Embarkation on Solstice in Seattle

[ReadingDoc]

My wife and I are sailing on the Solstice out of Seattle in August. We're flying into Seattle the day before. Could someone share some tips about embarkation, such as the ease of the process, what time does boarding usually begin, etc? It's our first cruise to Alaska and we're quite excited!

[cruisingsince94]

My wife and I are sailing on the Solstice out of Seattle in August. We're flying into Seattle the day before. Could someone share some tips about embarkation, such as the ease of the process, what time does boarding usually begin, etc? It's our first cruise to Alaska and we're quite excited!

 

Make sure you have your Xpress pass signed and your passports available fpr check-in. Put your luggage tags on before you arrive at the pier and hand them off to a porter for loading. A gratuity to them is appreciated. Check-in should be smooth and move along quickly. We typically arrive around 11am but that's up to you. Usually you can board then or within a few minutes unless there are issues. Cabins will not be ready until after 1pm so you will have time to grab lunch or wander around the ship. If you are staying in a suite you will be escorted to a lounge to relax in and where you will be introduced to your butler for the cruise.

[flifish64]

We cruised out of Seattle on May 23rd. There were two ships at pier 91. Both the Solstice and a Royal Caribbean one. A few people mistakenly unloaded and tagged their luggage on the wrong ship. We were behind a lady at customer relations who realized what she had done and was trying to have her luggage located. This was about 1pm. Not sure if she was successful or not.

Heard later in the cruise about someone who was to finally receive their luggage on day 3 of the cruise when we docked in Juneau.

 

Other than the congestion embarkation was a breeze. We enjoyed the champagne cocktail and went to Bistro on 5 for lunch. It was delicious and rooms were ready by 1:30 before we even finished our lunch.

 

Taxi from the airport to downtown hotel was entertaining and expensive.

$60 plus tip in a Prius for three people 3 large suitcases and a walker. The walker rode in the front seat and the three of us in the back seat. We were like a pack of sardines but it was 11:30 at night and no other options.

 

Have a great trip.

 

Carol

[fleckle]

My wife and I are sailing on the Solstice out of Seattle in August. We're flying into Seattle the day before. Could someone share some tips about embarkation, such as the ease of the process, what time does boarding usually begin, etc? It's our first cruise to Alaska and we're quite excited!

Most of the hotels provide a shuttle to the pier, or you can take a taxi. The cost to Pier 91 is quite reasonable either way. It cost us $15 each to take the shuttle a few weeks ago.

If you plan to take the shuttle, sign up for it at the front desk of your hotel the night before when you check in.

 

Our hotel gave a choice of 10:30, 11:30 or 12:30 pickup time for the shuttle to the Solstice. We originally picked 11:30, but decided to change it to 12:30 and were glad we did as we dislike being rushed in the morning.

 

We prefer to avoid the lines and crowds at the port, so we like to arrive after the mad rush is over.

Others like to get there early to be the first ones on board.

 

The later shuttle time allowed us to sleep in, enjoy a leisurely breakfast, check our email and send some replies (free internet access).

Then we packed up, checked out and boarded the shuttle.

 

Some of the early risers like to spend the morning sightseeing in Seattle and pick up some flowers at Pike Place Market to bring on board with them.

 

Whichever way you prefer to do it is fine, so suit yourselves.

 

When we arrived at the port, the porters were waiting to tag our bags and put them on their carts right where the shuttle dropped us off.

There is no need to bother with tagging bags in advance.

The pre-tagged bags get loaded right on the same carts with the bags that are tagged at the pier.

 

There was no waiting to pass through security or to get our seapass cards as there were only a few people ahead of us.

Our cabins were ready, so we were able to go directly to our cabin to drop off our carry-ons.

 

You are offered a welcome aboard glass of sparkling wine, or mimosa or orange juice as you board the ship. If your hands are full, you can just come back and pick up your drink after you drop off your carry-on bags.

 

The Solstice is a beautiful ship and the staff and crew are great.

Take a look at the Celebrity Today that should be waiting for you in your cabin. They typically offer free guided tours of the ship on the first day.

Have a wonderful cruise!

 

[Cisco333]

A big problem in Seattle ...bags end up on the wrong ship every week. We did not get our bags until the fourth day of the trip.

[ozark74]

We did the Solstice last August. It was the fastest that we have gotten on any ship. We left our downtown hotel about 12:30 and we were on balcony by

1:15.

[Ballard67]

So i am going in August as well, me and my wife and her Parents. We leave the 29th of August. Love to get as much info to, this will be our cruise. Well I get to see the Solstice come in and leave every week, i work security here in Seattle at the pier. I do security, so i have to suffer and see these beautiful ships leave every week. So the people start leaving the ships about 7:30am, by 8:30 9am its in full evacuation mode LOL 10:30 11am the first of the folks start coming into the port for boarding. between 12 and 2pm is when the peak of the people start coming in. Taxi,well i will say this, i would walk in barefooted before taking a taxi, they are the most dangerous drivers on the road. For us we are take Shuttle express, they charge a flat fee.

[dkjretired]

So i am going in August as well, me and my wife and her Parents. We leave the 29th of August. Love to get as much info to, this will be our cruise. Well I get to see the Solstice come in and leave every week, i work security here in Seattle at the pier. I do security, so i have to suffer and see these beautiful ships leave every week. So the people start leaving the ships about 7:30am, by 8:30 9am its in full evacuation mode LOL 10:30 11am the first of the folks start coming into the port for boarding. between 12 and 2pm is when the peak of the people start coming in. Taxi,well i will say this, i would walk in barefooted before taking a taxi, they are the most dangerous drivers on the road. For us we are take Shuttle express, they charge a flat fee.

 

On the same cruise as you are, where can you pick up the Shuttle express or do they come to your hotel.

[rebeccalouiseagain]

If you are flying in the day before, I assume you are staying downtown Seattle and the cost of getting there is less than from the airport. Taxi's are easy to get in Seattle. I had good taxi drivers- no issues.

 

I recommend putting anything you need for the first 24 hours in your carry on. This includes swimsuit, change of clothes and shoes for dinner, nightgown, toiletries and medicines. Sometimes the bags don't arrive until 8PM.

 

I would head to Bistro on Five because it will be a nicer experience than the zoo at the Buffet on the day of embarkation.

Edited June 9, 2014 by rebeccalouiseagain

[Ballard67]

On the same cruise as you are, where can you pick up the Shuttle express or do they come to your hotel.

 

Yep in the Seattle area i think its 12 pp, out by the airport at 22pp from any hotel. For me and my wife, and her parents from outside the Seattle area , where coming from our house, its going to be 63.00.

[frawnsay]

Just returned from a May 30 Solstice sail to Alaska...fabulous!

 

We took a taxi from downtown near Pike Place Market...$12+tip to Pier 91.

 

There is a large covered sidewalk that hosts all arrivals for both X and RC pax. You will find two tables with each cruise line marked (a X table and a RC table). If you're checking bags (having bags delivered to your room), stop at one of these tables to check your bags. No fee for this. But yes, if porters assist you with your bags, a tip would be appreciated. We checked two roller carry-on bags, so we just tipped a few dollars. Those that had several large suitcases (it's one week, people!), I would hope that they tipped more.

 

We were booked in Aqua Class, so we had priority check-in.

-Zipped past the first snake line and up the escalator. There are two entrances: aqua, concierge, suites (priority) and then everything else. We bypassed this line.

-Then, there's your standard security check (metal detector and security agents). Again, two entrances: priority (as described above) and other. Priority immediately progresses to security, while "other" snakes.

-Next, there's the actual check-in with the ship. Again, two entrances to this process: priority and other. While both lines snake, the priority line is far shorter; I would guess the other check-in line is at least four times larger. At the ship check-in, your SeaPass card ID picture is taken and you are to present your documents (Xpress pass, ID, etc.).

**Warning**there is an illness questionnaire. It asks something like, "if you've experienced the following in the last 48 hours..." with descriptors such as vomiting, fever, diarrhea, etc. If you answer, "Yes," you will be averted to separate line where the ship's nurse will have to clear you prior to boarding. My husband had recently been ill, so he had to have his temperature taken prior to boarding.

-Finally, GET ON THE SHIP! :D

 

Yes, there are two ships, but immediately, guests are divided into X and RC with check-in on either side of the terminal.

 

With priority check-in, we would have been on the ship in 15 minutes (stepping out of the taxi and then onto the ship). The nurse check delayed us only 30 minutes.

 

 

[AnJ]

We left on the May 23rd trip. The rate from our Downtown Hotel to Pier 91 with Flat Rate for Hire, was $10, and the trip was fast and easy...

 

Gave the bags to a porter, along with a couple of Bucks and walked to the entrance to begin the check in...

 

Now for the Check in, for all us poor slobs that were not traveling AQ, or Concierge, or Elite, the line was quite long, quite long... We arrived at about 11:45 and did not get to sit at Bistro on Five until after 1:00... What can I say, it's part of travel today. The line snaked back and forth a few times, but did keep moving. Once at the counter, the check-in procedure was quick and painless.. Got our Seapass and boarded the ship.

 

But after that, everything was great. The ship was clean and in beautiful shape. I actually found no problems with anything, the food, the Classic Drinks Package, the restaurants, the Buffet, Etc. Etc.....

 

Enjoy, you'll love it!

[bigbenboys]

We left on the May 23rd trip. The rate from our Downtown Hotel to Pier 91 with Flat Rate for Hire, was $10, and the trip was fast and easy...

 

Gave the bags to a porter, along with a couple of Bucks and walked to the entrance to begin the check in...

 

Now for the Check in, for all us poor slobs that were not traveling AQ, or Concierge, or Elite, the line was quite long, quite long... We arrived at about 11:45 and did not get to sit at Bistro on Five until after 1:00... What can I say, it's part of travel today. The line snaked back and forth a few times, but did keep moving. Once at the counter, the check-in procedure was quick and painless.. Got our Seapass and boarded the ship.

 

But after that, everything was great. The ship was clean and in beautiful shape. I actually found no problems with anything, the food, the Classic Drinks Package, the restaurants, the Buffet, Etc. Etc.....

 

Enjoy, you'll love it!

 

We were on the June 30 Solstice ship out of Seattle. We are Elite+ and were booked in Aqua. We showed up at 2pm. It was great, there were no lines anywhere. We were able to go right to our cabin.

[Shake]

It is confusing with two ships boarding in the same area at the same time.

 

Just make sure your bags go with the Celebrity Porters and not with Royal Caribbean Porters.

 

My first time boarding Solstice I was mis-directed to the Royal Caribbean check in windows but caught the error after just a minute or two and went back around to the otherside with Celebrity.

 

Once inside some of the greeting workers for the port are not the sharpest knife around and are not sure themselves the difference between RCCL and Celebrity, so just beware. :cool:

[cruisingdelt]

Your hotel concierge can get you a cab or shuttle, both are reasonable. I suggest not leaving the hotel until after 12. Enjoy some great salmon and oysters while in Seattle. A warning about disembarkartion. The lines and the wait for taxis was looooooong for us last year(about 45 minutes). It is not Fort Lauderdale.

[Old As Dirt Mom]

We were on the June 30 Solstice ship out of Seattle. We are Elite+ and were booked in Aqua. We showed up at 2pm. It was great, there were no lines anywhere. We were able to go right to our cabin.

 

You were smart: that's what we should have done, LOL. We showed up at 12:40 and it was a zoo at security. Never experienced such a mess at Smith Cove terminal before. Ah well, it was a great cruise!!!

[Mrspeachykeen]

Has anyone used uber in Seattle at disembarkation rather then waiting for the taxi line?

 

 

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[filthybeagle]

We tried to use über on May 23 when we disembarked and got a rookie driver who got lost and cancelled our ride. You're better off securing a private car ahead of time as it is a total zoo in the taxi line. The private cars were coming in constantly and swiftly. Good luck!

 

 

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[tlund]

We went on the May 23rd sailing on the Solstice out of Seattle. We stayed at a hotel near the Space Needle the night before. When we checked in to the hotel, we put out names on the shuttle list. We were scheduled to leave at 11:30 although we wanted to get rolling at 10:30. It cost $6 per person to the pier.

 

When we were dropped off at the pier, we couldn't get a porter to even pay attention to us (a group of 10 travelers). There was a table set up outside with a long line of people trying to get luggage tags. Since we already tagged our luggage, we just left the luggage with a bunch of other luggage next to the table. Left hoping that our luggage would make it to our cabin (It did).

 

When we got inside the building, there was a "snaked" line to get on an escalator. There was an employee only letting a certain number of people on the escalator at a given time. After those people cleared, the employee at the top of the escalator would signal down that the employee at the bottom could allow a certain number of passengers up. The problem with that was that the employee at the bottom allowed more of the priority people through even though the line for regular passengers was way longer. We could have gone in the priority line, however, we were traveling with 9 other people that could not. Once we got up the escalator, there was a small line for security. Security was a breeze. After security, the non-priority check in line was extremely long. Longer than all of the queues set up.

 

It seemed as if the employees at check-in were not seasoned employees. They seemed as if they were running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Very disorganized and not very knowledgable. At our check-in, the employee could not figure out how to take our picture for security. We had to stop right at the ship to get our pictures taken.

 

From the time we were dropped off by the shuttle to the time we got to our cabins, it was about 2 hours and 20 minutes (noon to 2:20 p.m). Well longer than we are used to. Someone ahead of us in line made a comment that they need to learn a bit from Fort Lauderdale when it comes to check-in. Many people were complaining about check in and the disorganization. We were very disappointed. This was one of the worst check ins we experienced.

 

If we would have been on the 10:30 shuttle, would it have been different. Can't be sure.

[Annie777]

Lots of really great info here-thanks everyone. We are staying in the Queen Anne area the night before, and also the night after our cruise.

We don't line up well, so I'm thinking we'll have a nice lunch & get there around 2pm, & also take our time disembarking, as we're in no rush to be anywhere.

 

This is only our 2nd cruise, & part of a 4 week trip to the U.S.. We just cant wait!

[AnJ]

Has anyone used uber in Seattle at disembarkation rather then waiting for the taxi line?

 

 

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We used Flat Rate for Hire to get us to the Pier and made arraignments for him to pick us up and bring us to the Airport.. Once we got off the ship and were outside standing under a number, we called and told him where we were. He was there in about 10 minutes..

[ReadingDoc]

Thanks, everyone, for the very helpful information!

[seagrammy]

This was very helpful since we are flying in and going directly to the ship

we will be landing 12:30 so maybe 2 by the time we arrive @ pier 91.

I am unclear whether cab o shuttle would be best. any thoughts and ? cost

Thanks we will be on the 9/12 sailing.

[K.T.B.]

It is confusing with two ships boarding in the same area at the same time.

 

Just make sure your bags go with the Celebrity Porters and not with Royal Caribbean Porters.

 

My first time boarding Solstice I was mis-directed to the Royal Caribbean check in windows but caught the error after just a minute or two and went back around to the otherside with Celebrity.

 

Once inside some of the greeting workers for the port are not the sharpest knife around and are not sure themselves the difference between RCCL and Celebrity, so just beware. :cool:

 

This is why you should have your luggage tags on your bags before arriving to the port. Regardless of which porters take them, they'll see the tags. STILL, the OP should ask to make sure before handing them off.

[K.T.B.]

Lots of really great info here-thanks everyone. We are staying in the Queen Anne area the night before, and also the night after our cruise.

We don't line up well, so I'm thinking we'll have a nice lunch & get there around 2pm, & also take our time disembarking, as we're in no rush to be anywhere.

 

This is only our 2nd cruise, & part of a 4 week trip to the U.S.. We just cant wait!

 

You're extremely close to the pier in that area. So a taxi will not be expensive at all.

 

Also, if I may, I wholeheartedly recommend Toulouse Petit for breakfast. it's at 601 Queen Anne Avenue North. Best cajun breakfast outside of New Orleans, IMO. :)