Live from Solstice: ALASKA Dawes Glacier May 12-19, 2023 (First Sailing ex SEA)

[Fly and Sail]

Has anyone ever tried BYOL (Bring Your Own Lobstah) on Celebrity? 
 

Because THIS is a real lobster tail! 😬

 

 

[Fly and Sail]

Just arrived at Smith Cove Terminal by UBER ($20 - monthly Amex credit) and went through the check-in process.

 

Didn’t have any luggage to check so I carried everything on myself.

 

I’d say it was medium busy at the Terminal, didn’t have to wait at any point. Not as smooth as FLL but easy enough. Someone was admonished at security they couldn’t take Marihuana onboard.

 

 

[Fly and Sail]

Some images from the curb and gangway.

 

Super thankful for the sunny day. It was armageddon with all the rain a year ago.

[Fly and Sail]

My Balcony looks like there was an accident at Home Depot. Paint and dirt splattered all over the place. 🤔

 

This is one of the AQ cabins with the large balconies.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

7 hours ago, eyecantwait said:

https://www.chihulygardenandglass.com

This is on our list as well. We recently went to the one in St. Pete, FL and it was amazing!

 

Do not miss this.  It's awesome!

[hcat]

3 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

Has anyone ever tried BYOL (Bring Your Own Lobstah) on Celebrity? 
 

Because THIS is a real lobster tail! 😬

 

 

 Sure looks good.. Very pricey! Fish prices are through the roof everywhere.

We had best Salmon ever in Seattle..

[Fly and Sail]

Slight delay in departure but with a perfect view!!

 

 

[Fly and Sail]

Finally on the way!! 🛳️

 

 

[Fly and Sail]

What a majestic sunset tonight!

 

Now off to BLU for a later than usual dinner.

[Fly and Sail]

BLU Dining today!

 

 

[Fly and Sail]

Due to the delayed departure from SEA, the casino doesn't open until VERY late. I was there around 10 pm, and everything was still closed. That means the slots (and myself) are safe for now. 👻 It was a long day, and I won't be extending it to wait for the casino to open.

[wilsonzoo]

Looking forward to your updates.  I'm on the May 26th sailing with a group of friends, we are also in Aqua Class cabins.  This will be my 7th Alaska cruise, so yeah, we're kind of addicted to it!

I was surprised that it sails from Smith Cove, glad I noted that or I might have otherwise wound up at the downtown pier for sailaway --  OOPS!

Do you have any excursions planned?

I'll be interested to know how crowded the Persion Garden spa gets.  That was one of the lures for the AQ cabin.

Happy Sailing!

[Fly and Sail]

This is my 5th Alaska cruise and my 8th time being in Alaska overall. I've seen most things before and haven't planned any excursions. Usually, I get off the ship and do something on my own. These Alaska excursions are expensive as well.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

1 hour ago, wilsonzoo said:

 

I was surprised that it sails from Smith Cove, glad I noted that or I might have otherwise wound up at the downtown pier for sailaway --  OOPS!

 

 

The move to Smith Cove was not an improvement, in my view.  Sailing from downtown's Pier 66 was much better--it was possible to walk to the ship if one stayed at Inn at the Market, for example.

[Tinknock50]

1 hour ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

The move to Smith Cove was not an improvement, in my view.  Sailing from downtown's Pier 66 was much better--it was possible to walk to the ship if one stayed at Inn at the Market, for example.

Agree…. We did the walk to Smith a couple of times. It is a LONG way from any hotels.

[Fly and Sail]

Elite Breakfast takes places at Tuscan in a semi-buffet style. Had a quick peek while coming from BLU this morning and it didnt look busy.

 

 

[Fly and Sail]

Turned my $100 Blue Chip Club freeplay into cash this morning which will in turn be invested into crab legs in Juneau. 🦀

 

 

[Ferry_Watcher]

2 hours ago, wilsonzoo said:

I was surprised that it sails from Smith Cove, glad I noted that or I might have otherwise wound up at the downtown pier for sailaway --  OOPS!

 

The Solstice only used Pier 91 during the Covid Protocols of the shortened 2021 season.  Under local gov't regulation, only one ship could be at one dock per location, so on Fridays the Ovation was at Pier 91, and the Solstice was at Pier 66.  There was one or two dates that the Solstice had to use the dock at Pier 91 that season because a NCL ship was scheduled at Pier 66.  The Solstice returned back to Pier 91 for the 2022 season, and of course it is still at Pier 91 for this season. 

[Fly and Sail]

48 minutes ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

 

The Solstice only used Pier 91 during the Covid Protocols of the shortened 2021 season.  Under local gov't regulation, only one ship could be at one dock per location, so on Fridays the Ovation was at Pier 91, and the Solstice was at Pier 66.  There was one or two dates that the Solstice had to use the dock at Pier 91 that season because a NCL ship was scheduled at Pier 66.  The Solstice returned back to Pier 91 for the 2022 season, and of course it is still at Pier 91 for this season. 

AFAIK that was Millennium in 2021. Solstice didn’t go up that season. I remember we left from downtown but arrived back at Smith Cove.

[wilsonzoo]

4 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

This is my 5th Alaska cruise and my 8th time being in Alaska overall. I've seen most things before and haven't planned any excursions. Usually, I get off the ship and do something on my own. These Alaska excursions are expensive as well.

We normally don't do many excursions anymore (having done most of them already over the years), but as this is my 20th employment anniversary trip courtesy of my company, they are paying not only for our cruise fare but all activities/excursions that we want.  So we booked away!!!

[Ferry_Watcher]

1 hour ago, Fly and Sail said:

AFAIK that was Millennium in 2021. Solstice didn’t go up that season. I remember we left from downtown but arrived back at Smith Cove.

 

You are absolutely correct.  I am so use to dealing with the Solstice.  The irony of me not remembering it was the Millennium in 2021 is that I spent every Friday during that Covid summer at Pier 66 checking-in Millennium  passengers for their cruise.  On the last sail day I finished up work and walked on to the Millennium for it's last cruise out of Seattle.  I think I have Solstice on my mind as I walked off the Solstice yesterday morning after a 9 night Alaska cruise and went to work checking in passengers!  

 

Next year I will sail into Seattle on the Edge as she begins her first Alaska season.

[Fly and Sail]

So today is Chic night. Dresscode not enforced anywhere, and some people really push it to the extreme. One guy was wearing a Gucci gym dress.

 

And here I was worrying about my unpressed shirt. 🤪

 

 

[Fly and Sail]

Martini Bar ready to go!

 

 

[Fly and Sail]

Tonight’s impressions from BLU including Pheasant which I haven’t seen on the menu before.

 

The Tuna Tataki appetizer was transformed into the main dish and I had two of them.

 

 

[eyecantwait]

On 5/13/2023 at 2:36 PM, wilsonzoo said:

We normally don't do many excursions anymore (having done most of them already over the years), but as this is my 20th employment anniversary trip courtesy of my company, they are paying not only for our cruise fare but all activities/excursions that we want.  So we booked away!!!

 

Congratulations on 20 years! And what a great company to send you on a cruise!