Solstice class cruise ship
| Celebrity Solstice at night The lead ship, Celebrity Solstice being outfitted in Meyer Werft in 2008 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Solstice[1] |
| Builders: | Meyer Werft |
| Operators: | Celebrity Cruises[1] |
| Preceded by: | Millennium Class |
| Built: | (2007-2012) |
| In service: | 2008 – Present |
| Building: | 1 ship |
| Planned: | 5 ships |
| Completed: | 3 ships |
| Active: | 3 ships |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Cruise ship |
| Tonnage: | gross tonnage (GT) of 122,000 tons[2] |
| Length: | 317.20 metres (1,040.68 ft) (LOA)[2] |
| Beam: | 36.8 metres (120.73 ft)[2] |
| Draught: | 8.5 metres (27.89 ft)[2] |
| Decks: | 17 decks |
| Installed power: | 67,200 kilowatts (90,100 hp)[2] |
| Propulsion: | 41,000 kilowatts (55,000 hp)[2] |
| Speed: | 24 kn (44 km/h; 28 mph) |
| Capacity: | 2,850 passengers |
| Crew: | 1,500 crew |
| Notes: | post-Panamax ships |
The Solstice class[1] is a class of cruise ships primarily operated by Celebrity Cruises, a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. The class is constructed by Meyer Werft of Germany. At present, there are three active Solstice-class ships; the lead vessel of the class, Celebrity Solstice, the second ship of the class, Celebrity Equinox, and the third ship of the class, Celebrity Eclipse which was recently delivered on 15 April 2010. The fourth ship, Celebrity Silhouette is currently under construction and the other, presently unnamed, is currently on order. The first Solstice-class ship, Celebrity Solstice entered service in November 2008 and is the namesake of the class. All Solstice-class vessels have post-Panamax dimensions.
During the launch of Celebrity Solstice in 2008, she was, at 122,000 GT, the largest ship to be built at a German shipyard, but this record was surpassed by the Disney Dream, a 128,000 GT cruise ship of the Disney Cruise Line currently under construction in 2009.
Contents
History
The first Solstice-class vessel was ordered in year 2005[3] at Meyer Werft, with one vessel as the first option. Later, option for second vessel was exercised.[3] Meyer Werft reached several milestones in their career while building the Solstice-class. It was their first time to build 122,000-GT cruise ships having post-Panamax dimensions. By that time, the class were the largest cruise ships ever built at the facility.[3] On February and July 2006, the second and the third vessel was ordered respectively. The order for the fourth and fifth ship followed in 2007 and 2008.[3] The class consists of five ships, with expected delivery of one ship each year, from 2008 to 2012, which costs USD 3.7 billion.[4]
Concept and Construction
The keel of Celebrity Solstice was laid on 11 October 2006[5], and was delivered in 24 October 2008.[6] The keel of Celebrity Equinox was laid on 6 August 2008[7] and delivered on 16 July 2009.[8] The keel of Celebrity Eclipse was laid on 23 January 2009[9] and was delivered on 15 April 2010.[2] The fourth ship, Celebrity Silhouette is currently under construction while the fifth ship is on order.
Features
Some of the finest features of the Solstice-class is the half-acre, freshly manicured[1] lawn named The Lawn Club, which is located in deck 15. A special type of grass, Agrostis Stalonifera, is used in the lawn.[8] The areas such as Patio in the Lawn, Sunset Bar, Lawn Club Shop and The Hot Glass Show is found in the lawn. The staterooms in Solstice-class ships are significantly larger than the previous classes and offers 80% verandas.[1] The staterooms are grouped into seven categories; some of the well-known are the spa-inspired AquaClass and the Concierge class. There is a Penthouse Suite, a 110-m2 stateroom and a Royal Suite, a 54-m2 stateroom. Each room have a living room, dining room and separate bedrooms.[8] There is also Jacuzzi's and separate showers. [1] Solstice-class mainly feature industry-standard amenities, such as large staterooms, large theater, and multiple dining options. Signature Celebrity features were also added, such as the Martini Bar. The newest feature of the class is the iLounge; a combination of Internet cafe and an Apple Store. This feature was recently added to Celebrity Eclipse and Celebrity Silhouette, and on Celebrity Solstice in May 2010.[10]
Design
The original renderings for the Solstice-class was to have powder blue upper decks and funnels. Due to the fact that Celebrity uses dark blue as a trademark on their ships, the powder blue was subsequently changed to dark blue. The lead vessel, Celebrity Solstice, carries the original concept and design for the class, such as twin funnels with a small "X" on the front funnel and a large "X" on the railings of the hump staterooms. Several months after her service, the "X" logo on the railings were seen by Celebrity as a design flaw. Due to this, the "X" logo on the railings was removed in Celebrity Equinox and Celebrity Eclipse and to other future Solstice-class ships. In order to compensate, the small "X" on the front funnel was enlarged to ships after Celebrity Solstice.
Environmental issues
The Solstice-class ships are reported to offer one of the most innovative yet environment-friendly amenities ever introduced in a ship:
- The ship's hull coatings is made of Silicone paint that gives the ships a smooth hull appearance and reduces Resistance in order to achieve more speed.[11]
- The hull design of Solstice-class ships were optimized to save energy. Celebrity Cruises tested more than 90 model tank tests in order to achieve its current design. Paired with the new propulsion arrangement, the ship's saves 8% more energy than the traditional propeller-and-rudder set-ups.[11]
- A new approach in propulsion arrangement, in which, Solstice-class ships are equipped with Common Rail Diesel Engines, which reduces energy consumption and reduce Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in all engine loads.[11]
- The glasses used in Solstice-class ships are specially glazed to prevent solar heat from entering the ship's inner spaces and filter UV rays by 99.9%.[11]
- High-efficiency appliances to reduce energy load[11]
- A total of 216 Solar panels, used in 500 m2 of the ship's spaces, that power elevators and 7,000 LED lights.[11]
- Switching from Halogen lamp and Incandescent bulbs to Fluorescent and LED bulbs which reduces power consumption by 80% and generate 50% less heat.[11]
- Highly-efficient air conditioning system which are 10% more efficient than the previous Celebrity ships.[11]
- Strong implementation of energy conservation measures in crew members.[11]
- Water reduction technology which reduces the usage of water-producing equipments.[11]
- Advanced Waste Water Purification (AWP) which cleans the ship's waste water and exceed waste water discharge standards.[11]
Ship facts
- Gross tonnage: 122,000-GT[1]
- Length: 1,033 feet (314.86 m)
- Width: 121 feet (36.88 m)
- Cost: $ 750 million[1]
Ships
- Celebrity Solstice (2008)[1]
- Celebrity Equinox (2009)[1]
- Celebrity Eclipse (2010)[2]
- Celebrity Silhouette (currently under construction)[1]
- Name unknown (will enter fleet in Fall 2012)
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 "Celebrity Solstice class". Celebrity Cruises. 17 February 2010. http://www.celebritycruises.co.uk/solstice-class. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 "Delivery of Celebrity Eclipse". Meyerwerft website. 15 April 2010. http://www.meyerwerft.de/page.asp?lang=e&main=3&subs=0&did=1743. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Celebrity Cruises orders new cruise ship". Meyerwerft website. 12 July 2005. http://www.meyerwerft.de/page.asp?lang=e&main=3&subs=0&did=916. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
- ↑ Launch of Celebrity Cruises' Newest ship 'Eclipses" Others Newest Solstice Class ship named by courageous yachtswoman Emma Pontin. Press Release. Celebrity Cruises. 26 April 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2010
- ↑ "Meyer Werft builds cruise vessel for Celebrity Cruises". Meyerwerft website. 11 October 2006. http://www.meyerwerft.de/page.asp?lang=e&main=3&subs=0&did=1115. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
- ↑ "First post Panamax ship for Celebrity Cruises". Meyerwerft website. 24 October 2008. http://www.meyerwerft.de/page.asp?lang=e&main=3&subs=0&did=1603. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
- ↑ "Keel laying of Celebrity Equinox". Meyerwerft website. 6 August 2008. http://www.meyerwerft.de/page.asp?lang=e&main=3&subs=0&did=1579. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Delivery of Celebrity Equinox". Meyerwerft website. 16 July 2009. http://www.meyerwerft.de/page.asp?lang=e&main=3&subs=0&did=1674. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
- ↑ "Keel-laying of Celebrity Eclipse". Meyerwerft website. 23 January 2009. http://www.meyerwerft.de/page.asp?lang=e&main=3&subs=0&did=1619. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
- ↑ Celebrity Cruises to Present "Celebrity iLounge" on Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Summit. Press Release. Celebrity Cruises. 5 April 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2010
- ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 "Environmental Initiatives". Celebrity Cruises. http://www.celebritycruises.com/aboutceleb/flashSingleTxt.do;jsessionid=0000_zCDSWV7TvjpX5OIYkjcKa_:12hdebebp?pagename=environmental_efforts. Retrieved 9 March 2010-.
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