We are a couple from the frozen tundra of Minnesota and happened onto this Solstice cruise completely by accident. We were looking for a warm retreat and decided a cruise would do nicely. We hadn't traveled with Celebrity before but heard that it was a cut above the other mainstream lines. When our travel agent offered the Solstice, we had no idea that it was a new, huge ship. It was the "huge" part that gave us pause. To deal with my anxieties, I devoured reviews of the ship as soon as they started to become available. They were all over the map from excellent to lousy, and we had little idea of what we had gotten ourselves into. Now that we've experienced the Solstice, I have one thing to say to the negative folks-what ship were you on? Embarkation-We arrived a little after most passengers and were the only ones at the gate. We were whisked aboard in minutes. We were greeted with not just champagne, but mimosas as well. Our stateroom was immediately available. Stateroom- We booked Aquaclass cabin 1647. That put us aft on the port side of deck 11 (Penthouse Deck). The cabin was the size of what we've had on other cruises. We enjoy a verandah and the tall table, reclining chairs and ottomans were wonderful. The verandah was not large, but it accommodated a room-service breakfast without feeling crowded. There is a wide overhang that blocked the sun a bit at noon, but we had more sun than we could stand the rest of the day. Fruit and canapEs were provided daily. Bottled water was complimentary. Our stateroom attendant was wonderful. Some have complained about the location of the toilet tissue holder. It couldn't have been more convenient. Luggage storage under the bed is a life-saver-your bags are easily available, but they are out of the way the rest of the time. There was a faint "outhouse" smell in the passageway outside of our cabin once in a while. It was so faint that my wife never smelled it. Exercise facility- This is one place where there was a little crowding, but the wait for a machine was never more than five minutes. You can watch your private TV while working out, but bring headphones if you want sound. Restaurants-This is where Aquaclass comes into its own. You dine in "BLU". The service is amazing and the food is fabulous. The restaurant was never full. Breakfast in BLU was terrific. Murano was incredible both in terms of service and cuisine. The tasting menu with wine accompaniments is expensive and unnecessary. The Tuscan Grille is a typical large-dining room steakhouse. It is loud and jovial. The food is terrific. The waiter was a bit self-impressed but did his job well. The Oceanview Cafe was a delightful surprise. We expected ordinary, boring food and instead found custom carved roast beef and lamb, great selection of breads, many interesting salads and plenty of included ice cream. There were crowds if you wanted to eat outside. There were always plenty of tables inside. The coffee is free and is terrific. Bars-We enjoyed the Ensemble Bar. It was cozy and usually had calming live music. Jefferson Ang sings and plays guitar. He's wonderful. Michael's Club is a beautiful space but the piano player was not that good. The Martini Bar is loud, boisterous and crowded. The drinks are terrific. Al Bacio is not to be missed. The coffee is terrific even if you have to pay for it. The ambiance is soothing and the service is great. Ask for Claudia. Entertainment- We saw two musical reviews in the theater. They were entertaining and well done. The Hot Glass Show is entertaining and educational. Ports of call-We enjoyed being on the ship. My wife never left. I went ashore at Labadee-the private island. Tendering was a pain. This was where the crowding was terrible. And it wasn't worth the hassle. Labadee offers little- lounge chairs for sunning and a native craft market. Disembarkation-We chose express disembarkation (carry your own luggage off the ship). It was fast and we had no risk of being separated from our luggage in the "warehouse." Advice? Pay the extra for Aquaclass. They treat you like royalty. We would definitely go on the Solstice again.