Celebrity Cruises Going South

2010-07-22

Last night Celebrity Cruises announced that they will be heading back to Australasia after a two-year absence.

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

Celebrity Cruises introduces beverage booking system

2010-05-07

Celebrity Cruises has announced a new booking system that will allow customers to book a beverages package for their journey.

The firms has said that, having consulted past guests, it has come up with a variety of options, including packages featuring alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, that will make life easier for passenger.

Jacques Van Staden, vice president for culinary operations at Celebrity Cruises, said: "We took our guests' favourite beverages and bundled them into packages that are simple to order from home.

"By the time guests board the ship, they can relax knowing that their favourite drinks are arranged for; they can then focus on enjoying themselves in the spa, exploring destinations through shore excursions, or simply lounging by the pool."

The beverage package information will be included in passengers' SeaPass card, meaning they simply have to present it wherever drinks are available around the cruise ships.

Celebrity Cruises recently announced that passengers on the Celebrity Eclipse can view restaurant menus on an iPad.

Written by Chris Smith

View Celebrity Eclipse menus on an Apple iPad

2010-04-27

Passengers soon to be embarking on a trip on the Celebrity Eclipse vessel will be the first to be able to appreciate what food they can enjoy on board through their Apple iPad.

The 2,800 passenger Celebrity Cruises vessel is to be the first to make its menus available on the device, which represents part of the partnership between the cruise line and the multinational electronics corporation, Travolution reports.

A further development of the partnership has seen the ship fitted with an iLounge internet cafe, which will feature Apple gadgets for sale and provide access to MacBooks for internet browsing.

The success of the iLounge is to also result in others being fitted on ships including Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Summit.

According to the news provider, UK acting managing director Jo Rzymowska revealed that Celebrity is also taking steps to improve its online profile.

She said: "We are investing a lot more than we have every done in the Celebrity brand online. We have significantly upped our pay per click activity for Celebrity."

A real grass lawn is present on board Celebrity Eclipse, providing holidaymakers with the chance to improve their golf games or play a spot of croquet.

Written by Chris Smith

Winter getaways with Celebrity Cruises unveiled

2010-04-23

Recent winters in the UK, with miserable weather and serious disruptions to daily life, have shown how attractive a getaway may be in the coldest months, so it could be time to start getting ready for a cruise.

Anyone looking at some long-term planning may well be interested in some exciting journeys being offered by Celebrity Cruises over the next few years.

The company has announced its itineraries for warm-weather getaways over the winter of 2011-12, and they certainly read very well.

Celebrity Equinox will be one of the vessels carrying passengers around the Caribbean, stopping off at sun-soaked islands including St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Barbados, Dominica and St. Maarten.

Meanwhile, the Celebrity Century, which features the first "Ice Martini Bar" at sea, will take holidaymakers to Hawaii and along the Panama Canal.

Celebrity Cruises president and chief executive Dan Hanrahan said: "We believe that our 2011-12 winter destination portfolio brings to life the essence of our brand platform, 'Designed for you'.

"Our guests told us that they wanted more variety in the Caribbean, so we not only sent all four of our newest ships, we also created a line-up of itineraries offering cruisers the opportunity to choose from a wide range of sailing lengths and destinations on our award-winning ships - all of which include Celebrity's signature service, style and world-class cuisine."

For voyagers wishing to experience the best of South America, Celebrity Infinity may be the vessel of choice as it will provide itineraries including cruisetours to Buenos Aires and packages featuring a "Machu Picchu Adventure".

The beauty of many of these cruises is that Celebrity will make sure there is always something to see or do at the stops along the way.

For example, in St. Maarten there will be a chance for passengers to visit the Loterie Farm Treetop Adventure Tour, perfect for the family, while the more curious traveller will want to explore the engineering feats of the Miraflores Locks, Pedro Miguel Locks and Gaylard Cut along the Panama Canal.

One of the other cruise ships featured in the company's line-up is the Celebrity Eclipse, which is also set to embark on voyages around Northern Europe and the Caribbean.

Written by Chris Smith

Celebrity Eclipse helps volcano-hit holidaymakers home

2010-04-23

A brand new cruise ship has been playing its part in helping stranded tourists get back home to the UK.

With thousands of tourists still struggling to make their way back after almost week's worth of flights were lost due to volcanic ash, Celebrity Cruises stepped in to end many people's woes and dispatched the Celebrity Eclipse to Bilbao.

While a number of generous firms have sent their ships to help get people home, the decision to divert the Celebrity Eclipse there was particularly notable as the ship was due to start its launch celebrations yesterday (April 22nd).

Richard D. Fain, chairman of Celebrity Cruises, said: "The events affecting air travel are completely unprecedented, and it is in times like these that the global travel industry needs to pull together.

"Collecting stranded British and Irish vacationers is a fitting first mission for new ship Celebrity Eclipse."

A report in the Times has described how passengers have been able to enjoy the luxury of the ship since it departed Bilbao yesterday, including the "culinary delights served almost 24 hours in the restaurants".

Written by Chris Smith

New ship welcomed to Celebrity Cruises fleet

2010-04-20

A new ship has finally been taken into service by Celebrity Cruises, meaning the firm now has a fleet of ten vessels carrying holidaymakers around the world.

The Celebrity Eclipse was launched on Thursday (April 15th) in a ceremony attended by bosses of the company, including chief executive Dan Hanrahan.

With space for 2,850 guests on board, the ship is ready to make journeys around the world, with itineraries taking in parts of Russia, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and Scandinavia.

It is due to have its naming ceremony on Saturday (April 24th), with yachtswoman and cancer survivor Emma Pontin being given the honour of leading the celebrations.

Making the launch of the ship even more special will be the fact that it is currently being used to help get stranded tourists back home to the UK after the disruption to flights caused by the volcanic ash across Europe.

Richard Fain, chairman of Celebrity Cruises, said: "Collecting stranded British and Irish vacationers is a fitting first mission for [our] new ship Celebrity Eclipse - what better way for a ship dedicated to the UK to mark her arrival?"

Written by Chris Smith

Famous singers sign up for Celebrity Eclipse ceremony day

2010-04-12

Marcella Detroit and Jocelyn Brown are to be among the musical entertainment present as part of the launch celebrations of a new Celebrity Cruises ship later this month.

The singers will display their vocal talents at the Celebrity SunWalk 2010 event, which not only represents part of the launch of the Celebrity Eclipse vessel but is also in aid of the Walk the Walk breast cancer charity in Southampton.

Fundraisers will be walking either 5k or 10k for the charity, with the new ship's official naming ceremony taking place later the same day on April 24th.

Jo Rzymowska, acting managing director and vice president of Celebrity Cruises UK and Ireland, said: "The launch of a new ship is a very special celebration and we're thrilled to have Marcella and Jocelyn joining hundreds of charity fundraising walkers in the Southampton celebrations as part of the Celebrity SunWalk.

"The 24th April is going to be a great big party in Southampton while at the same time raising money for a phenomenal cause – the best ever welcome that any new ship could wish for."

Cruise fans can also expect to witness some Cirque de Soleil style entertainment when on board the Celebrity Eclipse ship, alongside top views through breathtaking floor-to-ceiling windows.

Written by Chris Smith

Celebrity Eclipse makes German appearance

2010-03-03

People in the Papenburg area of Germany are lucky enough to be the first ones to lay their eyes on the third vessel in Celebrity Cruises' stylish multi-billion dollar Solstice Class of cruise ships

Celebrity Eclipse made its first public appearance on Sunday when its shiny profile emerged from the Meyer Werft shipyard where it is being built.

Expected to enter service on April 26th 2010, the new luxury vessel will offer Caribbean cruises roundtrips from Miami from the beginning of November.

Before that, however, UK cruise lovers will have an opportunity to enjoy a series of Canary Islands, Scandinavia, Russia and Spanish Mediterranean roundtrip itineraries from the English port of Southampton.

Those opting for the vessel can look forward to sampling world-class cuisine accompanied by impeccable service, as well as modern and sophisticated environments.

Celebrity Cruises has a fleet of nine ships and is among operators whose vessels are increasingly winning over British people by providing a wide choice of itineraries.

Written by Chris Smith.

Twitter winner from Cornwall to see Celebrity Eclipse

2010-02-23

A cruise lover has secured a place for an exclusive preview of the new Celebrity Eclipse after winning a promotion that took place entirely on Twitter.

Denise Wills from Saint Austell in Cornwall, whose online name on the micro-blogging site is Tweeter @CharlotteWil, will get the opportunity in March this year.

She impressed judges with her entry, which said: "With Celebrity close to home, many places I will roam. With AquaSpa, Crush & a lawn at sea, I think Eclipse was designed for me!"

Competition judge John Honeywell, who writes a cruise blog in the Mirror under the name Captain Greybeard, said the standard of entries for the competition "eclipsed" his expectations, making the choosing task "tricky".

He added: "The winner can look forward to being treated like a true celebrity on an unforgettable journey down the River Ems on Celebrity Eclipse, and I hope she'll be Tweeting all the way."

The launch of ships, such as Celebrity Eclipse, is helping the UK cruise industry to grow by providing a wider choice of itineraries.

Written by Chris Smith.

Celebrity Eclipse to offer Yorkshire pudding

2010-02-04

Celebrity Cruises has embarked on a strategy to encourage more British holidaymakers to choose voyages aboard its vessels.

The cruise operator has announced that special food and entertainment options featuring a range of British favourites will be provided on its latest ship Celebrity Eclipse.

Offering itineraries from Southampton during the summer 2010 cruise season, the ship will feature traditional delicacies such as mushy peas, pasties and Yorkshire pudding.

The ship, which has been specifically positioned to cater for the growing British market, will also feature Indian cuisine through its onboard speciality restaurants.

"We are not taking anything away, but we wanted to offer some British additions so our UK passengers feel at home on board," explained the company's president Dan Hanrahan.

And to make Brits feel even more at home, songs featured in popular West End musicals including Les Miserables will also be provided for entertainment.

A Twitter competition involving cruise lovers stating what it would feel like to be the first to sail on Celebrity Eclipse was recently launched by the company.

Written by Chris Smith.

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