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Celebrity Unveils New Restaurants for Celebrity Solstice

Celebrity Cruises said its new Celebrity Solstice, set to sail on its first cruise on Dec. 14, will feature 10 restaurants. The line unveiled its dining plans at an event at New York's Per Se restaurant last night. "The dining experience has always been central to our guests' cruise experience, and on Celebrity Solstice we'll present the extraordinary service the brand is know for in venues designed to perfectly complement the spectacular cuisine," said Dan Hanrahan, Celebrity's president and CEO. "The larger size of Celebrity Solstice allows us to offer more options for our guests, with menus created by some of the best talent in the business." Celebrity Solstice will carry approximately 2,850 passengers.

Celebrity said it has partnered with some of the best restaurant designers in the business to create the new restaurants onboard Celebrity Solstice, among them Adam Tihany, who has created such restaurants as Per Se, Jean Georges, Le Cirque, The Sea Grill and Osteria del Circo in New York; Aureole, Bouchon and Seablue in Las Vegas; and Monte's and the Mandarin Bar in the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London. Tihany, in his first restaurant aboard a cruise ship, has designed the two-level Grand Epernay dining room; the classic steakhouse Tuscan Grille, and the Oceanview Cafe on the ship's lido deck. Grand Epernay features a two-story wine tower, similar to what Tihany created in Aureole in Vegas.

The new menus are being created by Jacques Van Staden, Celebrity's vice president of food and beverage, in conjunction with Celebrity's culinary consultant Blau & Associates. Van Staden was previously one of the top chefs and restaurateurs in Washington, D.C., and Las Vegas. Blau is credited with shaping the dining experience at Bellagio and Wynn Resort in Las Vegas, and is also developing the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's Simon kitchen and bar.

Dining venues aboard Celebrity Solstice will include Grand Epernay, the main dining room open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, featuring French cuisine and the two-story wine tower; Tuscan Grille, a combination of Mediterranean and California Napa cuisine; Silk Harvest, a casual specialty restaurant featuring Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese and Indian selections; Blu, which offers "clean cuisine" exclusively for guests booked on the new AquaClass category of accommodations, with healthy food options; Murano, a twist on the restaurant of the same name on Celebrity Century, blending classic and modern Continental cuisine in an elegant setting; Bistro on Five, a casual dining area where guests can eat or take out sandwiches, soups, salads, desserts and other entrees; Cafe al Bacio & Gelateria, an upscale coffee house serving European cafe fare as well as gelato, signature coffees, teas, fresh-based pastries and more; AquaSpa Cafe, a dining option for guests seeking lighter fare; Mast Grill & Bar, featuring comfort food in a poolside venue; Oceanview Cafe & Grill, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with food stations reflecting where the ship is sailing. For more information visit www.celebritycruisedestinations.com.