New Year’s Eve on the Celebrity Solstice January 1, 2010
Lisa and I are nearing the end of a wonderful seven night Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Celebrity Solstice as I write this. It has been an absolutely fabulous cruise with port calls on San Juan, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and St. Maarten … more about the ports later.
Let’s first talk about this magnificent ship … 
The Solstice is the first of five ships Celebrity has built, is building or will build in the “Solstice class”. I cannot emphasis the word “class” strongly enough. As a veteran of over 30 cruises I can honestly say that I have never sailed on such a magnificent ship as the Solstice. From the moment we stepped aboard, we knew this ship was different. It is different for a number of reasons and many of those reasons start with the "Celebrity’s Leading Ladies " … these five women (a frequent cruiser, a travel agent, a travel writer, a hotelier and a cruise considerer) who had significant input into the initial and ongoing design of the “Solstice class” ships. The public areas are second to none on the high seas …. with a number of “phenomenal firsts” including the first ice bar at sea which turned out to be the best people watching venues on the ship as well as the most phenomenal bartenders on the ship … be sure to stop by the ice bar and check in with Rosa and his staff of “flipping” bartenders. We actually saw him do a number of his famous “stacked martinis”. At one time during the week he did 30 … a bartending feat that makes Tom Cruise in the movie Cocktail seem like a rank amateur. Rosa is the only bartender I have ever seen do this … it is truly something to behold. Be sure and stop by for at least his martini “sampler” just so you get an idea of the skill that Rosa and his cohorts employ to entertain and quench the thirsty passengers aboard the Solstice.Another “phenomenal first” is the Aqua Spa. As the largest spa at sea it also qualifies as one of the top spas to be found anywhere. Another key insight provided by "Celebrity’s Leading Ladies " was the desire for a more relaxed, intimate shipboard stateroom experience connected to the sea and linked to highly personalized spa elements. The result? A unique class of veranda staterooms called AquaClass, an oceanside retreat created for guests who are most passionate about pampering and “getting away from it all.”
Simplicity and comfort are evident throughout the room, from the bathroom’s fog-free mirror and tall jetted bodywash shower, to the robust pillow menu. Aroma scent selections tied to specific vacation goals (relax, revive, re-energize, etc.) provide guests with a multi-sensory experience, while lavish AquaClass toiletries and refreshing daily teas, juices and bottled water round out the offering. There’s even a 32” flat screen TV for those of you (like me) that have to get your daily “news fix.”
Many other upgrades here as well most of which came from the "Celebrity’s Leading Ladies " . As a result of the input from these ladies, the staterooms have larger bathrooms including larger showers and even a special footrest fro the ladies for shaving their legs. Much more storage space and larger dressing table are also a result of the committee and a rounded end queen size bed was a welcome respite from a day full of activities. Our balcony, with its teak flooring and comfortable chairs that reclined with a footstool, were a quiet and secluded getaway from the noise and sometimes crowded public areas of the ship.
AquaClass comprises 130 of the ship’s 1,425 staterooms, each double-occupancy only, creating the perfect grown-up getaway. Guests in AquaClass receive unlimited access to Celebrity Solstice’s new AquaSpa relaxation room on the same deck, and the Persian Garden, an exotic aromatherapy and steam room. AquaClass guests also have an exclusive dining room, Blu, an intimate, 130-seat specialty restaurant with menus developed by Celebrity Cruises culinary consultant, Blau & Associates, which operates upscale eateries for high-end hotels such as Las Vegas Bellagio, Miami’s Setai and Cabo San Lucas One & Only Palmilla. A cut well above the traditional dining room experience as far as food, elegance and atmosphere are all concerned, Blu was a very special treat for each evening that we dined there.
Yet another “phenomenal first” is that the specialty restaurants are all neighbors on deck five aft. Most cruise lines scatter these specialty restaurants all over the ship, but on the Solstice they are all in the same neighborhood. Our favorite by far was the Tuscan Grill, a upscale Italian delight. Lisa and I had dinner here on New Year’s Eve and had a table right by the windows looking out at the illuminated wake of the ship … a most romantic setting. Be sure to make your reservations early (online) and stop by early in the evening to make certain that the maitre de has your special table all picked out for you.
The public areas of the Solstice were too many to mention here, but of significant note was the multistory library overlooking a central elevator corridor with no less than 8 fully glass elevators that run from deck two to deck 14. These elevators overlook the ornately decorated central lobby area that you are able to view as the glass elevators speed amongst the floors. Another “must see” on the Solstice is the Sky Bar located on deck 14 all the way forward. It is here that you can enjoy your favorite beverage while viewing the magnificent blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.
In our opinion, the most unique “phenomenal first” was the “Lawn Club” on deck 14 aft. This ship is the first in the world to have actual real grass growing on deck ... over a halt acre of it! These grassy areas we used for putting, croquet, baci or just lounging around. Seems like every day we saw a different use of the grassy areas including sun bathing on beach towels and teenage kids just sitting in the grass “hanging out“. I particularly enjoyed the freedom to light up a great cigar while watching fellow passengers find different uses for the fresh mowed lawns of the Solstice. This could only be done at the Sunset Bar which is at the absolute aft end of deck 14. In addition to the activities on the lawn, another “phenomenal first” is a glass blowing exhibition that actually produces absolutely beautiful pieces that are sold during the cruise. For a brief 5 minute video of this beautiful ship as put together by Celebrity Cruise Line, click on the following link …… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=papMCNqe8WM
By now hopefully you get that this ship is indeed my favorite of more that 30 + cruises in the last 20 years …. now for the ports-of-call. First stop, San Juan, Puerto Rico. The ship actually docks in old San Juan. This is a 465-year-old neighborhood originally conceived as a military stronghold. Its 7-square-block area has evolved into a charming residential and commercial district. The streets here are paved with cobbles of adoquine, a blue stone cast from furnace slag; they were brought over as ballast on Spanish ships and time and moisture have lent them their characteristic color. The city includes more than 400 carefully restored 16th- and 17th-century Spanish colonial buildings. The Old San Juan attracts many tourists, who also enjoy the gambling casinos, fine beaches, and tropical climate. More tourists visit San Juan each year than any other spot in the Caribbean. A leisurely foot tour is advisable for those who really want to experience this bit of the Old World, especially given the narrow, steep streets and frequently heavy traffic.
Our next port-of-call was St. Kitts. St. Kitts is a quaint little Caribbean island whose main crop until a few years ago was sugar, which they have now abandoned for tourism (can you spell cruise ship). Having never been to St. Kitts, Lisa and I wanted to get the “full story” so we took a delightful little “sugar train” ride half way around the island and learned about the history of this mountainous Caribbean island. The train which rides on 18 miles of track that took 14 years (Caribbean time??) to build rides along the coast line for the most part and allows you to see life as lived in a variety of small towns along the way. At the end of the 18 mile ride which takes about two hours, we were taken by bus to meet a catamaran for the balance of our trip around the island. On this portion of the trip we were able to see the balance of this beautiful Caribbean island which has a lot of similarities to the Hawaiian island of Maui. While our history lesson on this portion of a four hour excursion was non-existent, the rum punch and Caribe beer were in abundance which made this portion of the trip clearly the more fun part of our four hour adventure.
Next stop was St. Maarten (the Dutch side) of this fun filled Caribbean island which is shared with the French as “St. Martin“. We were one of four cruise ships in port today. This is one of the ports that the new Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas will call upon and they now have the Caribbean’s tallest sand pile as a result of the dredging required to accommodate the world’s largest cruise ship.
Lisa and I spent about three hours doing my absolute favorite excursion in the Caribbean, crewing one of the 12 meter America’s Cup yachts in a race with two others. Now don’t think for a minute that I know the first thing about sailing, but the captain and crew do a phenomenal job of quickly teaching you how to perform your duties to make this a fun event for all. Lisa and I were on the Starts and Stripes which was Dennis Connor’s winning yacht in the 1987 America’s Cup Race. It was of significance that we were crewing a boat that was once crewed by the incredible men who won the America’s Cup in 1987. A fun time was had by all and of course, rum punch to celebrate our second place (by a nose) finish. We then spent the rest of the afternoon scouring the local shops and bars and enjoying the local scene in St. Maarten. We even enjoyed a juicy hamburger and a couple of cold beers at the Blue Bitch Bar.
The last two days on the way back to Ft. Lauderdale were spent onboard our beautiful Solstice further exploring all of the public areas of this, the most beautiful ship at sea (in our humble opinions). If you would like to appreciate this AWESOME ship ... give us a call at 1-877-313-9009 ... we can help you get to paradise!
Port of Miami - November 13, 2009
Lisa and I headed to Miami today preparing to board the Norwegian Pearl on Saturday morning for a special Norwegian Seminar a Sea. We decided to stay really close to the Port of Miami this trip and selected the Intercontinental Hotel on Chopin Plaza. The hotel while pricey was very nice with the opportunity for us to awaken to our ship right outside our window. So Saturday after coffee and a shower we headed over to the ship. Not having boarded a ship out of the Port of Miami in some time, we didn’t really know what to expect, so we headed over early arriving at the port at 11 am. We went right through security to one of the shortest lines I have even experienced in all of my years of cruising. After checking in, we proceeded upstairs to a lounge where we expected at an hour or two wait since we have arrived so early. Can you say 10 minutes??? Seriously, from the time we stepped out of our taxi until we were on the ship sipping champagne was exactly 15 minutes …. WOW what a pleasant surprise.
Oh, if you are cruising with Norwegian out of the port of Miami, early arrival pays big dividends. Now don’t expect to see your stateroom or your luggage until well after 2:00 pm, but to be onboard the ship enjoying a bit of exploring and your favorite adult beverage (with an umbrella of course) is always a fun time for all … not to mention the joy of watching those passengers who arrived just a bit later we did standing in lines outside the building, on the street, probably an hour or more away from where we were at our favorite bar on any ship … the Lido deck.
The Pearl … in true Norwegian style, this ship has a lot to offer. She has 8 specialty restaurants, a rock climbing wall, a bar with bowling lanes right down the middle of it, the largest big screen TV I have ever seen on a ship … 2 stories tall in the main atrium of the ship.
So we headed out on Saturday afternoon for the ports of Samana in the Dominican Republic, St. Thomas, Tortola and Great Stirrup Cay.
In Samana we visited the Gran Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado Hotel. The Bahia offers elegant seclusion just a 10-minute ride from the mainland to the famous paradise island of Cayo Levantado and the exclusive five-star Gran Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado Hotel. At the hotel we were able to enjoy all the amenities of this gorgeous and world acclaimed hotel, numerous pools, private beaches and all of the amenities you would expect at a five-star world class resort.The warm waters of the Caribbean sea bathe the beaches of the Gran Bahía Príncipe Cayo Levantado Hotel. With its magnificent colonial-style architecture, it is the ideal place to let go and give free reign to all your senses in this secluded island paradise. Restaurants, swimming pools, clubs, shopping centers and leisure areas... it is a place full of interest, where the main sporting attraction is golf.
Cayo Levantado is one of the world's most beautiful islands and an ideal place to enjoy a comfortable luxury vacation amidst matchless natural surroundings. This wonderful hotel offers all the necessary amenities to turn your vacation into a dream trip. Lisa and I spent the entire day at this island paradise before heading back to our ship to head for St. Thomas. Feel free to call for further details.
Having been to St. Thomas at least ten times previously, we were looking for something that neither of us had ever done before on St. Thomas. We found a wonderful snorkel expedition on wave runners!
So after a “mandatory” stop at Megan’s Bay and the temporary “mountain top” (the old one burned down last year) for world famous banana daiquiris we headed to the Wyndam Hotel and Resort to meet up with our snorkel/wave runner tour.
Talk about a fun afternoon, we rode in international waters from St. Thomas cruising near St. John, Tortola, Caneel Bay (home of the famous Vanderbilt estate) and numerous other islands in the British and US Virgin Islands. As you can imagine we were able to get into waters that traditional snorkeling boats couldn’t even come close to. Lisa is the “snorkel queen” and loved the snorkeling while I preferred zipping about from island to island and bouncing across the Caribbean sitting just a few inches off the surface. It truly was one of the most enjoyable days ever on St. Thomas. Something to check out next time you are in St. Thomas. You can find this excursion on our website at www.ssstravel.com and just click on the ShoreTrips logo on the home page. You can actually book this excursion right from our website!
Back to the ship for a quick shower and a nighttime departure from St. Thomas … the most visited port in the Caribbean and in my humble opinion, one of the most beautiful places on earth to wake up.
Thursday was a day at sea. I love days at sea … resting, relaxing on deck, reading a good book, gambling, bingo, dance lessons, cooking lessons, working out in the gym or just getting a massage … always tons to do on sea days.
Next we called on Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island for a wonderful day at the beach. Great food, volley ball, snorkeling, jet skis or just relaxing on your lounge chair and basking in the sun. Great Stirrup Cay was a fun day for all regardless of chosen activities. The only thing bad about Great Stirrup Cay was it was the last stop on our week of adventure before heading back to Miami.
All in all it was a very fun week of exploring. Thanks to all the nice folks at Norwegian for making it a great seven days for us.
If you would like to know more about any of our travels, simply shoot us an email or give us a call. We are friendly folks who love to travel and assist others in their search of the “perfect vacation”. You can find us on the web at http://www.ssstravel.com/
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