Star quality voyage on Celebrity Solstice

THERE will be plenty to keep guests occupied and enable them to live the VIP life when one of the world's biggest cruise ships docks in Australia in November. 

Celebrity solstice escape

WHEN one of the world's biggest cruise ships arrives in Australia for its debut season in November, it will bring something Aussies can identify with - its own backyard.

The luxurious Celebrity Solstice, a glamorous floating resort just four years old, has a sprawling rooftop paddock of real grass where guests can sunbake, play lawn games or just relax around the Sunset Bar.

For many international guests on the American-owned ship, the Lawn Club provides a casual yet sophisticated "country club" feel. But with the grass between my toes I have a nagging feeling something is missing from the backyard-at-sea. Then it comes to me  - there is no barbecue or Hills Hoist.

Not to worry  - on a ship ranked at one of the 20 biggest in the world at 122,000 tons and 317m long, there is plenty to keep you occupied without worrying about where to cook a snag or hang the washing.

Celebrity Solstice joins a record fleet of cruise ships making Australia home for the summer. And the ship with the distinctive "X' logo on its funnel is sure to make its mark.

The Berlitz Guide to Cruise Ships 2012 lists it as the highest-rated cruise ship to be based in the region, earning the highest scores for facilities and decor, accommodation, cuisine and entertainment.

In a cruise around the Mediterranean, it is easy to discover why. The rooms have touches that range from Egyptian cotton sheets to a nightlight in the spacious bathroom.

And, in a neat technology twist, when I turn on the TV there are scrolling photos of me taken by ship photographers as I boarded.

Facial recognition technology means computers know what faces belong to what cabins, and send out the pictures automatically for your entertainment or to buy.

About 85 per cent of cabins have balconies. The decor in cabins is "contemporary comfortable".

While decks have plush cabanas and double hammocks, as well as the usual sun lounges, the indoor areas have a variety of chairs so comfy it is a little too easy to settle in.

However, with so much to explore on board and endless activities on offer, itchy feet win.

For instance, there are 15 bars  - the rear Oceanview Bar was a favourite, for the shade, sea views and live music.

For elegance at night the Molecular Bar vies with the Martini Bar with its ice-topped bar; the Ensemble Bar and Michael's Club both have dark wood and a clubby feel to enjoy live music; Cellarmasters is for wine connoisseurs; the Sky Bar has wraparound windows; while multiple bars around the pool area are natural meeting points.

The midship pool area has two pools and a play fountain where live music and pool games entertain, next to a quieter adults-only indoor solarium pool.

While it is easy to over-eat on a cruise, this indoor pool oasis has a healthy dining cafe for breakfast and lunch, where I found salvation in salad.

Other dining options include three restaurants with a surcharge  - Silk Harvest for Asian tastes, the fine-dining Murano and the Italian food of the Tuscan Grille.

There is also Blu for guests who choose Aqua Club accommodation.

Dining included in the ticket price ranges from the main Grand Epernay dining room to a 24-hour buffet, a poolside grill and room service. The Grand Epernay has two evening sittings, as well as the option of dining when you please  -  which sounds fine in theory but can be a trap. 

One night I turned up without reservations and was shown straight to a table, but on another night at the same time faced a 45-minute wait as plenty of fellow travellers had the same idea.

Celebrity Solstice became a genuine home away from home while sailing from Barcelona, with calls to Villefrance (for nearby Nice and Monaco), Pisa/Florence, Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Split.

Rome is a long day  -  a 90-minute bus ride from the port, then a packed day taking in such sights as the Colosseum, the wonders of the Vatican, and so much more along with hordes of other tourists.

Ditto with Pisa/Florence, where the Renaissance comes to life and the tower does indeed lean, or heading from Naples to see Pompeii. Getting back to the ship after such long days to find the cabin impeccably made up by room steward Arturo, and the toughest decision being where to go for a pre-dinner cocktail, melted away the exhaustion.

The main drawback to this Med cruise was there were few sea days on a packed schedule to truly relax on the Celebrity Solstice.

After all, you need a little down time to relax in the spa for treatments such as a 24-carat gold leaf facial, see artisans at work in the glass-blowing studio, shop in the boutiques, have a boogie in the nightclub or take in a show in the plush theatre.

One point that helps is Celebrity Solstice's design  - most of the action is on Decks 3 to 5 or Decks 12 and above, and each is roughly divided into thirds, making it easy to find your way around.Drawbacks include the sheer size of the ship, which means a long walk back to your cabin if you forget something, and it may need tenders to transport passengers in some ports, which is always a hassle. And with up to 2850 passengers, lifts will occasionally be full and there is stiff competition for prime poolside deckchairs.

The drinking age is 21 but in European and Australian waters guests aged 18-21 can get a parental waiver. Celebrity offers several beverage deal options such as a bottomless soft drink package.

There were few fellow Aussies on this cruise, and I enjoyed meeting Americans, Spanish, Swiss, Canadians, Britons and others, with plenty of families among a generally younger demographic.

When Celebrity Solstice starts its Australian season, people-watching will still be a bonus, as most guests are expected to be from overseas, keen to see Australia and New Zealand from the comfort of a luxurious superliner.

The writer was a guest of Celebrity Cruises.

Go2

- CELEBRITY SOLSTICE

- Cruising there

Celebrity Solstice will have its maiden season in Australian waters from November 30 this year to April 8 next year.

Cruises will include a 13-night New Zealand round trip from Sydney; an 11-night Tropical Queensland Easter voyage departing Sydney; a 35-night round-Australia trip; a 16-night Singapore to Sydney repositioning trip; and an 18-night trans-Pacific cruise from Sydney to Honolulu.

Ph 1800 754 500 or see www.celebritycruises.com.au

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