Up until the last year, I was a die hard Royal Caribbean fan. One of my best friends is a travel agent and he kept telling me that I needed to try cruising with Celebrity. I dipped my toe in with the Celebrity Infinity over Thanksgiving in 2018. I loved it so much that I decided to try another class of ship with Celebrity, the Solstice Class. After reading this, I can just about guarantee that you will want to try the Celebrity Solstice.
The Basics:
The Celebrity Solstice is more of a medium size ship in the world of mega cruise ships these days. She can accommodate 2,852 passengers and is 1,033 feet long. This ship class has thirteen decks available to guests. The pool deck features an outdoor pool as well as an indoor, covered solarium (adults only) pool. This is standard across the solstice class (Reflection, Eclipse, Silhouette and Equinox).
Favorite Venues:
This ship has multiple venues onboard that differ compared to the smaller millennium class. The crowning gem on this ship is the Lawn Club. I loved this venue so much and it does vary by ship in this class. This ship had great patio furniture, lawn games like bocce and glass blowing classes.
Another great feature on this ship and a close second would be the Persian Garden in the Spa. This thermal spa has floor to ceiling windows looking out to sea with hot stone loungers. This is the perfect place to relax and it is included if you book an aqua class cabin. I was in there almost every day and did multiple rounds between the sauna, steam room, showers and thermal chairs.
If you are looking for some more relaxation without a spa pass, give the indoor Solarium pool a try. It is a kid free zone with a gorgeous pool and multiple hot tubs. The floor to ceiling windows give you great views of the ocean or port while you are relaxing. This is my favorite stop to come on a port day where I either don’t get off or I do something in the early morning.
Specialty Dining:
The Celebrity Solstice has many specialty dining restaurants in addition to the free venues onboard. The free venues include: Oceanview Cafe (Buffet), Grand Epernay (Main Dining Room, Blu (Aqua Class Dining Room), Luminae (Suite Dining Room), Mast Grille, AquaSpa Cafe and Room Service. The Specialty Dining options include Murano (French), Silk (Asian), Tuscan Grille (Italian) and Sushi on 5. I tried Murano and Tuscan Grille (try Tuscan for a sunset dinner). Both of the meals were exceptional. In Murano some of the dishes are prepared table side. There is something onboard to help you fix whatever you are craving. Pro Tip: The coffee bar, Cafe Al Bacio, has complimentary desserts but charges for specialty coffee. So don’t miss out on those amazing treats.
Cocktail Bars:
If you are super thirsty on vacation, the bars on Celebrity are next level. One of the stand out favorites is the Martini Bar. Between the ice topped bar and the bartenders putting on a show flipping bottles, it is my favorite bar onboard! If you want to see them put on a show, check out my video of the martini flight from the Celebrity Infinity: https://bit.ly/2TA0WMU (11:08-14:32 for bar). There are other great bars onboard like Cellar Masters, Ensemble Bar, Passport, World Class, the night club bar and all the pool bars. If you can’t find me at the Martini Bar, I’m probably at the Sunset Bar on the back of the ship for the best views!
Like any other ship, there is a theater, shopping and a casino. This ship does have a Tiffany’s where I bought my daughter a necklace duty free of course. If you are looking to try a ship with less kids and more of a classic cruise feel, Celebrity Cruises is a great choice for you. They hold true to their slogan of Modern Luxury. This is what sets them apart from other cruise lines. I hope all of these great features will encourage you to try the Celebrity Solstice!
More information on the Celebrity Solstice: https://www.celebritycruises.com/cruise-ships/celebrity-solstice
