Just got home and booked the Solstice again!

[RhondaPerr]

Hi,

 

My subject line says it all... It was my 21s cruise and the best I have ever been on to the Caribbean. I loved every minute of the 7 days, and booked the same trip for 2010 while I was on the ship. You all have heard many reviews, but I have a few things to share..

 

Embarkation was strange..Not bad just confusing and really rushed...We felt as though we were being sent through in double time, and were on the ship withing 10 minutes.. We used the aqua class line and it did make a difference.

 

First impressions...The cabin looked impossible to me. (1566) I saw the closet and the reviews did not really prepare me. I was with my best friend and I have to tell you that we had more than enough room. The over the bed storage was wonderful. The couch was the only thing that made no sense, as previously stated by others it was the most uncomfortable couch I have ever sat on.. Our Room attendant was exceptional(Maria) and her assistant (Ronald) terrific.

 

The bathroom and shower were wonderful, and although counter space was kind of sparse

there was a large cabinet that held everything..

 

Mustering was interesting. I liked it much better than standing outside in the hot sun.. it seemed to go much faster with the video.

 

Cruise critic get together (Unofficial) kind of fizzled, but I did meet some wonderful people.

 

The ship is absolutely beautiful, spotless, and the staff some of the friendliest I have ever seen on one ship.

 

Here are some things that people had either complained about or had questions about...

 

We never had trouble getting seats in the Ocean Cafe.. The food was very good.. We were able to get lounges at the pool..sea days of course were difficult but not impossible.

 

Bleu was exceptional, I have never experienced food like that on a cruise. They catered to my food allergies, our waiter Alexasander and our assistant waiter who we called(Muffin), etc were unbelievable. We were at one of two tables of 6...and we had a great time with our tablemates... Believe me when I say if you are on the fence about aqua class, Bleu made it all worthwhile.

 

We did not eat anywhere else, and breakfast in Bleu was wonderful... We had brunch one day in then main dining room, and did not enjoy how the tables seemed to be on top of eachother, and the noise level. Bleu is quiet, graceful and elegant.. Room service menu offered a great variety, and we had no problems with wrong orders, or missing items for breakfast.

 

The shows were some of the most enjoyable shows I have seen in a while. The production shows were excellent. The late night comedy was fun..There was more live music on this ship than any ship I have been on in the last 10 years. What was a fun feature was they rotated the different bands, singers etc..so that you could if you wanted to sit in one lounge and basically the performers came to you..

 

The ports were not the reason why we took this cruise, although we had never been to Tortola. Tortola was a pretty Island, but my only negative was the beach excursion and Cane Bay.. Chairs were not included, and you were really roped into renting chairs because there was absolutely no place to put a towel down. It was not the money, it was not expensive to rent a chair, it was not having a choice.

 

We did not go to Labadee...We ended up having to go back to San Juan, because a woman became very ill and had to get to the hospital. I was okay with that, and kind of looking forward to the extra day at sea... Tha Captain surprised us with the news that we would be going to Nassau instead. It was amazing how fast they threw excursions together, and how organized the chaos was..

 

I agree with previous cruisers that the lawn is a waste of space. We did not see the Glass blowing, but heard it was incredible. I did miss the promenade deck... I thought the prices of soda was nuts...$2.30 with the pre_added gratuity. My friend had a Cosmo and it was over ten dollars.. The gift shops were expensive... although since this was the last sail before Europe they did have a big sale..

 

I loved the smoke free casino... The enrichment speakers were interesting.. There were so many activities, no one in their right mind could ever be bored.. And what I love most about Celebrity, is the genuine friendliness. The Celebrity cruise staff in my opinion is some of the best in the industry. I had an opportunity to talk to the CD Dru at our get together, and found him really warm and funny.

 

I never waited more than 5 minutes for an elevator. Yes, there were unaccompanied kids in the hot tub, and they also were in other areas where they shouldn't have been. The kids for the most part were pretty well behaved...some adults could have taken lessons from them.

 

I really didn't use the Persian Gardens or Quiet room, but will the next cruise. I was part of a round table discussion about food quality which they actually gave me compensation to participate in.

 

Okay here is the only really negative thing I need to share which has more to do with information not shared than anything else. I had asked a few times about luggage valet service for the debarkation. I was told that I would be notified if I qualified for it... Well somehow my letter never made it to my cabin. I spoke with Guest relations and even though the deadline had passed, they would email immigration and see if my name could be added... The next day I was informed that I could be part of the program..

 

Now the luggage valet for this ship had changed...Basically I paid $40 and my luggage would go straight through to my final destination. The bags would go through customs but the cruiseline would be taking care of that whole process. Well someone forgot to tell all the Customs agents, and when the agent saw I only had my carry on she went ballisitc. I tried to explain to her that this was the program, that there were about 70 plus people who were also in the Valet service... She was screaming at me that I had to go get my bags, that I would be fined hundereds of dollars etc...She told the rep standing behind us to get the agent...I have to say I was scared out of my mind...I thought maybe I had confused something....finally she talked to her supervisor, came back and said...Oh this is a new program which I knew nothing about...She was lucky I wasn't a 90 year old woman because I would have had a heart attack and died at her feet!!! I called Celebrity to let them know what had happened and that clearly next year they need to communicate better!

 

 

I with out hesitation would reccommend the Solstice to anyone who wants to experience what cruising used to be like, and needs to be...

 

Any questions feel free to ask!!

 

Rhonda

[Shirley C]

Great review Rhonda. I was on the cruise with you, but didn't get to meet you. The notification of the connections party never made it to my cabin. I wonder if that happened to other people and that is why the turnout was low.

 

We also used the luggage valet program, which I highly recommend, however, we also thought we were going to be told to go back and get our luggage as we were going through customs. Our person also seemed confused that we didn't have any.

 

We loved Solstice as much as you did and would recommend it as well.

[nps001]

Great review. I used valet service once and didnt think it was worth it because we had to get our bags to clear customs and them give them to an agent to take them to the airport. I'm glad they made this change--I would use this service again now.

[knitpurl]

what time did they start boarding?

great review , thanks

[Mysticks1]

Very nice review. Just a couple of questions.

What were the topics of the enrichment seminars?

Do you know how you were chosen for the round table discussion and is that something they do on every cruise? Yours is the first comment I have seen about this.

[Sparky333]

nps001 - I think you're on our Solstice cruise leaving May 4th -- do you know if the valet service is being provided for that cruise?

[RhondaPerr]

Very nice review. Just a couple of questions.

What were the topics of the enrichment seminars?

Do you know how you were chosen for the round table discussion and is that something they do on every cruise? Yours is the first comment I have seen about this.

 

Hi,

 

One speaker was a relationship motivator, the other was a Forensic specialist... I don't know how I was chosen, and no, it has never happened to me before. The people conducting the discussion were hired from an outside agency by Celebrity. It was interesting to participate.. One couple had been on 41 cruises, I have been on 21..not sure if that was a factor.

[RhondaPerr]

what time did they start boarding?

great review , thanks

 

We were on the ship by 11:30am I believe, but cabins were not ready till 1pm..

[RhondaPerr]

Great review Rhonda. I was on the cruise with you, but didn't get to meet you. The notification of the connections party never made it to my cabin. I wonder if that happened to other people and that is why the turnout was low.

 

We also used the luggage valet program, which I highly recommend, however, we also thought we were going to be told to go back and get our luggage as we were going through customs. Our person also seemed confused that we didn't have any.

 

We loved Solstice as much as you did and would recommend it as well.

 

Hi,

 

So sorry we did not get meet! I will tell you that the Customs agent was purple with rage because I did not have luggage...I was scared!! So you must have been sitting by in or by Michaels Club if you were Valet...We could have been sitting right near you..

[Aquahound]

So sorry we did not get meet! I will tell you that the Customs agent was purple with rage because I did not have luggage...I was scared!! So you must have been sitting by in or by Michaels Club if you were Valet...We could have been sitting right near you..

 

Rhonda, That Customs person wasn't a small framed, dark haired, freckle faced girl, was she?

 

If so, I had some problems with her as well.

[RhondaPerr]

Rhonda, That Customs person wasn't a small framed, dark haired, freckle faced girl, was she?

 

If so, I had some problems with her as well.

 

No, she was an older woman who will give me nightmares forever more :)