CRUISE NEWS
CELEBRITY’S LEADING LADIES
When
Celebrity Cruises’ Solstice took to the waterways
in December,
2008, female passengers must have been pleased with several
innovative
amenities. Why? For this new 2,850-passenger class, first of four new
builds, the company fashioned the design of its entire deck of
Aqua
Class Suites based on a team of ‘Celebrity Leading Ladies’ who
contributed
their input to the challenge: what women desire on a cruise ship.The
five were chosen for their
diversity in the field of travel--a frequent cruiser, one considering
cruising,
a travel agent, hotelier and a travel writer. For starters, these professionals
saw space as the most important improvement. Consequently, staterooms
are
bigger (90% are outside, and the majority include balconies); colors
are
softer; closets are roomier; and there is space under the bed for more
storage.
Aqua Class Suites are grouped around a central pool for the exclusive
use of
suite passengers.
These
noted experts
did not forget their men! Suites contain huge flat-screen TVs, fog-free
mirrors
in the bathrooms, tall-jetted body wash showers, pillow menus, lavish
toiletries, daily teas, juice and bottled water. An interlocking floor
plan features
double sets of connecting doors between cabins, ideal for families
traveling
together.
The innovative Lawn Club is a unique option
to the usual deck chairs for lounging—a
half-acre of live grass on
the top
deck, three times larger than Rockefeller Center Skating Rink! The
first of its
kind on any ship at sea, the Lawn
Club is used for croquet,
putting
practice, bocce ball, and even picnics with a basket of
wine and
cheese provided by the ship. A sitting area called 'Patio
on the Lawn,' the Lawn Club Shop and a Sunset Bar round out the area.
Dining
is always a plus on
cruises, but Solstice promises ‘nothing
short of spectacular’ from chef Elizabeth Blau & Associates,
lately making a big splash in Vegas.
The chic
dining rooms were created with elegance in mind by designer de jour
Adam
Tihany. I've stayed at one of the new Mandarin hotels he designed in
Hong Kong, and his innovations are very cutting edge. www.cruisingpower.com
