Read our comprehensive Celebrity Solstice Alaska cruise review for 2025 and 2026. Discover the best cabins, dining options, and expert itinerary booking tips.
When it comes to sailing the Last Frontier, the Celebrity Solstice strikes a near-perfect balance between upscale sophistication and approachability. Sitting comfortably in the premium tier—a step up from mainstream lines like Royal Caribbean and Norwegian, but more accessible than ultra-luxury brands like Regent—the Solstice is widely considered an Alaska classic. Having sailed the 49th state on numerous ships, I can confidently say that the Solstice offers one of the best adult-oriented, food-focused experiences in the region.
Here is our complete Celebrity Solstice Alaska cruise review, updated for the 2025 and 2026 sailing seasons.
For the 2025 and 2026 seasons, the Celebrity Solstice is dedicating its summers to immersive 7-night Alaska sailings. While Celebrity utilizes both Seattle, WA and Vancouver, BC as embarkation ports across its fleet (with the newer Celebrity Edge sailing mostly from Seattle), the Solstice is primarily homeported in Vancouver for classic roundtrip voyages.
Sailing out of Vancouver is a massive advantage. It allows the ship to navigate the true Inside Passage along the eastern, protected coast of Vancouver Island, offering calmer waters and stunning forested scenery right from day one. A typical 7-night itinerary calls on Alaska’s heavy hitters: Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway. In recent years, Celebrity has also integrated frequent stops at Icy Strait Point, a Native-owned port near Hoonah that boasts incredible whale watching, the world’s largest ZipRider, and a much less commercialized feel than the main ports.
A critical note on Glacier Bay: While older promotional materials (and even some outdated travel agency sites) claim Celebrity accesses Glacier Bay, the reality for the current 2025/2026 season is that Celebrity Cruises does not hold National Park Service permits for Glacier Bay. Instead, the Solstice features breathtaking scenic cruising days at either Hubbard Glacier (the largest tidewater glacier in North America) or Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier. Both are spectacular, deeply blue, and highly active alternatives. If Glacier Bay is a non-negotiable bucket-list item, you will need to book a flightseeing excursion from Icy Strait Point to view the national park from above.
Built in 2008 and revitalized in 2021, the Solstice’s design is practically tailor-made for Alaska’s unpredictable weather and sweeping landscapes.
The absolute crown jewel for Alaska viewing is the Sky Lounge, located all the way forward on Deck 14. This massive observation lounge features floor-to-ceiling windows, comfortable plush seating, and a full bar. On glacier viewing days, you can sip a hot toddy in climate-controlled comfort while taking in 180-degree panoramas of ice and snow.
Outdoors, the Solstice boasts the Lawn Club—a half-acre of real, meticulously maintained grass on the top deck. There is something delightfully surreal about playing bocce or croquet on a manicured lawn while massive snow-capped peaks slide by.
Celebrity also excels with its onboard enrichment. The line brings dedicated Alaska naturalists onboard for the entire season. They provide running commentary over the ship’s public address system during scenic cruising, helping you spot bald eagles, bubble-net feeding humpback whales, and harbor seals lounging on ice floes. You’ll also find daily lectures in the theater covering Alaskan wildlife, indigenous culture, and glaciology.
Finally, at 122,000 gross tons and holding roughly 2,850 passengers, the Solstice is considered a mid-sized ship by modern standards. It manages to feel spacious without the overwhelming foot traffic of 4,000+ passenger mega-ships, making port days in small towns like Skagway feel far more manageable.
Alaska is the one destination where upgrading to a balcony (Veranda) is universally recommended. You will spend hours watching the coastline, and having a private outdoor space to quickly step onto when a pod of orcas is spotted is invaluable.
If you can secure one, the aft-facing “Sunset Verandas” on Decks 7, 8, and 9 are the best standard cabins on the ship. They offer a panoramic view of the ship’s wake, completely protecting you from the forward wind—a massive perk in chilly Alaska. If you are booking a standard side balcony, aim for the port side on southbound inside passage sailings (or northbound roundtrips) for the best coastal views, though the scenery is spectacular on both sides.
For those willing to splurge, AquaClass is undeniably worth the upgrade on the Solstice. Positioned on Deck 11, these staterooms come with unlimited access to the Persian Garden thermal suite. After a freezing morning standing on deck at Hubbard Glacier, nothing beats thawing out on a heated ceramic lounger. Furthermore, AquaClass guests get exclusive access to Blu, a dedicated dining room featuring a lighter, health-conscious menu and a remarkably quiet, intimate atmosphere.
Celebrity’s culinary program consistently outshines its mainstream competitors, and the Solstice is no exception. Best suited for food-focused travelers, the ship offers a dining experience that feels genuinely upscale.
The main dining room, Grand Epernay, is visually stunning with its two-story glass wine tower. The menu is diverse and the execution is remarkably consistent for a ship of this size. Even the Oceanview Café (the buffet) is a cut above, featuring excellent layout flow, a made-to-order pasta station, and a fantastic aft outdoor seating area that is perfect for breakfast with a view.
The specialty restaurants are where the ship truly shines. Murano offers a nouveau take on classic French cuisine with tableside flambé presentations that are perfect for a romantic evening. Tuscan Grille, the Italian steakhouse located aft, features massive windows—try to book a table here on your glacier viewing day for a spectacular dinner backdrop. Lastly, Le Petit Chef at Qsine is a must-do. Replacing the former avant-garde tapas menu, this experience uses 3D projection mapping to animate a tiny chef on your plate who “cooks” your meal before the actual food is served. It is incredibly charming, kid-friendly, and highly entertaining.
If you are looking for water slides, surf simulators, and climbing walls, the Solstice is not your ship. The onboard vibe is distinctly adult-oriented, refined, and relaxed.
While the newer Celebrity Edge class gets the buzz for its flashy modern design, the Solstice remains the classic, elegant favorite. Sea days are spent listening to acoustic guitarists in the Grand Foyer, participating in wine tastings, or lounging in the adults-only enclosed Solarium pool—a genuine necessity for Alaska’s brisk weather.
Evenings are lively but sophisticated. The Martini Bar, featuring a frost-covered counter, is the undeniable social hub of the ship. The bartenders perform incredible juggling routines with cocktail shakers, drawing large crowds before dinner. Main theater productions feature strong vocalists and cirque-style acrobatics, while smaller venues host comedians and live jazz.
When to Book: Alaska’s season is short (May through September). To secure a highly coveted Sunset Veranda or an AquaClass cabin, you should book 12 to 18 months in advance.
Pricing Expectation: For the 2025/2026 season, expect standard Veranda cabins to run roughly $3,000 to $3,600 total for two people. Inside cabins offer fantastic value, often dropping closer to $1,500 for two, but you will sacrifice the private view.
Fares: Pay attention to Celebrity’s pricing tiers. The “All-Included” fare bundles a Classic Beverage Package and basic Wi-Fi. If you enjoy a few cocktails, specialty coffees, and wine with dinner, this bundle is almost always cheaper than purchasing the packages a la carte once onboard.
The Verdict: The Celebrity Solstice is the perfect vessel for couples, multi-generational groups of adults, and anyone who wants premium food and stellar service without paying ultra-luxury prices. Just remember: if physically sailing into Glacier Bay National Park is your ultimate dealbreaker, you’ll need to look at Princess or Holland America. But for everything else, the Solstice remains a premier way to sail the Great Land.
Yes, it is an excellent choice for Alaska. As a Solstice-class ship, it features vast amounts of glass, natural light, and indoor viewing areas like the Sky Lounge. It offers a premium, adult-focused experience that is noticeably more refined than mainstream lines like NCL or Carnival, making it ideal for couples and foodies. However, it lacks the mega-ship amusements (like water slides or go-karts) that families with small children might prefer.
For Alaska, a balcony (Veranda) cabin is practically mandatory. The absolute best options are the aft-facing 'Sunset Verandas' on decks 7, 8, or 9 for panoramic wake views, or port-side cabins if you are sailing a Northbound or Southbound Inside Passage route. Upgrading to AquaClass on Deck 11 is highly recommended for complimentary thermal suite access to warm up after glacier viewing.
No. While older information sometimes suggests otherwise, Celebrity Cruises does not hold Glacier Bay National Park permits for the 2025/2026 Alaska seasons. Instead, Celebrity Solstice itineraries feature spectacular scenic cruising at either Hubbard Glacier or Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier. You can still see Glacier Bay via a flightseeing excursion booked out of Icy Strait Point.
For 2025 and 2026, Celebrity Solstice sails primarily 7-night roundtrip itineraries from Vancouver, British Columbia. Typical ports of call include Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, and Icy Strait Point, coupled with majestic scenic cruising through the Inside Passage and either Hubbard Glacier or Dawes Glacier.
At 2,850 passengers, Celebrity Solstice is considered a mid-sized ship by today's standards. While it can feel slightly busy during peak dining hours or right at disembarkation, it generally feels much less crowded than the 4,000+ passenger mega-ships sailing Alaska. Embarkation in Vancouver and tendering in smaller ports are generally well-managed.
The Sky Lounge on Deck 14 forward is the ultimate Alaska viewing spot, offering floor-to-ceiling windows and a full bar. The top-deck Lawn Club is unique—offering real grass where you can relax surrounded by snow-capped mountains. Additionally, Celebrity brings Alaska naturalists onboard to provide daily commentary and host engaging nature talks.
Celebrity Solstice occupies the 'premium' tier, sitting comfortably between mainstream lines like Royal Caribbean and luxury lines like Regent. It excels in elevated dining, sophisticated adult-oriented spaces, and high-end service. Competitors like Princess and Holland America beat Celebrity on Glacier Bay access and long-standing Alaska heritage, while NCL and Royal Caribbean offer more kid-friendly entertainment.