Celebrity Cruises has announced that its new vessel
Celebrity Eclipse will make its debut earlier than planned with a three-night taster cruise added to its schedule.
The ship, which is currently under construction in Germany, will depart from Southampton for its pre-inaugural voyage to Le Harvre in Normandy, France, on April 26th 2010.
Explaining the decision,
Royal Caribbean Cruises vice president and managing director of UK and Ireland Robin Shaw said the firm hoped to "stimulate" the market with the taster cruise.
"Launch celebrations in July this year for Celebrity Equinox were a conscious effort to showcase our new Solstice-class of ships to as many British and Irish travel professionals as possible in the build up to the arrival in 2010 of sister-ship Celebrity Eclipse dedicated to the UK and Irish market."
He added that the move has been beneficial to the company hence the decision to carry out a similar exercise.
Celebrity Eclipse's maiden four-night voyage to Cork from Southampton will not be affected and the cruise will still take place as planned on April 29th.
Written by Chris Smith.