u/Due-Cranberry-9928

Going on the Solstice in August to Alaska. We booked last minute and could only get Aqua class vs Verandah as everything was sold out. This is our first time on celebrity so I didn't even realize that our main dining is at the Blu restaurant. I know we have a choice to go to either Blu or Main as well as specialty restaurants but for those who have been on Solstice and had access to Blu, is it worth dining there every dinner? What is the vibe? It's only my husband and me, so not with a group - can we request a 2-person table oceanside?? Is there more going on in the main dining room? It looks grand and pretty and Blu obviously is smaller and more quaint - I guess I just want to know your experiences at Blu and did you dine there every night or try the MDR too? Breakfast at Blu too vs buffet? I guess we can figure it out as we go as we have anytime dining. Would like to try the Italian restaurant one night too but that would be it for specialty dining. Any info would be appreciated - thanks!

Hoping for some advice from the locals and seasoned cruisers. We are from Toronto and just a last-minute Alaskan cruise on Celebrity Solstice end end of August 2026 for our 30th wedding anniversary. My husband and I plan to visit for a couple of days before or after the cruise and are trying to get some advice on things to do and which area to stay in for hotels. Should we stay near the airport and rent a car for a couple of days and drive around? Or stay more downtown near the cruise port and take the sea bus around? Take a ferry to Victoria? That might be a desperate trip for us another year where we come out and stay on Vancouver Island. But for 2 or 3 days before or after a cruise - what do you think would be worth doing or seeing? Hotels are crazy expensive but it's for our 30th so willing to spend more and most are over $1000 for 2 nights. Air bnbs are even more! Would love to stay in an area where we can walk around near the water. But if we have to stay near the airport where it's cheaper and rent a car that would be good too. Saw the Radisson Blu near the airport and some hotels in Richmond I believe that are less expensive than downtown. Just want to make sure we are staying in a nice area. Any advice is much appreciated!

Hoping for some advice from the locals and seasoned cruisers. We are from Toronto and just booked a last-minute Alaskan cruise on Celebrity Solstice end end of August 2026 for our 30th wedding anniversary. My husband and I plan to visit for a couple of days before or after the cruise and are trying to get some advice on things to do and which area to stay in for hotels. Should we stay near the airport and rent a car for a couple of days and drive around? Or stay more downtown near the cruise port and take the sea bus around? Take a ferry to Victoria? That might be a separate trip for us another year where we come out and stay on Vancouver Island. But for 2 or 3 days before or after a cruise - what do you think would be worth doing or seeing? Hotels are crazy expensive but it's for our 30th so willing to spend more and most are over $1000 for 2 nights. Air bnbs are even more! Would love to stay in an area where we can walk around near the water. But if we have to stay near the airport where it's cheaper and rent a car that would be good too. Saw the Radisson Blu near the airport and some hotels in Richmond I believe that are less expensive than downtown. Just want to make sure we are staying in a nice area. Any advice is much appreciated!