Europe 2009: Solstice, Noordam or Voyager?

[Karti]

Hi!

 

I've been reading the CC Boards for quite a while and learned a lot about cruising. We have never cruised on any of the big ships so I would appreciate you help on this.

 

Our choices for May 2009 Europe 10+ days:

1. Celebrity Solstice
   
2. HAL Noordam
   
3. RCI Voyager

There are 5 of us: we, a couple in our late 30's, our daughter 11 and grandparents in their early 60's. We enjoy good food, swimming, sunbathing and people watching. And excellent service of course!

Night clubs are not for us (although we enjoy the shows), we are more like of Wine/Champagne Bar kind of persons.

 

Solstice is a new ship, which looks absolutely beautiful and so far has been our choice #1. HAL has had good reviews of its service and spacious staterooms. Voyager has tons of acitivities and would certainly appeal to our 11 year old! Would Solstice be a good choice for all of us....What would be the pros and cons of these ships?

 

Your help in this matter will be greatly appreciated!

[hajekfam]

Since the Solstice is still under construction, no one knows for sure what the final product will be - which restaurants will have an extra charge, how the actual lounges will operate (music type, dance floors), final room layout and storage, etc. Right now you are looking at drawings. But based on what we know about Celebrity we have booked the Solstice when only the cabin locations were known and the Equinox when bookings opened. One more thing about the Solstice - Aqua Class cabins have their own dining room. If you want to eat together and one cabin is Aqua Class - all would have to be Aqua Class in order to dine together. Also Aqua Class cabins are for 2 people (no third or fourth person) and since they are in the Aqua Class area (spa), they are for adults only.

Here is a link to see the actual ship at its current state of construction:

http://www.meyerwerft.de/page.asp?lang=e&main=2&subs=0&did=826

We have been very happy with Celebrity's product in the past. We like the no announcement policy - except for the noon announcement by the captain with time, weather info, speed, arrival time at next port, etc. The service is excellent and the food is very good. Everything is made onboard - even the ice cream (no charge for ice cream).

[wrp96]

I think for your group I would either look at the Solstice or the Noordam.