Setting sail from Vancouver
I started my Alaska round-trip cruise with Celebrity Solstice in Vancouver. After boarding I was amazed by my Veranda Stateroom with views back over to Downtown Vancouver, Stanley Park and then sailing under the Lions Gate Bridge on the way through the Inside Passage. The ship itself has a 5-star opulence, and every area from the Grand Foyer to the Boulevard Lounge and Sunset Park Café has everything you would want to deliver the most amazing cruise to Alaska.
Whale Watching and Wildlife at Icy Strait Point
My first port of call was Icy Strait Point, known for its historic salmon cannery and abundance of wildlife including whales and brown bears. Guests can opt to do different wildlife excursions, experience the thrill of ZipRider (one of the world’s largest and highest zip lines) or explore the local area on foot. This is what I did and managed to spot a humpback whale just off the shore, which was just awesome.
Face to Face with Hubbard Glacier
The next morning, I sailed right next to Hubbard Glacier – wow, the sheer size of the largest tidewater glacier in North America is overwhelming at over 100 meters high. Hubbard Glacier is also one of the few major glaciers that is actively advancing rather than retreating, and I managed to see lots of the ice calving from a massive height into the sea which made the loudest booming sound!
Gold Rush History in Juneau
Next up, I was docked at Juneau, Alaska's remote capital city. It’s famous for the stunning Mendenhall Glacier and incredible whale-watching opportunities, which you can experience by booking shore excursions onboard. Juneau can only be reached by air or sea and exploring the historic downtown area is a great way to get a feel for how prospectors founded this gold rush city all those years ago.
Salmon Season in Ketchikan
My next port of call was Ketchikan, famous for being the Salmon Capital of the World. I visited in September at the peak salmon run season, so the Ketchikan Creek was awash with fish all trying to make their way up stream to their spawning grounds. The spectacle was fantastic and it’s also possible to book excursions to further afield areas to see black bears feeding on the many salmon in the area.
Dining Onboard Celebrity Solstice
Celebrity Solstice has something for everyone. If you want a more casual marketplace-style buffet, the Oceanview Cafe offers international stations for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The main dining room, Grand Epernay Restaurant, serves classic and modern regionally inspired choices for dinner. I loved the Grand Epernay Restaurant – the food was delicious and the service second to none. The ship has many other speciality restaurants including a steakhouse, Italian, Classic French and even a Sushi option, so you will never be hungry onboard!
Onboard Entertainment and Days at Sea
There is a huge choice of activities onboard from wildlife lectures in The Theatre, taking in the views in the Observation Lounge, listening to the various musical artists throughout the day and evening in the Grand Foyer or Ensemble Lounge, and the amazing shows in The Theatre every evening. There is just so much going onboard the ship every day. Plus, there’s even bingo in the afternoons, a pub quiz early evenings and a full-size casino to keep you entertained. One of my favourite areas in the daytime was The Solarium which features a heated pool, two hot tubs to relax and take in the scenery and spot possible wildlife. In the evenings The Parlor, which is an upscale sports lounge, offers a pool table, shuffleboard, foosball, darts, and a selection of classic board games. You will never be bored whilst sailing on the Celebrity Solstice to Alaska!
