On the Solstice now

[hcat]

5 hours ago, MarEll1 said:

Did you do an excursion on Catalina? We stop there the end of Feb. and are trying to figure out what to do. Glad you enjoyed it.

Also I just saw you are in Tucson - us too!

 

 we took an X excursion on our cruise a few yrs ago.

it went way up and  all around and hit many highlights..It was very scenic and informative. Wished for more time at  some photo stops..did not include the casino....There's  alot more to Catalina Island  than the area by the water.  Glad we booked the excursion!

 

After our tour, we had time for lunch

( more cruisers than seats for lunch ,,& service can be slow..pick something simple and quick!,)  Also made a stop in to the pharmscy and a few tee shirt/ postcard  stores...

 

a fav port!

[MarEll1]

3 hours ago, hcat said:

 

 we took an X excursion on our cruise a few yrs ago.

it went way up and  all around and hit many highlights..It was very scenic and informative. Wished for more time at  some photo stops..did not include the casino....There's  alot more to Catalina Island  than the area by the water.  Glad we booked the excursion!

 

After our tour, we had time for lunch

( more cruisers than seats for lunch ,,& service can be slow..pick something simple and quick!,)  Also made a stop in to the pharmscy and a few tee shirt/ postcard  stores...

 

a fav port!

That’s good to hear - I wasn’t too excited about Catalina but am hearing good things. 
Do you remember  if the excursion you took was in a Hummer or was it a mini-bus? There are 2 different but similar ones offered that we are considering.

[mcrcruiser]

How is the ships condition now . will she go into  dry dock   before March 2023 ?  .We have B2B in March  on her

[Northern Aurora]

50 minutes ago, MarEll1 said:

That’s good to hear - I wasn’t too excited about Catalina but am hearing good things. 
Do you remember  if the excursion you took was in a Hummer or was it a mini-bus? There are 2 different but similar ones offered that we are considering.

 

We have been to Catalina several times most recently on a Solstice port call last September.  Tickets to the Casino were sold out on the Casino website but about two to three weeks before the port call tickets  suddenly appeared on the Solstice shore excursions for our cruise!  And the Casino tour tickets purchased through Celebrity were essentially the same amount as if we had purchased through the Casino website!  We did the tour and were very pleased, but we enjoy touring historic properties.  Incredible building with an incredible guide.

[Northern Aurora]

33 minutes ago, mcrcruiser said:

How is the ships condition now . will she go into  dry dock   before March 2023 ?  .We have B2B in March  on her

 

We spent 14 nights on the Solstice in June and 15 nights in September.  The decor is dated but the ship is in good repair and clean.  Very happy and positive crew.  

 

The Solstice will not go into dry dock before March 2023.

[The Doctor's Lady]

12 hours ago, mcrcruiser said:

How is the ships condition now . will she go into  dry dock   before March 2023 ?  .We have B2B in March  on her

The condition of the ship isn't new, but it's very very nice. Occasionally noted subtle signs of wear, but nothing to complain about. Our cabin was 1516 and it seemed like new except for the balcony dividers which could use some TLC. It was only the poor food that ruined our cruise. Everything else was consistent with what we've come to expect from Celebrity in over a dozen cruises.

[Guindalf]

Your comments are, obviously, a little discouraging, especially considering we're due to embark this coming Saturday, and we're flying in from Georgia for it!

 

We have a booking for Alaska in September on the Discovery Princess and, for similar or even slightly less money, we were considering the Solstice. Following this and the other negative comments wer're seeing, I'm not encouraged to change the booking!

 

We sailed on Oceania pre-covid on a greatly reduced priced trip to the Caribbean when they wanted to fill the ship after Cuba was removed from the schedule (and the DW's SiL booked). We found problems at nearly every meal with wrong food, poor food, lack of supplies and more. I'm not convinced they have the best cuisine at sea!

 

What the cruising future holds for us, I don't know. I suspect this kind of thing is happening all over the cruise industry although the board for other lines do not appear to be as venomous is this one.

[dock]

1 hour ago, Guindalf said:

Your comments are, obviously, a little discouraging, especially considering we're due to embark this coming Saturday, and we're flying in from Georgia for it!

 

We have a booking for Alaska in September on the Discovery Princess and, for similar or even slightly less money, we were considering the Solstice. Following this and the other negative comments wer're seeing, I'm not encouraged to change the booking!

 

We sailed on Oceania pre-covid on a greatly reduced priced trip to the Caribbean when they wanted to fill the ship after Cuba was removed from the schedule (and the DW's SiL booked). We found problems at nearly every meal with wrong food, poor food, lack of supplies and more. I'm not convinced they have the best cuisine at sea!

 

What the cruising future holds for us, I don't know. I suspect this kind of thing is happening all over the cruise industry although the board for other lines do not appear to be as venomous is this one.

I’m going to wait till the Vista (O)reviews are out  and if they are not stellar , will be canceling our two cruises with them and do land trips instead. At their prices I expect O to deliver on the food. 

[AstoriaPreppy]

On 1/22/2023 at 10:19 AM, The Doctor's Lady said:

Sadly everything else was on par with a Carnival cruise I was strong armed into going on a few years ago. 

 

On 1/22/2023 at 10:19 AM, The Doctor's Lady said:

Carnival has made a fortune serving bad food to people who value other things in their cruise experience.

 

Sorry you were disappointed, but I tend to take "it's like Carnival" feedback on CC with a grain of salt. Carnival has easily the best burgers, tacos, barbecue and fast casual food in the industry, hands down. While the product may not be for everyone, it's literally the one thing they're known for. 

 

[The Doctor's Lady]

On 1/23/2023 at 2:01 PM, AstoriaPreppy said:

 

 

Sorry you were disappointed, but I tend to take "it's like Carnival" feedback on CC with a grain of salt. Carnival has easily the best burgers, tacos, barbecue and fast casual food in the industry, hands down. While the product may not be for everyone, it's literally the one thing they're known for. 

 

Except that nobody books Celebrity expecting Carnival's food style. I don't want burgers and barbeque and fast food. I want what Celebrity once so beautifully delivered.