Chicogirl

Alaska, July 2016

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July was wonderful this year. We were on the Solstice July 15th. Except for the glacier ( very cold) the weather was great. Never needed a coat. We also did whale watching, and for over an hour watched humpback whales do bubble net feeding amazing.

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I don't like them around my neck, so I get the expandable holder. You can get them just about anywhere. I like amazon the best, more choices. This is just an idea of what they might look like.

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ok-rah, devil dogs...happy birthday. From Marine corp brat.

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We tipped John on the Solstice. He is a wonderful concierge.

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Royal and Penthouse gets a speciality restaurants for free except sushi at 5.

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Well, if that happens to me on my October cruise, it will be the last time I book a suite on Celebrity. Dumbing down the service and vastly increasing the prices is a combo that does not work for me.

 

 

 

I was in RS suite on the Solstice in July, and most of the time my butler didn't even bring our food. I think he only delivered it twice.

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We debarked in Seattle on 7-22-16, and was walked to a shorter line for suites at 8:30, did not have a problem with security lines, and a bonus was our luggage was separated in a suite group, and found right away. Most of our wait was for a taxi, they lined you up for that. We arrived at Seatac airport at 10:00. It took about 45 min because traffic was bad. So I would not fly out until after 12:00.

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No, and Alaska does not allow fireworks from any ship. Even Disney is not allowed there firework show when the Wonder is there.

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Our breakfast did not take long at all, maybe it was because we got there early. We loved everything we had for breakfast, but I have to say I loved the hash browns. It's nothing like the MDR, but more of a potato pancake, with yummy herbs and I think onions. My husband like the eggs Benedict. Nothing we had was bad, and I'm a picky eater.

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We were there on 7-18 and it was very hot at 87 that day. Not a rain cloud in site.

We zip lined in Skagway, and it rained a little not much. We went with grizzly falls ziplining. They were great. They break for you, and they really helped out a chicken like me. After we roasted marshmallows. Yum. Don't worry about age, we had a lady in her 80's with us. She really in joyed her experience.

I have to say, before my trip on the Solstice 3 weeks ago, I was upset that they canceled lunch in Luminae. Now that I have sailed, I understand why they no longer have lunch. Even on sea days they were not busy. There were no more then 5-6 tables used at any time I was there. And they were so empty at dinner times, they pleaded with me to have dinner. We were in RS so we (husband and I), were using the speciality dinning. We felt bad so decided to have dinner I think once. One night we didn't have dinner at all because we had a evening whale quest. So had ocean view. I'm sorry but yuck! Of course we didn't get back until after 10 so a lot of items were gone. But remember there is Aqua spa, and the grill. And room service was always prompt, and not to bad. You may find you will. It miss lunch at all. BTW if they have lobster bisque on your trip, try it, it was the best I've ever had.

I was just on the Solstice 3 weeks ago, there were some vibrations, but nothing bad. There were a couple of times the bar glasses in my room would clink, but mostly that was form waves not vibration. We were on penthouse deck. They might have had to use the stabilizers more on your trip.

Just on solstice 2 weeks ago. There is no lunch on port days. You can go to the MDR.

No restrictions on children. In Michaels there is not much of a continental breakfast. Luminae is open for breakfast everyday. Only closed for lunch on port days. There are a few light meals in luminae, or you can try Blu. And if you need fast, just let you waiter know.

I brought a Chicobag backpack daypack. They come in different sizes, and cost 16-60$. You can find them on Amazon. They roll up into a small pouch, great for packing.

We just came back from our Alaska cruise on 7/22. My husband and I did an evening whale quest from 6pm to 9:30 in Juneau. It was wonderful. We came across a pod of humpback whales bubble feeding. We watched them for over an 1 1/2.

We had to do Endicott.

Spotty Internet, better when in town. Zero by the glacier. If it did not come with the room, I most likely would not have gotten it.

BTW I just returned on 7/22.

I think that the housekeeping worked just as hard if not harder so I tipped all of them the same amount. But everyone we had were fabulous.

We had tips pre paid before the trip, but the day before we debarked we gave extra to concierge, the butler, and the two housekeepers. We had fabulous service. We asked for tipping envelops at guess service, and added a personal note for each person. We were in RS on Solstice. Just returned a week ago, and boy do I want to go back. Enjoy your trip.

Side note we also tipped after each meal in Tuscan, Marano, and Silk harvest. In fact we loved the waiter in Tuscan we went back and requested him again. We had to go through John in concierge to get it done. Don't be afraid to use the Michaels concierge.

MDR. Your Buttler will set a nice table. It was lovely.

I just got off the Solstice on Friday, and did not see kids playing on board, but saw them playing in port. They were all over the place looking for Pokemon.

I did not see sushi in Ocean view on the Solstice. Sushi on 5 never looked full.