HELP !!!!!!!! Final payment Due......

[Gotimone]

OK... Here goes... I am booked on the Solstice, May 2. For myself, my daughter (turning 29) on the cruise and her husband... Two cabins of course. Now, with the final payment due 3 days away, after reading all the boards here about the lack of things to do in the evenings, myself and my daughter are having second thoughts about doing this ship or even this cruise line. I dont want them to spend the money and regret not having enough to do after the dinner hour. Can someone give me their opinion on this... Should we contact our TA and maybe investigate RCCL or another line.. With a younger crowd and more to do... We have cruised with RCCL many times before and always had a good time... As a matter of fact they were married last year on the ship... Any advice would really help..:confused:

[Mellowtraveler]

We have sailed Celebrity many time and just finished a cruise on RCCL. Thought the night life is about the same..but it does seem to start a little earlier on Celebrity.. On RCCL it seems like some places didn't open until 10 or 11.

 

Both have the same type of shows, lounge performers performing different music venues in several places. Comedians, magicians, etc.

 

RCCL did have a parade, a climbing wall, minature golf, ice rink....Celebrity did not.

Both have about the same amount of shopping..just laid out differently.

 

We had a great time dancing the night away with our 20 something son & daughter-n-law on Celebrity. Wasn't drawn to it on RCCL.

 

Only you can decide what's right for your group..question won't you loose $$$$...?

 

Hope this information helps some.

[i guide the sky]

I would say stick to solstice. The recient reviews have been from jan and feb. Not spring summer season where the age will lighten up quite a bit. Hey my new wife and I will be there on the may 2 dancing it up nightly! I'm willing to bet you won't be disapointed you have the last week of spring break to count on too!

[USVI-4-me]

Off the top of my head, I'd get out of the May 2 cruise on Solstice and go on a big RCCL ship because you are travelling with your daughter and her husband. My experiences with Celebrity usually turn out disappointing.... We're booked on back to back Equinox for April and May.... I would love to get out of the whole thing and go with a more friendly fun ship. I don't care about the food; but the surly attitudes I've encountered on Celebrity in the past have dampened my enthusiasm.... plus, there's no thalassotherapy pool on the Celebrity S-class ships. Have guaranteed fun on RCCL, with lots of evening choices. I'm on the Equinox for the ports... too late to change now. -Maris

[Friscorays]

I obviously do not know you or your daughter particularly well (or to be honest at all) ;) but I think it is more likely than not that you would have a very enjoyable time on the Solstice.

[tally10]

Well, Celebrity and RCCL's ships are two very different animals. I think RCCL is more for the young or family oriented. There is a lot to do on RCCL such as the Flowrider, Rock Wall, Mini-Golf, etc. that you don't have on Celebrity. However, I think you make your own fun on these ships regardless of what is offered, whether day or night. We definitely go for the itinerary and if it is a new ship, that makes the cruise. There can be annoying seniors, children, or young adults. I don't think it is necessarily the age, just the behavior you have to tolerate regardless of which cruise line.

[Gonzo70]

My wife and I are are few years older than your daughter (my wife is young thirties, I am late thirties). We have done multiple cruises on Celebrity and Royal Caribbean and both now have a strong preference for Royal Caribbean. Which line will be better for your family though depends on what you are looking for. We prefer Celebrity for the following reasons:

 

*We find the food to be a bit better, especially the specialty restuarants and buffet.

*The new Solstice Class ships are extremely elegant - you feel like you are on a luxury line even though it is still mass market.

*We don't like the frequent announcements on Royal Caribbean advertising every time a bingo game is about to start or what not. contest.

*We are non-smokers and are thrilled that Celebrity has a very restrictive smoking policy.

*We enjoyed trying out the ice skating rink and climbing wall on Royal, but don't feel the need to do them again. The only thing I do miss is the mini golf - I did use that a lot on the Royal ships.

*I love the martini bar on Celebrity ships and Royal ships I have been in have nothing comprable.

*Celebrity provides a bit more of a pampered feel, such as handing you a glass of sprakling wine when you board, cloth towels in the public bathrooms etc.

*We enjoy the Aqua Class category available on the Solstice class ships - great extra amenities.

*We find activities such as the welcome back party to be far more of an extravaganza on Celebrity (i.e. on our last cruise there was a crepe station, a sushi bar, cocktails, chocolate fondu, senior officers came around and mingled with guests) whereas it seems more of an advertisement for booking another cruise on Royal.

 

Now neither my wife nor I are late night party people. If having lots to do after midnight was important to us, we likely would favor Royal Caribbean over Celebrity. However, we tend to do late dinner and then are ready to hit the sack an hour or two later. Celebrity does have things to do at night, just not as much as Royal. For example on Celebrity there is sometimes a late night movie in the theater (or you have a decent selection of free on demand movies in your stateroom). The martini bar is often lively. On some cruises the nightclub is busy, some not. The casino is usually fairly busy at night. On solstice class ships, lots of people enjoy sitting at the bar in the Lawn Club area at night. Sometimes there is a late night comedy show or pool party.

[Denny01]

We were on the Solstice in Nov/Dec 09 and loved it. We're older but my wife and I love to dance, and there are many venues, including the Quasar nightclub with a DJ. Live music also around this ship in various lounges. Lots of mixed 80's, 90's and modern music.

 

Yes, the RCCL has more activities, but they are more for daytime 'fun' things, and has about the same dancing and lounge things at night as the Celebrity. The Martini bar is very neat with an ice bar, and the Galleria Tasteing 'Molecular' bar has excellent specialty drinks and places to talk and socialize. Best i've ever had.

 

We are a couple that 'make their own fun' and don't really go for the group activities many lines have - Celebirty has some but not as many and we like that. But for evenings which is what you asked for specifically, there is a good nightlife - it isn't Carnival party-till-you-passout, but good times.

 

As to the comment on 'surly attitude'?? One of the hallmarks of Celebrity I've seen from many evaluations and reviews seems to be the excellent, friendly service. We've cruised RCL, Princess, Carnival - no bad cruises, but we come back to Celebirty for it's low key elegence, outstanding service and treated like adults that make their own decisions and fun. And a good nightlife, at least for us.

 

Denny

[Cruisenouvelle]

Ditto above opinions- stay with Solstice. You'll find things to do, trust me. clubs, music and dancing, just strolling, etc., and you'll likely enjoy the beauty of Solstice. she's well planned, large, but you're never crowded.

We've never encountered a surly Celebrity employee, honest.

[jackdiamond]

Vis-a-vis the "surly attitude" comment, we are elite and have about 20 or more cruise credits; and, we have never encountered this "attitude". Could it be due to the fact that our attitude is not "surly"?

[flashdog_1]

My DD is now 33 and has been cruising with Celebrity since she was 28. It is her preferred cruise line. We especially enjoy the classical music before and sometimes during dinner for a really refined experience. She likes the sushi bar before dinner, too. To each his own. And don't forget that X's cabins are larger than most.

 

Solstice is supposed to be a beautiful ship and a wonderful experience. Go for it.

[serene56]

I was afraid to take my first Princess cruise after carnival because I read that its full of old people and the ship shuts down after 10pm= so like you i worried---needlessly.

 

I am so glad I went and found out for myself that what I was reading was not true.

Like a poster above said--a cruise is what you make it to be=-=

 

if you want it you will find it.

[teajak]

We were on the Solstice in Nov/Dec 09 and loved it. We're older but my wife and I love to dance, and there are many venues, including the Quasar nightclub with a DJ. Live music also around this ship in various lounges. Lots of mixed 80's, 90's and modern music.

 

Yes, the RCCL has more activities, but they are more for daytime 'fun' things, and has about the same dancing and lounge things at night as the Celebrity. The Martini bar is very neat with an ice bar, and the Galleria Tasteing 'Molecular' bar has excellent specialty drinks and places to talk and socialize. Best i've ever had.

 

We are a couple that 'make their own fun' and don't really go for the group activities many lines have - Celebirty has some but not as many and we like that. But for evenings which is what you asked for specifically, there is a good nightlife - it isn't Carnival party-till-you-passout, but good times.

 

As to the comment on 'surly attitude'?? One of the hallmarks of Celebrity I've seen from many evaluations and reviews seems to be the excellent, friendly service. We've cruised RCL, Princess, Carnival - no bad cruises, but we come back to Celebirty for it's low key elegence, outstanding service and treated like adults that make their own decisions and fun. And a good nightlife, at least for us.

 

Denny

I am guessing but I think by surly attitude they meant their fellow cruisers.No one could call the crew on the Solstice surly.I think it was the older group (like me) that they meant. Just a guess.LOL

[Denny01]

I am guessing but I think by surly attitude they meant their fellow cruisers.No one could call the crew on the Solstice surly.I think it was the older group (like me) that they meant. Just a guess.LOL

 

I thought so, but out of so many people to choose from to meet and talk with, they focused on 'Surlys' and that was a defining quality of a cruise line, a ship or even a cruise?

 

Eye of the beholder.

 

Denny

[jd1966]

Your cruise will be what YOU make of it......

[dance4fun]

OK... Here goes... I am booked on the Solstice, May 2. For myself, my daughter (turning 29) on the cruise and her husband... Two cabins of course. Now, with the final payment due 3 days away, after reading all the boards here about the lack of things to do in the evenings, myself and my daughter are having second thoughts about doing this ship or even this cruise line. I dont want them to spend the money and regret not having enough to do after the dinner hour. Can someone give me their opinion on this... Should we contact our TA and maybe investigate RCCL or another line.. With a younger crowd and more to do... We have cruised with RCCL many times before and always had a good time... As a matter of fact they were married last year on the ship... Any advice would really help..:confused:

 

If you looking at losing any money to switch, I'd stick with Celebrity.

 

Try something new, give it a whirl. We have enjoyed all the cruises we have been on and will be trying Celebrity for the first time in a few days. Every ship has had its pros and could be better aspects.

 

Life and cruises are what you make of them.

[Fearsback]

My wife is 24 and I am 26, we have been on Royal Caribbean, Princess, NCL, Carnival, Costa, and Celebrity in April. Below is my opionion on each cruise line and there night life from the perspective from a person in there mid 20's.

Royal Caribbean - Been on six cruises and have had different types of night life on each ship. We noticed on their newer ships there is more going on at night but still a little slow.

NCL - Most going on at night but the food is not worth it.

Carnival - To much going on, a lot of drunk people partying all night, not really our seen.

Princess - We thought it was made for the older crowd.

Costa - Save your money. Bad food and nothing to do.

Celebrity - We are going on Equinox in April, and have had the same concerns as you. We just had some friends the same age as us come off the ship and they said it was amazing. It is what you make of it. May should be a younger crowd then normal with summer.