This was our third trip on Solstice (fourth on a Solstice-class ship) and our 25th cruise overall. Solstice is like an old friend to us now, and we can't get enough of the Solstice class.

The Basics: We arrived at port around 11:30 AM on embarkation day and were sitting in Cafe al Bacio by noon. Disembarkation was similarly painless, especially as in Barcelona, you wait for your luggage at a carousel rather than searching for it in a large hangar. My partner mentioned that we probably waited longer for the luggage than it would have taken to find it, but not feeling like disembarkation was an off-the-boat cattle call made the experience that much better (and it was only a 5 minute wait anyway).

There's not much new to say at this point about the Solstice itself other than it remains a fantastic ship. I know there is controversy over this, but I love the staterooms, which have so many places for storage that living in the room for 12 days is a breeze. (Admittedly, I am 5'9" and have no problem utilizing the storage over the bed.) The public rooms are all elegant; relaxing in the Solarium is a welcome respite from the bustle around the pool; even the less-than-ideal promenade deck is a great place to hang out. Read more