State of the Solstice

[SunNFunCruzer]

Oh.... And both internet and TV signal seem back to normal now.

[Jim_Iain]

9 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

Jim,

 

 How long ago was this?  As you know we did a B2B on Reflection this past December and had a very wonderful cruise.  We never waited more than 2 or 3 minutes to be escorted to our table in Luminae and we simply just walked up to the Maitre'd's station each night around the same time.  

 

 

It definitely was a long time ago.   Luminae was new and like I said it was before they let SS's into Michaels Club.    At the time it was limited to CS , Royal, Signature and Penthouse.   We were in a Signature. 

 

As you know we are late diners and do not go to dinner until just before 9.  

 

It really is no big deal.   I guess many have had a bad experience in an otherwise nice restaurant and had such a bad taste that it leaves a sour taste they wont' try it again.  That's kinda where we are at.  I never say never so who knows.   If it was the only ship on an Itinerary  - say South Africa (LOL) I would probably book.

[Jim_Iain]

3 minutes ago, SunNFunCruzer said:

Oh.... And both internet and TV signal seem back to normal now.

 

Good to hear.    I really don't understand why there are some spots (mostly while in ports) that the Wifi is flaky or just doesn't work at all.     Ensenada  was like that as well as Catalina Island -   We could even see LA in the distance.

[clayb]

On 9/22/2022 at 6:15 AM, JLMcruise said:

Hi - we were on the Solstice in 2019 from Hawaii to Australia! We will be on the Solstice again for 2 weeks in October - maybe we will cross paths again!

I'll be sailing on the Solstice Oct 8 with a friend. How about you?

[DaKahuna]

7 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

It definitely was a long time ago.   Luminae was new and like I said it was before they let SS's into Michaels Club.    At the time it was limited to CS , Royal, Signature and Penthouse.   We were in a Signature. 

 

As you know we are late diners and do not go to dinner until just before 9.  

 

It really is no big deal.   I guess many have had a bad experience in an otherwise nice restaurant and had such a bad taste that it leaves a sour taste they wont' try it again.  That's kinda where we are at.  I never say never so who knows.   If it was the only ship on an Itinerary  - say South Africa (LOL) I would probably book.

 I understand.  We have been fortunate that we have not sailed on a ship that we would not want to back to again thus far. 
 

[jpurcell]

On 9/26/2022 at 3:43 PM, ScottC4746 said:

To this I say BS.  I got off her in September in Alaska and while she is not a spring chicken she is still in great shape.  I did notice a little rust around the windows, seating was comfortable but do not plop into the round seats in the martini bar --- they fart.  

I totally agree. We sailed on the last trip in Alaska before she moved to LA, the ship is in very good shape. The only issue I found was the blackout curtains in our cabin had some holes in it and some of the chairs in the theater are showing some age. We thought the carpet actually looked very new in most places.  Furniture was in very good shape in every venue we went to. The windows in all areas appeared very clean. I guarantee if I went to these complainers homes, I could nit pick every square inch until they cried uncle. 

[SunNFunCruzer]

4 hours ago, jpurcell said:

I totally agree. We sailed on the last trip in Alaska before she moved to LA, the ship is in very good shape. The only issue I found was the blackout curtains in our cabin had some holes in it and some of the chairs in the theater are showing some age. We thought the carpet actually looked very new in most places.  Furniture was in very good shape in every venue we went to. The windows in all areas appeared very clean. I guarantee if I went to these complainers homes, I could nit pick every square inch until they cried uncle. 

 

The post above brings up another negative about Solstice. On prior cruises, my balcony stateroom has had a thin white privacy curtain ~as well as~ a thick blackout curtain. On Solstice the privacy curtain is missing, so its full open direct sun (and zero privacy) in the already hot cabin, or it's a dark and closed off experience. 

 

I'd love to see a list of items that ~ I ~ posted about, about the Solstice, that would be considered "nitpicking".

[Georgia_Peaches]

19 minutes ago, SunNFunCruzer said:

Solstice the privacy curtain is missing, so its full open direct sun (and zero privacy) in the already hot cabin, or it's a dark and closed off experience. 

I've read a number of reviews hat mention this very thing.  I'm wondering why Celebrity have removed those privacy sheers.  The used to be there...

[LGW59]

4 hours ago, jpurcell said:

I totally agree. We sailed on the last trip in Alaska before she moved to LA, the ship is in very good shape. The only issue I found was the blackout curtains in our cabin had some holes in it and some of the chairs in the theater are showing some age. We thought the carpet actually looked very new in most places.  Furniture was in very good shape in every venue we went to. The windows in all areas appeared very clean. I guarantee if I went to these complainers homes, I could nit pick every square inch until they cried uncle. 

So it sounds like you are saying is what’s acceptable to you must also be acceptable to others, because you see it that way.  Yea that makes total sense 🙄

[snowowl]

5 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

I've read a number of reviews hat mention this very thing.  I'm wondering why Celebrity have removed those privacy sheers.  The used to be there...

Currently onboard Solstice, privacy sheers are still in my cabin.

[Georgia_Peaches]

14 minutes ago, snowowl said:

Currently onboard Solstice, privacy sheers are still in my cabin.

 

Huh...good to know...but even more mysterious.  Wonder why some cabins have them and other don't?

[SunNFunCruzer]

1 hour ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Huh...good to know...but even more mysterious.  Wonder why some cabins have them and other don't?

 

"Huh" is right. This seems to be the tale of 2 cruises aboard Solstice. We do have a track and little plastic clips, but we didn't even think to ask for a curtain. See my earlier post about being low maintenance. Hopefully whoever gets our cabin next reads CC and knows to ask for a curtain.

 

A little more good news: As we head to Ensenada, where the air temps are a reported 78 degrees, the ocean air temperature has dropped making both the balcony and cabin cooler. I wonder if, as mentioned earlier, the ship just couldn't keep up with the sweltering outside air temperatures. Looking forward to some cool relief for the next few days!

[Northern Aurora]

3 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Huh...good to know...but even more mysterious.  Wonder why some cabins have them and other don't?

 

We boarded the Solstice on September 16th for a B2B.  We had to change staterooms from a Celebrity Site to a Sky Suite 1.  Both suites have the privacy sheers.  If, for some reason they are not in your stateroom, just ask for them.

 

And we have had absolutely no issues with air conditioning.  If fact, some areas of the ship are so cool that a light sweater or fleece is needed.

[Georgia_Peaches]

26 minutes ago, Northern Aurora said:

And we have had absolutely no issues with air conditioning.  If fact, some areas of the ship are so cool that a light sweater or fleece is needed.

Good to know!  We are in a RS in March and I'd like a cool room with privacy sheers!  😊

[mesamarie]

Hi

I cannot locate pics of Solstice Retreat area. Does it have hot tubs? 
Thanks for any pics you have.

[abbydancer2003]

11 minutes ago, mesamarie said:

Hi

I cannot locate pics of Solstice Retreat area. Does it have hot tubs? 
Thanks for any pics you have.

I don't the the Solstice has any of the Revolutionized features, ie there's Michael's Club and Luminae but that's it.

[sbcs5390]

1 minute ago, abbydancer said:

I don't the the Solstice has any of the Revolutionized features, ie there's Michael's Club and Luminae but that's it.

Correct. No Retreat sundeck 

[NMTraveller]

It sounds like it is due for a refurbishment that it never got.

 

Just book the Rotterdam... 🙂

 

Anyways one year I booked a last minute cruise during the Christmas holidays.  It was on the Westerdam right before it went in to be refurbed.  For the price it was one of the best cruises I have been on.

 

If you are not getting an excellent discount I would book something else.

 

The fact that it is not ship shape means that there is some wear.  Perhaps not a lot of wear, but not up to the standards everyone is used to.

Edited September 30, 2022 by NMTraveller

[sbcs5390]

5 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

If you are not getting an excellent discount I would book something else.

Yes we should keep that in mind. Although not the case for the OP as they came over from Millennium and may or may not have taken advantage of the price drops, these cruises well before final payment were starting at $230/week cruise only plus were on solo sale so lots of couples will have a “two room suite” DIY, an easy option with how the S class connecting cabins work. At that point three meals a day at McDonald’s for a week is almost the same price. For me it’s my first opportunity to try a Royal Suite - for the same price I’m paying for an inside cabin on Oceania the next month. 

[BigAl94]

6 hours ago, sbcs5390 said:

Correct. No Retreat sundeck 

And all the better for it!

[Chrisclaire]

Does anyone have any info on the condition of the tiles in the shower enclosure/bathrooms in the staterooms on Solstice and in particular #8266?

We have booked this for Oct 23 round Australia from the UK.

A lifetime trip for us.

We have just returned from 10 nights on Constellation and the tiles in the bathroom/shower enclosure were absolutely awful.

In need of a complete rip out.

We are now concerned, given the Solstice has not been refurbished, that we could face the same.

We love the Constellation & this was our 3rd time on her, many of the lounges etc have had new carpets and seating, which imo were lovely.

But the bathrooms 😟😟😟

[GTVCRUISER]

I will be on the Solstice October 8th 2022 cruise to Mexico my first cruise on her , I have cruised on the Mercury, Century and the Infinity, I am happy to be cruising on Celebrity again 🙂 

[BigAl94]

1 hour ago, Chrisclaire said:

Does anyone have any info on the condition of the tiles in the shower enclosure/bathrooms in the staterooms on Solstice and in particular #8266?

 

From memory they aren't tiles but a composite moulded floor and shower enclosure. Our last trip on Silhouette they were fine, maybe a little discoloured but clean and intact.

[Chrisclaire]

20 minutes ago, BigAl94 said:

From memory they aren't tiles but a composite moulded floor and shower enclosure. Our last trip on Silhouette they were fine, maybe a little discoloured but clean and intact.

Thanks so much, that's reassuring!

[Jim_Iain]

12 hours ago, mesamarie said:

Hi

I cannot locate pics of Solstice Retreat area. Does it have hot tubs? 
Thanks for any pics you have.

Solstice has not gone through Revolution.   There is no retreat sun deck or hot tub for Suite Guests.  Also on Solstice we have Michael's Club not Retreat.   It is in original condition with wood walls and a piano in the alcove.