Celebrity Solstice - day 16 - sea day - part 1

Wednesday would be our last sea day of the cruise...

We started the morning with a mile walk...

...around the walking/jogging track on the 14th deck.

We then went up to the top deck and looked out the front -- what a beautiful day!

After breakfast, we headed to the theater...

...for a presentation from Anastasia, the ship's 3rd officer.

She started by answering this question...

... and it turns out that there is a team. If we understood correctly, in each given 4 hour shift, there three assigned personnel -- and they work 2 4-hour shifts each day and have 8 hours off between shifts. So, the team that works midnight to 4am also works noon to 4pm. 

What the tasks are that must be done

Data about the original building of the Celebrity Solstice -- from other things we have read, we understand that it is going in for refurbishment at the beginning of 2026 (https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2025/02/celebrity-cancels-cruises-due-to-drydock-schedule-adjustment/).

For maneuvering, the Solstice has three bow thrusters on each side (in the front as that is the meaning of "bow"), and two azipods in the rear that can provide thrust 360 degrees.

A model of an azipod -- note the tiny model of a human next to it to give an understanding of the size!

We have been traveling at 17-19 knots

Information about the planning process 

Appraisal

Planning

Additional component of planning

Execution of the plan

Monitoring of the plan

The number of individuals on the bridge is adjusted based on current conditions.

A pilot joins the ship when we come into a harbor.

Tools used on the bridge (look at the tiny joy-stick for the auto pilot!)

Tools for manual control of ship's systems

Anastasia indicated that this was one of the most important pieces of equipment on the bridge (the coffee maker!).

There isn't a large wooden wheel, but there is a wooden wheel -- she indicated that she thought that it was wooden due to historical reasons of needing a place to "knock on wood"!

The Solstice has stabilizers that help to improve the stability of the ship, particularly in the open ocean. Anastasia indicated that waves aren't as big a concern in moving the ship around as wind can be.

It is always interesting to learn more about this ship on which we are traveling!

More to come in another part of this day's blog!