Celebrity Solstice first ship to undergo $400m upgrade

A lot of water has flowed under the Sydney Harbour Bridge since Celebrity Solstice took out the best cruise ship gong as voted by Australian travel agents in 2015.

Launched in 2008, Solstice is no longer the bellwether of ship trends in our seas, though she’s garnered 18 awards across her lifetime, had a big redo in 2016, and remains hugely popular with Australian cruisers. But the ship’s once groundbreaking features have been overshadowed by the bells and whistles of bigger, glitzier ships.

The ship’s Retreat Lounge.

However, when she returns in 2026, Celebrity is confident fans will fall in love with her once more – not for any added gimmickry, more for the enhancement of the things she does best, like dining, relaxing and offering beautiful accommodation.

Celebrity is investing almost $400 million ($US250 million) to modernise its entire fleet of Solstice Class ships, with the flagship Celebrity Solstice the first to “be made new again” as the line puts it.

Given there are five ships in the fleet, the per-vessel budget looks healthy indeed.

The revamped Sundeck Cabanas.

When guests board Solstice next year they’ll find eight new spaces led by Boulevard Lounge, an entertainment venue where new game shows and trivia will be hosted during the day, followed by candlelit concerts in the evenings. It’s paired with the Boulevard Bar cocktail lounge.

Celebrity Barcade is a new sports bar with multiple screens, billiard tables, darts and board games.

There will be two new restaurants: Trattoria Rossa serving fresh pasta and Fine Cut Steakhouse, an upscale dining experience popular on Celebrity’s Edge class ships.

Celebrity Solstice’s much loved 2000-square-metre upper lawn deck becomes Sunset Park with improved cuisine and cocktails, lawn games, open-air concerts and new private cabanas.

All of Celebrity Solstice’s 1479 staterooms are being refreshed, as well as The Retreat, Solstice’s luxury facilities for suite guests.

Celebrity Solstice in Sydney.

In line with the changes, there are also four new stateroom categories: Panoramic Infinite Veranda Suite, Deluxe Panoramic Oceanview Suite, Panoramic Ocean View Suite and Deluxe Panoramic Ocean View.

Bookings are now open for Celebrity Solstice Asia and Australia holidays starting in March, 2026. These will be followed by winter sailings in Alaska.

Then, in September 2026, Celebrity Solstice will sail a 110-night Grand Voyage from Canada to South-East Asia.

See celebritycruises.com