Celebrity Solstice marks start of US$250M enhancement project

Four all-new accommodation categories will be introduced on Celebrity Solstice when it undergoes an extensive refurbishment next year. They include Panoramic Ocean View staterooms, currently found on the newer Edge-class ships. 

The 2,850-passenger cruise ship, the first of Celebrity’s Solstice series, is also the first of the five Solstice-class ships to be modernised in a far-reaching five-year investment which the brand says will totally renew the ships that were launched over consecutive years between 2008 and 2012.

Managing director EMEA at Celebrity Cruises, Claire Stirrup, tells Passenger Ship Interior and Refurbishment Review, “Our guests continue to be our North Star, we’re guided by their feedback and continue to evolve our product offering to meet their holiday needs. One way we’re achieving this is by making our classic Solstice-series ships new again by investing more than US$250M to modernise these best-in-class ships, starting with Celebrity Solstice in early 2026. 

“Guests can look forward to eight new experiences, including four new-to-sea spaces, and many redesigned favourites which elevate everything that makes these ships unforgettable. Bold, bow-to-stern innovations include reinvented outdoor escapes with enhanced views, new restaurants and entertainment designed to create moments of connection with loved ones, as well as a redesigned stay with all new stateroom categories and shipwide stateroom upgrades.”

At the time of its launch, 122,000-gt Celebrity Solstice, constructed at Meyer Werft, was the largest ship built at a German shipyard. The four other ships were launched on a yearly basis after that, starting with Celebrity Equinox and Celebrity Eclipse, which both carry 2,850 passengers, and culminating with the larger 2,866-guest Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection, which has a capacity for 3,046. 

All cabins on Celebrity Solstice will be refurbished, along with the addition of 53 new staterooms, increasing the total number of staterooms to 1,479.

“We’re excited to introduce four brand-new stateroom categories: Panoramic Infinite Veranda suite, Deluxe Panoramic Oceanview suite, Panoramic Ocean View suite and Deluxe Panoramic Ocean View staterooms,” says Ms Stirrup. “In addition, Horizon suites, currently on Celebrity Silhouette, will also be added to Celebrity Solstice, as well as Panoramic Ocean View staterooms, which can currently be found on Edge-series ships.

“We will also refresh our AquaClass staterooms to offer a fully immersive, next-level wellness experience. Every stateroom will be updated with spa-inspired elements – from massaging shower heads and aromatherapy diffusers to in-room yoga mats and a pillow menu for the perfect night’s sleep. AquaClass guests will also enjoy complimentary access to an all-new Relaxation lounge at The Spa.”

She says adding new and additional stateroom options enables the line to provide guests with more choice to experience premium accommodations on the Solstice-class ships.

The Retreat, the line’s ship-within-a-ship complex, is also being reimagined with enhanced suites, a redesigned Retreat lounge and an all-new Retreat sundeck with outdoor seating, shaded areas and an oversized hot tub.

Elsewhere, the line is adding eight new experiences, including four new-to-sea spaces, and many redesigned favourites.

New venues include the Boulevard lounge, described as an elevated, intimate venue offering live and interactive performances. It will create a new indoor entertainment hub and be flanked by the Boulevard bar.

“Designed to create increased functionality and offer guests more variety and excitement to choose from throughout their sailing, Boulevard lounge and Boulevard bar are a natural evolution of the space currently home to the Entertainment court and Celebrity Central,” says Ms Stirrup.

Fine Cut steakhouse, which debuted on the Edge ships, will replace the current Tuscan Grille  and have an upscale and elegant decor. The Italian restaurant, Trattoria Rossa, will take over the space currently occupied by the animated 3D dining experience, Le Petit Chef at Qsine.

Ms Stirrup says Trattoria Rosa will still offer an unforgettable and visual dining experience with tableside preparations of dishes inspired by Italian classics.

Other all-new venues are Celebrity Barcade, a sports and entertainment bar which replaces the Quasar nightclub.

Ms Stirrup says the modernisation programme will also extend to the top deck where the current half-acre Lawn park will become Sunset park, with expanded amenities for film screenings, concerts and outdoor activities. There will also be an expanded Sunset bar and more private cabanas.

There will be upgrades to existing venues including Cafe Al Bacio, Cellar Masters, the World Class bar, Martini bar, Pool bar, Passport bar, the fitness centre and children’s club. Also included in the refresh are Blu, the restaurant exclusive to AquaClass passengers, and Luminae, for passengers staying in The Retreat.

Following the drydock, Celebrity Solstice will return to service in March 2026 and sail on itineraries to Alaska, Hawaii, Fiji and southeast Asia, plus the first-ever 110-night Grand Voyage from September to December with 55 ports of call in 15 countries.

Details on the enhancements for the other Solstice-series ships, and the refurbishment timetable, will be shared over the coming months.