Latest news with #Solstice
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.
Extra.ie
5 days ago
- Extra.ie
When is the longest day of the year in Ireland?
With the clocks going forward in recent weeks, we've been able to enjoy brighter mornings and longer evenings, and it won't be long until the longest day of the year is here. The Summer Solstice is the day that the sun is at its highest point in the sky, meaning it is the longest day of the year as a result of the amount of sunlight hours — and therefore the shortest night! The day was historically celebrated by many cultures throughout the years, and is still seen as a cause to celebrate life through music, dance and events. The Summer Solstice is the day that the sun is at its highest point in the sky, meaning it is the longest day of the year as a result of the amount of sunlight hours — and therefore the shortest night! Pic: Getty Images The Earth revolves around the Sun, and makes one rotation around every 365 days. The Earth's axis is tilted, however, with the Summer Solstice happening when the Earth's poles have their maximum tilt towards the sun. As the sun reaches its highest point on June 21, it means we will have the most daylight of the year, however following the Summer Solstice, less daylight will be given as we move towards the Winter months. The Summer Solstice is seen as the middle of summer and often referred to as midsummer — though in Ireland, it's barely a third of the way through the season! In Ireland, there will be about 17 hours of daylight, due to civil twilight which is a period between sunrise and sunset which will still make it feel bright. Pic: Getty Images In Ireland, there will be about 17 hours of daylight, due to civil twilight, which is a period between sunrise and sunset, which will still make it feel bright. While there are still some celebrations these days, the Solstice was a huge cause of celebration back in the day, with people often expressing their gratitude for surviving another year with good fortune and good food. The day would be celebrated with feasts, music, bonfires and religious rituals. Today, many will mark the Summer Solstice by visiting ancient monuments like Stonehenge or Newgrange.
Edinburgh Reporter
6 days ago
- Science
- Edinburgh Reporter
The astronomical sky above Edinburgh and Lothian in June
June hosts the annual celebration of all things pagan: the Northern Hemisphere Summer Solstice. The Solstice, which occurs on 21 June at 3:42 am, marks the Sun's most northerly altitude and the beginning of astronomical summer which will last for 93 days 15 hours and 37 minutes. If you were to stand on the Tropic of Cancer, the Sun would be directly overhead at local noon. In Edinburgh and Lothian, the Sun will reach 57.5 degrees at 1:14 pm. Due to an effect known as the 'precession of the equinoxes' the Sun is not in Cancer (The Crab) in modern times but Taurus (The Bull). This, the longest day of the year, will last 17 hours 36 minutes and 24 seconds and you will cast your shortest shadow of the year. Within a few hours of the Solstice, though, the Sun leaves Taurus (The Bull) and enters Gemini (The Twins) and recedes from Earth by 397,520 km over the month. Daylight lengthens from 17:12 (17.206 hours) on 1 June to 17:31 (17.514 hours) on 30 June so we lose 18 minutes of twilit night time by the end of June. Since the Sun will be at its shallowest point below the northern horizon in June, and Edinburgh and Lothian sits in the 50–65 degrees band of latitude, we have an excellent opportunity to observe polar mesospheric clouds, also known as noctilucent clouds from the Latin for 'night shining'. Noctilucent clouds form in the mesosphere around 80 km above the Earth. They are visible after sunset and before sunrise when the observer is still within twilight but the clouds are sunlit (from below). Typically they are to be found between north-east and north-west lying below 15 degrees altitude. The first quarter Moon shows up on 3 June at 4:41 am in Leo (The Lion). Lunar apogee (furthest from Earth) occurs on 7 June at 11:37 am and takes the Moon to 405,580 km away from Earth—around 21,180 km further than average—subtending an angle of 29.5 arc-minutes. This is followed by the full Strawberry Moon which makes an appearance on 11 June at 8:44 am in Ophiuchus (The Serpent Bearer). The Moon enters last quarter on 18 June at 8:19 pm in Pisces (The Fishes). Lunar perigee (closest to Earth) occurs on 23 June at 5:38 am and finds the Moon some 363,160 km away from Earth—around 21,240 km closer than average—subtending an angle of 32.9 arc-minutes. The new Moon appears on 25 June at 11:32 am in Auriga (The Charioteer) beginning a new synodic month which will last 29 days, 8 hours and 40 minutes. Regulus in Leo (The Lion) will be 1.8 degrees south of the first quarter Moon on 2 June at 1:30 am. The Pleiades (M45) in Taurus (The Bull) will be 0.6 degrees south of the waning crescent Moon on 23 June at 2:59 am. For the inferior planets: Mercury begins the month in Taurus (The Bull) and ends in Cancer (The Crab) and approaches Earth by 64,772,840 km. Contrarily, Mercury decreases in brightness from -2.17 to 0.40 magnitudes over the month as it's sunlit phase reduces until it reaches dichotomy (half-phase) on 28 June. Venus begins the month in Pisces (The Fishes) and ends in Taurus (The Bull) and recedes by 35,575,400 km so decreases in brightness from -4.39 to -4.14 magnitudes over the month. The 'Morning Star Planet' will reach greatest western elongation on 1 June at 4:30 am and dichotomy (half-phase) later the same day. She reaches aphelion (farthest from the Sun) on 12 June. On 22 June, Venus will appear below the waning crescent Moon in the pre-dawn eastern sky. For the superior planets: Mars remains in Leo (The Lion) all month but recedes by 34,393,273 km. Consequently, the 'Red Planet' fades in brightness from 1.28 to 1.49 magnitudes over June. At midnight on 16/17 June, Mars will be 0.7 degrees north of Regulus in Leo (The Lion). On 29 June at 11:00 pm, Mars will be within 0.2 degrees of the waxing crescent Moon, low in the western sky. The following night, it will be fully occulted by the Moon but this event will be below our horizon. Jupiter begins June in Taurus (The Bull) and ends in Gemini (The Twins). The 'Gas Giant' recedes by 9,528,863.7 km and diminishes in brightness from -1.91 to -1.89 magnitudes. Jupiter reaches (solar) conjunction on 24 June and is lost to us for observing. Earth and Jupiter will be farthest apart for the year on 26 June. Saturn remains in Pisces (The Fishes) all month but comes closer by 73,493,246 km. The 'Ringed Planet' increases in brightness from 1.08 to 0.96 magnitudes. On 19 June at 3:47 am, Saturn will be 3.4 degrees south of the waning crescent Moon and reaches western quadrature on 22 June. Uranus remains in Taurus (The Bull) all month but comes closer by 33,228,276 km. Neptune remains in Pisces (The Fishes) all month and comes closer by 74,218,490 km. The 'Blue Planet' reaches western quadrature on 23 June. The Blaze Star, the recurrent nova T CrB in Corona Borealis (The Northern Crown), should continue to be monitored for it's much-anticipated brightening as the constellation is highly visible during evening and night hours all month. At the time of our sky map, some constellations visible are Draco (The Dragon) at zenith, Perseus (The Hero) in the north, Cygnus (The Swan) in the east, Leo (The Lion) in the west, and Serpens Caput (The Snake's Head) in the south. The ecliptic hosts Sagittarius (The Archer), Ophiuchus (The Serpent Bearer), Scorpio (The Scorpion), Libra (The Scales), Virgo (The Maiden), Leo (The Lion) and Cancer (The Crab). We also see 2 bright star triangles in the June sky: The 'Spring Triangle' of Arcturus in Bootes (The Herdsman), Denebola in Leo (The Lion) and Spica in Virgo (The Maiden) in the south and the 'Summer Triangle'—Deneb in Cygnus (The Swan), Vega in Lyra (The Lyre) and Altair in Aquila (The Eagle)—in the east. Circumpolar constellations—always above the horizon at the latitude of Edinburgh and Lothian—include Ursa Minor (The Little Bear), Ursa Major (The Great Bear), Camelopardalis (The Giraffe) and Cepheus (The King). Like this: Like Related
Sunday World
6 days ago
- Science
- Sunday World
Rare green sea turtle found freezing to death on Irish beach back home in the Canaries
Named Solstice by her rescuers, she was found with severe hypothermia, among other illnesses, washed up on a beach on Christmas Eve A rare green sea turtle was found freezing to death on an Irish beach is settling into her new, warmer home in the Canaries. Named Solstice by her rescuers, she's now back swimming in her natural habitat, according to Spanish media, who have welcomed her home. On Christmas Eve of last year, Solstice was found with severe hypothermia, among other illnesses, washed up on a beach by a woman who runs a hedgehog sanctuary in Quilty, Co Clare. She brought her to the team at Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium in Daingean Uí Chúis, who established that the turtle was suffering from pneumonia and meningitis, likely brought on by the shock of the cold Atlantic waters. Solstice is back home News in 90 Seconds - May 28th Further inspection revealed bite marks on the turtle's shell, likely inflicted by a seal or shark. The turtle was fed with prawns and squids and treated with antibiotics and after six months being cared for in the aquarium, she gained strength and around 2kg. Speaking ahead of her release, Director of Dingle Oceanworld Kevin Flannery said Solstice was embarking on a journey with Aer Lingus to Gran Canaria, where a dedicated wildlife rescue team was ready to assist in returning her to the wild. "We are not exactly sure where Solstice came from, but we assume it was the Gulf of Mexico," Mr Flannery said. He said that the turtle would be tagged before its release. "The American Marine Research Centre - Woods Hole, it's called - they have found an island off of the African coast, where these green turtles come ashore and lay their eggs. So it may be from there. We don't know but I'm hopeful it is, and that with the tag, we'll be able to see where it's going," said Mr Flannery. The young turtle, which would normally swim in tropical or subtropical waters, was probably taken by northbound currents before being washed up almost dead in Co Clare, Pascual Calabuig, a vet and biologist from the fauna conservation centre in Gran Canaria, told Reuters. Having been flown by Aer Lingus to Melenara Beach in Gran Canaria, where she was released, Solstice is now in an ideal ecosystem for this species, 'which lives in tropical and subtropical climates and requires vegetation very similar to that found at the bottom of warmer waters', according to experts. Although classified as endangered, green sea turtles, who take their name from the colour of their fat, not the colour of their shell, are fairly common around the Canary archipelago. They can live up to 90 years in the wild and grow up to five feet.
Irish Independent
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Irish Independent
Turtle found ‘stunned by the cold' on Irish beach is set free in Canary Islands
Solstice, a rare green sea turtle found paralysed with cold on Christmas Eve on an Irish beach, was set free in the Canary Islands yesterday, six months after she was rescued. The young turtle, which would normally swim in tropical or subtropical waters, was probably taken by northbound currents and washed up almost dead on a beach in Co Clare, said Pascual Calabuig, a vet and biologist from the fauna conservation centre in Gran Canaria.
