Celebrity Solstice cruise, March 16 - 28, 2013 (Pt I)

Imagine walking into the lobby of a five-star hotel with sumptuous furnishings, fine dining and stylish bars. Now transport this onto the high seas and you have Celebrity Solstice.

I'd heard nothing but good things about Celebrity Solstice and I wasn't let down. Admittedly, I've been bitten hard by the cruising bug and love every cruise ship I've been on (cruise ships are adventure playgrounds for adults) but Celebrity Solstice took my cruising experience to a whole other level. Everything about Solstice is elegant and sophisticated, yet in an understated 'anything done well looks easy' way.

The design of Solstice means there are lots of different areas - spaces - so that you always feel the ship is changing as you walk through it. I don't know if this caused everyone to spread out but, despite having a capacity of nearly 3,000 passengers, there were many times when I looked around and asked myself, "where is everyone?" Once again, anything done well looks easy.

This was Celebrity Solstice's first season Down Under and, as a result, some great deals were on offer. I embarked on a 12-night cruise in a Concierge Class stateroom (with balcony), departing from Auckland, New Zealand, and stopping at Tauranga, Wellington, Akaroa, and Dunedin, before spending our final day in NZ cruising through Dusky, Doubtful and Milford Sounds (amazing photos!). We then headed to Melbourne for one day before ending in Sydney, including one night docked at Circular Quay, situated between the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House (with a million-dollar view of the Opera House).

****This post has been split in two and our Ports of Call can be linked to at the end of this post****

(Above photo - Celebrity Solstice moored at Akaroa, New Zealand)

I have discovered that this post runs slowly if viewed on Internet Explorer. It's best viewed on Google Chrome or Firefox (not as fast as Chrome).

For those lucky enough to be on the starboard side of the ship (me!) - our million-dollar view for a day.

CONTENTS OF THIS BLOG

- Nautical Terms

- Things to do before you cruise

- Celebrity Solstice stats

- My YouTube clip of Celebrity Solstice

- Concierge Class Stateroom

- Sea Pass & Gratuities

- Food and Dining (what's included in your fare/what's not)

- Drinks, Bars and Lounges (including drinks packages and the Molecular Bar)

- The Lawn Club (and Hot Glass Show)

- The Pool Deck & Solarium

- Entertainment, Relaxation & R'n'R

- Exercise Options

- The AquaSpa

- Shopping

- Child/Youth Facilities (Fun Factory)

- Internet

- Photo/Art Gallery

- Clothes (what to take) & Laundry

- Celebrity TODAY (onboard newsletter) & Information

- Ship Tours

- Other Images from Around the Ship

- Disembarkation Day

- Celebrity Solstice in Sydney

- Ports of Call

NAUTICAL TERMS

Here's a few that may appear in the blog:

Fore - Near or toward the front of the ship

Aft - Near or toward the rear of the ship

Bow - The very front of the ship

Stern - The very back of the ship

Port - The left of the ship, facing towards the front

Starboard - The right of the ship, facing towards the front

Draft - Depth of water measured from the waterline to the bottom of the ship's hull

Bridge - The 'command centre' in the forward part of the ship

Gangway - The stairway or ramp connecting the ship to the shore

Tender - A small vessel, usually a lifeboat, used to transport passengers from the ship to the shore when the ship is at anchor

All prices and information are as of March, 2013, prices in US dollars (except where otherwise noted).

Celebrity Solstice docked at Melbourne, Australia.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU CRUISE

1) If you intend using your credit card while you are away, tell your credit card provider that you are going overseas, so they don't think your credit card has been compromised and someone in a foreign land has suddenly started making purchases. The last thing you want to deal with when you get home is a cancelled credit card and having to sort out all your direct debits etc when your bank sends you a new one. While it's good that credit card security works this way, it's a hassle you don't need.

2) Similarly to your credit card, contact your mobile phone provider and have your phone switched to international call roaming. The costs are very high if you do make (and receive) calls but it's a security blanket should you need to use your phone in an emergency. IMPORTANT - turn off data roaming on your phone (or get your provider to do it for you). While you may not make calls while you are away, any data that is uploaded or downloaded (emails or app updates, for instance) will be charged at a far, far more expensive rate.

3) 'Dose up'. Being confined to a ship with several thousand people can be a breeding ground for germs and result in colds/flus (how many of us seem to always get a cold when we fly?). I'd suggest a course of vitamins and/or echinacea in the lead up to your cruise. While these might not completely stop you from getting a cold/flu, they may help reduce the duration of anything you might get and, thus, give you more time to enjoy your cruise. And, for those of you who have heard of norovirus, there is nothing you can do ahead of time other than get into the habit of practising safe hygiene.

Part of the Lawn Club, a half-acre of grass on the top deck at the aft of the ship (more about this later).

STATS

Class & type: Solstice-class cruise ship

Tonnage: 122,000

Length: 314.86 m (1,033 ft)

Beam: 36.88 m (121 ft)

Draft: 8.23 m (27 ft)

Decks: 19

Installed power: 4x Wärtsilä 16V46 diesel engines

Propulsion: 2x 20.5MW Azipod

Speed: 24 knots (44 km/h, 28 mph)

Capacity: 2,850 passengers

Crew: 1,500 crew

Builder: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany

Cost: $750 million

Laid down: March 17, 2007

Completed: October, 2008

Launched: August 10, 2008

Christened: November 14, 2008

Maiden voyage: November 23, 2008

Port of registry: Valletta,  Malta

IMO number: 9362530

VIDEO

My YouTube clip of what Celebrity Solstice has to offer can be seen HERE.

CONCIERGE CLASS STATEROOM

When I opened the door to the room I was greeted by the sight of a welcome bottle of champagne, plate of fruit and canapes (canapes could be requested daily). A nice start!

The room was a good size. The bed was very comfortable but the top sheet seemed to be too small for the bed and several times I pulled the sheet 'up', only to find my feet sticking out from under the end of the sheet (this was also noted by others I spoke with). The sofa was large, as was the TV but, best of all, was the size of the balcony, which was about 30-40cm (12-16in) deeper than anything I've had. This extra depth might not seem like much but it made a huge difference. The room also came with a hair dryer, (golf) umbrella, binoculars and complimentary tote bag.

The bathroom was large enough and had a night light so you didn't stumble about in the wee hours (especially after a few 'shandies'). The shower cubicle was an enclosed unit, so spillage didn't occur, and it had a great shower head. I couldn't find a clothes line.

Storage space was more than ample - there were 12 hangers with clips for pants etc and 12 non-clip hangers for shirts etc, storage space above the bed and, once unpacked, I slid my suitcase under the bed quite easily. There was also a easy-to-use safe, dual voltage 110/220AC outlets (I brought a multi-port power board) and a mini-bar with prices that reflected those of the bars throughout the ship. Unlike other rooms I've had, there was no dividing curtain that enables you to split the room in two if someone wants to sleep while the other watches TV.

Celebrity and Royal Caribbean International, who I have cruised with twice (Radiance of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas), are both owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises. As a result, the points I had accrued with RCI were able to be carried over to Celebrity. Thus I attained Captain's Club Select status with Celebrity and this afforded us benefits/discounts for such things as laundry, wine (bottle), internet, digital printing, AquaSpa and the casino.

Concierge Class Stateroom with champagne and fruit to greet me (canapes are on the bench).

The ice might have melted but the water was freezing and the champagne icy cold.

Tote bag on the bed.

Balcony - comfy furniture and the extra depth made all the difference.

Wardrobe and safe next to the bed, with storage space above the bed.

Good-sized bathroom.

Great shower cubicle and shower head.

A rose to compliment the bathroom 'goodies'.

The complimentary afternoon canapes, right, and bottle of Evian that also greeted us when I arrived...

I thought the bottle of Evian (above) was complimentary but turned out not to be. I later found a note in the mini-bar that should have been with the Evian -

"To quench your thirst, Celebrity Cruises is pleased to provide this bottle of water. Please note that, for your convenience, we will automatically bill $4.00 plus 15% gratuity to your Celebrity SeaPass if you choose to open and/or consume this item".

A few days into the cruise I also received a charge-slip for two mini-bottles of vodka from the mini-bar, which I didn't use. I reported this to one of the room attendants and was told that it had been taken care of but found out after I'd left the ship that it had still been charged to the room.

Flowers and fruit.

One of the towel creations left on the bed one night by the stateroom attendant.

While I'm still in the whereabouts of my stateroom, here's a quick rundown of the TV channels and few other bits of info about the 'tele'.

TV Channels (when I boarded in New Zealand):

Cruise Director Channel

Shore Excursions

Port Shopping

TV Guide

Bridge View (webcam)

Navigation Map

Celebrity Life (Celebrity Cruises channel)

Movie channel

Engage (light entertainment/documentaries)

Fox News

MSNBC

BBC World News

CNBC

SKY News

ESPN

CNN

CBS Eye on Celebrity (CBS programming)

Australia Network

Sea TV

As I neared Australia, we lost the last 7 channels and gained these:

Celebrity International (onboard international language channel)

Fox Sports News

Fox 8

Fox Footy (Australian Rules Football)

Comedy Channel

Arena

Biography Channel, which seemed to revolve around the shows Gene Simmons Family Jewels, Judge Judy (the show, not her biography!), I Survived and some 'autopsy' show...no biographies!

The downside to gaining these channels is they all came with (Australian) TV ads! Also, soon after getting the new channels we reverted to the 'old' channels, then got the new channels again, then the old channels before finally settling on the new channels.

You could watch movies 'on demand', which comprised a good selection of free (recent) movies or pay-per-view movies ($9.98). The TV was also multi-purpose and offered short videos on things such as the construction of Celebrity Solstice, spa treatments, and bios of some of the artists whose work is being sold onboard. There was also music on demand that could be played through the TV (not film clips - just music).

Some of the free movies via On Demand.

SEAPASS AND GRATUITIES

You are given your sea pass when you check in at the port before boarding. Once on board, your SeaPass acts as your room key and wallet. Initially it feels odd leaving your room without your wallet and keys but this is something you get used to and begin to wish it was like this 'at home'. When you get home after your cruise you will wish the 'real world' operated like a SeaPass.

Bring a lanyard if you have one, or buy one when you get on board, then get the Guest Services desk to punch a hole your SeaPass, attach it to the lanyard and wear it around your neck. Don't worry about feeling self-conscious, as everyone does this - you'll fit right in. Wearing your SeaPass around your neck works well as things have a habit of falling out of pockets and wallets, especially if you've spent the night in of one of the dozen or so bars, clubs and lounges!

Whatever you accumulate on your Sea Pass can either be charged to your credit card (card details given when you check in) or paid off with cash (US dollars) or traveller's cheque. If you choose to have your SeaPass linked to a credit card, you can still pay it off with cash (if you want to put that casino win to good use!). Your itemised account is left at your cabin the night before disembarkation and SeaPasses linked to credit cards can still be used (very little is open the day you disembark) and charged after you leave the ship.

When it comes to gratuities, you can either pre-pay with your fare or you can pay a sum at the end of the cruise calculated on guidelines recommended by Celebrity Cruises. You can also pay 'additional' gratuities as you go if you think the service warrants it. I always pre-pay and like the fact it is taken care of and I don't have to worry about it. Some nationalities e.g. Australians, aren't used to tipping/gratuities but many of the ship's staff rely greatly on them. Plus, they work extremely hard.

To read more about your SeaPass and gratuities, see HERE.

SeaPass with a clip-off end segment, which means you don't have to take your whole lanyard off.

THE GRAND FOYER

If Celebrity Solstice has a 'town centre', then the Grand Foyer is it. The Grand Foyer acts as an atrium that covers Deck 3-5 and off it is the main lift (elevator) well, an atrium in its own right that stretches up through the ship, leading all the way from Deck 3 to Deck 15.

Many of the bars, cafes and lounges call the Grand Foyer home, as does the Guest Relations and Shore Excursions desks. Live musical acts perform on Deck 3, so their sound of music can often be heard echo-ing through the ship.

The Grand Foyer.

People listen to a musical act perform during the early evening.

A couple dance up a storm the afternoon boarding.

One of those moments when I thought, "Where is everyone?"

A group of people enjoy the quiet in some of the many comfy chairs surrounding the Grand Foyer. 

I had to stand where I was for around 10 minutes waiting for people to

wander across the walkway (top) at the same time someone walked

down the stairs. I got a few curious looks but also I got the photo I wanted.

The centrepiece of the main lift well/atrium is the giant (living) tree suspended in the middle.

The tree from another angle.

You can admire it from close up each time you pass it in one of the lifts. 

FOOD/DINING (what's included and what's not)

One of the most common questions asked by friends who have never cruised is "Do you have to pay for food?" In short, yes and no.

Most cruise ships offer dining options included in the fare and some that are not. These always include the main dining room and the buffet and, often times, a few other options. Let's deal with the 'included in the fare' options first...

Grand Epernay Dining Room

The main dining room on Celebrity Solstice is the spectacular Grand Epernay Dining Room, located on Decks 3 & 4, which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I ate there several times and each time the food was fabulous. Also, being 'free', if you're a growing boy like meand you really enjoyed your starter, entree (main course), or dessert, then you can order one or all of them again!

One thing I liked about dining in the Grand Epernay Dining Room was the number of tables for two. Many cruise line dining rooms have a few tables for two here and there but prefer to seat guests at a larger table. The tables for two are separated by only a few centimetres, so couples end up talking to their neighbours anyway, but you still feel like you have your own space.

Rushing for dinner!

Grand Epernay Dining Room in full flight.

Chandelier and Grand Epernay Dining Room.

Part of the 'see through' wine cellar (left) in the Grand Epernay Dining Room.

Appetiser

Spinach Turnover - Ricotta and spinach stuffed puff pastry with creamy emmental cheese sauce

black olives and minced Italian parsley.

Entree

Homemade Yukon Gold Potato Gnocchi Ai Quattro Formaggi with Creamy Four Cheese Sauce and Italian Parsley.

*Entree means main course.

Dessert

New York Cheese Cake with Chocolate Sauce.

Oceanview Café

By any other name, this is the buffet. While I haven't tried every buffet going around on the high seas, this is a damn fine one. Unlike some buffets, Oceanview Café isn't open 24 hours - you'll have to settle for 19 hours (6am - 1am). Also, like the Grand Epernay Dining Room, there are lots of tables for two. This means couples spend less time looking for their own table, so there are less people wandering around, thus making it seem less busy.

There was always a wide selection of good, fresh food on offer, including various nationalities such as Chinese, Indian and Mexican (a favourite of mine). The pizza was sensational and, seeing as it was available until 1am, a few midnight snacks took place. As always the desserts got a major look-in, as did the ice cream stand. When the ship arrived in Australia, an area of the buffet was dedicated to 'Australian cuisine' - fish'n'chips, meat pies, sausage rolls and dagwood dogs (pluto pup/corn dog). Vegemite sachets appeared at breakfast and lamingtons showed up in the dessert pastry section. An Australian flag sponge cake also made an appearance.

The thing I liked about the Oceanview Café was the fact the food was situated on 'islands' you could approach, instead of having to queue like at a cafeteria (a pet hate).

Some of what was on offer:

Breakfast

Bacon

Sausages

English sausages

Scrambled eggs (eggs and omelettes made to order)

Black (blood) pudding

Hash browns

Cold meats

Cheeses

Fresh fruit, whole and cut up

Yoghurt selection

Cereals/muesli

Breads

Croissants/dessert pastries

Lunch/dinner

Cold meats

Cheeses

Make your own salad bar, including rolls/sandwiches

Pasta and sauces (mix and match)

Pizza selection

Soups

Breads

Mexican selection

Chinese selection

Carvery

Indian curries (meat and vege)

Fresh fruit, whole and cut up

Dessert pastries

Ice cream stand

Oceanview Cafe.

One of the many 'islands' in the Oceanview Cafe.

Help yourself...

Seating, left...food, right.

Some of the giant subs/sandwiches on offer one night. I think they cut off a portion if you wanted some. 

On either side of the Oceanview Cafe is a beverage stand, with a selection of hot drinks and juices.

At the very back of the Oceanview Cafe is the outdoor dining area.

The view of the ocean from the outdoor dining area of the Oceanview Cafe.

Fresh fruit on offer.

At the other end of the spectrum...a small selection of the desserts.

Fish'n'chips anyone? Delicious!

Guess where we just arrived?

The photo below isn't my best effort but it's an important one and could mean the difference between a good and a bad cruise.

Cleanliness really is next to Godliness on a cruise ship - the last thing anyone wants is an outbreak of any sort - and these hand sanitisers are everywhere, especially outside the ship's restaurants. When you place your hand under the hands symbol, a small amount of ethyl alcohol is squirted onto your hands. This kills any germs and helps keep the ship 'shipshape', health-wise.

If anyone reading this has been on a cruise ship that has experienced an norovirus outbreak, you'll know what I'm talking about. So, if you see one of these, please use it. You'll be doing everyone a favour.

Blu

Blu is an exclusive restaurant (breakfast and dinner) for AquaClass guests. As a result, I didn't eat there and can't offer any advice/reviews. However, the cuisine at Blu is more light than heavy - steak is served with a truffle vinaigrette instead of a béarnaise sauce - and it is more in keeping with the concept of a 'spa' restaurant.

Blu menus can be seen HERE.

Blu - 'less is more' when it comes to dining?

Room Service

The room service menu doesn't mirror what's on offer in the restaurants throughout the ship but there is enough there to keep you interested. Cruise ships bank on you spending more time out and about, so room service is really only there to cover a couple of bases. The only times I've stayed in and ordered room service is when I've been feeling a bit under the weather or when I've overindulged the night before. Either way, I'm usually wanting comfort food and not a la carte dining.

Breakfast, on the other hand, is a slightly different matter, and there is a separate breakfast menu - resembling what you'd find in a hotel/motel - which you can fill out and hang on your stateroom door the night before.

Some of what is on offer from the All Day (11am - 5am) menu:

Starters/Soups

Asian Teaser of Spring Rolls, Satay and Wontons

Home-Style Chicken Noodle Soup

Main course

Sirloin Burger with choice of cheese, sautéed onions or mushrooms.

Grilled Salmon with Tomato Caper Vinaigrette

Fettuccini Alfredo

Pepperoni/Margarita/Vegetable Pizza

Dessert

Dark Chocolate Ganache Cake with Caramel Sauce

Apple Pie with Cinnamon Chantily

The 'hang on your stateroom door' breakfast menu includes:

Continental Breakfast selection

Juices

Smoothies

Hot Beverages

Fresh Fruits

Dairy

Bakery Items

Preserves and Spreads

Hot Cereals

Eggs Cooked to Your Preference

From the Griddle

Sides (Grilled Ham/Sausage/Bacon/Hash Brown)

I ordered from both menus and everything was cooked beautifully. When I ordered from the All Day menu the food arrived in 20-25 minutes.

From the 'hang on your stateroom door' menu. 

The above photo was taken at 8.30am as we cruised through Dusky Sound on the southern end of New Zealand. It was quite chilly out, so I grabbed a few of the breakfast items that could stand being out in the cold for a photo shoot (I also ordered an omelette) and put them on the balcony table with a far more interesting backdrop than a less-than-tidy stateroom! Everything you see here, as well as the omelettes, was delicious!

In a funny aside, I kept the omelettes inside so they wouldn't go cold. However, the scenery was so amazing that I kept grabbing mouthfuls of omelette between racing outside to take photos of the sun rising over Dusky Sound. So, when you see the beautiful photos of Dusky Sound later in the post, keep in mind I was running between the scenery outside and my omelette inside!

AquaSpa Café

The AquaSpa Café is located in the Solarium, a quiet, soothing adults only (covered) pool area next to the pool deck. I didn't try anything during my visits to the Solarium but the menu looks light and healthy to counter any hunger pangs you might get between meals.

AquaSpa breakfast menu

AquaSpa menu

The Solarium, where the AquaSpa Cafe can be found.

Mast Grill

The smallest menu on the ship - "I'll have a burger and fries, thanks!" Easy. Done. If you're looking for something more 'in depth', then you'd better go elsewhere.

Mast Grill overlooks the pool deck and the Pool Bar. It's well and truly al fresco dining, so can be a miserable place if it's raining but once the sun comes out, get ready to join the queue!

The sun is out and that means there is invariably a queue at the Mast Grill (top left).

I didn't bother photographing the burger and fries on offer - we all know what that looks like! 

Café al Bacio

Café al Bacio is a little bit from Column A and a little bit from Column B. The sweet taste treats on offer are complimentary but you have to pay for coffee and gelati. Below is a photo of a selection of the sweet taste treats you can choose from, if you so desire, as you wander past...

What shall I have?

Specialty Dining

This is another way of saying 'this is what you pay for'. Some people object to paying more for additional dining options. I can see their point but, then again, the specialty dining options are more like being in a proper restaurant and not in a dining room alongside 1,000+ others, with a seating at 6.30pm and another at 8.30pm. Also, while you may pay e.g. $30pp in a specialty restaurant on a cruise ship, what you would pay in an equivalent restaurant on land would be 3, 4 or 5 times as much.

Celebrity Solstice has three main specialty dining alternatives -

Murano (French)

Silk Harvest (Asian)

Tuscan Grille (Italian)

I booked a 'three dinner specialty restaurant' package before the cruise and paid $80-$85 (apologies, I can't remember if it was one or the other). This package gave me one dinner in each of the three specialty restaurants.

This is the order of the restaurants I dined at and what you would pay if you dined at them individually:

Murano - $45pp

Silk Harvest - $30pp

Tuscan Grille - $35pp

All three dining experiences were exceptional. The Epernay Dining Room is fantastic and the best cruise ship dining room cuisine I've had. I was constantly amazed that such high quality meals were produced for so many people over two sittings. The specialty dining restaurants, however, are fine dining in a proper restaurant setting.

Murano, Silk Harvest and Tuscan Grille are all in the same area at the stern of the ship, just past this enormous sculpture.

Perhaps the heart is a there to tell you how much you will love the food.

Murano

They say Murano offers a near Michelin-star dining experience (but Michelin does not distribute stars to cruise ship restaurants). Having never eaten at a Michelin-starred restaurant before, I can't compare it to anything, but Murano was a lovely way to start my culinary trifecta.

Murano...fine dining in a distinctive setting - MENU.

Murano - a 'contemporary take on French cuisine'.

Diver Scallop Wellington Style, Baked in Puff Pastry, Black Truffle Emulsion, Spinach Fondue.

Valhrona Cocoa Croquant, Salted Caramel, White Coffee Ice Cream.

Silk Harvest

I dined at Silk Harvest as Milford Sound disappeared into the distance and it was a memorable way to end a magical day (more on the 'sounds' later). The food was light and delicious and I had no problems making my way through starter, main and dessert.

Silk Harvest...subtle tastes of the Far East - MENU.

Silk Harvest.

A couple of their 'Large Plates' (and some sushi), LtoR:

California Roll (sushi) - crab meat, avocado, cucumber and masago

Lemongrass Chili Shrimp - with bean sprouts, cilantro and toasted sesame seeds

Roasted Half Asian Duck - with ginger honey and soy glaze

And desserts, LtoR:

Lemongrass Creme Brulee - with candied orange

Mochi coconut ice cream

Tuscan Grille

This was my last specialty restaurant and I dined there on my 2nd last night (after a sea day). It was a great was to wind up the cruise. The food was beautiful and the Filetto Mignon Rustico sensational! There are several courses but the serves aren't ridiculously big and, if you pace yourself, you can manage quite comfortably. All the same, a big lunch that day might not work in your favour!

Tuscan Grille...Italian steakhouse with a twist - MENU.

Tuscan Grille.

One of the wine cellars as you enter Tuscan Grille.

Polpette di Granchio - Crab Cake with Citrus & Tarragon Emulsion.

Creme Brulee.

Once your cruise starts you will probably forget what day of the week it is (cruising is good like that!), which can cause havoc if you have made a booking in one of the specialty restaurants. Celebrity know this and a reminder from your restaurant will be left in your room 'letter box' (located outside your door) the day before your booking...

Bistro on Five

Bistro on Five has a cover charge of $5pp and is a little more relaxed...think French café. They serve crêpes, salads and paninis. The highlight for me was the Italian Crepe (photo below) and the crêpes I had for lunch -

Hot and Spicy (Shredded Steak, Peppers, Jalapeño, Cheddar Cheese and Cumin Dressing)

Mediterranean (Roasted Chicken and Garlic, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Mozzarella and Basil Pesto).

Bistro on Five - MENU.

Bistro on Five.

Italian Crepe - Nutella, Banana & Pistachio

Café al Bacio

If coffee is what you want, then this is for you. But you will have to pay for it, so reach for your SeaPass - MENU.

Coffee: $3.50 - $5.25

'Exotic' e.g. affogato, $5.75

Teas: $4.75

Gelato: 

1-2 flavours, $3.50

3-4 flavours, $5.75

(I think the website prices are a little out-of-date. These prices were on the board at the Gelateria).

Cafe al Bacio. Bring your book and grab a coffee.

If the taste treats just aren't enough!

BARS & LOUNGES (including beverage packages)

Like all cruise ships, which make a vast amount of revenue from selling the odd 'tipple' or two, there are bars and lounges scattered everywhere on Celebrity Solstice. That's not to say it's a 24/7 party ship. In fact, one night when I couldn't sleep, I got up at 2.30am and went for a walk. On other cruise ships I've been on, there was always a late night reveller wandering about. Not on Solstice. In fact, even the casino was closed and looked like it had been for sometime. There was just me and the cleaners, and they appeared not quite sure what to make of some bloke wandering about in the middle of the night. They took the safe option of 'if I can't see him, he can't see me' and went about their work.

Prices

Drink prices were standard throughout the ship but could increase once inside the dining room and specialty restaurants -

Wine: $6 - $10 (more for sparkling/champagne)

Bottled beer: started at $5.25 (Budweiser) and went up to $8 (Corona). 

Cocktails: $7.50 - $9.75

Molecular Bar (cocktails only): $13.75

Beverage Packages

There are several beverage packages available, ranging from the Bottled Water Package through to the Premium Package. Below are the prices (per day). If you want to read about what's included in each package, see HERE.

Soda: $8.05

Bottled Water: $13.80

Classic Non-Alcoholic: $16.10 

Premium Non-Alcoholic: $20.70

Classic: $50.60 (includes 20% discount on all wines by the bottle purchased on board)

Premium: $62.10 (includes 30% discount on all wines by the bottle purchased on board)

Wine Package: 

Choice of 3,5 or 7 bottles from the Classic or Premium packages above - starts at $114.

Three bottles or more valued at $86.25 or more from any wine list (Build Your Own) - starts at $219.94.

  

*When you purchase a package you get a sticker placed on your SeaPass identifying the package.

I think she was being all cutesy in the hope she might be able to get an upgrade to a Premium Non-Alcoholic Package.

I didn't buy a package because I didn't like the idea of knowing I had to drink around $50 of alcohol every day (Classic Package). I can't drink during daylight hours - makes me tired and gives me a headache - and I could only buy beers that were $5.25 or less (three brands). I like a good beer when I have one, which meant I would have to pay extra.

If you're a bit more of a drinker than me, then you could opt for the Classic Package or go all out and get the Premium Package. However, even this is the 'be all and end all' of packages. For example, wines by the glass are capped at $13.75 and some of the wines in the specialty restaurants exceeded this, which means you had to pay for them on top of your $62.10. This also applied to some champagne by the glass (anywhere in the ship). I didn't see what some of the e.g. single malt whisky prices were but it's a fair guess some of them would have exceeded the Package limit. And, if you order a 'double' on your package, you will be charged the difference i.e. one drink.

The Premium Package really pays for itself outside the specialty restaurants and you don't have to worry about exceeding your 'per glass' limit. I spent a few nights in the Molecular Bar, where cocktails are $13.75, and this really helps if you have a Premium Package.

If you'd like to read even more about the bars/lounges, see HERE.

Let's start off with a bang! 

One of the barmen (above) in the Martini Bar performs for the crowd by filling up several glasses at once using a stack of shakers, from which he poured a mixture of drinks, so that it ended up looking like this...

Voila!

The Martini Bar when the barmen aren't performing for the crowd. Note the area at the back right of the photo...

This is that area close up, with bottles (mainly vodka) sitting in an ice-bucket
of sorts in the middle of the table (that is ice surrounding the bottles).

Michael's Club.

I don't know why but I took photos here but I never had a drink in Michael's Club. Their selection of beer (64 international craft beer), whisky/ey, cognacs and bourbon makes it sound exceptional and right up my alley. Oh well, next time...and there will be a 'next time'!

Further into Michael's Club.

The bar inside Quasar nightclub.

Right outside Michael's Club is the Ensemble Lounge. Maybe this is why I never made it as far as Michael's Club!

Behind the bar - Ensemble lounge.

Cellar Masters. 

Ditto Michael's Club - photographed Cellar Masters but never frequented it as a patron. Cellar Masters offers a selection of wines from around the world. At the back of the photo you can see bottles behind glass. These are 'hooked up' to a wine-by-the-glass dispensing system that offer serves of:

30ml (1 fl oz) - red wine starts at $3 and go up to $7 and white wine starts at $2 and go up to $7

75ml (2.5 fl oz) - red wine starts at $7 and go up to $17.50 and white wine starts at $5 and go up to $17.50

150ml (5 fl oz) - red wine starts at $14 and go up to $35 and white wine starts at $10 and go up to $35

*Wines from the dispensing system are not included in beverage packages.

The red wine pay-by-the-glass dispensing system.

Cellar Masters looking back to the bar.

The Sky Lounge.

Located at the very top of the ship, there's plenty of space, including a large dance floor, and live music every night.

(don't let the word 'Lounge' fool you - there's a bar here also!)

The Sky Lounge entrance.

The Passport Bar.

Time to put the sunglasses on and head outside!

The Pool Bar (bottom) and Mast Bar (top right). 

The Pool Bar caters for those lazing by the pool and the Mast Bar caters for those catching some rays on the lounges overlooking the pool area and saves them the walk down to the Pool Bar. Out of shot at top left is the Mast Grill, where you can get complimentary burgers and fries. Drinks, food and sunshine all in one...some days there's no reason to go inside!

The Sunset Bar.

Located at the stern (rear) of the ship, the Sunset Bar is handily located next to the Lawn Club.

Molecular Bar

I stumbled across the Molecular Bar one night and it became my post-dinner home for much of the cruise.

The Molecular Bar only serves cocktails - their cocktails - and they are $13.75 each. The cocktails, with names such as Tanned Russian, Black Samba and Scorpion Kiss, are the creations of The Liquid Chef, Junior Merino. While he is the mastermind behind the cocktails he wasn't onboard to serve them. That fell to the somewhat madcap duo of Adrian and Sladjana.

I'm not sure where Russia and Serbia stand when it comes to international relations but it was never a dull moment when Adrian (Russian) and Sladjana (Serbian) were together...in fact, even when they were alone it was never dull. They both speak superb, if somewhat accented, English, and it seemed everything they did was done at a furious pace, even the good-natured teasing between them.

Dragonfly - Russian Standard Vodka, Cointreau, Aloe Vera Juice, Pink Grapefruit Juice, Raspberries, Lime,
Hibiscus Essence and...Liquid Nitrogen (you have to wait for it to stop bubbling before drinking it).

Molecular Bar.

Adrian pours a LtoR Tanned Russian and Black Samba.

Some of the 16 cocktails on offer in the Molecular Bar menu.

If you conquer all the cocktails on the menu (which I did), Adrian and Sladjana would make you something 'off the menu'.  

The first night I sat myself at the Molecular Bar I met Barby and Paul, from Montana (US of A). Over the course of the cruise we became great friends and I'm sure we'll stay that way. I even played tour guide for them when we got to Sydney and had a blast (I hope they're not sitting at home in Montana thinking: "Thank goodness we're half a world away from that idiot Aussie we met at the Molecular Bar!" - at least they keep returning my emails).

THE LAWN CLUB

The Solstice Class ships are the only cruise ships in the world to have half an acre of manicured lawn - real lawn! The Lawn Club is located aft on the top deck of the ship, directly above the Oceanview Café and right next to the Sunset Bar. 

Boules sets are available for games 'on the lawn'...

As seen during this game of boules between the crew and the passengers.

The Lawn Club overlooking the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The grass was a bit long for putting practise but this passenger has a putt all the same

as we make our way around the bottom of New Zealand.

Afternoon drinks overlooking the lawn as we leave Akaroa, New Zealand.

Evening drinks beside the lawn.

The Lawn Club is a great idea but it's extremely windy on top of a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean. Even if there is no actual wind but the ship is moving at 18 knots, that generates a healthy breeze of 33 km/h (20 mph). Add this to the inevitable wind that will be present and it can get a bit 'blowy' out in the open, which you are on the lawn. As a result, other than when in port, the Lawn Club was largely unused. And, lawn being lawn, it needs to rejuvenate and much of the lawn was roped off for the duration of the cruise because it was 'resting'. 

*     *     *     *     *

If you like the photography in my blogs, it's because I am a professional photographer. My photos don't merely show something, they tell a story. And visual stories i.e. photos, are more interesting than pictures that merely show something. 

If you'd like to know how to turn your images into visual stories, I've published a book that takes a whole new slant on photography and 'translates' the art of taking photos into a language we all understand.

To read more about my book and see some of its 100+ visual examples, please click HERE.

***I use all the tips and hints from my book in every photo I take, including those in Travel With Giulio.

*     *     *     *     *

Hot Glass Show

Dance lessons by the pool, a game of shuffleboard, sipping cocktails in a bar - these are things you usually associate with cruising. Something you don't automatically think of is glass-blowing but this is where Celebrity is different, and right in the midst of the Lawn Club is the Hot Glass Show, presented by the Corning Museum of Glass, who hail from New York State in the USA.

POOL DECK & SOLARIUM

When you think 'cruise ship', you invariably think 'lazing by the pool'. The two really do go hand-in-hand. Celebrity Solstice is no different to any other cruise ship and its Pool Deck, for many, is the focal point of the ship and their cruise. Weather-permitting, the Pool Deck is open from 7am - 9pm. There are plenty of lounges out in the open if you want to top up your tan, otherwise there are many under cover, so you still get the sea breeze and atmosphere of the pool deck.

The Pool Deck.

The fountain on the Pool Deck.

Pool volleyball for the more energetic among you.

Or why not relax in the pools or one of the whirlpools.

If you need to get to the other side of the Pool Deck in a hurry, take the short cut. 

No need to bring a towel.

If you don't need to top up the tan, there's plenty of space under cover.

If you're lucky enough to get one, spending time in one of the several 'bed hammocks'
is a nice way to spend your day.

If the Pool Deck is too busy, there are plenty of lounges overlooking the Pool Deck.

That red strip is the jogging track, so look left and right if you get up and wander about.

***Follow me on SOCIAL MEDIA for more fun, interesting cruise news and information.

The Solarium

The Solarium is an adults only, completely under-cover pool area (with whirlpools) where U-18s aren't allowed. On other cruises we've been on, getting a lounge in their equivalent of the solarium has been akin to getting a car-parking space in the middle of Sydney or Manhattan. The Solarium on Solstice, however, was always a refreshingly calm and placid place, where lounges were easy to come by (maybe I was lucky on this cruise, even though there were only 30 'junior cruisers' aboard).

On a good day, you might not find a reason to leave the Solarium. There is the AquaSpa Café, a bar and the actual AquaSpa, in case you need to get a soothing massage or treatment.

The Solarium is open from 7am - 11pm (whirlpools 7am - 5pm).

In the photo below, the small squares on the roof of the Solarium are solar panels. There are more solar panels all over the ship, including on top of the Bridge. Combined, they generate 230 kilowatts/day (one day equals one week of power for a house) and save nearly 17 tonnes (37,000lbs) of fuel and over 54 tonnes (119,000lbs) of CO2 emissions.

The Solarium - a calm place indeed.

There were always plenty of lounges to go around.

You can even hide away in one of the covered lounges and admire the ocean view.

Ocean view aside, you can watch the dancing water fountain (or is it a water feature?).

The Solarium at night.

ENTERTAINMENT, RELAXATION & R'N'R

Like all cruise ships, Celebrity Solstice provides lots of entertainment, relaxation and r'n'r, and on some days you can choose from around 80 events, starting at 6am and going through until after midnight. After all, there are nearly 3,000 passengers onboard and they are all going to want to do something different.

The choice is mixed and varied, including table tennis tournaments, morning trivia, cooking shows, art auction previews, blackjack tournaments, Cuban Salsa dance lessons, cognac and brandy tasting, bingo, pilates, vegetable carving demonstration and Catholic mass. Alternatively, you can take a book and find a quiet corner somewhere or enjoy a game of cards in the games room. If none of that appeals, then put the 'Do Not Disturb' sign on your stateroom door and laze about in your cabin watching movies and ordering room service.

Once the sun goes down you can catch a show in the 1,400 seat theatre, get into the groove at the 1960s-theme night, enjoy a drink in your favourite bar, or dance the night away in a variety of places. The aim of the game when it comes to cruising is to do what you want and enjoy yourself doing it.

The ship's dancers get the 1960s theme night off to a flying start.

A spot of chess overlooking the library.

A more expansive shot of the library.

Speaking of reading, will you be looking for a good book to read on your next cruise? If so, then how about one - or more - of my three books? Have a look and see which you might like.

Warming up the dance floor in the Sky Lounge.

Solstice Theatre - home of the nightly production show (1,400 seat capacity). 

Solstice - The Show. Think Cirque du Soleil and you're getting close.

Celebrity Chef cooking competition in the Solstice Theatre.

Dancing in the Grand Foyer.

Celebrity Central - home to such things as movies, lectures and bingo.

The amusement arcade - for kids and adults alike!

Table tennis in the Entertainment Court. Surprisingly table tennis was an indoor sport
on Solstice and was a regular event here.

Quasar nightclub.

Team Earth, where you can learn about conservation efforts around the world and onboard the ship.

This is done through news, films, audio clips and stories. 

Grab a book and find a quiet corner.

That 'quiet corner' could be on the Solstice Deck, right at the very top of the ship - Deck 16.

Watch out if the captain decides to 'honk the horn' - your beer/wine/cocktail could go flying!

I'm sure many of these people will say there's nothing more relaxing than lazing under the sun.

Fortunes Casino

If you want to pay off your bar bill or your cruise (or whichever is the greater!), then Fortunes Casino could be for you. While there, you can choose from:

Six Blackjack tables

One Single Deck Blackjack table

Two Roulette tables

Two Three Card Poker tables

One Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em tables

One Craps table

Two Electronic Pokermates (Texas Hold 'Em)

277 Ticket In/Ticket Out slot machines (pokies) with Oasis player tracking technology

Baccarat (by request)

Let It Ride (by request)

The above information has been taken from the Celebrity website.

Fortunes is closed when the ship is in port (as are all ship casinos) and reopens once the ship is beyond the port. During sea days, the pokies (slot machines) open at 9am and the tables at 11am. The casino is open until 'late' (around 1-2am).

The casino is somewhat tastefully presented (I thought) opposite some of the shops, so you can wander past
or join in. Shopping...casino...shopping...casino...hmmmmm...

Tables or pokies (slots)...you choose.

EXERCISE

There is a bit of a grey area between exercise and some of the entertainment, relaxation and r'n'r but I'm sure you'll figure it out.

There were plenty of chances to burn some energy at the Zumba classes on the pool deck
(here going past the southern tip of New Zealand).

If it got a bit blowy up top, then the Zumba team headed indoors (here in the Grand Foyer).

Wind or no wind, there were always people pounding it out on the
walking track (unless it got too windy and the top deck was closed).
One lap equalled 200 metres (220 yards).You could actually do an

entire lap of the ship, using the stairs you can see in the distance

and the stairs I am standing on. One entire lap would have
totalled around 600m (660yds).

Usually Deck 4 or 5 is the Promenade Deck, where you can walk a lap of the ship. 
However, Solstice didn't have a Promenade Deck in the true sense of the word and Deck 5

was as close as it got. You could only walk maybe 150-200 metres on either side and

much of either end of the ship was inaccessible.

The basketball court was at the very front of the ship and a little bit out of the way.
I didn't venture up that way too often and every time I did, it looked very quiet.

It was close to the Fun Factory, where the 'junior cruisers' hung out, so they might have used it a bit.

Taking the stairs instead of the lifts is a subtle way of getting fit/maintaining fitness.

Admittedly I was running all over the ship taking photos but there were some days where I racked up close to 1,000 steps,

both up and down. Even if you're not running around taking photos, you can easily still rack up a few hundred steps a day.

AQUASPA & FITNESS CENTRE

One of the nice thing about any cruise is the extra pampering you receive if you make a booking in the onboard Spa. On Celebrity Solstice it was the AquaSpa. The price list can be seen at the end of this series of photos.

Rest, relax and be pampered.

Somewhere nice to wait.

The beauty salon.

One of the massage treatment rooms.

The Persian Garden.

The Persian Garden is available to Aqua Class passengers, otherwise you can pay:

Day Pass - $20

Cruise Pass - $119

Couples Cruise Pass - $199 

The relaxation room, below, is the waiting room when you book a spa treatment. Aqua Class passengers are allowed to use the relaxation room, which has has fruit-infused water and tea, even if they aren't having a spa treatment.

The Relaxation Room looks out to sea over the bow of the ship.

The Elemis shop located in the Aquaspa but looking out into the Solarium.

I always aim to have at least one treatment on every cruise and this was no different.

I took advantage of their Sail Away massage (port day special) - a full body massage incorporating hot lava stones, scalp/head massage, European collagen facial, mini foot reflexology: $149 ($171.35 including 15% gratuity). My treatment was great but the special was advertised as a 75-minute massage and mine, as I later worked out, lasted only 60 minutes. My appointment was late starting (10-15 minutes) - the crew had to take part in a regulation emergency drill beforehand, so this might have been why. 

Price list (a 15% gratuity is added at the end of your treatment)

The Fitness Centre

The Fitness Centre has a good selection of modern workout equipment, weights and a fitness room for pilates, yoga and the like. There is a towel station as you walk in so you don't sweat on any of the equipment and the view from anywhere in the fitness centre is spectacular. The day I was taking photos, the ship was hugging the west coast of New Zealand, so the cliffs and rugged landscape came right down to the ocean.

The fitness centre, aka the gym.

The view is spectacular.

SHOPPING

At the start of this post I wrote - "Imagine walking into the lobby of a five-star hotel with sumptuous furnishings, fine dining and stylish bars". I didn't include 'shopping'. 

Like most everything on Celebrity Solstice, the shops are tastefully included in the whole cruising experience. When I stayed in Singapore before my October, 2012, Voyager of the Seas cruise, the foyer of the hotel I stayed in, The Fairmont Singapore, lead into a shopping mall, and part of the shopping 'mall' on Solstice reminded me of that five-star experience.

I tend to spend my money on the cruise itself and don't have wads left over for the ship's shops, so I'm not a huge expert on the 'onboard retail experience'. But, as always, there looked to be some high end shopping and watches, jewellery, clothes, duty free and much more were available, as well as the Celebrity Solstice store where you could buy touristy stuff - fridge magnets, glasses, T-shirts etc - that sold the Celebrity/Solstice brand.

When Solstice (any ship) is in port, the shops are closed. As soon as the ship is clear of the port, the shops then open. During days at sea, the shops are open from 9am to as late as midnight.

Shops next to the casino might be an obvious place to have them but both were elegantly presented.

This row of shops were on the level above the casino in the above photo.

You don't need the Black American Express Card in all the shops - the Celebrity store
had lots of stuff for you, the family and friends back home.

If you can't take Mohammed to the mountain, bring the mountain to Mohammed.

And if you didn't dress for the Lawn Club, there's the Lawn Club shop conveniently close by.

CHILD/YOUTH FACILITIES

So many friends who don't cruise ask me: "What do you do if you have kids?"

"Send them off to the kids area," I say. "You'll be lucky to see them for the entire cruise."

That's pretty much it in a nutshell. Cruise ships have kids areas - and by kids, I mean youths as well. While the over 18s are classified as adults (in Australia, anyway), those 'not quite 18 yet' need something to do also, so kids areas cater for youths up to 17. There were only 30 'junior cruisers' onboard Solstice - not many when the passenger capacity is 2,850 - so I hardly saw them, even when they weren't in the kids area, the Fun Factory.

Despite their being so few junior cruisers on the cruise, the Fun Factory caters for many more. It covers quite a large area. I know if I was a kid/youth, I'd have been impressed with what was on offer!

The Fun Factory has separate areas for differing age groups:

Shipmates: 3-5

Cadets: 6-8

Ensigns: 9-11

Teens: 12-17

There are books, games, TVs and computers in these areas, as well as other activities such as (across the age groups):

Hula hoop competitions

Ice cream parties

Creating your own snowflakes and subsequent snowfight

Designing your own guitar followed by Guitar Hero contest

Air hockey tournaments

Late night dodge ball

Dress up parties

Family scavenger hunts

The Fun Factory is open from 9am - 10pm and often later. Children aged 3-8 must always be signed in/signed out someone over 18 and there is a sign out policy for Ensigns if they are involved in any activity after 10pm. Shipmates are based in the Fun Factory for their activities throughout the cruise. Cadets, Ensigns and Teens also use various rooms/areas throughout the ship.

If your child has special needs, such as allergies, food sensitivities, behavioural histories or medications they are taking, you can inform the Fun Factory so they have a better understanding should an emergency arise. 

Shipmates, aged 3-5.

Shipmates, aged 3-5.

Cadets, aged 6-8.

Cadets, aged 6-8.

Cadets, aged 6-8.

Ensigns, aged 9-11.

Ensigns, aged 9-11.

Teens, aged 12-17.

Teens, aged 12-17.

Teens, aged 12-17.

Teens, aged 12-17.

INTERNET

There is an 'internet cafe' onboard in the form of the iLounge (yes, it is affiliated with Apple and Macs are used). You're on the high seas in the middle of the ocean, so please don't get too worked up because the internet connection isn't operating at broadband speed. Reminisce a little and take yourself back to the good old days of dial-up...aaaaah, that's better...

Also, and please don't gasp, but it's not super-cheap, either (you should be up sitting by the pool anyway!):

Casual rate - 75c/minute

Prepaid (cannot be refunded)

$24.95 - 38 mins, 65c/min

$49.95 - 90 mins, 55c/min

$99.95 - 208 mins, 48c/min

$199.95 - 555 mins, 36c/min

$399.95 - 1666 mins, 24c/min

WiFi is available throughout the ship.

The iLounge is open 24 hours and also offers classes where you can learn to, among other things, use iMovie, iPhoto, iCloud and are shown iPad tips and tricks.

You can also purchase a limited range of Apple products and accessories, including MacBook laptops, iPads, iPods, earphones, memory sticks and universal device chargers.

The iLounge, where you can surf the internet and the Apple magic happens :)

ART & PHOTO GALLERY

What would a cruise be without photos, especially those taken by the ship's team of photographers. I think there was a cloning programme happening onboard because they were everywhere!

You get photographed when you first get on board, then every subsequent time you get off and back on the ship, at dinner, by the pool, sitting at the bar at night, on formal nights, every other night, when you meet the captain - you get the idea.

To showcase all the photos taken (and they are all printed and put out on display), there is a photo gallery where you can look at your photos and laugh at everyone else's. The photos aren't placed in any particular order, so you have to search through everyone else's, hence the opportunity to have a few chuckles.

The photo gallery overlooks the Entertainment Court.

Of course, the photos are for sale. You can buy them individually, sign up to packages, or get them reproduced digitally. Some of the prices include:

$19.95 - Individual photos (20x25cm, 8x10in)

$79.80 - Any four photos (20x25cm, 8x10in) and receive one folio and ship's photo free

Digital packages (high resolution JPEG files)

$149.95 - 10 images

$199.95 - 15 images

$399.95 - Unlimited

I turned on the TV in the stateroom one day to find photos that had been taken of me moving across the screen. No details are taken from you when photos are taken so I think they must have facial recognition software.

Deep Blue Studios

There is also a professional photography studio onboard, Deep Blue Studios, who will take professional portraits of you all over the ship. Packages vary from $575 right through to $16,500.

Depending on what you want, packages include prints, DVD & iPod slideshows, digital prints, album, frame, photo canvas (es) and photo book.

For more information on packages and pricing, see HERE.

Art Gallery

Park West runs the art gallery and art auctions onboard Celebrity Solstice. They have pieces available for all tastes and budgets, right up to a $104,000 Picasso on sale during my cruise (it didn't sell). Among other things, Park West run art lectures and are really pro-active when it comes to selling their art.

Art auctions aren't the only place where you can see artwork. It is scattered throughout the ship.

 A passenger admires the art on display in the gallery space.

Artwork is placed on display.

People peruse artwork in the Sky Lounge prior to an art auction.

One of the Park West staff conducts a lecture on art history.

Some of the artwork in the stairwell.

Walking from the Grand Foyer into the Ensemble Bar you pass through the large-scale, painted installation,
Night Solstice (enamel painton formica), by Colombian artist, Nancy Friedemann. 

The installation is painted directly onto the walls, ceiling and floor of the space.

I'm not sure if this is artwork but these coloured bottles behind what looked

to be perspex, outside the Oceanview Cafe, looked very groovy.

CLOTHES & LAUNDRY

I packed like this was my first cruise. In short, I was rubbish.

All my previous cruises has been in warmer climates, so I was used to packing 'shorts' instead of 'pants'. This time I knew I was going to be cruising around the southern tip on New Zealand and packed 'long' instead of 'short' but I still under-estimated myself. It might seem an obvious thing to say but check the temperature in the places you will be going and pack accordingly.

For what it's worth, here's what I took:

10 pr undies

2pr good jeans

2pr long shorts

1pr tracksuit pants

1pr casual pants (cords)

3 pr white socks

2 pr black dress socks

1 pr swimmers

5 T-shirts (including 2 white under shirts)

3 collared/dress shirts

1 (warm) long sleeve top

1 light jumper (sweater)

1 heavy jumper

1pr dress pants

2 ties

1 belt

1pr deck shoes

1pr flip flops

1pr dress shoes

1pr boots (for shore visits/excursions)

While my list looks like there was a lot of warm clothes, much of it was formal i.e. collared shirts. I should have packed more warm casual clothes e.g. long sleeve tops and at least another pair of casual pants. This list is a little longer than usual because I knew Sydney would be warm (it was hot!) and shorts and T-shirts were also needed.

This time around, too, I didn't take a full suit for formal nights and, instead, took a pair of formal pants and collared shirts/ties. I'd noticed on previous cruises that a lot of the men only wore dress pants and a collared shirt and tie on formal nights, and not having a suit jacket reduced my baggage load and made life easier because I wasn't lugging around a big suit bag additional to my other baggage.

*The Grand Epernay dining room stated that a jacket was required for formal nights but this didn't appear to be enforced.

Celebrity ships don't have a guest laundry onboard. They've obviously decided that you're there to have a holiday, even if you find doing laundry relaxing.

Below is the price list for the ship's laundry service/s. I put through two loads. For some reason the first load took nearly 48 hours to get back to me whereas the 2nd load took less than 24 hours to return.

CELEBRITY TODAY & INFORMATION

A cruise ship is like a town and, like any town, there are things happening that 'the locals' need to know about via the local newspaper. Celebrity TODAY is that newspaper (think 'newsletter') and it's left in your cabin every evening by your stateroom attendant.

Celebrity TODAY tells you everything that is happening in and around the ship, from a chronological rundown of the day's activities onboard, to specials that are happening in e.g. the AquaSpa, to opening times of all the ship's venues, to a potted history of whichever port we happen to be in, to shore excursion ideas, and a whole lot more.

The front page, with a brief rundown of the day's highlights (it even tells you how much the slots - pokies - have

paid out during the cruise up until then).

The chronological order of the day's events. Time to grab your pen and start circling!

What's open and when.

If your copy of Celebrity TODAY can't help you, then the Guest Relations desk is open 24 hours and they can guide you through any queries you have. There is also a Shore Excursions desk to help you with any queries of that nature.

The Guest Relations desk - I've seen hotel receptions look less elegant.

Some information can't be included in Celebrity TODAY and on every floor are 'little Celebrity Solstice' ships that show you where you are and where everything else is onboard. These are invaluable and it's almost guaranteed that the moment you work out where everything is and the best way to get there is the day you have to disembark!

Next to the Guest Relations desk you can also pick up newsletter-style newspapers from The US, Britain and Australia.

YOU ARE HERE...these are scattered everywhere and are invaluable for finding your way around.

At other times, the weather out-thinks Celebrity TODAY and a last minute notice needs to go up.

There are several news channels on the stateroom TV channels but, if you prefer to

read about your news over a cuppa or a coffee, then you might want one of these.

SHIP TOURS

Celebrity Solstice offers tours of various areas of the ship - the Bridge, galley, engine room, Solstice Theatre backstage, and selected crew areas - for a fee. That fee is $150pp but I'm not sure if this is per tour or if this includes more than one of the tours mentioned (I have a feeling it's per tour).

I received a tour of the backstage area because of my Captain's Club status. During the course of the cruise I had a quiet word in the ear of the concierge about gaining access to e.g. the Fun Factory and the AquaSpa to take photos, and was then offered a tour of the Bridge as well. Unfortunately the tours clashed and I opted for the Bridge tour (would have been rude to snub the captain!).

Captain Yannis Berdon welcomes us to the Bridge.

We're then left in the capable hands of the First Officer, who explains how everything works.

One of the interesting things about where he is standing is the 'window' below his feet, which enables
whoever is in charge of docking to see where the ship is in relation to the dock. 

I forgot to run around and get a photo of the window when we moved, so...

Here it is from below.

Video isn't allowed on the Bridge but 'go for your life' when it comes to photos.

One minute the weather was fine...

The next minute the wipers were going ten to the dozen. A few minutes later and it was fine again.

A sailor keeps watch as Captain Berdos once again addresses us.

Then it's photo time with Captain Berdos.

Being a cruise ship captain is as much about PR as it is anything else (probably moreso) and Captain Berdos was great,

letting all and sundry get their photo taken with him.

Captain Berdos always ended his daily update over the PA system with some words of wisdom.
I'm not sure if he had these words of wisdom installed in the Bridge but I wouldn't have been surprised if he did.

OTHER IMAGES FROM AROUND THE SHIP

These images don't really have a home in the rest of the post, so I thought I'd give them their own gallery.

The cruise ship, Marina (Oceania Cruises), passes by as we cruise between Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound
 on the south-west coast of New Zealand. Initially I didn't know what ship it was, so thanks
to @Kiwi_Cruiser for pointing it out when they saw the post/photo.

Another photo is taken of the view on offer - there must be millions taken every cruise.

The purpose of this photo is to show the set up for adjoining staterooms. 
All the stateroom doors (the cream coloured doors)were in alcoves off the corridor, no matter what. 

The golden coloured doors - there is one opposite this one you can see - can be closed,

so the stateroom doors can be left open and people can move between both cabins.

The bathrooms in the public spaces around the ship were the nicest I've come across,
even down to the rolled up hand towels.

And in each of the bathrooms around the ship, there was a different quote above each urinal.

This one was from Josh Billing (1818 - 1883).

I couldn't sleep one night and went for a walk. This was taken in the Martini Bar.

I really would have liked someone sitting in one of the chairs but it was 2.30am and I was alone with the cleaners.

Where do lifts go to be cleaned? The top of the ship...Deck 16.

There are lots of photos of lounges in this post but I like the lines in this photo.

The lounges look like soldiers in a row (or something else that lines up in a row).

Should be obvious!

Celebrity Solstice is registered is Valetta, Malta. This is the flag ships fly if they are registered in Malta.

You've already seen a photo of people playing table tennis in the Entertainment Court but here's
a photo of it at night which I like.

A yacht gets a closer look at Celebrity Solstice while we are docked in Melbourne, Australia.

All aboard!

I don't know if I'm being parochial but, even though I'm from Brisbane, Sydney Harbour seagulls

are the ballsiest seagulls I've ever seen (I once saw one hover over a mother holding her toddler before

it swooped down and plucked a chip out of the child's hand!). This one sat on the railing watching

proceedings below, then swooped down and was about to enjoy a selection of leftovers from the

Oceanview Cafe, when the woman took a dirty big swipe at it with her napkin.

And it wasn't even having a go at her food!

I'd rather be on Celebrity Solstice.

Disembarkation day 

The disembarkation process begins the night before when you have to leave your bags in the hallway
ready for collection. The bags are collected during the night and taken from the ship early the next morning, 

whereupon you collect them when you disembark.

Another beautiful Sydney morning greets our pending departure.

A rude shock to see 'some bloke' outside my window. A simple explanation...

The ship needs a good clean before the next passengers board.

One last look at my million-dollar view...

Then it's farewell to Celebrity Solstice! You're a beautiful ship and I loved every minute I was aboard you.

CELEBRITY SOLSTICE IN SYDNEY HARBOUR

How could you not photograph such a beautiful ship in one of the world's most beautiful ports?!

LtoR Sydney Opera House and Celebrity Solstice - two stunners!

She looks spectacular up close.

Peeking through between two of the Opera House sails.

Looking at her across part of the Opera House forecourt.

The Opera House on one side, the Harbour Bridge on the other.

Could I ask for anything more?

You see her everywhere you look!

*     *     *     *     *     *

This post isn't over just yet. I had to split it in two because it was so big so, to see the photos of, and read about, the Ports of Call...

Tauranga (where I visited Hobbiton, the Hobbit village from the Lord of the Rings movies)

Wellington (wet and windy)

Akaroa (French influences and Harbour Wildlife Tour)

Dunedin (city photos)

Dusky, Doubtful and Milford Sounds (stunning scenery!)

Melbourne (beautiful Port Melbourne)

Sydney (where I had a million-dollar view of the Sydney Opera House for 24 hours)

...then go HERE.

I hope this post has been of some help and I'd love to hear any feedback or questions you might have. Likewise, if this helped you to decide to book a cruise on Celebrity Solstice, please tell me! TravelWithGiulio@gmail.com

Until next time...Bon voyage!

Giulio

Celebrity Solstice Website

See and read about more of my cruise experiences/reviews.

Love photos of cruise ships? Have a look at my 'Ship Spotting' photo gallery.

If you like what you have seen here, follow me on SOCIAL MEDIA for more fun, interesting cruise news and information.

All photos, video and text by Giulio Saggin (unless otherwise stated)

© Use of photos/video/text must be via written permission

TravelWithGiulio@gmail.com