Solstice: three weeks on board with a touch of HAL

[signman]

I also posted these comments.

 

. I also tried to figure out why the Deck 8 plans seem to be "off" The color coding appears to be one cabin forward. The only thing I know for sure is that 8232 and 8234 share the entryway, and thus I believe that the 10 cabins actually on the hump are 8232 thru 8250.

[FinelyCruising]

Howard...If I take this photo and use it for reference, I see the that the 8240 cabin has very little tinting...Vista deck is the 4th deck under the pool deck and 8240 is the 4th cabin toward aft....just a little corner tinted....

 

 

http://web8.506.bces.de/cruise_xxl/displayimage.php?album=48&pos=39

[signman]

There are better photos. Why don't we take this private. hmw608 at aol dot com

 

Try this one http://web8.506.bces.de/cruise_xxl/displayimage.php?album=47&pos=18

[excitedofharpenden]

Arno, interesting summary and thanks for taking the time to write it. I have read many reviews written here on CC about Solstice and my own feeling is to form my opinion when I sail on Equinox next year. There are a few kinks I'm sure Celebrity need to work out on this new ship and some they won't be able to (like the long walk aft!). I'm disappointed they haven't put any awnings on the aft balconies. Not sure what they were thinking there, but maybe they'll add them to Solstice and Equinox before I sail in November. I'm slightly concerned at being on deck 6 with the large lip of the Tuscan Grill just beneath, having read reports, but once again I'll wait and see.

 

Thanks again for the review.

 

Phil

[tom_uk]

'Exposed Balconies' seems to be what the lines are doing now. We were on P&O's ship Ventura in the autumn - she's an 'enhanced Grand Princess' clone, very similar to Crown Princess or Ruby Princess - and there's a deck (D deck) of mini-suites with larger but completely exposed balconies. We spoke to several people who were unhappy with these balconies, especially as they had paid extra for a mini-suite! They would very much have preferred a balcony with some shade.

[eroller]

Right after the naming ceremony we boarded HAL’s Westerdam from Nov. 16 th to the 23rd when we returned to Solstice. While Celebrity’s cabins cost us about $1,000 pp we were upgraded to a 400 square foot suite for a total cost of $900 pp. The more comfortable beds were large enough to throw a party, a concierge lounge provided free espresso and snacks, free laundry and dry cleaning and there were closets to satisfy a family and great food every day.

 

 

 

 

I very much enjoyed your review. Thanks for taking the time to write it.

 

I would like to point out the "grass is not always greener". The fact is, all cruise lines are constantly evolving the product to appeal to a broader demographic. It's a matter of survival. Sure some regulars will not always be pleased with the changes, but the alternative is to become stagnant and this is not an option in the competitive cruise market.

 

I think even more so than Celebrity, HAL is going through major changes. They have been trying to appeal to a younger demographic for years now with very limited success. I have sailed the line a number of times, drawn in by the promise of a "new" HAL, and I have constantly come away disappointed. My last HAL sailing was on OOSTERDAM (sister to WESTERDAM) with my brother. We were in a suite and in no way did it compare to the Celebrity Suite we recently enjoyed on SOLSTICE. Apples to oranges. My brother was convinced the ship was built in the 70's and smelled like a nursing home. I have to admit the decor of HAL ships leave a lot to be desired, especially when compared to the modern elegance of Celebrity. Decor and design mean a lot to me, and this was certainly a shortcoming on HAL.

 

A couple of major changes at HAL are an open sitting dining concept that has resulted in some major service issues, and "The Retreat" which is coming soon to many HAL ships (see picture below). "The Retreat" looks like something you would find on Carnival, complete with big screen TV that will broadcast throughout the day and night. It doesn't look like much of a "retreat" to me. Just like Celebrity, HAL is always making changes and often times they don't sit well with the regulars.

 

 

Anyway, my point is that all cruise lines are constantly evolving to survive. I sail them all (Silversea, Cunard, Celebrity, RCI, NCL, Carnival, HAL, Princess, etc) and they have all changed over the years. Some of the changes are good, and some not so great but none have yet ruined the cruise experience for me. Until that happens, I will continue to sail on a variety of lines because I enjoy new things and like to experience different ships. Without question SOLSTICE is the best new ship I have experienced in a long time. She might even overtake QM2 as my favorite new ship of all time. To be honest, for being a brand new prototype ship I was quite impressed with the food and service (I was on the 12/7 cruise). I tend to sail on new ships when they are first introduced, and SOLSTICE was a dream compared to some of them. I can only imagine SOLSTICE will get better with time, and her future sisters will have an even easier transition from shipyard to marketplace.

 

Happy Cruising!

 

Ernie

[Muushka]

What a wonderful review. Well balanced. I think after Solstice, we might give Hal a try.

 

PS I sent the text of your report to my husband to read. Not one spelling error! ;)

[C 2 C]

I would like to point out the "grass is not always greener". The fact is, all cruise lines are constantly evolving the product to appeal to a broader demographic. It's a matter of survival. Sure some regulars will not always be pleased with the changes, but the alternative is to become stagnant and this is not an option in the competitive cruise market.

 

Hi Ernie:

 

The disappointment we felt with our Solstice experience had way more to do with the way Celebrity is operating the ship than the minor design quirks. It will be very interesting to see how this class of ship will evolve over time. I admit we became stagnant by swimming only in Celebrity waters. The end result is the realization that, if we as cruisers do not fit the slot that Celebrity has pegged for us, then we have to experiment with other ships and cruise lines to find the slot we do fit.

 

Arno

[Xcruiser]

So far I’ve held off booking on the Solstice for some of the reasons you mentioned in your review. I’m sure it’s a beautiful ship but the size and lack of some traditional elements like a promenade have me holding off for now. I know what you mean about the aft verandas on Solstice as we had one similar on a HAL Vista class ship. With only about 12 inches of overhang above it was too hot during the day, too dirty in the morning and too exposed in the evening to truly enjoy.:o

 

I know the head chef on Westerdam, a very enjoyable large German with a great sense of humor. The food in the MDR on that ship was the best we’ve had on any of our HAL sailings.

 

I'm sure like the M-Class ships I will find my way onboard the new S-Class soon, but until then I’m off on my favorite C-Class ship next. Thanks again for your review!

 

Joel

[helenp2]

Great review - very objective. I am a bit confused. The upgrade you received to the 400 sq ft cabin was on the HAL ship or the Soltice? I have sailed in the SS CAT cabins on HAL and love them for lots of reasons. When you mentioned the bedding I assumed you were referring to the hal ship, if not, how were the beds on the new ship?

 

We are very loyal HAL customers with over 500 nts on board. But, we are always open to try a new ship. We have sailed on Celebrity a few times and unfortunately what started out as a great experience on our first Celebrity cruise kept getting a little bit less rewarding on the last few. Our latest Celebrity cruise was on the Summit for 10 nts and it was anything but enjoyable.

 

I do appreciate your taking the time to do such an extensive review. Happy cruising.

[C 2 C]

The upgrade you received to the 400 sq ft cabin was on the HAL ship or the Soltice? I have sailed in the SS CAT cabins on HAL and love them for lots of reasons. When you mentioned the bedding I assumed you were referring to the hal ship, if not, how were the beds on the new ship?

 

We were upgraded on HAL as a result (?) of our 15 HAL cruises. Upgrades on Celebrity is not part of company policy and occur rarely. The bedding on Solstice was very comfortable but not to the standards of HAL bedding. The main complaint we have about HAL cruising is "As They Wish Dining" and very spotty service. Westerdam's ceilings are also lower and darker than our Celebrity experiences giving us a claustrophobic feeling on certain decks.

 

I’m off on my favorite C-Class ship next.

And still our favorite. Enjoy!

[paulred]

This review was insightful, expressing the good and the bad dispassionately and with good humour. Celebrity should be furiously taking notes. They should fix what they can, when they can, and make changes now to Equinox. Its a pity the gang of five designers did not have your insight, not just as a male, but as an experienced cruiser.

 

Now here's the question. Spring TA, Celebrity Solstice or HAL?

 

What do you think? p.s. not dancers, but I do play bridge.

 

cheers

 

Paul

 

p.s. We do not cruise enough to enjoy the frequent cruiser perks. However, given the number of cruise choices out there for almost every destination, it amazes me that any cruise line would not do the little things that make frequent cruisers feel wanted.

[eroller]

Our latest Celebrity cruise was on the Summit for 10 nts and it was anything but enjoyable.

 

 

 

 

Wow, it would take something fairly catastrophic such as a complete mechanical failure for me not to enjoy a cruise. I've sailed on everything from a 3-day bargain basement cruise on Carnival to Silversea and I have enjoyed them all. Of course some cruises have been more enjoyable than others, but I've found something to like about them all.

 

Even on HAL, which is probably my least favorite large cruise line, I have enjoyed myself. This being said, there are better choices for me. Perhaps in 25 years when I am in my 60's HAL will be more suitable.

 

Ernie

[C 2 C]

 

Now here's the question. Spring TA, Celebrity Solstice or HAL?

 

What do you think? p.s. not dancers, but I do play bridge.

 

Hi Paul:

 

There are only 6 tables in Solstice's card room but there are many other alternate locations. Westerdam had on overflow crowd playing bridge. Unfortunately I take the game too seriously and won't play on board because I don't want to swim home.;) Good friends introduced us to the game of Sequence (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequence_(board_game)) while on Solstice and I find it a wonderful and challenging game to pass the time away. Solstice has a very large library but unfortunately few books except for show and a long voyage would be challenging if you're a reader. We were originally booked on the Solstice TA and cancelled. We are now toying with Azamara or any line that posts a great price at the last minute. My new booking policy based on Celebrity's excellent repricing plan: "the early bird gets the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese". I find the second option much more apealling and financially rewarding.

[eroller]

I admit we became stagnant by swimming only in Celebrity waters. The end result is the realization that, if we as cruisers do not fit the slot that Celebrity has pegged for us, then we have to experiment with other ships and cruise lines to find the slot we do fit.

 

Arno

 

 

Hi Arno,

I think it's good to broaden your horizons! A lot of people stay loyal to one line. Not me. I like variety, and especially new ships. Even if I had a so-so experience on a certain line, it's likely I will return when they build a new ship design. As I mentioned before all the cruise lines are constantly evolving their product, so the experience you have this year may be completely different two years down the road. This is how I have ended up sailing on HAL so many times, but the product continues to disappoint me so I will wait a few years before returning.

 

I have yet to find the perfect cruise line, although Silversea comes close. On every line and every ship I've found unique things I really loved, and other attributes that were just so-so. For instance you were disappointed in the lack of organized activities on SOLSTICE. I don't partake in those kinds of activities so they have absolutely no bearing on my enjoyment. The bars, casino, music, decor, dining choices, ambiance, evening shows, pools, gym, and spa rank high on my importance agenda. SOLSTICE ranked high in all those areas which is why I loved the ship so much.

 

Having now experienced the Solstice Class, I know Celebrity will remain as my favorite large ship cruise line, along with Cunard.

 

Ernie

[Spender Nui]

Thanks for your wonderful and insightful review. This is another of the not too good reviews that make me think that Celebrity is moving in another direction than we are.

[richsea]

We were originally booked on the Solstice TA and cancelled. We are now toying with Azamara or any line that posts a great price at the last minute. My new booking policy based on Celebrity's excellent repricing plan: "the early bird gets the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese". I find the second option much more apealling and financially rewarding.

 

 

Hi Arno! Thanks for the great insights on Solstice. I'm sure we'll book her someday, but won't be going out of our way to do so. The C class remain our favorite & we'll be sad to see Galaxy go in March.

 

Why not book the April 25th Century TA? The prices are reasonable! Join us!

[C 2 C]

Why not book the April 25th Century TA? The prices are reasonable! Join us!

 

I'd love to but when flights are nearly as much as the cruise I'd rather spend some more time in the Caribbean escaping this miserable winter (calendar says it's official today but mother nature doesn't read calendars and started earlier with a vengeance.)

[Cruise Arizona]

Arno,

 

I just returned last Sunday from my TA on the Summit. We missed you!!!

 

Thanks for your review. I am working on my Summit review, and though it was fantastic I still felt that there were some areas for improvement that I had not found on other voyages.

 

Happy sailing.

[RLM77]

Belated thanks Arno for an outstanding review. The insights of a very frequent cruiser such as yourself are especially valuable. They both confirm and expand on what others on this board have been saying about Solstice and Celebrity in general.

 

I am definitely in your camp (also Tuggers') regarding HAL. IMO, their product has evolved into one of understated quality -- compared to other mass market lines -- and value. Based on activity on the Cruise Critic boards, they are now more aligned with our interests and preferences than X and we are adjusting our plans accordingly. (By the way, we participated in As You Wish dining on our October Westerdam B2B and were extremely pleased with the experience.)

 

While it seems as if there are more similarities than differences across mass market cruise lines these days, the products remain differentiated enough to appeal to different segments of the cruising public. I have used the "sizzle vs. steak" analogy in a couple previous posts. X now has the sizzle, HAL the steak. Which is better? That depends on individual preferences. Me? I'm a steak kind of guy.

 

Rich

[yvrdave]

Arno - thanks for the great review, infact the best review of the Solstice I've read. Inspite of some major shortcomings we are still looking foreward to our 27 days on the Equinox in Oct/Nov but sorry we'll miss you on that one.

 

At least your review will help us adjust and enjoy the Equinox as much as possible, so thanks a lot and Happy New Year and Happy Sailings!

 

Dave and Louise

[C 2 C]

X now has the sizzle, HAL the steak. Which is better? That depends on individual preferences. Me? I'm a steak kind of guy.

 

Rich

 

Joanne LOVES beef. Do the steak right and she's treated Royally... oops wrong tag line...

 

Many people will continue doing what they do based on routine... until something pushes them away or attracts them elsewhere. Celebrity continues to cut back on their minimal Captain's Club benefits, moved in a new music direction with Solstice and provides great food options only if you opt for Specialty dining. If I can't dance I'll sulk in RCCL's Concierge lounge with free drinks instead. If I stay there long enough the taste of the food on board will hardly be noticeable ;). We will look for great deals and follow them wherever they take us.

Beyond our Constellation bookings next month we are not committed to any other Celebrity cruise. Last year at this time we had 20 future X bookings. Celebrity cancelled three, the stock market cancelled six and we cancelled all prior to final payement date. We will now play Celebrity's game of "New bookings only" and have the flexibility of choosing the cruiseline based on sizzle or steak.

[C 2 C]

Arno - thanks for the great review, in fact the best review of the Solstice I've read. In spite of some major shortcomings we are still looking forward to our 27 days on the Equinox in Oct/Nov but sorry we'll miss you on that one.

 

Hi Dave & Louise:

 

Happy New Year as well and thanks for the compliment. It pained me greatly to make any negative comments about that beautiful ship... We were bothered more by the intangibles and direction of Celebrity than any shortcomings of Solstice itself. It would be difficult not to enjoy life on a Solstice Class vessel once one is prepared to adapt to the new reality.

I continue to monitor the value of the dollar and my stock picks to see if Equinox is in our future. The geopolitical aspects of the region puts the itinerary in jeopardy. The cruise we took to Israel a decade ago (on NCL :eek: ) still provided our most memorable journey ever.

[KRB_AMB]

We just returned from the Christmas cruise and we also agree with your overall comments... we were very impressed with the ship and it is a feast for the eyes... but, we too felt that there were things that could have been done better...

 

We did very much like the lawn club and found ourselves drawn there as it was one of the quietest places on the ship to just relax.

 

We also loved the large round chaises for two in the Solarium... what a great place to snooze!

 

Re/ Hot Glass... this was our favorite thing on board and would be something that we would go back for...we could not get enough. The team from the Corning Glass Museum did confirm on the last sea day the Equinox will have 'stadium' seating and accommodate at least 100 spectators. Further they said that the black metal that surround the various ovens will be stainless as they are having to paint the black every two weeks due to corrosion. Equinox will also have non-glare glass between the audience and the gaffers in stead of the glass they have now. They also said the movement of the ship was not as big of a deal as they initially thought but that the wind was the issue they have... apparently they are looking at changes to the glass and wind panels for Equinox.

 

We too felt the dining room food was good but not memorable... I found on Galaxy in '07 that many nights I had trouble deciding what to eat because every thing was appealing... on Solstice I had trouble deciding because nothing caught my attention... I at off of the 'standard' menu 2 of the 5 nights.

 

We also LOVED Tuscan Grill and felt that even with the up charge of $25 we got good value. If your not a sushi eater you will not get your moneys worth in Silk Harvest... I do enjoy sushi and the tray that was brought was very very large.

 

Bistro on Five (for $5) was a good value too... very very good... don't miss the Spanish Crepe.... it's a desert crepe with Caramel. This is now higher on my list of 'wants' than the famous waffles!

 

Ken

[Conanc]

Celebrity Cruising Solstice Style

 

ACCOMODATIONS: We stayed in four different cabins 1A-8228 on the hump, AQ-1625 port side behind the hump and C1-9382 a sunset veranda. On the naming ceremony we were in 9105 Port side near the front. The best cabins are on the hump, the worst are at the stern.

 

C2C, Thank you for such a comprehensive review of the Solstice. We have Cabin 8228 on hold right now. Can you give me a bit more information on the pros and cons of this balcony? DH wants a regular forward cabin on Deck 8. He likes to be up front to see where we are heading, watch the flying fish, etc. but he chose last time and I like the idea of the larger balcony. :) Do you have any photos?

 

Thank you again. I found your review very informative.

Nancy