Our First-Hand Experience – Celebrity Solstice Alaska

Exploring Alaska with Celebrity Solstice 

It's no secret that Alaska cruises come with a different relationship between ship and destination. On many holidays at sea, the hours between ports are downtime. For Alaska… they are often part of the main event.

On Celebrity Solstice, the Alaskan scenery is never far from view, with mountains, forests and glaciers forming a constant backdrop to the journey. These breathtaking sights become part of the experience as the ship moves through Alaska’s waters.

Our Cruise Expert, Nicky, had the wonderful chance to experience this first-hand. Check out how he got in this comprehensive blog!

Life onboard Celebrity Solstice

Like many of the Celebrity Cruises fleet, Celebrity Solstice has a polished, modern feel, with a strong focus on public spaces that are both inviting and comfortable, as well as tasty dining venues and evenings spent at a more relaxed pace… rather than constant high-energy activity.

Following its highly anticipated renewal in 2026, the ship features a whole host of newer spaces. In Alaska, these areas take on a slightly different role. Open decks become viewing platforms, while indoor lounges offer a warm place to sit with a drink and watch the coastline pass by.

Some of the main onboard highlights include:

• Open deck areas – spaces such as Sunset Park and the expanded Sunset Bar offer open-air views of Alaska’s scenery, particularly during scenic cruising and glacier approaches.
• Indoor lounges and bars – enjoy refreshments in a host of venues, from cocktails at the ice-topped Martini Bar & Crush to a glass of wine at Cellar Masters or some darts at The Parlor.
• Live music – enjoy live musicians in Ensemble Lounge or duelling pianos at Boulevard Lounge, adding atmosphere and the chance to socialise before or after dinner.
• Theatre performances – a traditional cruise-night experience in The Theatre, with productions including Smoke and Ivories, featuring 1950s-inspired music, vocals and acrobatics, and Rockumentary, celebrating iconic rock performances across the decades.
• Spa and wellness facilities – ideal for slower sea days or unwinding after long excursions. The Spa offers massages and other treatments, while the Persian Garden features aromatic steam and tropical rain showers. Persian Garden access is included for AquaClass guests; other guests can purchase a pass.
• Swimming and relaxation areas – the covered Solarium pool and its loungers offer somewhere to unwind between ports, and the outdoor Pool Deck provides another option for a swim or a soak in a whirlpool.
• Quiet public spaces – particularly valuable on an Alaska itinerary, where sitting with a view can be an experience in itself. Try the Sky Observation Lounge between scheduled activities for sea views without the need to head outside.

The atmosphere is sophisticated, but not overly formal. It works well for those who want a vibrant ship experience, without feeling that every hour needs to be filled with organised activities or strict dress codes.

After a full day ashore, this slower pace can be a real advantage. Alaska cruises often involve early starts, long excursions and plenty of time outdoors, so evenings do not always need to be action-packed.

A relaxed catch-up with friends, chatting about the day’s adventures over a drink with some light entertainment in the background, can be the perfect way to round off a day of exploring.

Celebrity Solstice Dining

Food is an important part of the Celebrity Solstice experience, with a mix of casual and more occasion-led dining. There is also a simple pleasure in eating while the Alaskan landscape moves past the windows.

Options include:

• Oceanview Cafe – the ship’s relaxed buffet-style venue, perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner on busier days.
• Murano – a more formal speciality restaurant with French-inspired dishes and a more polished style of service.
• Sushi on Five – a lighter alternative with Japanese dishes that work well for a more informal evening meal.
• Trattoria Rossa – Italian cuisine in a relaxed speciality dining setting.
• Fine Cut Steakhouse – an indulgent choice for those looking for steak, seafood and a longer experience.
• Blu – an intimate restaurant reserved for AquaClass guests, with emphasis on lighter, wellness-focused dishes.
• Luminae – the exclusive restaurant for guests staying in The Retreat, offering a more premium dining experience.

After a long excursion, a quick and easy meal can be more appealing than a formal dinner. On quieter sea days, speciality dining can be a bigger pull. That flexibility suits an Alaska itinerary well, allowing the dining experience to shift with the pace of each day… it all depends on what you want.

The Alaska scenery is part of the itinerary

As mentioned earlier, one of the biggest differences between Alaska and a more conventional cruise itinerary is that the journey between ports can be just as important as the ports themselves.

Celebrity Alaska itineraries can include scenic cruising through locations such as:

• The Inside Passage – long stretches of forested coastline, narrow waterways and mountain views.
• Dawes Glacier – a dramatic glacier-viewing experience reached through striking glacial scenery.
• Hubbard Glacier – an enormous tidewater glacier, a major highlight on selected itineraries.

The exact route depends on the sailing.

Glacier-viewing days are often among the most memorable parts of the trip. Guests on board naturally gravitate towards open decks and windows as the ship approaches ice-covered landscapes, mountains and narrow waterways.

There is a real sense of anticipation on board, making these moments a highlight of the journey.

The wildlife of Alaska

Alaska offers excellent opportunities to see wildlife, although sightings can never be guaranteed.

Depending on the route, season and conditions, you can see:

• Whales – one of the most desired sightings, with dedicated excursions available and opportunities to spot them from the ship.
• Bald eagles – associated with coastal Alaska and often seen around shorelines, harbours and forested areas.
• Seals – often visible in coastal waters or resting on rocks and ice.
• Sea otters – usually sighted in sheltered waters, where they may be floating or feeding close to shore.
• Other marine and bird life – from seabirds to other coastal species, Alaska is home to them all.

Wildlife watching can happen during organised excursions, but it can also happen from the ship itself.

That unpredictability is part of the appeal. A quiet stretch of water can suddenly become the focus of everyone’s attention because somebody has spotted a whale blow in the distance. That excitement is with you from start to finish.

Top Tip: Binoculars are one of the most useful things to have at hand in any given time… It is better to have and not need, than to need and not have!

Popular ports in Alaska

Celebrity’s Alaska itineraries can include ports such as Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Sitka and Icy Strait Point.

The best Alaska itineraries usually find a nice balance of major excursions and slower days, with each port offering a different side of Alaska, giving guests a more rounded experience.

Juneau

Alaska’s state capital feels surprisingly compact, but some of the region’s biggest experiences sit just beyond the waterfront. Floatplanes come and go across the harbour, forested mountains rise behind the city, and both glaciers and whale-rich waters are within easy reach.

• See Mendenhall Glacier – around 12 miles from downtown, the glacier can be viewed from trails around Mendenhall Lake, with the walk to Nugget Falls adding another impressive natural landmark.
• Head out whale watching – Auke Bay and nearby waters are important summer feeding grounds for humpback whales, making Juneau one of the standout ports for a dedicated wildlife trip.
• Combine ice and wildlife – some excursions pair a whale-watching cruise with time at Mendenhall Glacier, making it possible to experience two of Juneau’s best highlights in one unforgettable day.
• Try Alaska from the water – sea-kayaking excursions take you away from the bustle of the port and into quieter stretches of coastline backed by snow-capped peaks.

Juneau brings together many of Alaska’s defining experiences in one port, with glaciers, wildlife and dramatic scenery all within easy reach of the city.

Ketchikan

Ketchikan has a completely different character. Colourful buildings line the waterfront, historic Creek Street sits above the water on wooden stilts, and dense rainforest surrounds the town. It also has a strong connection to the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska.

• Explore Creek Street – the old boardwalk is one of Ketchikan’s most distinctive sights and an easy place to explore independently, with shops and historic buildings lining the water.
• Fly over Misty Fjords – floatplane trips reveal a landscape that is difficult to appreciate from ground level, with steep granite cliffs, lakes, forest and narrow waterways stretching into the wilderness.
• Get into the Tongass – rainforest excursions take you beneath towering trees and away from the port, offering a closer look at the environment that defines much of Southeast Alaska.
• Discover the region’s Indigenous heritage – Ketchikan is known for its collection of Northwest Coast totem poles, with opportunities to learn the traditions and carving practices of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian communities.
• Taste the local connection to salmon – Ketchikan calls itself the “Salmon Capital of the World”, and seafood is a fitting way to experience a town whose history is closely tied to fishing.

Ketchikan arguably gives you one of the best chances to experience Alaska at street level. You can spend part of the day deep in the wilderness and still return with enough time to wander the waterfront on foot.

Icy Strait Point

Icy Strait Point feels less like a conventional cruise port and more like an introduction to one particular corner of Alaska. Located beside the Tlingit community of Hoonah on Chichagof Island, the destination is Native Alaskan-owned.

• Go in search of humpbacks – whale-watching boats travel to nearby feeding grounds where humpbacks are a major draw, with possible sightings of sea lions, otters and bald eagles along the way.
• Look for bears on Chichagof Island – wildlife excursions head into the island’s more remote areas in search of brown bears and other species, giving this stop a distinctly wilderness-focused feel.
• Learn about Tlingit life – guided visits and cultural performances provide more context about the community, its heritage and its relationship with this part of Alaska.
• See the old cannery – the restored 1912 salmon cannery now houses shops, restaurants and displays connected to the area’s fishing history.
• Take on the ZipRider – Icy Strait Point’s ZipRider descends from Hoonah Mountain over a course more than a mile long, giving the port a genuine adventure element alongside its wildlife experiences.

Icy Strait Point is particularly good at showing the contrast that defines an Alaska cruise: one hour might be spent looking for whales or bears, while the next focuses on local history, culture, or simply watching the water from shore.

Why choose Celebrity for your Alaska cruise?

A Celebrity Cruises Alaska sailing presents the perfect combination of comfort onboard and wild landscapes outside. It is this mixture that makes an Alaska trip so distinctive.

Your time will be spent:

• Looking for wildlife – from the ship and organised excursions, with sightings adding an unpredictable element to the trip.
• Enjoying scenic cruising – treating time at sea as part of the experience, rather than simply transport between ports.
• Exploring nature ashore – with excursions often focused on glaciers, forests and remote landscapes.

Celebrity Solstice provides the restaurants, entertainment and public spaces expected from a Celebrity Cruises ship, but Alaska remains the dominant presence throughout the journey.

And that may be the biggest takeaway from sailing Alaska: some of the best moments are not planned at all. They happen when someone spots movement in the water, when a glacier appears ahead, or when the view outside suddenly becomes more interesting than anything happening onboard.

Note: None of the content or information in this article was generated using any form of AI.