Celebrity Solstice from Singapore to Sydney: Bali, Darwin, Cairns and Brisbane

In November and December 2012, Ben Hall joined Celebrity Solstice for her 16-night repositioning voyage from Singapore to Sydney, ahead of her first Australian season, with calls at Bali, Darwin, Cairns and Brisbane along the way. As at September 2026, several venues described here, including the Lawn Club, Tuscan Grille and Silk Harvest, have been replaced following the ship's 2026 refit. These are his despatches from the voyage.

Sailing out of Singapore

We've just sailed out of Singapore, one of the great Asian port cities, and on this cruise with Celebrity Solstice we're heading for some of the region's iconic holiday destinations on a 16-nighter that takes in Bali, Darwin, Cairns and Brisbane and finishes in Sydney, where she'll be homeported for the season.

The sail-out from Singapore was delayed by three and a half hours, as local immigration wouldn't let Solstice depart until every single passport had been handed in, but that's not a big deal when you've got the Singapore skyline as your backdrop. We were among the many who sat out on the Lawn Club, cocktail in hand, and watched the sun set over Singapore before the night lights kicked in and took over. The Lawn Club has real grass, by the way.

Solstice overnighted in Singapore, which was a real bonus, as we had more time to explore this fascinating city, so it was off through the CBD and into Chinatown for an authentic slice of local life.

When she arrives in Australia for her inaugural season Down Under, Solstice will be the highest-rated ship based in the region for a season (on the Berlitz rating), and first impressions are that it will be hard to contest that claim. She's the first of the Solstice class of ships built by Celebrity, and there is a real "wow" factor to her. The decor is modern, contemporary and very chic, with lots of elegant design touches everywhere and lots of facilities.

Bali

After a couple of very easy-going sea days out of Singapore, we arrived in one of Asia's most popular holiday destinations, Bali, and anchored off the port of Benoa, which is within easy striking distance of many of the island's main attractions.

The tender service began at 7.30am. Those on shore excursions were off first, and open tendering began at about 11.30am. It's a slightly chaotic entry into Indonesia as you step off the tender and into the town area.

It seems like everyone wants a piece of you, and you're offered taxis, flowers, clothes, massage, drinks, restaurants and tours to all of Bali's cultural attractions and beaches by locals who are out to make a living. And with more than 2,800 cruise ship guests heading ashore, there's no shortage of potential customers.

We only had one day in Bali, but it was enough time to take in a few cultural sites, including Tenganan Village, an authentic place which has retained its original architecture to reveal what life was like before modernisation. The Tirtagangga Water Palace is another place of great beauty, a favourite weekend retreat for the ancient Balinese kings.

Darwin and the Top End

After another couple of sea days we made our first port of call in Australia: Darwin, the Northern Territory's vibrant capital city.

Darwin is a city with influences that are as much Asian as they are western, and it's becoming increasingly popular as a cruise stop on Australian and Asian itineraries. It's no longer a sleepy outpost on Australia's northern frontier. This is a well-appointed city with a youthful and ethnically diverse population, blessed with a strong economy, and it's establishing itself as an exciting holiday destination in its own right.

The first thing you notice about Darwin, and it was the same on arrival this morning, is how hot it is up here. The climate is a major influence on the development and temperament of Darwin. Sharing the weather patterns of monsoon Asia, Darwin's climate tends to fluctuate between balmy and sultry depending on the season, but it encourages an outdoor lifestyle that is the envy of the rest of Australia.

Strangely, Darwin has a reputation for doing the best breakfasts, and the town itself has some great bars and cafés, but it's also the gateway to world-class national parks such as Kakadu and Litchfield.

Ship tours often take in Litchfield, as it can easily be done in a day, and on the way you can visit Crocodylus Park, a privately funded wildlife research and breeding facility that is open to the public. They specialise in wildlife conservation, management and sustainable use. Large estuarine crocodiles are fed twice daily in the main pond, where they show off their ability to propel themselves vertically to catch their food. There is an educational museum dedicated to crocodiles and a range of other local and exotic wildlife on display.

Also on the outskirts is the Territory Wildlife Park, which showcases the unique flora and fauna of the Top End. The park is set in 400 hectares of natural bush next to Berry Springs Nature Park, and the highlights are perhaps the Birds of Prey show, the billabong aquarium with its walk-through tunnel, the nocturnal house and one of the largest walk-through dome aviaries in Australia.

Litchfield National Park is centred on a sandstone plateau called the Tabletop Range. Water from springs and monsoonal rains has created a number of impressive and attractive waterfalls and cascades, some of which are ideal for swimming.

Florence Falls is an idyllic waterfall and plunge pool, perfect for swimming. It can be reached via a staircase into the valley, then along a well-formed track through small monsoon forest. Florence Falls is fed by the same creek that creates Buley Rockhole a few kilometres upstream, a series of terraced waterholes that are also ideal for swimming. The two sites are linked by a walking track that follows the creek most of the way, and together they form one of the most beautiful locations in the Top End.

Cairns, from Yorkeys Knob

After three sea days we were back on land, sort of, anchored off Yorkeys Knob on the northern beaches of Cairns, one of North Queensland's most famous holiday destinations, and tendering ashore to take in one of Australia's most appealing tropical cities.

Cairns has a reputation as a backpacker haven, but it's evolving into a sophisticated city and now has the hotels and restaurants to prove it. Dubbed the "gateway to North Queensland", Cairns is a major hub for visitors exploring the Great Barrier Reef and the region's ancient rainforests.

We only had a day in Cairns, and this time we decided to take a wander around the city, as on previous trips we'd done the most iconic activities here: snorkelling the Barrier Reef and visiting the ancient rainforests of the Daintree.

In the city itself, the centrepiece is The Esplanade, a recreation area along the oceanfront popular with walkers, joggers, rollerbladers, birdwatchers and people-watchers. It's also where a slew of restaurants and cafés beckon both locals and visitors, along with the 4,800 square metre saltwater swimming lagoon, which has become the focal point of daytime activity in Cairns.

Little souvenir shops are scattered through the city centre selling furry kangaroos and koalas, Aboriginal art, boomerangs and didgeridoos, and part of the fun of shopping in Cairns is working out which of it is junk and which is worth the money.

Just outside the city, Kuranda is a quaint village west of Cairns in the rainforest, and a train and Skyrail tour is one of the most popular ways of getting there. The Kuranda Scenic Railway takes about 90 minutes and winds through the Kuranda Range and past Barron Falls, and on the return you can take the Skyrail, which is basically a gondola running over the top of the rainforest canopy. The tour can be done in reverse order as well.

But really, this place is all about the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree, two of Australia's iconic holiday destinations.

A snorkelling or diving trip out on the Great Barrier Reef is one of those essential Australian experiences, and the beauty of Cairns is that it's one of the closest cities to one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Green and Frankland islands are a short catamaran ride away and both are ideal for an easy exploration of the reef, and some charters also head to the Outer Reef, where fixed pontoons make a comfortable base to dive into the deep blue.

Tropical North Queensland is the only place in the world where two of the most complex ecosystems, the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage-listed tropical rainforest, meet in grand style, and a trip to the Daintree is another iconic Australian experience. The 135-million-year-old rainforest is the most ancient and primitive in the world, and day trips can also take in Mossman Gorge, Port Douglas and Hartley's crocodile park.

At sea: the decks of Celebrity Solstice

After the busy port day in Cairns, we were back at sea as Solstice headed south. Australia is the first market in the world outside the Caribbean and Europe to have a Solstice-class ship, and Celebrity Solstice will be the biggest, newest and most luxurious cruise ship ever to be based in the region.

With great weather on this cruise, the upper decks have been the place to be, and even with around 2,850 guests there is enough deck space, and enough deck chairs, for it not to feel overly crowded, which can be a problem on some of the bigger cruise ships. The main outside pool deck has two pools, one for adults and one for kids, and four jacuzzis, along with plenty of shade so you don't get fried on the hot-weather cruises.

The deck above has plenty of deck chairs and the Mast Bar, but the highlight is probably the Lawn Club, which features one acre of real grass and is pretty unique in the cruising world, along with the Sunset Bar, which occupies prime position at the back of the ship.

Our personal favourite space, though, is the Solarium, a covered pool which lets in filtered sunlight. It's a serene space, and the health-inspired AquaSpa Café does light breakfasts and lunches.

Celebrity Solstice brings a number of "firsts" to local cruising, including the Lawn Club, and 85 per cent of her cabins have their own private balcony, the highest ratio of any superliner and the highest of any ship based in the region.

At her launch Solstice was the largest ship in Celebrity's fleet, introducing a number of innovations not seen on the high seas before. The fifth and final Solstice-class ship is Celebrity Reflection.

Brisbane

We docked at the mouth of the Brisbane River as Solstice headed towards Sydney, and had a day to explore the city.

For most of its history, Brisbane was labelled "a great big country town", but the Queensland capital has undergone an amazing transformation over the past decade. Now it's a vibrant and energetic city with more than a few surprises.

Forget any preconceptions that Brisbane is still a "shorts and thongs" kind of place. Local fashionistas are being joined in the hunt for original and quirky designs by their interstate and overseas counterparts, as word spreads that this is the place where cutting-edge ideas are being born. Fortitude Valley, or "the Valley", is where it's all at, and this is where you can find original designers and some great cafés and bars as well. And just in case the Valley becomes a victim of its own trendiness, suburbs like New Farm, right on the river, are emerging as funky destinations in their own right.

But probably the first thing to do in Brisbane is take a walk by the river and check out South Bank, a cultivated two-kilometre stretch of riverfront facing the CBD which has been credited with having a hand in Brisbane's vibrant growth in recent years. With its walking and cycling paths, grassy picnic areas, playgrounds and even a man-made "beach" for kids and sun lovers, it's become the place to chill out.

Below decks: bars, restaurants and staterooms

With just a day or two before the first Solstice-class ship arrived in Sydney, it was time to take stock of what lies below decks. Those balconies will make Celebrity Solstice a popular addition to the Australasian market.

Accommodation falls into six categories, from inside staterooms to multi-room suites with European butler service. There are also spa staterooms, with perks including unlimited access to the spa's Persian Garden and a specialty health-food restaurant, Blu.

The other major drawcard will be Solstice's impressive line-up of restaurants, with the superbly elegant Grand Epernay as the main dining venue. The Oceanview Café is the buffet on Deck 14, with its own bar and outside tables, which means you can dine under the stars on hot-weather cruises.

There's also a trio of excellent specialty restaurants: Murano, a small and elegant French restaurant, the Italian Tuscan Grille, and the Asian-inspired Silk Harvest. All three carry a surcharge and are high-quality restaurants, and we bought a package which included one meal at Murano and two each at Tuscan Grille and Silk Harvest.

Café al Bacio is the only dedicated café on board, and it's a popular spot during the day, with Lavazza coffee beans and fully trained baristas making European-style coffee.

At night, the bars throughout Solstice really come to life. The Sky Observation Lounge is a stunning venue at the front of the ship on Deck 14 and a popular late-night spot. The Lawn Club has the Sunset Bar right out the back on Deck 15, a great spot for a sunset drink, and there are also two pool bars, while down below are the elegant Martini Bar, the Ensemble Lounge, modelled on a classic New York speakeasy, the Passport Bar just off the main atrium and the funky Molecular Bar.

Other facilities of note include a large AquaSpa by Elemis for a spot of pampering, the Cellar Masters bar for wine tasting, a large theatre for big productions and entertainment, a casino and a shopping precinct set over two decks.

There's also a library and a card room, along with an endless array of other spaces and facilities, and to be perfectly honest you could spend two weeks on board and not see all there is to this ground-breaking ship.

And you could also spend two weeks on board and not really regret ever getting off!

More on UTM: Celebrity Solstice · Ship Review: Celebrity Solstice · Celebrity Solstice Dining · AquaSpa on Celebrity Solstice

One day ashore was never going to be enough for Bali's water palaces and traditional villages, and Pack Ya Bags arranges guided tours and itineraries on the island for travellers from Australia and New Zealand. Get in touch at info@packyabags.com

Editor's note. This article brings together UTM's original Celebrity Solstice Asia and Australia despatches, first published as a series, into a single piece. Consolidated and fact-checked on 21 September 2026.