Celebrity Solstice Inaugral Top End Cruise..2013

[Keith Goldie]

 We (my beautiful wife and I) joined the " Celebrity Solstice" in Fremantle for it,s inaugral 21 Day' Top End Tour' ..In Febuary 2013..
We had booked this cruise a year in advance and were looking forward to it..Why so early ? well
after a bit of research and our fondness for Aft Cabins the decision was made to book a Sky Suite ..on deck 8..'8336' ..Stb aft corner suite..it didn,t disappoint...
   After a morning arrival from an overnight stay at 'The Espalanade Hotel' which was a disappointment...( very expensive for a pretty standard meal and room..though we stayed for its close proximity to the cruise terminal in Freo..which worked well!!)..the boarding was quick and un-eventful ..it was about 11.30 am and our accomadation was not ready until 1pm,so we found a seat in the cafeteria overlooking the Town of Fremantle,sipping pre-cruise cocktales and feeling fine..
   The Sky Suite was also a winner..Valet service..afternoon hor,s deuvrs and 2 specialty restaurant bookings as part of the deal..Also a huge panoramic round window as well as a verandah topped it off..at sea it was quiet and tranquil..and the magical stewards were a true bonus..bed turn down every night ..chocolates etc....
  FOOD : Every thing you want.. from cafe type food at all hours..to cordon blue meals at one of the
4 specialty Restaurants..good value..especially the French as it had the best lobster..cooked by your table with a professional waiter doing the honours..delicious..went back twice for that little number..
 Or if you prefer Asian..not bad either..Deck buffets were pretty common on this 21 day sojourn ..the weather being warm and inviting..
  ITINERARY : Our first Port of call was Port Hedland..Why would you go there ? a lot of the passengers were asking this ..even before we arrived..Answer .. Over a 500 thousand tonnes a
aweek is transported out of there ..by bulk ships capable of carrying 100 thosand tonnes each every day ..there were 27 at anchor when we were there..its a no pretty picture port.. but extremely interesting when viewed as a resource trading center..loved it !
  Then to Bali..Denpasar..what an ugly place..we were there for 2 days..too long and not really one of my favorite Asian ports as the begging and disdain felt toward the tourists is palbable..
  Darwin next and not much happening there..a bit differant to when I was there as a merchant seaman..much cleaner and organised...nice...
  Cairns next ..our home..beautiful..and a chance to get some stuff off the ship before Sydney...
  Brisbane..tooo far away at the mouth of the river..not really suited to large passenger ships..a bit of a turn-off for going ashore...
Finishing off in Sydney and a beautiful berth at Circular Quay Passenger Terminal early in the morning..
  THE SHIP : Over 100,000 tonnes of surprising stability and opulance..Great nightly floor shows and plenty to do every minute..library (well stocked) lots of bars..deck space and even a grass putting surface..Spa and treatment salons as well..A good casino..and wonderful glass  lifts in the center of the ship..with a real tree growing in the middle...A wine club..computer center..etc..
everything you need for a great holiday at sea....
Overall a fantastic ship..crew..and trip..highly recommended...

     Story and ....Keith Goldie