Awaiting the Celebrity Solstice
By Anders Johannessen
Celebrity Solstice is one of the most eagerly anticipated new cruise ships of 2008. Scheduled for delivery in October from Germany’s Meyer Werft, the 122,000-gross ton, 315-meter long vessel ushers in a new generation of ships for Celebrity Cruises. The brand has not introduced a new ship since the 90,280-gross ton, 1,950-passenger Constellation in 2002 (the fourth and final unit in the popular Millennium-class), yet for a long time Celebrity remained tight-lipped about the Solstice. Over the past few months, however, the line has begun releasing information at a steady rate, promising Celebrity Solstice will be groundbreaking both in terms of interior design, passenger facilities and accommodation, and technology.
Renderings of the Solstice show a ship quite different from her predecessors. First and foremost, she will feature a completely white hull (the blue ribbons typical of the Celebrity livery are gone) and two thin stacks will replace the mighty, angular funnel with the Greek “Ch” symbol which characterizes the exterior profile of Celebrity’s earlier vessels. Also, the Solstice will have huge amounts of glass on her upper decks, especially in the large superstructure forward over the bridge. Hence, the completed ship will probably look quite unique compared to most other cruise industry newbuildings of late.
Interiors set to stun
With the Solstice, Celebrity is clearly also seeking to break the mold of cruise ship interior design and to offer something different and trendy. According to the line, the Solstice will feature some of the most stylish and varied public spaces at sea. Two of the design firms appointed for the design of the bars, lounges and restaurants on board are BG Studio International Inc., based in New York, and 5+ Design, which has offices in Hollywood and Hong Kong. Both firms work in the field of urban simplicity – or in the exact words of BG: “New York sophistication punctuated with precise European attention to detail.” Meanwhile, Boston-based Wilson Butler is charge of the new Lawn Club.
On board the Solstice, there will be several new public rooms and concepts, while some Celebrity mainstays will return with a new touch. Among the new areas we find Cellar Masters, a sophisticated wine bar inspired by the deep tones of a winery during a summer sunset. The Riedel wine-tasting program, introduced throughout the Celebrity fleet in 2007, will be featured here. Other new additions are the Ensemble Lounge, a cocktail bar; the Passport Bar, decorated in the style of an elegant yacht’s interior and with warm tones of walnut and zebra wood; Quasar, a nightclub inspired by the futuristic styles of the 60’s and 70’s; and Sky Observation Lounge, the ambiance of which will transform each night reflective of the different styles of dance featured.
Among the venues that will be familiar to past Celebrity guests we find The Martini Bar, no doubt inspired by its namesake on Celebrity’s Century (which was redone in its present form during that ship’s major 2006 revitalization). Like the Martini Bar on the Century, it will feature a frosted bar counter with a chilled surface. New on the Solstice, however, will be Crush, a small alcove featuring an ice-filled table where guests can participate in caviar and vodka tastings. Other public areas carried over from previous Celebrity ships – at least in the name – are Fortunes Casino and Michael’s Club.
Cellar Masters
Crush
Michael’s Club
Passport Bar
Redefining staterooms
In planning the Solstice, Celebrity says it wanted to redefine cruise ship staterooms. To achieve this, the line brought in fresh sets of eyes, or more specifically five women with different cruising backgrounds (women are the primary cruise planners as well as the most discerning guests when it comes to staterooms, according to Celebrity) to serve as consultants. At the conclusion of a four-month process led by an innovation consultancy firm, the women had come up with a vision of their own, citing a sense of openness, personalization and intuition as key inspirations. Their recommendations – such as employing a softer color palette – were incorporated into the design by Celebrity’s own Newbuilding & Design Department together with Miami-based design partner RTKL Associates Inc. (RTKL also is involved in the design of some of the Solstice’s public areas.)
According to Celebrity, the Solstice’s deluxe veranda staterooms will be 15% larger than comparable accommodation on the other ships in the fleet. Space has been gained in part by employing a distinctive interlocking stateroom floor plan with emphasis on better and more efficient space utilization. In what the line claims is an industry first, the Solstice features an adjoining stateroom design with a double set of doors, allowing guests to open up space for families traveling together, or close doors for a more private environment. Verandas of adjoining staterooms also can be opened up to create a veranda spanning both rooms.
Following the trend set by Costa Crociere and MSC Cruises, the Solstice will be the first Celebrity ship to feature dedicated spa class staterooms. 130 of the ship’s 1,425 staterooms will belong to the new AquaClass category and be located close to the AquaSpa itself. Their occupants will have unlimited access to the spa’s relaxation room and the Persian Garden (an aromatherapy and steam room), as well as to an exclusive dining room, the 130-seat Blu Restaurant.
Veranda Room
First in a class of four
The contract to build the Celebrity Solstice – which was initially known simply by the project name Challenger – was signed in July 2005, and the keel laying ceremony took place on March 17, 2007. Three sister ships – Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Eclipse and one as-yet unnamed vessel – have since been ordered and are set to debut between 2009 and 2011. With capacity for 2,850 passengers each (based on double occupancy), the new Solstice class ships will greatly increase Celebrity’s total guest capacity. The cost per berth for each vessel is estimated at $280,000 based on current exchange rates, according to the line.
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