this might be overkill, but better safe than sorry!!
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OldHoncho    7 years ago

Post hoc ergo propter hoc (after this therefore because of this). It is just as likely that you boarded the ship with an incipient infection.
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