Celebrity Cruises’ new Celebrity Flora passed a major construction milestone with a keel-laying ceremony in Tolkamer, the Netherlands.
A 49.2 ton block was lifted in the air and a lucky coin was placed in the dock before the block was lowered into position. With the solid foundation in place, the building blocks can be joined together to create the new cruise ship.
Leaders from both Celebrity Cruises, BG Studios, and DeHoop were at the event to celebrate the next stage of the ship’s evolution.
The Celebrity Flora is Celebrity Cruises’ new all-suite ship that will offer itineraries in the Galapagos Islands in 2019. The 100-guest vessel will have an outward-facing design to give guests 360-degree views of the islands, as well as personal suite attendants, new dining venues, an open-air stargazing platform, and expert-led ecological seminars. Other notable features will include a marina that can accommodate up to three Zodiacs at once, speeding ship to shore transfers; an anchorless positioning system that will allow the ship to hold in place while protecting the delicate sea floor; and a number of design elements aimed at improving energy efficiency. The ship will also reduce the need for plastics onboard by introducing in-room water filtration stations and by converting sea water and air conditioning condensation into pure, fresh water. Any materials that can be recycled, reused or donated will be as part of a strict waste management system, the cruise line said.
Celebrity Flora will sail from Baltra year-round, making its first sailing on May 26, 2019. Bookings are now open at www.celebritycruises.com/galapagos/ships/celebrity-flora.
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