Its Official - BIGGER is better!

Well for Celebrity Cruises anyway! They have decided that the two new additions to the Solstice Class, the Silhouette (due late next year) and the Reflection (due 2012) are to be much larger and more jam packed with amenities than their 3 siblings.


Most of the changes will be prominent on the Silhouette - such as: more for-fee offerings, including restaurants and special cabana-style alcoves that can be rented for a full or half-day.

The Reflection will boast an extra metre in width and an increase of 4,000 gross tons. That will allow for additional cabins, 17more to be exact, and expanded capacity in the ship's theatre (45 more seats) and in a number of its restaurants (Main dining 40 seats and Oceanview cafe 118!) I think this will be of great benefit as the self serve restaurant can always get quite busy at peak times.

But most importantly all you sun worshipers out there will be pleased to know that there will be 245 more sun loungers on the pool deck, plenty to go around.
Michaels Club is one of the areas that they will be focusing on changing, so what can you expect?

• A Celebrity mainstay, this venue is being transformed from an "elegant social club" into a craft beer bar featuring new décor (including 46-inch televisions) and a selection of whiskeys and scotches -- plus more than 50 international hand-crafted beers. Bar snacks will include housemade gourmet potato chips and breadsticks along with caramel popcorn.

• In addition to live music, playlists featuring such popular modern artists as Coldplay, Jack Johnson, Maroon 5 and Kings of Leon will be piped into the venue.

• Enrichment courses, tastings and pairings will be held here.

What else is changing?

Well they are replacing Team Earth with a new Lounge Area called the "Hideaway" here you can relax whilst reading, listening to music with regular and speciality tea and coffee offered for free! Sounds like my kind of place.....



The Lawn club will also be getting a revamp taking out the glass and adding in the food! The glass blowing show is not going to exist on the newer ships but will be replaced by a Lawn Grill (speciality restuarant) at $30per head.
I have to say Celebrity, particularly the Solstice Class, are one of my favourite cruise lines around. The ships are simply stunning in design being very contemporary and sleek. Definately worth a go!