Celebrity Solstice
Encyclopedia
Celebrity Solstice is a owned and operated by Celebrity Cruises
. At the time she was launched, she held the record for the largest cruise ship ever built in Germany
; however, her record was surpassed when the Disney Dream
was launched in 2010.
Celebrity Solstice is the first ship in the Solstice class, her sister ships being Celebrity Equinox
, Celebrity Eclipse
, Celebrity Silhouette
and Celebrity Reflection. Equinox and Eclipse entered service in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Silhouette is scheduled for launch in 2011, and Reflection is expected to sail beginning in 2012.
on 28 September 2008, and arrived in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on 3 November 2008. Subsequently she embarked on a series of short preview cruises for travel agents and dignitaries. On 14 November she was officially named by the ocean scientist Sharon L. Smith in a ceremony at Port Everglades
. Celebrity Solstice began commercial service on 23 November 2008.
ships. In original exterior renderings, the hull was shown as all-white with powder blue funnels and blue glass upper decks. In a more recent update, the light blue color had been changed to Celebrity's
normal dark blue color and the hull was shown having a resemblance to the current fleet's livery, with the promenade deck painted dark blue. Similarly, the large dark blue funnel with a white X that had been the trademark of Celebrity
thus far has been replaced by two thin funnels, and it was planned to have the X logo of the company visible in the glass balcony railings on the ship's "hump" (The area of superstructure which extends outward farther than the rest of the balconies). Throughout her fitting out, sea trials, and launch, it was noted that the glass X, unless seen from certain angles, was not visible. Shortly after, the X was refinished to be darker, but still can be hard to see. An afterthought during the sea trials saw the addition of a white X onto the forward funnel, thus bringing Solstice more closely related to her fleetmates.
Summer 2009- Europe sailing from Civitavecchia
Winter 2009- Caribbean sailing from Fort Lauderdale
Summer 2010- Caribbean sailing from Fort Lauderdale
Winter 2010- Caribbean sailing from Fort Lauderdale
Summer 2011- Europe sailing from Barcelona
Winter 2011- Caribbean sailing from Fort Lauderdale
Summer 2012- Europe sailing from Barcelona
Winter 2012- Australia and New Zealand sailing from Sydney
Celebrity Solstice and her sisters offer seven different stateroom categories, including the new AquaClass.
Other onboard amenities include a large theater with a 1,400+ seating capacity, multiple restaurant dining options, The Patio on the Lawn, numerous bars and clubs, Solstice Deck, youth facilities, Online@Celebrity, and many other common and unique features.
Some unique features include glass-blowing classes/demonstrations as well as The Lawn Club, a live grass lawn between the ship's funnels on the upper deck. On May 30th, 2010 the Celebrity Solstice launched the iLounge.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises is a cruise line founded in 1988 by the Greek Chandris Group. In 1997, Celebrity Cruises Ltd. merged with Royal Caribbean International to become Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., which operates Celebrity, Royal Caribbean International, Azamara Club Cruises, Pullmantur Cruises and CDF...
. At the time she was launched, she held the record for the largest cruise ship ever built in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
; however, her record was surpassed when the Disney Dream
Disney Dream
Disney Dream is the third cruise ship operated by Disney Cruise Line, part of The Walt Disney Company, which entered service in 2011. The Disney Dream currently sails 3-, 4-, and 5-day itineraries to The Bahamas. The Captain of Disney Dream is Tom Forberg...
was launched in 2010.
Celebrity Solstice is the first ship in the Solstice class, her sister ships being Celebrity Equinox
Celebrity Equinox
Celebrity Equinox is a Solstice-class cruise ship built by Meyer Werft in Germany. Celebrity Equinox is the second of the five Solstice-class vessels, owned and operated by Celebrity Cruises. She is a sister ship of Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Silhouette and the forthcoming...
, Celebrity Eclipse
Celebrity Eclipse
Celebrity Eclipse is a , operated by Celebrity Cruises. She is the sister ship of Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox, which entered service in November 2008 and July 2009, respectively. A fourth ship in the class, Celebrity Silhouette, she entered service in Fall 2011. She is the third...
, Celebrity Silhouette
Celebrity Silhouette
Celebrity Silhouette is a , owned and operated by Celebrity Cruises. Celebrity Silhouette is the fourth ship in the Solstice class, her sister ships being Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Reflection. Solstice Equinox and Eclipse entered service in 2008, 2009,...
and Celebrity Reflection. Equinox and Eclipse entered service in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Silhouette is scheduled for launch in 2011, and Reflection is expected to sail beginning in 2012.
Service history
Celebrity Solstice left the Meyer WerftMeyer Werft
The Meyer Werft is one of the remaining large German shipyards, headquartered in Papenburg. Since 1997, it has been part of the Meyer Neptun Group together with Neptun Werft in Rostock.-History:...
on 28 September 2008, and arrived in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on 3 November 2008. Subsequently she embarked on a series of short preview cruises for travel agents and dignitaries. On 14 November she was officially named by the ocean scientist Sharon L. Smith in a ceremony at Port Everglades
Port Everglades
Port Everglades is a port in Broward County, Florida. As one of South Florida's leading economic powerhouses, Port Everglades is the gateway for international trade and cruise vacations. Already one of the three busiest cruise ports worldwide, Port Everglades is also one of Florida's leading...
. Celebrity Solstice began commercial service on 23 November 2008.
Exterior design
Externally, Celebrity Solstice looks very different from previous Celebrity CruisesCelebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises is a cruise line founded in 1988 by the Greek Chandris Group. In 1997, Celebrity Cruises Ltd. merged with Royal Caribbean International to become Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., which operates Celebrity, Royal Caribbean International, Azamara Club Cruises, Pullmantur Cruises and CDF...
ships. In original exterior renderings, the hull was shown as all-white with powder blue funnels and blue glass upper decks. In a more recent update, the light blue color had been changed to Celebrity's
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises is a cruise line founded in 1988 by the Greek Chandris Group. In 1997, Celebrity Cruises Ltd. merged with Royal Caribbean International to become Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., which operates Celebrity, Royal Caribbean International, Azamara Club Cruises, Pullmantur Cruises and CDF...
normal dark blue color and the hull was shown having a resemblance to the current fleet's livery, with the promenade deck painted dark blue. Similarly, the large dark blue funnel with a white X that had been the trademark of Celebrity
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises is a cruise line founded in 1988 by the Greek Chandris Group. In 1997, Celebrity Cruises Ltd. merged with Royal Caribbean International to become Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., which operates Celebrity, Royal Caribbean International, Azamara Club Cruises, Pullmantur Cruises and CDF...
thus far has been replaced by two thin funnels, and it was planned to have the X logo of the company visible in the glass balcony railings on the ship's "hump" (The area of superstructure which extends outward farther than the rest of the balconies). Throughout her fitting out, sea trials, and launch, it was noted that the glass X, unless seen from certain angles, was not visible. Shortly after, the X was refinished to be darker, but still can be hard to see. An afterthought during the sea trials saw the addition of a white X onto the forward funnel, thus bringing Solstice more closely related to her fleetmates.
Itinerary
Winter 2008- Caribbean sailing from Fort LauderdaleSummer 2009- Europe sailing from Civitavecchia
Winter 2009- Caribbean sailing from Fort Lauderdale
Summer 2010- Caribbean sailing from Fort Lauderdale
Winter 2010- Caribbean sailing from Fort Lauderdale
Summer 2011- Europe sailing from Barcelona
Winter 2011- Caribbean sailing from Fort Lauderdale
Summer 2012- Europe sailing from Barcelona
Winter 2012- Australia and New Zealand sailing from Sydney
Amenities
Celebrity Solstice and her sisters offer seven different stateroom categories, including the new AquaClass.
Other onboard amenities include a large theater with a 1,400+ seating capacity, multiple restaurant dining options, The Patio on the Lawn, numerous bars and clubs, Solstice Deck, youth facilities, Online@Celebrity, and many other common and unique features.
Some unique features include glass-blowing classes/demonstrations as well as The Lawn Club, a live grass lawn between the ship's funnels on the upper deck. On May 30th, 2010 the Celebrity Solstice launched the iLounge.