Boxerlover2

Love the balcony (and the review), Tom! If you ever decide to take an Alaskan cruise on the Solstice, per your recommendation, the Aqua Aft cabins are the best, especially the widest one. I owe you a thank you for recommending that one.

The bathroom in the new cabins on deck 11 were actually very similar to the S class ships we were on previously. The first photo is looking into the bathroom from the doorway.

 

 

You can see the new toiletries in their white bottles on the second shelf. While I believe these new products are of a higher quality than the old ones, I did not like them. The fragrance was very, very strong. I used the body lotion once. I was applying it to my hands and my DH was in the shower and asked me what I spilled everywhere to create that smell. While I know the bathrooms are small I feel like something shouldn't smell so strongly that you can smell it in the shower over everything else. Personally, I don't really understand why X just doesn't get toiletries that are fragrance free. It seems like that would be a win/win for everyone.

 

This second photo is of the shower. The shower was a huge disappointment. I love to take long showers and that panel is normally my best friend, or at least it has been, on our previous cruises. However, the water pressure on the M class ships is not strong enough to run the jets and the shower head at the same time. The end result is nothing close to what they are on the S class ships. I did like that the shower was bigger though. I also LOVE the clothesline. I always saw people commenting about how great they were and thought, "wow, those people must be nuts." Well I'm going to admit, right here and now, I was totally wrong on this. My other issue with the shower was the doors. Unlike the shower doors on the S class which are in a track the doors in this cabin can just move back and forth. So if the ship is moving, even a little, we tended to end up with a small pool outside of the shower. Outside of these few things I didn't notice much else as being too different. I do think the storage in the bathroom of the S class ship is better.

 

 

From here we can move to the most important feature of this cabin. The balcony! One word - awesome. This was our first time having an aft cabin. It was great. This first photo is looking out onto the balcony from the room.

 

 

I would say about 1/3 of the balcony had shade from the overhang. Maybe more depending on the location of the sun. Most of the balcony was in the sun, however, there was enough shade that most days we could pull the chairs close enough towards the cabin so we could get out of the direct sun.

 

 

This last photo was taken standing out on the balcony looking towards the cabin.

 

 

We spent a lot of time during the sea days out here just relaxing. It was very easy to run down and grab a drink from the ocean view bar using the stairs on either side of the cabin. Overall we were very pleased. In the next installment later tonight I'll post a few more photos from the balcony looking up and down, random photos/comments about the cabin as well as my photos of sail away/NYC. Hopefully soon we can get out of NJ! Something tells me I'm not the first person to say that. I kid, I kid.

:)

 

So a spreadsheet walks into a bar . . . chart. ;)

Larry, I hope you remember me :). I love reading your jokes!

I agree, cabin #1674 is great due to the wider balcony. My husband and I have experienced regular-sized and deep balconies, but love the wider one the best. Plus the views from this location are amazing. As others stated, it is a long walk to the elevator, but that did not bother us at all (great way to walk off a pound or two) :). We could actually hear moving of the chairs from the Oceanview buffet two decks above a few times, but it was not disturbing enough for us to regret booking this cabin. There is not much shade and privacy, but to us, the views just made up for those. We would DEFINITELY book this cabin again.

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My husband and I sailed in Aqua for the first time last month on the Solstice. Besides the access to Blu where we enjoyed breakfast and some dinners and the ability to relax in the Persian Gardens and Relaxation room (which we took full advantage of on daily basis), there were other small perks that we enjoyed as well: plusher robes (which we always wore to walk to the Persian Gardens and Relaxation Room), the tea, priority boarding (and I think our luggage arrived quite fast too), and the location of our cabin (aft, only available on the Solstice, I believe). If the price is right, we wouldn't hesitate to book Aqua again.

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We were on the Solstice May 23. I loved the Molecular Bar! In fact, the Ginger Mojito was my favorite! Hubby had the classic package, and he went to another nearby bar for his rum and coke. Our bartender had "special drinks" that were not on the menu! One thing I did notice is that they only had one or two bartenders, and they stayed very busy. There is no lack of bars on the ship!

We were on this sailing too. I agree, the bartenders stayed very busy on most nights. I think the reason why there was only one bartender was that the other was on a break. One night, it got so busy, they requested another person to help, so there were three. Either way, they worked hard and we tipped them well at the end.

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My DH and I had a similar experience recently as the OP... right when we entered the right hand side doors to the port building. We were in Aqua and I am 100% sure there were two signs up that said Suites, Aqua, Concierge, and Elite going one way and the rest going the other. We were sent to the other, longer line. I questioned the person directing people and she very rudely told me we need to go through the line she sent us to. I don't mind waiting, but that's not the point. The point is that this process was disorganized. In this line, I believe, they were only checking for passports, but either personnel at the beginning and end of the line seem very unprofessional. The rest of the check in/boarding process was smooth.

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Does anyone have a link to one of the Menus for the MBar? Even some pictures of the menu would be great for those of whom have not had the opportunity to see one. Thanks! One that matched up to the new drink packages would be great.

Here are some photos.

We LOVE this bar and visit it each night when we are on the S-class ships. We appreciate the fact that our favorite drinks ALWAYS taste the same as the bartenders measure the ingredients precisely. The Martini Bar sure is fun, but the amount of alcohol has varied constantly in each drink that I've ordered. Everybody is different and will find their own favorite spot. :)

I do have to say that I have witnessed many guests requesting soda or beer at the Molecular Bar and the bartenders were always very nice and polite, guiding the guests to Cafe Al Bacio around the corner to get the drinks there... about half of those guests tried to argue about this. I do think Celebrity should put up a sign or some indication that only drinks from the menu can be served.

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We have not done this tour but people rave about it. Island Wings.

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g31030-d1130029-Reviews-Island_Wings_Air_Service-Ketchikan_Alaska.html

We tried booking this tour but they were full and so instead, we went with Seawind Aviation for $199p/p (this was with a military discount; reg. price was $209, I believe) for a 1.5 hour tour with a stop where we could get out and take some photos. We were happy with this company and had a very smooth flight and landings :).

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My husband and I just returned from the Solstice and each night (no matter if we were in BLU or specialty restaurant), I ordered at least two drinks (canned soda and wine) and sometimes even bottled water. I have done this on our previous cruises over the last year and half and never was questioned or had any issues. We always have the premium package, but I don't think that should make any difference. Maybe they knew I would not share my drinks since my husband also had the same package. We always placed our sea passes on the table as soon as we were seated so the waiters/sommelier would know that we both have a drink package.

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My husband and I were too on this sailing and I hope that the OP will not mind if I add a few more comments on here. :)

We enjoyed our Aqua class cabin on the aft. First time in Aqua and first time on the aft. I must say that this probably was the best location for an Alaskan cruise, especially cruising through Tracy Arm Fjord. We constantly had views on both sides and if it was too cold to be on the balcony, we sat on our bed and watched the scenery from there.

We also visited the Persian Gardens daily as well as the Relaxation Lounge. We spent some time sitting on our balcony as we sailed back from Tracy Arm Fjord and then moved to the Relaxation Lounge to have the front view and we even saw several whales. The Persian Gardens and Relaxation Lounge were always so relaxing and quiet and a great way to escape from the crowd.

BLU dinners did not impress us too much, but we only ate there three evenings and so maybe we did not experienced it all. Breakfast there was enjoyable, however.

We also drove to Emerald Lake (rented a car) and agree with the OP that we were not too impressed with the destination/drive/scenery either. It was all very nice, but we've seen better elsewhere. We experienced a little bit of traffic at the border going up and then again at a construction site. There were a few miles of dirt roads too.

In Juneau, we booked the extended trek on the glacier, which we HIGHLY recommend. We spent 3 hours walking and climbing on the glacier, plus about 30 minutes in a helicopter. It was so worth the investment. The tour guides were amazing and the company seems very well organized and customer service was excellent.

I will also agree that the service on the ship was amazing and every area was so clean! We spent several evenings at the Molecular Bar where we enjoyed getting to know the waiters and chatting with other fellow cruisers. We booked the 3-dinner dining package on embarkation day. It was $85 p/p for Aqua class guests (regular price was $99) and we enjoyed each speciality dining room experience. We did not leave the ship in Victoria and instead, enjoyed the quiet ship and early dinner in Silk Harvest. We tried Bistro on Five for the first time (after sailing with X four times) at the end of our sailing and fell in love. We ate there one more time after that. I enjoyed the chicken soup and chicken panini and certainly did not mind paying the $7 cover charge for this meal.

Compared to our New Years cruise on the Reflection this past December which seemed to cater toward the younger guests, this cruise was the complete opposite (which we love and we are in our late 20s/early 30s) - older age group, not too many children (maybe because it was still not summer time), great house band/singers, and plenty of activities offered, yet we still had the ability to enjoy down and quiet time somewhere on the ship too.

We visited the hot tub several times and were not the only ones. The pool was not the warmest, but my husband jumped in a couple of times. It was certainly a different type of an atmosphere than a Caribbean sailing, but the pool bar was open and on the second sea day, the weather was so nice that several people were even laying by the pool without their shirts on. We never used the solarium as it seemed too warm. We did pass through and it was never very crowded, except for the hot tubs.

We enjoyed this cruise so much. From the embarkation at the port (which was a breeze at 11am) to the last day on the ship, we couldn't be more happier with choosing Celebrity again for our vacation.

Don't they already offer half price specialty dining the first night for AQ?

Yes, just the first night, but I didn't see an announcement or a coupon anywhere. The waiter told me about it after I booked the package. Regular price for Murano is $50, TG is $45 (if I remember correctly) and SH is $35. We wanted to try all of them, so the 3-dinner package was the best deal for us.

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Just off the Solstice. No brunch offered on embarkation day for Aqua class. They did, however, offered a 3-dinner specialty dining package for $85 for Aqua guests only. I think the regular price was $99 for non-Aqua. They must be looking to lower the amount of people coming to eat in BLU for dinner.

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We will be board the Solstice this Friday! Thank you for the update. Enjoy the rest of your cruise.

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[ATTACH]312763[/ATTACH]

 

Not sure if this will work. I've never uploaded from my iPad.

 

Apologies for the quality - no doubt we had been in the molecular bar for a drink or two ;)

 

 

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Different Sergei than the one who poured us drinks on the Equinox last February, but I'm sure we will have a good time with these bartenders as well. I wonder if the giant martini is covered under the premium package :). Thanks for sharing the photo.

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Those two were there in September! They are a riot. Had a lot of laughs with them. There was definitely liquid nitrogen then, it is used in a couple of the drinks.

 

 

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Those two names sound familiar to me. Where are they from, do you know?

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Yes, they were all $13 as far as I could see. I have just discovered the Molecular Bar as I have never gone there before. My new favourite drink is the Dragonfly. We have had such a good time at the Molecular Bar...part of the reason this thread is not as "live" as it should be.

 

 

 

Adrian and Sergei at the Molecular Bar are absolutely charming. There is no liquid nitrogen on board yet, though, or at least, I haven't seen any.

 

 

 

I mis-labelled this thread for sure, as I am not posting often enough for this to be "live", but I AM doing my research as promised, and will have answers for everyone when I get home.

 

 

 

I have to log off now, but will get back later tonight or early tomorrow morning, depending on how much time I spend in the Molecular Bar!

 

 

 

Lois, you are responsible for me discovering the Molecular Bar!!

Thanks for the update about the Molecular Bar drinks; they are our favorite drinks onboard. Glad the premium package covers them.

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The Solarium pool is not crowded at all. There have only been one or two people in it at any time that I have walked by, which is usually during the day between 11:30 and 3:00 pm.

 

 

 

I haven't asked about the outdoor pool yet, but will go and do that after I am finished posting here today.

 

 

 

There have been more people in the indoor hot tubs. Not crowded, just one or two at a time. I asked about the heat in the hot tubs, and have been told that one was warmer than the other. The one that I felt was the cooler one, and it was warm but not too warm. I don't use hot tubs, so don't know how to judge how warm it should be. One man in the cooler hot tub told me he preferred the warmer one, on the other side of the solarium pool.

Thank you for taking the time to respond. We are looking forward to being on the Solstice next Friday!

I have read on other threads that there has been some troubles with the alcoholic packages/drink menus. By any chance, do you know if the Molecular Bar drinks still fall under the premium package or what is the cost of those drinks now?

Hope you are enjoying your cruise and thank you again for answering our questions.

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Murano is now $50; Tuscan $45, Silk Harvest $35.

 

Old Vine Zinfadel was $13, now $14.50 per glass. Conundrum similar increase.

 

Niquill $18!!!

 

I strongly suggest bringing cold meds for this cruise.

 

Rain, sun, cold, rain, cold, cold, rain was the pattern for the day.

 

Dewars... is low on the totem pole. I can't imagine it ever being priced out of any package. It's even served for the elite social hour just as the cheapest vintages of white and red wine. (oops that was an editorial comment) ;)

 

I can't imagine anyone foregoing Tuscan elite(+) breakfast with that marvellous view for any other location. Mike's is, was, and always will be a dead zone. There is no beer setup in Cellar Masters. The wine dispensers are still there.

 

Music has been wonderfully toned down in every venue. This is a multi cultural cruise and perhaps it would have been difficult finding a common factor for musical tastes.

 

I told my wife that Bistro on Five was now seven and she thought that it had moved to deck 7...

Rose, the captain's Club hostess still has not appeared... still under the weather and a temp is attempting to fill the void.

 

The CC host is no longer responsible for setting up the Captain's table (Staff Captain, Chief engineer, Hotel Director and Master's Table now seems to fall under the control of the VIP lounge concierge. Standing within the Captain's Club now seems irrelevant but assignment to tables seems attuned to real estate on board.

 

The CC host(ess) is not involved in the Captain's Club Celebration nor introducing the program nor recognizing frequent cruisers.

 

Since so many passengers now have the beverage package, I see no reason why people would attend the Captain's Club Celebration nor the senior officer's party or even the elite social hour. The drinks and service are better in the lounge of your choice.

Would you be able tell me if the Molecular Bar drinks are still included in the premium package?

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My husband and I are booked in Aqua on Solstice in a couple of weeks and we are too interested to dine in MDR for a couple of nights as we love the food there. This will be our first time in Aqua. If we eat in MDR... how do the gratuities work? Do we need to tip the servers in MDR or will we be charged for extra gratutities if we eat in MDR instead of BLU?

We will be on the Solstice for an 8-night cruise to Alaska, out of Vancouver and returning to Seattle.

 

 

 

I am going to check on a few things for Cruise Critic posters while I am on board, so if you have any questions, I will add them to my list.

 

 

 

I will post short answers from onboard as much as possible. The update to the Beverage List and Beverage Calculator will have to wait until I return home.

 

 

On my list so far:

 

 

 

1. 
    
   
2. Update Beverage List and Prices as fully as possible.
    
    
    
   
3. Check status of VIP Lounge
    
    
    
   
4. Update the Who's On Board List
    
    
    
   
5. Check on the brand of tea in the Buffet and elsewhere
    
    
    
   
6. Review the Elite Breakfast format
    
    
    
   
7. Review the Elite Cocktail lounge
    
    
    
   
8. Review the Elite Afternoon Tea
    
    
    
   
9. Review the Captain's Club Celebration
    
    
    
   
10. Check out what's happening with Zumba
     
    

 

I will also see if I can find any local information on the planned changes for Cellar Masters on the Solstice, and the status of the Hot Glass Show, recognizing that this type of information is not much more than hearsay at this point. Whatever the plans are now, they may change (and likely will) before implementation.

 

 

 

Keep your fingers crossed for us, for a sunny sailaway from Vancouver! We have a brand new cruiser with us, and his wife wants him to love cruising!

Hello,

Would you mind finding out if the outdoor pool is heated and how crowded the solarium gets? This will be our first cruise to Alaska at the end of May; would love to know how many choose the outdoor/indoor pool. Thank you!

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We were invited to eat dinner with the Staff Captain on our second Celebrity cruise (cruised in Concierge class). We figured our status had nothing to do with the selection. However, I had a brief interaction with a very nice staff member at the Concierge desk a couple of times regarding a minor MDR problem (table mates issues). The next day, we received an invitation to dinner with the Staff Captain. I did inquire about how we were selected and although I did not receive direct answer, I later found out that the nice woman who helped me at the Concierge desk recommended us for the dinner. We are still so thankful for being able to take part in this wonderful experience. The table did have young couples (late 20s/early 30s) as well as individuals in their 60-70s.

The inconsistency of the military discount on Celebrity's website upsets me. It's like saying thank you for your service on Monday but no thanks on Tuesday. We love Celebrity and only cruise with Celebrity and so I am not sure what other cruise lines offer but hopefully it's a consistent deal.

We have a sailing coming up next month and no military discount was offered when we booked it last year. I have been checking the prices for the past two months and military discounts popped up many times on and off for this sailing. However, it seems to me it is more of a last minute new booking offer promotion to get rid of the cabins faster. If Celebrity truly wanted to thank my husband for his "professional service," they could have done that when we booked the cruise in the first place.

What happened to a good ol' customer service and appreciation for those that serve, teach, or who are seniors?

.

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I book strictly on price. I don't need service and I don't need them available 24/7. I get my price reductions and change cabins via e-mail and have never missed out on anything I requested. I am a member of their Loyalty program so I get an extra obc on every cruise I book. If by chance I would have to cancel a cruise, and pay their minimal cancellation fee, I would be thousands of dollars ahead based on the lower prices all the percs they have given me. If you need someone to hold your hand and help you sleep at night, look elsewhere. If you are self sufficient and want to save a lot of money, there are options, such as this one, out there.

How much OBC do you receive as a Loyalty? We signed up for this a few weeks ago and haven't received any information yet. We have an unpcoming 2nd cruise with this TA.

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Hello,

We have a cruise already booked and this specific sailing now falls under this military discount special. Would we be able to receive this special military rate as well? It's much lower than what we booked. (Final payment is not due until February). I did read the fine print, but it's always worth checking; of course our TA says it's not combinable with our current promotion (beverage package). I'd like to hear from Celebrity.

I hate to see the military rates only appear for certain sailings at random times and when they do, they may not be combinable with other offers. Aren't our service members on duty 24/7? Same applies to retirees; they too put in their time.