I am a lover of ship cruising as is my husband (55 & 59 years). We started cruising when we moved to Mexico City some years ago, and as we both work and our grown kids came with us (since they were 18 till they were 28) we usually sailed in high season, Easter, New Years, Christmas, and summer. This has pros and a cons, the ship is lovely decorated for the high holidays, the mood is super special, but it is very crowded, and very very expensive. Now our kids sail with their spouses and we alone or with my elderly parents (80 & 85) who live in Argentina, so it is an easy way to travel with them without the hazards of planes and delays.They also love cruising and always sail the newest ship available not looking for a special itineraries,frequently twice per year.This was the case for sailing the Solstice the four of us.

Embarkation: We always arrive early around 12.00 noon, to avoid the crowds and enjoy the ship when it's not so full. The embarkation was very easy and they even allowed us to take our carry-ons to our rooms, which was very helpful for my parents. This is the time you walk around the ship trying to master your way. I always buy the special for sodas, and this time we did the tour to the spa which is awesome. I was expecting to have the hydropool which we had enjoyed in the Millennium, but unfortunately there isn't one. So not being a fan of sports that was our first and last visit to the spa.There are great massages, but for us we always find the prices excessive, specially having beautiful spas in Mexico.

Disembarking: It was also very swift, we were allowed to leave our things in our room till after breakfast, there is plenty of seats and sofas in the various decks, so it was easy to find a place to seat, they didn't call your color by the microphone, so the ambiance was relax, and the people just went to the gangplank when it was their time to leave the ship. Amazing no crowds whatsoever!! What really was crowded and terrible was that last breakfast in the Lido (we normally go to the seating restaurants on that day) but as the buffet was so great, we wanted to enjoy it once more. BAD DECISION!! Not only was crowded but impossible to get a table, cups for coffee, plates and silverware, and some one to help you,you were always missing something and had to do large lines (I finished having coffee in a glass) although food was plenty, the feeling was that they wanted you to leave quickly as they wanted to prepare for the next tour. Read more