We just did Solstice 5/16-5/23- Here's what we thought..

[angelka123]

We were on Freedom of the Seas last October, so up front, I have to say that my opinion stems from comparing the two ships. We were trying to decide on taking another cruise on Freedom or trying Solstice - and now that we're home we all agree we should have gone back on Freedom.

 

My husband and I are in our late 30's and early 40's and my parents are 65 and 71. It's not that we didn't enjoy our cruise, it just was extremely misleading when we read that Celebrity was a notch above Royal Carribean. We found it to be the opposite (by several notches).

 

For us, the obvious difference between the two cruises was that there wasn't a whole lot to do. Now, I know some will disagree, but I should say there was not a whole lot to do OF INTEREST to any of us in our party. We played Trivia 4 times a day and attended the shows - but other than that we found the lawn to be wasted space and the shows weren't as professionally done as on Freedom. Unless you're into Art Auctions and Glass Blowing (yawn) I would def not choose this ship.

 

The food was exactly the same quality as on Freedom, IMHO, and the cabins were more limited in terms of storage space.

 

The no smoking policy was nice and not having to check out a pool towel with our room key was nice - but other than that we are booking on Royal Carribean next time.

[Phxazzcruisers]

It is great that everyone has an opinion and is able to share. We found Celebrity to be several notches above Royal Caribbean and have traveled extensively on both. We are in our early 50 and were never bored on either line, but greatly prefer Celebrity, especially the S Class ships as we feel that the food and service are incredibly good, far avove RCL standards.

[dzcruisers]

We were on Freedom of the Seas last October, so up front, I have to say that my opinion stems from comparing the two ships. We were trying to decide on taking another cruise on Freedom or trying Solstice - and now that we're home we all agree we should have gone back on Freedom.

 

My husband and I are in our late 30's and early 40's and my parents are 65 and 71. It's not that we didn't enjoy our cruise, it just was extremely misleading when we read that Celebrity was a notch above Royal Carribean. We found it to be the opposite (by several notches).

 

For us, the obvious difference between the two cruises was that there wasn't a whole lot to do. Now, I know some will disagree, but I should say there was not a whole lot to do OF INTEREST to any of us in our party. We played Trivia 4 times a day and attended the shows - but other than that we found the lawn to be wasted space and the shows weren't as professionally done as on Freedom. Unless you're into Art Auctions and Glass Blowing (yawn) I would def not choose this ship.

 

 

The no smoking policy was nice and not having to check out a pool towel with our room key was nice - but other than that we are booking on Royal Carribean next time.

 

 

dup

[Cruise Arizona]

I think you have touched on why the company has two lines, (Well two major lines, because RCCL has several other lines as well) Between Celebrity and RC there is not really one better than the other but offering a slightly different cruise experience. We have been cruising with Celebrity since we were 35 and 38, and are now in our 40's. We've cruise with our kids and with our extended family who were in their 60's and 70's. It is still our line of choice.

 

We loved the Solstice, and loved some of the very things that you didn't like. The Hot Glass Show and the Lawn Club were to of our favorite things about the ship. We attended nearly every Hot Glass show, and often found ourselves playing Bocce Ball or even Bean Bags on the grass.

 

Most of our Celebrity cruises have been above and beyond what we expected, with only one that we would categorize as great but not exactly perfect. We have not cruised with RC, but have always felt that their largest ships like Voyager class and above, we too big for us. Others like the bells and whistles that come with the larger ship, but we prefer a more traditional cruise. Not everyone is the same, others love the big RC ships. My sister in law and Mother in law have taken about the same number of cruises on both lines and love them both for their differences.

 

No ship can be everything to everyone and I think that is why one company has the two lines so that they can appeal to other markets.

[Mrs_Tiki]

Well said, Suzanne!

[Orlandocruiser]

As you can see we have recently been on Freedom of the seas and have booked our second cruise on a Solstice class ship. I liked FOS but found I that I liked the vibe on Celebrity better. We had wonderful dining room staff on FOS and our FOS cabin steward was top notch so from that point of view the lines are a toss up. I thought the cabin on FOS was the best I have been in but the bathroom (particulary the shower) was tiny. I suppose that is why the room and the storage on FOS was better. We didn't really take part in the activities on FOS and since most of the active things like the flowrider or the rock climging wall were something we would never do I guess we were paying for amenities we didn't use. Speaking of amenities -no robes or bottles of shampoo on FOS. The FOS was huge - I thought the Solstice was big but we got really tired walking on the FOS. The "cafeteria" on the Solstice was laid out much better with more individual serving stations. However the service in the Windjammer was wonderful with the drink stewards getting you more coffee or iced teas without you having to get them yourself. All in all we liked FOS but I think Celebrity suits us better. It's great that as cruisers we all have enough choices to pick lines that appeal to us. (and the smoking policy on Celebrity is really what seals the deal - we never went to "Olive or Twist" on the FOS because it was so smelly and always went up a deck to avoid the casino.) We certainly wouldn't be adverse to cruising FOS again especialy if they had a good itinerary but I doubt that they are going to change the 7 out of Port Canaveral itinerary.

[DocJohnB]

We were on Freedom of the Seas last October, so up front, I have to say that my opinion stems from comparing the two ships. We were trying to decide on taking another cruise on Freedom or trying Solstice - and now that we're home we all agree we should have gone back on Freedom.

 

 

At least you have tried both lines and can make an informed decision.

 

We just completed a cruise on RCI last month. I have to agree with you when it comes to physical activites (rock climbing, in-line and ice skating, miniature gold, etc. and the flow rider on Freedom), RCI beats Celebrity, hands down. Their ships are geared to your age demographics and younger. In fact, RCI probably does this type of entertainment better than any cruise line. Being close to 70, with the exception of miniature golf, these activities hold no sway for me other than as an observer.

 

You are also correct that cabin storage space is less on Solstice.

 

Where you and I would disagree though is on the quality of the food served. We both know that food is subjective and what one likes another may detest. However, I would put the quality of RCI more than a few notches below that of Celebrity.

 

You mentioned an item that "irritated" me a little on our cruise and that is having to check out a pool towel with my room card and the inevitability of having to pay for it if it is lost. We didn't lose one so we had not problem (other than a "lack of trust" feeling). However, my daughter and her family who traveled with us did have a problem. They checked all (4) of their towels back in but were charged for losing one. Now I know they checked them all back in, because we exchanged/turned ours in at the same time. Had to stand in line the last day to rectify RCI's mistake. RCI tooke the charge off without hassle . . . . . problem . . . . there were at least 20 others in line with the same exact complaint.

 

Celebrity doesn't charge for the use of their pool towels.

 

There are other "little" things that not only differentiate the two lines but they solidify Celebrity's position as the better of the two, IMO.

[Gracie115]

I've been on both many times....I appreciate that some people like to be much more active and there is no question that Royal is better in that regard...

 

BUT...

 

How anyone can rate Royal's food as "better" in anyway than Celebrity is beyond me....I know we all have our own opinion but while I eat Royal's food without a problem I also recognize it for what it....average, very average...

 

We just went back to Celebrity on Solstice this past January after a few years of cruising just on Royal and the food was so much better than anything Royal put out (speaking MDR here, not specialty restaurants) I was amazed...

 

Of course we all have our own opinion...I guess that's why we have choices!:D

[SeaCod]

I

 

We loved the Solstice, and loved some of the very things that you didn't like. The Hot Glass Show and the Lawn Club were to of our favorite things about the ship. We attended nearly every Hot Glass show, and often found ourselves playing Bocce Ball or even Bean Bags on the grass.

 

Most of our Celebrity cruises have been above and beyond what we expected, with only one that we would categorize as great but not exactly perfect. We have not cruised with RC, but have always felt that their largest ships like Voyager class and above, we too big for us.

 

FYI, the Solstice class isn't too much diffrent in size than the Voyager class on Royal. In fact, Solstice is a bit longer and wider.

[Sailfish]

It's not that we didn't enjoy our cruise, it just was extremely misleading when we read that Celebrity was a notch above Royal Carribean. We found it to be the opposite (by several notches).

 

For us, the obvious difference between the two cruises was that there wasn't a whole lot to do. Now, I know some will disagree, but I should say there was not a whole lot to do OF INTEREST to any of us in our party.

 

I have yet to cruise on the Solstice, but I have been on a number of Celebrity ships and I have to agree with you that often the information found here at Cruise Critic and elsewhere on the internet should be taken with a grain of salt. Until you experience it yourself, it's really hard to tell if a particular cruise brand is right for you. You can read message boards all day, but feedback is subjective. I believe Royal Caribbean caters to families who want to stay active while on the ship. I like that about Royal Caribbean, since we are outdoorsy, and enjoy staying active when on vacation; what I personally don't care for are all the kids. That's the cruise line's focus, and if I cruise with Royal Caribbean, I have to live with that.

 

Celebrity, on the other hand, caters to a more mature clientele; activities include seminars and workshops, some of which I sort of find interesting. But all the other sedentary activities that fill the daily planner are not the types of things I personally would do. But then, I go scuba diving in the ports of call - I get up early, head off the ship and spend the day in the water. When I return to the ship, I look forward to relaxing. Short of going to the gym every day, I am not looking for activities to keep me busy. So for me, Celebrity suits me well. But I understand how reading reviews and input from past passengers can make one think that somehow Celebrity is superior to Royal Caribbean.

 

Celebrity & Royal Caribbean (as well as Princess and other mass market cruise lines) are more alike than they are different. There are minor differences in food quality, service, ship design, activities, etc. but for the most part, these differences can be attributed more to the ship and its staff than anything else. Is Celebrity a step up from Royal Caribbean? I suppose that depends on your definition of a "step up". Some will define "a step up" as having fewer kids, more "intellectually stimulating" activities like seminars and workshops or a slightly formal take on evening activities. Others see those Celebrity signature touches, like a glass of champagne at embarkation or a cold towel when you board the ship in port as a "notch above". Thanks to creative marketing or brainwashing, in large part, it's the Cruise Line that has managed to convince the public that Celebrity is a luxury cruise line. In reality, only you can decide where Celebrity ranks based on your experiences.

 

My ideal cruise is one that spends more time in port than at sea. We are not "cruise enthusiasts" (defined by me as people who prefer cruises to other types of vacations). We typically cruise for the ports of call and view a cruise more like I would hotel accommodations than a destination - something I know to be just the opposite for many folks who frequent Cruise Critic. There's nothing wrong with this, but it's just not what I look for in a vacation. It's far more important to me that the ports of call have what I want to do than for the ship to provide me with all the activities I want to do while on vacation.

[bubbie617]

That's why they make chocolate and vanilla.

 

Spend your cruise dollars where you are happiest. We are Diamond + on RCCL and Elite (we earned that by doing 10+ cruise credits with X) on Celebrity. We love both lines. I would get on a Radiance Class ship any time, any day, going any where. The others are too old or too big for me. After a while, it got to be the same old, same old on RCCL and we were looking for a change. We had cruised on Celebrity quite a while ago and decided to try it again.

 

I have to tell you that we are happy beyond belief with Celebrity. The Elite perks are wonderful and we definitely feel that it is a step above RCCL. In no way am I putting RCCL down. We still love it, but for now, our cruising dollars are going to Celebrity.

 

We have also done 5 cruises on Princess, but that's another subject for another time. It just indicates that we have other experience to compare with RCCL and Celebrity.

[caribbeanboy]

Royal Caribbean doesn't charge either for the use of their towels BUT the reason you have to check in/out the towels on Royal Caribbean is because they have the logo and the name of the company on them...making them a nice (free) souvenier!

[Cruise Arizona]

Class and type: Solstice-class cruise ship Tonnage: gross tonnage (GT) of 122,000 tons[4] Length: 1,033 ft (314.86 m) Beam: 121 ft (36.88 m) Draft: 27 ft (8.23 m) Decks: 19 Installed power: 4x Wärtsilä diesel engines Propulsion: 2x 20.5MW Azipod Speed: 24 kn (44 km/h; 28 mph) Capacity: 2,850 passengers Crew: 1,500 crew

 

 

You are right, they are some what close in size.

 

 

 

 

 

Class and type: Voyager Class Tonnage: 137,276 GT (gross tonnage) Length: 1,020 ft (310.90 m) Beam: 156 ft (47.55 m) Height: 63 m (206.69 ft) Draft: 29 ft (8.84 m) Decks: 15 Propulsion: 3 x 14 MW Azipod propulsion, two azimuthing, one fixed Speed: 23.7-knot (44 km/h; 27 mph) Capacity: 3,138 passengers[1] Crew: 1,181 crew

[LeftcoastBC]

Yes they are different and for a reason that our posts clearly point out in them selves.

 

We recently returned from the Mariner of the Sea's and sailed the Solstice APR 09.

 

Didn't find the storage on the Solstice to be a problem. Loved the bathrooms on the Solstice. Found RCl announcements to have greatly diminished but still not as good as X.

Found the Solstice to be a long walk when we forgot something compared to Mariner. (Cabins in about the same position aft of rear elevators)

Solstice Buffet area better laid out and being able to eat outside aft very much missed on the Mariner.

Mattress on Solstice best at sea.

 

Entertainment not a factor in our experience on either ship.

 

Service in MDR comparable..both excellent

 

Food ... budget in Buffet on Mariner clearly noticeably less than Solstice although there certainly were enough choices and quality was OK.

 

Loved the Grass on Solstice

 

and for all you Chair hoggers and haters of same..

Because you sign out towels on RCL there is virtually no chairs taken up with towels covering them. They have found a solution and I would recommend X do the same. You put a towel or towels on your seapass @ 20$ each. Use them when at the pool. Exchange them any time you need a dry one and take them to your room when your pool time is done. Or you can turn them in daily if you wish.

 

SNap ..end of chair hogging threads. :D

 

I would travel for sure with family (younger ones) on RCL as there is more for them to do and can't wait to get back on a refurbished M class. or my Merc. (was on her last Oct). with updated beds.

[alexkrn46]

We were on Freedom of the Seas last October, so up front, I have to say that my opinion stems from comparing the two ships. We were trying to decide on taking another cruise on Freedom or trying Solstice - and now that we're home we all agree we should have gone back on Freedom.

 

My husband and I are in our late 30's and early 40's and my parents are 65 and 71. It's not that we didn't enjoy our cruise, it just was extremely misleading when we read that Celebrity was a notch above Royal Carribean. We found it to be the opposite (by several notches).

 

For us, the obvious difference between the two cruises was that there wasn't a whole lot to do. Now, I know some will disagree, but I should say there was not a whole lot to do OF INTEREST to any of us in our party. We played Trivia 4 times a day and attended the shows - but other than that we found the lawn to be wasted space and the shows weren't as professionally done as on Freedom. Unless you're into Art Auctions and Glass Blowing (yawn) I would def not choose this ship.

 

The food was exactly the same quality as on Freedom, IMHO, and the cabins were more limited in terms of storage space.

 

The no smoking policy was nice and not having to check out a pool towel with our room key was nice - but other than that we are booking on Royal Carribean next time.

 

I was on this cruise also, we are Diamond + on RCCL, we were on the Mariner in March, we were in a Junior Suite so we did not have to deal with the towel issue.

 

As my husband pointed out it was nice not to have the PA system going off every hour, yet I missed not having a more detailed Captain's Update and a an announcement when leaving port.

 

The Cruise Director was very low key, I missed not having a funny cruise director, I missed the Ice Show, Love and Marriage Show, and Quest. We made the mistake eating in Blu and found the food not to be our taste. The Ocean View Cafe was a notch better then the Windjammer. Our Kids age 24 and 26 found it annoying not to have a hot tube open after 8 pm. I missed seeing children abut the ship.

 

We had a wonderful cruise, we found the staff very attentive and it made me realize how hard the staff on RCCL works since the have a much higher work load.

[DocJohnB]

and for all you Chair hoggers and haters of same..

Because you sign out towels on RCL there is virtually no chairs taken up with towels covering them. They have found a solution and I would recommend X do the same. You put a towel or towels on your seapass @ 20$ each. Use them when at the pool. Exchange them any time you need a dry one and take them to your room when your pool time is done. Or you can turn them in daily if you wish.

 

SNap ..end of chair hogging threads. :D

 

Not really. On those days when it was warm enough to lay out in the sun on our RCI cruise (Bermuda from NJ), there were plenty of chair hoggers . . . . some surprisingly even using the "towels" (stupid, but . . . . ). People will use anything from room towels, to coverups to sandals to"lay claim" to a chair.

 

My biggest objection to the towels is the ships' accounting of them. As I stated in my earlier post, there were at least 20 people complaining about being charged for towels they had (supposedly) returned. Spent 30 minutes or so getting it "fixed". I have no idea of how many others had the same problem. . . . . let alone did not notice the charge until it was too late. The accounting for the return of these towels needs to be fixed.

 

[tortugas]

Always good to hear perspective and comparisons. And applause to Sailfish for a very concise post... i agree heartily with all said!!

 

My husband and I have sailed both... he prefers RCI and I am leaning toward Celebrity, with the exception of the limited evening buffet (we are not "dining room" diners).

 

I'm sure we'll sail both again!

[Solstice23]

Ok everyone has favorites...

 

My wife and I are age 32 and have sailed on both lines RCCL is in no way a match for Celebrity in dinning, design, and esp service!!!

 

As for entertainment I am over the production shows, and they can vary from ship to ship including on RCCL's own fleet. The LAWN CLUB is the best use of space for the market Celebrity is going for! Quiet classy club like feel, its like a day at our summer home on the lake and we loved it!!! NO MORE SUN CHAIRS!!! what a waiste skin cancer and lung cancer go together in my opinion! We loved the lawn club in fact all our friends keep talking about it since we came home.

 

The martini bar is live entertainment it self and no one is pushing to buy drinks every second like on RCCL nor any announcements for the all so "tacky" bingo

 

I like that it was more of a quiet lo key cruise...and Celebrity is headed in the right direction 100% with this we have not sailed Freedom but have sailed Mariner and Oasis, radiance and Jewel and all were ok but nothing compared to our x Cruises esp on Solstice.

 

I would prefer a few more educational and lifestyle games and seminars actually! but no pool games please and productions shows?? YAWN....they are never as good as flying to NYC for a weekend and Catching a show!

 

we tend to sail on Toronto Spring Break and New years and summer high periods and like X also because less children running around. We also found on our Last RCCL cruise the word NO was used more then ever with staff and in the MDR, we saw more tank tops and ripped jeans then we needed to also ( yes you get a mix of people on every cruise) but Celebrity has much less for a large ship and I find other then the complainers behavior is less loud and obnoxious generally. Our Cruise on both Mariner and Jewel were filled with 100's of teenagers loose all over the decks, making out in Johnny Rockets at night, in the hot tubs, running down the halls....We love RCCL but prefer Celebrity

[sailor2010]

We were on Freedom of the Seas last October, so up front, I have to say that my opinion stems from comparing the two ships. We were trying to decide on taking another cruise on Freedom or trying Solstice - and now that we're home we all agree we should have gone back on Freedom.

 

My husband and I are in our late 30's and early 40's and my parents are 65 and 71. It's not that we didn't enjoy our cruise, it just was extremely misleading when we read that Celebrity was a notch above Royal Carribean. We found it to be the opposite (by several notches).

 

For us, the obvious difference between the two cruises was that there wasn't a whole lot to do. Now, I know some will disagree, but I should say there was not a whole lot to do OF INTEREST to any of us in our party. We played Trivia 4 times a day and attended the shows - but other than that we found the lawn to be wasted space and the shows weren't as professionally done as on Freedom. Unless you're into Art Auctions and Glass Blowing (yawn) I would def not choose this ship.

 

The food was exactly the same quality as on Freedom, IMHO, and the cabins were more limited in terms of storage space.

 

The no smoking policy was nice and not having to check out a pool towel with our room key was nice - but other than that we are booking on Royal Carribean next time.

 

 

What cabins were you in? What meals did you eat/enjoy? What ports and excursions did you attend? What was your crew like? The weather?

I usually give a "thumbs up" to anyone posting any review but this one seems a bit "quick" without "content"...

We are in your age group on travel NYC, Miami, LA, and DC and although our first “X” cruise has yet to transpire our RCL was less than eventful...

Can you give us more insight into your post?

[SeaBlu]

We were on Freedom of the Seas last October, so up front, I have to say that my opinion stems from comparing the two ships. We were trying to decide on taking another cruise on Freedom or trying Solstice - and now that we're home we all agree we should have gone back on Freedom.

 

My husband and I are in our late 30's and early 40's and my parents are 65 and 71. It's not that we didn't enjoy our cruise, it just was extremely misleading when we read that Celebrity was a notch above Royal Caribbean. We found it to be the opposite (by several notches).

 

For us, the obvious difference between the two cruises was that there wasn't a whole lot to do. Now, I know some will disagree, but I should say there was not a whole lot to do OF INTEREST to any of us in our party. We played Trivia 4 times a day and attended the shows - but other than that we found the lawn to be wasted space and the shows weren't as professionally done as on Freedom. Unless you're into Art Auctions and Glass Blowing (yawn) I would def not choose this ship.

 

The food was exactly the same quality as on Freedom, IMHO, and the cabins were more limited in terms of storage space.

 

The no smoking policy was nice and not having to check out a pool towel with our room key was nice - but other than that we are booking on Royal Caribbean next time.

 

 

I think you have made a great decision! You should be on a ship where they provide entertainment for you. Celebrity is for the more cerebral. I would not want you to have to read a book or anything like that. Anyway if you are on Freedom that leaves a lot more room on Celebrity for my friends and family.

 

That is why there are so many different cruise lines and so many different ships. . . something for everyone.:rolleyes:

[smoosh21]

At least you have tried both lines and can make an informed decision.

 

 

You mentioned an item that "irritated" me a little on our cruise and that is having to check out a pool towel with my room card and the inevitability of having to pay for it if it is lost.

 

I also think that Celebrity towels are of a much better quality.

[DocJohnB]

I also think that Celebrity towels are of a much better quality.

 

Well, that too~:D

[dalitos]

Angelka,

Thank you for taking the time to write the review.

I can relate to your issue with the activities on X, and are kind of 50-50 toward next cruises. We did find our RC ship more 'fun' in terms of activities but also loved the quiet atmosphere of X, especially since we were on a port intensive itinerary.

Wish you could provide more details of things you did like about the Solstice or X as a brand, even if you liked the Freedom better.

[Straughn]

Having cruised both lines, I much prefer Celebrity. We intitially cruised on RCCL and for many years, found it to be what suited us. With the introduction of the big, bigger, biggest and still growing ships, we lost interest because of too many activities which just did not appeal to us. Plus the size and number of passengers took away some of the intimacy of a smaller ship, which we enjoyed. The eastern and western Caribbean itineraries are our favorites, however the only RCCL ships doing the 7 day cruises are the biggest (and still growing) ships. That sent us looking for a smaller ship and Celebrity was a logical choice because of our Diamond status with RCCL. Over the last few years, we also noticed a serious decline in the quality of the food (that is subjective, I know) on RCCL, but found the food on Celebrity to be quite good. Is it 5-star dining-no, but certainly as good as many of the 3-4 star restaurants in our area. We thought the food and the presentation of it, on our last couple of RCCL cruises, was comparable to Denny's. Add to that the never ending announcements about bingo, art auctions, bingo, spa seminars, bingo, jewelry sales, and bingo to be INCREDIBLY annoying. The we discoverd Celebrity and its only one announcement at noon from the Captain. We found the service on the two lines to be pretty much equal, but loved having a butler.

 

I never enjoyed having my afternoon nap or reading interupted by the pool games on RCCL. I sleep much better by the Celebrity pool. I found the evening entertainment on the two ships to be comparable-some good, some bad, but no noticable difference. RCCL is definitely more family oriented, but to us, the difference is more than the activities. We find the ambiance on Celebrity is a little less franetic, a little more refined. We cruise to relax, not to see how many things we can cram into a sea day or how many tours we take in port. For us, Celebrity is now a better choice.

[madelinerose]

Celebrity is for the more cerebral. I would not want you to have to read a book or anything like that. Anyway if you are on Freedom that leaves a lot more room on Celebrity for my friends and family.

 

Wow. :rolleyes: