Celebrity Solstice

Fantastic Cruise, the Staff made our Trip - Thanks

We have just returned from a 12 night sailing on the celebrity Solstice Hong Kong to Singapore. Having had a great time on this ship on a reverse sailing in 2024 Singapore to Hong Kong we were fortunate enough to get back on board and having had a wonderful trip I thought it was only right to leave a review. Wow ….. it did not disappoint us. The Solstice is the first ship of this class and being a bit older it missed a refit during covid but we thought it was in great condition, yes there are a few bits of rust in places, some chairs need replacing and a few windows are blown making them foggy but overall she is in good shape. Its due a refit in 2026 ..... please Celebrity, replace the wasted lawn area either side of the Sunset Bar with decking & seating like you have on the Celebrity Silhouette, Its such a wonderful area to relax away from the main pools area. The best thing about this ship is the staff, having met many before we were shocked as to how they could remember our names, cabin number and the drinks we liked. It was unbelievable, they are the friendliest hard-working people we have met. We booked and Aqua Class cabin on deck 11 which was lovely but did have some noise directly below from the nightly disco in the Sky Lounge. The highlight was the Blu restaurant where we dined most nights & several mornings. The food and service were excellent, but we would like to see a few changes to the menu and maybe add a curry or stir fry and please bring back the daily cheesecake. Thanks so much to Iwan, Floid, Anthony, Amit, Mavis our wine waiter and all the other staff whose names we can’t remember. Having dined in Blu on may ships our only complaint was we found it to be busier than usual even though they always found us a seat if we had to return a little later. I believe that many of the suite guests now dine in Blu and prefer the menu. If it continues to be like this then booking an Aqua cabin may not be a great option for us. We only book Aqua for the benefit of a smaller quieter restaurant as we do not use the other perks like spa facilities and the cabins are pretty much the same as a regular balcony cabin. We did not eat at any of the speciality restaurants as we felt like we had paid extra for the Blu restaurant. Having visited the main dining room for lunchtimes on a sea day we were quite impressed with the food and service which we found to be better than previous trips. Overall the food was excellent and everyone we spoke to seemed to agree. The Ocean view café offered a vast range of food. Shows and entertainment was brilliant. The entertainment team put on some fantastic events, with dancing and singalongs in the foyer, a white party on deck and much more. There was so much to do & join in we were disappointed we had to go to bed as we didn’t want to miss anything. Bars and drinks were wonderful, never had to wait long to get a drink. Thank you so much to Shetty on the passport bar who was is genius with great flare! Also to Rewon, Oscar & Luis, on the Sunset Bar. Ports were all good, but having visited last year we were aware many of the ports are ‘gateway’ ports so expect long journeys or stay on ship and enjoy the quieter facilities. We planned to stay in hotels on the two overnights to give us more time which worked well but we couldn’t wait to return to the ship. If you want a cruise where you step off the ship and take a 5 minute taxi to your excursion or a beach then this may not be a cruise for you, also bear in mind many of the ports are working container ports so there is very little nearby. You really do have to plan in advance for this cruise. Also note that if you are visiting Ha Long Bay in February you may not see it like in the ‘brochures’ as there was a lot of low cloud & mist so for the second year running our seaplane flight was cancelled which was a bit disappointing. Overall, it was an excellent cruise and looks like we will return in a couple of years even if its just to see all the lovely staff. Thanks Celebrity Solstice.

Asia Cruise - Staff made wonderful

We have just returned from a 12 night sailing on the celebrity Solstice Hong Kong to Singapore. Having had a great time on this ship on a reverse sailing in 2024 Singapore to Hong Kong we were fortunate enough to get back on board and having had a wonderful trip I thought it was only right to leave a review. Wow ….. it did not disappoint us. The Solstice is the first ship of this class and being a bit older it missed a refit during covid but will now undergo a refit in January 2026. We thought it was in great condition, yes there are a few bits of rust in places and a few windows are blown making them foggy but overall, its beautiful. When it gets its refit in 2026 I would love to see the decking & seated area found on the Celebrity Silhouette either side of the Sunset bar, its a wonderful area to relax away from the main pools area. (please do this Celebrity). The best thing about this ship is the staff, having met many before we were shocked as to how they could remember our names, cabin number and the drinks we liked. It was unbelievable, they are the friendliest hard-working people we have met. We booked and Aqua Class cabin on deck 11 which was lovely but did have some noise directly below from the nightly disco in the Sky Lounge. The highlight was the Blu restaurant where we dined most nights & several mornings. The food and service were excellent, but we would like to see a few changes to the menu and maybe add a curry or stir fry and please bring back the daily cheesecake. Thanks so much to Iwan, Floid, Anthony, Amit, Mavis our wine waiter and all the other staff whose names we can’t remember. Having dined in Blu on may ships our only complaint was we found it to be busier than usual even though they always found us a seat if we had to return a little later. I believe that many of the suite guests now dine in Blu and prefer the menu. If it continues to be like this then booking an Aqua cabin may not be a great option for us. We only book Aqua for the benefit of a smaller quieter restaurant as we do not use the other perks like spa facilities and the cabins are pretty much the same as a regular balcony cabin. We did not eat at any of the speciality restaurants as we felt like we had paid extra for the Blu restaurant. Having visited the main dining room for lunchtimes on a sea day we were quite impressed with the food and service which we found to be better than previous trips. Overall the food was excellent and everyone we spoke to seemed to agree. The Ocean view café offered a vast range of food. Shows and entertainment was brilliant. The entertainment team put on some fantastic events, with dancing and singalongs in the foyer, a white party on deck and much more. There was so much to do & join in we were disappointed we had to go to bed as we didn’t want to miss anything. Bars and drinks were wonderful, never had to wait long to get a drink. Thank you so much to Shetty on the passport bar who was is genius with great flare! Also to Rewon, Oscar & Luis, on the Sunset Bar. Ports were all good, but having visited last year we were aware many of the ports are ‘gateway’ ports so expect long journeys or stay on ship and enjoy the quieter facilities. We planned to stay in hotels on the two overnights to give us more time which worked well but we couldn’t wait to return to the ship. If you want a cruise where you step off the ship and take a 5 minute taxi to your excursion or a beach then this may not be a cruise for you, also bear in mind many of the ports are working container ports so there is very little nearby. You really do have to plan in advance for this cruise. Also note that if you are visiting Ha Long Bay in February you may not see it like in the ‘brochures’ as there was a lot of low cloud & mist so for the second year running our seaplane flight was cancelled which was a bit disappointing. Overall, it was an excellent cruise and looks like we will return in a couple of years even if its just to see all the lovely staff. Thanks Celebrity Solstice.

So Impressed

This was our first cruise and we were BLOWN AWAY. Super Impressed. Hong Kong to Singapore in The Retreat (Royal Suite) Embarkation & Booking From the moment we stepped on board in Hong Kong, everything was seamless. The Retreat priority perks made embarkation incredibly smooth, and we were quickly settled into what would be an absolutely fantastic experience. The Royal Suite upgrade was worth every penny, and we wouldn’t hesitate to book it again at the right price. Suite & Amenities The Royal Suite exceeded expectations. The separate living and bedroom areas made the space feel like a real retreat, and having an extra half bath was a surprisingly great perk. But the real standout? The massive balcony. At three times the size of a standard one, it was an incredible space to relax, unwind, and take in the scenery. The private hot tub on the balcony was pure luxury. Some of our favorite moments were simply soaking in the hot tub with a bottle of champagne and a plate of macarons from room service. On sea days, we loved ordering room service, opening a bottle of champagne, and enjoying a slow, relaxed morning on the balcony. Those quiet, private moments while cruising were unbeatable. Dining: Absolutely Fantastic Every meal we had on board was excellent. • Luminae (The Retreat’s restaurant) was phenomenal. We ate there multiple times, and every single dish was perfectly prepared. The service was top-tier, and the exclusivity made it feel even more special. • Specialty dining was a highlight. Thanks to the Royal Suite perks, we had unlimited specialty dining and took full advantage of it. • Murano (4x) – Our favorite. The food was outstanding, and the service was impeccable. • Sushi on 5 (5x) – Delicious, though always empty, which made the atmosphere a bit awkward. • Tuscan (3x) – Great meals, very enjoyable. • Le Petit Chef (2x) – A fun experience, but more of a novelty than fine dining. Drinks & Bars: Perfect The drink experience was incredible. We tried every cocktail on the Martini Bar menu—and loved every single one. The bartenders were skilled, friendly, and engaging, making each visit to the bar a great experience. Whether we were sipping champagne at a lounge, having cocktails by the pool, or enjoying a drink at sunset, everything was excellent. Speaking of sunsets, the Sunset Bar was one of our favorite spots on the ship. It was always quiet, the views were breathtaking, and it became our go-to place to relax in the evenings. Entertainment & Onboard Experience We absolutely loved just being on the ship. The service was impeccable, and we never had a single negative interaction with staff—every bartender, waiter, and Retreat host was fantastic. Entertainment was more on the relaxed side, which suited us fine. We enjoyed live music, great drinks, and spending time in The Retreat’s private areas. The Wi-Fi, while included for 4 devices per person in the cabin and it always worked very well. No issues. We also checked out the Persian Garden (spa area) since it was included with the Royal Suite, but there wasn’t much there, so we didn’t stay long. Ports & Excursions • Halong Bay: Private kayaking & lunch excursion—worth it. • Ho Chi Minh City: Skipped Cu Chi Tunnels, explored independently. • Bangkok (Laem Chabang): Kept it low-key in Pattaya. • Koh Samui: Planned but canceled Seen Beach Club—tight timing. • Singapore: Ended with a stay at Mandarin Oriental, Singapore. Some cruise excursions were overpriced, but private arrangements were better value. Service & Final Thoughts The service on board was flawless. Every single interaction with staff was positive. Whether it was bartenders, waiters, our butler, or The Retreat team, everyone went out of their way to make our experience perfect. The only small frustration was with the complimentary mini-bar. It was never stocked as requested and wasn’t replenished, which was disappointing. The coffee pods also weren’t refilled, meaning we had to go to the café instead of enjoying coffee on our balcony. But overall? This cruise was absolutely incredible. Would we cruise with Celebrity again? Absolutely. Would we book The Retreat again? Without question. Would we book a Royal Suite again? In a heartbeat. Would we do this exact itinerary again? Yes—because it was that amazing. This was easily one of the best vacations we’ve had. Everything—from the suite, service, food, drinks, and ship atmosphere—was perfect. If you’re considering The Retreat and a Royal Suite, I can confidently say: it’s worth it.

Brilliant experience.

This was our first cruise and has us amped up for another one. We picked this one as the price was right and Hong Kong was on my bucket list and Singapore was on Judith's. After booking i joined Cruise Critic and some of the reviews were quite damming of the Solstice which made us a bit worried if we had booked the right cruise line. Nothing to worry about, the ship was in great shape, the right size and the right mix of people in every way. Is there a little rust, yip, it's a ship that spends it's life on the ocean, does the buffet get crowded, yip, just modify your dining times after all your on holiday. The shore excursions while expensive are well worth it and Halong Bay was exceptional, do the kayaks and get up close to some monkeys. The bike ride in Hoi-An got us up close to some water buffalo's. The staff are a credit to the company and special mention must be made of our cabin attendant Maynard and our two main dining room stewards Clecy and Ajay, fantastic. We'll be booking another Celebrity cruise soon.