Several days ago, along with 6,000 others, I left Royal Caribbean鈥檚 Oasis of the Seas in Port Everglades at Fort Lauderdale. Many of my fellow passengers were heading to the airport for flights home, some stayed on in Florida, and others who lived nearby hauled their luggage to the parking lot. I probably had the shortest distance to travel 鈥� about 200 yards.
I was leaving behind a mega ship to board one not half as big, the 2,850-passenger Celebrity Eclipse. The routing was one of the reasons I was on board this Solstice-class ship. It was sailing the southern Caribbean for two weeks, visiting ports such as Aruba, Cura莽ao, Grenada, St. Lucia, Barbados and Antigua.
My 鈥渘ew鈥� ship, the Eclipse, was the third offspring of the popular Solstice Class that was launched in 2008, spawning a whole new kind of ship. Writers with more sea salt in their veins than I have were effusive in their praise of Solstice: 鈥渃lassy,鈥� 鈥渁bsolute knockout,鈥� 鈥渟tylistically into the future.鈥�
Following Solstice, the flagship, came four others in rapid succession. Equinox was next in 2009, followed by Eclipse (2010), Silhouette (2011) and Reflection (2012).
My first comments regarding the Solstice class (and ship) were all about space. I love a ship with lots of room 鈥� space in public rooms, space in staterooms, and higher ceilings that give the illusion of more space. Whether in the public room or the restaurants, you rarely feel crowded, (but I鈥檒l admit that on a sea day it feels crowded on the outer decks).
Let me take you on a partial tour of the Eclipse to show you what I mean.
A good example of 鈥渟pace鈥� is the Oceanview caf茅, the ship鈥檚 buffet that winds from inside to a spacious outdoor wraparound deck. It鈥檚 like having breakfast on your patio at home.
Several interior designers were each given a section of the Solstice ship, and their designs had to flow from one area to the other. While I鈥檓 sure there were heated debates, for the most part they pulled off fusing their spaces into a continuous flow.
Take the restaurants. All were placed toward the stern with Deck Five hosting the for-fee restaurants 鈥� Murano, Blu, Qsine and Tuscan Grille 鈥� that are held together by the lengthy and spacious Ensemble Lounge.
In mid-ship on the same deck are Cafe al Bacio for specialty coffees and treats, Bistro on Five and the hip Molecular Bar.
Entertainment takes the bow, so to speak, as it should, with the Eclipse Theater occupying the front part of the ship on Deck Five.
From there, you can take elevators to the top of the ship, Deck 14, and enjoy the view from the massive floor-to-ceiling-windowed Sky Lounge. Also up top is the Lawn Club with real grass, where you can play bocce, sink some putts or sunbathe.
It鈥檚 an easy ship to navigate and, dare I say it again 鈥� it鈥檚 spacious.
That鈥檚 one reason it鈥檚 a premium ship and, understandably, expectations are high.
Some service was sketchy for a few days, but that has picked up. Food in some venues in the no-fee area could stand some improvement.
Next week鈥檚 column will be all about the ports I visited, or you can join me for a lengthier view at portsandbows.com.
Until then, I wish you all the best for 2014. Smooth sailing and a Happy New Year!
