You’ve heard of, and probably experienced a Royal Caribbean Cruise. Multiple pools and water slides, a plethora of activities to keep the little ones entertained, Broadway style productions for the whole family, and jaw-dropping feats of engineering and design like the outdoor Aquatheater onboard some of their fleet. But what do you know about Royal Caribbean’s sister company, Celebrity Cruises? I recently had the pleasure of being aboard 2 of Celebrity’s Solstice Class ships, both for 10 night itineraries, and can’t wait to share my experiences with you!
First, let’s explore the basics of a Solstice Class Vessel. The Celebrity Solstice was the first ship of this class, and she launched in 2008. The Equinox came shortly after in 2009, the Eclipse in 2010, the Silhouette in 2011 and the Reflection rounds out this class with a 2012 launch. Solstice class vessels range from 120,000-126,000 Gross Registered Tons (GRT) and range from 2852-3046 guest capacity. The basics of this mid-size cruise class are uniform throughout. Solstice Class was the first to boast real grass lawns on board as part of the Lawn Club, and nearly 80% of staterooms throughout this class have private oceanview verandas. Each feature a Grand Foyer where many Celebrity activities take place, and each have a beautiful, modern, neutral color design with sleek lines and upscale design touches. Some differences among them are the first-at-sea Hot Glass studio where you are invited to create your own glass works of art (for a fee) available on the Solstice, Equinox and Eclipse. On the Reflection and Silhouette in place of the Hot Glass Studio you have the option of Specialty Dining at the Lawn Club Grill. The Reflection Suite is a beautiful 1600sf 2-story suite that you will only find on board, you guessed it: the Reflection.
Solstice ships have beautiful Grand Foyers, and it is the hub of much of the activities while onboard. From late night dance parties and sing-alongs, to Silent Disco, to archery and egg drop challenges this is where the heart of the action is. There are thoughtful spaces throughout, comfortable lounges where you can cozy up with a book, open and airy lounges where many late-night activities take place, casual bars to grab a drink, and of course, the main theater where your nightly entertainment will take place.
In addition to the beautiful décor you’ll find on these ships, you will find the most friendly, helpful, and caring staff I’ve experienced on a major cruise line. From Embarkation Day till time to say goodbye the staff is always available with a smile and helpful attitude. We are always greeted warmly, and leave the ship with fond memories of our interactions with the staff, whether its a room steward, a bathroom attendant or a server in the main dining room. 
All Solstice vessels have main pool areas, and an adults-only enclosed solarium, although I will say the trend seems to be less than 10 kids on board when you are on a longer sailing. And each has a well equipped gym and spa area.
All in all Celebrity has my vote when it comes to cruising. The ships, the staff, the food and the entertainment have truly made my trips aboard these vessels absolutely remarkable experiences. We’ve met wonderful people who we now call friends onboard, and have even been able to interact with the same staff when we’ve been on subsequent sailings. I cannot wait to get the opportunity to experience a sailing on the next class up in the Celebrity line. The Edge Class is the newest design in this fleet, and boasts 4 ships: The Edge (2018), The Apex (2020), The Beyond (2022) and The Ascent which launched in 2023. Even for a larger class of ship, The Beyond and the Ascent only hold 3800 maximum passengers. These ships feature the “infinite veranda” staterooms, which is one of the most exciting new features to be offered: floor to ceiling windows that can open with the touch of a button! The Edge also debuted the Magic Carpet, and cantilevered platform that suspends over the sea. The platform moves throughout the day according to it’s necessary usage, and can be a loading platform when tenders are needed, an additional outdoor dining space during the day, or a groovy addition to an upper deck bar in the evening.
Stay tuned for a full report once I’ve had a chance to experience one of these for myself!
Hope to see you onboard a Celebrity sailing soon!
Til then!
Mindi Spencer
