This was my 4th time on Solstice. It was the first vacation I have ever taken alone-I was a bit nervous, as all other cruises I have been on I have always been 'the other half'... little did I know how many people I would meet, and the amount of fun I would have..I am 28, a chef, and am well travelled..oh yea, and single on a tight budget...haha-so this review could pertain or not to your situation..This itinerary is very port intensive--PLAN ON BEING BUSY! It is not like a Caribbean cruise where its sun and relaxation.. if you want to see the sights, you have to plan and structure your day accordingly..Last summer, I was on Century with someone else..same time of year, with a similar itinerary.. new stops for me were Venice, Kotor and Dubrovnik.. all beautiful. Let me point out some of the positives and negatives:Flying into Barcelona a day early is definately reccomended, no matter if you're travelling solo or with a group. It is good to have a decompression day after flying, and having the opportunity to see BCL is an added benefit-think of it as an extra port day..at your leisure :)I stayed in a 'hostel' type of hotel just for the night- it was cheap, and safe and clean. I spent most of my time exploring the city, and eating..and drinking.. so it was a cheap option to have just to leave your luggage and things, and a bed to sleep in for the night.. maybe not the best family option..but definately for a solo or couple that are adventurous Getting on the ship was seamless and not an issue- i boarded around noon time, and was in my room by 2 or so.. i just wandered, had a drink at the sunset bar and basked in the Spanish sun for a while. A little note on the 'drink card'- Definately worth it, if you plan on spending more than $50/day on drinks coffee's etc.. if you work out the math, and enjoy more than 3 drinks or glasses of wine/day..plus bottled water and special coffees...it's worth the money..and I definatley spent half of what I would have otherwise.. Sail-away was great..we had an organized CC sail away party at Sunset Bar as we pulled out of BCL, and had a lot of people show..it was a great way to meet everyone from the board and figure out who you want to avoid ! lolService on Solstice and Celebrity as a whole has always been top notch, however over the years as newer ships come out with Celebrity, I find they are taking their best employees and putting them on new ships.. not to say the service is lacking at all, but you can definately see the difference between the 'go above and beyond-ers' and the 'meeting guests expectations' employees... i have no complaints at all, though.Cabins are all spacious..i had a closer to aft cabin with balcony this time around..dont know if i would do it again..its far from everything.. the room steward (Zeko) was very detail oriented, and the room stayed impeccible. he was very attentive, and just great..I wasn't 'wowed' by the shows this time around, the entertatinment seemed mediocre..some were the same as in years past, some were different.. the first time I saw the Sostice shows they were amazing.. now they are just 'eh'.. Maybe another example of taking the best to the newest ships, I dont know..The ship band sucked, the guitarist was great..Acapella group was again 'eh'time to step it back up Celebrity! :)Quasar- sucked this time around, they need to promote it more! Good music, neat atmosphere.. DJ was THE WORST people person..had no personality and seemed 'bothered' by having to work..by the end it was fun, busy and hopping, but the first 10 days.. dead.. i did my best to get people in and dancing! Nice- I love EZE, lots of walking, but amazing views..simple to get to by bus..Naples- After Pisa, I did a wine country tour..definately the best time of the cruise..wine and olive oil tastings at different vineyards..small bites of local food here and there..eat a pizza, its the best in the world.Venice- incredible sail in, and sail away..best spot to view is the Lawn Club. GO TO HARRY'S BAR FOR BELLINIS. Very romantic city, not the best place to be alone :(Kotor- Amazing views from the ship, if you are Captains Club be sure to attend this sail away..front of the ship, helipad..an unmatched perspective.Dubrovnik- WALK THE WALL..very athletic..fyi. amazing views, 10 euros (BTW yes everywhere accepts EUROS, no need for KUNA)Pool- yes a bit overcrowded..always an alternative is the solstice deckFood- this was my first time eating int he Main Dining Room (Epernay) and it was fantastic. The amount of food they put out, and the quality is just a daunting task for any kitchen..and they do a really REALLY good job. Service was great, my table was UNFORGETTABLE. Ocean view was always good. I have been to all of the speciality restaurants before, and they all have their pro's and con's..you can read about others' points of view on other reviews..i am a bit biased, being a chef and all.. Overall, the S-Class never fails to exceed expectations.. It's not for everyone- It holds its own as a sophisticated, modern, twist on an already successful brand. Celebrity is in a league of their own, and for the price its a pretty damn good deal. Definately sailing again...where does the wind blow next? We will see..Cheers!