Sydney to Auckland was new territory for us, but we were returning to the Celebrity Solstice after three years on other lines. The 14 day itinerary is fine. We were surprised at the changes in the ship.

Embarkation went well, but not the lifeboat training drill later that afternoon. Our drill was the longest I have experienced, first taking attendance for 700 guests, then scouting up the absentees, then delivering our instructions in slow-mo, then showing a cartoon film covering the same ground again, and ending with an infomercial on the new ship that Celebrity is bringing online. To fully achieve the sense of regimentation, the ship’s staff insisted on forming us in squared up columns. Over three quarters of an hour, and all done standing up.

Then there were the small chintzy changes. Chocolate on the pillow is only on request. In concierge class cabins, daily hors d’oeuvres are your right, but they have to be separately ordered each day. And if you are not there when they arrive, no hors d’oeuvres for you. To get the daily newspaper at sea, you queue up at the Guest Relations desk and when your turn comes, wait for one copy to be printed just for you - saving paper, but wasting labor and guests’ patience. The stateroom TV includes a news headline function, but for many days on end, the headlines were the same. Bottled water is offered on the way off the ship at each port, but your room is charged. Want stamps for your postcards? Guest Relations recommends that you seek out a post office at the next port. The overall feeling is that Celebrity has pared the staff down and also the service. Read more