A beautiful Solstice class cruise ship called Celebrity Eclipse is the biggest ship that Celebrity Cruises has to offer. It is the one of the 5 Solstice class ships in the fleet and is astoundingly gorgeous. She weighs 122,000 tons and can accommodate up to 2850 passengers as well as 1250 crew members. The décor and design of the ship are quite striking and create a classy and sleek look. Using the latest LED lighting technology Celebrity Eclipse has plenty of warm natural light, similar to the technology used to create the unforgettable ambience in disco/nightclub Quasar.
The most noticeable part of the ship is the Lawn Club, a place on the top deck which is covered with green grass. People can listen to music, look at the stars at night, and play games like bocce and miniature golf. Sometimes, even birds come and play with the visitors. It’s rare that a piece of nature is brought aboard the ship and it’s a truly majestic experience.
All these features will be improved and joined by new ones as the ship is planned to go into drydock in April 2015 and come back in May of the same year. Some of the changes include the Cellar Masters wine bar becoming the Gastrobar (which is currently only available on Celebrity Equinox) which will serve more than 40 varieties of craft beers. It will be possible for the food and drinks to be ordered via an iPad. A frozen drink bar near the pool will be built and 12 new Britain themed slot machines will be installed in the casino. The European style roulettes will likely replace the American styled ones.
Celebrity is known for their focus on dining, but they have outdone themselves this time. Qsine and the Tuscan Grill Steakhouse are both fan favorites when it comes to eating aboard the ship.
There are however some possible downsides to this otherwise magnificent ship. Some complaints were made by customers for high surcharges and upselling, as although the free restaurants offer quality food, they cannot compete with the paid ones. Gratuities are added automatically at 12.50-15.50$ per person, per day depending on the type of cabin. While this charge can be removed at the Guest Relations desk, all drinks and salon purchases are charged at 15% extra and this fee cannot be removed. It is clear that the ship was designed to handle large crowds gracefully, but there are still often problems with overcrowding in places like the spa and the pool area.
The majority of customers for this cruise line are sophisticated and appreciative of the better things in life, usually older than 40 and part of a couple or family. Most of them are from the United States but it’s possible this will change during the Caribbean and the European seasons.
It is recommended that customers bring both formal and casual wear for this trip. There are two formal nights in a 1 week trip. For men, casual would imply slacks and sport shirts, while women may find skirts and blouses to be appropriate. During formal nights tuxedos or suits for men are expected and evening gowns are fitting for the ladies.
Celebrity Eclipse Facts
Inaugural Date: Apr 29, 2010
Tonnage: 122000
Occupancy: 2850
Length: 1041 ft
Decks: 13
Beam: 121 ft
Draught: 27 ft
Cruise Speed: 24 kts
photos: www.celebritycruises.com
Contact Info
Phone: 1-888-751-7804