Carnival Panorama vs Celebrity Solstice

The Carnival Panorama was built in 2019. It was renovated in 2024. The Panorama is the only cruise ship to have a Sky Zone trampoline park on board. It's 11 years newer than the Solstice, which was built in 2008 and renovated in 2021. The Celebrity Soltice was the first cruise ship to feature a full half-acre of living grass on board.

Comparison Overview

• Ship Size
• Number of Passengers
• Food and Restaurants
• Bars and Drinks
• Pools and Hot Tubs
• Ship Features and Activities
• Cruise Costs
• Onboard Costs

Ship Size

The Panorama is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 1,055 feet long and 122 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.9 football fields, as wide as 2.3 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 15-story building. Compared to the Celebrity Solstice, the Panorama is 10% larger in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

Carnival Panorama holds 41% more passengers than the Solstice based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you look at the "Space Ratio," or the total tonnage of a ship compared to the number of passengers, the Panorama has less space per person compared to the Solstice.

Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.

The Panorama has 25 different dining options like Mongolian Wok, Blue Iguana Cantina, and Captain's Pasta Bar. Of those options, 16 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 9 options have an additional fee.

The Solstice has 10 fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Sushi on Five, Le Petit Chef at Qsine, and Mast Grill. 9 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 6 have an additional fee.

If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Panorama might be a better choice. It has 67% more dining options than the Solstice.

Both ships have a similar number of paid versus included dining options.

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. The Panorama serves the Pepsi family of products. That means Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Starry, Mug Root Beer, and Mountain Dew, although the selection can vary by ship. The Solstice serves Coca Cola branded products. That includes drinks like Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.

There are also plenty of bars available on these ships. You can check out recent the bar menus for the Panorama and the Solstice below.

Pools and Hot Tubs

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Carnival Panorama has a total of 3 pools and 6 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 2 of the hot tubs are adults only. 1 of the pools and 2 of the hot tubs are exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them.

The Celebrity Solstice has the same number of pools as the Panorama and the same number of hot tubs. There are fewer exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Solstice. If you like ships without extra charges or exclusive areas, this might be a better choice since everyone will have access to these areas.

Ship Features and Activities

Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. You might up paying more while on board the Panorama. Only 65% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare. On the Solstice, 67% of the activities are included at no additional cost.

Cruise Costs

Carnival is considered a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Celebrity, on the other hand, is a premium cruise line. Premium cruise lines typically offer upscale food, accommodations, and service. These typically cost about $150 - $400 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. To get a good idea of how the pricing compares, visit the cruise line's website to price out the separate cruises or consult a travel professional.

Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you compare onboard prices to see if you might spend more on a specific ship.

Celebrity Cruise Lines offers an "All Included" program. Guests who book a cruise using this promotion will have wifi and alcohol included. Some sailings are available without this program so pay attention when booking. Typically prices are lower if they don't include "Always Included." The wifi and alcohol package are the base levels and can be upgraded for an additional cost.

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