Cruise Talk: Celebrity Solstice Question

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Topic: Celebrity Solstice Question

hydrojim
First Class Passenger
Member # 17351

posted 01-04-2009 11:08 AM

A question for those that have been on the Celebrity Solstice, Do you have access to the bow of the ship from the promenade/boat deck? Also, how bad are the views of the sea impeded by the life boats being at deck level?

Thanks in advance for the info.

Posts: 58 | From: Pittsburgh | Registered: Sep 2008 | IP: Logged

eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 01-04-2009 11:57 AM

If you are looking for a ship with a great wrap-around Promenade Deck, then CELEBRITY SOLSTICE is not for you. Without question this is one of her shortcomings although personally I did not miss it. I had a balcony and there were plenty of other deck areas to walk around.

The Promenade Deck on SOLSTICE exists purely for practical reasons, as an area to board the lifeboats. It's not wrap-around and you cannot go to the bow of the ship. Unlike most ships, the lifeboats on SOLSTICE are already at boarding position. They do not need to be lowered from the deck above for boarding like on most ships. MSC FANTASIA shares the same setup, and I imagine more ships will incorporate this design in the future. What this means is that the Promenade Deck is actually behind the lifeboats and there is no view. On one side of you is a bulkhead and on the other is a lifeboat. There are a couple open spots in-between sections of lifeboats, and here there are beautiful views of the ocean and you can sit. One such spot outside the dining room is actually where all the smokers are. SOLSTICE is virtually a non-smoking ship and there are not many places for smokers.

Other than smokers in the one spot (port side aft only), I rarely saw anyone on the Promenade Deck.

I've attached a picture of one of the open spots. It's actually quite nice and has chairs, but it's not very large. Again, pick another ship if the Promenade Deck is of great importance to you.

Ernie

Posts: 7046 | From: Miami, Florida USA | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

hydrojim
First Class Passenger
Member # 17351

posted 01-04-2009 05:39 PM

Thanks Ernie, that is exactly the info I was looking for. You can tell from the deck plans that you can't get around the aft of the ship, but what about the forward section? I know you said you can't get to the bow proper, but can you walk around the forward section to go starboard to port?

I would be a shame if you can't at least go around that way.

Cheers,

Jim

Posts: 58 | From: Pittsburgh | Registered: Sep 2008 | IP: Logged

eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 01-04-2009 05:50 PM

quote:
Originally posted by hydrojim:

I would be a shame if you can't at least go around that way.
Cheers,
Jim

Hey Jim,
To my knowledge you cannot walk around the front. I believe there is a deck, but when I tried I ran into a "crew only" gate. In the old days I would have gone through and checked it out, but these days there are security cameras everywhere so I don't even think about it. I'm a good boy and behave!

Wrap around Promenade Decks have never been a strong suit of Celebrity. They don't have a single ship that has this feature. Funny, the parent line of Royal Caribbean which of course is more mainstream, has many ships with fantastic wrap-around Promenade Decks. Go figure.

Ernie

[ 01-04-2009: Message edited by: eroller ]

Posts: 7046 | From: Miami, Florida USA | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

hydrojim
First Class Passenger
Member # 17351

posted 01-04-2009 06:22 PM

Thank again Ernie. Bummer. Ever since the Solstice class of ship was revealed I always thought it looked the the next generation of the Radiance class of ship. How nice it would be to have a Solstice class ship adapted to RCL as the Millennium/Radiance class were. That would give them the chance to fix the shortcomings, i.e. promenade and a few others. I think it would make a beautiful design for RCL... with a few changes.

Jim

Posts: 58 | From: Pittsburgh | Registered: Sep 2008 | IP: Logged

Linerrich
First Class Passenger
Member # 4864

posted 01-04-2009 06:28 PM

quote:
Originally posted by eroller:

Hey Jim,
To my knowledge you cannot walk around the front. I believe there is a deck, but when I tried I ran into a "crew only" gate.
Ernie
[ 01-04-2009: Message edited by: eroller ]

I went through that "crew only" gate once, only to encounter a sealed, heavy metal door (more like a hatch) so no, you cannot go forward. It's too bad.

Rich

Posts: 4210 | From: Miami, FL | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 01-04-2009 06:35 PM

But there is a forward facing, unobstructed (no glass wind shield) open deck space 'atop' the superstructure?

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

eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 01-04-2009 06:54 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Ernst:
But there is a forward facing, unobstructed (no glass wind shield) open deck space 'atop' the superstructure?

Yes, there are two forward facing decks without windscreens. One in front of the gym and the other atop the Sky Lounge.

Ernie

Posts: 7046 | From: Miami, Florida USA | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 01-04-2009 07:10 PM

quote:
Originally posted by eroller:

Yes, there are two forward facing decks without windscreens. One in front of the gym and the other atop the Sky Lounge.
Ernie

Thanks. Actually, I have seen that - just to be sure.

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

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