The Choice Air programme will offer a range of carriers and ticket types and will enable agents, such as Iglucruise, to add pre and post-cruise stays. The system has already been launched in the US, where Princess Cruises has launched a similar concept, Flight Select, in the last week.

Travel agents attending last week's naming ceremony onboard the Celebrity Silhouette heard how Choice Air would be a "strategic focus" for Celebrity Cruises parent company, Royal Caribbean, in US during 2012. It is thought that they will trial Choice Air in the UK in October, after the cruise line's UK office confirmed plans to offer the service to UK agents.

Source: Travel Weekly

Written by Charlie Hamilton-Beaufort
© Iglucruise

The stunning Solstice class ship will revamp her itineraries for summer 2012 and will visit fantastic new destinations such as Reykjavik in Iceland, Genoa in Italy and Ponta Delgada in the Azores.

"Celebrity Eclipse is the most popular ship in the Celebrity Cruises fleet for UK and Irish holidaymakers, and we’ve further enhanced itineraries and destinations to keep guests coming back" explains Dominic Paul, Vice President & Managing Director, UK & Ireland.

"Whilst we will continue to offer our hugely popular 14 night Mediterranean cruises we are also extending the reach of countries and cities that Celebrity Cruises offers. The beautiful Norwegian Fjords and Iceland cruises are new for 2012, and include ports of call such as the Faroe Islands. Plus, for the late summer itineraries, we’ve introduced the garden-like islands of the Azores which should be a great selling point for agents."

Some of the highlights from summer 2012 are:

• Eight-night Norwegian Fjords featuring Bergen, Flam, Geiranger and Oslo in Norway from £799 per person departing in May 2012.
• Sailing in May 2012 and September 2012, a 14-night Mediterranean cruise featuring European highlights such as Nice (from Villefranche), Rome (from Civitavecchia and Florence (from Livorno), plus the first calling for Celebrity Eclipse at Porto in Portugal. Prices from £1,299 per person.
• Overnight stays in St Petersburg and Copenhagen as part of a 14-night Scandinavia and Russia sailing also featuring Bruges (from Zeebrugge), Berlin (from Warnemunde), Stockholm and Helsinki. Prices from £1,549 per person for sailings throughout May, June, July and August 2012.
• Brand new 14-night Iceland and Fjords cruise including an overnight in Reykjavik, as well as ports of call in the Faroe Islands and throughout Norway in July and August 2012 from £1,599 per person.
• Autumn sunshine Canaries and Azores 14-night cruise calling at destinations such as Ponta Delgada in the Azores, as well as Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Lisbon in Portugal in September and October 2012. Prices from £1,299 per person.

These fantastic new cruises will go on sale on 10th May though pre-registration on these cruises is available with Iglucruise from today.

Written by Stephen Adam
© Iglucruise

Celebrity’s President & CEO Dan Hanrahan said: "Based on the phenomenal response we’ve had from guests who have sailed on the ‘Solsticized’ Celebrity Constellation, we’re eager to introduce the same new features – ranging from the ‘Cellarmasters’ wine bar to our signature ‘icy’ Martini Bar to our cool Café al Bacio and Gelateria – and even more on Celebrity Summit... We recognize that consumers’ vacation time is precious, which inspires us to do everything we can to make their vacation with Celebrity Cruises something that is truly different and better than anything they’ve experienced before."

One of Celebrity's most popular Solstice class signatures, the coveted AquaClass staterooms, will be among the new additons to the Celebrity Summit. The spa-inspired balcony cabins will again be paired with the exclusive Med-themed 'Blu' restaurant and are sure to be a hit. There are also plans to restyle the other staterooms onboard with new carpets, upholstery, bedding and flat-screen TVs, the public areas will also benefit from new carpeting and upholstery to give the ships the modern, classy, colour scheme and finish of the Solstice class ships.

New venues onboard will include the popular fusion cuisine found in 'Qsine', the ice-topped Martini Bar, the Bistro on 5 creperie and the inviting Café al Bacio and Gelateria. Cellermasters Wine Bar, with it's innovative enomatic wine serving system will allow guest or select wines by the glass at a touch of a button. The trendy Celebrity iLounge, which when debuted on the Celebrity Eclipse became the first Authorized Apple Resellers at sea, where guests can participate in Celebrity's iLearn enrichment series.

Celebrity Infinity will emerge from drydock in early December with Celebrity Summit following in January 2012. Both ships will enjoy these stunning upgrades and help keep Celebrity at the top of their game.

Written by Charlie Hamilton-Beaufort © Iglucruise

To enter the competition all you need to do is book a Celebrity Cruises deal this month, and last week one of Iglu Cruise's customers won one of the remaining cabins. With only a week to go there are still two cabins left to be won, so if you are thinking of cruising with Celebrity Cruises now is the time to book.

If winning a free holiday is not enough to entice you there are also great deals including $250 per cabin of onboard spend, savings of up to £500 per cabin and even free upgrades to balcony cabins on some Solstice class ships and sailings.

Written by Troy McGuire
© Iglucruise

The new ships latest innovations include AquaClass suites (only on Celebrity Reflection), The Lawn Club Grill, The Porch and a new Michael's Club concept.

Dan Hanrahan, Celebrity Cruises President & CEO, said: "We recognize that consumers’ vacation time is precious, and that’s what drives us to continually create new and unique experiences that enhance their rare time away... The host of honours our Solstice Class and Millennium Class have won have been incredible validation of that commitment, and on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection, we’re capitalising on the opportunity to further elevate our onboard offerings, particularly in our Solstice Class’ iconic Lawn Club, and with our wildly popular AquaClass category of accommodations and its exclusive specialty restaurant, Blu. Initially, we planned to introduce these exciting new enhancements only on Celebrity Reflection, but to our delight, our outstanding partners at Meyer Werft were able to also deliver every new feature with the exception of AquaClass Suites on Celebrity Silhouette.”

Due to the popularity of the lines industry-first AquaClass, spa-inspired accommodation, Celebrity will be introducing the lines first AquaClass suites onboard the Celebrity Reflection. The new suites will offer 251 square feet of luxury along with a 57 square feet veranda and all the facilities AquaClass guests have become accustomed to.

“We gave a great deal of thought about how to ideally accommodate everything we’re adding,” said Hanrahan. “We’re widening the ship slightly, enabling us to introduce each of these exceptional new venues without compromising the Celebrity’s premium space ratio and lauded traffic flow.

The Lawn Club Grill is the industry's first outdoor, interactive grill venue. The Porch offers chic, Hamptons-style design and modern furniture and will serve fresh-baked pastries and breads. Both these venues will be set around The Lawn Club and take advantage of the lush lawn and stunning views.

Michael's Club, a Celebrity favourite, will be re-styled offering an elegant bar serving rare malts, whiskies and scotches along with a selection of 50 beers including the likes of Chimay Blue. The venue will feature live music and 46" TVs to show those all important sporting events.

There are plenty more additions to come with Celebrity showing they mean business with the new Solstice class ships.

Written by Troy McGuire

The Celebrity Century will head to the region for the winter seasons in late 2011 and 2012, offering cruises to Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and French Polynesia.

The ten new itineraries will begin on October 2, 2011, and include six departure points and 36 ports in six countries. One of the highlights will be Celebrity's first circumnavigation of Australia, which comprises of two 18 night segments and an overnight stay in Sydney.

The new itineraries will replace previously scheduled 12-night Caribbean cruises from Baltimore. Travellers booked on Celebrity Century cruises from Baltimore departing between 1st November, 2011 and 21st March, 2012 can cancel their booking for a full refund. Alternatively passengers can switch to the same category of accommodation on a selection of cruises on the Celebrity Century to Hawaii, Celebrity Infinity trans-canal cruises, Celebrity Equinox to the Caribbean or on the Celebrity Silhouette also to the Caribbean.

Those who choose to switch ship opposed to cancelling may receive up to $200 per stateroom and $400 per suite onboard spend. Holiday sailings are only open to guests currently booked on Celebrity Century's Holiday cruise departing on the 23rd December, 2011.

If have booked and Iglucruise holiday on the Celebrity Century over these dates call our customer care line on 0208 544 6402, who will be able to assist and adivse you on the exact details of the alternative cruises on offer.

Written by Troy McGuire