Biggest, newest and most luxurious cruise ship

Media Release
2 March 2011

Biggest, newest and most luxurious cruise ship to call Australasia home
Celebrity Cruises basing groundbreaking Solstice superliner in Australasia from 2012-13

Australasia has never seen anything like it: one of the world’s newest and most beautiful cruise ships will sail from Auckland and Sydney with Celebrity Cruises’ announcement today that it is homeporting its top–of-the-range Celebrity Solstice superliner here for the summer 2012-13 season.

The US$750 million, 122,000-ton superliner Celebrity Solstice was launched less than three years ago as the first of five groundbreaking ‘Solstice Class’ vessels. She immediately set a new benchmark in luxury and a stylish new approach to cruising. Australasia is the first market in the world outside of the Caribbean and Europe to have a ‘Solstice Class’ ship and Celebrity Solstice will be the biggest, newest and most luxurious cruise ship ever to be based in the region.

According to Gavin Smith managing director, Celebrity Cruises Australia and New Zealand, the move signals the great strength of the Australasian cruise market. ”Celebrity Solstice will offer an unparalleled cruising experience for Australian and New Zealand cruisers and introduce a modern style of cruising that they would usually have had to travel overseas to experience,” he said.

“Aussies and Kiwis already get to enjoy the return of the Celebrity Cruises brand in November 2011 with the deployment of the 1,800-guest Celebrity Century, which will be the highest rated superliner to be based here; and her subsequent replacement by the 2,850-guest Celebrity Solstice in December 2012 will take the Celebrity Cruises experience to even greater heights.”

Celebrity Solstice will offer a range of 12- to 18-night cruises in Australia and New Zealand sailing from Sydney, Auckland and Fremantle.

Celebrity Solstice brings a number of “firsts” to local cruising, including the Lawn Club, with one acre of freshly manicured real grass on the upper decks; a glass-blowing studio; and 85 per cent of her cabins have their own private balcony – the highest ratio of any superliner in the world.

Celebrity Cruises offers a distinctly upmarket cruise experience where service and cuisine are paramount. The emphasis is on the finer things in life – like exceptional dining in multiple restaurants; fine wines in stylish bars; and the decadent AquaSpa. The cruise line is frequently rated as the best premium cruise line – and since its launch the ‘Solstice Class’ has received multiple awards and accolades the world over for a number of “firsts”, ranging from environmental initiatives to innovations in its approach to design and amenities.

On Sale
Sailings on Celebrity Solstice in Australia & New Zealand are due to open in late March 2011.
What sets Celebrity Solstice apart
At 317 metres long and 122,000 tons, Celebrity Solstice will be the biggest cruise ship to be homeported in our region. Launched less than three years ago in late 2008, she will also be the youngest cruise ship based here. According to industry bible, the Berlitz Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships, she will be the highest rated cruise ship to be based in the region.

•Celebrity Service – With a guest to staff ratio of 2:1, guests enjoy exceptional service throughout: from the butlers in the luxurious suites to the team of leading beauty therapists in the Aquaspa.

•Accommodation – Celebrity Solstice has an occupancy of 2,850 passengers and an impressive 85 per cent of her cabins have balconies – the highest ratio of any superliner in the world. All spacious staterooms are luxuriously fitted with Egyptian cotton sheets.
•Concierge Class – a new class of accommodation which comes with personalised stationery, fresh flowers, verandas, impressive entertainment systems and a pillow menu.

•Penthouse and Royal Suites – feature European-style butlers, separate lounge areas and the penthouse suites also have their own baby grand piano.
•The Lawn Club – Celebrity Solstice is the first ship at sea to employ green keepers as the ship features the world’s first “Lawn Club” at sea with half an acre of real grass offering guests the opportunity to play petanque or croquet, or simply slip their shoes off and enjoy freshly cut grass beneath their feet in the country club-like atmosphere.

•Glass Blowing Studio – unique to Celebrity Cruises, Celebrity Solstice offers live glass-blowing shows by the renowned Corning Museum of Glass.
•AquaSpa – With upmarket spa and beauty treatments such as the indulgent 24-Karat facial, a key feature of Celebrity Solstice AquaSpa.

•AquaClass– Guests can immerse themselves in spa life by staying in an AquaClass stateroom, designed to deliver the ultimate in blissful relaxation. Located close to the AquaSpa by Elemis, guests enjoy a host of spa-related extras, including access to the AquaSpa relaxation room, the exotic aromatherapy and steam room aptly named ‘Persian Garden’, as well as exclusive and complimentary access to the health-focused specialty restaurant “Blu.”
•AquaSpa solarium – This adults-only venue with its waterfalls, lap pool and incredibly comfortable sun loungers is the perfect place for relaxation.
•Cuisine – Fine dining is a key part of Celebrity Solstice and the ship boasts no less than ten dining venues. One of the leading restaurant designers, Adam Tihany, is famed for creating legendary New York restaurants Per Se, Jean Georges and Le Cirque, and his influence is evident in the design of the dramatic two-level Grand Épernay main dining room.

•Speciality Dining – choose from five speciality restaurants including the classic steakhouse “Tuscan Grille”, fine dining in “Murano”, Asian specialities in “Silk Harvest”, indulgent yet fresh healthy options in “Blu”, and crepes at “Bistro on Five”.

•Bars & Wine – in addition to numerous stylish bars and lounges on board including the ice-topped Martini Bar, the Passport Bar and the nightclub Quasar, the wine cellar on board is second-to-none, including a range of fine champagnes. Tastings are also a key feature and at Cellarmasters wine bar, guests can even choose their own wine at the touch of a button with the “Enomatic” wine serving system.

•Fun Factory – children from three to 11 will be happily occupied in the complimentary kids’ club which has a huge range of activities organised by age group, while teens will love the X Club, an exclusive venue for them that features teen oriented entertainment and a dance club.

•CelebrityLife – is Celebrity’s range of educational and enrichment courses available on board, along with a well-stocked two-storey library and a magnificent art gallery.

•Not just first class in style, service and amenities, Celebrity Solstice was built with the environment in mind. She is the first ship to use solar energy with more than 200 solar panels installed. The high-glazed glass of each Solstice Class ship’s windows reduces heat transfer and the energy required for air-conditioning.

ENDS

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