Latest news with #CelebritySolstice
Yahoo
3 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.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Yahoo
Royal Caribbean passenger shares warning about a major scam
Cruisers have fallen victim to a number of different scams over the past few years. A few months ago a number of people reported paying for cruises, then showing up at the port to find that they were not booked at all. They had tickets and everything seemed in order, but they had sent their money to a scammer, who had not actually booked them. The tickets the prospective cruisers had were also have received calls from scammers who were pretending to be from their cruise lines, saying they had a bill outstanding. Instead of hanging up and checking via the company's website, people panicked and turned over their credit card information to the callers, who were pulling off a scam. Prospective cruisers are especially vulnerable to scams because they're using systems with which most people are unfamiliar. Important tip: Be extra cautious when it comes to everything related to your cruise. The safest choice is to use a travel agent. An agent will deal with the cruise line for you and ensure everything gets paid as it's due. These scams, however, are not the only ones that have affected cruisers. Cruise News Today's Doug Parker has all the details on a new scam and how you can avoid is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker. Good morning. Here's your cruise news for Monday, February 10. A cruise passenger is warning others about a potential scam at Port Canaveral after nearly being overcharged for an unofficial ride. [The] guests debarked Utopia of the Seas and accepted a ride [to Orlando from a man] who claimed to be an Uber driver. [But later they] discovered Uber was not involved at all. Now, once they arrived to Universal Studios, the driver demanded $345 for the trip, but after a pushback, the guests managed to walk away paying just $100. A good rule is to always confirm that your ride is part of an official rideshare network by verifying the vehicle type and the driver and confirming fares before entering a nonrideshare Port Miami set a new record on Saturday, hosting 10 cruise ships in a single day. These ships from seven different cruise lines saw nearly 68,000 embarking and debarking guests on itineraries ranging from short cruises to 27 nights. Cruise lines included Oceana, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC, Virgin, and Holland America Line. The Miami-Dade County mayor called the milestone a testament to Port Miami's status as a global hub for cruise travel. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Have questions about booking a cruise?, or call or text Amy Post at 386-383-2472. And Celebrity Cruises has canceled two upcoming sailings on Celebrity Solstice for next January. This is for an extended dry dock. The ship is said to require additional repairs, prompting more time in the yard. Guests can pick alternate ships with a partial refund if at a lower price, a different itinerary on Solstice, or just receive a full refund. The cruise line has not disclosed specific details about the repairs. If you have a lead on a story, let us know. Tips@ I leave you with some footage from the Blake Shelton concert over in Las Vegas over the weekend. I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today. Have yourself a great Monday. Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one?
Telegraph
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
The art of designing a cruise ship – and the ugliest vessel of them all
What floats your boat when it comes to building the perfect However, In something of a first, the premium line is to build an online community of 'Dream Makers' who will have a final say across key elements involving the ship's cuisine, entertainment and even interior designs. Their views will be garnered through online polls and in-person events, where they will be given the chance to pick their favourite textiles, dining concepts, culinary dishes and even give their input on new shows and the music played onboard. Safety first Cruise companies are nothing if not innovative, but the first and most important hurdle that faces every prospective ship and its onboard attractions is one of safety. Another key factor is the weight of individual features and their effect on the ship's stability and buoyancy. Even something as mundane as swapping shower curtains for glass doors in cabins can have a significant impact. However, such strict parameters are generally seen as a challenge by cruise ship designers who have increasingly pushed back the boundaries of what can be achieved. Who could have predicted that the 21st century would usher in attractions as diverse as robot bar-tenders, zip-lines and even Living on the Edge Celebrity Cruises was one of the lines instrumental in breathing new life into cruise ship style more than a decade ago. It brought in leading lights from outside the cruise industry to design the first ship in a new class called Celebrity Solstice, which had the novelty of a real grass lawn on its top deck. The results were interiors (including the breath-taking main restaurant, a vision of opulent ivory curves with a striking two-storey glass wine tower holding 500 vinos) more reminiscent of a swanky hotel. This set the scene for another four virtually identical ships before Celebrity decided to push the boundaries again with another new class of ship led by The main stand-out feature was the ingenious Magic Carpet – a platform cantilevered off the side of the ship that moves to different decks, doubling up as a restaurant, bar or even a landing platform for the ship's tenders (small boats). The ugliest cruise ship at sea? While Celebrity Edge was full of design triumphs that won plaudits from observers and customers, this counts for nothing on ships where the layout doesn't work in the first place and passenger flow is constrained by bottlenecks. NCL is also the owner of what is commonly regarded as the ugliest cruise ship, Norwegian Epic, whose blockish design has seen it compared to a car park or a hulking container vessel. Some cabin layouts have also attracted criticism because the en suite facilities you would normally expect have been replaced by separate shower and toilet cubicles within the main cabin, while the wash basin is next to the bed. When Norwegian Epic debuted in 2010, this was hailed as a new approach to cabin design that freed up space, but it faced a mixed reaction and was branded an 'epic fail' by some cruisers on messaging boards. The 'ship within a ship' Generally, NCL's determination to do things differently has been more successful, with many of its innovations winning praise from guests. A standout attraction on its newer ships are go-kart racing tracks, an idea that came from the grandson of its then chief executive. The line was also one of the pioneers of the 'ship within a ship concept' with The Haven, a plush private VIP area where the suites have access to their own pool, bar and restaurant. Such enclaves give guests the best of both worlds with the exclusivity of a small ship experience combined with a line-up of attractions you can only find on larger vessels which have space for them. These have been such a hit with passengers they are increasingly appearing on ships owned by MSC Cruises, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean International, and most recently on Princess Cruises' newest ship Sun Princess. It's a prime example of how the most popular initiatives filter out across the industry, whether they've come from a particular cruise line or been inspired by shore-based attractions. NCL pioneered Japanese-style teppanyaki restaurants and now they are found on the ships of several cruise brands, while the current trend is for food courts, having first appeared on Virgin Voyages' maiden ship Scarlet Lady. That's entertainment Entertainment is another area that ebbs and flows. Traditional and sometimes tired song and dance compilations still occasionally appear (generally on smaller ships), pumping out the sounds of Motown or other well-worn themes. But mainstream lines take a multi-faceted approach with options to appeal to everyone, from West End shows like Mamma Mia! and Jersey Boys to acrobatics, comedy, live bands and game shows. According to Alison Earnshaw, managing director of online cruise specialist World Travel Holdings, which comprises Six Star Cruises and Cruise 118, passenger tastes are so diverse cruise companies have to ensure they have enough entertainment options to cater for all comers.'You cannot please everyone, so having choice is key,' she said. 'Passengers also need the freedom to choose what they want to do and not have it thrust in their faces.' She praised relative industry newcomer A recent trend on larger ships is to stage evening shows at smaller venues rather than having one main theatre, but while this brings a more intimate atmosphere it can result in performances being packed to the rafters, leaving unhappy passengers unable to get a seat. Size matters With Specialist cruise expert Edwina Lonsdale, managing director of cruise agency Mundy Cruising, puts the optimum size of ships at around 1,000 passengers as they have enough space for a mix of amenities and different restaurants, but still afford a cosier onboard ambience. Examples include Silversea Cruises' Silver Nova (with room for 728 passengers), Saga's Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure (both 999 passengers) and Oceania Cruises' Marina and Riviera (both 1,250 passengers). Ultimately, choosing the perfect cruise ship comes down to the personal preference of each individual and as Celebrity's new Dream Makers are sure to find out, you can't please everyone all the time.
