Celebrity Cruise is turning the dial up on Australia. Fresh from a major refit in Singapore, Celebrity Solstice will operate four additional sailings, while Celebrity Edge is confirmed for a full summer season. For Australian travellers, that means more dates on the calendar, refreshed hardware to explore, and easier ways to match itineraries with the right staterooms before the most popular weeks fill.
A season only comes together when Celebrity Cruises ships, schedules, and shore teams align, and this announcement shows that the pieces are falling into place. Solstice’s extra departures, combined with Edge’s full-season presence, signal long-term confidence in our market rather than a short experiment. If you have been waiting to try one ship or to return to a favourite, this is the moment to plan with intent.
Solstice is completing a multi-million-dollar refresh in Singapore, then heading south with four added departures that give locals more choice across dates and voyage lengths. The work blends new venues, upgraded cabins, and a dedicated The Retreat Sundeck for suite guests, so the ship will feel almost new while keeping familiar warmth. Extra capacity does not last long once overseas markets start booking, so those added sailings are best treated as first picks, not back-ups.
Running alongside Solstice, Celebrity Edge returns for the full summer, bringing outward-facing spaces and the headline-grabbing Magic Carpet platform. Edge’s public rooms are larger and more sculptural, which suits travellers who love design, photography, and broad pool decks that never feel cramped. Having both ships here is deliberate, it creates genuine choice rather than a one-size-fits-all program.
Executives have been open that Australia sits alongside the United States and United Kingdom as a core focus. Positioning two distinct ships here after the yard period signals faith in our ability to fill them with locals and international guests. For travellers, that usually translates into steadier deployment, a wider spread of itineraries, and earlier release dates so you can plan around school terms and annual leave.
Refits matter because they change how a day flows, not just how a lounge photographs. Solstice’s work in Singapore lifts comfort where guests live, sleep, and eat, while layering in Edge-class ideas that make moving around effortless. If you sailed Solstice during her long stay in Australia, expect the same soul with smarter details.
Staterooms are being modernised with softer bedding, improved lighting, and storage that earns its keep on longer sailings. Bathrooms benefit from refreshed fittings, which makes mornings smoother when two people share a small space. Suite guests gain The Retreat Sundeck, a private outdoor haven that turns sea days into unhurried rituals with shade, attentive service, and a sense of calm above the bustle.
Solstice’s personality has always lived in her bars and restaurants, and that continues with polish. The Martini Bar and Passport Bar keep their cosy, human-scale vibe, ideal for pre-dinner rituals and late-night debriefs. Dining sees clearer allergen labelling, tuned pacing for pre-theatre seatings, and small but meaningful upgrades to outdoor grill menus so a quick bite at sailaway does not mean a long queue.
Design elements drawn from Edge-class ships thread through public spaces, from lighting and artwork to circulation paths that ease pinch points at peak times. Wayfinding improves, so you will spend less time retracing steps and more time enjoying what you came for. The ship still feels like Solstice, only fresher, brighter, and easier to navigate with a coffee in hand.
Two ships in the same region can feel like a coin toss, but Edge and Solstice serve different travel styles. Start with how you like your evenings to feel, then choose the venue map that matches that mood. You can have buzzy and bold, or intimate and familiar, without leaving the brand.
Edge is the statement piece, all sightlines and showpiece venues, crowned by the Magic Carpet that shifts roles through the day. It suits travellers who enjoy wandering, discovering, and the spectacle of big-room entertainment. Solstice plays closer to the heart, with lounges that invite conversation and a rhythm that feels settled by day two.
Shorter itineraries and modern design touches tend to pull younger travellers and first-timers toward Edge. Solstice’s longer sailings attract guests who want deeper immersion, time to exhale on sea days, and the sense of returning to a ship they already know. Both styles can work for families and friend groups, the trick is to be honest about how you like to spend afternoons and late nights.
Match stateroom position to your routines. Motion-sensitive cruisers usually prefer lower, midship locations, while sunrise coffee lovers may choose balconies near quiet outdoor spaces. If you travel with kids or friends, adjoining cabins simplify meet-ups and bedtime, and being one deck below key venues can save hundreds of steps a day without adding noise.
Added capacity at home is only half the story, because many Australians are happy to fly for Japan, Europe, Alaska, and Asia loops. Flights by Celebrity turns complex, multi-leg plans into a single booking with a safety net if schedules move. That reassurance is worth its weight when long-haul connections are tight.
When an airline delay threatens embarkation, the program steps in to reroute you and take responsibility for getting you to the ship. That removes the biggest what-if in long-distance travel and lets you pick creative itineraries without anxiety. For back-to-back voyages or shoulder-season flying, this layer of support keeps the plan intact.
Demand is strong for Japan on Millennium, as well as Greece, Croatia, the Norwegian fjords, and Iceland. In Asia, routes through Singapore, Sri Lanka, and India are appealing when you want culture-rich port days without long overland transfers. Pairing flights with the cruise simplifies payments and puts support in one place if anything changes late.
A specialist adviser aligns flights, transfers, and pre-nights with your sailing, then uses courtesy holds to protect the right staterooms while you confirm leave. If a promotion appears after deposit, we can often re-price within fare rules to add value without stress. The goal is simple, keep momentum while you decide as a couple, a family, or a group of friends.
Extra sailings and a full-season Edge do not guarantee choice forever, they widen the window before global demand closes in. Australians sometimes assume Solstice will always be there, which is how prime weeks and cabins slip away. A light plan now will keep your first-choice sailing on the table.
Our season overlaps with holidays in North America and the UK, so inventory can shift quickly once international markets look south. Booking early secures dining times, show schedules, and cabins in the locations you actually want. It also leaves you with more flight options that arrive at civilised hours rather than an overnight scramble.
Place courtesy holds on two or three sailings that fit, then compare port mixes and sea-day rhythm against how you like to travel. Holds buy thinking time without losing your preferred stateroom or adjoining pair. Once you are sure, we will tidy payments, insurance, and transfers so nothing drifts.
Both ships keep plenty included, from main dining to theatre and most daytime activities. Decide your splurges in advance, perhaps a specialty dinner, a spa day, or a photo package, then let the rest be a game-time choice. This approach keeps spending intentional while leaving space for spontaneous treats.
If talk of extra sailings has you curious about what is actually open, start with live availability rather than guesswork. Our Cruise Finder shows real-time sailings in one view so you can compare months, routes, and stateroom categories before you shortlist.
Planning with friends or family, share that shortlist and we can place courtesy holds on the right cabins while you confirm flights, school calendars, and leave. Seeing dates, routes, and cabin positions together makes decisions simpler and prevents missing out while you think it through.
The message is clear, Celebrity Solstice will feel refreshed and ready, and Edge is here for a full summer. If you want help choosing between ships, matching itineraries to your style, or simply holding the right space while you decide, our team can make it easy. For tailored guidance and timely holds, Keep in touch with our Cruise Specialists.