Equinox and IOS photographed by myself from ther same spot (Sothamptons’ City Cruise Terminal) one week apart.
Bigger version of image above:
www.travelserver.net/travelpage/aspgallery/pictures/Ad_3240_6.jpg
Bigger version of image above:
www.travelserver.net/travelpage/aspgallery/pictures/Ad_3240_7.jpg
Equinox at Southampton's City Cruise Terminal, July 09.
I was fortunate enough to visit the brand new Equinox at Southampton, on the 25th – 26th July, before her inaugural cruise. A full review and more images can be found in my review, menu right.
I think Cunard and P&O are going to have some stiff competition from Celebrity, sailing from Southampton in 2010.
Malcolm
(Special thanks to www.cruise.co.uk for arranging the visit)
Although they will not be to everyone’s taste, Celebrity Solstice certainly has some ‘original’ decor. The link below features many excellent images of this exciting newbuild:
http://www.depping-design.de/test/thumbnails.php?album=92
I think the main dining room is stunning . I’m not decided about the turf, as yet. Does it take away valuable deck space, I wonder? Comments welcome
Celebrity Cruises has built a very strong reputation as a high-end cruise line by operating attractive ships and offering quality food and service. But it may come as a surprise to some cruisers that this premium cruise line is actually owned by Royal Caribbean – a company that made its mark by offering cruises to the masses.
Celebrity has just floated-out ‘Solstice’, the first of three newbuilds each at around 30,000 gt bigger than the ‘Millennium Class’. The reaction to the ‘Solstice Class’ ships was very similar to the reaction with the ‘Millennium Class’ was announced: there are concerns about whether Celebrity can maintain their usually high standards of food and service with an additional 900 passengers on board.
While the overall space ratio of the ‘Solstice Class’ ships will be slightly lower that on the ‘Millennium Class’ ships, the staterooms will be some of the largest available on any ship. Although this sounds like a mathematical contradiction, maybe the public spaces are generally smaller at the benefit of the cabins?
Traveling back in time, I recall that Celebrity’s original ships: Horizon and Zenith, and then Century, Galaxy and Mercury (1992-1999) were all very well received. Their unique names, ‘yacht like’ external design, black and white livery (or is it navy blue?) internal décor and spaciousness all proved very popular with travelers looking for a refined cruise experience. The ship’s gross tonnage, the biggest being 78,000 gt, was seen by many as the maximum size a vessel could be and still be able to deliver a premium service. I personally enjoyed a very good cruise on the ‘Mercury’ in 1998. Although these vessels are no longer ‘new’ they are still rated quite highly.
Here are a couple of interesting facts: Century was the first ship to have the now ubiquitous interactive television in each cabin. These allowed passengers to check their onboard account, buy shore excursions and book alternative dining. In addition to the televisions in each cabin, Century also had a video-wall of them in the foyer. Galaxy was the ship where now popular British singer Jane McDonald gained UK fame, as a result of staring in a documentary called ‘The Cruise’ which was filmed onboard.
Celebrity launched their ‘Millennium Class’ in 2000 with the introduction of the not surprisingly named ‘Millennium’. Even amongst the other increasingly box-like exteriors. The Millennium’s profile took some getting used to. I recall one commentator saying that she looked like “a barge with a superstructure slapped onto it”. At 91, 000 gt this new class of vessel was significantly larger than her existing fleet mates. Interestingly, she shares a hull design with Royal Caribbean’s ‘Radiance Class’, although they have very different internal layouts and external appearances. Millennium was followed by three sister ships, Infinity, Summit and Constellation,
At the time, some commentators regarded the step-up to 91,000 gt as simply being too big a platform to be able to maintain a premium experience. However, the ‘Millennium’ class only carried eighty extra passengers in her lower berths more the ‘Galaxy’ and ‘Mercury’, and actually had a slightly higher space ratio. Interestingly, soon after Millennium entered service we began to receive feedback from readers about a general drop in the quality of the food and service across the Celebrity fleet and on the new ships in particular. Some commentators blamed this on the change of ownership, as the line had recently been acquired by Royal Caribbean. Despite the perceived problems with the onboard product, the external design seemed to be growing on people, as did the décor of the ship’s interiors.
Apparently, Celebrity management was listening to the passenger feedback about the decline in the quality of the food and service and initiated an aggressive program designed to address the roots of the problem. After a few adjustments, the program began to gain traction and today, Celebrity’s reputation has rebounded and the line is once again considered a strong player in the premium market.
So the question is can Celebrity pull it off (…again) and create a first class experience on an even bigger ship?
From personal experience, it is clear that Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 is able to offer excellent food and service in their Britannia lounge, to 2,620 passengers divided between the two sittings. Even though ‘Solstice Class’ ships will carry an additional 230 more passengers than Queen Mary 2, I believe that Celebrity should be able to again rise to the challenge. Only time will tell though, and I will be watching the TravelPage.com reader reviews with great interest over the coming years.
Malcolm Oliver
One of the most anticipated ships to enter the cruise market this year, Celebrity Solstice, departed Meyer Werft shipyard yesterday in Papenburg, Germany, as the largest ship ever built by the longtime shipbuilder. In a milestone event known as “The Conveyance,” the 2,850-guest Celebrity Solstice made its way down the River Eems, as tens of thousands of area residents lining the river banks cheered and photographed the historic event.
“This is a very momentous occasion for Celebrity Cruises,” said the brand’s President and CEO Dan Hanrahan. “Celebrity Solstice is the perfect manifestation of what the Celebrity brand is all about: extraordinary service, spectacular dining, and fabulous style and design. And as the first in a series of five Solstice-class ships, it’s a vivid example of the growth and momentum of the Celebrity brand, and our commitment to meet our guests’ and travel agent partners’ demands for more vacation options with Celebrity.”
Among the wealth of attributes guests will find only on Celebrity Solstice are:
• The industry’s first Lawn Club, a lush, half-acre recreation area with real, growing grass.
• The industry’s first Hot Glass Show, with live glassblowing demonstrations presented in association with The Corning Museum of Glass.
• Larger staterooms, with design inspirations offered by a panel of five women, hand-picked for their unique travel and hospitality insights.
• 10 varied restaurants, ranging from the dramatic, two-level “Grand Epernay” main dining room with a sweeping wine tower, to four exquisite specialty restaurants, to several stylish, casual venues.
• An entirely new category of accommodations, “AquaClass,” designed to offer a spa vacation experience at sea rivaling the best of those on land.
• A state-of-the-art theater and stage design, with three new leading- edge shows custom-designed for Celebrity with Poet Theatricals, in their first cruise line partnership.
“There also is the intangible attribute which is consistent across the Celebrity fleet, and that’s the extraordinary, anticipatory service our phenomenal staff offer our guests every day,” said Hanrahan.
Celebrity Solstice will be berthed in Eemshaven, Netherlands, from September 29 to October 24, with two separate sea trials planned during that period, in addition to crew arrivals, training, provisioning and finishing work onboard. The ship will depart Eemshaven October 24 on a transatlantic voyage, with arrival in Fort Lauderdale planned for early November, followed by a series of promotional cruises for invited travel agents, press and other dignitaries. The ship will be named in formal ceremonies on November 14, and will begin its maiden season November 23, with a series of alternating 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, calling on San Juan, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, and Tortola during this Fall and Winter. Celebrity Solstice presents a series of romantic 10- and 11-night Mediterranean cruises from Rome beginning in Spring 2009.
(Source: Celebrity/travelpage)
See here for some excellent images:
http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-34089.html#backToArticle=571094
Float Out!
Mast and twin funnels now added.
According to the schedule released by MEYER WERFT, the cruise ship will slowly start leaving the building dock around 7.30 am. By 9.00 am the Celebrity Solstice will be moved in the harbor. During the day, a variety of engine and other mechanical tests will take place while the ship remains in the harbor. By 2.00 pm it is expected that the ship will be berthed alongside the yard’s pier.
Once the ship is berthed at the pier, the additional fitting out work will be completed. This work includes the mounting of the ship’s two funnels, which is schedule for next Monday and a completion of the ship’s interiors. The river Ems passage to the sea trials port in Eemshaven (Netherlands) is scheduled to will take place on September 27th.
Celebrity Solstice is the first of at least three new-ships of the same class. The second ship will be named Celebrity Equinox. Each of the three ships will be 2,850-guest vessels measuring 1,033 feet in length and 121 feet in width.
Following several weeks of inaugural activities, Celebrity Solstice will make its maiden voyage December 14, 2008, on a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico; Basseterre, St. Kitts; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten. The itinerary will be offered on Sundays through April 5, 2009, with an alternating itinerary calling on San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Tortola, B.V.I.; and Labadee, Haiti, through April 12, 2009.
Below: A recent image from the Meyer-Werft shipyard.
Below: A comparison of three different Celebrity ship classes.
Below: Celebrity Solstice and her sister, Equinox will feature the’Lawn Club’. (Image courtsey of Celebrity)
The half-acre Lawn Club on Celebrity Solstice will invite guests to enjoy bocce ball and croquet, practice their putting, picnic with a basket of wine and cheese, or simply feel the grass between their toes, while sailing the oceans of the world. The area also will feature the Hot Glass Show, another first in the industry, developed in collaboration with The Corning Museum of Glass; the Patio on the Lawn; the Lawn Club Shop, and the Sunset Bar.
