The Edge of innovation
It is always exciting when a new cruise ship comes out, but I can’t quite remember the last time I was this excited about a new ship launch — and this particular one is still several months away.
This November, Celebrity Cruises (cruise.center/celebrity) will take delivery of its first brand-new ship in six years. But Celebrity Edge isn’t merely following in the footsteps of Celebrity’s already classy fleet; instead, this brand-new ship is the first of an entirely new class of vessel known as the Edge Class.
The renderings of Celebrity Edge show a ship that is really unlike any other that has come before it, and much has been made about the ship and its new “Magic Carpet” — a bright orange structure mounted to the ship’s starboard side that functions as a swanky tender platform when it is lowered to sea level; and a cool and happening bar when it is raised into its locked position 13 storeys above the waterline.
But the photographs that I have seen coming out of the shipyard are even more impressive. They show a ship with a striking blue hull, a beautifully raked bow, and a superstructure that cascades forward and aft.
This 2,908-passenger behemoth is a giant. With a length of 306 metres and a beam of 39 metres, it’s a big ship — but it is not overrun with passengers as some other newbuilds are, and its size should ensure a very respectable amount of personal space.
When Celebrity Edge sets sail on its first revenue cruises in December from Fort Lauderdale to the Caribbean, cruisers can expect a new level of stateroom accommodations and innovative public areas.
At the heart of the ship is a new experience that Celebrity calls “A room that lives.” Also known as Eden, this three-storey space will be graced with floor-to-ceiling windows, plus two areas of al fresco open-air seating.
Designed to transform from a bright solarium in the daytime to a cosy dining and entertainment venue at night, Eden is one of the more imaginative spaces I’ve seen on any cruise ship.
Celebrity has dramatically changed the traditional upper pool deck to be something that more closely resembles a seaside resort. There is even an outdoor rooftop garden and a sparkling solarium pool area.
Celebrity also rethought the process of how guests get ashore. Say goodbye to those hot days of sweating it out in a tender in the Caribbean. Celebrity Edge will feature tender boats with larger windows and air conditioning.
If you want to catch Edge for yourself, you can still grab a space aboard the Dec. 9 cruise to the Western Caribbean. This weeklong cruise departs round trip from Fort Lauderdale and visits Cozumel, Costa Maya and George Town, Grand Cayman.
Celebrity also recently announced a US$500-million project to refit and refurbish the line’s entire fleet. The refit will refresh staterooms, add new dining and entertainment venues, and revamp everything from the spas to the boutiques.
No word yet on which Celebrity ships will be the first to receive these new innovations, but fans of the line still have to look forward to Celebrity Flora, which will debut next year to become the line’s first purpose-built expedition ship operating yearround in the Galapagos Islands. Visit portsandbows.com, sponsored by Expedia CruiseShipCenters, 1-800-707-7327, www.cruiseshipcenters.com, for daily updates on the latest cruise news, best deals and behind-the-scenes stories from the industry. You can also sign up for an email newsletter on the site for even more cruise information. Aaron Saunders may be contacted directly at portsandbowsaaron@gmail.com