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Equinox Upgrades Revealed

posted April 29, 2014

Celebrity Cruises has today revealed a series of brand-first enhancements to be introduced onboard Celebrity Equinox.

Emerging from a scheduled dry-dock in Cadiz, Spain on Thursday, May 8, the Solstice Class ship will tout new signature spaces and experiences in time for guests’ summer vacations during Celebrity’s most immersive season in Europe.

Celebrity will add two one-of-a-kind concepts to the array of guest-favorite Solstice Class features onboard:

Gastrobar – A new craft beer and comfort food venue, Gastrobar will offer food and beer enthusiasts over 40 handcrafted boutique beers to choose from in addition to Celebrity's varied collection of wines and tasty cocktails with a twist, all perfectly paired with a menu of elevated bar-fare creations. Gastrobar’s upscale casual surroundings will feature inviting entertainment and music for the complete sophisticated lounge experience. Guests can find the new venue in the space formerly known as Cellar Masters.

Slush – Expanding guests’ ‘cool’ beverage options, Slush – a frozen drinks venue – introduces Celebrity’s curated menu of flavor-rich and fresh frozen cocktails. Slush will feature alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails with perfectly balanced ingredients ranging from fresh pressed lemon juice, raspberries, cucumbers and mint to Persian lime, Florida Valencia and Hamlin orange juice with organic agave nectar.

Celebrity Equinox will also expand its retail offerings with "The Studio - Fine Art Photography” – a high-end portrait studio ideal for capturing guests’ friends, family or couples vacation photos; the addition of the ever-popular Michael Kors boutique, first introduced onboard Celebrity Silhouette; enhanced upscale brand products available in stores including Chanel, Clinique, Dior, Lancôme, Estée Lauder, Desigual and UNOde50; and the ship's new Internet lounge, Celebrity lounge, in the space formerly known as Online@Celebrity.

Celebrity Unveils Suite Class

posted February 13, 2014

Celebrity Cruises announced plans to launch a new luxury "Suite Class" aboard its ships. The new class will be fully introduced on Celebrity's ships during April 2015. With exclusive new benefits including a suites-only restaurant, VIP lounge, complimentary premium beverages, plus more, the newly launched Suite Class is designed to create the ultimate luxurious experience.

Guests will enjoy incredible service from the moment they arrive with their personal butler taking care of every detail.

The new Suite Class will include:

Private dining - A dedicated private restaurant reserved exclusively for all Suite Class guests will be available morning, noon and night. The Suite Class chef can provide a tailor-made experience to suite guests and prepare a dish to their liking, and the Cellar Master - Celebrity’s head sommelier - will select from more than 450 wines to provide the perfect pairing.

Premium 'all in' benefits - Premium beverages, dining across all specialty restaurants, unlimited internet access and a private bar with water, sodas and beers will all be complimentary for guests staying in Royal, Penthouse and Reflection suites.

VIP lounge - A private VIP lounge, Michael's Club, will be available to guests staying in Celebrity, Signature, Royal, Penthouse and Reflection suites. A dedicated Concierge service and unique food and beverage experiences by Celebrity's James Beard-featured chef will be provided to guests.

"Our guests are accustomed to exceptional quality and service, and for those wishing to further indulge in the very best while on vacation we have launched 'Suite Class', specially designed to appeal to the most discerning vacationer,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises.

“We know that suite guests value privacy, personalized service, exclusive access and flexibility, and providing them with their own unique benefits, such as a dedicated restaurant with a dining experience like no other, is just another way that we are significantly elevating the guest's vacation with us."

Suite guests will also continue to enjoy a large number of benefits including:

The Celebrity 'Suite Class' welcome - Guests will receive priority check-in and embarkation

Legendary butler service - From unpacking guests' luggage to booking the best destination experiences on land, the Suite Class butler will be on hand 24 hours a day to ensure seamless, dedicated and personalized service.

The Suite Class experience will also include a daily high-end afternoon tea service served in the guest's spacious and beautifully-designed suite.

Luxurious stateroom amenities and benefits – As well as enjoying spacious suites with verandas that showcase sweeping ocean views, guests can indulge in a variety of luxury amenities including deluxe Bulgari bathroom amenities, plush robes, premium bedding and an indulgent pillow menu. A host of other extras will also be provided during the guest's vacation including reserved theater seating for all Suite Class guests.

Source: Press Release

Celebrity Partners with Canyon Ranch Spa

posted February 7, 2014

Celebrity Cruises and Canyon Ranch, one of the world’s leading spa and wellness brands, today unveiled a partnership to feature Canyon Ranch SpaClub® at Sea facilities onboard 10 state-of-the-art Celebrity ships.

Canyon Ranch and Celebrity will create the largest and most comprehensive SpaClub at Sea offering, and debut exclusive SpaClub services and treatments.

The luxurious Canyon Ranch SpaClub on Celebrity Cruises will include spa, beauty salon, wellness and fitness amenities presenting signature Canyon Ranch offerings. The industry-leading brands intend to elevate the onboard experience by introducing exclusive SpaClub treatments and services tailored to the unique preferences of Celebrity’s guests, including new facial and body treatments, and unique yoga and meditation classes.

“We are passionate about providing our guests with unforgettable experiences, and this collaboration with Canyon Ranch is an important milestone in our drive to elevating guests’ modern luxury vacations,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. "We want every aspect of our vacations – from dining and destinations to relaxing in beautiful spa surroundings – to be special, and the experts at Canyon Ranch will help us deliver on this promise."

“It gives us great pleasure to offer our luxury spa experience to guests onboard Celebrity’s state-of the-art ships,” stated Peter Smith, Chief Operating Officer of Canyon Ranch. “Our approach to the wellness lifestyle perfectly complements that of Celebrity and we look forward to a long, prosperous relationship.”

The new, robust spa menu features popular Canyon Ranch treatments, such as indulgent facials and facial enhancements, massage, thermal, Asian touch, and Reiki healing energy therapies. A selection of salon offerings, including hair care, nail, and makeup services, will also be offered. Fitness lovers can choose from private consultations to group classes, including yoga, Pilates, cycling, Mind/Body Connection and relaxation – led by Canyon Ranch-trained fitness experts. Wellness programs such as personal exercise prescription, private nutritional consults, acupuncture, Chiropractic therapy and Canyon Ranch Healthy Feet™ centers will also be available on select ships. Additionally, Canyon Ranch health experts will provide onboard wellness lectures, workshops and cooking demonstrations.

Coast Guard Searches for Overboard Cook

posted January 30, 2014

The Celebrity Constellation reported one of its crew overboard in the Caribbean to the U.S. Coast Guard. Search and rescue teams from Clearwater and Key West responded to search for the missing crew member.

According to a Coast Guard release, the missing crew member is Inyoman Bagiada, 45, a cook from Indonesia. Shoes were found near the ship's railing and a video review showed a person going overboard near 3 a.m while the vessel was in the Yucatan Channel. The report was made at 10:30 a.m.

Constellation Experiences Engine Problems

posted Dec. 18, 2013

A problem in the engine room forced the Celebrity Constellation to extend its stay in Key West while cancelling its Cozumel port of call.

The issue occurred with one of the gas turbine engines shortly after the vessel left Key West on its scheduled departure time. The ship returned to the port in order for Celebrity staff to make the necessary repairs. The repair work took longer than expected, causing the vessel to cancel its call on Cozumel.

Passengers were able to disembark the vessel to experience Key West nightlife and to spend a second day on the island.

Celebrity Removes Elderly Passenger from Ship

posted December 9, 2014

An elderly passenger afflicted with dementia was reportedly removed from the Celebrity Millennium and made to wait on the pier with her and her husband's suitcases after she could not find her way back to her room. The Cairns Post in Australia made the report after the couple's nephew Facebook post went viral.

Adry Arnold, 78, and her husband were sailing on Celebrity Millennium last month and were told they were not allowed back aboard because the ship's doctor was concerned for Mrs. Arnold's safety. Mr. Arnold had left Mrs. Arnold on the vessel while he went sight-seeing in Cairns. When he arrived back, he was told that they were not allowed back on the ship because she should not be travelling alone.

According to the news report, a Celebrity Cruises spokeswoman said staff felt it was "necessary to disembark" Mrs. Arnold after she was found disoriented on the ship.

 "Mrs. Arnold was escorted to the ship's onboard medical facility while attempts were made to contact Mr. Arnold, who was ashore and could not be reached," she said.

"Regrettably, since we were concerned for Mrs. Arnold's safety and wellbeing while aboard the ship, particularly in a cabin with its own balcony, we felt it was necessary to disembark her."

Celebrity is giving the couple a pro-rata refund for the remaining sailing and for the second cruise they booked.

For the full report, visit here.

Celebrity Cruises Launches New 'Captain's Club' Program

posted December 01, 2013

Celebrity Cruises is excited to announce improvements to its Captain's Club loyalty program.

Guest feedback helped define the new program features, which include two new, additional levels of status and rewards beyond the existing “Elite” level, which is the highest level of membership in the brand's current four-tiered program.

Effective on sailings commencing after November 25, 2013, the new Captain's Club will offer a six-tier program. The Club's current levels of “Preview,” “Classic,” “Select” and “Elite” will remain, with two new tiers -- “Elite Plus” and “Zenith" -- each with their own unique set of benefits and privileges.

Members who achieve the new Elite Plus status will receive an even higher level of recognition and broader benefits, including additional beverage and specialty dining discounts, complimentary 200-minute Internet packages, complimentary cappuccinos, lattes and more.

Members who achieve Zenith status will receive benefits and perks befitting this ultimate level of membership, such as access to Michael's Club Lounge (available fleet wide in 2014), a complimentary premium alcoholic beverage package, complimentary laundry, a 1,600-minute Internet package, and other benefits.

Celebrity's guests now can accelerate their progression through the loyalty tiers with a new Club Points system which recognizes the stateroom category as well as the days spent onboard. Members' previous cruise credits will be automatically converted into Club Points, and members will retain all of the benefits they earned in the program to-date – with no expiration. In many cases, guests may automatically become charter members of Celebrity's new Elite Plus or Zenith tier. It is important to note that no current members will lose any of the benefits they have come to expect and enjoy today. Full program details are available at www.celebritycruises.com/captainsclub
Another new enhancement is the ability to quickly access special pricing exclusively for Captain's Club members through the Captain's Club portal on the Celebrity Cruises website. By simply entering their name and Captain's Club member number on the site, they can instantly see available loyalty pricing.

“At a time when many loyalty programs are cutting back on benefits or making it more difficult to redeem rewards, we're thrilled to do just the opposite,” said Celebrity's Director of Loyalty Lee Moreau. “Guest loyalty is the cornerstone to any successful business, and that's why, at Celebrity Cruises, we make our guests the center of our attention. We hope this reinvigorated program will even more vividly show our guests how much we appreciate their loyalty, and allow us to welcome them back onboard even more frequently.”

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