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Celebrity Solstice

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Celebrity Solstice
Celebrity Solstice in Sydney, Australia, 9 April 2026
History
Malta
NameCelebrity Solstice
Owner
OperatorCelebrity Cruises
Port of registry
Builder
CostUS$750 million
Laid down17 March 2007[2]
Launched10 August 2008[3]
Sponsored bySharon L. Smith
Christened14 November 2008
CompletedOctober 2008[4]
Maiden voyage23 November 2008
In service2008–present
Refit15 January 2026 – 2 March 2026[5]
Identification
StatusIn service
Notes[6]
General characteristics
Class & typeSolstice-class cruise ship
Tonnage
Length1,033 ft (314.86 m)
Beam121 ft (36.88 m)
Draft27 ft (8.23 m)
Decks19
Installed power4 × Wärtsilä 16V46
Propulsion
Speed24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph)
Capacity2,852 passengers
Crew1,250

Celebrity Solstice is the lead ship of the Solstice class of cruise ships operated by Celebrity Cruises, a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group. Built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg she was floated out on 10 August 2008 and christened by ocean scientist professor Sharon L. Smith at a ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, on 14 November 2008.[7][8][9] The first post-Panamax vessel in the Celebrity fleet, she features innovative interior design and onboard amenities, including a glassblowing studio, and a 12-deck-high atrium.[10]

History

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Construction

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The keel was laid in March 2007 at Meyer Werft in Papenberg, Germany.[11] This would be Celebrity's return to the Meyer shipyard since the Century class, who also built Celebrity's first ships with the Horizon class. The Celebrity Solstice left Meyer Werft on September 28, 2008. The ship was the biggest cruise ship built in Germany to that point.[12]

Delivery

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The Celebrity Solstice arrived in Fort Lauderdale on November 3, 2008. Subsequently, she embarked on a series of short preview cruises for travel agents and dignitaries.[13] On November 14, 2008, at Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, she was officially named by Sharon L. Smith.[14] She began commercial service on November 23, 2008.[15]

Refurbishments

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Celebrity Solstice underwent an 11-day dry dock from October 22 to November 1, 2016, which added an outdoor movie screen to the top-deck Patio area among other upgrades.[16]

In January 2026, Celebrity Solstice became the first ship to enter dry dock under Celebrity Cruises' "Celebrity Renewed" programme, a fleet-wide investment of more than $250 million to modernize all five Solstice-class ships.[17][5] The ship was at Seatrium's Tuas Boulevard Yard in Singapore for just over six weeks, returning to service on March 2, 2026, and departing Singapore on a 12-night voyage to Hong Kong ahead of her Alaska season debut that May.[18]

The refit added several venues new to the ship, upgraded all existing staterooms, and added 54 new cabins across four new stateroom categories, bringing the ship's total to 1,479 cabins.[19] The ship's Lawn Club outdoor venue, a one-half-acre (2,000 m2), manicured lawn with real grass on deck 15, was removed and retrofitted for the new Sunset Park venue with artificial turf. The Retreat, the ship's suite-class enclave, received a new sundeck with a hot tub and a redesigned private lounge, and AquaClass staterooms were refitted with spa-inspired amenities.[18]

Design

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Yacht designer Martin Francis of Francis Design was hired to design her exterior profile.[20] In original exterior renderings, the hull was shown as all-white with powder blue funnels and blue glass upper decks.[20] The large dark blue funnel with a white X that has been the trademark of Celebrity was replaced by two thin funnels, and the company's X logo was to be visible in the glass balcony railings on the ship's midsection. 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 could still be hard to see. During sea trials, a white X was added to the forward funnel, making Celebrity Solstice more closely resemble her fleetmates.[21]

The overall masterplan was completed by Boston-based Wilson Butler Architects, which would also design the entertainment venues, such as Main Theater, along with the Grand Foyer, and open decks, including the erstwhile Lawn Club.[22] Other designers included Tihany Design, which designed the interior of the main dining room;[23] BG Studio, which designed Cellar Masters, Passport Bar, Ensemble Lounge, the erstwhile Michael's Club, and Murano;[24] 5+Design, which designed Galleria Boutique, Fortune Casino, Art Gallery; and RTKL, which designed the Spa.[25]

Celebrity Solstice at Icy Strait Point, Alaska

By January 2026, her hull had been repainted to Celebrity's trademark dark blue along with her other Solstice-class fleetmates to match the modern aesthetic of Celebrity's newer Edge-class ships.


Post 2026 Refurbishment Features

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  • Sunset Park: An outdoor social area on the top deck, hosting awn games and open-air concerts[26][27]
  • Solarium and the Spa's Persian Garden: An adults-only pool area[28]
  • Trattoria Rossa: An Italian speciality restaurant[28]
  • Fine Cut Steakhouse: A steakhouse; the concept was previously exclusive to Celebrity's Edge-class ships[28]
  • Murano: A French specialty restaurant[28]
  • Sushi on Five: A Japanese specialty restaurant[28]
  • Boulevard Lounge: An entertainment venue offering daytime programming and evening concerts, with an adjoining bar[26]
  • The Parlor: A sports and gaming lounge[27]
  • The Celebrity Shops: A shopping floor on deck 5 featuring luxury retailers like an authorized Breitling and Effy Jewelry stores
  • The Retreat: A suite-class enclave that gained a new sundeck and lounge in the refit[18]

Environmental Sustainability

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The Celebrity Solstice is equipped with a photovoltaic system on the upper deck. 216 solar panels generate enough power to supply a large portion of the vessel's lighting.[29] Together with other energy-efficient systems, particularly the air conditioning and ventilation systems, an optimized hull shape, and effective underwater coating, the ship features energy savings of approximately 30% compared to ships of similar size.[30]

Incidents

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On May 17, 2022, a 40-year-old passenger, later identified by Alaska State Troopers as Selena Pau Pres of Houston, Texas, went overboard from Celebrity Solstice near Eldred Rock in the upper Lynn Canal while the ship sailed from Juneau to Skagway.[31] The U.S. Coast Guard, assisted by the cutter Chandeleur, an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, and the ship's own lifeboats, searched Lynn Canal for about nine hours before suspending the operation later that day, citing an estimated survival time of roughly six hours in the 41 °F (5 °C) water.[31] Alaska State Troopers identified the missing woman on May 20 and opened a death investigation; her body was not recovered.[32]

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 "Celebrity Solstice: Summary (26783)". Vessel Register for DNV. DNV. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  2. ↑ "First Block of Celebrity Solstice". 19 March 2007. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024.
  3. ↑ "Undocking of Celebrity Solstice". Archived from the original on 2 October 2011.
  4. ↑ "Celebrity Solstice".
  5. 1 2 Beranac, Nusreta (15 January 2026). "Celebrity Solstice Begins Dry Dock for Major Modernization". Cruise Critic. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "Celebrity Solstice (26783)". Vessel Register for DNV. DNV. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  7. ↑ Knego, Peter (3 January 2009). "CELEBRITY SOLSTICE Decked!". Maritime Matters. Archived from the original on 13 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  8. ↑ Smith 2010, p. 61.
  9. ↑ Saunders 2013, p. 142.
  10. ↑ Saunders 2013, pp. 143–144.
  11. ↑ "First Block of Celebrity Solstice". MEYER WERFT. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  12. ↑ "Germany's Biggest Cruise Ship on River Ems". MEYER WERFT. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  13. ↑ NWZonline.de Luxusliner Spezial Archived 4 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved September 29, 2008
  14. ↑ "Flagship of Celebrity Cruises' Solstice Class Fleet is Industry's First to be Named by Female Scientist: University of Miami Oceanographer Dr. Sharon Smith". Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. University of Miami. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  15. ↑ "Celebrity Solstice Enters Service with Applause from Press and Trade". Celebrity Cruises. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  16. ↑ "Celebrity Solstice deck plan". CruiseMapper. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  17. ↑ "Celebrity Solstice marks start of US$250M enhancement project". Riviera Maritime Media. 7 October 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  18. 1 2 3 Shoffman, Marc. "First look at revamped Celebrity Solstice cruise ship". The Independent. Retrieved 25 July 2026 – via AOL.
  19. ↑ "What's New on Celebrity Solstice After Its Refurbishment". Cruise Critic. 29 April 2026. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  20. 1 2 "Experience Cruise". USA Today. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  21. ↑ "Cruise ship tours: Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Solstice". www.usatoday.com.
  22. ↑ "Celebrity Solstice Cruise Design". Wilson Butler Architects.
  23. ↑ "Legacy". Tihany Design - Luxury Interior Design.
  24. ↑ "Hospitality Portfolio | BG Studio | NYC Luxury Interior Design Firm". BG Studio International.
  25. ↑ "Celebrity Cruises, Solstice". CallisonRTKL.
  26. 1 2 "Celebrity Solstice Returns from Dry Dock". Cruise Critic. 2 March 2026. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  27. 1 2 "Inside Celebrity Solstice's $50 Million Cruise Ship Makeover". Matador Network. 2 June 2026. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 "Celebrity Solstice Cruise Ship | Editor's Review". Cruise Critic. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  29. ↑ "Celebrity Solstice Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review". CruiseMapper. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  30. ↑ "In Focus: Celebrity Solstice". MEYER WERFT. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  31. 1 2 "Search suspended for woman who fell overboard from a cruise ship in Southeast Alaska". Alaska Public Media. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  32. ↑ Childers, Shelley (21 May 2022). "Houston woman missing: Selena Pau Pres falls overboard Solstice cruise ship off Alaska coast". ABC13 Houston (KTRK-TV). Retrieved 25 July 2026.

Bibliography

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