The Lawn Club.
Situated on the top deck, and truly the only one of its kind, The Lawn Club is a half-acre of beautifully manicured grass, inspiring moments of ultimate indulgence. Play bocce, sip a cold drink on the patio, or simply sit and be taken in by the smell of freshly cut grass in the middle of the ocean. You can even enjoy a live demonstration of the Hot Glass Show at The Lawn Club's glass blowing studio.

Included is a new picture. The Lawn Club appears to be on both sides of the aft funnel and also between the two funnels. Lots of green space!

Forget Cunard and QV, SOLSTICE will be "the" ship of 2008. I can't wait.

Ernie

ps - it's interesting The Lawn Club hasn't been added to the SOLSTICE dedicate website yet. It does appear on the updated deck plans on the Celebrity website, but that doesn't show much.

[ 01-16-2008: Message edited by: eroller ]

Ernie

Decades ago, in the USA, mid-westerners and easterners moved to the semi-desert southwest for fresh air and freedom from Hay-fever and the assorted vegetation-generated allergies that plagued the local environment. But they soon tired of sagebrush and sand and began planting green lawns. Massive requirements for irrigation water followed, but that is a separate issue.

And along with the green grass in the desert came, yes, hay-fever and the grass-generated allergies that they throught they had left behind.

How long before the grass patches on the Solstice generate the first major "KATCH------EW!!!"

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Originally posted by Cambodge:
A bit of background.

But they soon tired of sagebrush and sand and began planting green lawns. Massive requirements for irrigation water followed, but that is a separate issue.

And I assume they will have to bring along a few illegal immigrants to cut the lawn, as is done in the States. Nothing is simple.

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There are many older communities in Southern California (settled by Mid-Westerners) that are as green as areas of the Northeast thanks to irrigation. The area was settled mostly by people who came for fresh dry air and good weather but wanted beautiful trees and rolling lawns as well!

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How long before they introduce some wildlife, maybe a few rabbits, moles and the odd cow or sheep.

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Ernie

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Originally posted by eroller:
Here are a couple cool photos of SOLSTICE under construction. Check out that large forward facing windows. I would almost want one of those over a balcony cabin.

Ernie

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These windows, actually the whole front of the superstructire reminds me of Amorella - Isabella - Gabriella - Crown of Scandinavia.

Here a picture of Amorella:

Picture from Fakta om Fartyg - see link above.

[ 01-17-2008: Message edited by: Ernst ]

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Originally posted by eroller:
Here are a couple cool photos of SOLSTICE under construction.

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Originally posted by Waynaro:
From the top picture, the bow seems to be much shorter than in the renderings. The forward superstructure curves inward with the bow.

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'Turf's Up!' The Grass Really Is Greener on Celebrity Solstice
MIAMI, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- There is a new job opening at Celebrity Cruises: groundskeeper. The perfect candidate must be willing to perform his or her duties while traveling the world aboard a beautifully appointed ocean liner. The successful candidate also must be a dedicated horticulturist who possesses an unmistakable enthusiasm for the unexpected, as the greens will be miles out at sea.

When Celebrity Solstice launches in December, vacationers will find that the grass really is greener on a Celebrity Cruises vacation. The ship will present an industry first on the top deck of the ship: real, growing grass, set in an innovative new country club environment known as "The Lawn Club."

The half-acre Lawn Club on Celebrity Solstice will invite guests to enjoy bocce ball and croquet, practice their putting, picnic with a basket of wine and cheese, or simply feel the grass between their toes, while sailing the oceans of the world. The area also will feature the Hot Glass Show, another first in the industry, developed in collaboration with The Corning Museum of Glass; the Patio on the Lawn; the Lawn Club Shop, and the Sunset Bar.

"We want our guests to experience the unexpected, like the thrill of sinking a putt on a freshly manicured lawn in the middle of the ocean," said Dan Hanrahan, President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises. "The experiences on and around the lawn exemplify what we aim to achieve: to recognize, celebrate and indulge our guests in style."

"Everything about the Celebrity Cruises brand is authentic," said Richard D. Fain, Chairman of Celebrity Cruises. "Our vision for a completely genuine experience demanded nothing less than real grass, and we sought out the right innovation to make that vision a reality."

Achieving that reality was no easy task. Celebrity worked with design firm Wilson Butler Architects to design the entire club area, then engaged a team of landscape architects and irrigation specialists along with turf and soil scientists at the University of Florida. Together, they conducted extensive research and tested a variety of grasses to determine which can withstand the winds, sun, shade and temperature variations that will affect the grass and soil as the ship sails in the Caribbean this winter. Other considerations included the ability of the grass to tolerate foot traffic, irrigation and day-to-day care and maintenance of the grass. Even the weight of the grass and soil had to be considered, as well as the water they absorb from the atmosphere and from irrigation.

Metric Facts about The Lawn Club on Celebrity Solstice

-- At 2,130 square meters (22,927 square feet), The Lawn Club is just over
a half-acre in size.

The Lawn Club is:

-- Over three times larger than New York's Rockefeller Center ice skating
rink (668 sq. meters)
-- 1.7 times larger than an Olympic-size swimming pool, which is 1,250 sq.
meters
-- The equivalent of 8.2 tennis courts (these are 260 sq. meters each)
-- 2.4 times the size of Centre Court at England's Wimbledon Lawn & Tennis
Club, which is 902 sq. meters
-- One-third the size of a regulation soccer field, which is 6,500 sq.
meters

The Lawn Club is the central element of the top-deck experiences on Celebrity Solstice. The Patio on the Lawn offers elegant yet relaxed sitting areas where luxury meets casual country club charm. Guests can read the morning paper, lose themselves in a good novel, or enjoy a cup of gourmet coffee with friends, courtesy of the patio's coffee cart service.

The Hot Glass Show, presented in collaboration with The Corning Museum of Glass, is the patio's main feature. In its own, dedicated glassblowing studio, the Hot Glass Show will present the history and craft of glassblowing, from its ancient origins to its current countless uses. Three resident "gaffers" -- highly skilled glassblowing artists -- will educate and entertain cruisers with live glassmaking shows, lectures and workshops.

The area also features the Sunset Bar -- the ideal sailaway setting on any ship, enhanced on Celebrity Solstice by the natural grass in The Lawn Club. Located at Celebrity Solstice's highest point aft, the Sunset Bar provides breathtaking views in a relaxed atmosphere.

"We're confident our guests will be thrilled with The Lawn Club and the many new entertainment and sports options it offers," Hanrahan said.

About the grass. Sounds lovely but it makes me wonder a couple of things. It is mentionned that guests can expereince the smell of freshly cut grass. Does that not imply it would have to be cut every few days? or is there going to be artificial grass smell infused? Won't the grass mowing being an added source of noise for the guests?

I also wonder what kind of grass seed they would use (not that I am an expert on grass) but I wonder if it would be the low/ slow fine grass like they would use on a golf course or something?

The one thing I HATE about house plants are all the bugs that seem to live in the pots...this would really gross me out on a cruise ship. I am kewl w/ big stuff I can see i.e. grasshoppers/ worms/ bettles...it's the little ones that live in the earth and can barely be seen...

I think from an insect point of view - this is going to a rather problematic area - on the other hand - maybe we'll see new breeds of infestations from other parts of the world right here in North America

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Originally posted by Jekyll:
It really is just a matter of time for almost anything we can conceive to appear onboard. [...]

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Solstice sprouts grassy ‘Lawn Club’ top deck
18/1/2008
When Celebrity Solstice debuts in December, the ship will present a top deck covered in real grass. The Lawn Club will offer bocce ball and croquet, golf putting and a spot to picnic with a basket of wine and cheese.
The area will feature venues called Patio on the Lawn, the Lawn Club Shop, Sunset Bar and the previously announced Hot Glass Show.

‘We want our guests to experience the unexpected, like the thrill of sinking a putt on a freshly manicured lawn in the middle of the ocean,’ said Dan Hanrahan, president and ceo of Celebrity Cruises, who unveiled the feature at a New York event last night in Central Park’s Tavern on the Green.

Growing real grass on a cruise ship requires considerable effort. Celebrity worked with design firm Wilson Butler Architects to create the entire club area, then engaged a team of landscape architects and irrigation specialists along with turf and soil scientists at the University of Florida.

Together, they tested a variety of grasses to determine which can withstand the winds, sun, shade and temperature variations that will affect the grass and soil as the ship sails in the Caribbean this winter.

http://www.depping-design.de/test/displayimage.php?album=82&pos=0

Maybe the end result will look fine? I don't know. I will say the twin funnels are growing on me. They remind me of INDEPENDENCE and CONSTITUTION.