8 Things for Cruisers to Love About the “Revitalized” Celebrity Solstice
Celebrity Solstice cruises in to Pago Pago at sunrise. (Photo courtesy of Tim Faircloth)
I took a Celebrity cruise across the Pacific from Fiji to Hawaii and tried all the fun new restaurants and amenities on its popular Solstice ship
It’s a long way to reach this little piece of paradise, but I have a feeling it’s going to be worth it.
I’ve come to Suva, Fiji, after an overnight flight from Denver via Los Angeles, and I’m too excited to be tired. We’ve all heard about Fiji and Samoa, and it’s so exciting to finally visit these dreamy places in the remote South Pacific.
I’m cruising with Celebrity Cruises on the line’s popular Celebrity Solstice, which has recently rejoined the fleet after an extensive revitalization. Our itinerary starts in Fiji (I’m actually among a group of cruisers joining the ship here early in a voyage that started in Sydney with most of our fellow travelers onboard), and the trip makes stops at Apia, Samoa, and Pago Pago, American Samoa, before we have five sea days in a row to cross the Pacific and finish the journey in Honolulu, Hawaii.
That’s the overview. Now, here’s what you should know about the ship and why I’m taking this cruise.
We enjoyed a stunning sunset as we departed American Samoa. (Photo by John Roberts)
Celebrity Solstice, the flagship of Celebrity Cruises' Solstice Class, debuted in 2008 as an innovative and stylish new ship that redefined modern cruising for a line known for relaxed luxury.
At the time, Celebrity Solstice introduced elegant design elements, such as the Lawn Club with real grass on the top deck, expansive staterooms with balconies and a focus on sophisticated yet approachable luxury. Over the years, the ship has carried hundreds of thousands of travelers who have enjoyed cruising to highly desired destinations like Alaska, the Caribbean, Australia, Asia and beyond.
This ship is popular and has earned a loyal following among cruisers who love its sleek aesthetics, excellent service and varied itineraries.
Now, nearly two decades later, Celebrity Solstice has undergone a comprehensive bow-to-stern refurbishment as part of a $250 million modernization program for the entire Solstice Class fleet. Relaunched in March 2026 after a 46-day dry dock in Singapore, the ship offers a brand-new experience.
A range of thoughtful upgrades brings a contemporary flair to a ship that retains its classic charm.
I took this Pacific crossing aboard the rejuvenated Celebrity Solstice to get a look at all the new features. With five consecutive days at sea during this voyage across the beautiful blue Pacific, the cruise provided the perfect opportunity to check out everything this ship now has to offer.
Primarily, there are eight standout new features that cruisers will absolutely love. These span dining, entertainment, outdoor living and wellness -- changes that thoroughly refresh Celebrity Solstice and serve to enhance its signature elegance.
Here’s what you can look forward to when you cruise on the new-look Celebrity Solstice.
1. Sunset Park: Your New Top-Deck Oasis
The former Lawn Club is reimagined as the relaxing Sunset Park on Celebrity Solstice, with private cabanas, lawn games, wellness classes, a nearby bar and the Sunset Park Cafe. (Photo by John Roberts)
All of Celebrity’s ships are wonderful because the outdoor spaces are so inviting. I’ve always enjoyed getting out to find a spot to relax in the fresh air, soaking up the sunshine, playing games or getting some exercise on the outer decks of the various ships throughout the fleet.
One of the most transformative changes on Solstice, though, is the reimagining of the top-deck area. Cruisers will love Sunset Park, a half-acre outdoor destination perfect for taking in panoramic ocean views. This is a reimagination of the former Lawn Club on this ship. It still has the lush grass areas, making it an attractive place to hang out to relax or take part in the various activities offered here.
Whether you're cruising past Fiji's lush mountains or gazing at Hawaii's awesome volcanic landscapes (like I was during my trip), this space delivers front-row seats to nature's beauty.
Sunset Park Cafe offers snacks of all kinds throughout the day. (Photo by John Roberts)
You'll find yoga classes, daily morning meditation sessions, lawn games and live music here, along with plenty of lounge seating, daybeds and café tables for relaxed viewing. New private cabanas offer shaded relaxation with dedicated attendants ready to bring drinks and snacks — ideal for unwinding and watching the horizon. Cruisers who book a cabana can enjoy their top-deck oasis and attentive service for a full day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The adjacent Sunset Park Café serves café and bistro classics all day: breakfast sandwiches, wraps, quiches and pastries; fresh lunch salads and wraps; and charcuterie boards for anytime snacking. The expanded Sunset Bar just past the park and at the very aft of the ship features craft cocktails and beers, and it’s the perfect spot to take in the gorgeous sunsets and scenic sailaways.
I hung out here with my friends as we pulled away from Pago Pago, and it was an amazing experience. We spent more than an hour gazing at the golden glow and purple-hued sky and continuously snapping pictures as Celebrity Solstice left a smooth wake that looked like a foamy soft carpet leading from the silhouetted hillside.
2. Trattoria Rossa: A New Italian Eatery
Trattoria Rossa is an Italian specialty restaurant and the first of its kind for Celebrity Cruises. I ate here three times during my cruise. (Photo by John Roberts)
Dining options expand with Italian restaurant Trattoria Rossa, a brand-new venue for Celebrity Cruises. It features Roman and Southern Italian cuisine, and the restaurant combines modern design with warm, inviting ambience – cruisers will see rich details in every aspect of this space.
The menu highlights house-made pastas, tableside preparations and standout dishes like Insalata di Polpo (octopus with steamed potatoes and olives), chicken parmesan, tonnarelli carbonara, gnocchi and linguine Alfredo.
It's interactive and fun, especially when you have a front-row view of the cooking and prep. Trattoria Rossa brings a fresh and flavorful Italian experience that's sure to become a favorite.
I joined five friends for dinner and filled up on lasagna and chicken parm, and we all shared a variety of appetizers (beef carpaccio, burrata and octopus salad). We particularly enjoyed watching cocktails (Fig Negroni) and desserts (cannolis) prepped tableside.
The cover charge is $55 for dinner, and you also will see lunch offered here during sea days. The lunch features a variety of pastas and pizza for a $35 cover charge. Trattoria Rossa replaces the Silk Harvest/Le Petit Chef eatery that previously occupied this space.
3. Fine Cut Steakhouse: Premium Steaks at Sea
The specialty restaurant Fine Cut features delicious steaks and a full menu of sides and appetizers. (Photo by John Roberts)
Steak lovers are in business on Celebrity Solstice!
Fine Cut Steakhouse, a popular specialty dining staple on Celebrity's Edge Class ships, has made its way to Solstice. Known for its elegant setting and impeccable service, the cover-charge restaurant delivers 30-day dry-aged steaks, ultra-fresh seafood and more.
Cruisers can pick from a menu that offers premium cuts (added fee), such as the 28-day aged prime bone-in filet mignon, 59-day aged ribeye or certified black Angus tomahawk. Paired with Celebrity's renowned hospitality, Fine Cut is a refined dining highlight that satisfies your cravings.
We enjoyed an excellent meal with friends; I recommend ordering all the appetizers and sides to share so you can enjoy all the flavors that fill the menu. We had gruyere cheese filled tots, sauteed spinach, truffle fries, tomato and burrata salad, crab cakes, salmon carpaccio and more to go alongside our delicious steaks.
The cover charge for dinner here is $65. Fine Cut replaces Tuscan Grille, which used to serve as the steakhouse on Solstice.
4. Boulevard Lounge and Bar: All-Day Entertainment
The new Boulevard Lounge is a 125-seat multipurpose venue. (Photo by John Roberts)
For versatile entertainment, the new Boulevard Lounge and Bar is an intimate 125-seat venue offering programming from morning to night. Enjoy piano bar vibes and activities like game shows and karaoke in the evening, or join interactive daytime activities, such as bingo and enrichment classes. You often find movies being shown here during the afternoon and some evenings.
It's a lively space that keeps the positive vibes flowing throughout your cruise. This is much better use of the space that had housed a movie theater as part of the Celebrity Central neighborhood.
During my cruise, the program offered recently released movies throughout the day, as well as dueling pianos and sessions with our Polynesian ambassadors, who traveled with us all the way to Hawaii offering classes on hula dancing, playing the ukulele, making bracelets and more.
5. The Parlor: Sports, Games and Comfort Food
The Parlor is a bar and lounge space, offering sports on the TVs, bar bites and classic games. (Photo by John Roberts)
The Parlor is a new sports and gaming lounge with a warm, inviting design. You can watch live sports on big screens (16 large TVs surround the venue) or enjoy activities, such as billiards, darts, Skee ball, foosball, shuffleboard, video games and classic board games. There are hundreds of games packed into the shelves for cruisers to grab and enjoy during their time onboard. They’re all free to play.
This cool new lounge replaces the former Quasar nightclub/disco.
The menu features elevated comfort foods — steak frites, shrimp mac 'n' cheese, Celebrity's Signature Burger — plus desserts like caramel bread pudding, house-made beignets and milkshakes.
Craft cocktails, award-winning wines and whiskies complete the experience, making it a go-to spot for a fun time.
6. Onboard Entertainment: Fresh Theater Productions
Two new shows have come to the ship, including Smoke & Ivories, which features piano music and dance routines as well as 1950s music and acrobatics. (Photo by John Roberts)
The Theatre on Celebrity Solstice boasts two exciting new productions. “Smoke and Ivories” is a high-energy piano-focused show celebrating 1950s music, complete with acrobatics and live vocals.
The aerial performers, singers and dancers blended nicely in this high-energy show that was packed for all the performances on my cruise. The songs are familiar and fun, and the set design is impressive, makingthis a must-see for cruisers during their voyages.
“Rockumentary” takes audiences through decades of iconic rock performances with powerful singers, dancers and dazzling LED technology.
Both productions deliver immersive, high-quality entertainment that wows from start to finish.
7. Stateroom Upgrades and New Categories
Every stateroom on Celebrity Solstice has been fully refreshed, and 54 new cabins have been added to make a total of 1,479 rooms. Four new categories are available: the Panoramic Infinite Veranda Suite, Deluxe Panoramic Oceanview Suite, Panoramic Ocean View Suite and Deluxe Panoramic Ocean View. These staterooms feature enhanced views and modern comfort.
Plus, AquaClass staterooms now offer spa-inspired touches, such as massaging shower heads, aromatherapy diffusers, in-room yoga mats, luxurious robes and slippers and a pillow menu. Cruisers can enjoy complimentary access to the all-new Relaxation Lounge at The Spa. This expanded lounge offers fantastic panoramic views through large windows.
8. The Retreat: An Enhanced Luxury Experience
The spacious new Retreat Sundeck is an exclusive amenity for cruisers booked in suites on Celebrity Solstice. (Photo John Roberts)
The exclusive Retreat “ship-within-a-ship" experience (forward on Deck 15) has been reimagined with a private sundeck featuring an oversized hot tub, outdoor seating and plenty of shaded spaces and comfy day beds.
This also is a great spot to enjoy lunch with a menu that includes shrimp cocktail, chicken sandwich and the gourmet Luminae burger. Creating this exclusive sun deck removed the ship’s sports court. Cruisers enjoy relaxing here all day, hanging in the hot tub and having lunch with fantastic service.
You can enjoy the hot tub, loungers wonderful sea views up here. (Photo by John Roberts)
It was a little breezy and quiet warm up here during our crossing, but there are plenty of umbrellas so you can get some relief from the direct sunshine.
The redesigned Retreat Lounge (formerly Michael’s Club on Deck 5) is perfect for light bites or drinks with friends, delivering privacy and an elevated relaxation experience for travelers who book these suites.
The Retreat Lounge is located on Deck 5 and features a bar, living room space and a small buffet with an array of foods for breakfast and snacking throughout the day, as well as self-service coffee, tea and soft drinks. (Photo by John Roberts)
These eight new enhancements on Celebrity Solstice make the refreshed ship feel like an exciting new destination for cruisers — even if you’ve sailed on Solstice before.
From peaceful mornings in Sunset Park to memorable evenings in the theater or at Trattoria Rossa, the ship offers an ideal blend of relaxation, adventure and luxury.
Celebrity Solstice departed from Hawaii for its season in Alaska until September, and then it will go back to Hawaii (departing from Vancouver) for a cruise around the islands before heading back to Asia for its popular itineraries in Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong and China.