If you want to go on a cruise where you can relax, enjoy nature, go on excursions on the glaciers, water rafting, view whales and just catch up on some R&R, go to Alaska!! If you want to go to Alaska and feel like it was worth the cost, travel Princess.
Embarkation
3 out of 5
Embarkation was actually one of the fastest I’ve ever experienced. The problem is I decided to purchase the excursions once on board and my guess is that they weren’t ready because that took way too long and no, there wasn’t a line, the hostess just didn’t know much about the excursions.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
2 out of 5
Our waiter in the main dining room was AMAZING but he was the only one. Our waiter made sure I had my meals done right (severe food allergies) but on multiple occasions it’s like no one else on the ship knew what to do with food allergies! I’m deathly allergic to mushrooms so my food can not touch mushrooms - the buffet restaurant had mushrooms so I notified them of my allergy and they got a new pan but used the same spatula!!! I told them they couldn’t share the spatula so they made it again but this time used a used pan and when I said something the MANAGER says “yes, but the cook cleaned it with a towel” - umm, NO! Same with the drinks! You have to pay for a drink package (here’s where they get you $$) and I didn’t get one because I don’t drink alcohol and they only provide one water bottle at a time!!!
Onboard Activities
2 out of 5
Most Alaskan trips are for “older adults” and I get it. But almost every single activity, including “beach volleyball” had a sexual connotation!! There were games when it was the officers versus the tourists but even then there were “package” conversations and it didn’t matter because that was the captain’s last trip with that ship. The cruise director and dance captain are homosexual and that’s perfectly fine, but they couldn’t stop making “package” and “rump” comments. The comedian was funny but the jokes were racists and discriminatory. It’s like I’m glad you can make fun of your race and ethnicity but to instigate by mixing other cultures or sexual preferences is unacceptable.
Entertainment
1 out of 5
See comments under onboard activities.
Service and Staff
2 out of 5
I got charged for FOUR transportation transactions back to the airport and I would’ve never noticed had I not carefully checked my statement. They fixed it but it shouldn’t have happened in the first place. The room service was good but the carpet had small holes, the bedsheets had tears and the throw pillows smelled horribly! The buffet staff, well, the cooks don’t know how to handle food allergies so that was horrible. The pool staff was very nice but the pool was so heated turista kept opening the doors with chairs because of the heat. The people in the stores weren’t familiar with all of the products so that was bad too.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
The common areas were clean but the ship must have been “older” because there were stains and small holes on the carpet of the main floor, dining rooms and jazz lounge area.
Cabin / Stateroom
2 out of 5
It was as big as expected and they kept it clean but the throw pillows smelled, the beds were short - I’m 5’4 and part of my feet hung off the bed! The bedsheets and carpet had visible holes and during the entire trip only once we got new towels and that’s because we left them INSIDE the shower! They say to leave them anywhere on the floor but we marked two towels at first and then three and finally four and with the exception of the last night, we always had the same towels! Needless to say, if they do the same with the bedsheets and dining room linen that’s just an infection waiting to happen!
Ship tip
Don’t waste your money. Spend a little more and use Princess.
Loved the port. Clean and safe.
I only gave it three stars because the average rating of the trip makes this a BIG part of how they calculate the average - bad business!
Best place of the entire cruise!
I only gave it three stars because the average rating of the trip makes this a BIG part of how they calculate the average - bad business!
It was nice, clean and safe.
I only gave it three stars because the average rating of the trip makes this a BIG part of how they calculate the average - bad business!
Somewhat ugly but felt safe at all times.
I only gave it two stars because the average rating of the trip makes this a BIG part of how they calculate the average - bad business!
It was great and everything went well. LONG walk back to the ship but totally worth it if you like the weather - clean fresh air.
I only gave it three stars because the average rating of the trip makes this a BIG part of how they calculate the average - bad business!
I know there’s a cruise leaving later in the day but asking everyone to meet in the dining room only to go back up again is ridiculous. Princess is much more organized.
I have so many questions. What did you mark the towels with? And you can buy soda package you know that right? Yes Solstice is an old ship; all you had to do is look it up. It's over 10 years old, (everyone knows that) it's the first of its class.
This review is obviously an outlier. This person's needs and expectations seem extreme for a travel experience where a few thousand people are confined for a week.
Hmmm. Just did this very cruise on this very ship in May which can be verified in my profile. You, on the other hand, have no cruises listed. I find it difficult to believe that you waited around for a dish to be prepared numerous times at a buffet. There are 100 other items that don't have mushrooms!
I don't understand how you can rate ports low just so your overall review can be lower. If you enjoyed the ports than give them the stars they deserve.
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