20thAnniversarycruise

Thanks for the utube link!

 

It was great watching the solstice come into port Hedland as that's where I live. It mentions it's the first time it's entered the port Hedland harbour which was about 2 years ago (my husband took photos). So the doco is around 2 years old.

 

But as I will be boarding her in around 30 days for my first cruise I'm super excited to watch the program. When she came into port Hedland I never imagined I would be able to sail on her.

 

Apologies, when I rewatched the episode with my hubby the captain said it was the first time he had been into port hedland harbour not the ships first time. So it could have been filmed in the 2013 season.

Thanks for the utube link!

 

It was great watching the solstice come into port Hedland as that's where I live. It mentions it's the first time it's entered the port Hedland harbour which was about 2 years ago (my husband took photos). So the doco is around 2 years old.

 

But as I will be boarding her in around 30 days for my first cruise I'm super excited to watch the program. When she came into port Hedland I never imagined I would be able to sail on her.

No drinks package for us booking out of Australia either....it's our first cruise so I guess we were not savvy enough to book at the correct time.... But when the special came up we didn't want to lose our cabin selection...

 

Problem is I don't want to feel resentful when we have to pay for what other people got for free....not a great way to encourage Aussies onto x ships....

 

Not to mention we are paying top dollar for the cruise in the first place.

 

I feel your pain but I'm determined not to dwell on this when it comes time for our dream holiday:D

not sure if this is a stupid question but why would you fill out the online check in now for January?

Here's a photo of the smashbook I've decorated to take on our cruise this January. I will make time to smash while on holidays. I will...lol

Even if it's on the plane, then add photos when I get home.

The cruise is to celebrate our 20 th wedding anniversary so it is romantically themed.;)

Our jet boating tour just got cancelled on the solstice January 4th 2015, not happy at all...

 

We have been able to rebook the jet boating tour...they changed the name and put the price up slightly...sign

 

but we are still thrilled to be booked on it...

 

heres hoping they leave the rest of our tours alone

http://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewbender/2013/04/23/tsa-postpones-allowing-knives-on-planes-scheduled-for-april-25/

 

Scissors with blades under 4" are allowed by TSA.

 

Reading this article, it seems as if X is actually generally "mirroring" the TSA prohibited item list, as corkscrews are part of the prohibited item list here as well.

 

4inches are rather big scissors... Mine are around 2...

If you pack them in your carry-on, how do you get through airport security?

 

In the checked baggage for the plane, then carry on the ship...we will be arriving some days before we sail....

So from reading all this I should pack my scrapbooking scissors in my carry on to avoid my checked bag being sent to the naughty room. That way if the scanner picks them up I can show them they are just scissors straight away. They are sharp, but only for cutting paper!!!

Hi, if it is around $299 for the package of photos, how much does it cost for a single photo?

143 till our first cruise....super excited...check the counter everyday

Love this post, I haven't been visiting the forum as often because it has been depressing reading about all the things that will not be included now on our first cruise that we booked over 18 months ago. Now with 144 days to go its good to read all the positives and not worry about those small things that are now supposably not included.

Booking in Australia the price is a lot higher with less perks so we want to get what we have paid for. Determined to go with a positive attitude regardless of what changes in the meantime.

I'm looking forward to our aqua room Blu and the solarium....

Our jet boating tour just got cancelled on the solstice January 4th 2015, not happy at all...

Finally something good to report.... booked aqua or our first cruise a year ago and it seems while waiting for the cruise that the reasons we booked celebrity were no longer valid... lets hope they continue to add some good ideas and have them working by next January

Hi,

 

DH and I are going on a "Top End" cruise on Solstice next February. We leave from Fremantle and thence cruise to Port Headland. I have to say that Port Headland looks like a desert in the middle of nowhere, and DH has looked at maps but we just don't know about sightseeing, what's to see in the area.:(

 

Could you please tell me if there is anything to see at Port Headland, and how you booked a private car and driver in Benoa. (That's the next port of call). Can you also please tell me how much it cost?

 

We then go on to Darwin, (LOVE DARWIN), Cairns, Brisbane, Newcastle and finally, Sydney.

 

ps The photo sure gives us an idea of how far it is in the tender....

 

Now all we need to do is think about getting from Nambucca Heads, (half way between Brissie and Sydney) and then getting to Fremantle! Easy! (HELP). :confused:

 

Would appreciate any help that can be given.

 

Hi, I live in Port Hedland and the part you want to see is actually the port. The iron ore ships are amazing and it's a very busy port. The town always goes out of its way to welcome the cruise ships and has a small market of locally made goodies. Only about 20,000 people live here and they work hard, play hard, I myself haven't watched a ship come in as I'm always at work in south Hedland. There are some amazing places to see but they are mostly 2-3 hours drive away, so they can't be done on a one day visit. If you do get off the boat to look around, make sure you visit the art gallery, and the silver-star train.

Hi All,

 

I'm very sorry for the abrupt halt on the review - I know it can be annoying only read a portion & waiting to hear the rest..

 

Last week I my mum was admitted to hospital so I had to take the next flight over to be with her. She's improving, but I had to return to work & landed back home late last night.

 

I have a bit of catching up to do at home (ok, a LOT) but will get back to the review hopefully in the next few days as things settle down. Truth be told, sharing our trip perks me up & I certainly need that at the moment!

 

I will try to respond to questions during my lunch break to save on time at home ;)

 

Many thanks,

Xcitdcruiser

 

 

Ps. I should also mention, I did what any good daughter would during my time away & convinced my parents to book a med cruise - they need something to look forward to!

 

Sorry to hear about your Mum, I hope she is on the mend. We all have busy lives and appreciate the effort that is put into a review like this. Take your time. I think people were generally concerned about you not the review when you dropped off the radar.

Keep your chin up!

Congratulations on your upcoming anniversary!

Apologies I didn't take any pictures of the diffuser. By the dresser there are a set of small shelves from the floor to the roof. They had it on the top shelf (you can move it where ever you liked). I didn't notice whether it was full or not, & it mustn't gave given too much fragrance because I don't recall trying to pick the scent.

 

It kind of looked like this...

 

http://www.aromaweb.com/images/photos/reediffuseroilrecipe.jpg

 

As a pp mentioned, no candles onboard but you won't need them. You'll be wanting to enjoy your balcony & the fresh air which will travel inside the cabin.

 

If you think of anything else ask away!

 

Don't apologise, your photos are great, thank you for the information on the diffuser.

Loving your review, our cruise isn't until January so we have a long wait but that's half the fun.

I do have more questions but I will wait until you get to those places in your review! That way we can stay on topic.

Thanks for all the photos, I was wondering where, what and if the Aromatherapy diffuser was. Its listed as a perk of Aqua. Hubby and I will be on the Solstice next January for our wedding anniversary, and we booked aqua and Im wondering if i need to pack the scented candles (are you even allowed candles???). I couldn't see anything in your photos that resembled what I imagine one to look like.

 

Love the aussie perspective, we live in Port Hedland, and cruise ships come to our port but we can't get on :(

We have lots of questions that come from Australia being so different to the US and you have already answered a few, will be following your posts for more valuable info,

 

Thanks so much....

I've attended onboard Voyager ots, the first kit was free, each additional one had to be paid for and nobody could help with ideas. So after the first saison i just bought the kits i liked and spend that time elsewhere onboard.

 

On my last two ta cruises with. Celebrity, there was always someone who knew how to scrapbook, the kits were free, and a different one each session, however they don't generally create pages but small folios and the like.

Was a funt time...

Hi, I'm going on the celebrity solstice next January, when or how do you find out if your cruise offers scrapbooking classes. Another question do they have a place inboard to print your own photos out? Thanks in advance.