This was our ninth Celebrity cruise and our second time on the Solstice this year. Other cruises have been on RCCL, HAL, Viking, and Seabourn so we know what to expect when cruising. We had booked this cruise a year earlier as a family vacation for our two daughters and their husbands, two five-year-old gradsons, and a seven-year-old granddaughter. As departure grew nearer I became increasingly apprehensive of our decision but it turned out to be a fantastic vacation for all of us.

We spent one night in Seattle at the Courtyard Pioneer Square and spent a leisurely morning at the aquarium with the grandchildren, arriving at the ship around 2. Courtyard has an arrangement with a shuttle for transport to the pier. Note: pack swim suits in your carry-on for the kids to enjoy the pool before bags arrive.

DH and I always book Aqua Class because we love dining in Blu but that would not have worked well with the kiddos so we chose select dining in the MDR. Service was good and there was a kids menu available. One night we ate in the Oceanview Café in order to appreciate the beautiful sailout from Skagway. Another evening we let the grands eat in the Fun Factory and had a nice all-adult dinner. Read more