Celebrity Solstice Class Ships

One of the benefits travel consultants receive is the opportunity to see a lot of cruise ships, whether on their own cruises or at trade shows where they set up inspections of the cruise ships in port. For the most part there aren’t many surprises from ship to ship, other than their varying size, style of decoration, level of luxury and added venues on the larger ships. One company, however, seems determined to step things up a notch each time they release a new class of ship. First they added rock climbing walls, then ice rinks, then flow riders and cantilevered hot tubs on the various classes of Royal Caribbean ships. But now they’ve taken this urge-to-innovate to their Celebrity Cruise Line brand, and they’ve knocked my adult socks off!

I had a chance to visit the Celebrity Solstice in March, several months after her launch. Since then Celebrity has christened the Equinox, and two additional siblings are due to arrive in 2010 (Eclipse) and 2011 (yet unnamed). From the time we were ushered on to the ship, the group of travel consultants I was with could not stop the superlatives; “amazing”, “exceptional”, “beyond belief” were all comments I heard from my fellow Solstice visitors.

Our first view was of the multi-storied atrium at the center of the ship, with its two-story, beautifully appointed library visible from all levels. A touch of class, that two story library, which would be repeated in every venue and cabin throughout the ship.

The cabins on the Solstice class ships offer a modern warmth and touches of luxury that are usually only available on the ultra luxury cruise lines. Even inside cabins feel spacious, though their square footage is not different than other cruise lines of the same caliber.

Other innovations that caught my attention:
• A plethora of unique eating venues that ranged from the Bistro on Five crepe bistro to the exclusive Blu, a restaurant only open to those in Aqua Category cabins and suites. The main dining room, the buffet (which reminded me more of a marketplace that the standard ship cafeteria) and the four specialty restaurants all had a flare that I have not seen on other ships.
• The lawn area. Yes, this was the touted new innovation for the Solstice class of ships, and it is cool…real lawn, real croquet and real glass blowing in the special exhibition area next to the lawn
• The pools, particularly the adult solarium pool. These are not your normal ship pools, but more like something you’d see at the Peninsula in Beverly Hills, with luxurious lounge chairs and cabanas and waterfalls.
• The bars, particularly the Martini bar with its iced counter top and ice-filled tables. Throughout the ship the decorative touches are unique to any cruise ship I’ve seen, but to see every single person who walked through the Martini bar go up to look at the curtains that encompass the room definitely made a statement.
• The shopping promenade. I find shops on a ship to be a necessary evil, but the shopping area on the Solstice class ships does not jump out at you and foist unnecessary merchandise on you (unless they have those ungodly atrium sales, which I have yet to read about). In fact, the promenade looks like a lovely display of classy stores bordering the photo gallery and the casino.

Ok, now my reservations, and there is truly only one, which will probably cause me some flack. These are beautiful, adult designed ships. Why not then limit them to adults? I think Royal Caribbean has it knocked in providing the perfect family atmosphere on their Royal Caribbean brand cruise ships. If I were traveling with my grandson, either RCCL or Disney or Princess would be a perfect option due to their family-centric activities and wonderful kids programs. Celebrity has added a nice kids area to these ships, but reports from one holiday week cruise had kids running all over and not being monitored by staff, even the adults only pool. These are just not kid ships, so leave the kids at home with grandma and enjoy some time as a couple (I have already voiced this to Celebrity as have many others).

Bottom line, I am so taken with these ships that I’ve already booked onto the Eclipse Baltic cruise in 2010 at non-travel agent pricing. I want to experience everything from their beautiful cabins to their sensual solarium…and yes, without my grandson.