Celebrity Solstice Review

Pretty Good and Enjoyable

Review for Australia & New Zealand Cruise on Celebrity Solstice
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adrianwoz
First Time Cruiser • Age 70s

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Sail Date: Feb 2020
Cabin: AquaClass 1

It was our first ocean cruise although we have done river cruises. We did it for the cruise experience rather than the destination (been to NZ many times). It went from Melbourne to Auckland. We had an Aqua class cabin. Most cabins of same size and with small balcony - difference only in deck and benefits e.g. Aqua meant expedited boarding, own restaurant, canapes, etc. We were very impressed with our room attendant Santesh. Room needed more power points and more Euro ones - only 2 USA and 1 Euro. WiFi service should allow more than one device at a time per account, and very slow to download daily newspaper. Bars should provide nibbles/snacks with drinks - got nothing. I was told beforehand that there free public laundry facilities on the ship, but there weren't: our one large load of laundry cost US$93. Had niggles with online help before cruise as they insisted on using deck names not numbers, even though every single web site/link and document/email used number. From first minute onboard we were constantly assailed by media and staff flogging packages and deals - every waiter pushed drinks package then 5 drinks for US$35 card. Entry to dining constantly assailed by staff flogging dining package. Then flyers and letters and emails and PA announcements and phone msgs (!) pushing shopping deals and art gallery auctions (!! must be USA thing) and opals and cheap watches and future tours and ..... Room had surprising amount of storage although not large but OK. Room's aircon was quiet and effective - very pleasant surprise. No free bottled water after first day. Entertainment in theatre (impressive) and around bars was very good. Good amount and range of fair quality food in Oceanview Café; could get snacks there until midnight. Coffee OK for filter coffee but no decent latte or cappuccino by Oz standards. Low quality resolution TV - should be HD. Surprisingly cheap toilet paper. Second rate and limited wine even in Premium Package, no wine in Basic Package. Champagne very expensive, even a glass was US$25. Capt Alex clearly a frustrated standup comedian. All prices on board US dollars plus 20% gratuity on food/drink purchased. Airport transfer upon disembarkation cost US$132 (i.e. AU$200) for two! Mixed experience of Blu cafe (for Aqua Class): sommelier was consistently poor; twice waiters had to apologise for his late arrival at table to take drinks order, and not at all on one night; his attitude varied between attentive and total disinterest; Blu food could be poor (sorbet was woeful), OK or excellent (creme brulee); could not order side dishes; needed to request "medium" for meat to not be raw by Oz standards; overall, service pretty good in Blu; two maitre-D's were good. Balcony covered in paint flakes like confetti one day when chipping off paint. Very good enforcement of hand sanitiser use. Had lots of error msgs opening and closing safe - had to call someone to open it at one stage; seemed related to our 4 digit code, which we then changed. In summary, we definitely enjoyed it and are glad we did it. We would recommend Celebrity, but not sure we would sail with them again - might try a more upmarket one next time.

Cabin Review

AquaClass 1

We had an Aqua class cabin. Most cabins of same size and with small balcony - difference only in deck and benefits e.g. Aqua meant expedited boarding, own restaurant, canapes, etc. We were very impressed with our room attendant Santesh. Room needed more power points and more Euro ones - only 2 USA and 1 Euro. Bed good. Aircon very quiet and effective. We were on deck 11. Generally room nice and quiet - rarely heard other people.

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