Cruise Spotlight
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Celebrity Solstice vs Norwegian Sky
The Celebrity Solstice was built in 2008. It was renovated in 2021. The Celebrity Solstice was the first cruise ship to feature a full half-acre of living grass on board. It's 9 years newer than the Sky, which was built in 1999 and renovated in 2019. The Norwegian Sky will leave the fleet in 2026.
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. Compared to the Norwegian Sky, the Solstice is 58% larger in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
Celebrity Solstice holds 42% more passengers than the Sky based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, or what we call the "Space Ratio," the Solstice has more space per person compared to the Sky. This means that you might have a bit more space to yourself on the ship, although there still could be some crowded areas like buffets, pools, etc.
| Celebrity Solstice | Norwegian Sky | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Solstice | Sun |
| Gross Tonnage | 122,000 | 77,104 |
| Length | 1,033 | 848 |
| Beam/Width | 121 | 123 |
| Passenger Decks | 13 | 8 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 2,850 | 2,004 |
| Crew | 1,284 | 899 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.2 | 2.2 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 43 | 38 |
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 ten different dining options like Main Dining Room, Mast Grill, and Blu. Of those options, nine are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other six options have an additional fee.
The Sky has one fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are The Great Outdoors, La Cucina Italian, and Le Bistro French. nine of these restaurants are complementary and the other four have an additional fee.
If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Solstice might be a better choice. It has 11% more dining options than the Sky.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Sky might be a better choice then the Solstice. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.
| Celebrity Solstice | Norwegian Sky | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | 10 | 9 |
| Complimentary Dining Options: | 9 | 9 |
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | 6 | 4 |
| % of Included Options | 40% | 56% |
| See the options | See the options |
Bars and Drinks
The Celebrity Solstice has 7 more bars than the Norwegian Sky. The Solstice has 16 bars like Martini Bar, Passport Bar and Sunset bar. On Solstice, you can grab a drink at 9 different bars such as Spinnaker Lounge, Sugarcane Mojito Bar and The Local Bar.
| Celebrity Solstice | Norwegian Sky |
|---|---|
| •Cafe al Bacio • Casino Bar • Cellar Masters • Ensemble Lounge • Il Secondo Bacio • Martini Bar • Mast Bar • Michael's Club • Oceanview Bar • Passport Bar • Pool Bar • Quasar • Sky Observation Lounge • Sunset bar • The Whiskey and Cigar House • World Class Bar | •Atrium Bar • Bliss Ultra Lounge • Champs Bar • Pinnacle Lounge and Sushi Bar • Spinnaker Lounge • Starbucks • Sugarcane Mojito Bar • The Local Bar • Topside Bar |
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.
You can check out recent the bar menus for the Sky 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 Celebrity Solstice has a total of 3 pools and 6 hot tubs.
Norwegian Sky has fewer pools than the Solstice and fewer 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 | Norwegian Sky | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 3 | 2 |
| Pools - General Access | 2 | 2 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | |
| Pools - Exclusive | ||
| Total Hot Tubs | 6 | 5 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 4 | 5 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 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 the Solstice, 67% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Sky, only 57% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.
| Celebrity Solstice | Norwegian Sky | |
|---|---|---|
| Arcade | ✗ | ✓ |
| 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.
Norwegian, on the other hand, 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.
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 Solstice | Norwegian Sky | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $18.00 | $20.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 20% | 20% |
| Soda Price | $4.00 | $3.50 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $8.00 | $7.50 See drink menus |
| Drink Package Price | $65 - $95 | 106 Learn more |
| Internet Plan | $19 to $30 per device per day | $29.99 - $39.99 per cabin per day, with $5 for each extra device |
| *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.
Norwegian Cruise Line offers a More at Sea fare. Through this program, guests receive open bar, a discount on excursions, some free internet, and some meals at specialty restaurants. If you book using this promotion, you'll be responsible for the gratuities on the dining and drink package. If you won't be using these options, booking a "sail away" rate that doesn't include the More at Sea benefits is considerably cheaper. Also, most of these benefits are the base packages; you can spend more to upgrade to better alcoholic drinks or faster/more wifi.
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