Celebrity orders 5th "Edge-Class" Ship.

Royal Caribbean has announced that they have placed an order for a 5th Edge Class ship for subsidiary Celebrity Cruises which is due to enter service in Fall 2024.

Three other Edge-class ships were ordered earlier and are scheduled for delivery in 2020, 2021 and 2022. This new order is contingent upon financing.

Below is a link to the full news article from Cruise Industry News:

Celebrity Orders Fifth Edge-Class Ship for 2024 Delivery

Celebrity Edge float out

Celebrity Cruises marked a milestone in the construction of their newest ship, Celebrity Edge, today as she was floated out of drydock for the first time.  Set to make her maiden voyage on 11/21/2018, the ship still needs to be fitted out and run her sea trials before entering service.

This is one I'm keeping a close eye on as there are some very interesting features and innovations in the design of this ship.  Will it get me to break my 18 year streak of sailing exclusively on Royal Caribbean?  Not sure, but it is tempting.

Here is the full press release:

SAINT-NAZAIRE, FRANCE – January 23, 2018 – Celebrity Cruises is excited to offer the world a glimpse of what will be the brand’s first ship in a new class in more than 10 years, as Celebrity Edge floated out of her dry dock at the STX France shipyard.

“This truly is an exciting moment for our brand,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. “The float out process marks a milestone in the building of Celebrity Edge. With exterior construction complete, the amazing STX France team will now turn their attention to bringing all of the meticulously designed venues and transformational staterooms and suites to life.”

Celebrity Edge will spend her inaugural season sailing alternating seven-night eastern and western Caribbean itineraries before transporting guests to the stunning vistas of the Mediterranean with a range of seven- to 11-night sailings from iconic cities like Barcelona and Rome in 2019.

Homeporting in Fort Lauderdale, FL., Celebrity Edge will be making her first sailing November 21, 2018. Bookings are now open at www.celebritycruises.com/edge, or through a travel agent. Celebrity Edge will be joined by three sister ships in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

About Celebrity Cruises:
Celebrity Cruises' iconic "X" is the mark of modern luxury, with its cool, contemporary design and warm spaces; dining experiences where the design of the venues is as important as the cuisine; and the amazing service that only Celebrity can provide, all created to provide an unmatchable experience for vacationers’ precious time. Celebrity Cruises' 12 ships offer modern luxury vacations visiting all seven continents. Celebrity also presents incredible cruise tour experiences in Alaska and Canada. Celebrity is one of five cruise brands operated by global cruise vacation company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL). For more information, dial 1-800-437-3111, visit www.celebritycruises.com, or call your travel agent.

To cheat or not to cheat....on our favorite cruise line.

This is a real dilemma for us.  Do we try another cruise line or do we continue to be exclusive to Royal Caribbean?  It's no secret we love Royal Caribbean.  It's the only line we've sailed on for the last 17 years.  We've got a lot invested in Royal Caribbean at this point, finally making it to Diamond Level of the Crown & Anchor Society.  Still, there is always that temptation to try another line.  This may be the time to do it as getting to the next Crown & Anchor level, Diamond Plus, will most likely take several years.

What draws me to other lines is the same thing that drew me to Royal Caribbean in the first place, the ships.  Royal Caribbean has been at the forefront of innovative ship design since the line's inception.  I absolutely love the Voyager, Freedom, and Oasis Class ships and I desperately want to try a Quantum ship (come on RCCL, get one down here to Florida already!).  That being said, there are some other interesting ships in development without the Crown & Anchor on the stack.

Currently, the most intriguing line is MSC.  They seem to have come out of nowhere and are making a play to go against the big boys of the industry.  They have several new builds in progress or in the planning stages, some of which sound amazing.  The first of those will be the MSC Seaside which looks very cool.   MSC also has a current offer to match whatever level you are on another line's loyalty program.  I've already taken advantage of that while it was available.  You can sign up for that loyalty match even if you are not currently booked on MSC.  Even if I never go, it's worth the 5 minutes it took to sign up, just in case.  I have family that has gone on MSC before and they have had good things to say.

MSC Seaside video:


Another option is NCL.  They have some interesting ships and features that are tempting.  They also offer some very nice incentives such as free specialty dining and free drink packages on some sailings.

Finally, there is Celebrity.  I've been on Celebrity in the past, the last time was 1998, but never on any of their more modern ships.  The plus is that they are part of Royal Caribbean so they match your loyalty status level.  The downside is that their programs are still separate even though they are technically the same company.  So points you earn on one line do not add to your total on the other.  Celebrity has some existing ships that interest me, the Solstice Class of ships in particular, and they have plans for a newer class, the Edge Class,  that will incorporate some very unique and innovative features into it's design.

Celebrity Edge Video:


I'm not entirely sure what we will do.  We will continue to sail on Royal Caribbean no matter what happens, as it is still our favorite cruise line, but there are always other fish in the sea.  The competition is heating up in the cruise industry, and that is a good thing.

Cruise line nickle and diming getting annoying

Taking a cruise is still a great vacation but it's getting more and more expensive with all the "extra" charges being levied by the cruise lines. From special shows to the ever expanding alternative dining venues, cruising isn't the bargain it used to be.

NCL has added a late night room service surcharge and I just read that both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity are upping their prices for their "specialty" restaurants and that is disappointing to say the least.

The reasons behind Royal Caribbean raising their surcharge for Chops Grille by 20%, from $25 to $30 per person is said to be to bring it "in line with the premium and exclusive offerings found at our specialty dining venues, which offer a high quality experience at phenomenal value". In addition to that increase, the line is also changing their pricing structure in a couple of their more casual fee based dining venues, Rita's Cantina and The Seafood Shack. Currently, those two venues charge $7.95 and $8.95 respectively for essentially all-you-can-eat. That will be changing to a $3.95 cover for each and a new a la carte menue that will charge separately for each item. The line says that the old pricing structure wasn't generating enough gratuities for the staff. Whatever the reason, expect to pay more for your meals in these restaurants. As Cruise Critic pointed out, a quesadilla, guacamole, and grilled chicken used to cost you just the $7.95 surcharge at Rita's Cantina. After the change, this same meal will now cost $11.25. Not a huge increase, but it adds up.

You can check out the new menus for Rita's Cantina here and The Seafood Shack here.

On Celebrity, they are upping the charges on several of their specialty restaurants by between 15% to 33%, their second increase in the past 20 months.  The price for Murano, found on the Solstice ships, and the French restaurants on the Millennium Class ships, will increase from $35 to $40 per person.  Dining at Qsine will also go up from $35 to$40 per person, and the cover for The Lawn Club will jump from $30 to $40 per person.  According to Celebrity, the main reason for the increase is the rising price of food around the world.

With all-inclusive land based vacations becoming more popular, cruise lines are getting into some dangerous territory by adding in all these extra expenses.  I'll definitely consider an all inclusive as my next vacation even though I still love cruising.

Celebrity planning new onboard features on next Solstice ships

Celebrity Cruises released info this week on some new additions to the fourth and fifth ships in their award winning Solstice Class, Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection.

Here is the press release:

Miami - (December 08, 2010 ) - How do you make the best even better? Celebrity Cruises believes you break the rules, stay ahead of the curve, and provide what vacationers want most - often before they even say they want it. That belief is vividly reflected in the distinctive, luxurious, vacation-enhancing venues Celebrity will introduce on the fourth and fifth ships in its award-winning Solstice Class fleet, Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection.

"We recognize that consumers' vacation time is precious, and that's what drives us to continually create new and unique experiences that enhance their rare time away," said Celebrity Cruises President & CEO Dan Hanrahan. "The host of honors our Solstice Class and Millennium Class have won have been incredible validation of that commitment, and on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection, we're capitalizing on the opportunity to further elevate our onboard offerings, particularly in our Solstice Class' iconic Lawn Club, and with our wildly popular AquaClass category of accommodations and its exclusive specialty restaurant, Blu. Initially, we planned to introduce these exciting new enhancements only on Celebrity Reflection, but to our delight, our outstanding partners at Meyer Werft were able to also deliver every new feature with the exception of AquaClass Suites on Celebrity Silhouette."

New AquaClass Sky suites highlight expanded accommodations

Driven by high demand for Celebrity's industry-first AquaClass category of spa-inspired accommodations, and by way of an additional deck being added to Celebrity Reflection, Celebrity will introduce on that ship the line's first AquaClass Suites, each offering 251 square feet of luxurious interior space and spacious 57-square-foot verandas, and all the amenities associated with Celebrity's AquaClass accommodations, including exclusive and complimentary access to the highly-rated specialty restaurant, "Blu," noted for inviting, modern design and flavorful, healthy, clean cuisine. The new suites also will offer the luxurious 24/7 butler service that is a hallmark of every suite across the Celebrity fleet. In addition to the 34 new AquaClass Suites, Celebrity Reflection also will present an additional eight luxurious new Sky Suites, 19 additional plush ConciergeClass staterooms, and 11 additional inside staterooms, bringing the stateroom/suite total to 1,515.

Maintaining Celebrity's best-in-class, premium space ratio and lauded traffic flow, Celebrity Reflection will offer an additional 245 loungers on the expanded pool deck to suit the increased overall guest capacity, as well as 45 additional seats in the Celebrity Theater, 118 in Oceanview Café, 24 additional seats each in Blu and in Tuscan Grille, four more in Qsine, and 40 additional seats in the main dining room, where Celebrity also offers Celebrity Select Dining^SM, the industry's first flexible dining option allowing guests to choose when they wish to dine on a flexible, day-by-day basis.

The Lawn Club

Inspired by the popularity of its iconic, industry-first Lawn Club, Celebrity will leverage its brand pillars of outstanding dining experiences, enriching activities, relaxation and pampering, and modern design to offer vacationers on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection significantly expanded opportunities to eat and drink, relax and lounge, and participate and socialize within the inviting space.

The Lawn Club Grill

Both Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection will present "The Lawn Club Grill," the industry's first outdoor, interactive grill venue. A new, exceptionally social specialty dining option overlooking the lush lawn and soothing sea, The Lawn Club Grill will boast a design likely to be the envy of novice and experienced chefs alike, with gleaming stainless steel grills and other appliances, custom pizza-making tables and large ovens.

By day, in addition to a casual lunch menu highlighted by a variety of high-end burgers, the venue will present interactive demonstrations and classes focused on pizza-making - including the art of dough-tossing - grilling secrets, mouth-watering marinades and more, led by Celebrity's own chefs, as well as guest chefs participating in Celebrity's "Savor Your Destination" program.


By night, in a particularly unique twist, guests will have their choice from an array of top-quality meats to either grill themselves, side-by-side with Celebrity's chefs, or have grilled to order. A nominal surcharge will apply. Complementing the dinner experience will be libations ranging from wines, beer and sangria, all consistent with the casual nature of the 56-seat restaurant.


The Porch

With its chic, Hamptons-style design, modern furnishings, and creative use of natural light, all complemented by the enticing aroma of fresh-baked breads and pastries, The Porch will be the idyllic spot for quick, simple, casual and complimentary breakfasts and lunches. The intimate, 48-seat venue will be the perfect place to enjoy complimentary fresh pastries, salads, paninis and other sandwiches, in addition to specialty coffees, beer and wine, all enhanced by views of the lawn and sea.


The Art Studio

With one of the world's largest corporate collections of contemporary art exhibited across its fleet, and given the enthusiasm guests expressed when the line introduced the industry's first art tours to be offered on an iPad®, Celebrity will further appeal to its guests' love of art in "The Art Studio" within the area of The Lawn Club. There, experienced and novice artists alike can participate in intimate, hands-on instruction from experts in drawing, painting and beading, as well as the art of food, with plating, tastings, mixology and other culinary-themed classes.


The Art Studio also will present exclusive, intimate pairing dinners hosted by guest chefs participating in Celebrity's Savor Your Destination program.


The Alcoves

For a private retreat overlooking the lawn, ocean and coastlines, Celebrity also will present within The Lawn Club "The Alcoves," eight exclusive, cabana-style settings, each designed for two to four guests. Each of The Alcoves on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection will offer WiFi for guests who want to stay connected while relaxing, themed picnic baskets and an a la carte beverage menu. The Alcoves will be available as partial or all-day rentals.


Adjacent to The Alcoves, guests will find eight inviting hammocks and two whimsical, oversized Adirondack chairs, each offering complimentary, additional opportunities to relax amidst the atmosphere of the lawn and sea.

Michael's Club

Celebrity's history and future will converge in Michael's Club - a venue found on every Celebrity ship - where the line will present on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection a restyled, casually elegant bar where vacationers can sit back and enjoy the comfortably sophisticated atmosphere while watching the World Cup games and sipping a Chimay Blue.

Across the Celebrity fleet, Michael's Club offers an impressive selection of rare malts, whiskies and scotches. Building on that tradition, the "new" Michael's Club on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflectionwill add an equally impressive selection of more than 50 beers, including flavorful craft beers, and will allow guests to participate in engaging experiences such as ideal food and beer pairings, how to pour the perfect draft, or how to select the proper beer glass, all while snacking on homemade, gourmet potato chips and bread sticks, and fresh, lightly-spiced caramel popcorn, amidst a vibe of live music and cool playlists, or major international sporting events airing on the venue's large, 46" TV screens.

The Hideway

Guests seeking a particularly quiet spot to get away from it all can do so in a new venue inspired precisely by that interest. "The Hideaway" on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection will provide a high-tech escape for vacationers relaxing with their iPads or perhaps trying out a new Apple product from the Celebrity iLounge, or a low-tech retreat for reading a good book. Inspired by the live trees suspended within the Grand Foyer of every Solstice Class ship, the design of The Hideaway reflects that of an upscale, avant-garde tree house, with cozy, intimate lounging "nests," or niches.

The Solstice Class Difference

"We are constantly dedicated to building every aspect of the Celebrity vacation experience around what vacationers want most during their precious time away, and the greatest validation of that commitment has been the response to our stunning Solstice Class," said Hanrahan. "We're eager to have our guests continue to experience all the distinctive attributes of those stunning ships, as well as the new offerings they have inspired on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection. We are confident all of this will further solidify our leadership role in the industry and keep vacationers coming back."

In addition to the innovative new venues and experiences, Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection will join sister ships Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Equinox and Celebrity Eclipse in offering:

• The hip "Celebrity iLounge" that made Celebrity Cruises the industry's first Authorized Apple Reseller
• Uniquely unordinary "Qsine," the first seagoing restaurant to feature a menu and wine list on an iPad®, and an engaging food-as-theater dining experience
• Ten unrivaled restaurants - in addition to "The Lawn Club Grill" and "The Porch"
• Modern, stylish interiors designed by some of the world's best architects and designers, including Adam Tihany
• Cool nightclubs and lounges, including CellarMasters, complete with the industry's first installation of the innovative Enomatic wine serving system
• One of the broadest and best wine offerings in the industry, served by one of the world's largest staffs of certified sommeliers
• One of the world's largest permanent collections of original contemporary art, and the industry's first self-guided art tours to be presented on an iPad®
• Top-tier entertainment, including custom aerial production shows and live music
• The extensive array of fun, entertaining and enriching onboard programming offered through "Celebrity Life," including games, instruction on the latest iPods®, MacBooks® and iLife® classes; language learning through Rosetta Stone®; comparative wine tastings with Riedel Crystal, and enrichment presentations with Smithsonian Journeys
  

Celebrity Cruises is designed for discerning vacationers, with modern, sophisticated environments, impeccable service, enriching and inspiring onboard programs, and award-winning cuisine. The ultimate in premium cruising, Celebrity sails in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Bermuda, California, Canada/New England, Europe, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal, South America, and year-round in the Caribbean and the Galapagos Islands. Celebrity also offers immersive cruisetour experiences in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Europe and South America. Celebrity's mega-series of honors include being named the top mega-ship line in Condé Nast Traveler's annual Readers' Choice Awards (November 2009). Celebrity's fleet currently consists of 10 ships. Its $3.7-billion investment in building five stylish Solstice Class ships between 2008-2012 represents the largest five-year investment in premium cruising. For more information, call your travel agent, dial 1-800-437-3111.

St. Kitts Robbery Update - Four Arrested

Four people have been arrested in connection with this past weekend's armed robbery of 17 Celebrity Mercury passengers while on an excursion on the island of St. Kitts.

The investigation is ongoing and security has been beefed up across the island to help protect and reassure the more than 500,000 cruise passengers that visit the island each year.

Cruise Passengers Robbed At Gunpoint on St. Kitts

Seventeen passengers from Celebrity Mercury were robbed at gunpoint on Sunday while on an excursion purchased through the cruise line on the island of St. Kitts.  No one was injured during the incident but the assailants did escape with the passengers money, jewelry and cameras.

The excursion, called "Essential St. Kitts", which is sold by every line that visits St. Kitts will no longer be offered by Celebrity.  Princess has gone a step further by cancelling the November 17th call to St. Kitts by Grand Princess, instead diverting the ship to St. Johns, Antigua.

Currently there is a manhunt still underway to find those responsible.  Local security has also been increased on the island.

Celebrity's Fifth Solstice Class Ship Gets A Name

Celebrity Cruises has revealed that the upcoming fifth ship in the spectacular Solstice Class will be named Celebrity Reflection.  She will feature all the best of her sister ships as well as some new unannounced upgrades.

Celebrity Eclipse handed over to her new owners

On April 16, 2010, Celebrity Cruises took possession of the now completed Celebrity Eclipse in a ceremony at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Hamburg, Germany.  She is the third in the five ship Solstice Class and the tenth ship in the Celebrity fleet.  The naming ceremony will take place on April 24th and she will officially enter service on April 26th.

The official press release can be found here.

Celebrity Eclipse Floated Out

Celebrity Cruises third ship in it's Solstice Class, the Celebrity Eclipse, was floated out of the covered drydock at Meyer Werft's Papenburg shipyard.  She will be moored at the fitting out dock where work on her interior will be completed.  From there she will also make her sea trials and final testing before delivery to her new owners.  She will officially enter service on April 26 with some European/Mediterranean cruises before heading to  Miami for her schedule of Caribbean cruises starting in November.

Celebrity names fourth Solstice ship

Celebrity Cruises waited until the winter solstice, December 21st, to announce the name of the next ship in it's Solstice class.  Joining Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Equinox and Celebrity Eclipse will be the Celebrity Silhouette.  She is scheduled to be completed in 2011.

Here is Celebrity's press release:

Celebrity Cruises Celebrates Winter Solstice Revealing Name of Fourth Ship in Award-Winning Solstice Class


Miami - (December 21, 2009 ) - The word "silhouette" conjures up images of light and shadow, and sleek profiles in the world of design and fashion, so it's fitting that Celebrity Cruises has named the fourth ship in its stylish Solstice Class fleet Celebrity Silhouette. And what better date to announce it than on winter solstice?

Like its widely acclaimed sister ships – Celebrity Solstice, which was named "Best Premium Ship" and "Best Rookie Ship" in Travel Weekly's annual awards gala just last week; Celebrity Equinox, which set sail in July 2009; and Celebrity Eclipse, which will enter service in April 2010 – the 122,000-ton Celebrity Silhouette will offer the series of brand-defining, industry-first attributes that guests, travel agents and press have praised about Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox, including a half-acre Lawn Club with real grass, a glassblowing show and studio developed with The Corning Museum of Glass, unrivaled dining venues offering trendsetting cuisine and design, and widely varied entertainment. Like its sisters, the 2,850-guestCelebrity Silhouette will have larger staterooms – 90 percent outside, and 85 percent with verandas – and spacious bathrooms, as well as several categories of accommodations, including Celebrity's ConciergeClass and spa-inspired AquaClass staterooms. "Countless guests and travel partners have asked us to reveal the ship’s name over the past few months, which is yet another indicator of the widespread interest in these stunningly designed ships," said Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Dan Hanrahan. "The enormous response to our unique new sweepstakes is a powerful indicator, too."

Cruise lovers interested in being among the very first to see Celebrity Silhouette while under construction in Germany actually have a chance. By entering Celebrity's "Eclipse of a Lifetime" sweepstakes, running through January 14, 2010, 10 winners and their guests will be the first individuals outside of the line's employees to board Celebrity Eclipse when it sets sail for the very first time; the first to have exclusive, up-close-and-personal views of the construction process of Celebrity Silhouette at Meyer Werft, one of the most modern shipyards in the world; first to be led and hosted throughout Celebrity Eclipse by Celebrity's President and CEO Dan Hanrahan; first to nestle into the ship’s AquaClass staterooms; first to sample the ship's innovative cuisine created by the line's VP of Culinary Operations and Chef Jacques Van Staden, and the first to have the chance to interact with the ship's senior officers.

To enter, visit the Celebrity web site and click the "Eclipse of a Lifetime" under the specials tab to access the entry form and sweepstakes rules. Or, click Eclipse of a Lifetime Sweepstakes. The sweepstakes runs through January 14, 2010. Winners will be announced January 28, 2010. This sweepstakes is open only to residents of the U.S. and Canada. See Official Rules on the site for complete information.

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale vacation experiences with highly personalized service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal and South America. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Canada, Europe and South America. Noted for four of the top 10 "Top Cruise Ships in the World" in the large-ship category, as voted by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler (February 2009 readers’ poll), Celebrity's fleet – including the newCelebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox – will be joined by Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, Celebrity Silhouette in 2011, and a fifth yet-to-be-named ship in 2012. For more information, call your travel agent, dial 1-800-437-3111.

Celebrity Equinox floated out.

Celebrity's second Solstice Class ship, Celebrity Equinox, was floated out of the enclosed dry dock at Meyer Werft shipyards marking a milestone in the build. The ship will now proceed to the fitting out dock where the remaining work like the interior will be completed.

She is scheduled to enter service July 31.

Back to drydock for Celebrity's Solstice

Celebrity Solstice just completed her sea trials which were an overall success but they did reveal a couple of issues with the new ship which will require a trip to the drydock to fix. According to a report on Cruise Critic, problems surfaced with the ship's bow thrusters and stabilizers which will require the ship stopping in Hamburg today for repairs before being handed over to her new owners on October 24. The repairs should take three days and then the ship will travel to the Netherlands for the delivery to Celebrity.

Celebrity Solstice begins sea trials.

Celebrity Cruises' anticipated new ship, Celebrity Solstice, left her dock a Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany and set out to begin her first round of sea trials. These test will last for a few days and then she will return to the dock for the final completion of her interior and decor.



Cruise Critic was allowed onboard prior to the ship departing for the trials and they give some details and impressions. The link to the full story is here: Celebrity Solstice Makes River Transit; Impressions

Solstice float out successful

Celebrity's Solstice is rapidly nearing completion. This weekend she was successfully floated out of her drydock and moved to the fitting out pier where the final work will be done to the ship's interior and exterior. Sea trials are scheduled for September 27th and the maiden voyage will be December 14th.

Celebrity Solstice ready to float

Meyer Werft shipyard has announced that the float out of the Celebrity Solstice will take place on Sunday, August 10th. If weather permits, the ship will begin its journey from the covered dry dock to the fitting out berth at around 7:30AM and the move should be completed by 2:00PM.

Once at the fitting out pier, the ship will be given it's twin funnels and the remaining interior work will be completed. The ship is scheduled for it's sea trial on September 27th and the maiden voyage is set for December 14th.

Celebrity Solstice Ahead Of Schedule

Celebrity Cruises announced that the Solstice will be completed ahead of schedule and will make it's maiden voyage on November 23 instead of December 14. The December 14 voyage will now be the ship's fourth cruise. That's unfortunate for those who booked the December 14 trip expecting to be on the maiden voyage.

For those who this is a big deal to, they will be able to re-book for the new maiden voyage through June 12 with no penalty. Celebrity will also reimburse these passengers up to $100 for airline change fees.

New reservations will not be accepted for the re-scheduled maiden voyage until after June 12 to allow those booked on the December 14 cruise to make the switch.

Celebrity increases Solstice Class to five ships

Celebrity cruises has decided to add an additional ship to the existing order with Meyer Werft Shipyards. This fifth ship in the Solstice Class will be delivered in fall 2012.

The first ship in the class, Celebrity Solstice, will debut later this year and will be followed by Equinox in 2009 and Eclipse in 2010. The fourth ship in the original order is currently unnamed and will debut in 2011.

Some reports indicate that Celebrity may begin phasing out some of their smaller, older ships as the Solstice ships come on line. Most likely that would include the current ships Century, Mercury, and Galaxy.

I may have to book a cruise on one of these ships when they come out. They look very nice and I'm sure they will be innovative and well designed. Can't wait.

Dining choices revealed for Celebrity Solstice

Celebrity Cruises just revealed 10 dining venues that will be featured on board the upcoming Solstice. Known for the quality of the food and dining experience, Celebrity partnered with some of the best designers in the restaurant industry. It's unknown which of the dining options will be included and which will be additional cost.

Here is the press release from Celebrity's web site:

Celebrity Cruises Unveils "Top 10" on Celebrity Solstice

Miami - (February 06, 2008 ) - Ten of 2008's hottest new restaurants will open this fall, but diners won't need special connections to book a table. In fact, they won't even need directions, since the GPS coordinates will change daily. That's because the 10 restaurants are all on one of the world's most eagerly awaited new cruise ships: Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Solstice.

"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 known for, in venues designed to perfectly complement the spectacular cuisine," said Celebrity's President and CEO Dan Hanrahan. "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 has long been recognized as a leader in the culinary arena, and we're clearly taking it to the next level with Celebrity Solstice," said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO of Celebrity's parent company, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "In addition to outstanding cuisine, we believe the brand also will be recognized for some of the most impressive design work in the industry when Celebrity Solstice sets sail."

Celebrity partnered with some of the world's best designers in the hospitality business to create the restaurants onboard Celebrity Solstice; among them, preeminent restaurant and hotel designer Adam Tihany, who created such lauded 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 chic Mandarin Bar at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London.

In his first foray into design onboard a cruise ship, Tihany created Celebrity Solstice's dramatic, two-level Grand Épernay dining room; the classic steakhouse, "Tuscan Grille," and the stylishly casual "Oceanview Café and Grill" on the ship's lido deck. His sophisticated, often groundbreaking design is evident on Celebrity Solstice in the Grand Épernay's two-story wine tower, to the Napa-meets-Old-World-Italy ambience in the ship's inviting Tuscan Grille.

Driving the creation of the tantalizing menus for each venue are Celebrity's Vice President of Food & Beverage Jacques Van Staden, 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 & Associates is credited with shaping the dining experience at high profile destinations such as the Bellagio and Wynn Resort and Casino, and developing the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino's Simon kitchen + bar, named one of the best new restaurants in America in 2003 by Esquire magazine.

A "Taste" of Celebrity Solstice's Dining Venues:

The Grand Épernay

Old Hollywood glamour meets stunning contemporary design in this refined, sweeping main dining room created by Adam Tihany, highlighted by a distinctive, dramatic, two-story glass wine tower. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, evening entrée options include peppered bison filet with red onion preserve; smoked filet with lentil stew, sultana caper and beef jus; and taro-crusted salmon filet with glazed Brussels sprouts, turnip hash and apple cider sauce. A champagne collection from the region inspiring the venue's name includes Perrier Jouet Grand Brut, Moet & Chandon Dom Perignon, Heidsieck and Monopole, Champagne Pol Roger, and Louis Roederer Cristal.

Tuscan Grille

The Old World charm of Italy is the inspiration behind this Tihany-designed specialty venue, where guests enter through an archway reminiscent of a fine Napa Valley wine cellar. There, diners can enjoy Caesar salads prepared tableside, antipasti bar, Kobe beef, and a variety of steaks, all paired with a robust list of fine Italian wines.

Silk Harvest

Exotic Asia is the theme of this contemporary, casual specialty restaurant designed by RTKL. The menu serves up a fusion of hot and cold, spicy and mild Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese and Indian selections, while the specially-selected libations include a variety of sakes, Asian-influenced martinis and beers, and cocktails created with ginger root and acai berries.

Blu

"Clean cuisine" is served in this soothing specialty venue designed by Celebrity's own Newbuilding and Design team. A venue exclusively for guests booked in Celebrity Solstice's new AquaClass category of accommodations, Blu is open for other guests on a space-available basis. The menu features savory appetizers such as roasted beet salad with goat cheese; Mediterranean chopped salad with pita chips and pomegranate vinaigrette; and entrees including blackened ahi tuna, pan-seared filet mignon, and herb-crusted rack of lamb.

Murano

A twist on the restaurant of the same name on Celebrity Century, and reflective of the specialty restaurants on the cruise line's Millennium-class fleet, Murano presents a blend of classic and modern Continental cuisine. The warm, elegant restaurant designed by BG Studios of New York features dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows, with romantic ocean views that pair beautifully with the fine Riedel stemware, exquisite bone china and gleaming silverware. The wine cellar offers options from around the world, with a focus on boutique-style and limited-production vintages. Appetizers include warm goat cheese pancakes with sweet bell pepper nage; salads include a combination of Maine lobster, white asparagus and black truffle lobster aioli; and entrees run the gamut from spice-roasted duck with raisin-apple compote to pan-seared turbot with Alaskan King crab ragout.

Bistro on Five

A variety of specialty crepes highlight the menu in this casually-chic location, where guests are welcome to take out selections, but the ocean views are likely to entice them to stay. Designed by Wilson Butler Associates, the venue's creperie is complemented with sandwiches, soups, salads, desserts and entrees including quiche, fish and chips, baked ziti and chicken pot pie nearly around-the-clock.

Café al Bacio & Gelateria

This upscale coffeehouse radiates all the energy of a popular European café, highlighted by a sophisticated gelateria serving authentic gelatos and Italian ices, as well as signature and specialty coffees, teas, fresh-baked pastries, chocolate truffles and petit fours.

AquaSpa Café

The AquaSpa Café is the perfect option for guests seeking quick, lighter fare. A signature venue introduced on Celebrity's Millennium-class fleet, and designed by RTKL, the soothing, airy setting invites guests to dine at comfortable tables while soaking up the tranquility of the Solarium, or enjoy their cuisine while nestled in the comfort of the lounge chairs.

Mast Grill & Bar

Comfort food is the focus of this ultra-casual, poolside venue, where the simple, fast and tasty options include burgers grilled to order, tacos, nachos, hot dogs, bratwurst, chicken wings, lamb gyros, Reuben sandwiches, and onion rings.

Oceanview Café and Grill

Embodying the casually chic atmosphere of a European marketplace, this Tihany-designed restaurant offers extensive menus with international flavors that change to reflect the regions in which the ship is sailing. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the venue offers plenty of outdoor seating for dining al fresco and soaking up the sun and sea air. Inside, during evening hours, a special section of the venue features tables draped with linen tablecloths for yet another casual dining option.

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highly personalized service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal and South America.

The line also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Canada, Europe and Australia through its cruisetour affiliate. Noted for "The Top Cruise Ships in the World," as voted by the readers of Conde' Nast Traveler (February 2008 readers’ poll), Celebrity's current fleet will be joined by Celebrity Solstice in 2008, Celebrity Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, and a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011.

For more information, call your travel agent, dial 1-800-437-3111 or visit Celebrity Cruises website And for more information about Celebrity Solstice, visit Celebrity Solstice sitelet.

Celebrity's Solstice to feature a park with real grass.

Celebrity Cruises announced on Friday that their upcoming Solstice Class ships will feature a country club themed area called the Lawn Club. This will be an industry first park like area complete with real live growing grass. The Lawn Club will be located on the top deck and will be just over a half an acre in size which makes it 1.7 times larger than an olympic size swimming pool and larger than 8 tennis courts.

Maintained by a full time groundskeeper, the area will allow passengers to enjoy games of bocce ball, croquet and golf putting. Guests will also be able to just stroll around with the grass beneath their feet as well as enjoy picnics.

The Lawn Club will be one part of the top deck of the Solstice ships which also will include the Hot Glass Show presented by the Corning Museum of Glass (glass blowing, very exciting) and the Sunset Bar perched upon the highest point on the aft of the ship.

Rumors had been that a real grass Central Park type area was going to be one of the features of Royal Caribbean's Genesis ships. It may still be but it seems they chose to let their sister brand, Celebrity, have the buzz on this one.

Here is the press release from Celebrity's web site.

"Turf’s Up!" The Grass Really is Greener on Celebrity Solstice

Miami - (January 19, 2008 ) - 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.

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highly personalized service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal and South America. The line also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Canada, Europe and Australia through its cruisetour affiliate. Noted for "The World's Best Large Ships," as voted by the readers of Conde' Nast Traveler (February 2007 Cruise Poll), Celebrity's current fleet will be joined by Celebrity Solstice in 2008, Celebrity Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, and a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011. For more information, call your travel agent, dial 1-800-437-3111 or visit Celebrity Cruises website. And for more information about Celebrity Solstice, visit Celebrity Solstice website.