I miss Mercury and Infinity, but Solstice class is my new home!

[Pat&Paul]

It started with our neighbor picking us up at 10:55 on May6th down our long driveway, They live up top, we are in the middle and watchtheir cat while they are are in France for 3-4 weeks around Christmas. It worksfor us, I rarely get holidays off since my counterpart at work gets all theholidays off. It is what it is. Neighbor drove us to the local airport to catchthe bus to Oakland airport. We chose to stay overnight before our flight OAK toHNl. Glad we did, was a long flight and we were much better rested before.

 

Let's stop here and introduce ourselves. Pat and Paul, longtime cruisers. First in 2002, Mercury 7 day to Alaska. That was an awesomefirst cruise. But 7 days wasn't enough. So our second cruise was to Alaska aswell, but 12 days! Out of San Francisco and awesome, Celebrity Infinity 4 yearslater. Then in 2009 we heard our loved Mercury was being sent to another lineso we HAD to cruise her once more on a 9 might Alaska adventure. A long breakfrom cruising Celebrity ended in 2015 in September with the beautiful Infinityagain on a 9 night Pacific Coastal. But wait, we felt obligated to cruise thislively M class ship again in May of 2016 for yet again another Pacific coastal.But that did it! We are now Elite! Finally.

 

Now to this awesome cruise. I booked this Solstice cruise onthe Infinity in May 2016. We had to do a S class cruise to see the difference.We had only cruised Horizon (Mercury) and M class ships on Celebrity thus far.We'd be cheating ourselves until we hopped on a S class.

 

We flew (First Class) from OAK to HNL Sunday May 7 and boywas the service really nice. We only did First since it was a good deal at $400a piece one way.Arrived about noon and got our luggage. Cab was about $32 withtip. We were warned that there would be a Coast Guard inspection that woulddelay boarding. Couldn't check in until 1:00 PM. this concerned us since we hadbooked Concierge Class and wanted to have the lunch which closed at 1:00 Pm.(This is important, pay attention later). We thought we would drop bags and then hang out in Waikiki.To oursurprise, we entered the terminal at 12:45. Lines where open and not bad. Wewere offered the 'Elite Suites' line since were were elite and promptly tookit. About 50 people in front of us, not bad. it was the security line, about 20minutes. We left security and proceeded to the empty Concierge line (Elite hadseveral peeps in it), Concierge looked better. Up to the check in guy and 5 minlater on to the escalator up to the ship.

 

Sparkling wine in hand on the ship and through the casino.We entered thought Cellar Matter's strangely. Through casino to finish mylovely (not sure) wine. Put the glass on a black jack table and proceeded tothe Aqua spa Cafe. Nearly the same as Infinity / M class ship, so relaxing! Paull had some of the best grilled Salmonever! Highly recommended. We ate at Aqua Spa daily, breakfast and lunch.Healthy and fresh. Just an FYI, ship announcements don’t happened in the Aquaspa café’ / Soliurm pool. You have to go to the elevators in the foyer.

 

On to our cabin, 9243, Concierge class. It was very nice.Bigger balcony, bed next to balcony / window. Bathroom cice. Cabin attendantwas really good, always asking what else we needed. (We even passed on the sparklingwing since its pretty gross In our humble opinion.) Bed was very comphy. Just aword of advise for you large brutes/ Shower in the changing room in the spa.They have HUGE showerers. Thank me for the tip now. Just an FYI.

 

MDR dining was Excellent to Very Good. Paul loved everymeal. I’m a picky diner so I likely dine on the everyday menu often. FrenchOnion soup is AMAZING by the way. I hate mushrooms so I find Celbrity menuslaking. I swer every menu had 50% plus starters and entrees with mushrooms or truffles! Good god give me abreak! But that’s just me. We only dined one night in Buffett which wasactually very good. (Not busy / quiet time, take note). If you like Lamb, Paul saidit’s some of the best hes had, and he had it thrice!

 

Back to our boarding fiasco missing Concierge lunch. We had to board late because of the Celebrity notice.So we missed the special luncheon. We told Bianca the Concierge Hostess, andshe was immediately sorry. She said would look into it and maybe book us for alunch in a specialty restaurant to compensate. We received a call a day laterthat she booked us in Tuscan Grill for a lunch a few days later, if this didn’twork, let her know. We saw here o a tender the next day and thanked her, thinkingthat we would be responsible for the cover charge. Guess what? There was NO bilat Tuscany! Bianca covered it 100%. We were pleanslty surprised.

 

We are new Elites and made the horrible mistake of not attendingbreakfast until day 9. It was wonderful! Amazing! If yu are newly Elite got the breakfast day one!!! OtherElite perks not to be missed are the laundry. USE them!!! Come home with mostlyclean close. Awesome

 

I only have one negative to mention. The World Class Bar wasnot class at all. The bartender was a total jerk. I’m going to put it in my survery. I’m pretty laid back, but when someone tells my spouse they can’t gettonic and lime at a bar t=because they are a “Specialty Cocktail Bar ONLY”!bar, I get really upset. REALLY?! I wanted to tho the $12 drink I orderedinto his face. Totally pissed me off.

 

BRING THE MOLECULAR BAR BACK!

 

In the end, in retrospect, it was a great cruise. I lookforward to a Solstice cruise in the future. Let me know if you want to seepictures or anything. I’m new at thisreview thing 😊

 

 

Pat