The Grass is Always Greener on a Cruise Ship

Everyone loves the look, feel and smell of real, fresh green grass. But who would expect to see it growing on the deck of a cruise ship? Yet that is exactly the delightful surprise found on the top deck of the latest Celebrity cruise ship, the Solstice, which had its inaugural launch in December, 2008. The inclusion of real, growing grass on a cruise ship was a first in the cruise line industry.

Working closely with a company by the name of Green Roof Service LLC, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises researched and tested numerous types of grasses until deciding upon the final, perfect choice that would withstand the weather conditions a cruise ship encounters. Salt air, direct sun, winds and different temperature variations were all considerations that a grass would have to be able to handle and endure over time. In addition to those, the obvious conditions found on a cruise ship, such as foot traffic, maintenance, care and irrigation would all need to be addressed.

Guests will be able to play bocce ball, croquet or practice their putting skills on the ship’s well manicured lawn. It also provides guests with the opportunity to relax on the lovely expanse with a blanket and a picnic basket filled with wine and cheese. Simply walking barefoot through the cool sprigs of grass can be an exhilarating experience, one totally unexpected on board a cruise ship.

Delivering these simple pleasures to their guests is what Celebrity Cruises strives to accomplish. Providing a genuine experience to pamper their guests with a first ever green lawn exemplifies this goal. Their commitment to passenger enjoyment is further extended to the next three Celebrity Cruise ships; the Celebrity Equinox being the second in line for a lawn, which is scheduled to have its initial sailing this month.

Those sailing any other cruise line may be thinking that the grass is a bit greener on a Celebrity Cruise ship; literally now, with the inclusion of a lawn on the top deck of the Solstice.