SweetHomeLady

We have eaten at Solarium Bistro on Oasis on two different sailings, we enjoyed it both times. My husband loves Mediterranean food, so he was quite happy. The appetizers and dessert are buffet style and you order your entree. We really enjoyed our meal, the ambience was beautiful and it was quiet. We have it booked for our Harmony sailing in September 2019, we will see how that one is compared to Oasis.

We very much enjoyed the Solarium Bistro on Quantum in 2015.  Didn't get to visit again until Harmony in 2017 and it wasn't quite as good.  Curious as to what we will get on Oasis in 2019...

Agree with @Skid about the buffet style  except for the entree, but we were on Ovation not Anthem.  I’m guessing they are similar.  One thing to note about the pasta that was on the entree list.  If you ordered that they told you to serve yourself that off the Buffett too.  All other entree dishes were prepared and served from the kitchen.
We tried it since we had done everything else at least once and it was fine. It was included in our dining package.  Having tried it I would say we would we would not choose it again if we were charged or on a shorter itinerary.  

We had dinner in Solarium Bistro 2 years ago on Anthem. Even though complimentary, they want reservations because it's not a huge space. At that time, appetizers and desserts were buffet style and entrees were served. Food was VERY good. We had a reservation last week on Symphony. We were told a day or 2 before that Solarium Bistro on that ship recently converted over to ALL buffet. We were just not in the mood for that so we canceled our reservation.

I have the same reserved for my Oct 19 Anthem sailing. If no one else has replied, or you want another point of view, I'll be happy to update it then.
That said, I know @twangster and I think @Lovetocruise2002 have both had dinner in Solarium Bistro; if not on Anthem, then on another ship and the offerings are similar enough they should be comparable. I had asked on this board about Solarium Bistro dinner vs. Coastal Kitchen last year when I was booked on Anthem in a Jr. Suite; advice at that time was to save Solarium Bistro for a time when I was in a  "regular" cabin and didn't have access to Coastal Kitchen, as they and others considered it to be in between CK and the MDR in terms of the quality and ambiance.

As others have said, it all comes down to personal preferences.  I won't sail unless I can be in a balcony cabin.  I love having my own outdoor space.  I usually go to the port very early and am among the first to board, so there are less crowds early on.  On board, I just wander around until I find a cozy and quiet area.  I rarely book excursions, sometimes don't even get off the ship.  Everything is quieter and less crowded on board on port days.  The Windjammer Café is very peaceful during dinner time in the main dining room.  I am sure you will have a great time and as you take future cruises you will figure out what works for you.  Enjoy!

As others have said, it all comes down to personal preferences.  I won't sail unless I can be in a balcony cabin.  I love having my own outdoor space.  I usually go to the port very early and am among the first to board, so there are less crowds early on.  On board, I just wander around until I find a cozy and quiet area.  I rarely book excursions, sometimes don't even get off the ship.  Everything is quieter and less crowded on board on port days.  The Windjammer Café is very peaceful during dinner time in the main dining room.  I am sure you will have a great time and as you take future cruises you will figure out what works for you.  Enjoy!

As others have said, it all comes down to personal preferences.  I won't sail unless I can be in a balcony cabin.  I love having my own outdoor space.  I usually go to the port very early and am among the first to board, so there are less crowds early on.  On board, I just wander around until I find a cozy and quiet area.  I rarely book excursions, sometimes don't even get off the ship.  Everything is quieter and less crowded on board on port days.  The Windjammer Café is very peaceful during dinner time in the main dining room.  I am sure you will have a great time and as you take future cruises you will figure out what works for you.  Enjoy!

+2 Balcony.  For us, we only cruise 1x a yr because we won't cruise without being on a balcony.  We love it for so many reasons, but our very favorite is breakfast.  You can have a continental delivered for free (only cost is the tip) on your balcony.  We usually will go up to WJ and get an omelet and hash browns to go and bring them back to our cabin so as we show up with that food, they are delivering the continental breakfast.
 

Hi there @kristycarrillo, welcome to the forums!
I'm also hypoglycemic and been dealing with it for over 20 years. I've learned all the signs of having made a mistake with something and getting an "attack" (or as I call it, descending into ANGRY STUPID OGRE mode). I see you said that you can't have anything at all with sugar in it; is that just based on typical desserts in restaurants or snacks in vending machines, or have you also tried items marked as "lower sugar" or "reduced sugar" and also had bad results? Is a single semi-sweet dessert OK as long as you had a full meal beforehand, or will truly any amount of sugar intake send you spinning down into trouble?
I personally have found after two cruises that most, if not all, of the desserts on board tend to be not particularly sweet / sugary, even things like the fleet-wide "Royal Chocolate Cake" or their ice cream (which is made fresh on board). In addition, the portions are all rather small, whether in the main dining room or the Windjammer buffet (to allow for easier sampling! ?). But if you are truly extremely sugar-sensitive you can always get a fruit plate and/or artisanal cheese plate for dessert in the main dining room, as that's on the "Classics" part of each day's menu. There is also usually at least one other offering available each night that's marked with an icon as being no sugar added. There are also no-sugar-added items in the Windjammer every day, and those are clearly labeled.
As far as appetizers and entrees, I can't really say that I've had anything at all where I've felt there was added sugar, at least not in any measure that made a particular item taste sweet instead of savory. But as others here noted, you can always double-check with your waiter and send a heads-up to [email protected] and/or [email protected] to make absolutely sure your menu is clear of any added sugar.

That's the way to react to problems on a cruise!  Obviously not a member of that "other" cruise board.

So, our first cruise with my brother and sister in law on the Navigator. One cruise day after a morning by the pool, screwdrivers, bloody marys, beer, etc my wife says "let's get changed and have lunch in the MDR" to which we all concur. We get to the MDR and were seated with a group of folks from Missouri. Table conversations continues (my brother in law is a TALKER, he could be a politician) our lunch arrives and I chow down. My wife asks "so where in Missouri are you folks from"? One of the gentlemen replied " just south of Platte,  just across the river from Leavenworth, KS". At that point in time, I quietly sit back, wipe my mouth and said "Leavenworth, yeah, I spent some time there." Conversations ended, there was a total silence and the Missouri folks started looking out the window, their plates and anything except us. Of course, after I explained to them that I spent a year at the US Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth when I was on active duty they livened up and we were all friends again. We still get a chuckle out of that. 

Think of whatever you need to make you comfortable at home, and consider bringing that. 
I travelled with my father who was having knee issues, so we brought a small folding camp stool, which he used to elevate his leg when relaxing.  We also used it to hold the room service tray during breakfast on the balcony, etc.  I don't always take one, but in this case it was great. 
My husband likes to sip on coffee all morning long so I bring an insulated mug from home for him so he can carry it around with him wherever we go.  I wouldn't take it for me, because I would never use it. 
If you get chilly easily, bring a wrap for dinner.
I have a small black jeweled coin purse that I carry to dinner.  It is just big enough for my room key, a lipstick, and a mint.  It is small enough to put on the table beside my plate.  I stow my receipt from any drinks at dinner, reapply my lipstick, then off to the show!  When I cruised alone I had a small purse that was large enough to hold a paperback and I carried that around with me all day so I could read while waiting.
Think of your comfort items and bring them for yourself!  Enjoy your cruise!

It may be difficult for crew members to exchange coins for their own home currencies.  Many of my friends in Germany would "buy" dollar bills from me to use for tips when they travel outside the EU. 
BTW--If you meet a staff member and develop a relationship with them, it is kind to offer to exchange euro coins for euro bills if you have them.  (Some people have a number of 1 or 2 euro coins they have been given.  Their bank won't take the coins, but if you give them a 20 euro bill for their coins, their bank will exchange the paper bill or allow them to deposit it.)

Ok, went to our first show in the main theater on LOS tonight.  There was no sign indicating The Key, but there was a sign for suite and high end loyalty cards( I forget the color). I asked the staff member checking id’s where Key holders sit and she said right here and let us in the VIP reserved area.  Balcony seats in the center section.  Score!

We just got back from our cruise on Anthem this past Saturday and I wanted to give those interested e a little information on the Chill Island Cabanas because I couldn't find out much online before we left.
- The cabanas are amazing but there are definitely some that are better than others.  We specifically chose #14 which is at the end so we had less people around us....unfortunately, it had more birds!  The rock wall on the right of the picture is where the seagulls hang out.
- Next time, we would book book Cabana #9, #10 or #11. 
- Cabanas 8 through 14 are in the front row and 1 through 7 are in the back. 
- There are chairs on the left of the cabanas that are for suite guests and it is first come, first serve.
- If you have access to the Chill Island Cabana area (rented a cabana or are in a suite), there is an upgraded lunch buffet.  Our buffet had lamb chops, ribs, chicken, salmon, shrimp and scallop skewers, Maine lobster tails, hamburgers, hot dogs, salads, fruit, cookies, etc.  A lot of food!!
- There is no bathroom area in the cabana area but it isn't that far of a walk
- The beach is roped off for the cabana area 
- The snorkeling right beyond the roped off area was really good.  We saw hundreds of fish of all different types.
If anyone has any questions, let me know!!
 
 

I've seen other people comment on other threads that they order something called 'savory bites', sounds like small bite-sized seasoned bread things, and that only people who have been on RC before know about them. They are supposedly to die for. 

Think of whatever you need to make you comfortable at home, and consider bringing that. 
I travelled with my father who was having knee issues, so we brought a small folding camp stool, which he used to elevate his leg when relaxing.  We also used it to hold the room service tray during breakfast on the balcony, etc.  I don't always take one, but in this case it was great. 
My husband likes to sip on coffee all morning long so I bring an insulated mug from home for him so he can carry it around with him wherever we go.  I wouldn't take it for me, because I would never use it. 
If you get chilly easily, bring a wrap for dinner.
I have a small black jeweled coin purse that I carry to dinner.  It is just big enough for my room key, a lipstick, and a mint.  It is small enough to put on the table beside my plate.  I stow my receipt from any drinks at dinner, reapply my lipstick, then off to the show!  When I cruised alone I had a small purse that was large enough to hold a paperback and I carried that around with me all day so I could read while waiting.
Think of your comfort items and bring them for yourself!  Enjoy your cruise!

Thanks everyone!  I just called to reprice and it dropped my cruise from $3019 to $1994.  Over $1,000 in savings!!!
 

Hello!
Update on the Key. Cruised again on the Anthem from Bayonne on April 13th and had The Key. My experience was the same as I posted above. Everyone at the terminal and aboard the ship was aware of the program and there was no confusion or misunderstanding. Everything went as expected.
This time, when we arrived back in Bayonne, I took advantage of the Choice Disembarkation. I do the self-walkoff so I had my luggage with me. I chose not to eat breakfast and went directly to the Shore Excursions desk as directed in the letter which was delivered to my cabin the day before. There, I showed my Seapass card with the Key logo to the crew member and took a seat. This is directly across from the disembarkation area. As soon as the ship was cleared, I was directed to scan my card and exit. I was the first one off the ship and breezed through the terminal. For me...well worth it!
Happy cruising!

Hi! Just got back yesterday from my Anthem cruise. We sailed from Port Liberty in Bayonne NJ...
First...I purchased the Key because it made sense for me. I travel solo so I only had to pay for me. The price was $19.99 per day so considering that I would have purchased the Voom stream package anyway, it was a no-brainer.
Upon arriving in Port Liberty...I was directed to a special security line and then the check in kiosk with the Key logo above it. The same security and check in as the upper loyalty levels. After checking in, I was seated in the second row along with the upper loyalty level folks...directly behind the passengers requiring assistance. My trip through the terminal went smooth, as all of the port employees knew about the Key and where to direct me.
Upon boarding the ship, i went right to the theater and dropped off my carry-on. I was given a list describing the amenities that come with the Key and a wrist band that identified me as a Key member. Later, when I got to my cabin, I found my bag was stored out of sight in the closet which I thought was a nice touch.
On the Anthem, lunch was available in Chops Grille or Jaime Oliver’s. I went to Chops and had a fantastic lunch. There were plenty of empty tables available and the service was typical Chops...perfect.
When I received my SeaPass card at my cabin, the Key emblem was on the bottom and I removed my Key wrist band. There was a welcome envelope which contained the schedule with the Key access times for the Rock Climbing Wall, Flow Rider, Northstar and iFly...and my access code for the Voom WiFi. I also received information for disembarkation at Port Canaveral, Coco Cay and Nassau.
On day two, I received a complimentary fruit plate in my cabin with a card from the Key program, welcoming me aboard.
When I went to the shows (We Will Rock You and The Gift were great!) in the theater...I was directed to reserved Key seating in the third and fourth row center. Excellent seats! Manned by ship personnel to ensure only Key members could sit there. At ten minutes prior to the show, just as the stand by line was admitted, the rows were opened so that any available seats could be filled.
In each port...we went to the lower level of the Music Hall and as soon as the ship was cleared by the local authorities, we disembarked. I was late getting to the Music Hall in Port Canaveral. When I got there, I was immediately escorted by a crew member holding up a paddle with the Key emblem on it, past the long line of passengers waiting to disembark, and directly to the security desk at the gangway.
On the day before arriving back at Port Liberty, I received an envelope with the Key luggage tags and disembarkation information. This included a sit down breakfast in the MDR and then escort off the ship. After breakfast, we were to go to the Shore Excursion desk which was directly across from the gangway, and then right to the head of the line. I did not take advantage of this perk as I was with others who did not have the Key. We came down early for self walk-off and found ourselves near the head of the line.
My conclusions...for me, the purchase of the Key made perfect sense, especially since I needed the WiFi anyway. Being solo, I did not have to pay for more than one as I would have had to do if there were others in my cabin. The VIP treatment at the pier, boarding, carry-on drop off, lunch, theater seating and disembarkation arrangements was very nice and convenient. Although I did not take advantage of the reserved times for the activities, I did see other Key members using them. I was impressed that every employee at Port Liberty...and every ship’s crew member I interacted with...was aware of the Key and the access that came with it. There was no confusion or misunderstanding. All in all it was a very impressive, pleasant and smooth experience and I will definitely do it again.
Happy sailings!

I just booked it (at the sale price of $19.99).  I only have a 4-night cruise, and had a $25 pre cruise on board credit to use. It came to just about $55.  I was going to get internet anyway, so add lunch at Chops, and I think I'm coming out ok.   ?. Thanks for the heads up on the sale, Jason!

This is a good one - we did this one year and brought some insulated cups for our coffee - but we got sorta held up at the security scanner while the guy looked at them.  Of course, they were both empty - but still.  Make sure to have them handy before you get to the security bag check ?  will save you a little time from someone question what those thing are, if they are still in your bag.

Think of whatever you need to make you comfortable at home, and consider bringing that. 
I travelled with my father who was having knee issues, so we brought a small folding camp stool, which he used to elevate his leg when relaxing.  We also used it to hold the room service tray during breakfast on the balcony, etc.  I don't always take one, but in this case it was great. 
My husband likes to sip on coffee all morning long so I bring an insulated mug from home for him so he can carry it around with him wherever we go.  I wouldn't take it for me, because I would never use it. 
If you get chilly easily, bring a wrap for dinner.
I have a small black jeweled coin purse that I carry to dinner.  It is just big enough for my room key, a lipstick, and a mint.  It is small enough to put on the table beside my plate.  I stow my receipt from any drinks at dinner, reapply my lipstick, then off to the show!  When I cruised alone I had a small purse that was large enough to hold a paperback and I carried that around with me all day so I could read while waiting.
Think of your comfort items and bring them for yourself!  Enjoy your cruise!

Think of whatever you need to make you comfortable at home, and consider bringing that. 
I travelled with my father who was having knee issues, so we brought a small folding camp stool, which he used to elevate his leg when relaxing.  We also used it to hold the room service tray during breakfast on the balcony, etc.  I don't always take one, but in this case it was great. 
My husband likes to sip on coffee all morning long so I bring an insulated mug from home for him so he can carry it around with him wherever we go.  I wouldn't take it for me, because I would never use it. 
If you get chilly easily, bring a wrap for dinner.
I have a small black jeweled coin purse that I carry to dinner.  It is just big enough for my room key, a lipstick, and a mint.  It is small enough to put on the table beside my plate.  I stow my receipt from any drinks at dinner, reapply my lipstick, then off to the show!  When I cruised alone I had a small purse that was large enough to hold a paperback and I carried that around with me all day so I could read while waiting.
Think of your comfort items and bring them for yourself!  Enjoy your cruise!