SOLSTICE to Alaska 5/8/15

[bothluv2cruise]

Hi folks, thanks for the kind comments:) Hi Neil....yes, it was soooooo

much better:D

 

I will try to answer the questions.....I have no dailies..I never bring

them home.

 

Wine Conneissour Dinner was held in Tuscan and it was 95.00 per

person. They served bubbly to everyone first in CellarMasters and

then we went to Tuscan......we had 17 people.......2 tables next

to each other. I enjoyed it very much and both tables laughed most

of the evening......we all got along very well together.:) I thought

it was worth it and I think everyone else did too. You had choices

of appetiziers, soup/salad, entree and dessert. The food was very

good and the wine was flowing throughout.;)

 

The CC hostess is Rose and I don't know how long she will be

on board. I never asked her about the timing of her contract.

 

The Heliopad was at 7:00am and I think I stayed out there almost

2 hours. I know it was at least an hour.

 

Hope this helps a bit.

 

Hi Lois:

Did you sign up for the Wine Conneissour Dinner once you boarded the ship or do you have to be invited? I'd love to try it!

[Lois R]

Hi Lois:

Did you sign up for the Wine Conneissour Dinner once you boarded the ship or do you have to be invited? I'd love to try it!

 

Hi:) no invitation needed.....ask about it after you board the ship.

[perico1206]

Hi Lois,

 

Thank you so much for your uplifting review, we are booked on the Solstice for the cruise on September 11th. We have a large onboard credit, too, and I am thrilled to think we might actually use it all! This will be our first cruise on the Solstice but we have sailed on other S Class ships in the past and many times in Alaska. Many blessings your way and happy cruising!

 

Peggy

[bothluv2cruise]

Hi:) no invitation needed.....ask about it after you board the ship.

 

Thanks for the info, I'll ask when we board, sounds like a fun time.:)

[Lois R]

Hi Lois,

 

Thank you so much for your uplifting review, we are booked on the Solstice for the cruise on September 11th. We have a large onboard credit, too, and I am thrilled to think we might actually use it all! This will be our first cruise on the Solstice but we have sailed on other S Class ships in the past and many times in Alaska. Many blessings your way and happy cruising!

 

Peggy

 

Hi Peggy:)...oh there are quite a few very pricey excursions....you

can use up that credit pretty quickly that way:)

[micruiser12]

Hi Lois,

 

Thank you for your review! We sail on Solstice to Alaska in Aug. Can't wait!

 

I have a question about tipping for Michelle of Island Wings. We have an excursion with her too and since she is the owner I was wondering what most people do as far as tips. Did you notice most people tipping her or just thanking her?

 

Also, we may get the opportunity to be invited to the helipad and wondering if they served hot chocolate and provided blankets? We had that on another cold weather viewing from there. Did you feel you were there at the best time for viewing from 7-9 a.m.? We were thinking we would do breakfast on our balcony and then venture out there, but maybe we shouldn't wait too long.

[micruiser12]

Oh, I'm sorry, but one more question! Did you tender or dock in Juneau? If tendered, how was the process?

[Lois R]

Hi Lois,

 

Thank you for your review! We sail on Solstice to Alaska in Aug. Can't wait!

 

I have a question about tipping for Michelle of Island Wings. We have an excursion with her too and since she is the owner I was wondering what most people do as far as tips. Did you notice most people tipping her or just thanking her?

 

Also, we may get the opportunity to be invited to the helipad and wondering if they served hot chocolate and provided blankets? We had that on another cold weather viewing from there. Did you feel you were there at the best time for viewing from 7-9 a.m.? We were thinking we would do breakfast on our balcony and then venture out there, but maybe we shouldn't wait too long.

 

Hi...first part of your question.....I tipped Michelle. She gave us

a wonderful tour.:) There were 2 other couples on the flight.....I

mentioned giving her a tip and one of the husbands said to me

Aussies don't tip....so I am guessing they did not but I was not

looking and didn't reply back to him about it so I don't know 100%

if they did or did not.......

 

I did and felt good about it.:)

 

Yes, they had blankets and hot chocolate and as the best time for

viewing? I loved it.:D....I don't know if it was the best or not.......

I had fun.....so that is what matters most;)

[Lois R]

Oh, I'm sorry, but one more question! Did you tender or dock in Juneau? If tendered, how was the process?

 

We docked but we were the furtherst away from town. 2 HAL ships

got the Prime Spots. Celebrity had buses taking you to town and

other buses for tours/excursions.

You could walk if you want......I was really dumb and walked back

to the ship from town after my tour....:rolleyes:.....not sure why but sometimes

my elevator just doesn't go all the way to the top:o....one of stupidest

things I have done recently......it is up a hill and I am not in shape....

My legs were burning by the time I got on the ship:eek:

[Lois R]

I am remembering a few other things......they had a lunch in Murano

too. I had a lobster dish and it was quite good:)

[Snit13]

Reading your posts makes me want to return to Alaska. Rudy and I went to Alaska via Canada Rail from Toronto to Jasper then took the train to Port and traveled via Alaska ferry. We were there about 2 months and also had rail pass and rented a car to do Kenai Peninsula. We actually visited and walked on some of the glaciers. We returned via Princess to Vancouver and then bus to Seattle and train to Pittsburgh. It was quite an adventure and we stayed in B&B's most of the time while in Alaska. The cruise back was awesome and we were on port side of ship and saw a lot of exciting glacier action.

 

It would have been fun just sailing with you again, Lois. Keep up the good posts.

 

Grace

[Lois R]

Hi Grace, thanks:) maybe one day our paths will cross again.

[micruiser12]

I am remembering a few other things......they had a lunch in Murano

too. I had a lobster dish and it was quite good:)

 

Lois, thanks so much for answering my other questions on here! Now one more regarding lunch in Murano. What day was that? I'm assuming one of the sea days?

[Lois R]

Lois, thanks so much for answering my other questions on here! Now one more regarding lunch in Murano. What day was that? I'm assuming one of the sea days?

 

Hi, it was not the last sea day but the day before. We didn't dock in

Victoria until about 5:00pm. I had lunch in Murano that day....so it

was sort of a sea day but we were in Victoria till midnight.

[micruiser12]

Hi, it was not the last sea day but the day before. We didn't dock in

Victoria until about 5:00pm. I had lunch in Murano that day....so it

was sort of a sea day but we were in Victoria till midnight.

 

Thank you for your response again. Now I have more questions! What did you do in Victoria? We plan to go to the gardens since this is our first time there. Hopefully, it will be light enough.

 

Also, how was the port of Seattle for embarkment and disembarkment? Do anything special in Seattle you would recommend?

Edited May 20, 2015 by micruiser12

[Abigail 2008]

Thank you for your response again. Now I have more questions! What did you do in Victoria? We plan to go to the gardens since this is our first time there. Hopefully, it will be light enough.

 

Also, how was the port of Seattle for embarkment and disembarkment? Do anything special in Seattle you would recommend?

 

If you get a chance to go to Butchart Gardens go. It is beautiful:)

[Abigail 2008]

Just a couple of notes. You will love the Solstice, it is a beautiful ship. A couple of tips. If you are stopping at Juneau, go see the Mendenhall Glacier. You can get a bus at the dock for just a few bucks and stay there as long as you wish. They make trips all day and you can come back when you want, 45 min is not enough time to do everything there. I wanted to walk out to Nugget falls and didn't have time. Also, the Mendenhall Float trip is great. We took it from the ship. Be sure to go to the Red Dog Saloon. Ketchikan is a great place to take pictures. Enjoy your trip. wish I was going back.

[Lois R]

Thank you for your response again. Now I have more questions! What did you do in Victoria? We plan to go to the gardens since this is our first time there. Hopefully, it will be light enough.

 

Also, how was the port of Seattle for embarkment and disembarkment? Do anything special in Seattle you would recommend?

 

Hi, I went out to dinner with a friend who works on the ship.

 

I have been to Butchart Gardens before and definitely recommend

it:)

 

The port? Embarkation was busy....disembarkation was easy peasy

for me. I was on a cruise ship transfer and when I got to theater

my number had just been called so I didn't even have to wait all....

It was very easy to find my bag, go through customs and then outside

to the bus.

I recommend Chandler's Crabhouse in Seattle for dinner:D......it is

in the Lake Union Area. I stayed at the Silver Cloud Inn and the

restaurant is within walking distance.

Edited May 20, 2015 by Lois R

[Lois R]

Hi Lois,

 

As always, I enjoy reading your thoughts and optimistic views. Welcome home and hoping the shock back to reality is gradual for you. :)

 

Hugs from me and Mom

 

Walter

 

Hi Walter:D...sorry I missed your reply:o....hope you and your Mom

are doing well!

[tjcletsgo]

Thanks:)...if you have any questions I will try to answer them.

 

Lois, can you elaborate on your cruise from h--l?:D

 

Janie

[Lois R]

Lois, can you elaborate on your cruise from h--l?:D

 

Janie

 

Hi, I really don't want to ruin my current review with something like that

and there will also be people who come on here to flame me for taking

that cruise in the first place.

Lets just say it was a Spring Break cruise and more than 1/2 of the ship

was taken over.......I have never experienced anything like it before

and hope to never again. Not just a "few rowdy kids" but there were

more than 1,000 of them. Not a pleasant experience.....

Edited May 23, 2015 by Lois R

[curtdesilets]

Hi, I really don't want to ruin my current review with something like that

and there will also be people who come on here to flame me for taking

that cruise in the first place.

Lets just say it was a Spring Break cruise and more than 1/2 of the ship

was taken over.......I have never experienced anything like it before

and hope to never again. Not just a "few rowdy kids" but there were

more than 1,000 of them. Not a pleasant experience.....

 

When Celebrity went to this 1,2,3 "All you Can Drink" promotion and simultaneously started to market to younger potential cruisers, I said "Uh, Oh"! :eek:

 

I was at a Professional Beach Volleyball Tournament in Long Beach two summers ago, and Celebrity was the major sponsor. The crowd was mostly teens and 20-somethings and the alcohol was flowing heavily. The promotion of a free classic drink package coupled with very affordable cruise prices must have stirred a few of those college kids to say, "Hum". Remember, Long Beach is a College town. CSULB has about 40K students.

 

Remind me to cruise another line, one that does not offer free unlimited drinks, if we are doing it during Spring Break. ;)

 

I'm sorry you had to experience this Lois, but glad you gave Celebrity another shot afterwards. I bet many would not. We are loyal Celebrity cruisers, but I was a bit dismayed at the drink package promotions, for multiple reasons.

Edited May 24, 2015 by curtdesilets

[Lois R]

My suggestion would be just sail another time......or if in March, a longer

cruise. We were docked next to Sihlouette in Cozumel....she was doing

a 7 nighter and I spoke with folks who sailed her....they had ~0~ issues.

[Terry in NJ]

Lois, thanks for all the fabulous information! Now about that lunch in Murano... I did read elsewhere to avoid the Main dining room that Victoria day at dinnertime, since they only have one seating at 5:00. I guess because of the night visit.

So my question is, do they serve the same Murano dinner menu at lunchtime? Do you remember the cost? Also, were there any special offers (20% off or a "twofer" LOL) for any of the specialty restaurants during your week? Thanks so much again!

[Lois R]

Lois, thanks for all the fabulous information! Now about that lunch in Murano... I did read elsewhere to avoid the Main dining room that Victoria day at dinnertime, since they only have one seating at 5:00. I guess because of the night visit.

So my question is, do they serve the same Murano dinner menu at lunchtime? Do you remember the cost? Also, were there any special offers (20% off or a "twofer" LOL) for any of the specialty restaurants during your week? Thanks so much again!

 

Hi Terry...I think lunch was 20.00 or 25.00...can't remember exactly:eek:

It is not the same as the dinner menu but it was good to me:D

I sail solo so I don't know if they were offering any 2for1.....I have

been given discounts before though...you need to ask the Maitr'd

if they are offering anything.

As for dinner in the main dining room on the day in Victoria, Our

waiter told us it was "open dining" that evening...he never mentioned

anything about 5:00 only.

I ate at a really nice Pub in Victoria with a friend who works on the

ship so I cannot tell you what exactly was offered on board that

evening.

Edited May 26, 2015 by Lois R