The Edge of innovation
Debuting later this year, Celebrity Cruises’ newest vessel will be in a class all its own
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 have been out for a while, and they have been spectacular. They 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 than the renderings. They show a ship with a striking blue hull, a beautifully raked bow, and a superstructure that cascades attractively forward and aft. Make no mistake about it: this 2,908-passenger behemoth is a giant. With a length of 1,004 feet (306 metres) and a beam of 128 feet (39 metres), the 129,500 gross register tonnage (GRT) Celebrity Edge is 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 out on-deck, or in the ship’s lavish public rooms. When Celebrity Edge sets sail on its first revenue cruises in December from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to the Caribbean, cruisers can expect a whole new level of stateroom accommodations and innovative public areas. Celebrity has always been willing to go its own way when it comes to the design of its ships, and Celebrity Edge is no exception.
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 for unparalleled views over the ocean, plus two areas of al fresco open-air seating on either side of the room for those who want to take in the sea unobstructed. Designed to transform from a bright solarium in the daytime to a cosy and inviting dining and entertainment venue at night, Eden is one of the more imaginative spaces I’ve seen on any cruise ship. Continuing the innovation, 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 that is resplendently decorated with glass walls at every turn. 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, full air conditioning and bucket seating.
If you want to catch Celebrity Edge for yourself, you can still grab a space aboard Dec. 9 to the Western Caribbean. This weeklong cruise departs round trip from Fort Lauderdale and visits Cozumel, Costa Maya and George Town, Grand Cayman. But Celebrity isn’t stopping with Edge. Instead, the company recently announced a US$500million project to refit and refurbish the line’s entire fleet. The refit will refresh staterooms across the fleet, add new dining and entertainment venues, and revamp everything from the shipboard spas to the on-board 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 Galápagos Islands. As I write this, I still have four months to go until I get to experience Celebrity Edge for myself on a short two-night media cruise to nowhere — but I’m pretty excited about even that. Happy cruising.