Celebrity Cruises Archives - Sophisticated Travel

Royal Caribbean & Norwegian form joint group to develop coronavirus plan

Celebrity Edge New task-force created Two cruise industry powerhouses announced the formation of a new joint effort to develop a response to coronavirus. Royal Caribbean Group (Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara & Silversea) and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (Norwegian, Oceania & Regent Seven Seas Cruises) announced the blue-ribbon task force will be headed by Mike Leavitt, former Utah governor, and Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Other panel members are globally recognized experts from public health, biosecurity, infectious disease, hospitality and maritime operations. The group is charged with developing procedures to prevent the ......

By Brian Raymond|2020-10-21T13:45:27-07:00July 9th, 2020|

Celebrity increases cruise fare on beverage packages

NOTE: On December 17, 2019, Celebrity Cruises dropped the surcharge on the "Classic Beverage" perk. The option to get a free Classic Beverage Package included as a perk with your cruise fare has been popular with many Celebrity Cruise passengers. But starting October 10, 2019, Celebrity will add a $14.00/day per person surcharge to your cruise fare, adding an extra $196 to your seven night cruise for two passengers choosing the "Classic Beverage" perk. Celebrity stated, "Since we began offering perks, we have not increased package pricing for our guests. We’ve been absorbing the increased cost and ......

By Brian Raymond|2020-09-08T12:48:43-07:00October 10th, 2019|

Galapagos Island cruising goes upscale

Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises have upped the ante for luxury cruises through the Galapagos Islands. Silversea will launch its luxury 100-passenger Silver Origin in summer of 2020. Silversea cruises start with two days in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, and include airfare to and from the Galapagos Islands. Celebrity Cruises is launching the Celebrity Flora, a 100-passenger luxury exploration ship in June 2019. All cruises are seven night itineraries with 10, 11 or 15 night all-inclusive packages including pre/post cruise nights in Quito or Peru/Machu Picchu. (Both Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises are owned by Royal Caribbean.)CELEBRITY FLORAThe Flora ......

By Brian Raymond|2020-09-08T14:01:48-07:00May 16th, 2019|

Celebrity fleet upgrades to Edge Class design

THE CELEBRITY “REVOLUTION” We have lots of fans of Celebrity Cruises among our clients. With the launch of the Celebrity Edge, we keep getting asked if and when the rest of the fleet will be updated to reflect the Edge designs. The answer is the process has already begun. The Celebrity Millennium and Summit have already been refurbished (Celebrity calls it the “Revolution”), and the schedule below shows how it will roll out across the entire fleet. A MAJOR REFURBISHMENT This isn’t just a minor fluff and paint. It is a major $500 million fleet-wide renovation. Every stateroom in ......

By Brian Raymond|2020-09-08T14:06:54-07:00April 9th, 2019|

The new Martini Bar on the Celebrity Edge

(Transcript from video above) Wow this is certainly a very different Martini Bar. Rather than being tucked away in a corner, the Edge Martini Bar is big (spanning three decks), bold (with its multi-story LED lights which are synchronized with music twice a night), sophisticated (with its elegance and style) and vibrant (it could easily be a bar in South Beach or LA). Whether this new design is for you depends on your perspective. The consensus has been that if you were a fan of the Solstice Class Martini Bar, you probably won't like the new design. But if ......

By Brian Raymond|2020-09-08T14:11:53-07:00February 5th, 2019|

New tech on the Celebrity Edge

MORE POWER OUTLETS FOR YOUR GADGETS s we use more and more gadgets, our need for additional sources of power grows. The limited number of power outlets on cruise ships has been a problem for years. The Celebrity Edge helps to address these needs with additional outlets throughout the stateroom. The decorative power box shown above gives you access to two 110 outlets and two USB power plugs for smartphones. Additional outlets and USB plugs were bedside in our Celebrity Suite. TOUCHSCREEN CONTROLS LIGHTS & CURTAINS The Edge also features touchscreens to control lights, curtains, and your thermostat - ......

By Brian Raymond|2020-09-08T14:13:10-07:00January 17th, 2019|

The Retreat on Celebrity Edge – suite paradise

With the addition of the Retreat on the Edge, Celebrity significantly ups the value and benefits for suites guests. Following the lead of Norwegian’s Haven and MSC’s Yacht Club, the Retreat offers an upscale, sophisticated, and private sanctuary for suites guest. Access to this new private lounge and pool area is restricted through the use of a suites guest’s stateroom card. Now in addition to the suites only upscale Luminae restaurant, suites guests also gain access a bright and spacious lounge complete with complimentary cocktails, coffees, teas and sodas. The lounge is perfect getaway for reading a book, ......

By Brian Raymond|2020-09-08T14:14:12-07:00January 16th, 2019|

Celebrity Edge revolutionizes cruising

ASYMMETRICAL, MUSCULAR, BOLD & ELEGANT Bow leans out With the launch of the Edge as it's newest class of ships, Celebrity seeks to throw out the mold and revolutionize the design of cruise ships. You'll notice these changes before you even board the Edge. The Edge is striking, bold, muscular, and yet elegant. Her stacks glisten in the sun like the tailpipes on a 60s muscle car. Her bow is uncharacteristically straight to increase efficiency and cut through heavy seas, versus the sleek curve found on most ocean vessels. The brightly colored 90-ton Magic Carpet hovers in ......

By Brian Raymond|2020-09-08T14:15:33-07:00December 27th, 2018|

Celebrity Cruises nixes formal nights for Evening Chic!

Celebrity Cruises goes Evening Chic As Baby Boomers and Gen Xers move more and more upscale in their cruise preferences, they are looking for a more relaxed cruise experience than previous generations. And it is really no surprise if you think about it. Baby Boomers railed authority in their protest during the 60s & 70s. They have sought more freedom and less rigidity. So it is no surprise that the cruise industry is responding to this changing demographic and their preferences. Celebrity Cruises has responded by dropping "Formal Nights" for "Evening Chic," and sophisticated cruisers will appreciate this change. ......

By Brian Raymond|2020-09-08T14:18:53-07:00November 28th, 2018|

Celebrity Edge sets sail out of its shipyard headed to the US

Today Celebrity’s newest ship, the Celebrity Edge, sails out of its shipyard in Nazaire, France, and begins its transatlantic voyage to its homeport of Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades). The ship which as been four years in the making. It is Celebrity’s newest class of ship and holds 2,900 passengers. Three additional Edge-class ships are already on order, and start arriving 2020 – 2022. The Edge’s maiden voyage will set sail on December 9, 2018. Celebrity’s last new class was the Solstice-class launched in 2008, so the new Edge class will be welcome by many Celebrity loyalist. How will the Edge be different from ......

By Brian Raymond|2020-09-08T14:26:18-07:00November 6th, 2018|