πŸ‹ Celebrity Solstice Alaska Cruise Day 5: Juneau & Whale Watching

Celebrity Solstice Alaska Cruise Day 5

Day 5 of our Celebrity Solstice Alaska cruise brought us to Juneau, Alaska, where we headed out on an unforgettable whale watching excursion with Juneau Tours. Despite a rainy start to the day, we were rewarded with incredible wildlife sightings, including humpback whales and even orcas, making this one of the highlights of our Alaska cruise. After our excursion, we explored downtown Juneau before another fantastic evening aboard the Celebrity Solstice.

πŸŽ₯ Watch the full vlog here:
https://youtu.be/-5RBqxi1ERg


πŸ‹ Whale Watching with Juneau Tours

Our morning began with a short walk from the Celebrity Solstice to meet Juneau Tours for our whale watching excursion. After a narrated bus ride to the harbor, we boarded our boat and headed out in search of Alaska’s incredible marine wildlife.

Although the weather started out rainy, it didn’t take long before we were rewarded with amazing sightings of humpback whales. Even more exciting, we were fortunate enough to spot orcas, something the crew explained is relatively uncommon. Having knowledgeable guides and a naturalist onboard made the experience even more memorable as they shared fascinating information about the whales and the local ecosystem.

Humpback whale during a Juneau whale watching tour in Alaska
Our Juneau whale watching excursion with Juneau Tours gave us unforgettable views of humpback whales and even orcas.

🚀 Exploring Downtown Juneau

After warming up with a late lunch back aboard the Celebrity Solstice, we returned to downtown Juneau to explore the waterfront, browse souvenir shops, and enjoy the lively atmosphere around the cruise port. With several cruise ships in port, the streets were busy with visitors enjoying everything Juneau has to offer.

From local fudge shops and Alaska-themed souvenirs to scenic waterfront views, it was a relaxing way to spend the afternoon before heading back to the ship.

Downtown Juneau waterfront near the Celebrity Solstice cruise ship
After our whale watching excursion, we spent the afternoon exploring the shops and waterfront in downtown Juneau.

🍽️ Another Great Evening Aboard Celebrity Solstice

Back aboard the Celebrity Solstice, we enjoyed another entertaining evening beginning with a fantastic performance by guest entertainer Alexa Jayne in the Solstice Theater. Dinner in the Grand Epernay Restaurant followed, where we enjoyed another delicious meal while taking in beautiful evening views as the ship sailed away from Juneau.

With another wonderful day behind us, we looked ahead to our next destination, Ketchikan, and another exciting Alaska adventure.

Chicken Cordon Bleu served in the Grand Epernay Restaurant aboard Celebrity Solstice
Dinner in the Grand Epernay Restaurant was another highlight of our day aboard the Celebrity Solstice.

🌊 Another Memorable Day in Alaska

Our visit to Juneau combined incredible wildlife, beautiful scenery, and another relaxing evening aboard the Celebrity Solstice. Seeing both humpback whales and orcas made this one of the most memorable days of our Alaska cruise, and we couldn’t wait to continue our adventure in Ketchikan.


πŸ›³οΈ Planning Your Own Celebrity Cruise?

πŸ›’ Book a Celebrity Cruise (Celebrity Website)
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πŸ”— Related Celebrity Solstice Articles

If you’re planning a Celebrity Solstice Alaska cruise, you may also enjoy these related articles:

🚒 Celebrity Solstice Alaska Cruise Day 4: Hubbard Glacier & Broken Strings

Celebrity Solstice Alaska Cruise: Hubbard Glacier - Day 4 Vlog

Day 4 of our Celebrity Solstice Alaska cruise brought one of the highlights of our entire Alaska adventure, Hubbard Glacier. We spent the morning cruising through misty waters before the skies cleared to reveal one of Alaska’s most spectacular glaciers. From relaxing with coffee and enjoying clam chowder in a bread bowl while taking in the views to another fantastic evening of entertainment and dining, it was an unforgettable day aboard the Celebrity Solstice.

πŸŽ₯ Watch the full vlog here:
https://youtu.be/Ct55bpLbHTg


πŸ”οΈ Cruising Hubbard Glacier

The day began early as we entered Yakutat Bay on our way to Hubbard Glacier. Although the morning started with fog and mist, the weather gradually cleared, revealing incredible glacier views. The Celebrity Solstice spent nearly two hours slowly rotating so everyone onboard could enjoy different perspectives of the glacier. It was another reminder that no two glacier visits are ever exactly the same.

Hubbard Glacier viewed from Celebrity Solstice during an Alaska cruise
The fog gradually cleared to reveal the breathtaking Hubbard Glacier as Celebrity Solstice spent nearly two hours enjoying this incredible Alaska destination.

🎭 Broken Strings in the Solstice Theater

After a relaxing afternoon aboard the ship, we headed to the Solstice Theater for Broken Strings, one of our favorite production shows of the cruise. The high-energy performance featured live music, talented singers and dancers, incredible acrobatics, and an impressive stage set inspired by a lively country bar. It was a fantastic evening of entertainment and one we would definitely recommend.

Broken Strings production show with acrobats in the Solstice Theater aboard Celebrity Solstice
Broken Strings featured live music, talented performers, and incredible acrobatics during another outstanding evening aboard Celebrity Solstice.

🐌 Dinner at the Grand Epernay Restaurant

Dinner was another highlight of the evening. We enjoyed appetizers including Celebrity’s signature escargot, followed by delicious entrΓ©es and one of our favorite desserts, the crΓ¨me brΓ»lΓ©e. Dining by the window while glaciers and snow-capped mountains passed by outside made for a memorable end to another amazing day in Alaska.

Escargot served in the Grand Epernay Restaurant aboard Celebrity Solstice
Celebrity’s signature escargot is available every evening in the Grand Epernay Restaurant and quickly became one of our favorite appetizers.

🌊 Another Incredible Day in Alaska

Hubbard Glacier is always one of the highlights of an Alaska cruise, and this visit certainly didn’t disappoint. Between the spectacular glacier scenery, great entertainment, outstanding dining, and time spent relaxing aboard the Celebrity Solstice, Day 4 was another unforgettable chapter of our Alaska adventure. Next up, we’re heading to Juneau for an exciting whale watching excursion.


πŸ›³οΈ Planning Your Own Celebrity Cruise?

πŸ›’ Book a Celebrity Cruise (Celebrity Website)
https://sovrn.co/rhl9iq4

πŸ”— Related Celebrity Solstice Articles

If you’re planning a Celebrity Solstice Alaska cruise, you may also enjoy these related articles:

Celebrity Solstice Alaska Cruise: Exploring Icy Strait Point (Day 3)

Celebrity Solstice Alaska Cruise: Exploring Icy Strait Point

One of the highlights of our Celebrity Solstice Alaska cruise was visiting Icy Strait Point, one of Alaska’s most unique cruise destinations. During Day 3 of our 7-night Alaska cruise, we enjoyed a relaxing morning aboard the Celebrity Solstice before heading ashore to explore everything Icy Strait Point has to offer, including the scenic nature trail, the historic cannery, and the beautiful waterfront community of Hoonah.

Watch the full vlog here:

πŸŽ₯ Celebrity Solstice Alaska Cruise: Exploring Icy Strait Point – Day 3
https://youtu.be/EV3Vr72a0y4


Walking the Nature Trail

One of the best ways to reach the historic cannery area is by taking the Nature Trail. This scenic forest path winds through the rainforest and offers a peaceful walk surrounded by towering trees before arriving at the shops, museum, and restaurants.

Nature Trail leading to the Hoonah Cannery at Icy Strait Point, Alaska
The scenic Nature Trail is a beautiful way to walk between the main cruise area and the historic Hoonah Cannery at Icy Strait Point.

Exploring the Historic Cannery & Museum

The historic cannery is one of the highlights of Icy Strait Point. We spent time exploring the museum, browsing the unique shops, and learning more about the area’s rich fishing history while enjoying the beautiful waterfront setting.

Historic Hoonah Cannery and Museum at Icy Strait Point during our Celebrity Solstice Alaska cruise
Exploring the historic Hoonah Cannery and Museum at Icy Strait Point, one of the highlights of our Celebrity Solstice Alaska cruise.

Walking to Hoonah

Rather than taking the shuttle, we chose to walk the scenic Veterans Memorial Sea Walk to the nearby community of Hoonah. The walk is approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) each way and follows the shoreline, offering beautiful ocean views and a relaxing way to experience the area beyond the cruise port. It ended up being one of our favorite parts of the afternoon.

Veterans Memorial Sea Walk leading from Icy Strait Point to Hoonah, Alaska
Walking the scenic Veterans Memorial Sea Walk, a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) walk each way between Icy Strait Point and Hoonah, Alaska.

Highlights from Day 3

  • 🚒 Breakfast in the Grand Epernay Restaurant
  • 🚁 Captain’s Club visit to the Celebrity Solstice helipad
  • 🌲 Walking the Nature Trail
  • πŸ›οΈ Exploring the Historic Cannery & Museum
  • 🚢 Walking the Veterans Memorial Sea Walk to Hoonah
  • 🚠 Riding the complimentary Transporter Gondola
  • 🎩 Magic Show in the Solstice Theater
  • 🍽️ Dinner in the Grand Epernay Restaurant
  • 🎻 Candlelight Concert in the Sky Lounge

Whether you’re planning a Celebrity Solstice Alaska cruise, researching Icy Strait Point, or looking for ideas on what to do while you’re in port, we hope this vlog gives you a great look at one of Alaska’s most memorable cruise destinations.

Watch the Full Video

Related Celebrity Solstice Videos

🚒 Celebrity Solstice Alaska Cruise Day 2: Sea Day & Evening Chic

For those following along with our Celebrity Solstice Alaska cruise, Day 2 is now live! 🚒 Join us for a relaxing sea day featuring great food, Evening Chic night, the Rockumentary production show, and more aboard the Celebrity Solstice. https://youtu.be/Imc3aw5lTUs

A relaxing sea day aboard the Celebrity Solstice gave us the perfect opportunity to slow down and enjoy more of the ship while sailing toward Alaska. From a delicious breakfast in the Grand Epernay Restaurant to informative Alaska presentations, fantastic entertainment, and another wonderful dinner, Day 2 was packed with memorable experiences.

πŸŽ₯ Watch the full vlog here:
https://youtu.be/Imc3aw5lTUs


🍳 Breakfast in the Grand Epernay Restaurant

We started the morning with breakfast in the Grand Epernay Restaurant, where we were seated at a table for two along the railing overlooking the lower level of the beautiful two-story dining room. It was a relaxing place to enjoy breakfast while taking in the elegant dΓ©cor and impressive chandelier centerpiece.

One of the highlights was the freshly made custom omelets, cooked to order with your choice of ingredients. Along with waffles, Eggs Benedict, bacon, sausage, fresh pastries, and excellent coffee, it was a delicious way to begin our Alaska sea day aboard the Celebrity Solstice.

Custom made omelet served during breakfast in the Grand Epernay Restaurant aboard Celebrity Solstice
Freshly prepared custom omelets were one of the highlights of breakfast in the Grand Epernay Restaurant aboard Celebrity Solstice.

🌲 Learning More About Alaska

One of the best parts of a sea day is taking advantage of the onboard activities. Throughout the morning we attended several Alaska presentations, including destination talks and an informative presentation about Southeast Alaska and the Tongass National Rainforest. These sessions were a great way to learn more about the places we’d soon be visiting while picking up interesting facts about Alaska’s wildlife, forests, and history.

Presentation about Southeast Alaska and the Tongass National Rainforest aboard Celebrity Solstice
One of the informative Alaska presentations offered aboard the Celebrity Solstice during our relaxing sea day.

🎭 Evening Chic & Rockumentary

The evening brought our first Evening Chic night aboard the Celebrity Solstice. After taking a few photos around the ship, we headed to the Solstice Theater for Rockumentary, one of our favorite production shows of the cruise. Featuring talented singers, dancers, aerial performers, live music, and impressive stage effects, it was an energetic performance that had the audience singing along to classic rock hits.

We finished the evening with another delicious dinner in the Grand Epernay Restaurant before stopping by the Silent Disco and checking out the lively entertainment happening throughout the ship.

Rockumentary production show in the Solstice Theater aboard Celebrity Solstice
Rockumentary combined live music, incredible vocals, aerial performances, and stunning production effects during Evening Chic night aboard Celebrity Solstice.

🌊 A Great Sea Day at Sea

Sea days are a wonderful chance to experience everything a cruise ship has to offer, and Day 2 aboard the Celebrity Solstice certainly delivered. Great food, engaging Alaska presentations, outstanding entertainment, and plenty of time to relax made for another memorable day as we continued our journey toward Icy Strait Point.


πŸ›³οΈ Planning Your Own Celebrity Cruise?

πŸ›’ Book a Celebrity Cruise (Celebrity Website)
https://sovrn.co/rhl9iq4

πŸ”— Related Celebrity Solstice Articles

If you’re planning a Celebrity Solstice Alaska cruise, you may also find these guides helpful:

Celebrity Solstice Alaska Cruise: Day 1, Sail Away from Vancouver

Celebrity Solstice Alaska Cruise: Sail Away from Vancouver - Day 1 Vlog

Our Celebrity Solstice Alaska cruise is officially underway! We begin our 7-night Alaska adventure by boarding the beautiful Celebrity Solstice in Vancouver, British Columbia. From exploring the ship and settling into our inside stateroom to enjoying an incredible sail away and our first evening onboard, Day 1 was the perfect start to our cruise.

If you’re planning a Celebrity Solstice Alaska cruise, this vlog will give you a great idea of what embarkation day is really like, along with our first impressions of the ship.

πŸŽ₯ Watch the full video here:


Boarding the Celebrity Solstice

After spending a couple of nights at the River Rock Casino Resort near Vancouver International Airport, we took the Canada Line SkyTrain to Canada Place. Boarding the Celebrity Solstice was quick and easy, giving us plenty of time to start exploring before our cabin was ready.

Celebrity Solstice docked at Canada Place in Vancouver before departing on a 7-night Alaska cruise.
Boarding day has arrived as we begin our 7-night Celebrity Solstice Alaska cruise from Vancouver.

Exploring the Ship & Settling In

Once onboard, we explored many of the ship’s beautiful public spaces, including the Solstice Theater, Grand Epernay Restaurant, Oceanview CafΓ©, Lido Deck, Solarium, Spa, Fitness Center, and Sunset Park. We also moved into our inside stateroom and started settling in before sail away.

Lido Deck aboard Celebrity Solstice with pools, hot tubs, and lounge chairs on embarkation day.
We spent the afternoon exploring the Celebrity Solstice before sail away from Vancouver.

Sail Away & Our First Evening

Sailing away from Vancouver is always one of our favorite parts of cruising. After enjoying beautiful views as we left the city behind, we wrapped up the evening with comedy in the Solstice Theater, dinner in the Grand Epernay Restaurant, and live entertainment in the Grand Foyer. It was a fantastic first day aboard the Celebrity Solstice, and we couldn’t wait to see what the rest of our Alaska cruise had in store.

Celebrity Solstice sailing away from Vancouver at the start of a 7-night Alaska cruise.
Leaving Vancouver behind as our Celebrity Solstice Alaska adventure officially begins.

Watch the Full Day 1 Vlog

Join us as we board the Celebrity Solstice, explore the ship, settle into our inside stateroom, experience sail away from Vancouver, and share our first impressions of this beautiful Alaska cruise.

πŸŽ₯ Watch the full video here:


Planning Your Own Celebrity Solstice Alaska Cruise?

If you’re planning your own Celebrity Solstice Alaska cruise, you can check the latest pricing and availability below.

πŸ‘‰ Book a Celebrity Solstice Cruise Here (affiliate) Celebrity Cruises Website

More Celebrity Solstice & Vancouver Guides

Planning your own Celebrity Solstice Alaska cruise? Check out these additional guides to help you prepare for your trip.

🚒 Celebrity Solstice Inside Cabin Tour, Sideways Stateroom 7160

Take a complete tour of our unique sideways inside cabin on Deck 7, including the layout, bathroom, storage, outlets, USB charging ports, and more.

❓ 10 Questions We Had Before Sailing Celebrity Solstice (Answered)

Get answers to the 10 biggest questions we had before boarding, including carry-on bags, charging ports, complimentary dining, Chic Night, cabin amenities, and more.

🏨 River Rock Casino Resort | 1 Bedroom Marina View Suite Tour

Looking for a hotel before your Celebrity Solstice cruise? See why the River Rock Casino Resort is one of our favorite places to stay before sailing from Vancouver.

10 Questions We Had Before Sailing Celebrity Solstice (Answered)

10 Questions We Had Before Sailing Celebrity Solstice (Answered)

Planning a Celebrity Solstice cruise? Before sailing on the Celebrity Solstice, we had plenty of questions about what to expect onboard. From dropping off our carry-on bags and charging our devices to formal night, complimentary dining, cabin amenities, and whether we’d sail the Celebrity Solstice again, we wanted to know the answers before stepping onboard.

After spending a week aboard the Celebrity Solstice on a 7-night Alaska cruise, we’re answering the 10 biggest questions we had before sailing. If you’d like to see everything in more detail, be sure to watch our full video below.

πŸŽ₯ Watch the full video here:


1. Can You Drop Off Your Carry-On Bags Before Your Cabin Is Ready?

Yes! Shortly after boarding the Celebrity Solstice, we were allowed to leave our carry-on bags in our cabin while our stateroom attendant finished preparing the room. It made embarkation day much easier since we didn’t have to carry our bags around the ship for a couple of hours.


2. What Charging Options Are Available?

The vanity includes two North American outlets and one European outlet, while the bathroom has a shaver outlet. One pleasant surprise was discovering USB-A and USB-C charging ports beside the bed after the ship’s refurbishment. Bringing a European adapter is still a great idea for adding even more charging options.

Celebrity Solstice vanity power outlets with two North American outlets and one European outlet.
The vanity includes two North American outlets and one European outlet, making it easy to charge multiple devices.

3. Will You Get a Table for Two?

We had an assigned dining time of 8:15 in the Grand Epernay Restaurant, but we weren’t sure if we’d be seated with other guests or have our own table. To our surprise, Celebrity had already assigned us a window table for two for the entire cruise, making every dinner feel a little more special.


4. Can You Request a Fan, and Is the Cabin Cool Enough?

Our inside cabin stayed comfortable throughout our Alaska cruise, especially with the thermostat turned down. We also requested a fan through Guest Services, and one was delivered to our stateroom shortly after boarding. If you enjoy sleeping with a fan, it’s worth asking because they’re available on a first-come, first-served basis.


5. Does the Shower Have a Door, and What Amenities Are Included?

The Celebrity Solstice features an acrylic shower door instead of a shower curtain, which we really appreciated. The shower also included shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. In addition, the bathroom offered liquid hand soap, body lotion, and a hair dryer, so there were fewer toiletries to pack.


6. Does Celebrity Solstice Feel Crowded?

Even though our sailing was completely sold out, the ship rarely felt crowded. We usually found seating in the buffet, elevator waits were short, and there were plenty of quiet places to relax throughout the ship.

Celebrity Solstice Resort Deck featuring the main pool, hot tubs, lounge chairs, and Alaska scenery.
Even on a sold-out sailing, we found plenty of space to relax around the Lido Deck.

7. What Is Chic Night Really Like?

Celebrity’s Chic Night was much more relaxed than we expected. While many guests dressed nicely, very few men wore full suits on the first Chic Night. On the second Chic Night, more passengers dressed up, and yes, complimentary lobster tail was served in the Grand Epernay Restaurant.

Grand Epernay Restaurant aboard Celebrity Solstice featuring elegant dining room dΓ©cor.
Chic Night in the Grand Epernay Restaurant included elegant dining and complimentary lobster tail.

8. What Complimentary Dining Is Included?

There are plenty of complimentary dining options aboard the Celebrity Solstice. During our cruise, we enjoyed the Oceanview CafΓ© buffet, Mast Grill, Sunset Park CafΓ©, Spa CafΓ©, CafΓ© Al Bacio, and the Grand Epernay Restaurant, giving us lots of variety throughout the week.


9. Can You Relax in the Buffet Between Meals?

Yes! One thing we really appreciated was being able to stop into the Oceanview CafΓ© between meal times for a coffee, lemonade, iced tea, or juice while enjoying the incredible scenery through the large windows. It became one of our favorite places to unwind.

Seating area inside the Oceanview CafΓ© aboard Celebrity Solstice with large panoramic windows overlooking Alaska.
The Oceanview CafΓ© isn’t just a great place to eat. It’s also the perfect spot to relax with a drink and enjoy the incredible Alaskan scenery between meal times.

10. Would We Sail Celebrity Solstice Again?

Absolutely. We loved the elegant atmosphere, relaxing pace, beautiful public spaces, and overall adult-focused experience. If you’re looking for a cruise that feels refined, comfortable, and relaxing, we wouldn’t hesitate to sail on the Celebrity Solstice again.

Adults-only Solarium aboard Celebrity Solstice featuring the indoor pool and lounge chairs.
The adults-only Solarium was one of our favorite quiet places to relax aboard the Celebrity Solstice.

Watch the Full Video

Want the complete answers along with cabin footage, dining, ship tours, and our firsthand experience?

πŸŽ₯ Watch the full video here:


Ready to Sail on Celebrity Solstice?

If you’re planning your own Celebrity Solstice cruise, check the latest pricing and availability below.

πŸ‘‰ Book a Celebrity Solstice Cruise Here (affiliate) Celebrity Cruises Website