Solstice Class Ships VS RCCL Freeedom Class: Opinions?

[kicker]

We've cruised on Liberty OTS (loved it, actually booked it again but got a better deal on Celebrity Eclipse). We'll be doing Eclipse in January.

 

If you've cruised on both a Solstice & Freedom class, what are your opinions? Favorites on either ship? Who wins for:

Food (I'm guessing Celeb)

Entertainment (slight edge RCCL?)

Cabin Amenities

 

I already know I'll love the Eclipse, but I enjoy seeing the opinion of others. After 8 cruises (still pretty much a newbie) my philosophy is "Any cruise is a great cruise".

 

Thanks in advance for all responses.

[algorithmannie]

I have sailed on Liberty of the Seas twice and on Solstice once. I will be on Eclipse in November!

 

Food definitely goes to Celebrity

Service goes to Celebrity

Entertainment goes to RCCL

Cabins goes to Celebrity

 

I didn't think the Solstice shows were that great... so headliner entertainment goes to RCCL. However, Solstice had great musicians and we had a wonderful time listening to live music in various bars and lounges.

 

Celebrity is way more relaxed and refined than RCCL. We never felt crowded and rarely waited in lines. I felt that the ship had a slower pace, but was definitely not boring or stuffy!

 

Have a wonderful trip!

[lysolqn]

We've sailed both Freedom class (Freedom of the Seas) and Solstice class (Solstice), enjoyed both cruises but remain partial to Celebrity (30+ cruises) over RCCL (5 cruises) and to Solstice over FOS. There's no doubt but that FOS is impressive in its size, non-stop activities/entertainment and endless array of eye-candy, but IMHO Solstice wins hands down for its elegant decor, excellent service and overall more traditional ambiance. We prefer the size of the S-class over the Freedom class which to us felt more like a Las Vegas mega-hotel than it did a cruise ship. As you already may have guessed, we prefer Celebrity's dining experience over that of RCCL where we found the emphasis to be more on quantity than on quality. Both Freedom class and Solstice class offer beautiful ships and great cruises but the subtle and not-so-subtle differences between X's product and RCCL's product still leaves us favoring Celebrity.

[tally10]

We've sailed on the Eclipse once (Baltic) and have done 2 transatlantics on the Independence and loved them both for different reasons. Celebrity has the better food (much better) in the MDR, but I think the Indy had better buffet food. There was definitely more to do on the Indy and the enrichment speakers were better on the Indy as well as the entertainment. Cabins on the Indy were bigger and had more storage space except for the bathrooms on the Eclipse which were roomier. Celebrity's service is superior though and the clincher for us was the no smoking policy on Celebrity. You really can't go wrong with either one. Celebrity would get my vote because of the food and the smoking policy.

[Orlandocruiser]

I liked the layout of the buffet on the Solstice better than that of of FOS. The cabin on the FOS was bigger (and the closet was a lot nicer)but the bathroom (shower) on the FOS was tiny - a much nicer bathroom on the Solstice. Also the FOS seemed a lot bigger ( a lot more walking ) than the Solstice.

[shamda]

We have sailed on the Liberty of the Seas and on the Solstice. Both were great in their own way. When we sailed on the LOS there were 7 of us ranging in age from 18-78. When we cruised on the solstice it was just my wife and I. We loved the Solstice, however I cannot say in confidence that all 7 of us would have had a great time on the Solstice. The LOS was great because there were things for all ages and likes, where the Solstice was great for my wife and I, but my kids and mother may not have enjoyed it as much. It depends on your personal prefernces and who you are cruising with. If the rock climbing wall and flow rider are a waste of time and space for you then you might like the Solstice better. If you like to get a little more dressed up and have a more laid back crowd, then the Solstice would be better for you. As for your categories:

 

Food - Celebrity

Entertainment - Celebrity

Cabins - Celebrity

 

X wins hands down for me, but maybe not for my 18 year old daughter...

 

We've cruised on Liberty OTS (loved it, actually booked it again but got a better deal on Celebrity Eclipse). We'll be doing Eclipse in January.

 

If you've cruised on both a Solstice & Freedom class, what are your opinions? Favorites on either ship? Who wins for:

Food (I'm guessing Celeb)

Entertainment (slight edge RCCL?)

Cabin Amenities

 

I already know I'll love the Eclipse, but I enjoy seeing the opinion of others. After 8 cruises (still pretty much a newbie) my philosophy is "Any cruise is a great cruise".

 

Thanks in advance for all responses.

[medfordgirl]

we are doing our first celebrity (equinox) next month. Our favorite ships are the freedom class (rccl) I finally convinced my DH to try Celebrity. He is just worried that he may get bored. On Freedom if he was bored (don't do rock climbing or flowrider stuff) he would just love sitting in the promenade but celebrity has no promenade and he thinks he won't like it. Plus this is our first 10 nite cruise. Please convince him that he won't be bored.

[shamda]

You are right, there is no promenade but there is a deck that has most of the bars, restaurants and clubs all together and there is plenty to do! You can just sit and relax and watch the people go by or you can go to Michaels where there is nightly entertainment, sit at the bar or in chairs near the bar where a nice blues/jazz band is playing, etc. At least at night there is plenty of action there. He will have a great time.

 

See you there, we are on the same cruise!

 

we are doing our first celebrity (equinox) next month. Our favorite ships are the freedom class (rccl) I finally convinced my DH to try Celebrity. He is just worried that he may get bored. On Freedom if he was bored (don't do rock climbing or flowrider stuff) he would just love sitting in the promenade but celebrity has no promenade and he thinks he won't like it. Plus this is our first 10 nite cruise. Please convince him that he won't be bored.

[Katrina]

My favorite is RCCL voyager class, then the RCCL Freedom class, then the Celebrity Solsitice class. My reasons are:

 

RCCL - Love the promenade down the middle of the ship for people watching and relaxing in the evening. The Solsitice class on celebrity didn't have a place like this. IF you wanted coffee or a late night snack you had to go up to the 14th floor to the buffet. On RCCL you could get this on the Promenade.

 

Food - For breakfast and lunch I choose the Celebrity buffet. Great waffles and pastries at breakfast. For dinner RCCL. My husband and I were very disappointed in the choices and quality of food on the Solstice for dinner in the MDR and the buffet.

 

Shows - We enjoyed the Cirque de Solei and glass show on Solstice.

 

Just my two cents worth.....

[Katrina]

we are doing our first celebrity (equinox) next month. Our favorite ships are the freedom class (rccl) I finally convinced my DH to try Celebrity. He is just worried that he may get bored. On Freedom if he was bored (don't do rock climbing or flowrider stuff) he would just love sitting in the promenade but celebrity has no promenade and he thinks he won't like it. Plus this is our first 10 nite cruise. Please convince him that he won't be bored.

 

Medfordgirl.... My husband also had the same feeling before we went on the Solstice. We enjoy sitting on the promenade people watching. We are not into bars and listening to music. We enjoy the casino and the promenade. We recently went on the Solstice and we missed not having the promenade. Needless to say, we will probably not return to Celebrity. Let me know if you have any other questions.

[kicker]

we are doing our first celebrity (equinox) next month. Our favorite ships are the freedom class (rccl) I finally convinced my DH to try Celebrity. He is just worried that he may get bored. On Freedom if he was bored (don't do rock climbing or flowrider stuff) he would just love sitting in the promenade but celebrity has no promenade and he thinks he won't like it. Plus this is our first 10 nite cruise. Please convince him that he won't be bored.

 

And Medfordgirl: haven't been on Eclipse yet, but I wonder if the Lawn Area might be good for people watching?

 

Also, we've done cruises from 4 days to 9 days. 4 days was TOO short! I was worried the 9 day might seem too long; when the 9th day came we were wondering where the time went - it seemed we just boarded!

 

I did the Flowrider on Liberty, enjoyed the Promenade, but I've also found something I've enjoyed about every ship I've been on so far, and I hope your husband will feel the same way.

[Patty00]

I am D+ on RC so that makes me Elite on Celebrity. I have been on all of RC's classes of ships except the Oasis. I like the Voyager and Freedom class ships the best. Having said that I went on the Solstice and haven't stopped raving about the experience. I loved everything....food, workshops, shows,....I just raved about the ship and can't wait to go back. However, the amenities for D+ on RC are great...love the CL and just how we are treated in general. I don't think you can go wrong with either cruise choice.