Celebrity Cruises continues to grow, as it officially took delivery of Celebrity Equinox, marking the transfer from shipbuilder Meyer Werft to the cruise line during a ceremony in Emshaven.
Celebrity Equinox, after inspections, will host a series of promotional activities from Southampton, England
for press, travel agents and other audiences. The ship will then be
formally named in ceremonies on July 29 and will enter service July 31
on an eight-night Norwegian Fjords cruise.
“All
of us at Celebrity are extremely grateful to the countless individuals
at Meyer Werft and at some of the world’s best architecture and design
firms,” Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Dan Hanrahan
said. “All of them worked tirelessly with us to bring this ship to
fruition, only eight months after Celebrity Solstice. And now, we’re
eager to have our guests experience on Celebrity Equinox the
exceptional cuisine and service our brand is known for, paired with the
inspiring style and design that is synonymous with Celebrity Cruises.”
Passengers
on the new cruise ship can enjoy amenities including the first Lawn
Club, a half-acre country-club atmosphere featuring real, growing
grass, and 10 dining venues including several created by noted hospitality
designer Adam Tihany. All restaurants feature menus by chef, restaurateur and Celebrity’s Vice President of Culinary Operations Jacques Van Staden.
Guests
can also enjoy AquaClass, the line’s spa-inspired staterooms offering
access to the Mediterranean-influenced specialty restaurant, Blu along with the industry’s first Hot Glass Show at sea, presented in collaboration with The Corning Museum of Glass.
The
ship has larger, more intuitive staterooms influenced by a panel of
five “boomer” women with travel and hospitality insights, and varied
entertainment, including new shows in partnership with Poet Theatricals.
Following the Norwegian Fjords cruise, Celebrity Equinox will depart Southampton August 8 on a 10-night Best of Europe itinerary to Rome, calling on ports in France, Spain, Portugal and Italy, as well Gibraltar, UK.
The ship then will sail a series of 13- and 14-night Ancient Empires cruises through October, featuring two new ports of call: Haifa and Ashdod, Israel. These voyages also include an overnight stay in Alexandria, Egypt.
On November 5, the ship will sail a transatlantic voyage to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she will begin a series of alternating 10- and 11-night Ultimate Caribbean voyages through April 2010.
The 11-night voyages will stop in George Town, Grand Cayman; Cartagena, Colombia; Colon, Panama; Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; Roatan, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico. The 10-night sailings include calls at Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Basseterre, St. Kitts; Bridgetown, Barbados; Roseau, Dominica; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten.
View www.celebritycruises.com.