Cruise Talk: Back from Solstice

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Topic: Back from Solstice

Frosty 4
First Class Passenger
Member # 5826

posted 02-02-2009 10:15 AM

Just returned from the Solstice. I will be doing a ships review shortly. I will send Joe some pictures(I have difficulty posting them)also.
You can e-mail me directly--see address in my profile. if you have specific questions.
Frosty 4

Posts: 2531 | From: Illinois | Registered: Jul 2005 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 02-02-2009 10:36 AM

Welcome back Frosty4.

I can;t wait for the review - you gotta tell us if the overall experience was great, moderate or poor, at least.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Frosty 4
First Class Passenger
Member # 5826

posted 02-02-2009 11:53 AM

I just finished the review. I need to send some pictures of the ship and some of the ships seen in port. I took one of a French ship which I have never seen on this site. Keep checking the review page as I sure Joe reviews it before posting. I tell it like it is both good and bad. Enjoy!!
Frosty 4

Posts: 2531 | From: Illinois | Registered: Jul 2005 | IP: Logged

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 02-02-2009 01:09 PM

Here's a link to Frosty's Review.

Thanks for sharing. Feel free to email me photos (jkoshuta at travelpage.com) and I will add them to the review.

Joet at TravelPage.com

Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Frosty 4
First Class Passenger
Member # 5826

posted 02-02-2009 02:24 PM

OK, Joe has the pictures so check them out. I will include some more later. Hope you enjoy them.
Frosty 4

Posts: 2531 | From: Illinois | Registered: Jul 2005 | IP: Logged

deck chair
First Class Passenger
Member # 3249

posted 02-03-2009 09:52 AM

Thanks for taking the time to review. I am not a fan of these huge ships with the exception of the QM2 because of the large crowds. I am puzzled that the reviewer gave this ship 5 stars given the overcrowding in the various venues and the lack of sufficient deck chairs. Obvioulsy there is very limted outdoor deck space on this ship. Why would anyone want to be on such a ship????

Deck Chair

Posts: 20 | From: Baltimore | Registered: Aug 2002 | IP: Logged

Jekyll
First Class Passenger
Member # 1878

posted 02-03-2009 10:39 AM

quote:
Originally posted by deck chair:
I am puzzled that the reviewer gave this ship 5 stars
Deck Chair

I agree - the reviewing to me seems to warrant a 3.5 star or so...especially given some of the descriptions...i.e. food being "good" - not VERY good or EXCELLENT.

With that said, Frosty might have been pointing out things that he thought might be important to others but had no relevance to his cruise exprience (I know i couldn't give atoss about pool deck space - I never use it - but to a sun worshipper it IS important) . Reviews are subjective at best and can even vary from voyage to voyage - so perhaps some framework for some of the comments might help.

Posts: 1524 | From: Nowhere | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 02-03-2009 11:31 AM

There are indeed not too many positive comments in the review which makes the five star rating hard to understand.

Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 02-03-2009 12:21 PM

Frosty's photo's are available in this album.

Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 02-03-2009 02:32 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Ernst:
There are indeed not too many positive comments in the review which makes the five star rating hard to understand.

I asked Frosty about the rating and he said he didn't realize he had given it a 5 Star rating and that he thought a 4 Star rating would be more appropriate "considering this cruise ship still has a few bugs to iron out". I have updated the review.

Joe at TravelPage.com

Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Frosty 4
First Class Passenger
Member # 5826

posted 02-03-2009 03:16 PM

Sorry about the rating. I must have overlooked this point and 5 stars popped up automatically. It is difficult to try to state everything in detail. Too bad we don't get input reviews from others who have or will sail on her and other ships. Check out the photo album there are a few more pixs to be added as Joe has these now. Check out the French ship which I never heard of or seen before. There were 4 ships in St Maaten and it rained heavily in the afternoon.
Please feel free to e-mail me if you need specific info. There is lot to tell that I could have added to the review but I only thought of highlights.
Look at the photos of the lawn area and the maintenance equipment which I thought was of interest.
Frosty 4

Posts: 2531 | From: Illinois | Registered: Jul 2005 | IP: Logged

Frosty 4
First Class Passenger
Member # 5826

posted 02-03-2009 03:28 PM

After going back and reading my review I seemed to dwell on a lot of negatives. There are a lot of nice things on Solstice but I think most people would like to be aware of the negatives they might see. Of course some of these will be corrected as the ship gets all the little bugs out.
Once again sorry for the rating which Joe corrected.
Frosty 4

Posts: 2531 | From: Illinois | Registered: Jul 2005 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 02-03-2009 04:14 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Frosty 4:
Once again sorry for the rating which Joe corrected.

Don't be sorry, we are grateful you took the time to write a review for us.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Jekyll
First Class Passenger
Member # 1878

posted 02-03-2009 10:39 PM

Frosty:

Your French Ship is Bleu de France - which many of us remember as the Europa w/ Hapag Lloyd from 1981.

AS she was never based in the US - she'snot really one many know too much about.

She has also been known as (thanks to Simplon for the chronology):
Bleu de France - CDF Croisières of France (2008- )
Holiday Dream - Pullmantur (2004-2007)
SuperStar Aries - Star Cruises (1999-2004)
SuperStar Europe - Star Cruises (1999)
Europa - Hapag-Lloyd (1981-99) - Official

Also: Ocean Voyager - Orient Lines (transfer cancelled)

Hope this helps!

Posts: 1524 | From: Nowhere | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

reeves35
First Class Passenger
Member # 6021

posted 02-03-2009 11:53 PM

Thanks for your honest review Frosty.

Lots of reviews seem to agree that Solstice is indeed a great ship with some truly innovative interiors.

Unfortunately quite a few seem to be pointing out that, unless you are prepared to pay for alternate dining rooms, that the food experience is just average. Likewise service seems to often come across as patchy though this would probably vary between passengers on any ship voyage.

Frosty's comments about lack of lounges is an issue. Whether it is a design issue (not enough deckspace) or a management issue on not policing reserving of deckchairs would be worth knowing. If it is lack of deckspace then Celebrity can fix this on Solstice's first drydock by removing the stupid lawn and turning it into a proper useable space!! If it is the management issue, it can be fixed today.

Celebrity has got a great ship but you have to wonder that if they can't complete a premium experience in food etc then repeat passengers may be a bit harder to come by.

Brad

Posts: 343 | From: Melbourne, Australia | Registered: Oct 2005 | IP: Logged

Frosty 4
First Class Passenger
Member # 5826

posted 02-04-2009 10:23 AM

I thought I better add some good comments here. The stateroom service was excellent. They now have an assistant to the cabin steward. They service 18 cabins. Friendly staff always greeting you with Good Morning etc. The Cruise Director was very good always telling a joke at the end of the theatre show.
The activity staff-5 people were very good and had a variety of venues. I liked the fact that they had a special awards get together with champagne for those who won trivia and other events.
The shop personnel were great and gave talks about watches and jewerly. Good info as what you should look for when shopping.
I was very fortunate to win a 5 carat Midnight Sapphire stone in a recommended store in San Juan. Mrs. Frosty now has a pendant for her Omega.
My overall experience would rate the cruise with 4 stars.
Frosty 4

Posts: 2531 | From: Illinois | Registered: Jul 2005 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 02-04-2009 11:13 AM

quote:
Originally posted by reeves35:
Unfortunately quite a few seem to be pointing out that, unless you are prepared to pay for alternate dining rooms, that the food experience is just average. Likewise service seems to often come across as patchy ...

I would expect this on any very new ship. It will take some months for the food and service standards to (hopefully) rise.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 02-04-2009 04:18 PM

More of Frosty's photos are here.

Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 02-04-2009 04:31 PM

Thanks for the review, all the interesting comments and photos Frosty. I am not sure of the purpose of the hood there on the seat

In the pics yesterday, the lift lobby area looks quite small with a low ceiling - is it, or just the angle of the photo?

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

Frosty 4
First Class Passenger
Member # 5826

posted 02-04-2009 05:30 PM

The ceiling is low. When the elevator(lift) comes the light over the elevator door turns to red to help denote which one of the 4 is ready for you. There is also a voice telling you doors are about to open or close besides the deck number. The funny thing is the elevator states it can handle 20 persons LOL!! No way!! 10 at most.BTW the ship has 12 passenger elevators total. 22 lifeboats-- they asked these questions on the trivia contest.

Frosty 4

Posts: 2531 | From: Illinois | Registered: Jul 2005 | IP: Logged

Carlos Fernandez
First Class Passenger
Member # 6432

posted 02-04-2009 10:20 PM

Liked your review Frosty but what I found most interesting was the picture of Solstice next to the Spirit class.

Posts: 1325 | From: Miami, Florida (Cruise Capital of the World) | Registered: Apr 2006 | IP: Logged

Cambodge
First Class Passenger
Member # 906

posted 02-05-2009 05:25 PM

This was, presumably, the "Christmas Cruise" I cancelled because of hospitalization at that time. I do not know if it was a regrettable decision or not!

More later, now at home still recuperating.

Posts: 2149 | From: St. Michaels MD USA , the town that fooled the British! | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Atlantic
First Class Passenger
Member # 20971

posted 02-05-2009 08:09 PM

Hope you get well soon.

The picture of the Solstice and the Spirit class ship is pretty interesting: the Solstice looks more like a carnival ship. The bridge of the Solstice has the same general configuration as the Destiny/Conquest class.

Posts: 65 | From: Pinecrest, Fl | Registered: Feb 2009 | IP: Logged

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