Rare Lois R Posted May 17, 2015 #1 Share Posted May 17, 2015 (edited) After waiting 2 months after a disasterous Constellation cruise from He$$,:( I have to say this cruise was FABULOUS:D.. It took that very, very bad taste out of my mouth and Alaska was awesome! It had been 6 years since my last cruise there and I am so glad I finally decided to go back. Weather was in the 50's/60's throughout the week and Mother Nature shone down upon us with SUNNY days too...one small drizzle (that I remember) but SUN 99% of the time. Cabin was a CC 9134....Cabin attendant and assistant were both very good. Cabin was starboard, forward, could see the bridge. I went back to Traditional Dining (after trying select a couple of times and one cruise purchased the Ulitmate Dining Package). I had terrific tablemates and the food and service were all very good. 2 nights I went Specialty....once in Tuscan and once I went to a Wine Connessiour Dinner, which was also held in Tuscan but had a separate menu and it was a great evening.....lots and lots of wine;) I went to a couple of shows, which is a rarity for me these days and I enjoyed both. I also went to see both Comedians and laughed alot:D I had booked this on the 1.2.3. Promotion and had a very large OBC..... It paid for 2 excursions.....whale watching in Juneau and we saw LOTS of whales too.....and in Skagway I took the trainride.....simply beautiful scenery. I took a floatplane tour in Ketchikan with Island Wings. I used them 6 years ago and Michelle is awesome....owner and Pilot. The OBC also paid for my upgrade on the drink package to premium and my specialty dinners and specialty lunch in Murano....I still had credit left so I bought a new watch. I received an invitation to the Heliopad the morning for Tracey Arm and it was awesome!.....enjoyed that very much. I found the crew/staff all really nice and the officers were quite visible. The CC gathering was held on Saturday morning in Cellarmasters at 10:15 and we had about 30-40 people show up. Ben Powney showed up (CD) he was very nice and I know there were a few other officers there but can't think of all of them right now. I had a great week and am happy to say this was much more of the Celebrity I am used to sailing.:) Andy.......Ben sends his best to you! Oh yea, the negatives? I know many folks say they throw out reviews that are all postive or all negative..... The regular coffee can still be improved and I still like the "OLD" Elite Breakfast better than what they have now......but overall, the week was wonderful. Oh, thanks to the friendly people I met in person who were on the roll call.....it was always nice seeing smiling faces througout the cruise! For those of you sailing this summer? I hope you have as fun a cruise to Alaska as I did! Enjoy yourselves! Edited May 17, 2015 by Lois R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Aurora Posted May 17, 2015 #2 Share Posted May 17, 2015 So glad you enjoyed your cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtdesilets Posted May 17, 2015 #3 Share Posted May 17, 2015 I'm sure we will have a great time as well in less than 2 weeks. I do agree, the elite breakfasts are no as good as they used to be. And Celebrity's "free coffee" has always sucked. But there are so many other positive things we find on Celebrity, that we can live with these negatives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted May 18, 2015 Author #4 Share Posted May 18, 2015 Thanks:)...if you have any questions I will try to answer them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elena7seas Posted May 18, 2015 #5 Share Posted May 18, 2015 Hi Lois: I am SO glad that you had a wonderful time in Alaska on the Solstice. It was especially nice that you got great weather. Thanks so much for coming back and sharing your review. How far into Tracy Arm did you get to travel...did you see the twin glaciers? And did the Captain take the ship up the Canadian Inside Passage after you left Seattle? The weather in Seattle was glorious on the afternoon of your departure. It must have been a spectacular sailaway. The Solstice does a great job of the Alaska cruise. I'm glad that you had this opportunity soon after the March fiasco. You deserved it!! Thanks for the visit....it was so much fun to see you in the Emerald City. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted May 18, 2015 Author #6 Share Posted May 18, 2015 (edited) Hi Eileen,:) I totally forgot to put the Seattle part of my trip in the review....please forgive me:o....I had a great time and it was wonderful to see you again:D......we had some good food, didn't we:D Thanks for making the beginning of my trip so much fun! The Capt took us pretty far in....I can't recall how far:eek: but the scenery was awesome and yes, sailaway was lovely. We had a few folks from our roll call meet upstairs at the Sunset Bar. The atmosphere on board was so good....relaxing and courteous. I met some really nice folks too.:) Edited May 18, 2015 by Lois R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry in NJ Posted May 18, 2015 #7 Share Posted May 18, 2015 It is so nice of you to take the time to post your thoughts. This cruise sounds so great. Can't wait for July 24th. Thank you again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare vickykay Posted May 18, 2015 #8 Share Posted May 18, 2015 So glad you enjoyed your cruise. I remember after your last one you had written that you were thinking of "jumping ship". These boards just would not be the same without you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted May 18, 2015 Author #9 Share Posted May 18, 2015 Thanks Vicky and Terry:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stinsowm Posted May 18, 2015 #10 Share Posted May 18, 2015 Hi Lois, As always, I enjoy reading your thoughts and optimistic views. Welcome home and hoping the shock back to reality is gradual for you. :) Hugs from me and Mom Walter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1120 Posted May 18, 2015 #11 Share Posted May 18, 2015 (edited) Tell me more about the Wine Connoisseur dinner. We enjoy wine with dinner and this sounds like something we would like. We're sailing on 6/12 and are putting all of our notes together. Also, if you have the chance, could you upload the Dailies? I've been saying for years that cruiselines should provide access to them for people who would like to have them in advance and plan their trip. Maybe I'm just a little anal retentive! Thanks so much Lois and we hope to cruise with you someday. Edited May 18, 2015 by jt1120 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Its my first Posted May 18, 2015 #12 Share Posted May 18, 2015 Tell me more about the Wine Connoisseur dinner. We enjoy wine with dinner and this sounds like something we would like. We're sailing on 6/12 and are putting all of our notes together. Also, if you have the chance, could you upload the Dailies? I've been saying for years that cruiselines should provide access to them for people who would like to have them in advance and plan their trip. Maybe I'm just a little anal retentive! Thanks so much Lois and we hope to cruise with you someday. If Lois doesn't have the Dailies o can find them in the review from the first week. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2204579 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggie.1008 Posted May 18, 2015 #13 Share Posted May 18, 2015 Hi Lois, what time did you have to meet for the helipad ? Is CC Host Rose going to be on for the whole Alaska season ? I have not met her. We will be on the Solstice in July Alaska and again in Sept. to Hawaii. Thanks, Heather Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelnap Posted May 18, 2015 #14 Share Posted May 18, 2015 Lois, after the terrible cruise you had on the Connie back in March, I was glad to hear that this was a good cruise for you. Glad you had a great trip. Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted May 18, 2015 Author #15 Share Posted May 18, 2015 Hi folks, thanks for the kind comments:) Hi Neil....yes, it was soooooo much better:D I will try to answer the questions.....I have no dailies..I never bring them home. Wine Conneissour Dinner was held in Tuscan and it was 95.00 per person. They served bubbly to everyone first in CellarMasters and then we went to Tuscan......we had 17 people.......2 tables next to each other. I enjoyed it very much and both tables laughed most of the evening......we all got along very well together.:) I thought it was worth it and I think everyone else did too. You had choices of appetiziers, soup/salad, entree and dessert. The food was very good and the wine was flowing throughout.;) The CC hostess is Rose and I don't know how long she will be on board. I never asked her about the timing of her contract. The Heliopad was at 7:00am and I think I stayed out there almost 2 hours. I know it was at least an hour. Hope this helps a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted May 18, 2015 #16 Share Posted May 18, 2015 Hi Lois, Thank you so much for your wonderful report. I'm so happy to hear you had a great cruise, especially after your Connie experience. Thanks for the regards from Cruise Director Ben Powney - he's a super nice guy, and tries very hard for the guests. I believe Solstice is his permanent ship now. Welcome Home ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted May 18, 2015 Author #17 Share Posted May 18, 2015 Hi Andy, thanks:) and Ben said the same thing about you......:D He was so funny...he was like...."do you know Andy? Andy Geller"? I said OF COURSE:D...he thinks of you very highly:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snit13 Posted May 18, 2015 #18 Share Posted May 18, 2015 Hi Lois, So sorry to read that you had a cruise from Hell on The Connie. Did you happen to book one of those Spring Break cruises I read about? I am so glad Rudy and I did the February 2nd cruise as all that drunken nonsense would not have been good for our health. Why didn't security do something about them, like put them off the ship or lock them in their rooms or better yet not serve them? We are on The Connie February 2016 again but it is 9 nights, I believe. Hope the rowdy crowd can't spare the time or money to join us. Glad you had a wonderful Alaska cruise and met some nice folks. Hope we see you on another cruise, soon. Grace and Rudy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkjretired Posted May 18, 2015 #19 Share Posted May 18, 2015 Hi Lois: Glad to see you had a great cruise. Is Brent Nixon and his wife on board Solstice this year. If so the people on subsequent cruises are in for a treat. I went to all his lectures. Funny we had a terrible flight back last year too, thought we'd never get home. Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted May 18, 2015 Author #20 Share Posted May 18, 2015 Hi Lois: Glad to see you had a great cruise. Is Brent Nixon and his wife on board Solstice this year. If so the people on subsequent cruises are in for a treat. I went to all his lectures. Funny we had a terrible flight back last year too, thought we'd never get home. Don Hi Don:) yes, they were both on board.....wish I had gone to see them more:o........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted May 18, 2015 Author #21 Share Posted May 18, 2015 Hi Lois, So sorry to read that you had a cruise from Hell on The Connie. Did you happen to book one of those Spring Break cruises I read about? I am so glad Rudy and I did the February 2nd cruise as all that drunken nonsense would not have been good for our health. Why didn't security do something about them, like put them off the ship or lock them in their rooms or better yet not serve them? We are on The Connie February 2016 again but it is 9 nights, I believe. Hope the rowdy crowd can't spare the time or money to join us. Glad you had a wonderful Alaska cruise and met some nice folks. Hope we see you on another cruise, soon. Grace and Rudy Hi Grace,:) I am sure 9 nights will be fine. Yes, I was on one....don't really want to get into the whole thing on this thread though...suffice to say, HQ and I had several conversations. But I seriously doubt you will have issues on a longer sailing. This cruise was wonderful:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockfsh Posted May 18, 2015 #22 Share Posted May 18, 2015 Lois How much was the Wine Connoisseur dinner? Was it worth it? Thanks for your review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickets Posted May 18, 2015 #23 Share Posted May 18, 2015 (edited) Glad to see the weather was still good. We were on the week before and weather was perfect. We did the inside passage out of Vancouver and we told first time ship size of Solstice had done it. Tracy Arm was already open to mid-season conditions and got a great view of the glacier. Were they serving all three meals a day in Luminea? Edited May 18, 2015 by Wickets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted May 18, 2015 Author #24 Share Posted May 18, 2015 LoisHow much was the Wine Connoisseur dinner? Was it worth it? Thanks for your review. Hi:)...thought I posted the price earlier.....95.00 per person. Yes, in my opinion it was worth it.....ahhhh...I did post it....... See below..... Wine Conneissour Dinner was held in Tuscan and it was 95.00 per person. They served bubbly to everyone first in CellarMasters and then we went to Tuscan......we had 17 people.......2 tables next to each other. I enjoyed it very much and both tables laughed most of the evening......we all got along very well together.:) I thought it was worth it and I think everyone else did too. You had choices of appetiziers, soup/salad, entree and dessert. The food was very good and the wine was flowing throughout:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted May 18, 2015 Author #25 Share Posted May 18, 2015 Glad to see the weather was still good. We were on the week before and weather was perfect. We did the inside passage out of Vancouver and we told first time ship size of Solstice had done it. Tracy Arm was already open to mid-season conditions and got a great view of the glacier. Were they serving all three meals a day in Luminea? Hi,:) I have no clue about lunch in Luminea.....I don't book suites and never noticed if they were open at lunchtime......the only time I went into the diningroom at lunchtime was for the brunch and they actually have it off a menu now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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