Big squeeze for Southampton-bound Eclipse
March 11, 2010 - Travelling through 40-45 metre-wide locks normally reserved for canal boats, and on aqueducts over an autobahn (motorway), several roads and railways - all backwards and early in the morning - is just the first day of work for new 2,850-guest ship Celebrity Eclipse.
The 122,000-ton Eclipse pushed back from Meyer Werft's pier in Papenburg, Germany, and at dawn began her 42km travels along the River Ems to the sea in Emshaven, the Netherlands.
Following sea trials and the addition of finishing touches, Celebrity Eclipse will arrive in Southampton on April 20 for its launch celebrations and naming ceremony ahead of being the first ever new Celebrity Cruises ship to be based in the UK.
More about Celebrity Eclipse's journey to the sea

Qsine, the new dining experience on Celebrity Eclipse
February 26, 2010 - Celebrity Cruises has revealed details about Qsine, the new restaurant to feature onboard the new Celebrity Eclipse.
Created by Celebrity chef Jacques Van Staden, Qsine will offer guests contemporary favourites and a modern take on familiar dishes from around the world.
Qsine will be open each night onboardCelebrity Eclipse between 6pm. and 11pm. There is a cover charge of $30 per person and the dress code is smart casual or better.
More about Qsine.

Celebrity unveils its first iLounge
February 18, 2010 - When Celebrity Eclipse launches in April, guests will find the first Celebrity iLounge onboard.
This is in response to guests who, when asked what they wanted most in an internet café, said easy access to the internet, inspiring classes and new products.
The Celebrity iLounge is composed of three main areas: A series of 26 workstations where guests can check their email, or print boarding passes; retail space offering cruisers the opportunity to see and try out the latest MacBooks®, iPods® and accessories; an enrichment centre where staff will offer guests tips on Mac or iPod usage.
More about Celebrity's iLounge

Twitter your way to an Eclipse trip
January 28, 2010 - Celebrity Cruises has launched a Twitter-based campaign to allow access to an exclusive preview of the new ship, Celebrity Eclipse. The one lucky winner plus a guest will join the Celebrity Cruises management team and a few VIPs for the transit on the River Ems.
Any UK and Ireland twitter user can enter the competition simply by stating why they want the chance to sail with the new ship on her first ever trip - the dramatic 26-mile journey from the Papenberg ship yard in Germany along the River Ems to Eemshaven in The Netherlands.
Celebrity Eclipse is scheduled to arrive in Southampton on April 20. She will be named in the city on April 24. The twitter competition, which is open to any UK and Ireland resident over 18 with a valid passport, closes on February 14 at 23.59.

Celebrity marks 20th anniversary with new branding
January 8, 2010 - Celebrity Cruises has kicked off 2010 and its 20th anniversary celebrations by announcing a new look and a new brand platform.
Celebrity Cruises president Dan Hanrahan told a special gathering in New York: "What better time than our 20th anniversary to celebrate Celebrity's history of award-winning service, cuisine, and our new, brand-defining Solstice Class?
"Everything we've offered over the course of 20 years, and everything we'll offer in the future, is designed for discerning cruisers - from our contemporary, new Celebrity Life onboard experiences, to the world-class cuisine of Chef Jacques Van Staden, to our enhanced Captain's Club loyalty programme. So, we've summed up our longtime commitment to understanding them and delivering what they want within a new brand platform: 'Designed for You'."
More about Celebrity's new branding.

New ship named Celebrity Silhouette
December 21, 2009 - Celebrity Cruises chose the winter solstice today to announce the name of the fourth ship in its Solstice-Class fleet Celebrity Silhouette.
Like its widely acclaimed sister ships Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Equinox, which set sail in July 2009, and Celebrity Eclipse, which will enter service in April 2010, the 122,000-ton Celebrity Silhouette will offer the shared brand-defining, industry-first attributes that guests have praised.
These include including a half-acre Lawn Club with real grass, a glassblowing show and studio developed with The Corning Museum of Glass, wonderful dining venues and widely varied entertainment.
More about Celebrity Silhouette.

Step up for a FREE Celebrity balcony
December 16, 2009 - For the first time, Celebrity Cruises is offering balcony staterooms at the price of ocean view staterooms on selected sailings, together with early booking savings and onboard credit.
It is part of a consumer and trade campaign that runs until February 28.
The sales drive also includes savings of up to £400 per stateroom booking and up to $200 per stateroom onboard credit to spend in the casino or on spa treatment and shopping.
More about the balcony promotion.

Change of direction for Celebrity Century
September 29, 2009 - In response to increasing demand, Celebrity Cruises is moving Celebrity Century to the Mediterranean next summer.
The new sailings replace the previously announced series of four and five-night cruises from Miami between May and October 2010.
Celebrity Century will continue to sail four and five-night Caribbean cruises from November 2009 until early May 2010, then depart Miami on May 20 on a 14-night transatlantic cruise arriving on June 3. She will then begin a series of 12-night, roundtrip Mediterranean cruises.

An earlier taste of Eclipse
September 7, 2009 - Celebrity Eclipse, the first Celebrity Cruises ship to be based from Southampton for a summer season, will be arriving in the city earlier than planned in April 2010 and is introducing an additional three-night taster cruise to its schedule.
The new three-night cruise will depart Southampton on April 26 and call at Le Havre in Normandy, a destination popular with cruise travellers for day trips to Paris. Prices start from £399 per person for the three night break including meals and entertainment onboard ship, based on two sharing an ocean view with balcony.
Celebrity Eclipse is currently expected to arrive in Southampton for its launch celebrations, including a naming ceremony, in the week commencing April 19.
More about the Eclipse taster cruise

Celebrity raises the bar in 2010
June 11, 2009 - Celebrity Cruises 2010 - 2011 worldwide programme raises the bar for contemporary cruising, adding an extended choice with an exciting range of new destinations and itineraries.
The brochure features more than 200 ports of call from ten different ships. Of these, 25 ports will be called at by the latest Southampton ported ship, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010.
Savings of up to £400 per stateroom are available on all bookings made before July 31.
More about Celebrity in 2010-2011

Celebrity unveils 11th South America season
May 16, 2009 - Celebrity Cruises will celebrate its 11th year cruising the Panama Canal and South America in winter 2010-2011 with visits to 13 countries and calls at 30 ports.
Accompanying the cruise offerings are a variety of in-port shore excursions and escorted land tour programmes that can be combined with a cruise.
The Panama Canal season will also  include two 14-night South America and Canal cruises, two 14-night Canal cruises between Fort Lauderdale and San Diego, and a 16-night repositioning cruise back to Seattle on April 24.
More about Celebrity in the South America in 2010-11

Solstice year-round in the Caribbean in 2010
May 7, 2009 - Celebrity Solstice made such a resounding splash in the Caribbean in her inaugural season that she will sail there year-round in 2010.
This means that Celebrity Equinox will now present the ten and 11-night Mediterranean sailings from Rome, previously planned for Celebrity Solstice. The 12-night voyages previously announced for Equinox between Barcelona and Venice in 2010 have been discontinued.
Solstice will sail alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in summer months and seven-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries from the same port in the winter.
More about Celebrity in the Caribbean in 2010

UK base for Celebrity Eclipse
Celebrity Cruises' new 122,000-ton Celebrity Eclipse will be based at Southampton in summer 2010 offering cruises to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
The ship will also enjoy its launch celebrations in Southampton where the trend-setting new ship will be showcased to UK and Ireland consumers and trade partners over a week long event.
Celebrity Eclipse will be the third Solstice-class ship alongside Celebrity Equinox which will launch in July 2009 in Southampton, and then operate out of Civitavecchia (Rome). 
More about the new Celebrity Eclipse.