Breaking News – Celebrity Solstice to be based in Australia

Royal Caribbean announces yet another ship for down under

Royal Caribbean md Australia Gavin Smith has just announced that Celebrity Solstice will be based in Australia for the 2012/13 summer season.

The additional deployment is the first time the ship has operated in the southern hemisphere, with the 122,000 tonne vessel the largest vessel to ever be based in Australia.

It's also the youngest, with Solstice launching just three years ago with a range of innovative features such as the exclusive Aqua suites and the top deck Lawn Club which includes an acre of real grass.

Smith said the ship would mainly operate a series of 12-13 trans-Tasman itineraries, but the program would also include a circumnavigation of Australia.

He emphasised that this would not be a one-off Australian deployment for Solstice, saying "she will be bringing travellers and cruisers from around the world over the hot Australian summer months for many years ahead".

Full details of itineraries and fares will be released towards the end of the month, Smith said.

For further details see today's edition of Travel Daily and tomorrow's Cruise Weekly.