Bookings opened on June 21 the summer solstice for Celebrity
Cruise’s first new ship since 2002, Celebrity Solstice.
“We are thrilled with the early interest and enthusiasm we’re
receiving from our guests and travel partners about Celebrity
Solstice,” said Celebrity’s President Dan Hanrahan.
Celebrity Solstice will offer the award-winning service and dining
experience the brand is known for providing, along with a variety
of compelling new features. One of those features is the line’s new
AquaClassSM category of veranda accommodations expressly designed
for spa enthusiasts. Guests booked in AquaClass will receive
unlimited access to Celebrity Solstice’s new AquaSpa relaxation
room and the Persian Garden, an exotic aromatherapy and steam room,
as well as exclusive, complimentary dining in Blu, an intimate,
130-seat specialty restaurant whose design is likely to be as
inviting as the cuisine. AquaClass will comprise 130 of the ship’s
1,425 staterooms. A full 85 percent of all staterooms onboard
Celebrity Solstice will have verandas, and all staterooms will be
equipped with flat-screen TVs, smarter storage and closet space,
spacious bathrooms, and plush European bedding. The ship will offer
wireless Internet access throughout.
Following several weeks of inaugural activities, Celebrity Solstice
will make its maiden voyage December 14, 2008, on a seven-night
Eastern Caribbean cruise roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.,
visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico; Basseterre, St. Kitts; and
Philipsburg, St. Maarten. The itinerary will be offered on Sundays
through April 5, 2009, with an alternating itinerary calling on San
Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Tortola, B.V.I.; and
Labadee, Haiti, through April 12, 2009.
Celebrity Solstice will be the line’s first in a class of four
122,000-ton 2,850-passenger vessels that includes Celebrity
Equinox, due in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse, due in 2010 and a fourth
Solstice-class ship set for delivery in 2011.
Celebrity is also making culinary news. The line has partnered with
Las Vegas-based Blau & Associates, a strategic restaurant
planning and development firm, to serve as the line's new culinary
consultancy across the fleet. Widely credited with transforming Las
Vegas' dining from ordinary 24-hour buffets to a top-tier culinary
destination rich with Michelin-starred chefs, Blau & Associates
was founded by the Cornell- and Georgetown-educated Elizabeth Blau,
who has worked in the food service business for more than 23
years.
"Celebrity has long been known for providing outstanding cuisine,
as has Blau & Associates, so we're confident our guests will be
delighted with the results of our partnership," said Hanrahan. "The
Blau team brings incredible expertise, and clearly shares our
passion for food and genuine dedication to exceptional guest
service, which will translate beautifully to the dining experience
on every Celebrity ship."
Celebrity sails in Alaska, California, the Caribbean, Europe,
Galapagos Islands, Mexican Riviera, Panama Canal and South America,
and will begin cruising in Australia and New Zealand in November.
The line also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Canada,
Europe and Australia through its cruisetour affiliate.
www.celebritycruises.
