Celebrity Solstice first ship to undergo $400m upgrade
A lot of water has flowed under the Sydney Harbour Bridge since Celebrity Solstice took out the best cruise ship gong as voted by Australian travel agents in 2015.
Launched in 2008, Solstice is no longer the bellwether of ship trends in our seas, though she's garnered 18 awards across her lifetime, had a big redo in 2016, and remains hugely popular with Australian cruisers. But the ship's once groundbreaking features have been overshadowed by the bells and whistles of bigger, glitzier ships.
However, when she returns in 2026, Celebrity is confident fans will fall in love with her once more – not for any added gimmickry, more for the enhancement of the things she does best, like dining, relaxing and offering beautiful accommodation.
Celebrity is investing almost $400 million to modernise its entire fleet of Solstice Class ships, with the flagship Celebrity Solstice the first to 'be made new again' as the line puts it.
Given there are five ships in the fleet, the per-vessel budget looks healthy indeed.
When guests board Solstice next year they'll find eight new spaces led by Boulevard Lounge, an entertainment venue where new game shows and trivia will be hosted during the day, followed by candlelit concerts in the evenings. It's paired with the Boulevard Bar cocktail lounge.
Celebrity Barcade is a new sports bar with multiple screens, billiard tables, darts and board games.
There will be two new restaurants: Trattoria Rossa serving fresh pasta and Fine Cut Steakhouse, an upscale dining experience popular on Celebrity's Edge class ships.
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What inspired the title? What inspired the name was that every time I do a comedy show or perform, people in the audience are looking at each other and I get people going, 'You can't say that!' And I'm like, 'Well, why not?' These are the interesting conversations to have. The best conversations are when you're gossiping with your friends and looking around. That's what I find interesting. In drawing on your own experience as a Black woman growing up in Australia, your comedy draws on themes of race, identity, and social issues. Why do you think humour is effective in starting these conversations? One of the major differences between poetry and comedy is that in poetry, people can listen and you don't really know if they've understood what you're saying. But for someone to laugh at a joke, they have to understand. That understanding is what triggers the laughter. When people laugh, that's a thousand people in a room who have all understood what you've just said. You're sharing your personal experiences, things you've been through. For people to then understand, that's empathy, that's connection - all things that are happening against their will because a joke happens and no-one chooses to laugh, I'm making you laugh. Originally published as Stand-up comedian Anisa Nandaula on on trusting your gut
