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

[westcoastsue]

18 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

And the Front Desk / Hotel Director. Unfortunately they had no other Aqua Class cabins available. None. And this is their Premium Veranda. Just unfortunate because it kinda sets the tone for the entire cruise and to find a trashed balcony like that… 

 

Same with the photographers, stunning landscape and even today during the glacier no photographer anywhere to take a picture. People were complaining everywhere and many including myself have a photo package included.

 

Not sure what their problem is. Apparently there is a ship management change at the moment.

 

The one huge star on this cruise has so far been BLU as the dishes and execution are pretty perfect. Taste is also much better than for example on the earlier Panama Canal or even last years Solstice sailing.

We loved Blu a couple of weeks ago. Entire staff was responsive to your every need. Sherwin the Maitre’d (who we loved) sets the tone for the rest of the wait staff. Everyone was so engaging and friendly starting with Milrose the hostess.

[westcoastsue]

21 hours ago, chuckw said:

We have been on many cruises.  Our dinner in Murano last night was one of the best ever.  Highly recommend anyone on Solstice book Murano.

I totally agree. The Veuve Cliquot dinner was also amazing.

[Fly and Sail]

3 minutes ago, westcoastsue said:

I totally agree. The Veuve Cliquot dinner was also amazing.

 

The Veuve Clicquot dinner is also advertised in Celebrity Today and supposedly takes place tonight at 7pm. Doesn't say anything about the price, though.

 

Am I correct that Elite Plus members would get their discount of 15% applied when they book this dinner at Murano?

[DaKahuna]

10 minutes ago, westcoastsue said:

I totally agree. The Veuve Cliquot dinner was also amazing.

 

I am still a little disappointed that they had to cancel this on our last sailing.  Only eight people initially signed up, including a family of four who cancelled when one of the family members became ill. 

 

[Fly and Sail]

9 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

 

I am still a little disappointed that they had to cancel this on our last sailing.  Only eight people initially signed up, including a family of four who cancelled when one of the family members became ill. 

 

 

It seems to become a more regular event now, and I'm sure you will have the opportunity to enjoy it on a future sailing.

[westcoastsue]

23 minutes ago, Fly and Sail said:

 

The Veuve Clicquot dinner is also advertised in Celebrity Today and supposedly takes place tonight at 7pm. Doesn't say anything about the price, though.

 

Am I correct that Elite Plus members would get their discount of 15% applied when they book this dinner at Murano?

We are Elite Plus but did not receive a discount for this dinner. Still worth it - great good and generous pours.

[Fly and Sail]

2 hours ago, westcoastsue said:

We are Elite Plus but did not receive a discount for this dinner. Still worth it - great good and generous pours.

I would sign up immediately if they poured La Grande Dame but with the champagnes offered it’s a but too pricey IMHO. I usually don’t drink wines, only champagne.

[Fly and Sail]

Ugh this shuttle situation at the pier is complete chaos and I was there during a super quiet time. As mentioned, walking isn’t allowed due to the rockslides.

 

The intervals are poor, people are confused and getting mixed up between excursion guests and people just walking to town.

 

On a positive note: Beautiful day for those taking the train up to the summit today. Can’t get any better than this!

[Fly and Sail]

Update: We *might* have a pier runner today judging by the announcement. If that’s the case, footage will follow! 😆

[DaKahuna]

8 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

 

It seems to become a more regular event now, and I'm sure you will have the opportunity to enjoy it on a future sailing.

 

I think that ship has sailed after discussing it with the DW.  We're not a big fan of fancy sauces and such.  I was just going for the wine and talked her into it.   We'll see.  We have a year before our next planned cruise. 

 

[Fly and Sail]

I regret to inform you that despite my high hopes, the pier runner footage didn’t materialize.

 

As compensation I’m signing out today with some majestic impressions of Alaska’s mountains and waterways as we make our way south. Next stop in ~ 44 hours is Victoria. 🇨🇦

[Fly and Sail]

2 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 

I think that ship has sailed after discussing it with the DW.  We're not a big fan of fancy sauces and such.  I was just going for the wine and talked her into it.   We'll see.  We have a year before our next planned cruise. 

 

I’m relatively new to cruising but as much as I enjoyed it during Covid with 40% capacity, the way it is now when ships are actually full is rather stressful to me. I think after the Norwegian Fjords this summer I’m taking a longer break as well. Or try the Ritz Carlton ships.

[Fly and Sail]

For those who are interested I took a video at the Dawes Glacier and uploaded it to my (non commercial) YouTube:

 

 

There is also a video of the entire casino:

 

 

Will probably do a walkthrough video of Solstice early tomorrow morning when nobody is around.

 

[DaKahuna]

9 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

I’m relatively new to cruising but as much as I enjoyed it during Covid with 40% capacity, the way it is now when ships are actually full is rather stressful to me. I think after the Norwegian Fjords this summer I’m taking a longer break as well. Or try the Ritz Carlton ships.

 

I can understand that feeling.  Our Panama Canal trip was our first on the Millennium class of ships and i was surprised to find Luminae as busy as it was but then again, there are limited specialty restaurants on the M-class so it does make sense.  

 

We did find that outside the Retreat Lounge and Retreat Sundeck other venue's were crowded.  I think I went to the Martini Bar only twice - once very late in the evening and the other time we were walking by right as they were setting up for the multiple drink pour and managed to get a front row seat.  

 

Finding seating in the Rendezvous Lounge and Cellar Masters was a challenge.  I also found Cellar Masters very noisy with people talking to the point where you could not understand the words the musicians were singing.  People seemed to not respect the fact that a live performance was behind held and just talked the entire time.  It was so bad that we got up and walked out after only a few minutes more than once.   The Rendezvous Lounge was a little better unless you were sitting at the bar.  

 

However, the crowds are not the reason we are taking a break from cruising.  We have multiple land based trips coming up the remainder of the year and just could not squeeze another cruise in until May of next year. 

 

[Ferry_Watcher]

20 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

I would sign up immediately if they poured La Grande Dame but with the champagnes offered it’s a but too pricey IMHO. I usually don’t drink wines, only champagne.

 

22 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

The Veuve Clicquot dinner is also advertised in Celebrity Today and supposedly takes place tonight at 7pm. Doesn't say anything about the price, though.

 

Price last week (May 3rd sailing) was $199 pp, and we loved the dinner.

 

Sadly, no Grande Dame offered.

[westcoastsue]

12 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

I regret to inform you that despite my high hopes, the pier runner footage didn’t materialize.

 

As compensation I’m signing out today with some majestic impressions of Alaska’s mountains and waterways as we make our way south. Next stop in ~ 44 hours is Victoria. 🇨🇦

Is that After Eight ice cream - if so my favorite?

[Barwick Cruiser]

We’ve done Alaska twice but both time in Sept and while the scenery was stunning, having snow on the peaks adds a whole new dimension of beauty. Lovely pics, thank you for sharing! Have there been any issues with bugs? Mosquitoes or black flies? Or ticks? 

[Fly and Sail]

1 hour ago, westcoastsue said:

Is that After Eight ice cream - if so my favorite?

 

It sure is. Quite delicious!

[Fly and Sail]

1 hour ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

 

 

Price last week (May 3rd sailing) was $199 pp, and we loved the dinner.

 

Sadly, no Grande Dame offered.

 

It was pretty full yesterday evening when I passed by Murano. Not sure if all these people were there for the Veuve Dinner, but it looked extremely busy, especially after a long port day. I'm surprised they didn't hold the dinner tonight.

 

Last night I ate at OVC as they had a German-themed dinner I couldn't pass up (and they nailed many of the dishes pretty close), followed by dessert at BLU.

[Fly and Sail]

1 hour ago, Barwick Cruiser said:

We’ve done Alaska twice but both time in Sept and while the scenery was stunning, having snow on the peaks adds a whole new dimension of beauty. Lovely pics, thank you for sharing! Have there been any issues with bugs? Mosquitoes or black flies? Or ticks? 

 

None. From experience, those become a thing starting mid-June. I got some pretty nasty mosquito bites during my road trip up north many years ago.

[Ferry_Watcher]

1 hour ago, Fly and Sail said:

It was pretty full yesterday evening when I passed by Murano.

 

Our Veuve Clicqout Champagne Dinner was in the private dining room just to the right as you enter Murano's.  I think we had a dedicated waitstaff team and Sommelier.

[Fly and Sail]

I had a rather unpleasant encounter with the front desk and photo department why there was no photographer during the time we were at the glacier.

 

Front desk (except the FD Manager) totally ignorant. Photo Desk associate smug and arrogant. Telling some tales about 1) Only two Photographers for the whole ship 2) When I said there was NONE he changed his line to “they have other duties too” 3) I said that’s a joke and the company is defrauding people by selling photo packages for which they don’t fulfill the service 4) He replied customers can cancel or make an appointment with the Photostudio in the afternoon (!!)

 

He also admitted that Celebrity sells items like photo books online that they no longer carry.

 

 

[Haljo1935]

7 hours ago, Barwick Cruiser said:

We’ve done Alaska twice but both time in Sept and while the scenery was stunning, having snow on the peaks adds a whole new dimension of beauty. Lovely pics, thank you for sharing! Have there been any issues with bugs? Mosquitoes or black flies? Or ticks? 

@Barwick Cruiser we did AK April 29 - May 6, so returned just shy of 2 weeks ago. Rained most days (all except Ketchikan) - no bugs, no mosquitoes, no flies, no ticks but there were some pesky gnats, lots of snowy peaks and glorious views! 

Oh, and some whales, otters and birds 😀

Edited May 17, 2023 by Haljo1935
Typo

[Barwick Cruiser]

18 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

@Barwick Cruiser we did AK April 29 - May 6, so returned just shy of 2 weeks ago. Rained most days (all except Ketchikan) - no bugs, no mosquitoes, no flies, no ticks but there were some pesky gnats, lots of snowy peaks and glorious views! 

Oh, and some whales, otters and birds 😀

Sounds mostly perfect…rain is always hit or miss, no matter the time. We’ve had gorgeous weather in September with little rain but that’s not the norm either. Def gonna book a early season cruise next time! Thx

[Haljo1935]

9 minutes ago, Barwick Cruiser said:

Sounds mostly perfect…rain is always hit or miss, no matter the time. We’ve had gorgeous weather in September with little rain but that’s not the norm either. Def gonna book a early season cruise next time! Thx

@Barwick Cruiserwe have done both early season (May) and end of season (Sept) but never peak season, so all we know are cooler, wetter days. But considering much of the area is located in a temperate rainforest, we expect the rain, lol.

We really like the snowy peaks, and even light snow, we see/get in May; although we know we're too early for salmon running. We have been blessed with bears, though, especiallyin Sitka and ISP/Hoonah. 

We very much enjoy the beauty of the active waterfalls in Sept, so both are great times for us.