Review of Celebrity Solstice Alaskan Cruise

July 3-10, 2015

Finally it’s “North to Alaska” for us!  After 37 cruises and travel half way around the world, it’s time for the wonderful Alaskan experience!  I don’t know why I put it off for so long.  Perhaps because of the cold weather and the myth that only “old” people cruised to Alaska.  Well, I can put both of those doubts to rest, as they proved to be untrue.

Why Celebrity Solstice roundtrip Seattle for 7 days?  There are a few reasons that we chose this itinerary:

1) We love Celebrity’s S-class ships and we able to book this with their 123Go promotion which included an onboard credit, pre-paid gratuities, and a complimentary classic beverage package for two.

2) Being our first trip to Alaska, we decided that by doing a 7 day cruise, we would know if we wanted to do a more intensive Alaskan trip, including a land package.

3) Ken’s brother and family live in Seattle so we could enjoy a few days before our cruise visiting family and exploring Seattle. 

Two Days in Seattle

We arrived via USAirways at 12 noon and were promptly met in baggage claim by our limo driver from Inn at the Market.  I had booked the cruise package at the #1 Tripadvisor rated hotel, Inn at the Market, and this included transportation by private driver from the airport to the hotel and a $30 breakfast credit daily.

Our room at the Inn was beautiful; the waterfront rooms were sold out when I booked this and so we had a garden view, which was of the center courtyard.  We were on the 4^th floor and the beautiful rooftop garden is on the 5^th floor.   

Thinking there would be a bar where we could enjoy a glass of wine overlooking Pike Place Market and Puget Sound, we headed here shortly after unpacking.  Well… the garden is beautiful with lots of seating and a great view but there is no bar here!  You can purchase wine and bring glasses from your room though.  We were told that they are hoping to get a license to have a bar there soon.

We were steps away from Pike’s Place Market and as tourist season was in full swing, it was a busy and hectic place indeed!  If you haven’t been, then you must definitely visit the market to see the beautiful flowers there as well as the fresh fish.  The flowers are grown locally and are so gorgeous and so inexpensive.  You can get a beautiful arrangement for $10 and prices go up to $15 and $20 for larger ones.  The fish markets are also interesting… be sure to catch a flying fish and learn about Dungeness crab, halibut cheeks, and more.   Thanks Shaun for the experience!
 
There’s Pike Place Chowder for some of the best clam chowder you will ever taste; Beecher’s Cheese for yummy cheese.  A tour that I highly recommend is Savor Seattle as you will get to sample many of these wonderful foods. 

Seattle restaurants:  We had breakfast at Bacco Cafe both mornings as this was part of our hotel package.  It was excellent.  Bacco is a popular place; it’s small with both indoor and outdoor seating and you will usually have to wait in line for a few minutes.  They offer excellent coffee as well as all sorts of juices.  Some of their specialties included salmon hash, eggs benedict, and breakfast scrambles.

For lunch we dined at Café Campagne and Maximilien.

Our lunch at Maximilien was excellent! We were seated on the beautiful patio which afforded nice views of the water. It was a nice respite from the Pike Place Market crowds. The house white wine is excellent. I ordered the Halibut, Petit Pois à la Française and it was sooo good. It's pan seared Alaskan halibut, pearl onions, bacon, fingerling potatoes, romaine lettuce and beurre blanc. Ken ordered the Niçoise - Grilled Ahi tuna, hard boiled egg, green beans, red peppers, anchovies, tomato on a croissant with house greens and a cup of clam and fish chowder which he declared was excellent. Service was great... We will be back!

As for Café Campagne, there's not much better than a croque Monsieur. ..that classic French sandwich. Mine did not disappoint! It was accompanied by a small fresh green salad and I ordered a nice white wine.  Ken ordered the special of the day, which was a Dungeness crab sandwich on a brioche bun; also excellent.  This is a charming little cafe at Pike Place Market, just outside the really busy main market area.  We ate lunch here on a prior trip to Seattle and just had to revisit this café. 

For dinner, we chose The Pink Door for two reasons:  one nostalgia and one the Tripadvisor ranking.   On my very first trip to Seattle, many years ago, the Pink Door was recommended by our hotel concierge.   We loved it and both ordered one of the restaurant specialties, cioppino.   This was my first experience with a dish that had seashells as an ingredient so I was apprehensive when my entrée arrived.  It was filled with mussels, clams, and fish…. Yummy!  So, of course, I wanted to revisit The Pink Door. I had forgotten that the only way you know it is by the door! So we first walked past it, looking for a sign... but the door is a faded pinkish color; so be on the lookout for it! It's a great place with both indoor and outdoor seating. Service was excellent and portions are ample. We had the linguini with clams (a bit on the spicy side) and lasagna... both were good. We didn't have to wait as we had a reservation. 

For our second night’s dinner, we were treated to a catered family dinner with Robert and Eloise (to celebrate their wedding) in Edmonds, Washington.  This was quite the spread with Pacific salmon and more delectable dishes. 

And then on Friday, we hailed a cab to Pier 91 to board Celebrity Solstice.  Embarkation went smoothly; we were onboard by 11 am and headed to Bistro on Five to grab a bite for lunch.  This is our go-to spot on embarkation day on Celebrity ships as we like to avoid the chaos of the buffet area.  Tomato basil soup and chef salad, followed by their famous Italian crepe for dessert hit the spot… along with a nice glass of pinot grigio.  We were in our room by 1:30.

I was lucky to snag one of those aft-facing aqua class staterooms, #1668.  We loved the views from our cabin throughout the cruise.  Aqua class has become a MUST for us as we love dining in Blu, the special restaurant reserved for Aqua Class guests.  A chilled bottle of champagne and two glasses were awaiting us and we enjoyed them on our balcony for sail-away!  By the way, sailing from Seattle affords great views of Mount Rainer, of course dependent on the weather.  The bathroom was spacious with glass shower doors and a multi spray shower fixture; always great water pressure. 

Dining:

Blu did not disappoint!  In fact, it may have even better than usual!  Service was phenomenal; everyone remembered our names.  The food portions were perfect… not too big and not too small.  They were probably on the smaller side, but if you ordered every course, then you had more than plenty!  The salmon was excellent; it was Pacific salmon and perfectly grilled.  The filet mignon was excellent as were the soups, salads, appetizers, and desserts.  Breakfast in Blu was always a treat.  I ordered a veggie omelette most days.  But I will say that the blueberry pancakes that Ken ordered were super yummy too.

I had purchased the Three Specialty Restaurant Package prior to sailing.  In the future, I may not do this again, as specials are offered onboard and you can choose which restaurant you want.  With the package, you have to dine at each of the three:  Tuscan Grille, Murano, and Silk Harvest.

Tuscan Grille – we were seated at a window table and it was perfect for sail away!  Service was a little slow and some people complained bitterly.  But we were just being romantic, so it didn’t matter much to us.  The food was good and the ambiance perfect. We enjoyed calamari fritti, crab cake appetizer, Italian chop salad, Tuscan onion soup, and filet mignon rustic.  Yum!

Silk Harvest – Again, we were seated at a window table (do we luck out or what?).  Service was excellent and we appreciated the recommendations on ordering.  The food was superb and the ambiance is very Asian and quite lovely.  We enjoyed wonton soup, vegetarian spring rolls, spicy rock shrimp tempura, orange chicken and Chinese pepper steak, followed by caramelized banana with coconut ice cream for dessert!  I must say that we were quite happy and could have stopped after the appetizers!  Admittedly, I was a bit skeptical about this restaurant, but it really exceeded my expectations… I would definitely dine here again!

Murano – Luck ran out… not a table for two, but a very romantic table in a classy, cozy, restaurant.  Food and service were again excellent.  We ordered goat cheese soufflé, lobster bisque, heirloom tomato and buffalo mozzarella salad, and chateaubriand for two.  The sommelier kept our wine glasses filled.  The grand marnier soufflé for dessert was the icing on the cake!  But, if you know me, you know that I am a connoisseur of souffles!

Ocean View Café – the buffet area on deck 14.  We ate breakfast here at least three days… one reason is that they have corned beef hash to die for!  You can get almost anything you want for breakfast… I mean the choices are endless.  Oh yes, they even have chocolate croissants!  Smile.  Lunch choices are also abundant and mostly excellent.  The salad bar has lots of options and there is also a sandwich bar, where you can make your own from cold cuts, tuna salad, chicken salad, etc.  There’s a pizza station (and it was great!), a pasta station (ditto on this), a stir fry station, a grill station, and the list goes on.  You won’t go hungry!  

Cafe Al Bacio and Gelateria - fantastic coffee drinks and pastries!  My favorite was caramel macchiato... oh my!  I loved the "free" home made ice cream so much, that I never had the gelato... but I'm sure that it was good!  The home made cinnamon ice cream was my favorite... you will find it in the Ocean View Cafe!

We only dined in the main dining room once for lunch, on a sea day and it was also quite good. 

Celebrity gets great marks in the food area from me! 

Beverage package – We chose the Classic Beverage Package for one of our perks and upgraded to the Premium package and were quite happy with this choice.  We enjoyed wines by the glass, specialty coffees, cocktails, and after dinner drinks.  Oh… I have a new favorite cocktail – the Paris screwdriver.  It’s vodka, champagne, and orange juice… Voila!  Tres Bien! 

Bars - We like the ambiance of the Ensemble Bar but the entertainment was not up our alley.  The Martini Bar is another happening place that we enjoyed.   The Sky Bar is a beautiful venue; this is where the Captain’s Club Elite Cocktail Hours were held.  Many of the musicians perform on deck three in the grand foyer, where they can be heard on several floors… but we didn’t find this area to be cozy and romantic. 

Celebrity Life – Beyond the Podium – Brent Nixon, the marine life naturalist, was onboard for our cruise and he is beyond excellent!  He makes you want to LIVE Alaska, SEE Alaska, Know and Understand the wildlife… I am a fan.  His presentations are shows, not lectures – be sure to see him when he presents in Celebrity Theatre. 

Also, be sure to see Miss Amanda’s shows.  She is the Cultural History speaker and also puts on quite a show, complete with costumes and accents.  Her final show, the Last Song Played on the RMS Titanic is not to be missed as it is quite moving and you will definitely learn something.  Oh by the way, Miss Amanda, Mary Amanda Fairchild, is the spouse of Brent Nixon.

Entertainment -

The musical entertainment was lacking, in my opinion, as far as places to go for a cocktail before dinner.  Due to our dinner reservation times and early morning excursions, we missed most of the shows.  Karen Grainger was a special entertainer who was onboard and she was absolutely superb!  If she has a performance on your cruise, don’t miss it!  Karen is from Canada and is a female impressionist entertainer, and portrays some of the greatest stars of our time including Celine Dion, Lady Gaga, Cher, and many more. Click here for a YouTube video of Karen.

Disembarkation – This went smoothly for us.  We booked the luggage valet program, where for certain airlines (ours was USAir), for a $20 per person charge, you could have your luggage checked to your final destination.  This worked perfectly and we will do this again whenever it is offered.  We booked a transfer from the pier to the airport and all went like clockwork.  We were assigned, as Elite passengers, to the Tuscan Grill to wait for our embarkation call.  

Sunrise and Sunset - Sunrise was just after 5 am on most days and sunset was around 10:30 pm... so we had lots of light and some spectacular sunsets!  We were informed that we should have an opportunity to view the Aurora Borealis on the evening that we departed Juneau and to watch the sky starting around  midnight.  I was on our balcony at midnight, but the sky was still light... so I tried again at 2:30 am and still saw no Northern Lights... the following two nights, I did the same thing around 2:00 am and it was a no show for me... But it was fun anticipating the special phenomenon!  Next time...

Ports of Call:

Ketchikan, Alaska – What a cute town!   I purchased a few “made in Alaska” Christmas ornaments, and I do mean that they were made in Alaska! Can you believe that many of the Alaskan ornaments sold are made in China?   We also talked with a jeweler about Alexandrite and he showed me some rings that were his own designs.  They were indeed beautiful, but we need to know more about Alexandrite and a reputable jeweler before we make such a purchase!   

After wandering around the town and visiting a few more shops, it was time to meet our tour, The Bering Sea Crab Fishermen’s Tour  at noon.  Oh what a tour!  We loved this one!  We boarded the Aleutian Ballad, the iconic boat featured in The Deadliest Catch, Season 2.   It was capsized by a 60 foot rogue wave and finally said farewell to the Bering Sea.

Click here for the YouTube video

This tour was indeed a highlight of this Alaskan trip.  The crew are fun as well as informative.  We learned all about life as a crab fisherman and the history of the Aleutian Ballad.  The stories recanted by the crew hold your interest and inspire imagination.  Crab pots are hauled onboard by specialized equipment and we saw catches of king crab, box crab, Dungeness crab, and rock fish….and even an octopus.  The opportunity to hold a crab or two for a photo op was presented.   

I didn’t partake in this particular event but helped take photos for others!  At one point, the crew tossed herring off the deck and dozens of eagles swooped to feed. What an awesome experience!  I got some great photos of these majestic birds… another highlight! 

Of course I had to purchase an Aleutian Ballad athletic shirt as a souvenir of my adventure.  I highly recommend this tour!

Juneau, Alaska – Our ship was scheduled to enter Tracy Arm around 6 am and we were to meet for our excursion at 7:15 so we jumped up early to grab breakfast and listen to Brent Nixon’s narrative as we entered Tracy Arm.  Our tour, Tracy Arm Fjord and Glacier Explorer, was one where a smaller ship, a high speed catamaran operated by Allen Marine Tours, met our ship just past the entrance to Tracy Arm,  as far as Celebrity Solstice could go into Tracy Arm due to the icebergs.   

We boarded the catamaran and headed into Tracy Arm for some glacier viewing!  Icebergs and more icebergs… that glacial blue color that you’ve heard of is everywhere and it’s breathtakingly beautiful.  The air is clean so just breathe in and smile.  The captain was excellent in maneuvering the boat so that we were almost directly under waterfalls and were able to see glaciers calving.   

A naturalist was onboard to explain what we were seeing and she was also excellent.  Complimentary hot chocolate, coffee, and snacks were available as were reindeer dogs, beer, and wine for sale.  The catamaran was comfortable with lots of inside seating as well as ample outside deck areas for photo ops.   We saw a couple of Coastal Brown Bears, aka grizzlies, but I couldn't get a good photo (and that may be a good thing!)... next time!

We explored Tracy Army for several hours and then the catamaran headed back to the inside passage to Juneau where we joined our ship, which had just docked.  I recommend this tour if you have the opportunity.

Skagway, Alaska –  Population in winter 400; increases to 800 in summer (because of all the shops and tour operators).  No doctor.  One gas station.  28 jewelry stores. 

Someone asked me if I get souvenirs from all of the places we visit.  Well... in past years, I collected tee shirts and all sorts of things ranging from table cloths, to wood carvings, to paintings... Now, I collect pendants for my necklace chains.  I've been doing this for many years and have quite the collection ranging from pendants from Mexico to Italy to Egypt to Thailand and now I have a gold nugget pendant from Alaska!

The thing to do in Skagway is to take a ride on the White Pass and Yukon Railroad.   

That being said, we didn’t do this since we had taken the Rocky Mountaineer into Canada last year.  But when I return to Alaska, I will do this one!  It’s a narrow gauge railroad, built in 1898 during the Klondike gold rush.  We were offered a complimentary tour via Distinctive Voyages.  This tour was a tour of the town and its historic buildings, and then to the summit (at 3292 feet) on the Klondike Highway, which paralleled much of the trail of the 1898 gold rush.  The scenery is just magnificent!   
 
We visited the quaint, quirky Gold Rush Cemetery and heard tails of famous gold rushers, such as Soapy Smith.  

 We hiked to Reid Falls, which is a beautiful waterfall, about a 10 minute hike from the cemetery.  Our tour ended with a visit to the Gold Rush Brewing Co. where we learned about their craft beer and had a tasting of up to four brews.  The head brewer, Robert, was full of information about the beer brewing process and their craft brews.  OK… I am not a beer lover, so I only had one and it was their signature summer beer, Fireweed Honey Wheat.  I gave my other three tasting tickets to others in the group so that they could enjoy… which they did! 

Victoria, Canada – We saw whales enroute from Skagway to Victoria and that was quite special!  I was so excited that I got the entire Sky Lounge on the lookout!  Lots of whale blows going on, but they didn't breach for me so that I could get a great photo... again, next time!  Our ship arrived here at 6 pm and departed at midnight.  Since we have been to Victoria on two previous occasions, we stayed onboard the ship and had a romantic dinner in Murano!  If you haven’t been to Victoria, though, you should at least take a walk into town (or take the shuttle).  It’s about a 20 minute walk along the waterfront. 

Overall Thoughts of the Cruise:  We loved Alaska.  We loved the Solstice.  We loved our aft stateroom. We loved Blu.  Crew were always smiling and helpful.  Captain and his staff were visible.  We would have liked one less sea day or more activities during sea days… especially the last day, there wasn’t too much except things with a charge.  It would have been nicer if we had been able to visit Victoria during the daytime hours, but we will take what we can get!  I read a lot so that was a good thing!  Will definitely cruise to Alaska again, but with a land package of at least 5 days prior to embarking the cruise!