Counting Cruise Ships in Alaskan Ports

Item: Celebrity Solstice
Rating: 4
Author: ItaVero

Celebrity Solstice Cruise Review to Alaska - Inside Passage

ItaVero

Contributor Level: Captain

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Reviews: 15

Helpful Votes: 353

Overall rating:

4 out of 5

7 Night Alaska Sawyer Glacier (Seattle Roundtrip)

Sail date: June 05, 2015

Ship: Celebrity Solstice

Cabin type: Suite

Cabin number: "Aqua Class"

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 7 years ago

Review summary

Traveled "Aqua Class" on the Celebrity Solstice - Celebrity was our first cruise line (Century) and has earned a special place in our hearts - although we've since been wooed away by Princess. Round trip to Alaska from Seattle - and Seattle has GOT to be the easiest, fastest and most stress-free port for cruise ship embarkation/disembarkation. We were a bit disappointed with "aqua class" - thought the cabin was small, and the bathroom dinky - but loved the layout of the ship (there was a great library - reaching up through several decks and STOCKED with Audubon journals and texts. The glaciers were spectacular - the wildlife unique and the itineraries did not disappoint. Bring cameras - and binoculars (our cabin provided courtesy binos - but ours were better). I pity the locals - we were one ship among a circus of four or five dumping thousands of tourists in every port of call - locals didn't seem to mind... Loved the specialty restaurants on board!

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

I like Celebrity's galleys - and this was one of the last trips where we've seen an "end of cruise salute" with waving napkins and baked Alaskas. Also the last cruise we've felt obliged to pass out tip envelopes above and beyond the "mandatory gratuities" automatically added to the bill. LOVED the specialty restaurant.

Onboard Activities

5 out of 5

Good infection control - I don't remember anyone getting sick.

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Loved the wildlife commentaries.

Children's Programs

3 out of 5

Don't remember seeing many kids - so the programs must have worked.

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Crew and staff retained the unctuous courtesy and helpfulness that seems to be eroding away on other cruise lines.

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

I was disappointed in my cabin - and actually chewed out my travel agent - but the ship was GREAT.

Cabin / Stateroom

1 out of 5

Cabin was smaller and more cramped than we thought a "premium" suite should be - and the "closet space" was a bad joke.

Ship tip

Build time on either end to enjoy Seattle. Spend some time in the library - plan to enjoy their formal nights - don't count on too much quality time in Victoria BC.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Seattle, Washington

5 out of 5

Seattle has GOT to be the best place to embark/disembark. Build in extra time to explore Seattle - on both ends of the trip.

Thumbs Up 13

Ketchikan, Alaska

5 out of 5

Really fun town - but don't pay extra for tourist King Crab or Salmon (you'll do better on board ship).

Thumbs Up 9

Juneau, Alaska

5 out of 5

Juneau is the capital but we failed to take advantage of this in any meaningful way.

Thumbs Up 3

Skagway, Alaska Did not visit port

Study up a bit on Gold Rush lore to get the most of this stop.

Thumbs Up 0

Victoria, British Columbia

1 out of 5

Victoria BC is often "sacrificed" due to weather - even at the best of times, the port is often at the commercial port and not conveniently close to the town proper. Stops are inconveniently short.

Thumbs Up 0