Celebrity Unveils $250 Million Solstice-Class Upgrades

Posted on 30 May, 2025 by Spacejunkie2

Celebrity Cruises is investing more than $250 million to modernise its Solstice-class vessels, starting with Celebrity Solstice in March 2026.

The company said guests can look forward to eight new experiences, including four new-to-sea spaces, and many redesigned favourites.

Innovations include reinvented outdoor escapes with enhanced views, new restaurants and entertainment designed to create moments of connection with loved ones, as well as a redesigned stay with all-new stateroom categories and ship-wide stateroom upgrades.

“Our Solstice Series ships represent the best of classic cruising, and now we’re elevating this vacation experience even further by adding brand new experiences and enhancements at every turn,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises. “Guests will enjoy more ways to explore and restore, all while staying true to what made our guests fall in love with these ships in the first place.”

Highlights:

Boulevard Lounge – Good times and glamorous vibes will take centre stage at this brand-new, intimate entertainment venue. With always-on programming, from interactive daytime activities like new game shows and trivia to elevated evenings of candlelit concerts and duelling pianos, this cabaret-inspired lounge offers a dramatic new take on showtime.
Boulevard Bar – Just steps away from the lounge, guests can pull up a seat for handcrafted cocktails before or after the show—or both.
Celebrity Barcade – Guests should bring their A-game to this new, elevated sports bar, the perfect place to both watch and play games. Guests can catch their favourite sports teams from multiple screens positioned so well they’ll never miss a pass, or challenge their friends to a round of billiards, darts, or their favourite retro board game.
Trattoria Rossa – Step into an Italian hideaway that blends opulence with modern design to experience a restaurant that bursts with charm from every corner. The perfect setting to reignite date night, guests will have a front row seat to the action with authentic tableside preparations of dishes inspired by Italian classics, including fresh pasta made from scratch daily.
Fine Cut Steakhouse – The Forbes Travel Guide-rated, Edge Series favourite steakhouse will bring upscale dining with service that’s elevated to an art form. There’s something for everyone at Fine Cut Steakhouse, which offers 30-day dry-aged steaks, fresh seafood, the elevated service Celebrity is known for, and elegance at every turn.

In addition, Sunset Park transforms the top deck of Celebrity Solstice, where guests can enjoy unparalleled views from this half-acre outdoor oasis. Plus, with elevated cuisine, refreshing cocktails, lawn games, open-air concerts, and more, a day at the park never looked so good.

Celebrity noted all staterooms will be refreshed, and four new categories will be added: the Panoramic Infinite Veranda Suite, Deluxe Panoramic Oceanview Suite, Panoramic Ocean View Suite and Deluxe Panoramic Ocean View.

Bow-to-stern enhancements also include a design refresh for more venues: Café Al Bacio, Cellar Masters, World Class Bar, Martini Bar, Pool Bar, Passport Bar, Blu—exclusive to AquaClass guests, and Luminae—exclusive to guests of The Retreat, the Fitness Centre, and Camp at Sea.

AIDAdiva Wraps Up Final Cruise Ahead of Evolution Refit

Posted on 5 February, 2025 by Spacejunkie2

Now set to undergo its AIDA Evolution, the AIDAdiva recently completed a final cruise in the Western Mediterranean.

Wrapping up its winter season in the region, the 2007-built vessel returned to Palma de Mallorca on Feb. 2, 2025.

As part of the seven-night itinerary, the AIDAdiva visited destinations in France, Spain and Italy, including Marseille, Barcelona, Civitavecchia and La Spezia.

The 2,030-guest ship is now set to undergo an extensive refurbishment at the Chantier Naval de Marseille in France.

As part of its seven-week drydock overhaul, the AIDAdiva is scheduled to get new public areas, in addition to refreshed staterooms.

AIDA is also updating the ship’s food and beverage offerings, which will include a greater variety of restaurants and lounges.

Other changes coming to the AIDAdiva include the addition of new suites and updated family features, as well as a complete redesign of the Theatrium.

AIDA’s unique combination of theatre and atrium will emerge with new seating, new bars and a fresh colour scheme.

After completing the project, the AIDAdiva is scheduled to welcome guests back onboard on Mar. 23, 2025.

Sailing from Civitavecchia, a port near Italy’s capital city, Rome, the ship kicks off a spring deployment in the Western Mediterranean.

The cruise program includes a series of seven-night itineraries to Italy and Malta that feature visits to destinations including Catania, Syracuse, Naples, Palermo, Valletta and Olbia.

In mid-April, the AIDAdiva starts a repositioning cruise to Germany for a summer season in Northern Europe.

Sailing to Scandinavia and the Baltic, the ship is scheduled to offer cruises departing from Warnemunde through early November.

As part of AIDA’s Evolution refit program, the AIDAluna is also scheduled to visit the Chantier Naval de Marseille in October 2025, followed by the AIDAbella in January 2026.

Carnival Sunshine Drydocking in Europe

Posted on 20 January, 2025 by Spacejunkie2

The Carnival Sunshine is drydocking ahead of arriving at its new homeport in Norfolk, Virginia.

After completing a final cruise from Charleston earlier this month, the vessel started a trans-Atlantic crossing to France on January 4, 2025.

The Carnival Cruise Line ship was expected in Marseille for its shipyard stay on January 15, 2025.

During the routine drydock, the 2,964-guest ship will undergo technical maintenance, in addition to class work and general upkeep of its hotel spaces.

After the project, the 1996-built vessel is set to return to North America for a series of cruises departing from Norfolk starting in mid-February.

As part of its new deployment, the Carnival Sunshine is scheduled to sail from the Virginia homeport on a year-round basis, offering six- to eight-night cruises to the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

The Carnival Sunshine is also set to make regular visits to two of Carnival Corporation’s private destinations in the region: Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays.

After offering itineraries to Bermuda during the summer, the vessel adds visits to Carnival Cruise Line’s new private destination, Celebration Key, in late September.

Originally built as the Carnival Destiny, the Sunshine underwent a major refurbishment project in 2013, which essentially rebuilt its interiors and public areas.