Celebrity Solstice Review

A newer, larger, better class of cruise ships –

The Celebrity Solstice

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highly personalized service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, California, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal and South America, and will begin sailing in Australia and New Zealand this November. The line also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Canada, Europe and Australia through its cruise tour affiliate.

The term for the longest day and shortest night of the year, summer solstice, traditionally marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, but at Celebrity Cruises, it also marks the opening of bookings for Celebrity Solstice^SM, the top-rated premium cruise line's first new ship since 2002.

Noted for "The World's Best Large Ships," as voted by the readers of Conde' Nast Traveler (February 2007 Cruise Poll), Celebrity's current fleet will be joined by Celebrity Solstice in 2008, Celebrity Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, and a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011.

Some of the key innovations on Celebrity Soltice include:

Cellar Masters. This new wine bar will offer sommelier service and serve as a space for enrichment opportunities such as wine tasting that features Riedel, Austria's renowned crystal glass company (that program was introduced fleetwide this year). A company statement describes the decor as having the "deep tones of a winery during a summer sunset."

Ensemble Lounge. Celebrity is forecasting this lounge to be the place for pre-dinner cocktails. Expect musical-themed design elements that hark back to the heyday of jazz greats Duke Ellington and Count Basie.

Passport Bar. This drink spot in the Grand Foyer on the ground level of Celebrity Solstice will be designed with a Mediterranean color palette in mind.

Quasar. This is Celebrity's answer to high-tech discos at sea. Quasar will feature "futuristic designs of the 60's and 70's" -- and some classical elements, too, such as leather banquettes featuring details developed from vintage cars. State-of-the-art lighting and four LED screens will provide a light show in time with the beat of the music.

Sky Observation Lounge. This new top-of-the-ship observation lounge is all about the dancing -- each night will feature different themes from tango to ballroom dance. An infinity dome will hang over the dance floor for a view to the night sky. During the day, the venue should be a nice, quiet place to snag a panoramic sea view.

Crush. Part of Celebrity's signature Martini Bar, Crush is an alcove featuring an ice-filled table where guests can participate in caviar and vodka tastings. Private events can also be held here.

Distinctive interlocking stateroom floor plan. Better and more efficient space utilization, resulting in deluxe veranda staterooms that are 15 percent larger than comparable accommodations on the balance of the fleet.

Adjoining stateroom design. Double set of doors, allowing guests to open up space for families or friends traveling together, or close doors for a more private environment. Verandas of adjoining staterooms also can be opened up to create a veranda spanning both rooms.

More spacious bathrooms. Glass showers equipped with a foot rail for easy leg shaving in every stateroom, and large fog-free mirrors, which are being introduced in Celebrity’s suites and new AquaClass staterooms.

Individual reading lights. At each nightstand individual reading lights are installed, including a shelf for personal items such as reading glasses, books, etc.

Expanded and “smarter” storage. Includes increased clearance beneath the bed for larger luggage, and storage units over the bed for personal items such as handbags, shopping bags, etc.

Modular closets. Made for varied clothing length and additional flexible storage areas.

32-inch flat-screen TVs. Installed in every stateroom, and larger flat-screen TVs featured in suites.

Another key insight was the desire for a more relaxed, intimate shipboard stateroom experience connected to the sea and linked to highly personalized spa elements. The result? A unique class of veranda staterooms called AquaClass, an oceanside retreat created for guests who are most passionate about pampering and "getting away from it all."

Simplicity and comfort are evident throughout the room, from the bathroom's fog-free mirror and tall jetted bodywash shower, to the robust pillow menu. Aroma scent selections tied to specific vacation goals (relax, revive, re-energize, etc.) provide guests with a multi-sensory experience, while lavish AquaClass toiletries and refreshing daily teas, juices and bottled water round out the offering.

AquaClass will comprise 130 of the ship's 1,425 staterooms, each double-occupancy only, creating the perfect grown-up getaway. Guests in AquaClass will receive unlimited access to Celebrity Solstice’s new AquaSpa relaxation room on the same deck, and the Persian Garden, an exotic aromatherapy and steam room. AquaClass guests also will have an exclusive dining room, Blu, an intimate, 130-seat specialty restaurant with menus developed by Celebrity Cruises’ culinary consultant, Blau & Associates, which operates upscale eateries for high-end hotels such as Las Vegas’ Bellagio, Miami’s Setai and Cabo San Lucas’ One & Only Palmilla.

The cruise line has announced that the 118,000-ton, 2,850-passenger ship will feature entirely new nighttime venues -- in addition to old favorites like Fortunes Casino and England-inspired Michael's Club.

Celebrity Solstice will be the line's first in a class of four 2,850-passenger vessels with an exceptional range of guest-inspired services and amenities. German shipbuilder Meyer Werft, who constructed the line’s Century-class fleet – Celebrity Century, Celebrity Mercury, and Celebrity Galaxy –, is building the 122,000-ton ship.

Following several weeks of inaugural activities, Celebrity Solstice will make its maiden voyage December 14, 2008, on a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico; Basseterre, St. Kitts; and Phillipsburg, St. Maarten. The itinerary will be offered on Sundays through April 5, 2009, with an alternating itinerary calling on San Juan, Puerto Rico; Phillipsburg, St. Maarten; Tortola, B.V.I; and Labadee, Haiti, through April 12, 2009.

For your personal vacation planning on one of Celebrity Cruises’ ships or on the Celebrity Solstice itself

please click here or email us directly to Diana@firstclasscruise.com!

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Categories: Cruise Reviews - Celebrity