The Solstice class of ships is said to be outstanding in service and design, and to say we were looking forward to it is an understatement. We were extremely excited, which is perhaps to say that our expectations may have been too high. There are some stunning areas on the Celebrity Solstice, and this review will cover what we found to be both pleasing and less than satisfactory.

Ship design: Some of the common areas of the ship are absolutely beautiful, such as the uppermost level with an actual lawn to walk on and a glass-blowing studio. It feels like a private club, and is a great place to sit and enjoy the breeze and sun both while at sea and in port. The overall design elements of the ship are very modern, and we felt this had been taken a little too far. We both very much like chic boutique hotels, and having heard that this ship class imitates such surroundings, we were sorry to find that the ship lacked warmth. It’s hard to put a finger on, but something that Royal Caribbean does well, for instance, is make passengers feel welcome no matter the size of ship, and that feeling is not present on the Solstice. It felt somewhat cold and removed to us, from the ultra-modern Star-Trek-esque dining room to the lounges and shops. Some of the carpet is already threadbare, particularly noticeable because it is in the area where we enter upon embarkation. Certainly there are interesting features, such as the fountains in the adults’ solarium and on the pool deck, but overall the ship felt stark and we never felt at home. Usually, on a nice cruise ship, I feel more at home than when I’m home!

Food: We did not try the fee-added restaurants, but ate in either the main café or the dining room for all meals. There were little extras throughout the ship, such as crêpes and ice cream, but all had a surcharge, which we found annoying, so did not partake on principal. It’s not that we are cheap, as we are very generous with our tips, etc., but that we felt that this was to be a luxury cruise, and didn’t appreciate being nickle-and-dimed. The food in both the main café and the formal dining room left a lot to be desired. It was almost the same every day, and often not cooked properly. Of 7 dining room fish dishes, only one was cooked well; others were either still half raw or like leather. We realize that it is an immense challenge to feed so many people, but other ships we’ve been on managed it with aplomb. We enjoy the food – both selection and taste – far more on the Royal Caribbean line. Celebrity is owned by the same people and is a step-up, we were told, so we were, quite simply, disappointed.

Staff: We always find staff to be friendly, but that is because we make the effort to get to know them. Here we found them far less friendly and helpful than we are accustomed to, and WE had to make extra effort just to be acknowledged. Small things were ignored, and big things as well. There was no care for the level of service offered, and at times we felt as if just by being passengers we were somehow putting the staff out; very bizarre. My husband’s surprise 40th birthday decorations I’d requested were not done despite my asking ahead; we were told we may be getting a room upgrade and lived out of our suitcases for 3 or 4 days while we got the runaround from various staff members. Room service meal, which we ordered only once, was both late and contained overcooked fish and limp, tasteless vegetables. Sigh.

A couple of other notes were that the champagne upon embarkation was a lovely touch, and the glass blowing show was REALLY cool. Our cabin (forward balcony) was quite nice, if small. The one broadway-style show we tried to watch was pretty lame, so we left. There were only 3 stops in a 7-night itinerary so we felt rather cooped up on the ship, especially as the inner sections are not as open as those on RC that we are used to and like. To each their own, I suppose, but we will not likely be sailing Celebrity again.

Some pictures of the Celebrity Solstice (click for larger views)

There is a good reason discerning travelers pay up for five star luxury, and it may be worth your while, even if you’re on a budget, to spend less nights in a higher class hotel or resort than more in a more affordable option. From the moment you step out of your car or taxi, a worthy five star hotel will make you feel welcomed and as if you’ve just arrived at your own private palace. You should be greeted warmly, and shown to the concierge or check-in desk. Your car will likely be valeted and you won’t have to worry about a thing from start to finish. Appropriately trained and discreet staff will be at your service, whether you need a newspaper or dinner reservations at an exquisite 5 star caliber restaurant.

While some brands are internationally known for the five star luxury hotels and resorts, you can also find many luxurious suites at local boutique hotels and villa complexes. For instance, hotel chains such as Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton and Mandarin Oriental can usually be depended on to provide a consistent luxury experience wherever you travel in the world. In specific cities, it’s good to have some know-how to find a five star luxury option. Absolutely stunning five star resorts abound, especially in tropical destinations but also in remote castles in Europe, etc.. There are websites which specialize in high-end luxury properties, including Leading Hotels of the World, Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Five Star Alliance, etc..

This place is a small gem, and offers visitors everything they could want in a tucked-away boutique hotel, especially those who are looking for some upscale shopping. With Bal Harbor shops steps from the front door and the Aventura Mall only a few minutes’ drive away, this hotel offers the perfect sanctuary.  The rooms – and staff – are cheery and inviting, and Martin the manager is exceptional. During our stay I witnessed him going out of his way to ensure guests were happy, and he works very hard to provide a seamless and enjoyable stay for all of his guests, whom he usually knows by name after first meeting them. With Martin’s background in upscale hotel management, it should come as no surprise that the hotel owners hired him; he is a huge asset to the property.  2011 Note: we’re told Martin is no longer with the hotel, so cannot give any account about the new manager in place, and the latest additions or deletions of services included. Check a site like Orbitz.com for the latest!

Along with the chic vibe of the Daddy-O Hotel Miami comes a surprising list of benefits, all at a very affordable price for the area. There’s complimentary internet and parking, complimentary continental breakfast (quite nice) and much more. If you enjoy a quiet and upscale  boutique experience, rather than a large hotel atmosphere, this hotel will not disappoint!

There is a wide range of possible activities nearby, from the beautiful beach and boating, to the beautiful shopping areas of Las Olas and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea (driving distance), Miami Beach, etc.. There is also a lovely upscale restaurant attached, and it’s even fun just to sit out front and watch the fancy cars go by.

We’ve got lots of ideas of things for kids to do that you’ll have them there in a snap, and with memories to cherish for a lifetime as well. The bonus is, whether you are driving or flying, keeping your kids entertained, calm and interested will allow for better quality time for all of you. The following tips should help smooth out your next family vacation so everyone has a ball, and frayed nerves are kept to a minimum!

Age and Temperament: The ancient Greeks said, ‘Know Thyself,’ we say know your kids! Be aware that children differ, and what is a challenge for one child (sitting in a car for hours) may be a breeze for another (young teen reading an engrossing novel).

Plan to bring activities that are suited to your kids, and if you can enlist their help in the planning, all the better – that way, if they get bored they have some responsibility for having chosen what to bring, and will be less likely to complain. For everyone’s sanity, you may wish to consider quiet, complex past times such as crosswords, drawing books and little projects (see who can list all 50 states!) and keep the beeping, noise-making toys to a minimum. If you do bring electronics, make sure you also pack replacement batteries. It may be helpful to take your kids to a craft or book store and allow them to choose something special which will keep them occupied during travels.

I spent two weeks with my 12 year old daughter and my parents on an RV – lots of driving – and it went beautifully because I spent some time thinking ahead about what might be best for her on the long driving stretches. I brought her books, markers and pens, word puzzles and games, as well as a couple of her favorite electronics. She was a fabulous the whole time, and didn’t complain at all…this from the girl who usually complains about being carsick and hungry only 10 minutes into a drive!

Flying: Many, if not most, airlines, will let you choose your seats ahead of time. Try letting your kids have window seats and enjoy the view with them – engage them in the trip they are taking. The exception is for toddlers; make sure you have an aisle seat for those frequent washroom trips, or just so you can both stretch a little during the flight without disturbing your seatmate/s.

If you are traveling with at least two adults and two kids, and your kids tend to argue, try splitting up and giving both kids window seats in different rows (ideally not one behind the other) and a parent each to keep them company. Also, bring earphones so your kids can listen to music, watch movies and even listen to calming guided meditations (works every time with my daughter). As above, bring along some favorite books and activities that your kid/s can do quietly while sitting.

Driving: First and foremost, stop every once in a while to get out and stretch your legs. Many parents like to push through and try to get somewhere quickly, but this takes its toll on kids and can lead to crankiness and boredom. Getting out and doing some jumping jacks and stretches, letting your kids run around and improve their mood and energy levels will make a big difference. Take a bathroom break and have a snack and a few deep breaths.

Also, try taking a private vow ahead of time to remain calm and collected no matter what happens. Especially if you encounter unexpected situations, try injecting a little humor and a sense of adventure instead of impatience; your kids are too young to be able to handle things with grace without your guidance. Be a good example!

Surely you’ve heard about last minute travel deals, those fantastic once-in-a-lifetime discounted trips some lucky people seem to take. Are they real? Can you get some of the action?

The answer is it depends. While not everyone is fortunate enough to have a flexible schedule which allows for taking advantage of last minute travel deals, for those who do this phenomenon can mean more trips, more often, due to greatly discounted pricing as compared to regular retail.

How it Works

Hotels, airlines, resorts and even rental car companies often discount their prices for unsold inventory, offering lower prices as the date of travel nears. Especially a few days before and up to the day of travel, you will find many desperate providers trying to lure you in with travel deals and discounts.

One exception of late seems to be cruise lines, but there are still deals to be had. I am told by Royal Caribbean that lately cruising has been so popular that the opposite has begun happening: prices tend to increase closer to sail time as travel agents fight for rooms aboard the popular ships. I can attest to this, as for the last year and a half we have found all the quality ships FULL every time we have wanted to book, and we are very flexible with our travel dates.

While you can obtain last minute travel discounts from most hotels and other providers by contacting them directly, you will also reap huge benefits by being willing to shop around, and by using consolidator websites (explained below). Shopping around generally means using the internet, although you can rely on a trusted travel agent if that suits your style.

There are many websites offering last minute deals, some of which you can find on our Deeper Discounts page. Be sure to check at least two websites to compare prices. Orbitz.com, for instance, is often cheaper for last minute hotel and car rental rates, but Expedia has better travel reviews as well as pictures to help you determine which hotel you’d like to stay at, and also offers great last minute vacation packages.

Consolidators are companies which handle unsold rooms and cruises for providers. They offer websites like Priceline.com, where you can name your price and even bid for the product you’d like. There are definitely specific strategies you will want to employ to make the most of these sites, and you’ll need to be sure you understand how they work. See the Deeper Discounts page for further explanation.

By playing it smart and being flexible, you can have the vacation of your dreams AND the price of your dreams!

Bahamas Cruising

All the ships that do the Bahamas run from southern Florida are the older, smaller vessels in their respective companies’ fleets, and the Carnival Fascination is no exception. Along with the Imagination, the Fascination has, for several years, done both Bahamas cruises and smaller Caribbean cruises, usually featuring Key West, Florida and Cozumel, Mexico. Of late, Carnival has added other ships to this area, including the Destiny, Sensation and Pride. These were not options when we went for our 3 night Bahamas cruise, and the price seemed ‘right,’ so off we went! How bad can it be, right?…

At first glance (embarkation), this ship doesn’t seem all bad. Although small, it seemed like a fun little ship for a weekend cruise, and we happily settled into the main buffet restaurant for our first lunch, as we waited for our room to be ready. Any cruiser will be familiar with this scene. Our disappointment began when we started noticing little things, such as how poorly the staff treated the guests, not even offering a welcome and wiping tables haphazardly so that food and God knows what was left smeared over them, almost without exception. The table we sat at still had bits of egg left over from someone’s morning breakfast, and a ship is usually at its cleanest when welcoming new guests. Yikes! Then, and throughout the cruise, we noticed flies all over the café, landing on food, and while we would expect this in an outdoor market, we have never before nor since seen this on a cruise. Since the flies were everywhere, we thought we might as well go outside and enjoy the fresh air.

Below is a picture of me at that first meal, excited about our cruise.

As far as food quality and selection goes, it varied greatly and was never spectacular. We didn’t expect 5 star dining from this line, especially given the price we paid, but many times there was nothing but hamburgers and hotdogs to eat, and we are vegetarians. The menus seemed to be geared towards overweight, really hungry people who like salt and fat, and indeed there were always line-ups for the fattening, nutritionally-void offerings. Most of the people on board, sad to say, actually were overweight.

The ship itself is dated, with lots of gray and pink, brass and mirrors; something you would see in the 80′s lounge era. This was especially evident in the dining room, which was gaudy beyond belief. In fairness, we heard people remarking about how fabulous it all was, so your opinion may depend upon your tastes, as well as what you are accustomed to. For us, we felt the lack of class and taste throughout the ship and were very disappointed and out of our element. The pool deck was very spare, with bare light bulbs hanging as the only real decor items, and almost always full of rowdy people. The exception was an evening we went out to find a place to sit and found a disheveled mass of tables cluttered with beer cans, drink glasses, ashtrays and plates of half-eaten food, all from many hours earlier. What’s going on here, Carnival? We actually spent the last day in our cabin we disliked the rest of the ship so much.

Our room, an outside, oceanview room, was quite spacious, and luckily the bed was comfortable. Right outside in the hall, the smell of cabin bathrooms pervades at all times, and we kept a towel at our door bottom most times. Without a balcony we had no escape from it. The television had only a few channels and we would up watching the same bad movie (Fool’s Gold) quite a few times.

Here is a picture of me dreading going back on the Fascination after our day in Nassau. A picture tells a thousand words! We were saying ‘Nooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’ all the way along the pier.

Nassau, Bahamas

Nassau was the only stop on this cruise, followed by an ‘at sea’ day on the Sunday. Nassau is perhaps the most famous of Bahamian cities, and certainly offers much to do for cruise passengers. You can visit any number of hotels – eg. the Colonial Hilton – and pay a small fee to enjoy their beach and facilities for the day. Below is a shot of the cruise pier from the Hilton’s beach.

Paradise Island, accessible by taxi, water taxi or very long walk, offers shopping, restaruants and the fantastic Atlantis hotel. Unfortunately, the hotel grounds are not open to the public, save for a few tours you can take which allow you limited access. One used to be able to book a room for the day at the adjacent Comfort Inn and receive complimentary Atlantis access, however this has stopped and bookings are a minimum two nights’ stay. If you are willing to book for this time period, you will enjoy unlimited access to all of Atlantis’ incredible properties during your visit. Note that all food and drink expenses will be extra, and at a premium. Atlantis is full of fun things to do, however and you will definitely fill a day with fun. The picture below is a view of Atlantis from the deck of the Fascination.

Almost everyone speaks English in Nassau, and virtually all the local stores accept US dollars. There are plenty of shops, bars and restaurants within walking distance of the ship, and many cruisers look for deals on jewelry while cruising. For more tips on shopping in cruise ports, see Jewelry and Souvenir Shopping While Cruising. We enjoyed a Kalik, the delicious island beer, at a local bar (pictured below).

The lovely lady at check-in back in Miami (see Port of Miami) said to us ‘You won’t need your passport in the Bahamas, so just leave it in your safe. All you’ll need is your card (the card the ship gives you which identifies you as a current sailing passenger).’ We did just that, and upon returning to the port were told we could not get back to our ship without passports. Funny enough, we would rather have stayed in Nassau!

Note: As always, click on the pictures for full-sized view. If you have any questions or would like to see more pictures, please feel free to email me at admin@travel-like-a-pro.com.

The Navigator of the Seas (Royal Caribbean Voyager Class), anchored off Belize

Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas is part of the Voyager class of ships, like the Adventure of the Seas we went on two years ago. The ships in this class are all nearly identical, and offer a quality experience. We also found the ship to be quite similar in style to the larger RCI Freedom class we sailed last year, although with Freedom’s larger size and more recnet launch and design, the Freedom offered extras such as the Flowrider surfing simulator and the huge H2O Zone for kids.

Downtown Miami from the Port, on the deck of the Navigator (we sailed late due to a Norwegian ship issue, as we took on some of their passengers)

We began our cruise in the Port of Miami, a convenient and familiar port for us. The flight from Toronto is under 3 hours and it’s always easy to find a hotel for the pre-cruise night. We had a lovely dinner at the Bayside area of Biscayne, a lively waterfront market – highly recommended! During the day most days, you can see ships in the cruise ship port from here, and it gets you excited for the next morning when you know you’ll be boarding yours.

The beautiful Jewel of the Seas sailing out of Miami

Embarkation

As always, we arrived fairly early (before noon) and found no line up at all. We were able to get right on the ship and look around before most of the other passengers had arrived, a pleasure of ours as we like the feeling of having the ship to ourselves and being able to take pictures without the crowds.

Having been on the Freedom of the Seas last year, I was a little worried about finding the boat small or old, but it was neither – she was gorgeous in every way! This Spring I sailed the Rhapsody of the Seas and although she was also beautiful, I found the ship way too small for me, and was concerned that the Freedom had spoiled me for any other subsequent cruise. Thankfully, the Navigator proved that wrong and the entire journey was a pleasure.

The staff in the crusie ship terminal are friendly and helpful, and after tipping the porter to take our luggage, we were on the ship within a few minutes. The Navigator was decked out in Holiday splendor, as our sailing took us into early December.

The Navigator Promenade, all decked out for the Holidays

Note: the baggage handlers are very busy and handle large amounts of luggage: if you have delicate or fragile items you may wish to carry them on board with you in a carry on. My sunglasses case with extra shades in it was nestled in a side pocket of my suitcase and was somewhat crushed when I received it in my stateroom…luckily the case did its job and the expensive sunglasses were fine. Lesson learned.

The Ship

Like all Voyager class ships from Royal Caribbean, The Navigator holds just over 3100 passengers at full capacity, and is capable of sailing almost anywhere in the world. This particular ship had just come from doing the summer in Europe, and can easily be envisioned fitting in there. She is elegant and tasteful inside and out, without the neon and flashiness of some of her rivals, such as Carnival. Every cruise line has its dedicated fans, and Royal Caribbean tends to attract Europeans, middle class Americans, Canadians and Spanish from places like Mexico and other Central American countries. The ship’s passenger demographic will depend, of course, on the port of embarkation, but Royal Caribbean does not tend to attract party animals as much as, say, Carnival.

Pool deck with hot tubs on the Navigator of the Seas

Solarium – adults only section

Navigator docked at Cozumel, alongside the lovely Celebrity Equinox

The Navigator and its sister ships are all about the experience on board, and offer a host of things to do while at sea, which may partially explain that there were only two stops on a 5 night itinerary. These ships have a spectacular indoor promenade with shops and cafes, as well as many other areas geared toward entertaining guests. There is a wide variety of things to do on board, including:

• live comedy and Broadway-style shows (including  an on-ice show!*)
• A full casino and nightclub
• art shows, various lounges with and without live entertainment
• parades and special sales events
• excellent and high quality gym overlooking the bow of the ship, including a wide variety of machines, space for classes, a huge adult spa (hot tub) area and very relaxing changerooms with steamroom, sauna and showers.
• a beautiful spa and wellness center
• formal three level dining room, the Windjammer cafe featuring breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet style, wine bar, champagne bar, several casual cafés and also higher-end restaurants for more intimate dining (charge applies)
• *skating rink and rock climbing wall
• Adventure Ocean kids’ section with activities for kids of all ages – Royal Caribbean is known for it’s kids’ clubs and is very good at keeping kids busy and entertained

The ship decor is, for the most part, very elegant with a nautical theme. Some of the artwork adorning the hallways was a bit too…unique…for us, but overall the ship is lovely, especially in the common areas. Everything is kept immaculately clean, and the staff was always friendly and helpful in our experience. 

The elgant Swan Lake dining room on the Navigator

Lounge and Casino Royale entrance

The Navigator atrium, with glass elevators

Entrance to The Dungeon nightclub

The Royal Promenade

Casino Royale

Navigator of the Seas and tender, off Belize City