12 Nights British Isles Cruise

Glad I have returned to the Solstice ships.

I decided to try and go back to Celebrity's Solstice ships, mainly because I am fed up with their new ships. There are two reasons for this: far too many passengers on the new ships and the virtual windows really suck - no verendah at all. No use in paying for Concierge or Aqua Class with no balconies. I think Celebrity has made a huge corporate mistake investing in these new no-balconies ships. This was my 60th cruise with Celebrity. I am starting to shift away from Celebrity because of not having a balcony and am doing a 17 night Hawaii Circle cruise out of Vancouver on April 5 - and guess what, I have a balcony! I spent much of my time sunning and reading at night on my balcony aboard the Eclipse. It was the best cruise I have ever had with Celebrity. The staff, all personnel, were extremely gracious and did everything they could to make my trip the best, as this time, I was travelling alone. The food and service was exceptional - I was planted on the first night at possibly the worst table in the Main Dining Room, likely because I came alone, but raised hell about it and everything was fine from the second night to the end of the cruise. On this cruise, I rarely ate my meals at the Oceanview Cafe - went to the Main Dining Room whenever it was open because guess what, I love being served. I do think the Eclipse is in bad need of a refit though. Certainly a paint job. I do not think the furniture in El Bacio has ever been changed (or cleaned) since the ship was hit by the champagne bottle, LOL. The exterior of the ship is in bad need of a paint job and more effort must be made to make it look more modern and less run-down. The showers in the Concierge Class (Level 2) are terrible and the doors are difficult to close. But again, the entertainment was really good (especially the Buble boys) but it is time to change the productions which have been around for far too long: Rock City and the one with the hat - Topper I think it is called. Embarkation and disembarkation was seamless. There is one more point I would like to make. On this cruise, the passengers were extremely polite, gracious and kind to each other. On a recent Celebrity cruise, they had to stop the performance in the Theatre because of a punch out between two passengers at the foot of the stage - thankfully both of those parties were booted the following morning when we arrived in port. This can really make or break a cruise. On my second last cruise, an idiot passenger felt he was entitled to take my seat beside my beautiful sister while I took a dip in the pool. I thought at first he had dementia, but it turned out otherwise. He was just evil and I reported him immediately. Remember everyone, they have cameras everywhere. I was informed by security that Celebrity met with him and said if there were any instances of this in the future, he would be permanently banned. I am glad Celebrity is now stepping up and taking action. The only criticism I have about the food was that the steaks had a lot of grizzle in them, at least mine did. This was not acceptable.

Another excellent cruise with Celebrity

We have done a few cruises with Celebrity previously but had cruised with them for over a decade. I'm glad we chose them this year. The Eclipse is a very well staffed ship and is well organized. Yes, the ship is showing its age a bit, evidenced by the used dining chairs in the main dining room, for instance. But this did not detract from the experience overall, attentive staff, great food and service. If you just want a pleasant experience and don't need an enormous ship with all the latest fancy gadgets, the Eclipse will meet your needs. We appreciated the service in the main dining room, that we used for breakfast and lunch on sea days as well (shout out and thumbs up to our waiter Vicente and his crew) We never had issues finding a spot to sit at the Ocean View café. The ship never felt overly crowded. Embarkation and disembarkation were seamless. Getting off and on at the ports of call was a breeze. Sea days went by fairly quickly, there was enough to keep you occupied although I admit that I just liked reading in the solarium more than anything else. My son seemed quite satisfied with the kids' area, he had enough to keep him busy. Overall, the Eclipse is efficiently managed with staff that is competent and friendly. We had a wonderful time.

An Unforgettable Relaxing Cruise Experience!

From start to finish, this cruise was nothing short of amazing! The staff was absolutely exceptional—professional, friendly, and incredibly efficient. Every interaction felt warm and welcoming, and they truly made me feel pampered and well taken care of. We totally enjoyed our dining experience in Blu. It was exceptionally nice to have a more small , intimate dining space and special attention from the staff. The food was outstanding, offering a wide variety of delicious options that never disappointed. Whether dining in Blu or grabbing a quicker bite in Ocean Cafe, every meal was a delight and we loved the variety. The ship itself was super clean and spotless. There are some signs of wear and tear and our shower started leaking but our room attendant noticed and had it fixed (replaced the shower head) the next day. The ship ran so quiet and smooth. I usually enjoy a bit of rocking (my room was on level 11 totally forward), but we barely felt any motion at all! We really enjoyed the ports Bonaire, Aruba and Grand Cayman. We dived and snorkeled and loved the beaches. The ship was easy to embark and debark even on the one “tender” port. (GC) This cruise seemed to have a much more older crowd this voyage. (We are in our 50s and met and saw a lot of people in their 70s and 80s) so the music earlier in the evening was a little before our time but as the night progressed the music/entertainment was more to our liking. Obviously they have to cater to many different tastes and there was a variety of different activities. Enjoyed seeing the Captain and crew around the ship and appreciate their friendliness and professionalism. They truly set the tone for a wonderful voyage, ensuring that everything ran seamlessly. Overall, this cruise was an incredible experience, leaving me relaxed, refreshed, and already dreaming about my next voyage. Highly recommend!