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Having just returned from a pre-inaugural sailing of the Celebrity Solstice, I thought I would share an “agent’s eye view” of the newest and largest vessel in the Celebrity fleet. The first of four ships in Celebrity’s Solstice Class, she does not sizzle with glitz and glamour, but rather simmers with style and sophistication. Contemporary clean lines and sleek design define the ships décor. As I wandered the ship admiring the innovative touches and taking note of subtle nuances that set the ship apart from others, I thought about my clients. Who would this ship appeal to and who would best be suited to sail the Solstice?

Join me on this exploration of the ship and note both the positive and negative discoveries I made that may help you in qualifying your own clients as a perfect fit for a Solstice cruise.

This is an area that the Solstice receives high marks as well as low. The staterooms are well-designed with adjustable flat-screen TVs with attached Apple minis allowing for fully interactive services, including Internet access. Beds are comfortable and high enough to allow for storage of oversized suitcases, etc. Storage space has been improved immensely. There is shelving above the beds and tucked away in little nooks and crannies through out the cabin. Beds are comfortable and trundle beds are used to accommodate additional guests. Closets are on an inner facing wall, rather than the typical hall opposite the bathroom. Although, the closets modular design allows for clothing of different lengths, it is not exceptionally large. I would caution clients to travel lightly as I doubt there is enough space to accommodate two persons on a typical seven day cruise. Another word of caution as relates to the closets: Placement of the couch and bed are reversed in every other cabin along a hall. While this is a great design for providing extraneous noise reduction between cabins, it is difficult to access the closet in those cabins that have the couch placed next to the closet.

The bathrooms are exceptional by cruise standards. They are much roomier than other mass market cruise lines. Modern, stylish fixtures along with lots of functional shelving and small drawers for incidentals are a welcome improvement. As for the shower, someone must have read my numerous reviews on my criteria for judging cruise ship bathrooms. Rounded, sliding doors make for a more spacious shower and much better than the “clingy” shower curtain. The shower is equipped with an adjustable shower head and a foot bar for shaving ones legs (yeah). The only negative I found was the lack of a clothes line in the shower to hang clothes to dry. While I was pleased with the standard stateroom showers, I was not as impressed with the overhead rain showers in the suites. While this is totally a matter of personal opinion, I often wish to shower without washing my hair, as do many of my female clients.

I was very disappointed in the Family Staterooms. These verandah staterooms offer two bedrooms and a separate living area. However, there is very limited storage/closet space in the master bedroom (read: room to hang about 4 or 5 items max) and the second bedroom is just large enough to accommodate bunk beds. While they are designed to accommodate 6 persons, there is only one bathroom and the limited storage space makes for very crowded and cluttered conditions. If you are booking families on the Solstice, I encourage you to book two connecting staterooms, rather than the Family Staterooms. The reason being, a unique and welcome feature has been added to the stateroom configuration on the Solstice. Adjoining staterooms are connected by a private interlocking vestibule in the corridor, rather than a connecting stateroom door inside the cabins. Verandahs may also be connected by opening the divider. I believe this option would be more desirable for most families.

Overall, the dining venues and quality of food on the Solstice have elevated the Celebrity experience to new heights. With 10 restaurants to choose from, “foodies” should be pleased. The main dining room is luxurious and I found the food to be quite good. I can highly recommend the chateaubriand – it was superb (best of all - it is served as a meal for one). Portions were not large, but adequate.

My dining room service was both prompt and professional. However, on the flip side, others I spoke with were not as impressed with their service. So, as is the case on most mass market lines, inconsistency is evident.

I was particularly impressed with the Oceanview Café. Countless individual buffet stations offer an endless array of ethnic choices and traditional favorites, as well as a number of made to order stations.

The stations are designed so that there is an even flow of traffic and to eliminate exceptionally long lines.

But, what truly sets the Solstice apart is the alternative dining options. The Ensemble Lounge provides the entrance to the Alternative Dining Venues and offers a nice place to meet for a quiet pre-dinner cocktail.

Their signature Murano Restaurant is adjacent to this lounge. For guests who have dined at Murano in the past, note that the menu has changed slightly and table-side preparation has been for the most part eliminated, as has the lengthy presentation of the meal.

From there a hall leads to the aft of the ship and opens into an expanse of alternative dining venues. Separated from the rest of the ship, it provides an intimate ambiance in an upscale environment.

With reservations and a cover charge, guests can dine at The Tuscan Grille (an Italian steakhouse)

Blu can also be found in this aft enclave and is designed for guests staying in Aqua Class staterooms. We were offered tastings at each of these restaurants and all were delicious.

To round out the dining venues, The Bistro on Five is another nice addition to the dining choices and offers such specialties as crepes and salads for a $5 cover. The Aqua Spa Café (a carry over from the Millennium Class ships) provides healthy snacks and spa cuisine. A pool grill serves up burgers, fries, hot dogs, tacos and such for those guests that wish to remain outdoors by the pool. While the food was tasty, this small venue was crowded and service was slow.

Okay, I will admit that I am a live theater buff, but the production shows I saw are not to be missed. “Solstice – The Show” is a Cirque de Soleil type of performance and quite impressive. “Pulse” is a high energy musical variety show. Talented performers, strong vocalists, accomplished dancers and impressive sets made each of these performances the best I have seen in a long time on a cruise ship and far superior to the typical Celebrity offerings. The music venues around the ship are varied and enjoyable and there is something to suit all musical tastes. When it comes to improving on a good thing – the lounges on the Solstice truly deliver. Celebrity’s signature lounge, Michael’s Club offers the same comfortable ambiance and style as the rest of its fleet. This piano bar is also the venue for jazz musicians.

The Martini Bar (another staple of Celebrity vessels) on the Solstice is sure to be one of the “hottest” or should I say “coolest” spots on the ship. A circular ice bar (yes, a bar with a real layer of ice counter top) draws a crowd the minute it opens. The bar waiters mix drinks in the fashion of Tom Cruise in the movie “Cocktail” and patrons sit two and three deep around the bar. Crush, a frosted bar featuring an ice-filled table in an alcove of the Martini Bar offers vodka and caviar tastings.

My favorite of the new additions is The Cellar Masters. This cozy wine bar is reminiscent of a Napa Valley wine cellar and offers guests an opportunity to discover new vintages or enjoy their favorites.

There is even a relaxing lounge amidst the Galleria Shops. There are numerous other lounges throughout the ship that offer stunning views, pulsating music or quiet enclaves to round out the diversity. There is a nice size casino, and a plus for many is that it has a “no-smoking” policy. While I applaud this move and find that many of my clients will be appreciative, I do have gamblers that are avid smokers and this would definitely be a deal breaker.

There was much hype surrounding the rooftop Lawn Club as the Solstice was unveiled. As far as I am concerned, the jury is still out on this venue. It’s not like we haven’t seen grass before and its limited use and difficulty to maintain make it a questionable use of space. Two bocce ball courts, a putting green and open “green area” were already showing signs of excessive wear in high traffic areas before it had even begun its first official cruise. Much of the area was roped off and even it was looking a bit lackluster.

Adjacent to the Lawn Club is the Hot Glass Show. Operated by the Corning Museum, glass-blowers share their craft in front of a live audience several times a day. These demonstrations, however, are adding to the deterioration of the lawn. When the limited seating and standing room space on the outdoor patio are filled for viewing, guests stand on the lawn. On the other hand, while this is an interesting educational venue I am not sure how many times guests would choose to watch a demonstration. This leads me again to question if this is the most advantageous use of the space. It will be interesting to see if the Lawn Club will be configured on the Equinox and future Solstice Class ships.

While the Solstice offers a Children’s Program, the ship appears to be designed for adult pleasures. There is no children’s pool and, although well-outfitted, the two youth facilities do not seem to be of a high priority. There are, however, numerous enrichment areas on the ship, such as the Planet Earth environmental exhibit.

So, depending on the needs and interests of the children, the Solstice may still be a viable option for families with children who do not need to be entertained all day. There is a large Internet Café and the entire ship is wired for wi-fi, but service is slow. Although the Solstice is large, it still provides numerous small enclaves and cozy lounges that manage to create an intimate appeal. The ship is designed in zones, so that it is fairly easy to learn your way around the ship. Guests with limited mobility easily navigate from one venue to another.

There is a live tree suspended over the glass elevators in the center of the atrium that is both aesthetically appealing and a bit of a nuisance. On a rotating basis, two of the eight main elevators are out of service for cleaning apparently due to falling leaves from the tree.

This can cause a bit of an inconvenience as guests wait for elevators during prime times. Be cautious about placing your clients in any of the suites that are directly across from the elevators. These areas seem to generate a lot of noise and can be less than desirable for guests seeking quiet while in their stateroom.

The cabana type double loungers at the pool and hammocks in the Solarium are a nice touch and create havens of shade and comfort.

The Solstice offers one of the largest shopping experiences onboard a ship. Shopaholics will enjoy the two-level shopping arcade.

For guests who wish to be pampered, the Aqua Class staterooms are perfect. Not only do they receive extra stateroom amenities, such as Frette robes and teeth whitening kits, but they are offered access to Blu Restaurant, the spa’s relaxation room and Persian Garden and a dedicated spa concierge to assist them.

There is no doubt the Solstice, by any standards, is a beautiful ship. Those who are frequent cruisers on Celebrity should be pleased with many of the added enhancements and innovative features, while the ship maintains many of the signature touches of the Celebrity line.

New cruisers who seek a sophisticated environment and cruisers looking for a bit more posh mass market experience would be well suited for a Solstice cruise.

Nancy Norris
Owner, Portside Travel
Cruise Editor

Nancy Norris, a former editor of CruiseReviews.com and PortReviews.com where her reviews are still the top performers, is the feature writer for The Heart of Lake County Magazine's travel section, contributing author of travel guide books for consumers and educational resources for agents. She is a home-based travel agent specializing in cruising and maintains a strong presence on the Internet as administrator and moderator for various travel agent forums.


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