We left a cold NJ winter to sail on the modern and beautifully appointed Solstice. While we were gone we missed two huge snowstorms which only added to our enjoyment of being in the warmth and sunshine. The Solstice was very well designed and easy to navigate. We didn't get lost even once.

EMBARKATION: When we received our package before the cruise, there was a note indicating that, due to a shortage of materials(?), we would get our luggage tags at the dock. This did not go well. The porter had tags, but we had to search for our own pen, produce all our documents and then fill out the tags while being windblown at the dock. Then when we brought our carryon luggage through the screening machine, they opened our suitcase and confiscated a tiny scissor that we often need to cut off tags. The rest of the process went quickly if you print out the paperwork online before the cruise.

DINING: We chose Select dining which allows you to come to the dining room at any time between 6:00 and 8:45 p.m. Some nights we ate early and other nights we ate around 7:30. Some nights we made a reservation and other nights we just walked in. We have had "anytime" dining on Princess in the past and always found it less stressful than rushing to make a designated dining time. The only drawback is having to introduce yourself to your tablemates every night. Select dining is new to Celebrity so we were concerned about how smoothly it would operate. However, we found that the waiters were all top notch no matter where we sat. The food was good and nicely displayed throughout the cruise, except for the turkey which was dry. The pastries were just fair. The best meals I had were the Chilean Sea Bass and tornedoes of beef. We have some special dietary requests, and each night the waiter provided the following night's menu. The correct meal items were always served on the next night. The Oceanview Cafe (buffet) had something for everyone at breakfast and lunch. Food was available 24/7. The lack of trays was a bit inconvenient, and there were not enough coffee mugs so we sometimes had to use paper cups. Read more