Ship Review: Celebrity Solstice

• Sailing since: 2008.
• Size: 122,000 tons.
• Guests: 2,852, at double occupancy.
• Accommodations: 85 per cent of accommodations have private balconies, 121 connecting staterooms, 11 categories of stateroom including suites.
• Dining options: 12 including room service.
• Entertainment: Broadway style shows, the Hot Glass show, entertainers.
• What’s onboard: 2 pools including an adults-only solarium, whirlpools, a casino, a spa, shops, a gym, Celebrity iLounge, kid facilities including the Fun Factory.
• Where you’ll find her: She spends the southern hemisphere summer cruising Australasia and the northern hemisphere summer cruising Alaska.

Review

Celebrity Solstice was the first in a new class of ship for Celebrity Cruises when she debuted nine years ago, and was briefly the largest ship in the line’s fleet. Besides a wide choice of dining venues, the ship also has many classes of accommodation to suit most budgets. Solstice also introduced a number of innovations not seen before at sea, including a top deck Lawn Club with real grass, a hot glass show, and a putting course. Other unusual design elements include environmentally friendly solar panels contributing to her power, and a hull design and paintwork which boost fuel efficiency. Celebrity Cruises made headlines when it announced it was sending Celebrity Solstice to Australia to homeport for the summer in late 2012. Since then she’s earned a loyal following, attracting a combination of families during school holidays and sophisticated and more adventurous mature couples. In late 2016 the ship underwent a makeover prior to the 2016-17 Australasian summer season. New additions include a Canyon Ranch SpaClub, a renovation of the Sky Observation Lounge, and the addition of Cellar Masters, a state-of-the-art Enomatic wine-by-the-glass dispensing system.

UltimateTravelMagazine.com Loves

• The adults-only Solarium.
• Spa lovers can stay in dedicated AquaClass staterooms.
• There are dining choices to suit all culinary tastes.
• The new Canyon Ranch SpaClub, and in particular the Persian Garden.
• The Lawn Club, which features real grass, and which has new cabanas from the 2016 makeover.

Insider Tips 

• Everything is organised in sections; all the entertainment is forward, the food is aft; and the casino, reception, and shops are in the middle.
• Dress is resort casual by day, but Celebrity passengers tend to dress up for dinner, however, formal nights on Celebrity have been replaced by "evening chic" in the main dining room.
• Book speciality restaurants before you cruise to avoid missing out.
• The burgers at the Mast Grill are free, and delicious.