Celebrity Cruises has announced a new EDGE class of ships to first arrive in 2018, but in the meantime, the Millennium-class and Solstice-class dominate the “modern luxury” fleet. There’s probably no single cruise line that I’ve sailed on more than Celebrity, my experience beginning with the now retired Century-class of ships with my parents well before covering the industry professionally. So, I know a thing or two about the vessels and how their features compare.Solstice-classStarting with the line’s latest and largest ships, the Celebrity Solstice introduced the world to the Solstice class upon its launch in 2008, and a total of five sister ships have set sail, including the newest and most modified of the lineup, the Celebrity Reflection, launched in 2012. I was even privileged to see this vessel under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany.Common to all of the ships is a boutique hotel aesthetic marked by a soaring atrium composed of glass elevators and a suspended living tree right at its heart. Similarly impressive is the initially perceived as gimmicky but surprisingly delightful Lawn Club with real grass on the upper deck. Staterooms are some of the industry’s most comfortable with a well-thought-out layout and larger-than-average bathrooms, and cabinets bridge the beds to provide ample storage.Dining has been a highlight on Celebrity ships ever since the line’s original family ownership, and the tradition continues to this day with a wide selection of restaurants onboard, ranging from the excellent main dining room to specialty eateries like the French Murano on all the ships of this class and the eclectic Qsine on all but the Solstice and Equinox.The Equinox and Eclipse have recently introduced the Gastrobar for a fine craft beer selection and the poolside Slush for frozen cocktails, and the Silhouette and Reflection feature the interactive Lawn Club Grill instead of the Hot Glass Show on the other sister ships. The Eclipse also has the World Class Bar for fine drinks in line with fine dining, replacing the former Molecular Bar.As for entertainment, the Solstice-class ships excel with aerial acrobatics, and the Celebrity Eclipse just pulled back the curtain on “Topper,” one of 18 new shows coming to the Celebrity fleet. Another highlight onboard the sister ships is the fun dancing water display at the pool deck.Of the quintuplets, the newest Celebrity Reflection evolved most from the original design with an additional set of midship staterooms pushing the pool deck up one level and a bit of the observation lounge displaced to accommodate a new stretch of suites including the Reflection Suite and its signature cantilevered privacy glass-shower overlooking the front of the ship.Millennium-classThe Millennium-class is older, launched betwee
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