I find that Celebrity is neglecting their older ships but prefer them over the Edge class ships, because it is more personal in the Retreat class due to being smaller. You did a great job pointing out the limitations of the older ships.
They've extensively refurbished the Millennium and Summit. They'll get to the Solstice class. They have a huge following but Celebrity has to be careful how they "update" the Solstice class ships.
Hey guy’s 👋. Have to agree on your final commitments 👍. For a 1k I’d pick edge class 💯%. On edge class I do wish the retreat bar was more than that little nub 😂. Reflection Dec 9th ABC’s🛳️⚓️. Happy Cruising. 🤜🤛
We are taking our first Celebrity cruise and we booked the retreat (suite) for summer 2025. (We have taken other cruise lines 10+ times before.) It is on one of the older ships (Solstice) to Alaska. We are hoping we will enjoy it. We don't think the lack of a sundeck will matter in Alaska, but we definitely would want one on a warmer weather cruise. Thanks for your perspective on the comparison! We hope to try a newer ship at some point.
Have an amazing time! It is a good size ship for Alaska. We will have a new series out in a few weeks from our Celebrity trip to Alaska this year (but it was on the Edge).
I did the Glass Blowing class on the Eclipse. I enjoyed it a lot. If you want to try it... please do. The thrill of having what you made yourself is worth it. But I would not book an older ship just for that, because I do agree with your conclusion.
Pretty much dead on with my thoughts. I wish the Retreat Lounge had a bar you could sit at on the Edge-class ships but everything else about them is better. Honestly, on the Solstice-class ships, I thought Blu was better than Luminae with those huge windows overlooking the aft of the ship... They should switch Blu and Luminae locations on those ships in my opinion.
Your first premise isn't that accurate. The "older" (I prefer "previous class") ship is 122,000 tons and the Edge is 129,000 tons. That's a negligible difference. You are doing the retreat but most passengers aren't. So it's about the same amount of space for regular passengers on both ships. Neither of these ships are small and I guess both are "mid sized" in today's market. In terms of the ship, it's not size that differentiates them more than design. The Edge has a different design philosophy. Building intimate spaces was part of the design of the Solstice vs. Edge. Building more variety of social spaces was also by design. The evolved from the Millennium class where the Edge was designed to depart in many ways from the established Celebrity product of the previous classes. Celebrity design is not the Edge class. That design is kind of trendy and almost generic (in terms of particular Celebrity elements, only the Normandie Restaurant and a few other spaces have them). Celebrity design is retro-modern so you do get traditional next to modern on some of their ships. And the Crafts and Social area is much different on the Silhouette in that it is larger, has more alcoves in it and the layout is just very different. I find it much more inviting. I also find even the redone Michael's Club more inviting and warmer looking than what's on the Edge class ships. Maybe I'm just not into the overly bright look of the Edge's with little color contrast and just a few pops of orange. As for the Martini Bar, Celebrity better never change anything about the version on the Solstice class.. It's supposed to look like a modern version of a 1930s era space and it is magnificent in how it is executed. The one on the Edge has nothing of the personality and style and club feeling of this space. In fact, that looks more like a sunken-high end hotel spot. The Solstice class was not designed to have a retreat. Michael's Club wasn't a suite-passengers lounge when the Solstice was new. It was a cigar smoking lounge for any passenger then turned into a piano lounge. I wished it stayed a piano lounge as I truly enjoy them. This ship is a one-class ship design, not what, is essentially a two-class ship design in the Edge class ships. If you love the retreat then Edge is designed for it. It's retrofitted on the Solstice class. I prefer a one-class ship and don't care for the Edge class ships for multiple reasons. In terms of the fellow passengers, you had older people on your sailing. I think if you did a 3 or 4 night cruise on the Reflection you'd see a lot more younger people. You're right, the Solstice is more traditional in a sense. But it was forward looking and did unique things as well, like hang a tree up in the atrium and put grass on the top deck. In time, the Edge ships will be the "older" flett and I think it's very beige and muted color schemes, especially in the cabins, will date them as well. It happens to all ships. At the end of the day, whatever goodness is designed into the ship wins out over the newness of that ship throughout most of its service life.
Can definitely understand. We just enjoyed our Edge class ship trips more than others but that is why the cruise lines offer so many options. There is really something for anyone.
@@lindsayslivealittle Since Edge is the latest class I'm hoping they won't throw away everything good from the Solstice class when they make their next class. But, yeah, for now, the Solstice class is an option for those that prefer its style.
@@lindsayslivealittle Thanks for your response. Appreciate it as well as the hard work you put into making your videos. The newest ships represent some trends most cruise lines will go in. Furthering the ship within a ship means if you don't book a suite, you can't have access to a certain portion of the ship. That's a major development. May not matter as much on the Icon of the Seas as it does a ship half its size. I think Celebrity probably won't go with Infinity balconies so much in their next class. You're right. At least until the Royal Princess, Celebrity Solstice, pre Haven NCL ships are sold or retired, there are options. Smooth and happy sailing for you.
Glass blowing is such a strange amenity to offer, but I’m here for it
I find that Celebrity is neglecting their older ships but prefer them over the Edge class ships, because it is more personal in the Retreat class due to being smaller. You did a great job pointing out the limitations of the older ships.
Thank you so much!
They've extensively refurbished the Millennium and Summit.
They'll get to the Solstice class. They have a huge following but Celebrity has to be careful how they "update" the Solstice class ships.
Hey guy’s 👋. Have to agree on your final commitments 👍. For a 1k I’d pick edge class 💯%. On edge class I do wish the retreat bar was more than that little nub 😂. Reflection Dec 9th ABC’s🛳️⚓️. Happy Cruising. 🤜🤛
Thanks so much! You as well!
We are taking our first Celebrity cruise and we booked the retreat (suite) for summer 2025. (We have taken other cruise lines 10+ times before.) It is on one of the older ships (Solstice) to Alaska. We are hoping we will enjoy it. We don't think the lack of a sundeck will matter in Alaska, but we definitely would want one on a warmer weather cruise. Thanks for your perspective on the comparison! We hope to try a newer ship at some point.
When are you going? We are going to Alaska too in 2025!
Have an amazing time! It is a good size ship for Alaska. We will have a new series out in a few weeks from our Celebrity trip to Alaska this year (but it was on the Edge).
I did the Glass Blowing class on the Eclipse. I enjoyed it a lot. If you want to try it... please do. The thrill of having what you made yourself is worth it. But I would not book an older ship just for that, because I do agree with your conclusion.
Thanks so much!
I always liked the set up of Michael’s Club .Celebrity missed the mark by not having a “sit down” bar in the Retreat Lounge on the E class.
Pretty much dead on with my thoughts.
I wish the Retreat Lounge had a bar you could sit at on the Edge-class ships but everything else about them is better.
Honestly, on the Solstice-class ships, I thought Blu was better than Luminae with those huge windows overlooking the aft of the ship... They should switch Blu and Luminae locations on those ships in my opinion.
Your first premise isn't that accurate. The "older" (I prefer "previous class") ship is 122,000 tons and the Edge is 129,000 tons. That's a negligible difference. You are doing the retreat but most passengers aren't. So it's about the same amount of space for regular passengers on both ships. Neither of these ships are small and I guess both are "mid sized" in today's market.
In terms of the ship, it's not size that differentiates them more than design. The Edge has a different design philosophy. Building intimate spaces was part of the design of the Solstice vs. Edge. Building more variety of social spaces was also by design. The evolved from the Millennium class where the Edge was designed to depart in many ways from the established Celebrity product of the previous classes. Celebrity design is not the Edge class. That design is kind of trendy and almost generic (in terms of particular Celebrity elements, only the Normandie Restaurant and a few other spaces have them). Celebrity design is retro-modern so you do get traditional next to modern on some of their ships. And the Crafts and Social area is much different on the Silhouette in that it is larger, has more alcoves in it and the layout is just very different. I find it much more inviting. I also find even the redone Michael's Club more inviting and warmer looking than what's on the Edge class ships. Maybe I'm just not into the overly bright look of the Edge's with little color contrast and just a few pops of orange. As for the Martini Bar, Celebrity better never change anything about the version on the Solstice class.. It's supposed to look like a modern version of a 1930s era space and it is magnificent in how it is executed. The one on the Edge has nothing of the personality and style and club feeling of this space. In fact, that looks more like a sunken-high end hotel spot.
The Solstice class was not designed to have a retreat. Michael's Club wasn't a suite-passengers lounge when the Solstice was new. It was a cigar smoking lounge for any passenger then turned into a piano lounge. I wished it stayed a piano lounge as I truly enjoy them. This ship is a one-class ship design, not what, is essentially a two-class ship design in the Edge class ships.
If you love the retreat then Edge is designed for it. It's retrofitted on the Solstice class. I prefer a one-class ship and don't care for the Edge class ships for multiple reasons.
In terms of the fellow passengers, you had older people on your sailing. I think if you did a 3 or 4 night cruise on the Reflection you'd see a lot more younger people. You're right, the Solstice is more traditional in a sense. But it was forward looking and did unique things as well, like hang a tree up in the atrium and put grass on the top deck. In time, the Edge ships will be the "older" flett and I think it's very beige and muted color schemes, especially in the cabins, will date them as well. It happens to all ships. At the end of the day, whatever goodness is designed into the ship wins out over the newness of that ship throughout most of its service life.
Can definitely understand. We just enjoyed our Edge class ship trips more than others but that is why the cruise lines offer so many options. There is really something for anyone.
@@lindsayslivealittle Since Edge is the latest class I'm hoping they won't throw away everything good from the Solstice class when they make their next class. But, yeah, for now, the Solstice class is an option for those that prefer its style.
@@lindsayslivealittle Thanks for your response. Appreciate it as well as the hard work you put into making your videos.
The newest ships represent some trends most cruise lines will go in. Furthering the ship within a ship means if you don't book a suite, you can't have access to a certain portion of the ship. That's a major development. May not matter as much on the Icon of the Seas as it does a ship half its size.
I think Celebrity probably won't go with Infinity balconies so much in their next class.
You're right. At least until the Royal Princess, Celebrity Solstice, pre Haven NCL ships are sold or retired, there are options. Smooth and happy sailing for you.