Celebrity Cruises’ stylish new Celebrity Solstice made such a resounding splash in the Caribbean in her inaugural season that the brand today announced the ship will sail there year-round in 2010.
“The extraordinary response from our guests to Celebrity Solstice has created a corresponding demand for the ship to sail year-round in the Caribbean, and we’re thrilled to meet that demand,” said Celebrity’s President & CEO Dan Hanrahan. “This move offers guests in North America a phenomenal closer-to-home vacation option whenever they’re ready to get away, and similarly, our international guests now will have year-round Caribbean vacation options with Celebrity that are second-to-none.”
The dazzling Celebrity Solstice will sail alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in summer months, and seven-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries from the same port in the winter, marking the first time since 2004 that Celebrity has offered a year-round seven-night sailing in the Caribbean. Celebrity Solstice will be one of two Celebrity vessels sailing continuously in the region; Celebrity Century, as previously announced, will present short getaways, with its popular four- and five-night sailings from the Port of Miami.
The shift of Celebrity Solstice to the Caribbean year-round led to a corresponding transition in Celebrity’s European itinerary lineup for 2010-11: The new Celebrity Equinox will present the 10- and 11-night Mediterranean sailings from Rome, previously planned for Celebrity Solstice. The 12-night voyages previously announced for Celebrity Equinox between Barcelona and Venice in 2010 have been discontinued. The European sailings previously announced for Celebrity Eclipse – which debuts in 2010 – and Celebrity Constellation remain unchanged.
Celebrity representatives are personally contacting all guests with bookings affected by the European deployment transition with Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox in 2010-11. Guests or travel agents in the U.S. with questions about pertinent bookings may call Celebrity Cruises’ Reservations agents toll-free at 1-888-281-9343.
Celebrity’s Seasonal Caribbean Deployment – 2010-11
Six Celebrity ships – in addition to the year-round Celebrity Solstice – will ply the azure waters of the Caribbean on a seasonal basis in 2010-11, on a total of 155 sailings with visits to 43 ports.
· Celebrity Constellation will present 14-night Exotic Southern Caribbean cruises roundtrip on Saturdays from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
· Celebrity Eclipse – the third in Celebrity’s stellar Solstice Class series, making her debut in April 2010 – will present alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises roundtrip from the Port of Miami.
· Celebrity Equinox – the second sleek Solstice Class ship, launching this July – will present 10- and 11-night Ultimate Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale.
· Celebrity Mercury will present a second season of nine-night Bahamas and 12-night Eastern Caribbean sailings departing Mondays and Saturdays from Baltimore, Maryland from October 2010 through February 2011, followed by 10- and 11-night Western and Eastern Caribbean cruises departing Mondays and Fridays from Charleston from March through April 2011.
· Celebrity Millennium will reprise her series of 10- and 11-night Southern Caribbean cruises departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico on Mondays and Fridays from October 11, 2010 through April 8, 2011.
· Celebrity Summit will continue to offer seven-night Southern Caribbean cruises departing roundtrip from San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Saturdays.
Bookings open Wednesday, May 6, for the new year-round Caribbean cruises on Celebrity Solstice, as well as for the brand’s full seasonal Caribbean itinerary lineup.
Among the myriad of captivating shore excursion options for guests sailing with Celebrity in the Caribbean in 2010 are the following highlights:
· In Barbados: “A Taste of Barbados” features a scenic ride around the exotic island, with visits to The Rum Factory, Heritage Park, the mahogany carving factory, Medford Mahogany Creations, and lunch at the Sunbury Plantation House.
· In Grand Cayman: The “Turtle and Stingray Land & Sea Adventure” transports guests to Boatswain’s Bay Turtle Farm to visit the turtle breeding facility, followed by a rum cake factory, before continuing on to Stingray City Sandbar for a rare opportunity to swim with one of the Caribbean’s most graceful creatures, the Southern Stingray.
· In Costa Maya, Mexico: The “Kohunlich Mayan Ruins,” situated in a secluded jungle, encompasses a broad scope of architectural styles, from the wide lawns of its public centers and ball courts, to high temples with sculpted masks of the city’s rulers paralleling each side of the entry.
· From St. Thomas: The “St. John Island Island Tour” includes ferry transport to St. John, known as “the emerald of the Caribbean,” and a scenic drive around the lush, tropical island, enhanced with stops at several panoramic viewing platforms and insights into the location’s history and culture.
