Solstice Dec 11-18 - Hangin' with the Primate Posse

[MartinsCruise]

Sue, Thank you so much for taking the time to post the great review and pictures. It's interesting seeing everything from another person's perspective. We enjoyed spending the week with the four of you along with the rest of the posse.

 

Sue and Doug

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It was fitting that our last full day of the cruise, a sea day, began with a stunning sunrise:

 

 

 

 

 

I am not sure how much I would enjoy a transatlantic or any itinerary that has many sea days in a row (but I would certainly be willing to try one to see!), but on the typical Caribbean itineraries I have sailed, I adore sea days. I spend a great deal of time walking around taking pictures, usually spend some time in the Solarium and on my balcony, eat and drink at my favorite venues, and generally try to appreciate the freedom to do whatever appeals at the time.

 

On this day I did all of that, plus a trivia game and a visit to both the Persian Gardens and the Relaxation Room, which is complimentary for Aqua class guests. Both were lovely - tranquil and welcoming. I certainly would not book Aqua just for that perq, but it was nice to be able to try them.

 

A few pics. Who am I kidding, a lot of pics.

 

The holiday scene that popped up overnight between the elevators on Deck 3 (not my favorite display, but cute):

 

 

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A few random photos around the public areas:

 

 

 

 

 

I enjoy looking at and reading about the art on board. Although I did not take many pics of the actual pieces, I thought these two placards about the stairway art at the aft and forward stairwells was interesting:

 

 

 

You will just have to sail on Solstice yourself to see how well they followed up with these themes!

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By far my favorite art on the ship was NIGHT SOLSTICE, the large-scale work that one has to pass through (note I said THROUGH) to get to the Ensemble Lounge and the specialty restaurants on Deck 5.

 

I had trouble capturing it with my camera, so I used some photos from the artist's own website to try to share it. But even so, it must be seen in person to get a true feel for it.

 

First, this is the description of the work that is posted as you enter:

 

NIGHT SOLSTICE, a main feature of The Celebrity Art Collection on Solstice, is a large-scale, site-specific painted installation work by Nancy Friedemann. Friedemann is best known for her lyrical paintings on mylar which often capture the schism and emotion of living between languages and cultures. On Celebrity Solstice, she has painted directly onto the walls and ceiling of the ship, created a floor design, designed and created the lighting and a glass sculptural element to bring into being a room that evokes a nocturnal landscape, a dream area where a visitor enters a space that exists as a three dimensional environment that includes a soundtrack specially composed in cooperation with Heidi Harris.

 

“I create meticulous compositions in which my fine painted line finds visual resonance with sewing, flowers and nature, and spider webs. My work is inspired by my wonder and delight in lace and crochet patterns, especially as depicted in 18th-century Spanish colonial painting and the Pattern and Decoration movement of the 1970’s.

 

As well as craft and art history, my personal narrative is the major source of my inspiration. The lace and crochet in my grandmother’s house in Bogota are metaphors of social aspiration, of collective social trauma, of making things veiled, feminine, and dignified. The roses of this particular work are not just the flowers illustrated in Spanish colonial painting, but they are also evocative of the flora that I knew intimately in my youth in Bogota.

 

This installation was entirely painted and drawn by hand and partially created on site while the ship was being completed. I experienced the ongoing dialogue between myself and the crew on site as especially inspiring. These conversations confirmed by intentions to suggest a collective experience of the magical landscape of memory.”

 

Several pics:

 

 

 

 

 

On the floor:

 

 

 

Truly stunning!

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Some more wanderings:

 

I did miss the wrap-around promenade deck from Royal ships, and being able to access the helipad on some, but there were still some lovely spots to watch the water on Deck 5:

 

 

 

 

 

The area outside the specialty restaurants:

 

 

Glass by the elevators:

 

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Hot Glass Show info room:

 

 

Lawn club:

 

 

 

 

 

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Gym (yes, I even USED the equipment, not just photographed it!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Relaxation room....aaahhhh....

 

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Solarium:

 

 

 

Aqua Spa Cafe:

 

 

Sorry, no pics, but we enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Bistro on 5. We both had the beef panini, which was delicious, but the best part was the nutella and banana dessert crepe. Oh my, so good.

 

A couple other centrum pictures:

 

 

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We had planned a last Primate Posse get-together at the Sunset Bar for 5:00. It was a beautiful night, with a gorgeous sunset, and of course a fun, amazing group of new friends. Pete and Tom brought some champagne to share, and everyone enjoyed that and other libations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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No one wanted to leave, but we gradually headed off to pack and have dinner. So bittersweet! We had our last dinner in Blu, making sure to tip our favorite sommelier, and went to the final show in the theater.

[LouisV]

awe what a journey you have shared with us! many thanks! Mo

[Topaz_M]

Sue,

 

thanks for sharing your cruise memories and also the fun and friendship we all enjoyed. Isn't it funny that we all have a different set of photos of the same cruise depending on where we ate and what we chose to do.

 

I have loved reviving our memories and must download the pictures from our other cameras now.

 

It was lovely to meet your family and spend time together.

[Hollywood Traveler]

Sue: Thanks for a wonderful review and great pictures. I wish I were as well organized. I haven't even sorted through our pictures yet, and yours are already online, posted here in cruise critic, etc. And Moira is exactly right in observing how just a slightly different location makes a totally different picture.

 

Thanks again,

 

Larry

[tispwisp]

Thanks again for posting the pictures! I am so ready to go NOW!

[arbee]

Ah, what fun it has been to read your review, Sue!! And the pictures....awesome!! Thank you so much!! We didn't spend a lot of time with the posse group, but I sure was glad to be part of it. What a great bunch of people! My favorite part of our cruise was actually the tour with Ivan. Sue, you hit the nail on the head with your description of both the tour and Ivan. He is someone I will always remember! Thanks so much for all your hard work! Happy New Year!!

Ruthie and Keith

[SheilaNC]

Thanks for the review and the pictures, Sue. We leave on Jan. 15. Have been on the Equinox and Eclipse but this will be the first time on the Solstice. Although out itinerary is different, the ship is the same and I really enjoyed all of you onboard pictures. BTW, I do recommend a transatlantic cruise....we're doing our 3rd next fall and can hardly wait! Sea days are lovely, ports are not just the typical ones and lots of time to really get to know our new friends and enjoy our old ones.

 

Can hardly wait to see that turquoise water :)

[MCB12784]

Thank you Sue! This was fabulous! Looks like you had an amazing vacation with family and some new and old friends! We leave on Jan 8th for the same itinerary...looking forward to it! You review was most helpful!:D:D

[tinky41]

Thank you so much Sue for your fabulous review and wonderful photos. I look on this site regularly and was alarmed at the recent negative comments concerning the transatlantic cruise and particularly the noro-virus. Reading your review has made me feel much better and begin to look forward to our trip on march 25th. You have taken so much time and made others feel positive!! :)

[RBKL]

Thanks again for posting the pictures! I am so ready to go NOW!

 

 

Amy,

 

We're on the 2nd week of your B2B on the Soltice.

 

This is our first cruise with Celebrity so we're really looking forward to the experience.

 

Rick

[galv22]

We're sailing on this cruise Jan 8th. thank you for posting this thorough review and all the amazing pictures. i have to admit, once the pics got to the Costa Maya portion, I got a little sad that it was coming to an end (lol). I'm still excited though!

[dblane]

Lovin it Sue, thanks for posting.

[prim8keeper]

Great Job Sue! It was great to relive it again. :)

[Vol fan]

Thanks so much for taking the time to post this review and pictures, Sue. The Primate Posse sounds like the best Roll Call ever!

We are on the March 4 cruise with Larry and Jan and were with them on the Solstice in the Med on the Sept 17 cruise. Looking forward to warm, blue water and lovely, white sand soon.

Carole

[majonthebeach]

What a wonderful review Sue! We are also on the March 4th Solstice cruise. You're a great writer and photographer!! Thanks for sharing :)

 

Laurie