Disappointing food
Celebrity Solstice Cruise Review to Coastal - West Coast
Contributor Level:
Purser
Cruises: 7+ cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 16
7 Night Pacific Coastal (Los Angeles Roundtrip)
Sail date: April 01, 2023
Ship: Celebrity Solstice
Traveled as: Family (young children)
Reviewed: 1 year ago
Review summary
I have cruised with celebrity before but my most recent cruise was on Solstice in April Pacific Coast. The oceanview cafe buffet was good and I found it better than the main dining food. The main dining service was excellent but the taste of the food was below average. I felt like it was like the level of a Dennys. The oceanview cafe buffet had some dishes that were not good but since there is such a variety there was always something we could find that was good. I loved that they had fresh ramen one night. I also liked the roast beef, the breakfast, fresh fruit and the delicious icecream with even some exotic flavor like kiwi. I was very disappointed in the taste of the pizza and the fact there was almost no sauce. On a positive note, The Mast Grill burgers were excellent. The service on board the Solstice was excellent and the rooms, while slightly older, were well designed. especially liked the enclosed glass door showers, the ability to set temperature of the water, the wall mounted shampoo, conditioner and body wash. The rooms were clean. The king beds were comfortable but the pillow covers were a bit rough. It was a nice touch that they even provided makeup remover wipes and shower caps. I also liked that when you turned the bathroom light off there was a nightlight that turned on. The veranda was beautiful with the side partitions were excellently design as to not cut off your view of the ocean. The shows and entertainment were excellent as well. The activities we enjoyed were the adult coloring, watercolor painting, bocce, putting green, archery, this or that, and dance instructions and swimming in the Solarium. The outdoor pools were heated but it was too windy and cold outside for us to use them. Our kids really enjoyed the Camp at Sea and always had so much fun they didnt want to leave. The one activity that thought was poorly put together was the pictionary as they did not have an easel but a small piece of paper only some people could see. I thought that was a little odd. Overall, the entertainment and service was excellent and the food had some highlights in the oceanview cafe but below average and disappointing in the main dining room. Disembarkation was terrible as we had to wait in a line for shuttles for 1.5-2 hours. I think I would cruise again on this ship but maybe not eat so much in main dining especially for dinner.Embarkation
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
The oceanview cafe buffet was good and I found it better than the main dining food. The main dining service was excellent but the taste of the food was below average. I felt like it was like the level of a Dennys. The oceanview cafe buffet had some dishes that were not good but since there is such a variety there was always something we could find that was good. I loved that they had fresh ramen one night. I also liked the roast beef, the breakfast, fresh fruit and the delicious icecream with even some exotic flavor like kiwi. I was very disappointed in the taste of the pizza and the fact there was almost no sauce. On a positive note, The Mast Grill burgers were excellent.
Onboard Activities
The shows and entertainment were excellent as well. The activities we enjoyed were the adult coloring, watercolor painting, bocce, putting green, archery, this or that, and dance instructions and swimming in the Solarium. The outdoor pools were heated but it was too windy and cold outside for us to use them. Our kids really enjoyed the Camp at Sea and always had so much fun they didnt want to leave. The one activity that thought was poorly put together was the pictionary as they did not have an easel but a small piece of paper only some people could see. I thought that was a little odd.
Entertainment
The shows and entertainment were excellent as well. The activities we enjoyed were the adult coloring, watercolor painting, bocce, putting green, archery, this or that, and dance instructions and swimming in the Solarium. The outdoor pools were heated but it was too windy and cold outside for us to use them. Our kids really enjoyed the Camp at Sea and always had so much fun they didnt want to leave. The one activity that thought was poorly put together was the pictionary as they did not have an easel but a small piece of paper only some people could see. I thought that was a little odd.
Children's Programs
Our kids really enjoyed the Camp at Sea and always had so much fun they didnt want to leave.
Service and Staff
The service on board the Solstice was excellent and the rooms, while slightly older, were well designed.
Ship Quality
The rooms, while slightly older, were well designed and the ship and rooms were clean.
Cabin / Stateroom
The size of the cabin was just right for us and although an older ship the room was well designed. I especially liked the enclosed glass door showers, the ability to set temperature of the water, the wall mounted shampoo, conditioner and body wash. The rooms were clean. The king beds were comfortable but the pillow covers were a bit rough. It was a nice touch that they even provided makeup remover wipes and shower caps. I also liked that when you turned the bathroom light off there was a nightlight that turned on. The veranda was beautiful with the side partitions were excellently design as to not cut off your view of the ocean.
Ship tip
Do not set your expectations high for main dining. The food is at the level of Dennys
Thumbs up
0
Ports of call
San Pedro (Los Angeles), California
Disembarkation
They disembarked at a port that was 2 miles from original embarkation where we had parked our cars. They had 3 small shuttles to take people there and there was a huge crowd waiting. It took about 1.5-2 hours on line waiting for the shuttle. They were losding whole families with their luggage when these people could have left the other family members snd got the car snd came back for them yo speed up the line. Also there were so many people cutting the line and the attendants didnt seem to care. They should have had a separate express line for those people who are one per family without luggage who would get the car and come back to pick up other family mrmbers and luggage.