Royal Caribbean plans a $250M investment to update Solstice series ships

Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd. (NYSE:RCL) plans to make an investment to freshen the classic Solstice Series ships that operate under the Celebrity Cruises brand. The company is investing more than $250 million to modernize the best-in-class ships, starting with Celebrity Solstice in 2026.

The cruise line operator said guests can look forward to eight new Celebrity Cruises experiences, including four new-to-sea spaces and many redesigned favorites. The innovations include reinvented outdoor escapes with enhanced views, new restaurants, and entertainment designed to create moments of connection with loved ones, as well as a redesigned stay with all new stateroom categories,

Celebrity Solstice will be the first of the Solstice Series ships to be made new again, welcoming guests for reimagined vacation experiences starting in March 2026.

“Our Solstice Series ships represent the best of classic cruising, and now we’re elevating this vacation experience even further by adding brand new experiences and enhancements at every turn,” stated Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises.

Miami-based Celebrity Cruises is considered a premium cruise line. Founded in 1988, Celebrity has developed a reputation for offering an upscale cruising experience, focusing on modern design, elevated dining, and attentive service across its fleet of ships. Celebrity Xcel is the highly anticipated fifth vessel in Celebrity Cruises’ Edge-class series, scheduled to debut in November 2025.