There’s something comforting about stepping onto one of Celebrity Cruises Solstice-class ships. If you’ve sailed one, you know exactly what I mean. The layout feels familiar. The spaces make sense. You never spend the first two days wandering around pretending you know where the theater is while secretly checking the deck plans on your phone. It’s one of the reasons I’ve always loved these ships. They make sense and have an old-world elegance without trying too hard, are easy to navigate, and somehow manage to feel both lively and relaxing at the same time.
So when I boarded the newly refurbished Celebrity Solstice for an Alaskan cruise, I was excited, but also a little skeptical. How much can you really change on a Solstice-class ship without losing what made people love it in the first place?
Apparently, a lot.
The best way I can describe the redesigned Solstice is that Celebrity kept everything that worked and upgraded those spaces that didn’t make sense anymore. The result feels fresh and modern without losing the soul of the ship. It still feels like Solstice, just prettier, more fun, more polished, and honestly, a little more delicious.
Let’s start with the food.
I have sailed enough cruises to know that cruise lines love to announce “new dining concepts,” and sometimes that translates into little more than a menu refresh and a different chair color. That is absolutely not the case here. The addition of Trattoria Rossa may have ruined me for every future pasta dish at sea, and that is BEFORE the tableside tiramisu was served.
The Tiramisu was prepared tableside
I’m serious.
It was hands down the best meal I had during the entire cruise, and one of the best meals I’ve ever had on any ship. The atmosphere feels like that classic Italian restaurant you grew up going to with your family. It’s warm and intimate without being stuffy, and every dish tasted like someone’s Nonna was in the kitchen cooking for her family. You know those meals where everyone at the table goes silent because they’re too busy eating? It was that kind of dinner.
And then there’s Fine Cut Steakhouse, which somehow manages to feel upscale and comfortable at the same time. Beautiful cuts of meat, incredible service, and the kind of cocktails that make you start mentally justifying a second one before you’ve even finished the first.
Of course, as much as I love specialty dining, some of my favorite moments happened somewhere much more casual.
Sunset Park may end up being one of the smartest additions to the ship.
Located on Deck 15 with jaw-dropping Alaskan scenery surrounding you in every direction, it became one of my favorite places to relax during the cruise when the weather permitted. In the morning, I’d wander up for breakfast sandwiches and coffee while wrapped in layers, trying to convince myself I wasn’t cold. By afternoon, it was perfect for fresh lunch bowls (the Vegan Mediterranean Bowl is chock-full of chickpeas and a whole lot of flavor) while glacier-watching. And around 3 PM? Warm cookies.
Warm cookies with an Alaskan view!!!
Honestly, this may be peak happiness.
There’s something magical about sitting outside with mountains, forests, and icy water surrounding you while holding a warm chocolate chip cookie in your hand. It feels cozy and luxurious at the same time, which is sort of Celebrity’s specialty.
And then there’s The Parlor.
This is where Celebrity completely surprised me.
The Parlor replaces Quasar, a space that never seemed to have any action beyond a futuristic pod sitting at the entrance, which confused me. To be fair, I’m not the type to don my disco shoes and headphones for silent disco or other events that might happen there. This is more of a sports and game bar with a more traditional pub feel, with a more playful, social, and genuinely fun feel to it. With bar food that feels like your favorite in-town hangout, like warm pretzels, chicken wings and lobster salad sandwiches, cocktails and mocktails, and activities that somehow turn complete strangers into temporary teammates with a pool table, electronic dart boards (that offer funny memes when you SCORE or MISS), skeeball, and more happening throughout the day and evening. I discovered two things there. First, I had no idea just how much fun a sports bar on a ship could be, and second, I absolutely suck at darts.
Truly terrible.
Like “people politely pretending I’m improving,” terrible.
So if you ever need an easy win, I’m your girl.
But that’s exactly why the space works so well. People are laughing, talking, cheering each other on, and actually interacting instead of staring at their phones. It gives the ship a fresh energy that feels fresher without alienating those of us who don’t necessarily want to spend our evenings in a nightclub.
Dueling Pianos at The Boulevard
Another major transformation is The Boulevard, which replaces Celebrity Central.
Now, I’ll admit it. I used to genuinely enjoy Celebrity Central. It hosted some great shows over the years, and it always felt cozy and intimate. On the other hand, it felt tucked away and not quite as accessible as going to the main theater, but The Boulevard brings an entirely different energy to the ship and an entry that makes dropping in feel easy.
This is where the fun lives now.
You’ll find dueling pianos (do not miss), game shows, trivia, and karaoke that range from genuinely impressive vocal performances to moments so hilariously awful that you laugh until you nearly need medical assistance or, at the very least, a diaper.
And honestly? Those are usually the best nights.
There’s something wonderful about watching people let loose on vacation. Nobody cares if they hit the high note. Nobody cares if the lyrics are wrong. Everyone’s just having fun, and that atmosphere becomes contagious.
Overall
The ship itself also looks brighter and more contemporary overall. The carpets, walls, furnishings, and public spaces have all been refreshed, giving the Solstice a cleaner, more upscale look while still keeping the familiar layout intact.
The staterooms have also been refurbished, although I’ll be honest, my veranda cabin didn’t feel dramatically different from previous Solstice sailings. It looked fresher and updated, but the layout remains the same, including the bathroom. Personally, I don’t mind that at all. The Solstice-class ships were already designed well, and I’d rather they keep a layout that works than reinvent it just for the sake of change.
One thing I was thrilled to see untouched was the art collection.
Celebrity has always done an exceptional job curating artwork throughout its ships, and wandering the halls of a Celebrity ship has become one of my personal cruise rituals. I jokingly call it my “stay at the floating museum.”
The backdrops, walls, and carpeting may be refreshed, but thankfully, the artwork remains. I still found myself slowly strolling through corridors appreciating sculptures, paintings, photography, and all the little details that make these ships feel more sophisticated than your average floating resort.
And honestly, Alaska is the perfect backdrop for a ship like this.
The scenery outside somehow becomes part of the design experience itself. Massive glaciers. Forest-covered mountains. Mist hovering over the water. Bald eagles flying overhead. Every lounge window becomes a moving painting. Each spout from a humpback whale is framed in your memory. There’s so much to see without ever leaving the ship as it maneuvers icebergs and effortlessly glides past nature at its finest.
I Made An Exception to My Usual No Excursions Necessary
Normally, I’m not a huge excursion person. I’m perfectly happy sitting on a veranda with coffee, watching the world drift by. I love to get off of the ship and discover on my own. I will take a cab or Uber based on things that I’ve read online. But, there was absolutely no way I was going to skip whale watching in Icy Strait Point with the Huna Totem Corporation.
And wow, was that the right decision!
We saw pods of orcas swimming rhythmically through the water, dorsal fins rising as their bodies glide effortlessly at the surface before diving back down, the humpback whales spouting nearby, and even three brown bears wandering along the shoreline. Alaska has a way of making you feel very small in the best possible way. Everything feels bigger, wilder, and more dramatic there.
Back on shore, Icy Strait Point itself offers plenty to explore.
The Sky Peak Gondola practically feels like it’s shooting straight up the mountain. The views from the top are spectacular, especially if you enjoy looking out over endless forests and water while questioning your life choices if heights make you nervous. I saw grown men shake, and others (like me) get that ahhh… moment that I have when I go up a ski lift or gondola and just look at the world around me.
And then there’s the ZipRider.
The world’s largest ZipRider.
5,495 feet long with a 1,320-foot vertical drop.
Which sounds like a lovely scenic experience until you realize it basically translates into “controlled screaming.”
You do have the option of taking the gondola back down, which suddenly feels like an excellent life decision.
Another gondola takes visitors to the historic Cannery area, where you’ll find artisan shopping, local dining, and the Cannery Museum. It’s one of those places where you can wander slowly, soak up local history, and buy things you absolutely do not need but somehow convince yourself are essential vacation purchases.
Which brings me back to what Celebrity always seems to do best.
Do not miss Celebrity’s Exclusive wines, including Opulence from Grgich Hills Estate
The service.
No matter how beautiful a ship is or how impressive the refurbishment may be, none of it works without the crew. And Celebrity consistently delivers some of the warmest, most intuitive service at sea. Somehow, they remember your preferences before you even realize you have preferences. Your favorite drink appears. Someone remembers your name. A crew member notices you’re cold and hands you a blanket as you step out onto the helipad for glacier viewing and a hot chocolate when you decide to come back inside.
It’s that level of care that keeps me coming back to Celebrity again and again.
The newly refurbished Solstice may have updated restaurants, exciting entertainment, refreshed spaces, and fun new additions, but the heart of the experience remains the same.
Relaxation. Elegance. Great service. Beautiful destinations.
Only now with even better food, more laughter, warm cookies on Deck 15, and apparently public proof that I should never be trusted with darts.
Oh, and if you’re wondering how we did at the casino?
We’re up.
- For more information or to book your cruise visit: Celebrity Cruises
- Explore Icy Strait Point with Huna Totem Corporation
