Overall best cruise experience in quite a while. We have Elite Status with another cruise line, but may make this our new first choice. Since Hubby is handicapped and in his mid 90's, we are limited in what we can do, on and off the ship. So having a friendly and relaxing experience on the ship is what we most need. This cruise did not disappoint.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
It was done quickly and efficiently. It was confusing because the berth they had to use was about 3 miles away from the main cruise port. The had to shuttle people from the main port to the temporary port, let them go through the check in process, then shuttle them to the ship. They did it the best they could under the circumstances.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
We ate in the MDR and buffet. We enjoyed both. There was a good variety of foods and we were overall pleased. The only alcohol I drink is wine with my dinner. I thought it was a bit overpriced and not many choices for "by the glass". Loved our Sommelier, Girlie. She was so sweet.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
I used the jacuzzi once. The weather was cold that week, so I didn't spend much time on the outdoor decks. Glass blowing is a nice diversion, but a little pricey for the experience. Fun to watch other people make theirs, though. Arts and crafts were relaxing, but nothing special. I didn't use the fitness center. There were lots of trivia games and that sort of activity, which I enjoyed watching. I did wine tasting one afternoon and it was nicely presented and excellent sommeliers. Sadly none of the wines were to my taste. There was not one that I would actually buy a bottle of.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
Loved the stage shows. Singers and dancers were incredible, and costumes were very well done. Soloists Michael Washington and Heather Sullivan were top notch entertainers and with the Celebrity Band, they were awesome. Comedian and Magician were OK, but not my cup of tea.
Children's Programs
We didn't have children with us, but the 500 children aboard seemed to be happy and well entertained. As always, with lots of children aboard, you get more noise and rowdiness, but I was not unhappy about it. They seemed to be enjoying their activities.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Best service and staff we have experienced since way before Covid. We always enjoy cruising on many different cruise lines, but this was by far the best service. Even the officers were very visible and friendly.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Although the ship layout wasn't exactly user friendly for me, it was OK. The Solstice Showroom was very well designed and comfortable. Crew members were constantly cleaning and polishing glass, handrails, restrooms, etc. It was a very clean ship.
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
It seemed very small. The bed was huge (and very comfortable) and took up lots of room. The room was very narrow and so, with the sofa bed, coffee table, and vanity chair, it was rather hazardous for my handicapped husband. We had to park his electric mobility scooter right next to the sofa and the coffee table had to be put up on the sofa, so that there was only room for one person to sit. The vanity chair was totally in the way, even when pushed all the way in. The steward said he wasn't allowed to take them out of the room. Since we don't need all the features of a handicap designated room, and their upgrade fee to get one was outrageous, we didn't get one. Never before have we had such a small, inconvenient room. Other cruise lines have given us a handicapped room without any extra fees when they find out we have the scooter and a walker. Balcony was small, noisy, and obstructed. The cabin was the only negative we encountered on this cruise. It was cleaned very well by our steward.
We love embarking/disembarking in San Pedro because it is very close to our home. It is very easy to get to. We didn't do an excursion. We live in the area and are very familiar with it.
We have been to SF many times. The weather was cold and windy, so Hubby stayed on the ship and I walked to Pier 39. It is an easy walk and has lots of nice shops and places to eat. It was really nice to have 2 days in SF. I highly recommend that.
San Diego is lovely. Again, we have been there so many times and seen all the major attractions, we didn't take an excursion. We walked (Hubby rode his scooter) to SeaPort Village, about a mile away. Fun shops and restaurants there. The Embarcadero is so nice, pretty landscaping, interesting sculptures, and lots of vendors along the way.
Ensenada is OK for a mandatory "foreign port". We have also been there so many times we have become bored with it. There are some really nice excursions for first timers to take. We stayed aboard the ship.
It went smoothly and we had no hassle getting off the ship and through customs. Actually, customs just did a facial recognition pass-through. There was a bit of an issue with getting our Lyft ride to go home, but it wasn't the ship's fault. Lyft switched our driver/vehicle pick-up three times and we waited nearly an hour. Still, we were home by 11AM.
Appreciate your detailed and informative review. Glad you have found a cruise line that might be even better than expected. Glad you enjoyed your cruise.
*Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency,
and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners
(travel agencies and cruise lines) provide prices, which we list for our
users' convenience. Cruiseline.com does not guarantee any specific rates or
prices. While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site
for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on
external web sites.
Contact us
Submitting...
Need help from a personal vacation planner?
Loading...
Find the perfect cruise with weekly tips and cruise deals for as little as $30/night!
Sign up for weekly cruise deals
Join other subscribers and get the best
cruise deals of the week in your inbox every Thursday.
