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The Demise of the Solstice Deck


Wansbrough
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32 minutes ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

I have not sailed since the Hoppenization.  I had 52 nights cancelled this year, all on Summit.  Yes, I was scheduled for 28 nights in the PH.  I did not lift and shift as the PH was not available for the 2021 cruises.  One must book the PH far in advance.

 

One can form opinions based on pictures, videos, and comments from other cruisers.  You are welcome to believe the Hoppenization was glorious.  Some share your opinion.  Others do not.  I did not book the PH because of the Hoppenization.  I booked it in spite of it.  We had many friends booked on those cruises and were planning to entertain quite a bit.  Actually, I think it was booked before Hoppenization was a thing.

Happy Cruiser, I think I may have one of the weeks you want for PH on Summit, cabin 6148, 1/30/21, I also have it for 1/15/22.  "Considering" doing a L&S for the 2021 cruise.  If I do that, I will def post it here as soon as I do so.  Perhaps it will get on the website and you can grab it.  I only have until 9/30 to decide...

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I felt this exact same way when they turned Michael's Club on the S-Class ships into the Suite Lounge.  

 

We did upgrade on Edge once to a Sky Suite and we enjoyed the Retreat but it is not even close to the same amenity on the S-Class ships.  There are definitely far fewer "quiet" places on Edge and while there are some things I liked about Eden (which I consider the replacement for the Sky Lounge on the S-class ships),  I missed being able to sit and watch where we were headed from the Sky Lounge.  There are little to no smaller, intimate lounges on Edge.  We really miss those, too.  

 

There's no question that many of the changes are designed to make the cruise line more money.  The nice thing is that there are lots of other choices out there (or there were) for us to chose from.  

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17 minutes ago, Host Anne said:

I felt this exact same way when they turned Michael's Club on the S-Class ships into the Suite Lounge.  

 

We did upgrade on Edge once to a Sky Suite and we enjoyed the Retreat but it is not even close to the same amenity on the S-Class ships.  There are definitely far fewer "quiet" places on Edge and while there are some things I liked about Eden (which I consider the replacement for the Sky Lounge on the S-class ships),  I missed being able to sit and watch where we were headed from the Sky Lounge.  There are little to no smaller, intimate lounges on Edge.  We really miss those, too.  

 

There's no question that many of the changes are designed to make the cruise line more money.  The nice thing is that there are lots of other choices out there (or there were) for us to chose from.  

Precisely the point.  Hotels make updates, car designs change, we remodel our homes, clothing have changed...we can blast it or accept or find another brand, no matter the subject.  I for one love change.

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4 hours ago, dkjretired said:

 

That but also keeping up with the other cruise lines especially NCL with their Haven concept.  

There is no keeping up with NCL.  It is a lower class line.  Their aim should be to compete with Viking and others like it.  Aim high not low.

Edited by NMTraveller
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2 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

There is no keeping up with NCL.  It is a lower class line.  Their aim should be to compete with Viking and others like it.

In my opinion, there really is NO comparison between the Haven and the Retreat.  It's just my opinion but Retreat has hands down above Haven, I mea really there just is not for me

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3 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

As someone who cruises with a variety of lines, I have to say that Celebrity is doing a good job of instituting many things that actively steer me elsewhere. Not a big fan of the whole caste system, suite perks, "ship within a ship" phenomenon.

 

As for Celebrity hoping to capture the Milennials, good luck with that. As mom to one, I will just say that a) a large number of them have just paid off student loans and are now embarking on mortgages, and b) cruises do not usually top the list of preferred vacation types for this group, at least not from my experience.

 

This seems like a small market to myself...

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15 hours ago, DrKoob said:

 

With X, even in a suite, I am buying into the caste system they have created. Plus, I still have to put up with all the things on the ship that Viking has done away with, kids (no one under 18), smoking, casino, art auction, ship photographers. All those things I really have never liked about X. 

 

If I want to take a special cruise, after 30 X cruises, I will move up to a much more special cruise line. 

We aren't fans of smaller ships- I know viking now has an ocean liner- but after sailing on others, including princess, NCL , Disney and Carnival- Still much prefer the Celebrity Edge and Solstice class ships- and Royal Caribbean Oasis class ships. 

 

We like choice- and the larger ships have more choice and comfortable staterooms and suites.

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12 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

There is no keeping up with NCL.  It is a lower class line.  Their aim should be to compete with Viking and others like it.  Aim high not low.

 

I was talking about the suite amenities, Celebrity was way behind and had to compete with them.   At the time they were aiming high because they were lacking. 

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This is a bummer.

 

Every morning on sea days (experience a lot of those since we like trans-Atlantics and long Pacific cruises) I do my sunrise walk/slow jog 🙂.

 

On S class ships I walk/jog from almost bow to stern. Start at the track and go up the steps past the lawns and Sunset Bar. Then back to track up the stairs 2 decks to the Solstice deck where I round around back for another loop. I find this gives a little variety and little aerobic benefit doing the steps :).

 

It's early, usually one of the few doing this. Nice early morning start.

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6 minutes ago, Banjo said:

This is a bummer.

 

Every morning on sea days (experience a lot of those since we like trans-Atlantics and long Pacific cruises) I do my sunrise walk/slow jog 🙂.

 

On S class ships I walk/jog from almost bow to stern. Start at the track and go up the steps past the lawns and Sunset Bar. Then back to track up the stairs 2 decks to the Solstice deck where I round around back for another loop. I find this gives a little variety and little aerobic benefit doing the steps :).

 

It's early, usually one of the few doing this. Nice early morning start.

I really do like the changes but can def understand why folks miss a lounge at front of ship.  I don't think the gym/fitness area should have been assigned all of that space.

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3 hours ago, Cruise a holic said:

We aren't fans of smaller ships- I know viking now has an ocean liner- but after sailing on others, including princess, NCL , Disney and Carnival- Still much prefer the Celebrity Edge and Solstice class ships- and Royal Caribbean Oasis class ships. 

 

We like choice- and the larger ships have more choice and comfortable staterooms and suites.

 

I totally agree that the larger ships have more to do onboard. But the smaller (and Viking Ocean ships carry 960 guest so they really aren't small) ships can go into so many other ports that there really isn't time to do anything on board. We have a 21 day Viking Ocean cruise booked for 2022 that has 21 port days and not a single sea day. When you do that, you really don't need anything activity wise on board. And we are not fans of the Caribbean so we hardly ever take cruises that are just about the ship.

 

It's all in what you are looking for. For example we took our grandkids on an RCL cruise two years ago and loved it because we were with them but the BIG ship was just way too crowded for us. But lots of stuff for them to do and they loved it.

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3 hours ago, dkjretired said:

 

I was talking about the suite amenities, Celebrity was way behind and had to compete with them.   At the time they were aiming high because they were lacking. 

 

Agreed. NCL may be an overall lesser product than X, their Haven is an amazing space but again, talk about a caste system. You can sail an entire cruise and never hobnob with the "common folks." (An NCL rep actually said this on a ship tour of the Bliss). 

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52 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

I really do like the changes but can def understand why folks miss a lounge at front of ship.  I don't think the gym/fitness area should have been assigned all of that space.

 

I don't have as much a problem with the gym/spa being there as I do the suites taking up decks 16, 12, 9 and 8.  I can't imagine sailing the Panama Canal without being able to look forward as the ship enters the locks. 

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19 hours ago, LGW59 said:

Happy Cruiser, I think I may have one of the weeks you want for PH on Summit, cabin 6148, 1/30/21, I also have it for 1/15/22.  "Considering" doing a L&S for the 2021 cruise.  If I do that, I will def post it here as soon as I do so.  Perhaps it will get on the website and you can grab it.  I only have until 9/30 to decide...

 

Thanks, but these cruises are in August 2021.  I am not booking anything new until things get sorted out.  I already have 3 cruises booked for 2021, replacements for ones that were cancelled in 2020.

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1 hour ago, DrKoob said:

 

I totally agree that the larger ships have more to do onboard. But the smaller (and Viking Ocean ships carry 960 guest so they really aren't small) ships can go into so many other ports that there really isn't time to do anything on board. We have a 21 day Viking Ocean cruise booked for 2022 that has 21 port days and not a single sea day. When you do that, you really don't need anything activity wise on board. And we are not fans of the Caribbean so we hardly ever take cruises that are just about the ship.

 

It's all in what you are looking for. For example we took our grandkids on an RCL cruise two years ago and loved it because we were with them but the BIG ship was just way too crowded for us. But lots of stuff for them to do and they loved it.

 

I've been looking at Viking for when cruising resumes, but I don't know if I could survive 21 straight port days!  I like a sea day now and again to relax.

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Maybe I am getting old- but while I enjoy some shore excursions, I also enjoy sea days-  Sometimes, depending upon the port- we stay onboard if we have been to the port multiple times-  We also enjoy shore X's that are at a beautiful calm beach- Especially now- we will enjoy just relaxing and the amenities of a beautiful ship.

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20 minutes ago, Cruise a holic said:

Maybe I am getting old- but while I enjoy some shore excursions, I also enjoy sea days-  Sometimes, depending upon the port- we stay onboard if we have been to the port multiple times-  We also enjoy shore X's that are at a beautiful calm beach- Especially now- we will enjoy just relaxing and the amenities of a beautiful ship.

I have a similar situation, wife still likes to snorkel and enjoy the water sports on excursions while I enjoy the ship and its amenities because I physically can't do things now that she still can.  I go with her because I just don't like her in foreign countries or islands without me.  

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3 hours ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

I've been looking at Viking for when cruising resumes, but I don't know if I could survive 21 straight port days!  I like a sea day now and again to relax.


Don’t worry, they aren’t all like that 😀.  This one has 3 overnights though. 

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On 9/26/2020 at 5:46 AM, Cruise a holic said:

You get what you pay for with Viking and Oceania- Celebrity however is so much cheaper if you take a basic oceanview or balcony cabin.  Inside- if they still allow them in the future,  to be sold are a real bargain.

I compared my Eastern Mediterranean cruise that I took last September on the Edge to a Viking cruise.  When I added up all of the costs the Viking cruise was cheaper.  Yet Viking had the better itinerary,  better rooms, and was less expensive when all costs were considered plus had other benefits that I normally do not pay for on Celebrity.  I will definitely take a look at Viking for my next cruise.

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27 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

I compared my Eastern Mediterranean cruise that I took last September on the Edge to a Viking cruise.  When I added up all of the costs the Viking cruise was cheaper.  Yet Viking had the better itinerary,  better rooms, and was less expensive when all costs were considered plus had other benefits that I normally do not pay for on Celebrity.  I will definitely take a look at Viking for my next cruise.

I have a APEX TA on May 1, 2021, in an S3 Sky Suite, 15 days.  I just looked at Viking, closest I could get to compare was 12 days Bergen to Reykjavik.  My Celebrity TA includes, premium drink package, WiFi, $300 OBC and specialty dining.  The Viking would include all meals, drinks during lunch and dinner, discounted WiFi.  Rooms are somewhat similiar but balcony on the S3 along the Magic Carpet are quite large at 100 SF.  Viking is $1,500 more, fairly comparable, but I think the Celebirty package I got kicks it up a few notches, for me anyway. 

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16 hours ago, dkjretired said:

I have a similar situation, wife still likes to snorkel and enjoy the water sports on excursions while I enjoy the ship and its amenities because I physically can't do things now that she still can.  I go with her because I just don't like her in foreign countries or islands without me.  

If she is with a group- she would probably be fine and safe- especially if she meets people she enjoys being with-  Might be a fun experience.  Although I never tried it!

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1 hour ago, Cruise a holic said:

If she is with a group- she would probably be fine and safe- especially if she meets people she enjoys being with-  Might be a fun experience.  Although I never tried it!

 

Probably just my cop instinct, she would do the same..  You should see us going into a restaurant we both rush to get the seat that's facing the door.   

Edited by dkjretired
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3 hours ago, dkjretired said:

 

Probably just my cop instinct, she would do the same..  You should see us going into a restaurant we both rush to get the seat that's facing the door.   

 

3 hours ago, dkjretired said:

 

Probably just my cop instinct, she would do the same..  You should see us going into a restaurant we both rush to get the seat that's facing the door.   

Not a cop or gangster lol!  But I also never like my back to the door!!!

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  • 2 weeks later...

If, I consider Celebrity, it would only be on one of their ships with a forward lounge. It is the height of dislike for the majority of their passengers for a cruise line to place a gym where the traditional front viewing area should be. 

 

Consider this, a cruise on Oceania Marina leaving Stockholm. The sail in and out is one of the best in the world. Our group of 4 sat at a table at the window in the front lounge watching the sail out with later afternoon tea items.  Then, in shifts, two of us would scurry back to the back deck to watch the ferries cross behind our wake and determine the distance to the next cruise ship behind.

 

Back and forth we went for over an hour. Outstanding experience.

 

This would not be possible on numerous Celebrity ships. 

 

Celebrity stuff it.

 

 

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