Latest news with #CelebrityCruises
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Celebrity Cruises plans massive ship upgrades
Celebrity Cruises plans massive ship upgrades originally appeared on Come Cruise With Me. Celebrity Cruises plans to overhaul its Solstice Series ships again. The brand is investing more than $250 million to modernize these, starting with Celebrity Solstice in 2026. Passengers can look forward to eight new experiences, including four new-to-sea spaces, and many redesigned favorites, which elevate everything that makes these ships unforgettable. 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 ship-wide stateroom Solstice will be the first of the Solstice Series ships to be made new again, welcoming guests for reimagined vacation experiences starting in March 2026. On board, new experiences from morning to night will make the journey just as exciting as the destinations. Plus, all 1,479 staterooms on Celebrity Solstice are getting an upgrade, offering more ways to feel at home when miles away at sea.'Our Solstice Series ships represent the best of classic cruising, and now we're elevating this vacation experience even further by adding brand-new experiences and enhancements at every turn,' said Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge. 'Guests will enjoy more ways to explore and restore, all while staying true to what made our guests fall in love with these ships in the first place.' Here are some of the changes being made: Boulevard Lounge:Good times and glamorous vibes will take center stage at this brand-new, intimate entertainment venue. With always-on programming, from interactive daytime activities like new game shows and trivia to elevated evenings of candlelit concerts and dueling pianos, this cabaret-inspired lounge offers a dramatic new take on showtime. Boulevard Bar: Just steps away from the lounge, guests can pull up a seat for handcrafted cocktails before or after the show — or both. Celebrity Barcade:Guests should bring their A-game to this new, elevated sports bar, the perfect place to both watch and play games. Guests can catch their favorite sports teams from multiple screens positioned so well they'll never miss a pass; or challenge their friends to a round of billiards, darts, or their favorite retro board game. Guests can enjoy a number of new dining options: Trattoria Rossa –Step into an Italian hideaway that blends opulence with modern design to experience a restaurant that bursts with charm from every corner. In this perfect setting to reignite date night, guests will have a front-row seat to the action with authentic tableside preparations of dishes inspired by Italian classics, including fresh pasta made from scratch daily. Fine Cut Steakhouse –The Forbes Travel Guide-rated, Edge Seriesfavorite steakhouse will bring upscale dining with service that's elevated to an art form. And check out these new bars and other innovations: The Sunset Park:Transforming the top deck of Celebrity Solstice, guests can enjoy unparalleled views fromthis half-acre outdoor oasis. Plus, with elevated cuisine, refreshing cocktails, lawn games, open-air concerts and more, a day at the park never looked so good. New private cabanas: Relax with sweeping ocean views and more shade, while dedicated attendants cater to your every whim. Expanded Sunset Bar:Drink in the views along with a refreshing cocktail, as every hour is happy hour. The Retreat suite area will be refreshed as well: Enhanced Suites: A completely reimagined stay at The Retreat awaits, making the most elevated experience at sea even better, as Celebrity Solstice will sail with enhanced suites. All-new Retreat Sundeck: Unwind in style at an all-new sundeck with ample outdoor seating and shade, exclusive for guests of The Retreat. Guests will relax carefree in an oversized hot tub, as they enjoy prime views from the top of the ship. Redesigned Retreat Lounge: The perfect place to enjoy a light bite or catch up with friends over drinks, reserved for guests of The Retreat. Some cabins will also be overhauled: Refreshed AquaClass Staterooms: A fully immersive, next-level wellness vacation awaits. Every room is updated with spa-inspired elements – from massaging shower heads, aroma therapy diffusers, in-room yoga mats, luxurious robes and slippers, and even a pillow menu for the perfect night's sleep. AquaClass guests can also enjoy complimentary access to the all-new Relaxation Lounge at The Spa. Four brand-new stateroom categories: New stateroom categories offer more ways to stay: The Panoramic Infinite Veranda Suite, Deluxe Panoramic Oceanview Suite, Panoramic Ocean View Suite, and Deluxe Panoramic Ocean View. These new stateroom categories are available to book starting mid-June. Guests will enjoy all of these enhancements on Celebrity Solstice vacations starting in March 2026 with unforgettable Asia and Australia itineraries, followed by summer sailings in Alaska. In September 2026, Celebrity Solstice will also bring guests on a once-in-a-lifetime, 110-night Grand Voyage from Canada to Southeast Asia. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by Come Cruise With Me on May 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Travel Daily News
4 days ago
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Celebrity Cruises invests over $250m. to its Solstice Series ships
Celebrity Cruises invests $250 million to modernize Solstice Series ships, launching new spaces, dining, and stateroom upgrades starting in 2026. MIAMI – Celebrity Cruises is making its classic Solstice Series ships new again. The brand is investing more than $250 million to modernize these best-in-class ships, starting with Celebrity Solstice in 2026. Guests can look forward to eight new experiences, including four new-to-sea spaces, and many redesigned favorites 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 ship-wide stateroom upgrades. Celebrity Solstice will be the first of the Solstice Series ships to be made new again, welcoming guests for reimagined vacation experiences starting in March 2026. Extraordinary itineraries will take guests around the world – from the breathtaking nature of Alaska, the serene beaches of Hawaii and Fiji, to the best of Southeast Asia. Plus, guests will have the opportunity to sail 110-nights through more than 55 unrepeated ports on The Grand Voyage from September to December 2026. On board, endless new experiences from morning to night will make the journey just as exciting as the destinations. Plus, all 1,479 staterooms on Celebrity Solstice are getting an upgrade, offering more ways to feel at home when miles away at sea. 'Our Solstice Series ships represent the best of classic cruising, and now we're elevating this vacation experience even further by adding brand new experiences and enhancements at every turn,' said Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises. 'Guests will enjoy more ways to explore and restore, all while staying true to what made our guests fall in love with these ships in the first place.' A remixed vacation routine Boulevard Lounge – Good times and glamorous vibes will take center stage at this brand-new, intimate entertainment venue. With always-on programming, from interactive daytime activities like new game shows and trivia to elevated evenings of candlelit concerts and dueling pianos, this cabaret-inspired lounge offers a dramatic new take on showtime. Boulevard Bar – Just steps away from the lounge, guests can pull up a seat for handcrafted cocktails before or after the show—or both. Celebrity Barcade – Guests should bring their A-game to this new, elevated sports bar, the perfect place to both watch and play games. Guests can catch their favorite sports teams from multiple screens positioned so well they'll never miss a pass; or challenge their friends to a round of billiards, darts, or their favorite retro board game. New culinary delights to fall in love with all over again Trattoria Rossa – Step into an Italian hideaway that blends opulence with modern design to experience a restaurant that bursts with charm from every corner. The perfect setting to reignite date night, guests will have a front row seat to the action with authentic tableside preparations of dishes inspired by Italian classics, including fresh pasta made from scratch daily. Fine Cut Steakhouse – The Forbes Travel Guide-rated, Edge Series favorite steakhouse will bring upscale dining with service that's elevated to an art form. There's something for everyone at Fine Cut Steakhouse, which offers 30-day dry-aged steaks, fresh seafood, the elevated service Celebrity is known for, and elegance at every turn. Fresh views for a front row seat to every destination Sunset Park – Transforming the top deck of Celebrity Solstice, guests can enjoy unparalleled views from this half acre outdoor oasis. Plus, with elevated cuisine, refreshing cocktails, lawn games, open-air concerts and more, a day at the park never looked so good. guests can enjoy unparalleled views from this half acre outdoor oasis. Plus, with elevated cuisine, refreshing cocktails, lawn games, open-air concerts and more, a day at the park never looked so good. New private cabanas – Relax with sweeping ocean views and more shade, while dedicated attendants cater to your every whim. Expanded Sunset Bar – Drink in the views along with a refreshing cocktail, as every hour is happy hour. Unwind in style at The Retreat, reimagined Enhanced Suites – A completely reimagined stay at The Retreat awaits, making the most elevated experience at sea even better, as Celebrity Solstice will sail with enhanced suites. will sail with enhanced suites. All-new Retreat Sundeck – Unwind in style at an all-new sundeck with ample outdoor seating and shade, exclusive for guests of The Retreat. Guests will relax carefree in an oversized hot tub, as they enjoy prime views from the top of the ship. Redesigned Retreat Lounge – The perfect place to enjoy a light bite or catch up with friends over drinks, reserved for guests of The Retreat. Enhanced accommodations with upgrades to every stateroom Refreshed AquaClass Staterooms – A fully immersive, next-level wellness vacation awaits. Every room is updated with spa-inspired elements – from massaging shower heads, aroma therapy diffusers, in-room yoga mats, luxurious robes and slippers, and even a pillow menu for the perfect night's sleep. AquaClass guests can also enjoy complimentary access to the all-new Relaxation Lounge at The Spa. Four brand-new stateroom categories – New stateroom categories offer more ways to stay: The Panoramic Infinite Veranda Suite, Deluxe Panoramic Oceanview Suite, Panoramic Ocean View Suite and Deluxe Panoramic Ocean View. These new stateroom categories are available to book starting mid-June. Bow to stern enhancements also include a design refresh to many more venues: Café Al Bacio, Cellar Masters, World Class Bar, Martini Bar, Pool Bar, Passport Bar, Blu – exclusive to AquaClass guests, Luminae – exclusive to guests of The Retreat, the Fitness Center, and Camp at Sea. Guests will enjoy all of these enhancements on Celebrity Solstice vacations starting in March 2026 with unforgettable Asia and Australia itineraries, followed by summer sailings in Alaska. In September 2026, Celebrity Solstice will also bring guests on a once-in-a-lifetime, 110-night Grand Voyage from Canada to Southeast Asia, providing the ultimate way for guests to indulge their sense of wanderlust, all while enjoying the award-winning service and amenities that Celebrity is famous for.
Travel Weekly
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Travel Weekly
Celebrity will spend $250 million to upgrade its Solstice-class ships
Celebrity Cruises' five Solstice-class ships will undergo a $250 million modernization to introduce new entertainment and dining venues as well as stateroom upgrades. Celebrity Solstice will be the first of the five ships transformed, and the work will be completed by March, the line said. The ships will get a new Boulevard Lounge that will host activities like trivia, candlelit concerts and dueling pianos. It will be next to a new Boulevard Bar. The line will also introduce a new sports bar, Celebrity Barcade. The two new restaurants will be Trattoria Rossa and Fine Cut Steakhouse, the latter of which can be found on the line's Edge-class ships. Celebrity describes Trattoria Rossa as an "Italian hideaway that blends opulence with modern design to experience a restaurant that bursts with charm from every corner." There will be tableside preparation of some dishes, including pasta made in-house. The top deck of the ships will be transformed into Sunset Park, a half-acre space with concerts, lawn games and new private cabanas. The Sunset Bar will be expanded. Celebrity's Solstice-class ships will have redesigned spaces on the top decks, including the Retreat sundeck. Photo Credit: Celebrity Cruises For accommodations, every stateroom will be upgraded, and four new stateroom categories will be introduced: Panoramic Infinite Veranda Suites, Deluxe Panoramic Oceanview Suites, Panoramic Ocean View Suites and Deluxe Panoramic Ocean View. The AquaClass staterooms will get massaging shower heads, yoga mats and new robes and slippers to enhance a spa-like experience. The renovated ships will have Retreat suites and an exclusive Retreat sundeck and lounge, a feature that is on the Edge-class ships. The Solstice class includes five ships: Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection. They were built between 2008 and 2012.
Travel Weekly
5 days ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Celebrity will sail the Danube and Rhine in its first season of river cruising
Celebrity River Cruises will cruise the Rhine and Danube in its first season in 2027. The brand, an offshoot of ocean line Celebrity Cruises, announced plans earlier this year to expand into river cruising with an initial order of 10 ships. The design of the ships will be inspired by the Edge-class ocean ships and operate with an all-inclusive model. Alcoholic drinks, WiFi and one excursion per port will be included in the fare, a Celebrity spokesperson confirmed to Travel Weekly. The river cruise line said it will unveil itinerary details and open bookings this summer. The Rhine and Danube are Europe's two most popular waterways for river cruises. The Rhine alone carries about a quarter of river cruise passengers each year, making it the most popular, followed by the Danube, according to Cleveland Research Company. Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty said during the company's Q4 earnings call in late January that expansion into river cruising "is not a hobby for us." "We are taking this extremely seriously, and we want to make sure we can live up to delivering the best vacation experiences in the world and make sure we're doing so in a responsible way," Liberty said. Liberty indicated that about half of Royal Caribbean Group's guests have experienced or intend to take a river cruise. Travel advisors have said that Celebrity's loyal customer base and brand recognition could lure a younger crowd. Celebrity is just one well-known brand wading into river cruising. Lindblad Expeditions has partnered with Transcend Cruises to sail the Rhine, and tour operator Trafalgar will offer Danube and Rhine itineraries.
Miami Herald
22-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Celebrity Cruises passengers sound alarm on industry-wide issue
For most cruisers, the days leading up to a cruise vacation are full of excitement, anticipation, and planning. Finally, your long-awaited vacation is almost here, and if you're like me, you feel a sudden rush to plan out your days and prepare yourself for what to expect during your cruise. Related: What's not included in Royal Caribbean, Celebrity drink packages Besides planning port days in advance, I like to familiarize myself with the ship's onboard features, look over dining menus, and review entertainment schedules ahead of time, if I can. While plenty of cruisers choose to relax and wing it, some of us can relax more easily if we have an idea of how our days will go before we set foot on the ship. But there's one big barrier to this kind of cruise vacation preparation - poor cruise line mobile app usability. This problem was recently raised for discussion in the Celebrity Cruises community on Reddit, but it isn't exclusive to one cruise line. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. "I'm excited for my cruise, but I need to put this out there," Reddit user GreaseCrow vented. "The app, the organization, absolutely stinks." The passenger found it confusing that the Celebrity Cruises app has a calendar section that doesn't include their upcoming cruise itinerary details, dates, or any activities they booked for their cruise. "I want to find out what times the ship docks at which port," GreaseCrow explained. "Why isn't it in the calendar? Why can't I find a single calendar that shows me everything relevant that is happening? Show me the docking times, show me what I have planned, show me the date of those things." Related: Carnival cruisers are strongly against this trending hotel tech A number of Celebrity Cruises passengers weighed in on the Reddit thread to share similar frustrations. Some also explained that the app is designed to be much more functional for onboard use than pre-cruise planning. "Long-time cruiser with Celebrity. I sympathize with you. I will say their app is mainly designed for once you get on board and it works very well at that point," ApprehensiveHelp6015 pointed out. "The app is an onboard tool. The website is the planning tool (generally speaking)," nana1960 chimed in. "The app will populate with more information in the week or so before boarding. Activities/entertainment may not load until you are onboard." This is common among most cruise lines' apps, which led other passengers in the Reddit thread to note that issues with app usability and functionality, especially pre-cruise functionality, are widespread throughout the cruise industry. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Some cruisers tried to encourage the frustrated Celebrity Cruises passenger by explaining that they've found other cruise line apps to be even less useful. "I thought the Celebrity app was really pretty useless the first time I cruised with them. I have learned to adjust, especially after dealing with the Princess app. That one is the very definition of 'user unfriendly,'" StableGenius369 noted. Along with the Princess Cruises app, Norwegian, Carnival, Virgin Voyages, and Holland America Line apps were all brought up in the thread as examples of cruise line apps that some cruisers find cumbersome. Related: Cruisers share opinions on Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day Mexico "Now that we're going on an Alaska cruise with Holland America, I am wistfully dreaming about that glorious Celebrity app, in comparison to the dud that is the Holland America 'Navigator,'" Dramatic-String-1246 shared. "We're leaving next week, and the app has very slowly been populating with information, but I still can't find anything there that even tells the hours the dining room is open, and for most programs listed, it doesn't show the location, price, etc." A few cruisers also pointed out that some of these app issues may stem from cruise lines hiring people who aren't really familiar with cruising to design cruise apps. "I'm starting to think that it needs to be mandatory that before you do any work for a cruise line, you take a cruise," alcohall183 added. Commenters who work in IT also attributed cruise app usability issues to a lack of consistency in the user experience between apps and cruise line websites. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@ or call or text her at 386-383-2472. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
