I think we always say the same thing: where does the time go? Who knows? Our days were filled with movies (Chef, really cute; Birdman, sort of disturbing, actually, on second thought really disturbing), Top Chef (ok, we went to one competition – had to see what it was all about and it was cute), reading, blogging and just general hanging out. Evenings were filled with the lounge – not crazy at all, which was very surprising – dinner and a couple of shows.
Although the one bonus here aboard Solstice is that the entertainment was the best we’ve seen in years on Celebrity. There were 4 different singers/bands that were all superb. So we rotated a lot of evenings between lounges listening to everyone. Made for a very enjoyable trip where we were not bored in the evenings at all.
The weather wasn’t the best – it started getting chilly on day 2, and the seas kicked up – but we expected that and had our blankets on hand for the balcony.
Overall experience was good. Our cabin steward was the best – not only one of the friendliest, but he also kept hording chocolates and giving them to me. We’d come back from dinner and find a handful on the bed. Then on the last night he left me a whole bag! I think he was hounding his other steward buddies to get them for us! So sweet.
Staff was mostly very friendly and relaxed. Our waitress in Café al Bacio was adorable. Talked a mile a minute, and taught us Tagalog (language of the Philippines). The bartenders in the Sky Lounge were equally great – and taught us more Tagalog – we’re keeping a list for the next ship!
Probably the biggest negative was the main dining room. The service was good, only one night did we have mediocre service. But the room is so crowded now, it is ridiculous. As they are retrofitting the ships with the “Suite” dining room, they are essentially cramming the same amount of tables they had previously in the main dining room into a whole bunch less square feet. So the tables are literally on top of one another. A 2 top ends up being a 6 top when all the shooting is done. You can’t move between the tables easily at all – I don’t know how the waiters do it. Some nights it made for a very uncomfortable meal – not the “modern luxury” ambience of old, that is for certain.
The food was still great – not the excellence we have seen from Celebrity in the past, but it was still a notch above. Most nights. There were some bum nights for sure – where I had onion soup and salad. But that’s to be expected anymore. There was still Hawaiian Poke which I had as appetizer, 2nd course and main – so all’s not lost yet!
All in all a good experience and a nice end to some busy Hawaiian Isle days.
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