Celebrity Solstice/Equinox (New for 2008/9) - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

PagodaSwan · 02-16-2006, 03:31 PM

Quote:

16 February, 2006 Second of new class of ship for Celebrity

Celebrity Cruises has exercised an option to order a second 118,000-tonne ship.

The new series of 2,850-passenger ships has been named Solstice class, the first being named Celebrity Solstice and the second, Celebrity Equinox.

The first vessel is due to enter service in autumn 2008 followed by the second in summer 2009.

Both new ships will be 1,033 ft long and 121 ft wide, giving the line the ability to offer larger standard cabins and a higher percentage of balconies.

Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of parent company Royal Caribbean Cruises, said: "The Solstice-class ships accelerate the tremendous growth and excitement that continues to build with this brand. We owe a lot of our inspiration to guests and travel partners, and we think they will be enormously pleased with this collaboration."

The ships are to be built at German shipyard Meyer Werft. (TravelMole)

New ships are coming thick and fast for all the lines...

As details are released on these two, I'll post them.

JoeyandDavid · 02-16-2006, 03:45 PM

The good news is the people that are building these vessels have a solid reputation. The bad news from what early responses are is that they could be too Big. I think that depending on where they use these ships will dictate how they go over.

Some have indicated that they think theses new hotels are too big to do itineraries like the Canal.

I am amazed at how quickly the diehard Celebrity Fans on the different sites are already bashing on the names .. The announcement from Celebrity happened today .. and the “experts” on various Forums already have submitted them for demise.

It is true that David and myself prefer smaller vessels we will reserve opinion until we can at least see a deck plan.

That’s my take and I am sticking to it!

PagodaSwan · 02-16-2006, 03:51 PM

These two are non Panama being over 105ft wide, which is a shame but at least they aren't as big as the newbuilds ordered by the parent company, RCI, which has to be a good thing seeing as Celebrity are known for their smaller ships. However, these two are bucking the trend for Celebrity in the same way the new HAL ship at 89000 tonnes is much larger than what they usually have. It does remain to be seen if these big ships will attract the diehards or if they will just be tolerated as part of the so-called progress in cruising.

Like you, I much prefer the smaller and more intimate ships which can go places that these leviathans can't.