Celebrity Solstice

The Celebrity Solstice is the lead ship of the Solstice-class of cruise ships operated by Celebrity Cruises. Built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, she was floated out on 10 August 2008, and christened by ocean scientist Professor Sharon L. Smith at a ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, on 14 November 2008.[6][7][8] The first post-Panamax vessel in the Celebrity fleet, she features innovative interior design and onboard amenities, including an ocean-going live grass lawn, a glassblowing studio, and a 12 deck-high atrium.[9]

Celebrity Solstice
Celebrity Solstice in 2011
History
Malta
NameCelebrity Solstice
Owner
OperatorCelebrity Cruises
Port of registry
Builder
CostUS$750 million
Laid down17 March 2007[2]
Launched10 August 2008[3]
Sponsored bySharon L. Smith
Christened14 November 2008
CompletedOctober 2008[4]
Maiden voyage23 November 2008
In service2008–present
Identification
StatusIn service
Notes[5]
General characteristics
Class and typeSolstice-class cruise ship
Tonnage
Length1,033 ft (314.86 m)
Beam121 ft (36.88 m)
Draft27 ft (8.23 m)
Decks19
Installed power4 × Wärtsilä 16V46
Propulsion
Speed24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph)
Capacity2,852 passengers
Crew1,250

Design and description

Externally, Celebrity Solstice looks very different from previous Celebrity Cruises ships. Martin Francis of Francis Design was hired to design her exterior profile.[10] In original exterior renderings, the hull was shown as all-white with powder blue funnels and blue glass upper decks.[10] In a more recent update, the light blue color had been changed to Celebrity's normal dark blue color and the hull was shown having a resemblance to the current fleet's livery, with the promenade deck painted dark blue. Similarly, the large dark blue funnel with a white X that had been the trademark of Celebrity thus far has been replaced by two thin funnels, and it was planned to have the X logo of the company visible in the glass balcony railings on the ship's "hump" (The area of superstructure which extends outward farther than the rest of the balconies). Throughout her fitting out, sea trials, and launch, it was noted that the glass X, unless seen from certain angles, was not visible. Shortly after, the X was refinished to be darker, but still can be hard to see. An afterthought during the sea trials saw the addition of a white X onto the forward funnel, thus bringing Celebrity Solstice more closely related to her fleetmates.[11]

Facilities

Her facilities include a theater with a 1,400+ seating capacity and a live grass lawn between the ship's funnels on the upper deck and even a workout room, sauna, indoor pool, and more than four hot tubs.[12]

Construction and career

Celebrity Solstice left Meyer Werft on September 28, 2008, and arrived in Fort Lauderdale on November 3, 2008. Subsequently, she embarked on a series of short preview cruises for travel agents and dignitaries.[13] On November 14, 2008, at Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, she was officially named by Sharon L. Smith.[14] She began commercial service on November 23, 2008.[15]

Celebrity Solstice was scheduled to be put in dry dock in October 2021.[16]

2020: spread of COVID-19
Further information: COVID-19 pandemic on cruise ships § Other ships with confirmed cases on board

In March 2020 thousands of passengers of cruise ships that disembarked in Sydney, Australia were told to self-isolate due to COVID-19 fears. Celebrity Solstice disembarked its passengers on 20 March.[17] On 2 April 11 cases had tested positively for the virus in New South Wales alone.[18] One passenger was reported to have died on 1 April.[19]

The ship left Australia during the weekend of 4 April 2020 with its crew as did four other vessels.[20]

References
  1. "Celebrity Solstice: Summary (26783)". DNV Vessel Register. DNV. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  2. "First Block of Celebrity Solstice". Archived from the original on 2 October 2011.
  3. "Undocking of Celebrity Solstice". Archived from the original on 2 October 2011.
  4. "Celebrity Solstice".
  5. "Celebrity Solstice (26783)". DNV Vessel Register. DNV. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  6. Knego, Peter (3 January 2009). "CELEBRITY SOLSTICE Decked!". Maritime Matters. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  7. Smith 2010, p. 61.
  8. Saunders 2013, p. 142.
  9. Saunders 2013, pp. 143–144.
  10. "Experience Cruise". USA Today. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  11. "Cruise ship tours: Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Solstice". www.usatoday.com.
  12. "The grass is really greener on Celebrity Solstice". Cruise Business Review. 18 January 2008. Archived from the original on 2 October 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2008.
  13. NWZonline.de Luxusliner Spezial Archived 4 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved September 29, 2008
  14. "Flagship of Celebrity Cruises' Solstice Class Fleet is Industry's First to be Named by Female Scientist: University of Miami Oceanographer Dr. Sharon Smith". Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. University of Miami. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  15. "Celebrity Solstice Enters Service with Applause from Press and Trade". Celebrity Cruises. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  16. "Cruise Ship Dry Dock/Upgrade Schedules for Cruise Lines in 2018-2023". cruisefever.net. 4 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  17. Ferrell, Paul & McDonald, Alex (23 March 2020). "Thousands of cruise ship passengers told to self-isolate due to coronavirus days after disembarking". ABC.net. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  18. "COVID-19 (Coronavirus) statistics - News". NSW Health. 2 April 2020. Archived from the original on 4 April 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  19. "Coronavirus can kill even the healthiest of us. Just ask the family of Perth man Ray Daniels". ABC News (Australia). 1 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  20. Boseley, Matilda (5 April 2020). "Criminal investigation launched into Ruby Princess cruise ship coronavirus disaster". The Guardian – via www.theguardian.com.

Bibliography
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