When Sally Gunnell embarked Celebrity Solstice for her Alaska cruise adventure, she quickly discovered that the ship itself became just as memorable as the destinations along the way.
With breathtaking scenery surrounding the ship throughout the Inside Passage, onboard spaces naturally became part of the overall experience - whether that meant relaxing quietly with a coffee while spotting whales in the distance, enjoying live music before dinner, or simply finding the perfect viewpoint for sail away from Vancouver.
Here, Sally shares the onboard spaces she found herself returning to time and time again during her Celebrity Cruises holiday through Alaska.
Sunset Park: “We could have sat there all day!”
Deck 15
Without question, Sally’s favourite onboard space was Sunset Park right at the top of Celebrity Solstice. Positioned with panoramic views over the Inside Passage, it quickly became her and husband John’s go-to spot throughout the cruise.
“Sunset Park became our little go-to space because the views from up there were unbelievable,” Sally explained. “We’d sit there with our books and binoculars for hours just watching the scenery and wildlife go by.”
Unlike traditional warm-weather cruises, where sea days often revolve around the pool deck, Alaska felt completely different. The scenery became the entertainment.
“Your eyes are outside the whole time because you genuinely don’t want to miss anything,” Sally said. “One moment you’re looking at these huge mountains and forests, then suddenly somebody spots whales in the distance, and everyone stops what they’re doing to watch.”
The area also became one of the best places on board for wildlife spotting. Throughout the sailing, Sally and John regularly spotted humpback whales, orcas, bald eagles and dolphins from the comfort of the upper deck.
“It felt like being inside a nature documentary at times,” she said. “You’d just sit there quietly watching everything unfold around you.”
The space also took on a completely different atmosphere during the sail away from Vancouver.
“The atmosphere up there was lovely,” Sally recalled. “There was music playing, people enjoying drinks in the sunshine, and these incredible views as we sailed away into the Inside Passage. It immediately felt special.”
The Spa Café & Solarium: A peaceful morning routine
Deck 12
Each morning onboard Celebrity Solstice began with a routine Sally quickly came to love.
“We’d always start with the gym in the morning, then head to the Spa Café for breakfast,” she explained. “It became a part of our routine almost straight away.”
For Sally, who prioritises health and wellbeing even while travelling, the Spa Café offered a calm, relaxed environment away from the busier buffet areas on board.
“It was lovely because we could still eat really healthily during the day while fully enjoying ourselves in the evenings,” she said. “There were healthy choices everywhere, which made maintaining balance really easy.”
Positioned beside the Solarium, the area also provided a quieter atmosphere - ideal for slower mornings while watching the Alaskan scenery pass by outside.
“What I loved about Alaska was the calmness of it all,” Sally explained. “Even onboard, there were so many peaceful spaces where you could just slow down and take everything in.”
Café Al Bacio: Relaxing with coffee and scenery
Deck 5
Another regular stop throughout the cruise was Celebrity Solstice’s onboard coffee lounge, Café Al Bacio.
After mornings in the gym and breakfast at the Spa Café, Sally and John would often head there to relax with a coffee before beginning the day’s excursions or scenic cruising.
“We’d go there in the mornings, have a coffee, read our books and just watch the world go by,” Sally said.
During an Alaska itinerary where the scenery is constantly changing outside, even simple moments onboard felt elevated.
“That’s what made this cruise feel so different,” she explained. “Even when you’re simply sitting having a coffee, you’re surrounded by mountains, forests and glaciers outside the windows.”
The Martini Bar: Fantastic evening atmosphere
Deck 4
While Alaska days were filled with scenery and wildlife, evenings onboard Celebrity Solstice brought a completely different atmosphere.
Before dinner, Sally and John often found themselves gravitating towards the Martini Bar and the nearby live music venues around the ship.
“We loved going for a drink at the Martini Bar before dinner,” Sally said. “There was always such a lovely atmosphere there.”
Another favourite was the bar near the steakhouse restaurant, where live music became part of the evening routine.
“There was often someone playing guitar and singing in there, which made it feel really relaxed and enjoyable,” she explained.
For Sally, one of the biggest surprises about Celebrity Solstice was how balanced the atmosphere onboard felt.
“It felt sociable if you wanted it to be, but equally there were always calm spaces if you wanted to completely relax,” she said. “It suited this type of itinerary perfectly because it still felt luxurious without being overly formal.”
Fine Cut Steakhouse: Dining with unforgettable views
Deck 5
Although the scenery outside was often the main focus of the trip, Sally described the onboard dining experience as “incredible” throughout the cruise, with Fine Cut Steakhouse becoming a particular highlight.
“The steakhouse was probably our favourite restaurant because the food and views were both amazing,” she explained.
Dining there became memorable for more than just the food itself.
“At one point, everyone in the restaurant got up because porpoises were swimming alongside the ship,” Sally recalled. “Moments like that made the whole experience feel really special.”
For Sally, this perfectly summed up what made Celebrity Solstice such a memorable ship for an Alaska itinerary - the feeling that the destinations and the onboard experience were constantly connected.
“The scenery was always part of the experience,” she said. “Whether you were relaxing with a coffee, sitting on deck or having dinner, Alaska was constantly right there around you.”
Celebrity Solstice: A ship designed for Alaska
Looking back on the cruise, Sally believes Celebrity Solstice struck the perfect balance for an Alaskan itinerary.
“What I loved most was that it felt adventurous and relaxed at the same time,” she explained. “You still had luxury and beautiful spaces onboard, but the focus always felt like the scenery, the wildlife and the experience itself.”
From panoramic lounges and peaceful cafés to lively bars and unforgettable dining venues, the ship became far more than simply a place to stay between ports.
“Celebrity Solstice felt like part of the adventure,” Sally said. “Every space onboard somehow connected you back to the scenery outside - and that’s what made it so special.”
