Celebrity Solstice Review
Rating by category
Additional details
About me: Solo traveler, experienced cruiser (stopped counting around 20), second time on the Alaska cruise itinerary, first time on Celebrity.
This was by far one of the best cruise experiences I have had in a very long time. The staff and crew were all very friendly and accommodating, the officers were accessible, and Captain Tasos was one of the most entertaining captains I've sailed with - ever.
Embarkation and disembarkation went very smoothly. We were docked next to the Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas. Looking over at the enormously long lines on that side as opposed to the Celebrity side, I was grateful to be on a smaller ship. The ship itself is a bit weathered but I would still call it well maintained considering its age. It did not take long to get acclimated to the locations of various venues throughout the ship, and although there were long wait times for elevators on port days, getting around was not difficult.
Cabin Review
AquaClass 1
The cabin itself was well maintained and although there was an overhang over the balcony the view was still great. A bit about the advertised benefits for AquaClass:
Pillow Menu - I was never offered one nor did I ask for one. The pillows that were provided were satisfactory.
Blu Restaurant - This was a good bonus, being able to pop in for a meal without having to deal with buffet chaos or main dining room crowds was a big plus for me.
Spa Concierge and Private Spa Tour - I was never offered a private spa tour and when I asked about the spa concierge no one really knew what I was referring to. I did have a couple of services in the spa and did not run into any problems booking.
Exclusive Access to Persian Garden - I went in there a couple of times to take a look and all the beds were full, opted not to try again.
Sparkling Wine/Canapes - Did receive the sparkling wine, was a nice touch. The canapes each night were kind of hit or miss. Some nights were better than others but overall it was nice to have a snack available between wine tastings and nightly activities.