The Celebrity Solstice Cruise Ship: A New Class of Ship

This is a review of the newest Celebrity ship, the Solstice. This ship, which, according to Celebrity Cruise Line's website*, weighs in at 122,000 tons, holds up to 2,850 passengers, had its inaugural sailing on November 23, 2008. While frequent cruisers will find the layout familiar, the details of this ship has been redesigned from the water-line up.

When you first enter the Grand Foyer, you are struck by the richness of the marble, teak, and brass, as well as the scale. Whether looking toward the massive staircases spanning three decks or the elegant glass elevators rising ten decks, you can feel the huge size difference between this and the previous Millennium class ships. And yet, the lines and the traffic flow prevent you from ever being aware of the additional 800 passengers this ship can handle.

After entering the stateroom you really begin to see the differences in the new design. The integration of a new floor plan lends itself well to the new amenities you will find in the cabin. From the large flat screen TV mounted on the wall over a new roomy dresser to the newly designed closet space, these cabins feel a lot more like a bedroom than a ship's cabin. The bathroom sports a circular glass enclosed shower that is far nicer than the tiny square shower used in most other ships. And finally, the bed. Celebrity has followed in the footsteps of major hotel chains in giving priority to a luxurious, comfortable bed that is far superior than the cot you may have experienced on previous cruises.

In keeping up with RCCL's rock climbing wall and skating rink, Celebrity has included amenities not usually found on a cruise ship. Up on deck 15, a large portion of the deck is covered with a lush green lawn where bocce, croquet, and putting competitions are held. Just off the lawn, Corning has supplied artisans from its glass museum to give live glass-blowing demonstrations throughout the cruise.