After a major refurbishment, Celebrity Solstice is back — but is she now better than Celebrity Edge? I recently spent 14 nights onboard sailing from Singapore to Sydney, and in this video I’m sharing my full, honest review of the newly updated ship. From the brand-new public spaces like Sunset Park and The Boulevard, to dining, entertainment, service and yes — the cabins — I cover everything you need to know before booking. While there’s a lot to love about this refurbishment, there are also a few areas where Solstice shows her age… so is it really worth it in 2026? 🎥 Watch next: Celebrity Solstice Full Ship Tour: https://youtu.be/irN15WivnA0 Celebrity Edge Review: https://youtu.be/nyg6esI4EcQ Celebrity Solstice Veranda Cabin Tour: https://youtu.be/7_Htr1b9_ko 💡 What I cover in this review: • Refurbishment changes & first impressions • Cabin review (balcony stateroom) • Dining & food (included + specialty restaurants) • Public spaces & Sunset Park • Entertainment & onboard activities • Service & overall vibe • Technology, WiFi & app experience • Value for money breakdown 💰 Pricing discussed in this video: • 14-night cruise fare • Drinks & WiFi package costs • Onboard pricing examples 👍 If you enjoy cruise reviews, ship tours and honest travel insights, make sure to subscribe! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 🛳️ My website hosts one of the world's most powerful cruise search engines where you can research and even book your next cruise or land holiday. Take a look here: www.thecruiseandtravelguy.com.au - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 🛒 Shop my Amazon Cruise Essentials here: https://www.thecruiseandtravelguy.com.au/cruise-essentials - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 🤳🏼 Follow me on Facebook and Instagram: www.facebook.com/thecruiseandtravelguy www.instragram.com/adrianthecruiseandtravelguy Music by Master Planned Music 0:00 Introduction 1:14 The New Spaces 1:59 Cabins 4:07 Sunset Park and New Spaces 6:55 Solstice VS Edge Spaces 7:46 Included Dining 10:28 Specialty Dining 12:14 Entertainment 13:41 Service 14:36 App, Tech and Wifi 15:53 Cheap and Nasty 17:28 Value and What I Paid 18:47 Conclusion
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I love it when the cruiseline has improved the ship and then add 50 plus cabins onboard and thereby decrease the space onboard for the passengers, and add more pay for venues, and then tell us it is for our benefit!
I think the dark hues of the wood are a positive, not a negative, and most definitely prefer them to the boring griege trend that too many ships have followed. I don't worry about "dated" because the Edge will seem dated too after the next generation, the trendy bits will date it as well. I just think the Solstice ship is a way better ship than the Edge class, any of them, because of the limited social spaces in the Edge class. The Solstice is mostly seems improved so excellent. I agree, always changing the prices seems tacky. I'm not big on cabins. The cabins seem fine to me. Yes, the Millennium class had bigger updates to their cabins but I'd rather the cruise lines spend money on public areas rather than cabins (beyond soft goods, upholstery, carpet, which does need replacing from time to time). I understand a lot of people feel differently, however.
One of the best ship reviews I've viewed (and I've viewed many) . Too bad about Celebrity's lack of effort in modernizing the cabins. Perhaps they'll realize they stumbled in this area, and do a better job with the remainder of the Solstice-class ships- but I doubt they will.
We will be boarding Reflection, another Solstice class ship in a couple of weeks after only sailing on Celebrity Edge class ships. It will be interesting to experience the difference between the two classes. We will miss the Retreat sundeck, lounge and location of Luminae on Edge class and our favorite restaurant at sea- Eden. Thanks for a great video!
I love how Sunset Park has transformed the top deck…however selfishly I’ll miss how we had the grass area to ourselves most afternoons 🫣
I have amazing memories on Solstice since it was the first cruise ship I ever sailed on. Nice to see the recent updates have kept the ship modern and fresh. Thanks for a great review of your experience after all the changes!
I’m so glad I came across this video. I’ve been looking for anything with the new updates because I’ll be on the Solstice in about 2 1/2 weeks on an Alaskan cruise. I’m hoping the outlets are working by then and it seems like that should’ve been one of the things that they made sure worked first. However I’m glad to hear that they have twice a day service like Royal had before Covid. This will be my first Celebrity cruise and I have two more booked so I hope I like it.
Sailing her in Alaska in July. She looks wonderful, like you I wish the cabins got a better upgrade.
Adrian thank you for such a good review . You tell it as it is . I was on the cruise too and I spoke briefly to you a few times . It’s good that you advise future travellers to consider having the drinks ,wifi package I hate to think how much my bar bill would have been if I hadn’t had the Premium drinks package . You are right about checking nearly every day before your cruise as to pricing as we saved a lot Keep up the good work of being honest in your reviews Hope to see you on a cruise again
Great review, thanks Adrian! I cruised on the Ascent last summer which was my first cruise on Celebrity and have to agree about the various discounts offered pre-cruise. It left me feeling I might pay more if I am not alert EVERY day!!
My wife and I were on the dame cruise. Our 2nd time on this ship. We agree with you on the lack of upgrades to the cabins electrical power points and the worn out storage drawers and cupboards, and also on the Trattoria Rossa restaurant. For internet we used Gigsky E- Sims, rather than the ships wifi and found that to be good enough for our use. At Aust $6 a day each for the entire cruise, that was a big saving. The crew were great. Overall, we did enjoy the cruise.
I sailed on the Solstice in Alaska August 2024. The ship badly needed a refit then so I’m glad it got one but it is disappointing that the cabins weren’t updated. The cabinetry in both my and my daughter’s cabin were definitely worse for wear. Not changing the outlets at the desk to have USB ports is pretty unforgivable . But honestly the biggest issues on that cruise were the poor quality of the food outside of specialty dining and the poor service due to understaffing. A refurb won’t fix either of those issues. Celebrity had one chance at a good first impression and failed. I have moved on to other lines.
Greetings from the US Adrian; love your videos. I've only tried X-Cel and I avoided the extra cost restaurants as they seemed pricy, and the regular food was great. You have me wanting to try a Solstice class ship soon. I also really enjoy your tips and tricks for saving $$$.
Adrian, Great review. Booked on Solstice next year for Sydney to Honolulu, so you answered a lot of my questions regarding the refit. We have Anytime Dining and also the 5 Specialty Dining Package - did you have to cancel your reserved time in the MDR when you did the Specialty Restaurants? I bet you missed the Magic Carpet which was a highlight on that Hobart trip.
The only cabins celebrity cares about renewing are the retreat. Very disappointing to hear that they left all other cabins as is. I guess they can’t make more money off that.
I sailed Solstice in Nov just before the refit. Great to see the things that have changed. The thing that disappointed me with the dining was that the food in the specialty dining (I went to lunches at 1/2 the price of the dinners) was then available in Grand Epernay a few days later!!! Why would they do that??? It makes no sense to undercut the specialty dining and ask you to pay money for it! The onboard WiFi was appalling - hopefully that's been updated.
I love Solstice but better then Edge ! That's a big call. Edge was the best I've sailed on between Ovation, Anthem, Voyager, Navigator, Crown, Grand, Discovery, Royal & Adventure
We got sick and tired of the weekly fake "discount offers" before the cruise and then on first day they were offering drink packages at half retail, we still didnt take a package as 3 of us for 14 days would get you a cheap car!
we had a great Alaska Solstice cruise in May 2023. Thank you for the update
This was my first ship I ever ever ever cruised on. Miss the real grass on the top.