Celebrity Cruises has revealed new details for its upcoming Celebrity Edge, the first in a new class of ships for the brand with a number of distinctive new features.
Live on its Facebook page Celebrity laid out what guests can expect from the new ship, including a “Magic Carpet” area off the side of the ship that scales its 16 decks throughout the day and evening. The size of a tennis court, the area positions at four of the ship’s decks throughout the day, offering a new experience at each one. On the top deck, the area becomes a “Dinner on the Edge” specialty restaurant that can seat 90 guests. At Deck 14, the area transforms into an open-air expansion of the main pool area. On Deck 5, the area becomes al fresco seating for one of the ship’s specialty restaurants and, at its lowest position, on Deck 2, it becomes a component of the ship’s Destination Gateway, an embarkation station for the ship’s Edge Launches.
Designed by interior designer Kelly Hoppen MBE of Kelly Hoppen Interiors and architect Tom Wright of WKK, the new ship will have accommodations that aim to foster a connection to the ocean, such as the new Edge Stateroom with Infinite Veranda, which offers open-air access to the sea at the touch of a button. Additionally, The Retreat will be a private sanctuary for travelers with its own pool, The Retreat Sundeck. The space will also have The Retreat Lounge with round-the-clock personal butler service, as well as the Suite Class restaurant Luminae @ The Retreat.
The ship will have nearly double the number of suites as the line’s previous ships, including two new categories: the Iconic Suites above the ship’s bridge (two bedrooms, two bathrooms, dining room and bedroom, plus a verandah); and six split-level Edge Villas (two stories, private plunge pools and direct walk-out access to The Retreat Sundeck). Additionally, the two-bedroom, two-bathroom Penthouse Suites have large soaking tubs on the veranda, dual walk-through shows and walk-in closets. The ship will also have 146 outward-facing Sky Suites.
Other public spaces will include a Rooftop Garden with games and activities throughout the day, as well as the “A Taste of Film” outdoor movie-and-meal pairing at night.
Bookings are now open, with the ship set to make its inaugural voyage December 16, 2018. The ship will offer two seven-night Caribbean itineraries: an eastern Caribbean cruise to San Juan, Puerto Rico; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and a western Caribbean cruise to Key West, Florida; Costa Maya, Mexico; Cozumel, Mexico; and George Town, Grand Cayman. Travelers will also have the option to book back-to-back sailings for a 14-night journey. Celebrity Edge will be joined by three sibling ships in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
The announcement follows a series of new ship updates over the past week. Wednesday Royal Caribbean opened bookings on the new Oasis-class Symphony of the Seas. In expedition cruise news, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises announced that its newest ships will be called the Hanseatic Nature and Hanseatic Inspiration. On Europe’s rivers, Viking River Cruises launched two new vessels: the Viking Hild and Viking Herja.
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