I had the pleasure of inspecting Celebrity Solstice a few weeks back as she started her cruise season here. I have had the pleasure of cruising on her twice and was not disappointed.
She is already Australia’s highest rated* cruise ship, and last week she arrives in Sydney more stunning than ever following a multimillion-dollar makeover – including Australia’s first Tiffany & Co. store at sea.
“We’ve added more of the things that Australian guests love,” says Adam Armstrong, managing director, Celebrity Cruises Australia.
“Throughout the ship, guests will find new features and fresh touches that have been carefully designed with luxurious, modern travel in mind. We’ve invested so significantly in Celebrity Solstice, home-ported in Sydney between October and April, so our Australian guests can feel relaxed, refreshed and revitalised after a holiday onboard, and leave feeling like a million dollars,” Armstrong concluded.
Solstice at Sea
Highlights of revitalisation include:
Tiffany & Co. Tiffany & Co. will sail on Celebrity for the first time. You’ll find the distinctive Tiffany Blue Box®—which has contained gifts befitting life’s most important occasions for almost two centuries—in a special boutique exclusively on Celebrity Solstice.
Lawn Club Cabanas
Six brand new alcove-style cabanas border the real grass lawn for additional seating and relaxation space. Guests can adjust the cabanas to their preferred view throughout the day, whether it be out to sea or towards the outdoor movie screen, and enjoy service from a private butler, chilled towels and fresh fruit ice-blocks to cool off on hot summer days
A new outdoor cinema and ‘A Taste of Film’
A large movie screen has been added to The Lawn Club where guests can watch movies in the open, sitting on real grass in the middle of the ocean.
Sushi on Five: Celebrity’s hotly anticipated newest dining experience takes the place of Bistro on Five and feature an expertly crafted à la carte menu, created by sushi chef Yoshikazu “Yoshi” Okada. Sushi on Five will offer hand-rolled sushi, fresh tableside grated wasabi, house-made soy sauce, Asian-inspired cocktails, Japanese beers and premium sakes, plus an array of mouth-watering starters and entrees.
Photo Gallery: Guests can now have easier access to keepsakes of their time onboard. Celebrity Solstice’s Photo Gallery received a full modern luxury makeover – out are the traditional panel display of printed photos and now the ship has 25 state-of-the-art touch screen kiosks, where guests are able to use facial recognition technology to view their professional photos taken throughout their cruise and purchase a variety of photo formats. Guests are able to download their purchased photos direct to their mobile device at any time during their cruise, and instantly share their cruise memories with friends and family back home via social networking, email or messaging.
Other updates include an expansive Art Gallery featuring a dedicated auction location with contemporary art lining the freshly renovated space, while suites received modern luxury enhancements such as lavish new patio furniture added to the balconies.
Adam Armstrong, Managing Director, Celebrity Cruises Australia
This summer cruise season, the newly revitalised Celebrity Solstice offers a series of picturesque itineraries with calls to the green natural oasis of New Zealand, the exotic escape of Indonesia, and to sought-after destinations across Australia. For more information about Celebrity Cruises or to book a cruise, visit celebritycruises.com.au, call 1800 754 500 or contact your travel agent.
Helen Hutcheon “Queen of Travel Writers”
Since I took up travel writing late in life, the travel writers name that seemed to pop up more than any other was Helen Hutcheon. I doubt if anyone knows more about cruising than Helen. With over 60 years experience and knowledge second to none of the cruise industry, Helens new book AWAY WITH WORDS is a must read for all those who want to re-live the past or just know about it.
The book captures a bygone era, many of the people and places in the book are gone forever
- Introduction to many famous icons including the Shah of Iran, Princess Grace of Monaco and
Audrey Hepburn Published by IMPACT PRESS “Away with Words” is available for $24.99 – ISBN 978-1-925384-06-2
MORE: www.cruiseandtravelmagazine.net
Main pic Celebrity Solstace
Photos John Pond & Shipping Lines – usage granted.
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