Celebrity Cruises is moving forward with a fourth Solstice-class ship, the company announced on Monday. The newest addition will enter service in fall 2011, following sister ships Celebrity Solstice (fall 2008), Celebrity Equinox (summer 2009) and Celebrity Eclipse (summer 2010). German shipbuilder Meyer Werft, which too is responsible for the three other Solstice-class vessels, will build the 122,000-ton ship. Once completed, Celebrity will boast a roster of 11 ships, and Richard Fain, CEO of Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity's parent company, said ratcheting up Celebrity's ship production is a result of travel partner demand. "Ordering a fourth Solstice-class ship is obviously a testament to the demand we've received from travel agent partners and travelers alike for more cruise vacation options with Celebrity," Fain said. Celebrity estimates that the all-in cost of the new 2,850-guest ship, whose staterooms will be 90 percent outside, will cost $280,000 per berth.
