Never sailed on Solstice, but have been on Equinox, Silhouette and Reflection in the class. A couple of comments. First, on the bars, one nice thing about Celebrity is that most of the bars serve different purposes. The Martini Bar is usually one of the busiest and liveliest bars, particularly before dinner and is always a favorite. It is a great place to meet and get to know other guests. Passport can also get busy in the early evening because they usually have a band playing in the Grand Foyer. But, it does tend to be a bit more generic in style. Sunset is another bar that tends to be busy (and not just because it is the only bar with a smoking area). They will have music there most afternoons and evenings and it tends to be crowded particularly on warm weather cruises. It also may be the most popular place for Sail a way. Ensemble is one of my favorite bars to close out the night. They usually have a band of some sort playing there and the music tends to be a bit mellower. Great spot for a nightcap or quiet conversation. Sky observation lounge is an interesting space. During the day, the bar is closed and it is used for activities or loyalty events. But, it gets busy later at night because it is often used as the venue for the end of night activities. I also agree that Quasar is highly underused. Finally you have Cellar Masters and the World Class Bar. These are two venues that have changed over the years. Cellar Masters used to be a self-serve wine concept that was always empty. Now it is a combo concept of craft beers and wine that seems to be searching for an identity. On some of the ships in the class it has been replaced by a Gastro Pub. World Class is a great concept but is limited. It is not a typical bar in that it only serves a limited menu and is higher priced. If you go there and ask for a glass of wine, a beer or just a typical generic drink with well liquor, you can't get it. They only serve top shelf liquor and the drinks on the menu (mostly). It started out as a branded venue partnered with a celebrity mixologist. It later changed to a partnership with Diageo brands. But, it maintained the limited menu concept. If you like high quality innovative cocktails, it is the place to go. The glassblowing location is another change over the past few years. It used to be partnered with the Corning glass museum and they would have 3 or 4 glassblowers who would put on amazing demonstrations. Now, it seems to be more of a paid activity on sea days where they assist people in making basic glass pieces. It could still be a fun activity with a unique keepsake, but I miss the shows. Finally, you forgot to mention the Mast Grill on the port side of deck 14. Great alternative to the buffet for burgers, dogs and fries.
Great feedback Timothy! The recap of the bars with that level of detail is a video all unto itself! This is one area I do lack as I don't drink and can't always speak well to how the bars are. Thank you for filling in the gaps!
What makes this class of ships nice is the intimacy on a large ship (anything over 90,000 tons is large IMO). Like the Martini Bar. You didn't really show it. It has small sections for groups of people to enjoy. The juggling thing happens from time to time but I really like the club-like feel of it which is so much different than the version on the Edge ships that's more like a section in the foyer and much less intimate or private. The Cellar Masters also has these sections and the ship has a darker, warmer, rather romantic feel to it. I'd rather it not have private decks for suite passengers, that's my preference. Also, Celebrity ships don't have "centrums," that's RCI's word for open, multi-deck spaces. They're Grand Foyers and the Solstice class has an atrium where the glass elevators and over llook library, card room are and the suspended tree. Also, I'm just not big on "private suite" spaces. Michael's Lounge wasn't conceived as such when it was put in on Century class ships and then retrofitted to Horizon class ships. And knowing something about this area from previous class ships is crucial to why it looks like it does. It was a cigar lounge and meant to look "old world" gentleman's club rich. It later became a private lounge. And IMO, it looks expensively and richly furnished opposed to what it has been turned into on some "revolutionized" ships which is just a gray/beige contemporary lounge with nowhere near the warmth of this space. I think this is just another important lounge taken away from cruisers. As you describe the ship I can see you're not into the spaces I am as you called the Ensemble Lounge a hallway with seats. So, it's interesting to see your POV. For me the Ensemble Lounge is an essential area of the Solstice class that this ship needs. I'd rather they put a dance floor in it but they didn't. But still, it's a richly appointed lounge with some intimacy to enjoy music and mingling and drinks that isn't a bar with seating, but a proper lounge. It's in proximity to one of the best restaurants on the Celebrity fleet (accessed by any paying passenger with reservations). Again, this is a Celebrity signature space. The Rendezvous Lounge was the before and after-dining lounge with mingling, music and dancing and this Ensemble Lounge is taking its place but it's a much smaller venue. Thie Edge ships have taken this space away and made everything "foyer" focused with the "Grand Plaza" and that's either a positive or negative. For me, it's a negative. A foyer doesn't feel like a dedicated lounge. The Sky Lounge is another staple of pretty much all ships. For some reason, the Edge designers didn't think it was important and dedicated that space to suite passengers. That's the ultimate thing that turns me off about the Edge ships, tbh. For me, restaurants are fine and I think the Solstice class introduced a whole lot of them. That and the lawn is what made them unique at the time they were introduced. But the lounges are a ship staple as well. And this ship does lounges pretty well though in all honesty, I'd take away a specialty restaurant for another lounge. I'd take the aft space that is the Tuscon Grille for a Latin lounge space with aft views over a restaurant. Lounges with live music and dance floors are my favorite parts of ships. I appreciate the tour. Thank you.
20:50 - I just took a Celebrity Eclipse cruise a few weeks ago and found that staff placing towels on the deck chairs had the (unintended?) effect of limiting chair hogs. I’d like to see that practice become more common on cruise lines as it helps prevent the chair hog problem, and having a towel waiting for you makes for a slightly elevated pool deck experience.
thanks enjoyed your video I was wondering as seniors is there any music during the day, as it's nice to have a drink, snack listen to some music, as seniors checking it out, any suggestion, thanks Jollean
Hey WC. You know why you make some of the best cruise videos ? Because u don't play some stupid music in the background while talking. Your viewers can feel the real cruise atmosphere.
Hey Peter and thank you! Though, I would say this isn't my doing! I tried music on 3 or 4 videos and you all let me know very quickly it wasn't working! Loved the feedback and made the videos better :-)
They are charging double and then adding even more. I've been on 30 solo cruises so I know how it normally works. Don's youtube channel just called them out on it, too. @@jakepatchogue9478
Hey Brent! I have heard this too! I noticed it first on Royal Caribbean, so is not just Celebrity. They just don't want solo folks as we don't drive the revenue.
Just got off my first solo on princess. They do points or night and you get 2 points for solo per sailing. Service and food was amazing! I was so loyal to Royal for so long. rethinking everything! Booked AK in May with them. @@TheWeekendCruiser
They don't do the Captain’s Club happy hour in Sky Lounge anymore. Now, it is just do Free drinks off a limited standard menu for elite and up in all bars. Which essentially means that any one with a drink package is SOL.
Not on this sailing! I totally missed it! It was the 2nd night of the 12 night cruise and I blew past it! I am elite but only because of my Royal Caribbean status.
