Sawyer viewing Question on Celebrity Solstice

[cruisedude29]

When you sail in Tracy's arm in Alaska do they open the bow up so you can view Sawyer Glacier? I hope they do, because it there would be awesome views from up there. I have seen alot of the other cruiselines open thiers for viewing, just curious. Thanks for the help.

[CruiserBruce]

You should check on the Celebrity board, as this would be a Celebrity policy issue. Some ships can't open their bows of safety or logistical readings. This would be true wherever Solstice sailed, not just in Alaska.

[cruisedude29]

You should check on the Celebrity board, as this would be a Celebrity policy issue. Some ships can't open their bows of safety or logistical readings. This would be true wherever Solstice sailed, not just in Alaska.

Yeah I posted the question on the Celebrity Board as well. No one could tell one way or the another. I thought I would post it here, as it has to do with Alaska. Some poeple said Infinty open thier bow, but no one said anything about Solstice. Solstice is an S-class ship while Infinty is M-class. Thanks for any help.:rolleyes:

[Northern Aurora]

I saw the post on the Celebrity board, but didn't respond since I've never been on the Solstice in Alaska. Actually, I've never been on the Solstice at all, but have been on other S-class ships.

 

Last spring the Equinox opened the bow to elite and suite guests on the sail into Venice (half were invited to the sail in in to with the other half invited to the sail out of Venice the next afternoon). So I am assuming that the Solstice could possibly allow bow access. But SE Alaska receives a significant amount of rain, and if there is any rain bows are not opened due to concerns regarding passengers falling.

 

Hope someone who has been on one of the Solstice Alaska sailings will comment.

[SightCRR]

With many cruises listing the Sawyer glacier often because of ice flows the ship is not able to get close. On one of our cruises (not Celebrity) we had to turn around several miles from the glacier and could just barely see it.

In mid Aug of 2012 we were able to get right up to it.

 

Based on when you sail the question should be "will I even have a chance to see it? " before you ask where to view it from.

 

Sightcrr

[cruisedude29]

I saw the post on the Celebrity board, but didn't respond since I've never been on the Solstice in Alaska. Actually, I've never been on the Solstice at all, but have been on other S-class ships.

 

Last spring the Equinox opened the bow to elite and suite guests on the sail into Venice (half were invited to the sail in in to with the other half invited to the sail out of Venice the next afternoon). So I am assuming that the Solstice could possibly allow bow access. But SE Alaska receives a significant amount of rain, and if there is any rain bows are not opened due to concerns regarding passengers falling.

 

Hope someone who has been on one of the Solstice Alaska sailings will comment.

Thanks for the info.We are sailing in Aquaclass and not a suite, and this is only our 2nd Celebrity cruise. So they might open it, but it looks like we may not be invited. Thanks again.

[cruisedude29]

With many cruises listing the Sawyer glacier often because of ice flows the ship is not able to get close. On one of our cruises (not Celebrity) we had to turn around several miles from the glacier and could just barely see it.

In mid Aug of 2012 we were able to get right up to it.

 

Based on when you sail the question should be "will I even have a chance to see it? " before you ask where to view it from.

 

Sightcrr

We are going the end of June thur the first week in July. I hope we'll be able to get close enough to see it. Thanks for the info.

[Budget Queen]

With many cruises listing the Sawyer glacier often because of ice flows the ship is not able to get close. On one of our cruises (not Celebrity) we had to turn around several miles from the glacier and could just barely see it.

In mid Aug of 2012 we were able to get right up to it.

 

Based on when you sail the question should be "will I even have a chance to see it? " before you ask where to view it from.

 

Sightcrr

 

It is about TIME, which most ships do not allow enough of. The "ice/safety", "comment" sounds good and is easily accepted by cruise passengers but rarely, if ever accurate. I have been right up to the face of glaciers, surrounded by plenty of ice many times.

[SightCRR]

With a little more reading I was surprised to read that only about 25% actually make it there. I was thinking that a lot don't make it but as high as 25% was a big surprise.

 

Here is another thread to much discussion about Tracy Arm including photos from 2013.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1687325

 

If BQ thinks it is about "time" I would say it is about "time" and I have no reason to doubt what she said.

Sightcrr

[rae8836]

We've been on the bow of the Celebrity Reflection - another one of those 'limited invitation' events. I suspect the major issue is that access to the bow on Solstice class is very awkward... you need to go through a watertight exterior door (with the typical low overhead and _very_ high door sill) and then up a narrow flight of metal stairs. It really isn't designed for everyday general passenger access. When we were on the bow they had perhaps 6 ship staff at the various points where one could slip or hit your head. I can see why this wouldn't be a routine thing.

[cruisedude29]

We've been on the bow of the Celebrity Reflection - another one of those 'limited invitation' events. I suspect the major issue is that access to the bow on Solstice class is very awkward... you need to go through a watertight exterior door (with the typical low overhead and _very_ high door sill) and then up a narrow flight of metal stairs. It really isn't designed for everyday general passenger access. When we were on the bow they had perhaps 6 ship staff at the various points where one could slip or hit your head. I can see why this wouldn't be a routine thing.

 

Thanks for the information. There's hope that they do open it up from time to time.

 

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