It takes 88 days for the planet Mercury to orbit the sun, but it will take only six for Celebrity Cruises to navigate through a significant home improvement program on Celebrity Mercury, highlighted by the addition of new verandas and a complete transformation of the ship’s boutique boulevard.

From April 13 – 20, during Celebrity Mercury’s scheduled drydock period in San Francisco, 14 new verandas will be added to the aft end of the ship, offering breathtaking views from the 210-square-foot staterooms on cruises through Alaska from May through October. The vista then transitions to Hawaii, before Celebrity Mercury embarks on the line’s first season in Australia and New Zealand beginning in December.

Celebrity Mercury’s entirely transformed boutique boulevard will present Celebrity’s Beauty,the line’s first cosmeceutical (pairing science with cosmetics) store, offering products from leading brands including Dr. Brandt, DermaNew, Freeze 24/7, Fekkai, L’Occitane, MD Skincare, Origins and StriVectin. A skin-care specialist will be available by appointment to offer personalized demonstrations and tips for guests.

The new shopping boulevard also will feature Boutique C,Celebrity’s ultra high-end, appointment-only jewelry store. A dedicated destinations store featuring merchandise reflective of the region in which the ship is sailing, and Celebrity’s Blue Collection line of upscale, subtly-branded casual apparel.

To help guests maintain their fitness regime while sailing, all gym equipment strength training as well as cardio machines, which will have individual TVs will be upgraded during the drydock, with new carpeting installed throughout the fitness center. Celebrity also will roll out on Celebrity Mercury its new bedding program, upgrade the entire pool deck, and install new carpeting in the ship’s main restaurant, Martini and Champagne Bars, Cova Caf, Fortunes Casino, guest corridors, staircases and main foyer.

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highly personalized service, authentic five-star dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, Antarctica, Bermuda, California, Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, Mexican Riviera, Panama Canal and South America, and will begin sailing in Australia and New Zealand this year. The line also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Canada, Europe and Australia through its cruisetour division. Noted for “The World’s Best Large Ships,” as voted by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler (February 2007 Cruise Poll), Celebrity’s current fleet will be joined by Celebrity Journey and Celebrity Quest this year, Celebrity Solstice in 2008, Celebrity Equinox in 2009, and Celebrity Eclipse in 2010. For more information, call your travel agent, dial 1-800-437-3111 or visit www.celebritycruises.com.