Itinerary was the driving force behind selecting this cruise. Secondarily, reconnecting with why we fell in love with cruising in the first place: a relaxing, elegant and delicious departure from everyday life where all the logistical stresses of planning and travel are taken care of for you. And considering those driving factors, Celebrity Cruises, and more specifically, the Celebrity Solstice delivered all these, in spades! Having taken 13 previous cruises (with Holland America, Royal Caribbean and Disney), I can say with ease that this was, by far, the best overall cruising experience we've ever had. It was simply stellar from beginning to end.

About us: we are a couple in our late 30s with two children. Our children did not sail with us (they had a fabulous two weeks with grandparents). We have taken 13 total cruises prior to this one on a variety of different cruise lines, this one being the first with Celebrity Cruises. We sailed in an Aqua Class stateroom with the Classic Beverage Package.

Our last few cruises have been on Oasis class ships (Oasis & Allure) with Royal Caribbean. As we've witnessed a significant downturn in experience aboard Royal Caribbean, along with an increase in the Theme-Park-ish feel (along with the hard-sell at every turn), we were very excited to board a smaller ship, with fewer people and fewer "WOW" features. Celebrity Solstice was exactly what we were looking for. The ship - beautiful and well maintained at every turn - never felt crowded, never felt hurried and never felt stressed. This had a fundamental impact on our entire experience, and one that we greatly appreciated. Pool side loungers were always available. A table within the Oceanview Cafe (buffet) was always available. A great seat within the main show theater was always available. And - a bartender was always available. Overall, the Solstice is just large enough to contain a larger amount of offerings, while not losing the intimacy of a smaller ship. Read more