Celebrity Solstice - day 1 - leaving Sydney

We were able to board early and got onto the Celebrity Solstice before noon... we found our muster station and checked in (a safety requirement -- *so* much better than when they had everyone gather at the same time for a safety drill!). Then we went to our room to drop our hand luggage. Our cabin steward was just making up our room, so we got to meet him (Taufik). It was also so nice to be able to go to our room and drop our luggage (this was not the case on the Norwegian Gem -- we had to wait until a general announcement was made that it was okay to go to our cabins). Our checked luggage would not arrive for a few hours, but we could easily make do without it.

We headed up to the buffet for lunch... 

Steamship Round was available at the carving station

Wow! All the desserts!

Carl enjoyed being able to get Indian and Chinese food (and a chocolate mousse for dessert!).

We headed up to the top of the ship...

... another passenger offered to take our pictures -- with the Harbour Bridge behind...

... and also with the Opera House behind.

There was a seagull posing for his picture with the Opera House behind!

On the very top deck, there is a lawn area -- yes, a lawn area!

Another picture of Carl with the Harbour Bridge

Heading back to cabin...

Our cabin from the hallway in...

Bathroom

Looking back toward the entrance (I'm standing near the door into the bathroom).

Veranda for our cabin -- view of the Opera House while we were still docked

Looking toward the back of the ship -- the lifeboats are stored just below our deck level

"Relaxing" on our veranda -- the deck chairs lean back quite a bit, not incredibly comfortable to sit on!

We had signed up for a tour of the ship, so met our guide at the Shore Excursions desk...

A listing of the days and ports

Our guide, Nelson -- we all had earpieces through which we could hear him and his descriptions.

He took us through most of the public areas on the ship -- this was a glass blowing class area on the top deck...

Movie screen at the lawn on deck 15

Finishing the tour, it was nearly time for sail-away...

...we returned to the top deck for sail-away -- the ship had just pushed away from the overseas terminal and was backing up toward the Sydney Harbour Bridge...

Central Business District

In the middle of this picture is a building that we have been calling the "R2-D2" building -- see its rounded top and round eye?

Ship turning to move away from the Harbour Bridge...

...past the Opera House...

The military ship that we had seen earlier in our visit to Sydney (https://journeyinamazinggrace.blogspot.com/2025/04/day-3-in-sydney-part-1.html)

 

After leaving Sydney Harbour, we returned inside to further familiarize ourselves with the ship...

A musical group entertaining in the atrium

Evening entertainment in the Solstice Theater

Our first night's entertainment, Deryn Trainer performed piano music from Billy Joel and Elton John.

Deryn Trainer performing

We started learning our way around the ship -- places to eat, shop, and be entertained.