We booked this cruise on Dec 25, 2014, so had a whole year to anticipate it, which ended this morning. It was worth the wait!! I would get back on the Solstice and do this same itinerary again today! We have been on 30+ cruises and this ranks among the very best! It was out third time on Solstice, which is still a superior ship. All ships have their on ambience, and this one has a friendly crew who are eager to please the guests. I will highlight some things:

Definitely book the City Stay/Explorations package with 3 pre-cruise nights in Sydney. Stay at the convenient Sheraton Four Points - including airport-hotel-cruise port transfers and daily breakfast which is at the harbour. Rosie was our our outstanding, congenial hostess/tour guide for the excursions that included an excellent full day (and I mean FULL day) tour of the city and Bondi Beach including lunch; a wildlife preserve where we saw koalas, wallabies, echidnas, a giant crocadile, and many Australian birds and other animals; and the Opera House tour that was amazing!! We also enjoyed a special evening with Rosie on a Harbour Dinner cruise. Everything I mentioned was included. I can't say enough about Rosie as a organizer and friendly guide - she knew what she was doing! It was an amazing 3 night stay!! Breakfast was very nice, also.

Solstice was very clean and in good shape; Cabin steward Efrem kept cabin 1572 immaculate; that was Aqua Class, and Blu had superior hostess (Erika) and the best maitre d' anywhere (Kassimir). Ask for them! Read more