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Celebrity Solstice vs Celebrity Equinox
The Celebrity Solstice was built in 2008. It was renovated in 2021. The Celebrity Soltice was the first cruise ship to feature a full half-acre of living grass on board. It's 1 year older than the Equinox, which was built in 2009 and renovated in 2019.
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 Solstice is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 1,033 feet long and 121 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 13-story building. The Solstice and the Equinox are in the same class, which means they're sister ships. For the most part, they're similar in terms of size and layout; although they may have different features and attractions on board.
Number of Passengers
Celebrity Solstice holds about the same number of passengers as the Equinox based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you look at the "Space Ratio," or tons of ship compared to number of passengers, the Solstice has the same amount of space per person as the Equinox.
| Celebrity Solstice | Celebrity Equinox | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Solstice | Solstice |
| Gross Tonnage | 122,000 | 122,000 |
| Length | 1,033 | 1,033 |
| Beam/Width | 121 | 121 |
| Passenger Decks | 13 | 13 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 2,850 | 2,852 |
| Crew | 1,284 | 1,290 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.2 | 2.2 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 43 | 43 |
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 Solstice has fifteen different dining options like Main Dining Room, Mast Grill, and Luminae. Of those options, nine are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other six options have an additional fee.
The Equinox has the same number of dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Le Petit Chef at Qsine, Luminae, and Oceanview Cafe. nine of these restaurants are complementary and the other six have an additional fee.
The Celebrity Solstice has about the same number of dining options as the Celebrity Equinox.
Both ships have a similar number of paid versus included dining options.
Restaurants on Celebrity Solstice & Equinox
| Celebrity Solstice | Celebrity Equinox | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| AquaSpa Cafe | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Blu | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Le Petit Chef at Qsine | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Luminae | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Main Dining Room | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Mast Grill | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Murano | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Oceanview Cafe | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Sushi on Five | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Tuscan Grille | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-cola family of products. That means 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. Alcohol is not included in the base price of this cruise ship. To see if you would save money with a drink package, try our Drink Package Calculator.
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 Celebrity Solstice has a total of 3 pools and 6 hot tubs.
The Celebrity Equinox has the same number of pools as the Solstice and the same number of hot tubs.
Tired of loud kids and splashing? One of the pools and two of the hot tubs are adults only on Solstice.| Celebrity Solstice | Celebrity Equinox | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 3 | 3 |
| Pools - General Access | 2 | 2 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | 1 |
| Pools - Exclusive | ||
| Total Hot Tubs | 6 | 6 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 4 | 4 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 2 | 2 |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive |
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. On both ships, 67% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare.
| Celebrity Solstice | Celebrity Equinox | |
|---|---|---|
| Basketball | ✓ | ✓ |
| Beyond the Podium Talk Series | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bingo | ✓ | ✓ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hot Glass Show | ✓ | ✓ |
| Jogging Track | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lawn Club | ✓ | ✓ |
| Outdoor movies | ✓ | ✓ |
| Shows - musical review | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Thermal Suites | ✓ | ✓ |
| Learn more | Learn more |
Cruise Costs
Celebrity 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 Celebrity'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 understand what you might spend onboard a Celebrity ship.
| Celebrity | |
|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $18.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 20% |
| Soda Price | $4.00 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $8.00 |
| Drink Package Price | $65 - $95 |
| Internet Plan | $19 to $30 per device per day |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | |
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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