Bit of a Blog : Solstice : Auckland – Fremantle – Sydney : February 14th 2016

[NorbertsNiece]

 

There have been many talks in the theatre. The naturalist on board is fantastic

 

 

The 'art' has gone!!!! Wooohoooo!! Wonder for how long.....

 

 

I've graduated to the larger cup for my cappuccino

 

 

Have handed my passport in and now organising name badges for the CC lunch

 

 

We are met at the entry to the dining room and taken downstairs.... totally unexpected plates of antipasti on each table

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Ben, the Cruise Director, spends time with us

 

 

 

 

The Executive Sous Chef also visits

 

 

Afternoon tea..... this is an IGLU

 

 

It's formal night so more food.....

 

[NorbertsNiece]

My table neighbour has a Kahlua coffee instead of a starter.....

 

 

He has another instead of dessert...... and two lobster tails.

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

I went to the production show..... I take lousy action pics. Sorry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[magpies66]

Hi Linda. I am really enjoying reading your blog each day.

I have what is probably a very silly question to anyone who has ever cruised before, but as a complete newbie, this issue has me intrigued.

Why, on any of the invitations to events with the captain or officers, is there a section stating that handshaking is not advisable?

 

 

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[GUT2407]

Hi Linda. I am really enjoying reading your blog each day.

I have what is probably a very silly question to anyone who has ever cruised before, but as a complete newbie, this issue has me intrigued.

Why, on any of the invitations to events with the captain or officers, is there a section stating that handshaking is not advisable?

 

 

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Trying to reduce the spread of disease, particularly Noro virus.

[magpies66]

Trying to reduce the spread of disease, particularly Noro virus.

 

 

Thank you. That makes sense. Told you it was a silly question [emoji2]

 

 

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[NorbertsNiece]

Not silly at all. The standard way of greeting formally is to touch knuckles as opposed to shaking hands. It becomes second nature as does using knuckles to press lift buttons and holding a paper towel to open the door after using the public toilets. There's a lot of infection on board right now... people coughing everywhere into their hands..... don't want to be shaking hands with anyone let alone officers right now :eek:

[I'm from Oz]

Thanks for posting those pics of the production show.

 

I was particularly tired that night, but I'm so glad I went to watch - I loved it, well most of it. Some parts were a tad out of left field, but on the whole it was amazing, especially the aerials.

 

Oh, and, I'm blown away by all the food shots! Well I suppose it is a cruise :rolleyes: and it's all about the food - right :D

[NorbertsNiece]

Thanks m'dear. Food shots are mostly to encourage GF cruisers that it's possible to still gain weight on a cruise!! I'm done with the MDR and will be testing out Bistro on 5, specialty restaurants and Oceanview over the next 2 weeks. Almost done with the pics for this cruise now..... 'sposed to be meeting up with Hannah from Rhapsody tomorrow....

[magpies66]

Not silly at all. The standard way of greeting formally is to touch knuckles as opposed to shaking hands. It becomes second nature as does using knuckles to press lift buttons and holding a paper towel to open the door after using the public toilets. There's a lot of infection on board right now... people coughing everywhere into their hands..... don't want to be shaking hands with anyone let alone officers right now :eek:

 

 

Thanks Linda. I will definitely remember that when i finally get to cruise next year.

 

 

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[NorbertsNiece]

So here's the last bunch of pics for this cruise.

 

Cannot believe how fast this has gone.

 

 

 

Land ahoy

 

 

 

I went to a show in the Theatre this morning

 

 

Two teams of two cruisers. First round the teams had to : grate cheese, peel potatoes, get rosemary off the stem and whisk up a meringue

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Second round one team had surf and turf ingredients and the other had barramundi...... 15 minutes to cook up a storm aided by chefs

 

 

 

Two of the tasting panel are from the CC roll call!!

 

The Barramundi team used devious tactics to sway the vote.

 

 

Votes were cast

 

 

The surf n' turf team won

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Hotel Director John-Paul puts himself in the goal mouth

 

 

It's been really choppy all day...... the solarium pool has been closed off

 

 

 

Not allowed to open pack containing new seapass card before returning to ship tomorrow

 

 

I head up to deck 11 forward as described earlier and realise I have found my perfect spot on board. Was utterly alone in near silence with a view like no other. Just to be totally alone for a short while was really precious.

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

No starter today...... have teamed a rare sirloin steak with the vegetables from the korma

 

 

I would have foregone dessert but they'd made this for me

 

 

 

At least none of these are mine

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Here's the map and itinerary for the cruise which starts tomorrow. Am meeting a friend made on a cruise last year tomorrow in Fremantle..... I think I may have scuppered her plans.... I have a watch battery to locate and fit and maybe sort out the screen on my mobile phone. Sigh.

 

 

[Disco Duck]

I was so happy to see they have a Dessert Section for GF. Amazing!

 

 

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[NorbertsNiece]

I was so happy to see they have a Dessert Section for GF. Amazing!

 

 

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So here's the thing...... each food 'outlet' has its own galley. Oceanview is definitely the place to go for GF desserts. In the MDR there is ALWAYS creme caramel on the menu. Cafe al Bacio has the same GF offerings daily so the novelty has well and truly worn off. When I see how much choice and variation others have there I get just a little frustrated.

[Martin and Lindsey]

How did you organise the Cruise Critic lunches in the Main Dining Room? It seems like a lovely idea, but I've never heard of people having that before.

 

A question about afternoon tea. Where did you go for it and was it served to you in the way that Princess Cruises serve afternoon tea?

 

Like many others here, I am loving to read and see your pictures each day. Thank you for spending some of your holiday time creating this blog. What a fantastic cruise you are doing! :)

Edited March 2, 2016 by Martin and Lindsey

[edmonton2]

So here's the thing...... each food 'outlet' has its own galley. Oceanview is definitely the place to go for GF desserts. In the MDR there is ALWAYS creme caramel on the menu. Cafe al Bacio has the same GF offerings daily so the novelty has well and truly worn off. When I see how much choice and variation others have there I get just a little frustrated.

 

I'm going to join the chorus of other grateful CC members here and thank you for all of your informative and interesting posts - love all the pictures too! We will be looking for the relaxation lounge on deck 11 when we sail on the Solstice in future.

I agree with you about gf desserts - particularly in the MDR. I'm not really a dessert person, and I don't like pudding or custard, so it's really limiting. I really did appreciate the effort of my wait staff to bring me something interesting every night, but my favourite was ice cream and fresh fruit! I liked the little cakes in the Oceanview cafe best of all - especially the black forest cake and coconut cake. On our next cruise, I think I will pass on dessert in the MDR and finish off dinner with a specialty coffee instead of dessert!

...and that crab cake on the MDR menu that you posted can be made gluten free - it's delicious!

[GUT2407]

Thank you. That makes sense. Told you it was a silly question [emoji2]

 

 

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The only silly question is the one you don't ask.

[Martin and Lindsey]

Linda, we are looking into drink packages to see if, and which one, would be suitable for us.

 

On the Celebrity UK web page, it says that if you purchase the packages once on board, then the prices will be higher than if you prereserve them.

I have not read this on any of the drink package threads here on Cruise Critic.

Have you any knowledge about this or have you experienced it?

 

Keep up the brilliant blog. You have a great following of readers and we always look forward to reading the next installment. :)

[NorbertsNiece]

How did you organise the Cruise Critic lunches in the Main Dining Room? It seems like a lovely idea, but I've never heard of people having that before.

 

A question about afternoon tea. Where did you go for it and was it served to you in the way that Princess Cruises serve afternoon tea?

 

Like many others here, I am loving to read and see your pictures each day. Thank you for spending some of your holiday time creating this blog. What a fantastic cruise you are doing! :)

 

CC Lunch : I reached out to Celebrity UK Customer Services by email months and months ago and started that conversation. Never sailed Princess so can't compare.

 

The Elegant Tea was in the MDR otherwise in Oceanview.

 

Linda, we are looking into drink packages to see if, and which one, would be suitable for us.

 

On the Celebrity UK web page, it says that if you purchase the packages once on board, then the prices will be higher than if you prereserve them.

I have not read this on any of the drink package threads here on Cruise Critic.

Have you any knowledge about this or have you experienced it?

 

Keep up the brilliant blog. You have a great following of readers and we always look forward to reading the next installment. :)

 

The only difference I am aware of is if you are booked in a different currency and there are fluctuations. I know on Royal they sometimes had boarding day offers.....

 

PS While I'm still online..... Thanks for reading along and for all the wonderful comments.....

 

Around 0715 disembarking started..... think I'll get up....

Edited March 2, 2016 by NorbertsNiece

[FunCruiser56]

I have really enjoyed reading every minute of your cruise blog and all the wonderful pictures. Thankyou so much for taking precious time out of your vacation to share with is all.

Will you continue the blog for the next leg of your journey?

I will be sailing on the Solstice next month Hawaii-Vancouver, our second time on this ship, all your pictures and comments have made me even more excited.

 

Happy sailing!

Bev

[NorbertsNiece]

I have really enjoyed reading every minute of your cruise blog and all the wonderful pictures. Thankyou so much for taking precious time out of your vacation to share with is all.

Will you continue the blog for the next leg of your journey?

I will be sailing on the Solstice next month Hawaii-Vancouver, our second time on this ship, all your pictures and comments have made me even more excited.

 

Happy sailing!

Bev

 

Yes. Absolutely.

 

Surprised to still have internet as they said we'd be cut off at 0700. Heading out to take pics before going ashore.