Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Reflection left the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, and is sailing to the North Sea. The 1,047-foot long, 121-foot wide vessel crossed the Ems River in approximately 10 hours.
Preparations for the transit – known as “the conveyance” – include removing power lines and railway tracks that normally pass over the river, to allow the ship to pass through. The journey must take place when wind conditions are calm and at high tide to ensure ample depth of water in the river to prevent the possibility of the ship scraping its multi-million-dollar paintwork.
Thousands of spectators lined the river to watch and enjoy the conveyance. Traveling at less than four miles per hour, Celebrity Reflection joins four Solstice Class sister ships which have made the same journey prior to officially entering service. Following sea trials and the completion of finishing work while in Emshaven, The Netherlands, Celebrity Reflection will host an invitation-only preview sailing before embarking Oct. 12 on her first cruise from Amsterdam.
Celebrity Reflection boasts a number of industry firsts, including AquaClass Suites, Signature Suites and the ultra-luxe Reflection Suite - the first to include a glass shower extending out over the edge of the ship. The ship also will feature designer boutiques, signature specialty dining venues, a glamorous main dining room and expanded AquaSpa by Elemis experiences.
After presenting vacations from Amsterdam to Belgium and France to Barcelona, Celebrity Reflection will cross the Atlantic Ocean to arrive in Miami Dec. 1 and depart for its inaugural Caribbean sailing Dec. 5, following invitation-only promotional sailings. The new ship will offer guests a series of seven-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries roundtrip from Miami, Fla.
For more information, visit www.celebritycruises.com.