New Ship: Secrets of Celebrity Solstice

Next fall, Celebrity Cruises will launch its first new ship since 2002. The 2,850-passenger Celebrity Solstice will represent a brand new class of ship for Celebrity Cruises (four Solstice-class ships are due out between now and 2011). But the largest ship in the Miami-based cruise line’s award-winning fleet has us wondering: Can Celebrity Cruises deliver its highly acclaimed service on such a large ship?

Celebrity positions itself squarely within the premium category, comprised primarily of ships capable of carrying between 1,000 passengers and 2,000 passengers. Larger ships typically are positioned in the “mass market” or “contemporary” category, and smaller ships typically are positioned in the “luxury” category. With its largest ship, is Celebrity going mass market? In a word, no.

While premium “purists” question the size of the ship, Celebrity Cruises President Dan Hanrahan says that Solstice, capable of carrying more than 3,000 passengers when third and fourth berths are filled, will deliver a premiumcategory on-board experience.

Celebrity, Hanrahan says, has a history of pushing the boundaries in the premium market. Back in the 1990s, the company announced numerous additions to its product, such as a celebrity chef (Michel Roux), an unprecedented amount of space and facilities for spas, and large, upscale specialty restaurants. A decade later, even mass-market cruise lines have these upgrades.

Celebrity will push the boundaries once again when it delivers the industry’s first 2,800-passenger ships geared for premium travelers. And while Celebrity is not telling us much about the new ship, saving the “wow” features to announce closer to the ship’s debut, Hanrahan does promise that Solstice will feature innovations not seen on other cruise ships.

What we do know now is that Solstice will feature a new “AquaClass” stateroom category that has been designed for spa enthusiasts. The 130 veranda staterooms in this category will offer unlimited access to an AquaSpa relaxation room and the Persian Garden (an aromatherapy and steam room), as well as complimentary dining in Blu, a 130-seat specialty restaurant.

Also announced: 85 percent of the ship’s staterooms will feature verandas, and all staterooms will be equipped with flatscreen televisions, spacious bathrooms and plush European bedding. Wireless internet will be offered throughout.

Celebrity will continue to “leak” announcements about new innovations on Solstice as the time comes closer for the ship’s debut. Stay tuned to find out how Celebrity plans to differentiate its large ship from the others.

After its European launch next fall, Celebrity Solstice begins seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale on December 14, 2008.

Sample Sailings:

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