Launched in 2008 and refurbished in 2013, the Celebrity Solstice has created waves in the cruise ship industry. Solstice is the largest Celebrity ship, hosting more than 2,800 passengers at full capacity, and everything about the vessel is modern and stylish. Celebrity Solstice has quickly become renowned for its plush and comfortable interior design and easy to navigate deck plan.
Celebrity Solstice is designed for comfort and convenience, and passenger flow rarely feels crowded. Everything onboard is clustered according to usage, with entertainments toward the front and restaurants toward the rear. Shops, reception and the casino are located in the middle, obviously to encourage passengers to part with a little more cash while onboard.
Environmentally conscious cruising
In keeping with the name Solstice, the ship has 216 solar panels that contribute toward energy-efficiency. As well as supplying supplementary power to the vessel’s energy grid the additional energy also helps maintain one of the ship’s most startling features – a half acre of lawn called the Lawn Club. Here passengers can enjoy a friendly and competitive game of bocce and witness artistic glass-blowing exhibitions where raw materials are transformed into works of art.
Celebrity Solstice is an advance toward innovative ‘green’ cruising and has been modelled and finished with materials that improve fuel efficiency, along with the use of environmentally friendly lighting and cooling systems. Other onboard highlights include progressive moves toward fine dining in speciality restaurants, plus the Canyon Ranch SpaClub and fitness centre where dedicated treatment services and even personal trainers will keep you trim, toned and terrific.
Celebrity Solstice suites/staterooms
New arrivals on Celebrity Solstice will immediately notice the soft, appealing and liveable quality of the staterooms. In a move that could be attributed to common sense rather than innovation, the ship’s rooms have all been redesigned and decorated by an expert team of five women known as ‘the Leading Ladies’.
Penthouse Suite: King-size bed, master bathroom with whirlpool tub, powder room with shower, large dressing room, separate living and dining areas, private balcony with whirlpool, interactive entertainment systems, foyer, baby grand piano, luxury amenities and many complimentary services.
Royal Suite: Separate whirlpool bathtub, private balcony with whirlpool, separate living and dining areas, floor to ceiling glass doors, in-suite meal service, butler service plus additional complimentary services.
Celebrity Suite: separate bedroom, bathtub and shower, living room with double sofa bed, media centre, room service, in-suite meal service, balcony, additional complimentary services.
Sky Suite: 2 convertible twin beds, bathroom with bathtub and shower, living area with double sofa bed, in-suite meal service, butler service, complimentary room service, balcony, additional complimentary amenities and services.
AquaClass cabin: complimentary continental breakfast, unlimited access to the Persian Garden and Relaxation Room, spa concierge, wellness classes, complimentary room service, aromatherapy diffuser, on-demand meditation and yoga, 2 beds convertible to queen-size, private bathroom.
Concierge Class Cabin: priority check-in, welcome gifts including wine, fruits and flowers, 2 convertible twin beds, ample closet space, private bathroom.
On Celebrity Solstice 85 percent of staterooms have a balcony. Ninety percent of staterooms are oceanview and 10 percent are inside cabins. In total, 418 rooms can accommodate 3-4 passengers. There are also 121 connecting rooms and 30 wheelchair accessible cabins.
Dining on Celebrity Solstice
As expected on a large Celebrity cruise ship, modern dining choices abound. Apart from the main dining room there are several speciality restaurant options, an exclusive venue for Aqua Class passengers, plus buffets, bistros and grills. Welcome to the new age of cruise ship dining on Celebrity Solstice. In all there are ten major restaurants onboard, with six operating at breakfast time, five for lunch, and seven open for dinner.
Although there is only one major dining room, the Grand Epernay, it still feels spacious and uncrowded. This towering eatery spans two decks toward the rear of the vessel, with a wine tower so tall a ladder is required to reach the highest bottles. In keeping with modern cruise dining choices, flexible seating is available alongside conventional sittings.
- The Oceanview Cafe is the casual dinner alternative, providing an extensive range of Western, Asian and vegetarian dishes.
- Mast Grill is the place for fast foods such as burgers, hot dogs and fries
- AquaSpa Cafe serves healthy salads and tasty seafood choices
- Bistro on Five is awash in a large range of crepes, sandwiches, soups and salads
- Tuscan Grille offers a taste of Italian cuisine steakhouse style
- Murano is the Continental/French themed restaurant of choice for a touch of class
- Silk Harvest provides pan-Asian offerings of seafood and curries
Activities for families
On a cruise ship with almost 3,000 passengers there are bound to be plenty of kids. Fortunately, Celebrity has moved with the times in providing amusements and diversions that keep the kids active and even give parents time out to themselves. The kids areas on Deck 15 are located either side of the popular basketball court. The kids areas are age appropriate, although there are only two kids clubs with a wide age-spread sharing the facilities. The Fun Factory is for 3 to 11 year-olds, and the X-Club is for older kids aged between 12 and 17.
The centres are packed with kids activities gear and the teen area even has a popcorn machine and soft drink bar. Amusements include air hockey, foosball, and all kids have access to a video arcade for some virtual action onboard Celebrity Solstice.
Special programs are organised for different age groups within the centres. From dinosaur hunts and face painting for the little ones, to karaoke and a prom party for older teens, there are boundless opportunities for fun and making new friends. There are even well organised slumber parties for youngsters so parents and guardians can slip away and enjoy night time activities around the vessel.
Onboard Highlights
Sky Observation Lounge
This is a great place to relax by day and let your hair down at night. The comfortable couches and seats are ideal for enjoying a cool drink while watching the world go by. Enjoy live music when the sun goes down, and join in special themed parties that include live singers and funky dancers.
The Hot Glass Show
Witness first-hand the art of glass-blowing demonstrations by the experts. This is an experience unique to Celebrity Solstice courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass.
Main Restaurant
An eye-catching and mouth-watering experience. This centrepiece restaurant prides itself on an ever-changing array of artistically presented dishes to enhance your culinary experience while onboard.
Cellar Masters
Sample a huge variety of wines from around the world. This relaxing and inviting space provides the opportunity to taste wine by the glass instead of an entire bottle. Enhance your knowledge of fine wines while making new friends.
Lawn Club
Relax on the lawn of this one-of-a-kind country club at sea, located on the Celebrity Solstice top deck. Have fun with laid-back outdoor activities and games while overlooking the vast ocean and exotic scenery below.
Canyon Ranch Spa Club
This is the place to rejuvenate while being pampered or getting fit. Celebrity luxury reaches another level in an appealing setting perfectly designed to indulge and dedicate yourself to health and wellness.
Celebrity Solstice is big on class. Of the ten restaurants, five are dedicated to speciality dining. The ship also has fifteen individually designed lounges and bars, four swimming pools, six jacuzzies, and seventeen different shops/boutiques.
Celebrity Solstice Stats
| Capacity | 2,850 passengers |
| Crew | 1,500 |
| Decks | 19 |
| In service | 2008 |
| Cruising Speed | 24 knots |
| Length | 1,033ft / 314.86m |
| Tonnage | 121,878 GT |
| Beam | 121ft / 36.88m |
| Draft | 27ft / 8.23m |
Exciting and exotic itineraries for Celebrity Solstice include Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific featuring an eleven night cruise to Hawaii. Celebrity ships are a great option for people who demand the extra luxuries that make cruising so special in the 21st Century, while still being an affordable option for larger groups and families.
Deck plans can be found on the official site.
Great article. I just returned from an 8 night South Pacific cruise on Solstice and loved every moment. We stayed in an Aqua Class cabin (aft) on deck 11 and enjoyed excellent views and beautiful sunsets in the evening. Our cabin was spacious and very comfortable. What I loved about Celebrity Solstice is it’s a stylish and sophisticated ship – “modern luxury” is their motto and it lived up to this. The food onboard was constantly good especially in the speciality dining restaurants. Munaro’s was out of this world! We didn’t attend any of the shows but heard several great reports from fellow passengers. I highly recommend Celebrity Solstice and it’s the ideal cruise ship for those not wanting a ‘party’ cruise or one that puts emphasis on kids!