Celebrity Solstice August 15 - 23 review

[Caroniaguy]

Celebrity does many things right, an Incredibly Wonderful, hardworking staff, Wonderful food, Beautiful cabins, elegant ships and a wide array of options to customize your vacation time. We sailed on the August 15, 2014 Inside Passage Cruise to Alaska with our family. We had multiple cabins, ours was a Concierge Level cabin, #1207 on Sky Deck. Beautifully laid out and well designed this was a pleasant roomy cabin with a small balcony. Our room attendants were friendly, helpful yet unobtrusive...although the same can be said for absolutely every staff member we encountered. Everyone was a delight and no question or concern was too small or trivial. The staff and how it relates to and works with guests is one of Celebrity Cruises very strong points. Food throughout the ship was thoughtfully prepared, well presented and tasty. Surprisingly, The Oceanview Café (the Lido buffet) was among the best we've ever experienced (this was cruise number 14 for us). The layout of Café was well planned and facilitated an easy flow throughout. The food was of equal quality to the Main Dining Room and was well displayed creating an appealing visual presentation. It would be very easy to completely blow your diet here. We also had occasion to try some of the food offerings in SPA area of the Solstice, forgive me but I forgot the name of this eatery. Again, quality was very good and beautifully presented as well as tasty. The Grand Epernay Dining Room is a breathtaking room that settles somewhere between late 90's modern and Jetsonesque in appearance. Understated, this room lets the food and service be the star of the show, and it was. A diversified menu offered many options and we were able to find a delicious entrée each evening. Our group also tried The Tuscan Grill one evening. Again, spot on service, and very good food. Here though we encountered one of the few challenges of our trip; there was a problem with several orders of steak that were not prepared as requested and arrived very overcooked. When this was brought to the attention of our waitstaff, they offered to recook the entire meal. Those with the overcooked food refused (this is not a fast service venue and the rest of us would have been finished with our meal by the time the food had been re-cooked) and chose not to finish their meal and simply requested that they not be charged. There was much discussion amongst the waitstaff and restaurant manager but in the end, they refused to remove the charges for those who didn't eat. Our group spent $300 dining in this venue and this should have been handled better.

There are a number of bars onboard and many of them were busy at all hours. The most popular spot was the Martini Bar. It is obvious that the staff here enjoys their work and wants to create a memorable experience for every passenger. The Molecular Bar is good but not outstanding, at $13 per cocktail I expect to be wooed and tempted. The multi-page menu here is somewhat overwhelming but the knowledgeable bartenders (they won't let forget how much they know and how lucky you are to be there) offer suggestions but are rather abrupt and even a bit catty in trying to get you make a decision so they can move on to the next guest. The Sky Lounge Was a spectacular space that offered panoramic views. It was sadly very underutilized and remained empty much of the time. The same was true for Quasar Nightclub which was mostly used for table tennis and for Cellar Masters Wine Bar, which just seemed to empty anytime we stopped by.

During one of our sea days we did happen upon The Corning Hot Glass Show. In a word, outstanding. Do not miss this. The artisans onboard were knowledgeable, approachable and created a sense of excitement and beauty in the work they performed. Viewing is up close and sightlines are quite good. It is amazing what they are able to accomplish with the limitations they have trying to do a glass show at sea.

When we cruise we usually purchase a pass to the Persian Gardens (Thermal Suite) for the length of cruise and we did so this time. We find that it is important to spend some time unwinding, especially after a day of touring and this is a good way to do it. The Persian Gardens are a part of The Canyon Ranch Spa onboard. This is a mixed venue with both men and women. Well designed and with uninterrupted views of the ocean this was a place we went to daily. It was quite relaxing although very busy. With the addition of AquaSpa cabins the PG was far busier than we have ever experienced although this is not much of a problem. What was a problem was the PG was largely unmonitored and we were aware of one group of guests who hadn't paid for use of this area being admitted by another family member who had purchased the pass. Alternatively there are saunas in each of the dressing rooms (Men's and Women's) as well as showers and dressing areas. This would be good for those sharing cabins as it gives the possibility of showering outside your cabin while freeing up the cabin shower for other family members, however the dressing rooms are part of Canyon Ranch and so are subject to the same opening and closing hours...which is not always convenient.

As I stated earlier, this was an Inside Passage Cruise to Alaska, and we were not disappointed. Yes there was rain for about half the cruise but that was not anything we could control so we just moved on and enjoyed the stops as much as possible. Ketchikan was a pleasant stop with a little bit to do, much of it surrounding the Ketchikan Creek and the "Red Light District" building that have since been converted to restaurants, artist spaces and tourist shops. Pleasant and a good way to kill some time. We opted to spend time at the Ketchikan Historical Museum and were not disappointed, the local history is fascinating and gives a good albeit brief overview of the Ketchikan story. This stop was quite rainy and so we did not explore as much as we would had the weather been better.

Juneau was the 2nd stop and there was much to do. Of course the requisite tourist shops were there in abundance. We opted to do zip lining as "our tour" in Tongass National Forest. Yes it is scary, yes I was scared, true it was high up there but I'm so glad I did go and likely will do it again. The rush of excitement, the uncertainty of my abilities and egging on of the others in our group made it an excursion to remember. Once safely back on land, we also explored the surrounding area and happened into the oldest Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska. It is tiny, and despite all odds the local population is trying mightily to preserve and restore this bit of Juneau history.

Skagway was our last Alaska stop and owing to much improved weather was one of our favorites. It has retained the frontier flavor of a bygone era. Colorful, friendly, full of tourist shops there is something for everyone in Skagway. We booked a local excursion here and paralleled, by bus, the White Pass train trail. We had numerous stops and plenty of time to photograph and do some brief exploring. As do most tours, ours culminated at the border crossing between the U.S. and Canada in the Klondike. The views were breathtaking and our knowledgeable guide made the trip well worth the cost. Don't forget to ask about the wild blueberries! YUM.

Victoria B.C. our final stop of this cruise was Victoria. This is truly a gem and it was unfortunate that we only had a few hours here as this would easily be an overnight stop. Beautiful, friendly and infinitely walkable, Victoria abounds with pleasant sights, people and history. If you photograph at all, be sure to have your camera with you here. Look in at The Empress Hotel, walk the side streets of charming little houses, talk to the locals...we were asked several times what our impression was of the island and people were genuinely curious to know if we liked Victoria...we did, so will you. It is an easy walk to town from the pier, walking through the neighborhood rather than along the seawall cuts the walk time to about 15 minutes.

Celebrity does many things right, from ships, to staff, to itineraries, to food. There is much to be said about their desire to create a vacation experience. However, where it goes off track it does so with alarming consequences for its' passengers:

The Life Boat Drill is one of the most chaotic, disorganized events I have ever witnessed. I observed that even the crew is not entirely sure of what to do with all the passengers. The drill is conducted indoors, so you don't actually report to your lifeboat station as on other cruises. Once you find your indoor meeting place then the chaos begins. Stand here, move there, sit here, no don't sit here, move over to the far side of the room, line up in rows, break the rows down, squeeze together more. I understand and support the need for these drills but was left wondering how this would be handled if the emergency were real. Concerning.

Music. This was the real challenge of this cruise, music. Where Celebrity goes off track badly, this is it.

From morning to night it was one continuous din. We enjoy a party as much as the next person, but the overwhelming, pulsating, pounding, driving, loud bar music made for a very unpleasant trip. I'm not elderly, not really even old but felt as if we couldn't escape the noise anywhere other than our cabin. We felt like prisoners being "musicboarded". Even in areas of the ship where you'd expect quiet, the music was over-loud, Persian Gardens (irritatingly loud screechy vocals as well the thumping music from the fitness center next door), the Solarium Pool, blasting instrumentals (here at least they willingly would turn down the volume to a reasonable level if asked), The Atrium area (the volume of music was so loud that you couldn't speak to the person standing next to you without shouting. Amazingly this is also an area where passengers and staff conduct business at the front desk, shore excursions office, etc and having to shout to be heard means having to announce your business to everyone around.). Yes, I understand that Celebrity is trying to create a "party atmosphere" however, how is it enjoyable when one is assaulted by the music? Imagine waiting outside The Grand Epernay Dining Room for the doors to open, you and several hundred others crowded into a small area with thumping bar music playing so loud that all you can do is stand and listen since there is no conversation possible, not pleasant.). Or how about the elderly female passenger outside Celebrity Central theater who repeatedly tried to get help from a staff member as she was becoming ill and needed to be assisted to a restroom but had to resort to yelling for help as the music was so loud that she could not be heard until it was too late. Not pleasant for her I'm sure. I also understand that "too loud" is a matter of opinion so others may disagree. We are not looking for a "snooze cruise" but an experience where music is appropriate to the venue in which it is located. A 15 deck open atrium that has the library, card room and ILounge backing onto it, having insanely loud, thumping, pumping music is not the answer. As others have noted, many obvious music venues where under-utilized (Sky Lounge, Quasar, Cellar Masters) and these areas sat empty most evenings or were used for table tennis (Quasar). In the Sky Lounge and Quasar, I expect dance or techno music and welcome it and will likely participate as the mood strikes me. If I choose not to be a part of the music activities, then my choice offends no one and I can move to an area of the ship where I can relax with a book, have a quiet drink, socialize with friends and recharge and re-energize myself in my own way. Let ME choose when to be part of the party. Celebrity has made a serious mistake with this marketing model and I can't help but think it will turn away more of us than attract. This why my review goes from a 5 star to a 3 star. I understand that some will say this is an unfair reduction in the rating after so many positives, but like ongoing rude service, or a too hot cabin, missed stops and bad food the music was a deal breaker since it was so pervasive and inescapable. This is my 4th cruise on Celebrity and this experience will make this my last...it appears that I am past the marketing target that Celebrity is going after.

So there it is in a large, long nutshell. Many positives. An itinerary that I would quickly recommend, a beautiful ship with an outstanding staff, delicious food, beautiful cabins and public areas. Of concern, a more than challenging life boat drill and completely overwhelming music from stem to stern at all times. A good cruise but much better when your not on the ship.

[Sloop-JohnB]

I am sure this is a great Review... And I would love to read it

 

But as it stands now it is a huge solid block of text... Any chance you could go back in and edit in some more space / returns between the paragraphs

 

Cheers!

[jsf]

We were on the same cruise a week after you and found many of the same problems you did plus dining room service was very slow at times. I'm thinking that the dining room staff has too many tables to take care of and some nights they get addtional quests from Select dining. The ship very nice and most staff very willing to help, the major problem with the music is it's location, the center of the ship is no place to have loud bands or singers.

J.

[TLCOhio]

I am sure this is a great Review... And I would love to read it. But as it stands now it is a huge solid block of text... Any chance you could go back in and edit in some more space / returns between the paragraphs. Cheers!

 

Appreciate both the report and the wonderful suggestion from our friend in Canada. Many like to scan through reports in order to look for certain areas of interest and info need. With a Bold, CAPS and/or italic, it can speed things up for many of us who like to "skim" and find key highlights quickly.

 

Just highlight a section of type and use the B, I and U buttons at the top left section above where we type our text.

 

Seems like the report was thoughtfully done and with many important details of substance to share with others.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Back from doing a 14-day Celebrity Solstice, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure on this ship and getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for much more information and lots of wonderful pictures on these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 76,063 views for this fun posting.

[Caroniaguy]

Thanks for the suggestions, let's try this again:

 

Celebrity does many things right, an Incredibly Wonderful, hardworking staff, Wonderful food, Beautiful cabins, elegant ships and a wide array of options to customize your vacation time. We sailed on the August 15, 2014 Inside Passage Cruise to Alaska with our family. We had multiple cabins, ours was a Concierge Level cabin, #1207 on Sky Deck. Beautifully laid out and well designed this was a pleasant roomy cabin with a small balcony. Our room attendants were friendly, helpful yet unobtrusive...although the same can be said for absolutely every staff member we encountered. Everyone was a delight and no question or concern was too small or trivial. The staff and how it relates to and works with guests is one of Celebrity Cruises very strong points.

 

Food throughout the ship was thoughtfully prepared, well presented and tasty. Surprisingly, The Oceanview Café (the Lido buffet) was among the best we've ever experienced (this was cruise number 14 for us). The layout of Café was well planned and facilitated an easy flow throughout. The food was of equal quality to the Main Dining Room and was well displayed creating an appealing visual presentation. It would be very easy to completely blow your diet here. We also had occasion to try some of the food offerings in SPA area of the Solstice, forgive me but I forgot the name of this eatery. Again, quality was very good and beautifully presented as well as tasty. The Grand Epernay Dining Room is a breathtaking room that settles somewhere between late 90's modern and Jetsonesque in appearance. Understated, this room lets the food and service be the star of the show, and it was. A diversified menu offered many options and we were able to find a delicious entrée each evening.

 

 

Our group also tried The Tuscan Grill one evening. Again, spot on service, and very good food. Here though we encountered one of the few challenges of our trip; there was a problem with several orders of steak that were not prepared as requested and arrived very overcooked. When this was brought to the attention of our waitstaff, they offered to recook the entire meal. Those with the overcooked food refused (this is not a fast service venue and the rest of us would have been finished with our meal by the time the food had been re-cooked) and chose not to finish their meal and simply requested that they not be charged. There was much discussion amongst the waitstaff and restaurant manager but in the end, they refused to remove the charges for those who didn't eat. Our group spent $300 dining in this venue and this should have been handled better.

 

 

There are a number of bars onboard and many of them were busy at all hours. The most popular spot was the Martini Bar. It is obvious that the staff here enjoys their work and wants to create a memorable experience for every passenger. The Molecular Bar is good but not outstanding, at $13 per cocktail I expect to be wooed and tempted. The multi-page menu here is somewhat overwhelming but the knowledgeable bartenders (they won't let forget how much they know and how lucky you are to be there) offer suggestions but are rather abrupt and even a bit catty in trying to get you make a decision so they can move on to the next guest. The Sky Lounge was a spectacular space that offered panoramic views. It was sadly very underutilized and remained empty much of the time. The same was true for Quasar Nightclub which was mostly used for table tennis and for Cellar Masters Wine Bar, which just seemed to empty anytime we stopped by.

 

 

During one of our sea days we did happen upon The Corning Hot Glass Show. In a word, outstanding. Do not miss this. The artisans onboard were knowledgeable, approachable and created a sense of excitement and beauty in the work they performed. Viewing is up close and sightlines are quite good. It is amazing what they are able to accomplish with the limitations they have trying to do a glass show at sea.

 

When we cruise we usually purchase a pass to the Persian Gardens (Thermal Suite) for the length of cruise and we did so this time. We find that it is important to spend some time unwinding, especially after a day of touring and this is a good way to do it. The Persian Gardens are a part of The Canyon Ranch Spa onboard. This is a mixed venue with both men and women. Well designed and with uninterrupted views of the ocean this was a place we went to daily. It was quite relaxing although very busy. With the addition of AquaSpa cabins the PG was far busier than we have ever experienced although this is not much of a problem. What was a problem was the PG was largely unmonitored and we were aware of one group of guests who hadn't paid for use of this area being admitted by another family member who had purchased the pass. Alternatively there are saunas in each of the dressing rooms (Men's and Women's) as well as showers and dressing areas. This would be good for those sharing cabins as it gives the possibility of showering outside your cabin while freeing up the cabin shower for other family members, however the dressing rooms are part of Canyon Ranch and so are subject to the same opening and closing hours...which is not always convenient.

 

 

As I stated earlier, this was an Inside Passage Cruise to Alaska, and we were not disappointed. Yes there was rain for about half the cruise but that was not anything we could control so we just moved on and enjoyed the stops as much as possible. Ketchikan was a pleasant stop with a little bit to do, much of it surrounding the Ketchikan Creek and the "Red Light District" building that have since been converted to restaurants, artist spaces and tourist shops. Pleasant and a good way to kill some time. We opted to spend time at the Ketchikan Historical Museum and were not disappointed, the local history is fascinating and gives a good albeit brief overview of the Ketchikan story. This stop was quite rainy and so we did not explore as much as we would had the weather been better.

 

 

Juneau was the 2nd stop and there was much to do. Of course the requisite tourist shops were there in abundance. We opted to do zip lining as "our tour" in Tongass National Forest. Yes it is scary, yes I was scared, true it was high up there but I'm so glad I did go and likely will do it again. The rush of excitement, the uncertainty of my abilities and egging on of the others in our group made it an excursion to remember. Once safely back on land, we also explored the surrounding area and happened into the oldest Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska. It is tiny, and despite all odds the local population is trying mightily to preserve and restore this bit of Juneau history.

 

 

Skagway was our last Alaska stop and owing to much improved weather was one of our favorites. It has retained the frontier flavor of a bygone era. Colorful, friendly, full of tourist shops there is something for everyone in Skagway. We booked a local excursion here and paralleled, by bus, the White Pass train trail. We had numerous stops and plenty of time to photograph and do some brief exploring. As do most tours, ours culminated at the border crossing between the U.S. and Canada in the Klondike. The views were breathtaking and our knowledgeable guide made the trip well worth the cost. Don't forget to ask about the wild blueberries! YUM.

 

 

Victoria B.C. was our final stop of this cruise. This is truly a gem and it was unfortunate that we only had a few hours here as this would easily be an overnight stop. Beautiful, friendly and infinitely walkable, Victoria abounds with pleasant sights, people and history. If you photograph at all, be sure to have your camera with you here. Look in at The Empress Hotel, walk the side streets of charming little houses, talk to the locals...we were asked several times what our impression was of the island and people were genuinely curious to know if we liked Victoria...we did, so will you. It is an easy walk to town from the pier, walking through the neighborhood rather than along the seawall cuts the walk time to about 15 minutes.

 

 

Celebrity does many things right, from ships, to staff, to itineraries, to food. There is much to be said about their desire to create a vacation experience. However, where it goes off track it does so with alarming consequences for it’s passengers:

 

The Life Boat Drill is one of the most chaotic, disorganized events I have ever witnessed. I observed that even the crew is not entirely sure of what to do with all the passengers. The drill is conducted indoors, so you don't actually report to your lifeboat station as on other cruises. Once you find your indoor meeting place then the chaos begins. Stand here, move there, sit here, no don't sit here, move over to the far side of the room, line up in rows, break the rows down, squeeze together more. I understand and support the need for these drills but was left wondering how this would be handled if the emergency were real. Concerning.

 

Music. This was the real challenge of this cruise, music. Where Celebrity goes off track badly, this is it.

 

From morning to night it was one continuous din. We enjoy a party as much as the next person, but the overwhelming, pulsating, pounding, driving, loud bar music made for a very unpleasant trip. I'm not elderly, not really even old but felt as if we couldn't escape the noise anywhere other than our cabin. We felt like prisoners being "musicboarded". Even in areas of the ship where you'd expect quiet, the music was over-loud, Persian Gardens (irritatingly loud screechy vocals as well the thumping music from the fitness center next door), the Solarium Pool, blasting instrumentals (here at least they willingly would turn down the volume to a reasonable level if asked), The Atrium area (the volume of music was so loud that you couldn't speak to the person standing next to you without shouting. Amazingly this is also an area where passengers and staff conduct business at the front desk, shore excursions office, etc and having to shout to be heard means having to announce your business to everyone around.).

 

 

Yes, I understand that Celebrity is trying to create a "party atmosphere" however, how is it enjoyable when one is assaulted by the music? Imagine waiting outside The Grand Epernay Dining Room for the doors to open, you and several hundred others crowded into a small area with thumping bar music playing so loud that all you can do is stand and listen since there is no conversation possible, not pleasant.). Or how about the elderly female passenger outside Celebrity Central theater who repeatedly tried to get help from a staff member as she was becoming ill and needed to be assisted to a restroom but had to resort to yelling for help as the music was so loud that she could not be heard until it was too late. Not pleasant for her I'm sure.

 

I also understand that "too loud" is a matter of opinion so others may disagree. We are not looking for a "snooze cruise" but an experience where music is appropriate to the venue in which it is located. A 15 deck open atrium that has the library, card room and ILounge backing onto it, having insanely loud, thumping, pumping music is not the answer. As others have noted, many obvious music venues where under-utilized (Sky Lounge, Quasar, Cellar Masters) and these areas sat empty most evenings or were used for table tennis (Quasar).

 

In the Sky Lounge and Quasar, I expect dance or techno music and welcome it and will likely participate as the mood strikes me. If I choose not to be a part of the music activities, then my choice offends no one and I can move to an area of the ship where I can relax with a book, have a quiet drink, socialize with friends and recharge and re-energize myself in my own way. Let ME choose when to be part of the party. Celebrity has made a serious mistake with this marketing model and I can't help but think it will turn away more of us than attract. This why my review goes from a 5 star to a 3 star. I understand that some will say this is an unfair reduction in the rating after so many positives, but like ongoing rude service, or a too hot cabin, missed stops and bad food the music was a deal breaker since it was so pervasive and inescapable. This is my 4th cruise on Celebrity and this experience will make this my last...it appears that I am past the marketing target that Celebrity is going after.

 

So there it is in a large, long nutshell. Many positives. An itinerary that I would quickly recommend, a beautiful ship with an outstanding staff, delicious food, beautiful cabins and public areas. Of concern, a more than challenging life boat drill and completely overwhelming music from stem to stern at all times. A good cruise but much better when your not on the ship.

[BayAreaBC]

Thanks for the review. It's a shame that people repeatedly complain about the music and noise. Not everyone is looking for a non-stop party. In a ship as large as the Solstice it should be easy for Celebrity to have both quiet relaxing and party areas.

 

Now I know to stick to the Epernay. There is no way I would pay an extra $300 for an error in the kitchen. IMHO, if they ate the appetizers and desserts a substantial discount would be in order and/or a comp to another night at one of the specialty restaurants.

[SkystheLimit]

Thank you for the comprehensive and informative review. We were cruising on the Pacific Princess at the same time. We were in port together on one day but can't remember which. Think it might have been Ketchikan. Think we were very fortunate with the weather. The crew said it was horrible the week before.

 

Celebrity just seems to not want to budge on this music issue in spite of many complaints. We love the S class ships and have cruises booked on the Equinox and Solstice next year. Maybe we will just walk around the ship with our noise cancelling headsets on!

 

We certainly did not miss the blaring music of Celebrity on the Pacific. We did miss other things including the better buffet food. There was a lovely Alaskan buffet on our day in Glacier Bay which we enjoyed. However, the day to day is much better on Celebrity.

 

Alaska totally surprised me in it's beauty. I had read and seen so much in pictures but nothing compared to the reality of it in person!

[cruisequeen4ever]

I agree with you about there being appropriate and inappropriate venues and times for music. I love going to the club and dancing to Electronic Dance Music, but when I'm strolling through the atrium, I want a peaceful, relaxing ambience. And goodness, there should not be vocals in the thermal suite, the most relaxing part of the ship! Try going on Princess; we experience a great balance of fun and peace. Princess often has a string quartet in the atrium, soothing music in the spa, no music in the halls and venues like the library, and lively dance music by the pool and in the club.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[alazok]

Thank you for your review.

My sister and I were on the Solstice in April visiting the South Pacific. We had a wonderful time and the ship is beautiful.

Fortunately, the music was not overly loud, and I am a person who takes ear plugs with me everywhere!

I agree that there are many underutilized areas on the boat, especially the Sky Lounge. My sister and I thought it was the perfect venue for music and dancing rather than the main foyer. Most of the time it was empty. On the one occasion, during the afternoon, we ordered a drink from the bar, the barman was not very friendly. We had to wait at least 20 mins just to order a drink as there were only 2 on the bar.

The solarium was our favourite spot during the daytime. We found the music very pleasant, relaxing and not very loud. The adults only rule was strictly adhered to as well.

I agree with you about the life boat drill. Our muster station was Micheal's Bar. People were crammed in with no where to sit and hardly anyone could view the TV screen. It was also stifling hot in there. I can assure you that if there were an emergency, I would not be running to this out of the way spot if I thought we were sinking!

We are on the Solstice again this October and are counting down the days.

[Sloop-JohnB]

Great review (and thanks for making it easier to read... Now that I have I would say I would have hate to have missed... Filled with valuable info)

 

Saddened to hear that music has changed on the Solstice we were on her in 2012 and never was that an issue.

 

Agree that the Sky Lounge is a gorgeous venue and very under utilized... It would make a perfect late night dance / party venue on many cruises. Don't know why Celebrity doesn't see that.

 

As for Muster Drills, sounds like things have changed somewhat since I was last on the Solstice (January 2012, days after the Costa Concordia sank). We were in the large venues for our Station, but the tone & presentation was very serious. It was also explained to us over the PA by Captain Larsson WHY exactly things were done this way versus everyone going to the Lifeboat Deck... It was to take a head count, and reduce panic... And if deemed needed an orderly evacuation where in the worst of circumstances hopefully less lives would be lost vs everyone just standing willy nilly on the Promenade Deck staring at the lifeboats anxious to know what was happening / get off (which might not even be necessary). Made sense to me then. Makes sense to me now. Celebrity may have to do a better job delivering that message.

 

I have made notes of your comments on Alaska... Mr Sloop & I don't anticipate cruising there soon... But still good to know.

 

As for Victoria... One of Canada's prettiest cities for sure. If you can swing it you should come back and do a land tour of BC sometime... There is most definitely a reason that the Province's License Plate Motto says "Beautiful British Columbia"

 

Cheers!

Edited September 10, 2014 by Sloop-JohnB

[Christine Frances]

Janine sailed on the Solstice Aug 29th and her thread does not mention any loud music. She will be posting a full review soon and hopefully she will post her opinion.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2097261&page=2

Edited September 10, 2014 by Christine Frances

[TeaBag]

We were on Solstice April/May and there was no loud music. Sorry to hear it has been cranked up again.

 

Thank you for your review.

[Caroniaguy]

Thanks for your comments and thoughts. Sorry this was so hard to read in the earlier version....if I could delete the earlier version I would but alas there doesn't seem to be a way. I wanted to add that this was our 4th Celebrity cruise and we were excited and happy to try this newer ship. The music had never been an issue previously and that was what made this time so difficult. Yes, perhaps we should have brought earplugs, who knew!?! The best musical mishap on the trip occurred while we sat in the sauna and got to listen to "Ave Maria"...this was rather disconcerting as we all were in various states of undress....a little like being naked in church. The looks on the faces of the others was priceless...we still are laughing about that one! Yes, Celebrity really does need to seriously rethink their music marketing. From other reviews and other ships it appears that there is very little consistency on volume.

[JanineM]

Janine sailed on the Solstice Aug 29th and her thread does not mention any loud music. She will be posting a full review soon and hopefully she will post her opinion.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2097261&page=2

 

I'm working on my review right now :) i hadn't planned to mention music because i didn't notice it. Guess I'll have to elaborate more!

[JanineM]

Appreciate both the report and the wonderful suggestion from our friend in Canada. Many like to scan through reports in order to look for certain areas of interest and info need. With a Bold, CAPS and/or italic, it can speed things up for many of us who like to "skim" and find key highlights quickly.

 

Just highlight a section of type and use the B, I and U buttons at the top left section above where we type our text.

 

Seems like the report was thoughtfully done and with many important details of substance to share with others.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Back from doing a 14-day Celebrity Solstice, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure on this ship and getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for much more information and lots of wonderful pictures on these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 76,063 views for this fun posting.

 

I don't like to be a negative Nelly, but honestly I find the constant shifts in bold and italics to be really distracting. Well space text, minus a lot of elaboration, seems to be easier on the eyes. I tend to skip posts with a lot of fonts, emojis and photos. JMHO :)

 

Glad the OP was able to increase the paragraph spacing. Was easy to read the second time!

[PathfinderEss]

Thanks for your review and for the breaks in paragraphs.:D