Celebrity Cruises today announced upgrades to two of the line’s ships, the Infinity and Summit.

Celebrity will expand its lineup of outdoor spaces this month, when Celebrity Infinity receives a new “Rooftop Terrace” venue – during a scheduled drydock.

The drydock work also will broaden Celebrity’s commitment to its Suite Class, with significant renovations to the ships’ Penthouse and Royal Suites, and will include conversion of the ship’s specialty restaurant to one of Celebrity’s signature venues, Tuscan Grille. 

Celebrity Summit will follow with a similar scheduled drydock in March of 2016. 

“With modular furniture, a metal “garden-like” design, and cabanas, the new, multi-functional Rooftop Terrace will offer guests a relaxing, open space during the day. By night, the space will be illuminated by unique decorative lighting, and a large screen and soundscape will showcase movies and other entertainment. Rounding out the unique outdoor experience will be a variety of specially curated food options available for purchase and presented in unique serving vessels, inspired by the entertainment content, the destination, or the occasion. The Rooftop Terrace will be on the 12th deck of the ship, at the aft end. The Rooftop Terrace will officially open on December 5, 2015,” said Celebrity in a released statement.

“The Rooftop Terrace is a brand-new way to enjoy the great outdoors on a modern luxury vacation,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President & CEO, Celebrity Cruises. “The popularity of our Lawn Club venues has shown us that some of the richest moments our guests enjoy are when relaxing in beautiful outdoor spaces. In creating the Rooftop Terrace, we wanted to create a hot spot where guests can kick back under the stars in the middle of the ocean, with amazing entertainment and food.” 

As part of the $16 million refresh plan, Celebrity is investing heavily in its Suite Class experience on Celebrity Infinity and Celebrity Summit, as every Penthouse and Royal Suite will receive new glimmering fixtures, marble surfaces, and comfortable seats in the bathrooms. The rest of the suite will get refreshing touches like new carpeting, drapes, and bed linens. 

“We want these suites to be so luxurious and comfortable that it’s difficult for guests to leave at the end of their vacation,” Lutoff-Perlo said. “We want the entire ship to turn heads.” 

Conversion of Celebrity Infinity’s S.S. United States restaurant to Tuscan Grille, Celebrity’s Mediterranean-inspired steakhouse, will include complete refinishing of the space and the introduction of a refreshed menu designed to tantalize, including fresh pasta made in-house; an Italian cocktail menu, a first for Tuscan Grille; a wine list focused on the wine-growing regions of Italy; and new foods like artisanal salumi and cheeses; crispy crab arancini with lemon pepper aioli; grilled branzino with spinach and olive oil; swordfish with Castelvetrano olives, fennel and white wine; and oven-roasted USDA Prime dry-aged steak. Guests who are currently booked in the S.S. United States for sailings beginning on October 29, 2015 or later, will be given the first opportunity to cancel their reservations in order to rebook in Tuscan Grille. On Celebrity Summit, The Normandie will be converted into Tuscan Grille. Guests who are currently booked in The Normandie for sailings beginning on March 19, 2016 or later, will also have first dibs on reservations in Tuscan Grille. 

Additional work taking place onboard both ships will include:

•    The addition of an enclosed portrait studio similar to that found on Celebrity’s Solstice Class ships, Celebrity Eclipse and Celebrity Equinox
•    The creation of a new future cruise sales office, where guests can take advantage of special offers
•    A refresh of the Solarium, with new furniture, new floors, and refinished pool tops, and a refresh of finishes in the spa café
•    The removal of the themed décor in the ship’s casino

Celebrity Infinity enters drydock on October 15 and will emerge on October 29, 2015, before sailing several Panama Canal itineraries leading up to December 5.

Then, Celebrity Infinity will begin its South America season, which will be followed by an Alaska season beginning in May 2016. Celebrity Summit will sail 7-night Southern Caribbean itineraries this winter, both before and after her drydock from February 27 to March 12, 2016, before heading to Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey in April, for her summer season of 7-night cruises to Bermuda. Both drydocks will take place at Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport, Bahamas.