Celebrity Solstice Naming Ceremony

Celebrity Cruises today announced the Godmother of the most widely-heralded cruise ship to enter the market this year, Celebrity Solstice. Atypically, she’s not a star of stage and screen; instead, she ’stars’ in a field of enormous importance to Celebrity Cruises: the world’s oceans. Professor Sharon L. Smith, the first ocean scientist ever to serve as Godmother of a cruise ship, will join Celebrity executives today to name the brand’s sleek, 2,850-guest ship in formal ceremonies at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are genuinely privileged to have such a remarkable woman serve as Godmother of this remarkable ship,” said Richard D. Fain, Chairman of Celebrity Cruises and Chairman and CEO of parent company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “Sharon Smith is exceptional in ways well beyond her academic achievements.”

A magna cum laude graduate of Colorado College, Smith earned a Ph.D. in Zoology from Duke University, holds two additional honorary doctorate degrees, and a master’s degree from the University of Auckland, where she also was a Fulbright fellow.

A biological oceanographer, Smith has traveled the world in research expeditions from Polar Regions to the Arabian Sea. She has devoted her career to studying some of the smallest components of food webs, with a particular focus on zooplankton and how their life cycles are tuned to physical forces, such as daylength in the Arctic or summer monsoons in the Arabian Sea. These tiny, twomillimeter- long animals are the biggest source of protein in the oceans, and all oceanic animals - from seabirds to small fish to whales - are ultimately dependent on them for food.

Smith investigates ecosystems by looking at how ocean physics shape the availability of the food supply, and the effects of global warming on food for birds, fish, and baleen whales, among other animals.

Smith served 15 years at the prestigious Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island, New York, studying coastal ocean environments and the impact of nuclear energy projects. In 1993, she joined the faculty of the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science as a Professor of Marine Biology and Fisheries. Recently, she was named Dean of the Undergraduate Program in Marine Science, and also co-directs the university’s Oceans and Human Health Center.
  “If it is possible to eclipse our Godmother’s professional achievements, she has done it in a way that deeply inspires all who know her, as she has conquered cancer…twice,” said Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Dan Hanrahan.

Due in equal parts to her courage and her instincts as a scientist, Smith overcame cancer in 1993, and again in 1996. Her annual mammogram in 1993 turned up a two-millimeter cancerous lesion, about the size of a pencil point. She opted for a mastectomy, and emerged victorious over the malicious disease. And in 1996, she was diagnosed with uterine cancer. But she won that battle, too.

“Women should not feel secure just because there is no family history of the disease,” said Smith. “You have to be your own best advocate and insist on what’s right for you, because you have to live with the possibility of the disease forever.”

Smith’s story is a powerful example of the critical need for basic breast-cancer screenings - and the reason why Celebrity Solstice, in partnership with United Way on November 16, will raise $100,000 for breast cancer programs to assist lower-income women who otherwise couldn’t afford this simple measure that ultimately could save their lives.

This is a disease that affects mothers and daughters, sisters and spouses, and has deep meaning to an unfortunately high percentage of Celebrity Cruises’ employees, guests and travel agent partners,” said Hanrahan. “With our Celebrity brand devoted to offering an entirely genuine experience since its founding, we knew nothing less than someone authentic - a survivor and devoted, outspoken advocate of early detection and research - would do, and we found that in Sharon Smith.”

“All of us at Celebrity Cruises are exceptionally proud and honored to call inspiring ocean scientist, brave cancer survivor, and very special lady, Sharon Smith, Godmother of Celebrity Solstice,” said Fain.

Celebrity Solstice will embark on its inaugural season November 23, on a series of seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale. In spring 2009, the stunning new ship will introduce a series of romantic 10 - and 11- night Mediterranean sailings roundtrip from Rome.

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highly personalized service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal and South America. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Australia, Canada, Europe and South America. Noted for four of the top 10 “Top Cruise Ships in the World” in the large-ship category, as voted by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler (February 2008 readers’ poll), Celebrity’s fleet – including the new Celebrity Solstice - will be joined by Celebrity Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011, and a fifth in 2012. For more information, call your travel agent, dial 1-800-437-3111.

Official Press Release Celebrity Cruises dated 14th November 2008.

New Shows for Celebrity

Intricate dance steps, powerful vocals, finely tuned acting and sheer musical talent are soon to be the stars of the shows on some of Celebrity Cruises’ ships by the end of this year. Three new shows on Celebrity Millennium, one new show on Celebrity Century and three previously announced new shows on Celebrity Solstice, have each been created specifically for the tastes of Celebrity’s guests.

Celebrity Millennium’s new shows began running earlier this month. Celebrity Cruises partnered with Qdos Productions, an entertainment production company based in England, to create them. “Simply Ballroom” is a Las Vegas-inspired dance sensation that capitalizes on the popularity of current television dance competitions. The passion of the tango, the majesty of the waltz and sizzling Latin rhythms are presented in fabulous costumes by our world-class ballroom dancers. “Boogie Wonderland” is based on the original 1970s musical from London’s West End that has entertained audiences worldwide by recalling the glittery nuances of disco from that decade. The third new show to play on Celebrity Millennium, “iBroadway,” brings to life some of the greatest Broadway hits in a spectacular new format featuring a large replication of an MP3 player.

Beginning with the November 10, 2008 sailing on Celebrity Century. “Liverpool Knights” will take to the stage. Created in partnership with Mike Moloney Entertainment, an entertainment production company based in Las Vegas, the show offers a mix of a bit of the Beatles, a dash of Monty Python and a touch of Austin Powers. Set in 1964 and staged around a premise that a romance is flourishing between youngsters doing their best to impress one another with song and dance, the show is peppered with classic British humor.

When the brand-new Celebrity Solstice sets sail later this month, three original shows designed exclusively for the ship will dazzle guests. Created in partnership with POET Theatricals, which is led by Michael McPherson and Patrice Marques. McPherson and Marques come from backgrounds that include both performance and production with Franco Dragone, Circo Luci, FOUR: Spirit of the Elements, and the creation and production of the first worldwide touring show of the Lido de Paris. “Solstice” is a European-style theatrical circus built around the clash of day and night. It includes vocalists, physical comedy, breathtaking group acrobatic and aerial performances and other specialty acts, in a celestial celebration. “Ghost Light” depicts the eve of an old Broadway theater’s closing. The cast performing the venue’s final show reminisces about all the productions the theater has hosted, leading to the venue to illuminate once again, in celebration of Broadway favorites past and present. When “Pulse” is onstage, guests aren’t likely to sit still when this show’s central character, “Rhythm Man,” ignites a motion and vocal spectacular driven by the widely varied music and instruments that create the beat.

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highly personalized service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal and South America. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Australia, Canada, Europe and South America. Noted for four of the top 10 “Top Cruise Ships in the World” in the large-ship category, as voted by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler (February 2008 readers’ poll), Celebrity’s fleet - including the new Celebrity Solstice - will be joined by Celebrity Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011, and a fifth in 2012. For more information, call your travel agent, dial 1-800-437-3111.

Official Press Release Celebrity Cruises dated 6th November 2008.

Celebrity Solstice Debut

South Florida residents and visitors interested in seeing the cruise industry’s most eagerly awaited ship of the year will have their chance Monday, November 3, when Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Solstice sails into Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The ship is expected to arrive at the Port Everglades sea buoy at approximately 6 a.m., and will be dockside by approximately 7 a.m. Ideal viewing platforms include Fort Lauderdale Beach and surroundings, while residents with waterfront condominiums can enjoy a bird’s-eye view.

Celebrity Solstice upon arrival will be fully “dressed” with vibrant flags flying above its industry-first half-acre Lawn Club, Hot Glass Show, and one of the highest percentages of verandas in the business, not to mention the wealth of attributes found inside the sleek, 122,000-ton ship.

Soon after its arrival, Celebrity Solstice will serve as the perfect platform for Celebrity Cruises’ first Global Sales Meeting, followed by a series of exclusive, two-night preview cruises for invited travel agents, press and other dignitaries.

Celebrity Solstice will be named in formal ceremonies on November 14, and will embark on its inaugural season November 23, on a series of seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale. In spring 2009, the stunning new ship will introduce a series of romantic 10- and 11-night Mediterranean sailings roundtrip from Rome.

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highly personalized service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal and South America. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Australia, Canada, Europe and South America. Noted for four of the top 10 “Top Cruise Ships in the World” in the large-ship category, as voted by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler (February 2008 readers’ poll), Celebrity’s fleet - including the new Celebrity Solstice - will be joined by Celebrity Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011, and a fifth in 2012. For more information, call your travel agent, dial 1-800-437-3111.

Official Press Release Celebrity Cruises dated 31st October 2008.

Celebrity Solstice Delivered

The most widely heralded cruise ship to enter the market this year, Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Solstice, was delivered today at a ceremony in Emshaven, Netherlands, marking the formal transfer of the ship – the first in a class of five – from shipbuilder Meyer Werft to Celebrity Cruises. The ship will begin its transatlantic voyage October 25, with arrival in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., anticipated November 3.

“With its innovative, half-acre Lawn Club with real, growing grass; the Hot Glass Show offered through our alliance with The Corning Museum of Glass; 10 widely varied restaurants, including four in the specialty category; stylish, spacious staterooms whose design was influenced by a panel of five women with unique travel and hospitality insights; and, of course, the intangible attribute found on every Celebrity ship – extraordinary service – Celebrity Solstice is the perfect manifestation of what the Celebrity brand is all about,” said Celebrity’s President & CEO Dan Hanrahan.

“We are indebted to the countless, highly dedicated individuals who have brought this spectacular ship to this point, and who have shared our passion for innovation, and our dedication to excellence,” said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO of Celebrity Cruises’ parent company, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Soon after its arrival in Fort Lauderdale on November 3, Celebrity Solstice will serve as the perfect platform for Celebrity Cruises’ first Global Sales Meeting, followed by a series of exclusive, two-night preview cruises for invited travel agents, press and other dignitaries. Celebrity Solstice will be named in formal ceremonies on November 14, and will embark on its inaugural season November 23, on a series of seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale. In spring 2009, the stunning new ship will introduce a series of romantic 10- and 11-night Mediterranean sailings roundtrip from Rome.

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highly personalized service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal and South America. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Australia, Canada, Europe and South America. Noted for four of the top 10 “Top Cruise Ships in the World” in the large-ship category, as voted by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler (February 2008 readers’ poll), Celebrity’s fleet – including the new Celebrity Solstice – will be joined by Celebrity Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011, and a fifth in 2012. For more information, call your travel agent, dial 1-800-437-3111 or visit Celebrity Cruises website.

Official Press Release Celebrity Cruises dated 24th October 2008.

Royal Cut Fuel Supplement

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. today announced that the company’s fuel supplement will no longer apply to new Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises bookings made on or after November 10, 2008, anywhere in the world, for sailings that depart on or after January 1, 2010.

This decision takes into consideration the recent reductions in global fuel prices. The company has also established specific guidelines that will determine whether fuel supplement refunds will be provided for sailings that begin in 2009 and later, which were booked prior to November 10, 2008, if fuel prices remain below a specific price threshold.

For 2009 sailings and 2010 sailings booked before November 10, 2008, the company will determine on a quarterly basis whether fuel supplements will be refunded. Refunds, in the form of an onboard credit, will be provided if the closing price of West Texas Intermediate fuel is $65 or less, at the closing time of the New York Mercantile Exchange, two weeks prior to the beginning of the upcoming calendar quarter. When those conditions are met, an onboard credit will be provided to all guests on sailings that begin during the upcoming calendar quarter.

The dates on which the price of West Texas Intermediate fuel will be measured, and the quarters during which refunds could apply are:

Fuel Price Determination Date           Quarter of Possible Fuel Supplement Refunds
 
December 18, 2008                                    First quarter 2009 
March 18, 2009                                          Second quarter 2009
June 17, 2009                                             Third quarter 2009
September 17, 2009                                   Fourth quarter 2009
December 18, 2009                                    First quarter 2010
March 18, 2010                                          Second quarter 2010
June 17, 2010                                             Third quarter 2010
September 17, 2010                                   Fourth quarter 2010 

The company will continue to closely monitor the movement of global fuel prices and recognize that an upturn in those prices could necessitate the reinstatement of a fuel supplement.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Cruises and CDF Croisieres de France. The company has a combined total of 38 ships in service and six under construction. It also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Europe and South America.

Official Press Release Royal Caribbean dated 24th October 2008.

Celebrity Cruises Shopping Program

 Celebrity Cruises has launched a new shopping program, and as of today, it is open for business 24 hours a day. “Shop Celebrity” is an online portal that allows consumers and travel agents to order a wide variety of items for delivery either onboard or at home. “Shop Celebrity” also includes the launch of Celebrity’s new amenity program, “Gifts by Celebrity.”

“Shop Celebrity”offers a wide range of Celebrity Cruises logo items and apparel, gifts and memorabilia, as well as culinary delights, spirits, wine and soda. Within the portal, consumers and travel agents also have the opportunity to order from partner websites: LeapFrog® School; timetospa® and Celebrity VineyardsSM, which includes products by Riedel® Crystal, the world-renowned manufacturer of wine glasses that offers comparative wine workshops on Celebrity’s ships.

“Based on feedback from our guests and travel agent partners as well as the growing popularity of online shopping in today’s marketplace, we wanted to create a virtual experience reflective of the bricks-and-mortar shopping experience that we offer on our ships,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Celebrity’s vice president of hotel operations and onboard revenue. “The complete Shop Celebrity program offers something for everyone, anytime, whether they want to surprise a friend or a client with an onboard gift, or whether they want stylish keepsakes for themselves or others.”

Shop Celebrity includes a comprehensive new amenities program named “Gifts by Celebrity,” which is comprised of three categories:

• “Shop Aboard,” where consumers or travel agents can purchase items for themselves or gifts for others, that will be delivered onboard during a particular sailing. Travel agents are eligible for a 10% discount when placing “Shop Aboard” orders by phone, and will soon have access to a unique, agents-only website that will offer the same discount. The discount applies exclusively to gifts that the travel agents are buying for their clients who are sailing with Celebrity.
• “Shop Ashore,” where consumers or travel agents can purchase items to be delivered to Celebrity guests’ homes or offices either before or after a cruise. Items can be delivered throughout the continental United States and to select cities around the globe.
• “Group Gifts by Celebrity,” which offers a wide variety of items that consumers, travel agents and meeting planners can order, for delivery to affinity and incentive groups sailing with Celebrity; these items can be delivered before, during or after a cruise. Groups also have the opportunity to add their logo to certain items that include the Celebrity logo. A volume discount is available online.

Cruise enthusiasts are encouraged to “Shop Celebrity”

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highly personalized service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal and South America. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Australia, Canada, Europe and South America. Noted for four of the top ten “Top Cruise Ships in the World” in the large-ship category, as voted by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler (February 2008 readers’ poll), Celebrity’s current fleet will be joined by Celebrity Solstice in 2008, Celebrity Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011, and a fifth in 2012. For more information, call your travel agent, dial 1-800-437-3111 or visit Celebrity Cruises website.

Official Press Release Celebrity Cruise dated 14th October 2008.

Celebrity Solstice Sets Sail

The most widely heralded ship to enter the cruise market this year, Celebrity Solstice, departed Meyer Werft shipyard yesterday in Papenburg, Germany, as the largest ship ever built by the longtime shipbuilder. In a milestone event known as “The Conveyance,” the 2,850-guest Celebrity Solstice made its way down the River Eems, as tens of thousands of area residents lining the river banks cheered and photographed the historic event.

“This is a very momentous occasion for Celebrity Cruises,” said the brand’s President and CEO Dan Hanrahan. “Celebrity Solstice is the perfect manifestation of what the Celebrity brand is all about: extraordinary service, spectacular dining, and fabulous style and design. And as the first in a series of five Solstice-class ships, it’s a vivid example of the growth and momentum of the Celebrity brand, and our commitment to meet our guests’ and travel agent partners’ demands for more vacation options with Celebrity.”

Among the wealth of attributes guests will find only on Celebrity Solstice are:

• The industry’s first Lawn Club, a lush, half-acre recreation area with real, growing grass.
• The industry’s first Hot Glass Show, with live glassblowing demonstrations presented in association with The Corning Museum of Glass.
• Larger staterooms, with design inspirations offered by a panel of five women, hand-picked for their unique travel and hospitality insights.
• 10 varied restaurants, ranging from the dramatic, two-level “Grand Epernay” main dining room with a sweeping wine tower, to four exquisite specialty restaurants, to several stylish, casual venues.
• An entirely new category of accommodations, “AquaClass,” designed to offer a spa vacation experience at sea rivaling the best of those on land.
• A state-of-the-art theater and stage design, with three new leading-edge shows custom-designed for Celebrity with Poet Theatricals, in their first cruise line partnership.

“There also is the intangible attribute which is consistent across the Celebrity fleet, and that’s the extraordinary, anticipatory service our phenomenal staff offer our guests every day,” said Hanrahan.

Celebrity Solstice will be berthed in Eemshaven, Netherlands, from September 29 to October 24, with two separate sea trials planned during that period, in addition to crew arrivals, training, provisioning and finishing work onboard. The ship will depart Eemshaven October 24 on a transatlantic voyage, with arrival in Fort Lauderdale planned for early November, followed by a series of promotional cruises for invited travel agents, press and other dignitaries. The ship will be named in formal ceremonies on November 14, and will begin its maiden season November 23, with a series of alternating 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, calling on San Juan, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, and Tortola during this Fall and Winter. Celebrity Solstice presents a series of romantic 10- and 11-night Mediterranean cruises from Rome beginning in Spring 2009.

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highly personalized service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal and South America. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Australia, Canada, Europe and South America. Noted for four of the top ten “Top Cruise Ships in the World” in the large-ship category, as voted by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler (February 2008 readers’ poll), Celebrity’s current fleet will be joined by Celebrity Solstice in 2008, Celebrity Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011, and a fifth in 2012. For more information, call your travel agent, dial 1-800-437-3111 or visit Celebrity Cruises website.

Official Press Release Celebrity Cruises dated 29th Septembber 2008.

Celebrity Announce New Itineraries

Celebrity Cruises today announced new itineraries for Celebrity Millennium and Celebrity Mercury, presenting guests with new cruise vacation options from the historic coastal cities of Baltimore, Maryland, and Charleston, South Carolina, along with the brand’s popular Caribbean cruises from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Correspondingly, the line announced plans to discontinue its Australia and New Zealand cruises previously scheduled for late-2009 and 2010 on Celebrity Millennium.

“Australia and New Zealand are charming and beautiful destinations, and we’re confident we’ll return again as our brand and fleet grows,” said Celebrity’s President & CEO Dan Hanrahan. “Currently, though, our travel agent partners and guests have repeatedly said they want more options to sail with Celebrity from the Eastern seaboard, where our brand was founded, and still has a very large and loyal base of cruisers. So, we’re pleased to present some very attractive new cruise vacations from that region.”

Celebrity Millennium Takes on Celebrity Mercury’s Territory:

The 2,038-guest Celebrity Millennium will cap its 2009 season in Alaska with cruises previously scheduled for the 1,898-guest Celebrity Mercury, offering more capacity on the popular sailings. The itineraries will reflect those previously announced for Celebrity Mercury, with the addition of a 12-night wine-themed cruise departing from Vancouver on September 28, 2009, followed by an eastbound, 16-night Panama Canal cruise on October 10, 2009, from San Diego to San Juan, where Celebrity Millennium will offer a series of 10- and 11-night Southern Caribbean cruises roundtrip from San Juan, beginning October 26, 2009. Ports of call on the Southern Caribbean itineraries include Tortola, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, Curacao, Aruba, St. Croix, St. Kitts and Dominica, with slight variations between the 10- and 11-night sailings.

Celebrity Mercury Offers New Options on the Eastern Seaboard Celebrity Mercury will sail a 17-night Panama Canal cruise from San Diego on October 23, 2009, ending in Baltimore. There, from November 2009 to February 2010, the ship will present a series of new 12-night Eastern Caribbean cruises visiting St. Thomas; St. Kitts; Antigua; St. Maarten, and Tortola, as well as four 9-night cruises visiting Charleston; Key West, Fla., and Cococay and Nassau, Bahamas.

Celebrity Mercury then will present a series of 10- and 11-night Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages from Charleston from February through April 2010, with visits to St. Thomas, St. Maarten, St. Kitts and Tortola on the eastern series, and Key West; Costa Maya, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; Cozumel, Mexico, and Nassau on the western lineup.

Official Press Release (Abridged) Celebrity Cruises dated 22nd September 2008.

Celebrity Cruises Soap Cruise

Cruise enthusiasts who enjoy the intrigue, drama and romance of daytime TV’s most popular soap operas – and the actors who star in them – are likely to find the vacation of their dreams in “Soap Cruise,” which will be held on Celebrity Century in 2009.

Soap Cruise – the second voyage of its kind – will pair Celebrity’s Star TreatmentSM with exclusive activities allowing guests who have purchased the Soap Cruise package the opportunity to directly interact with 16 of the hottest actors on all eight of daytime TV’s top shows. The activities will include autograph and photo sessions, soap opera trivia games, an elite cocktail party with the stars, and other special events, including the opportunity to write a script and act it out with one of the stars.

Hosting Soap Cruise will be Cameron Mathison, who plays “Ryan” on All My Children, and has appeared on Dancing with the Stars. Mathison will be joined on Celebrity Century by fellow All My Children actors Alicia Minshew (”Kendall”) and Jacob Young (”J.R.”); Austin Peck (”Brad”) from As the World Turns; Brandon Beemer (”Owen”) of The Bold and the Beautiful and formerly “Shawn” on Days of Our Lives; Winsor Harmon (”Thorne”) and Lesli Kay (”Felicia”) of The Bold and the Beautiful; Nadia Bjorlin (”Chloe”) and Jay Johnson (”Philip”) of Days of Our Lives; Bradford Anderson (”Spinelli”) and Greg Vaughn (”Lucky”) from General Hospital; Murray Bartlett (”Cyrus”) and Ricky Paull Goldin (”Jake”) of All My Children, formerly (”Gus”) on Guiding Light; Kamar de los Reyes (”Antonio”) on One Life to Live; and Don Diamont (”Brad”) and Christian LeBlanc (”Michael”) of The Young and the Restless.

The soap stars will mix it up exclusively with guests who have booked the Soap Cruise package on Celebrity Century’s January 22 itinerary departing roundtrip from Miami, with visits to Key West, Fla., and Cozumel, Mexico. A limited number of staterooms have been reserved for guests interested in experiencing Soap Cruise. For reservations and to view images and video from last year’s Soap Cruise, visit Soap Cruise website or call (248) 855-7918. Bookings on Celebrity Century’s January 22 itinerary through other avenues will not include access to Soap Cruise activities.

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highly personalized service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal and South America. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Australia, Canada, Europe and South America. Noted for four of the top 10 “Top Cruise Ships in the World,” as voted by the readers of Conde’ Nast Traveler (February 2008 readers’ poll), Celebrity’s current fleet will be joined by Celebrity Solstice in 2008, Celebrity Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, and a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011. For more information, call your travel agent, dial 1-800-437-3111 or visit Celebrity Cruises website.

Official Press Release Celebrity Cruises dated 28th July 2008.

Celebrity Introduce More Than 200 New Menu Offerings

Celebrity Cruises is shining the spotlight on a series of enhancements to its award-winning dining experience. A core component of “Celebrity’s Star TreatmentSM” array of fleetwide features and amenities, Celebrity’s culinary program now includes more than 200 new menu offerings, a significantly upgraded casual dining area, and an entirely new brunch offering.

According to Celebrity’s Vice President of Food & Beverage Operations Jacques Van Staden, a highly accomplished chef and restaurateur who joined Celebrity just one year ago, the enhancements were inspired by a combination of extensive studies of guest surveys, constant monitoring of trends in the food and beverage industry, and an unwavering eye on innovation.

“Our objective is to set the trend, not follow it,” said Van Staden. “That’s what makes a great dining experience. You have to shake things up now and then, and regularly introduce new and different offerings, along with the items our guests tell us they can’t live without.”

Celebrity’s new evening menus are so widely varied that guests on even 14-night itineraries will never be presented with the same menu twice. Each menu contains expanded selections in all categories, from appetizers to desserts.

Casual dining “on the rocks”
Celebrity has made significant enhancements to its lido café/casual dining area on every ship, expanding its culinary selections, modernizing the ambience, and upgrading signage and equipment.

One of the most innovative aesthetic enhancements in the lido/casual dining area is the replacement of ice with chilled river rocks throughout the buffet area. Resting on the rocks are literally hundreds of new menu items, new service ware and presentation styles, new action stations and made-to-order areas, and more destination-influenced and ethnic cuisine, including Asian, Italian, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and English.

Celebrity also has upgraded its complimentary coffee to the European brand, “Seventh,” a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans, which guests can sip from new, full-sized coffee mugs.

Let’s do brunch
Celebrity has replaced its former once-per-cruise midnight gala buffet with a sumptuous brunch – complete with the line’s lauded ice, fruit and vegetable carvings - in the main dining room. “Our guests loved viewing the elaborate creations we presented at the midnight gala buffet, but very few wanted to actually eat that late,” said Van Staden. “Now, we still proudly present our culinary team’s great artistry, but at a time when our guests can thoroughly enjoy it.”

Once per cruise, guests can indulge in a lavish brunch with an enormous selection of fresh fruits; made-to-order smoothies; gourmet cheeses; cold cuts; a wide variety of salads, sandwiches, meats and seafood; pizzas, paninis and wraps; sushi and stir-fry selections; eggs of nearly every style, and delectable desserts ranging from individual, bite-sized selections to sorbet and ice cream.
New options for late-night noshing
For guests interested in late-night desserts, sandwiches, specialty coffees or other libations, Celebrity has introduced an “after-theater” menu in its Cova Café venues, to replace the former “Gourmet Bites” served throughout the ships on alternating evenings. “Our guests enjoyed the service and presentation of ‘Gourmet Bites,’ but very few actually indulged in them,” said Van Staden. “The new options in Cova Café allow guests who are interested in late-night dining a light, varied menu, featuring sandwiches, savories, tartlets, hot brochettes, canapés, artisan cheeses, fresh fruit, crackers, petit fours and napoleons.”

Celebrity’s Cova Café presents the new late-night menu from 11 pm to closing.

Official Press Release Celebrity Cruises dated 10th July 2008.

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