Celebrity Cruises
{{short description|Cruise line based in Miami, Florida, US}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Celebrity Cruises
| logo = Celebrity-Cruises-Logo.svg
| logo_size = 250px
| image =
| image_size = 250px
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| type = Subsidiary
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1988}} in Greece
| founder = Chandris Group
| hq_location = {{Coord|25.7753|-80.1780|region:US_type:landmark}}
| hq_location_city =
Miami, Florida
| hq_location_country = U.S.
| key_people = Laura Hodges Bethge
| area_served = Worldwide
| industry = {{Unbulleted list
| Cruises
| Travel
| Tourism
}}
| products = Cruises
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| num_employees =
| parent = Royal Caribbean Group
| subsid =
| homepage = {{URL|celebritycruises.com}}
| footnotes =
}}
History
= Chandris Group (1988–1997) =
== Founding and first ship SS ''Meridian'' ==
File:"Meridian" - San Blas Islands, 1993.jpg]]
Celebrity Cruises was founded in April 1988 as a subsidiary of the Greece-based Chandris Group to operate upmarket cruise ships to Bermuda.{{cite book|title=The Chandris Liners and Celebrity Cruises|last=Plowman|first=Peter|publisher=Rosenberg Publishing|year=2006|isbn=1-877058-47-5|pages=198–203}}{{cite web|url=https://www.edumaritime.net/merchant-marine-crew-career/celebrity-cruises|title=Celebrity Cruises – Hospitality, Deck & Engine Careers|work=EduMaritime.net}} Chandris had been involved in cruise traffic since the 1960s, and during the late 1980s the company operated in the United States market under the brand name Chandris Cruises. Chandris Fantasy Cruises targeted the lower end of the cruise passenger market, with fleets consisting of second-hand ocean liners.[http://travel.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=85733 NineMSN: Cruising: Celebrity Cruises] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224175343/http://travel.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=85733 |date=24 December 2007 }}, retrieved 29. 11. 2007
Celebrity Cruises came into existence when, in April 1988, Home Lines, at the time one of the world's leading premium cruise lines, was sold to Holland America Line. Home Lines' ships had held two of the five contracts offered by the Government of Bermuda to cruise lines, giving the ships priority berthing arrangement and unlimited access to sail to the islands in exchange for the ships sailing to Bermuda between April and October each year. Although these contracts were highly valued, Holland America Line withdrew the former Home Lines ships from this service, leaving an opening for two new ships to gain access. Chandris wanted to acquire the contracts, but the Government of Bermuda was only willing to award them to upmarket cruise lines, which Chandris Fantasy Cruises was not.
To gain the Bermuda Government contracts, Chandris created Celebrity Cruises and immediately began negotiating with the Bermuda Government in April 1988. As a result of the negotiations, Celebrity Cruises was awarded the contract for two ships for five years beginning in 1990 To fulfill the contract, Chandris Fantasy Cruises' {{SS|Galileo||2}} was rebuilt at Lloyd Werft, Germany in 1989, re-entering service as the SS Meridian for Celebrity Cruises in February 1990.
Celebrity Cruises adopted the Chandris "X," which was slightly stylized for their logo. The new line advertised itself as a “Luxury Cruising by Design", with the strategy of offering an upscale product with mass-market pricing.{{Cite web |title=Celebrity Cruises: Different by Design |url=https://maritime-executive.com/magazine/celebrity-cruises-different-by-design |access-date=2022-11-06 |website=The Maritime Executive |language=en}} The ships would have refined interiors, destinations and dining, which included a partnership with famed chef Michel Roux, a unique thing for a cruise line at the time. Quoted by then chairman John Chandris, "We will feature comfort and quality, not glitz and glitter."
== First new-builds: ''Horizon'' and ''Zenith'' ==
Celebrity Cruise's second ship Horizon, which had been ordered in 1988 as a replacement for {{SS|Amerikanis||2}} in the Chandris Fantasy fleet, was transferred to Celebrity Cruises fleet, entering service in May 1990.{{cite web|url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/horizon_1990.htm|title=Fakta om Fartyg: M/S Horizon (1990)|language=sv}}, retrieved 29. 11. 2007 It would be the line's first purpose-built new build.{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/773365000 |title=Meyer-Werft: 25 years in the cruise industry |date=2011 |others=Nils Schwerdtner, Meyer Werft |isbn=978-3-7822-1051-5 |location=Hamburg |oclc=773365000}} In late 1990 Celebrity Cruises placed an order for a sister ship of the Horizon, delivered in 1992 as {{MV|Zenith||2}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/celebrity_cruises.htm |title=Celebrity Cruises |access-date=13 November 2008 |last=Asklander |first=Micke |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=sv}}
== ''Century'' class debut ==
File:Mercury at Cabo San Lucas 1.jpg
Celebrity ordered a trio of newbuilds at Meyer Werft, known as the Century class, with the first ship, the Century debuting in 1996, followed by the Galaxy and Mercury. These would be the last ships designed under the Chandris family management.
= Royal Caribbean Group (1997–present) =
In 1997, the Chandris family sold its interests in Celebrity Cruises to Royal Caribbean Cruise Line,{{cite web |url=http://www.celebritycruises.com/aboutceleb/heroSingleTxt.do;jsessionid=00000Fs8tZgXKjyvw8YvB-J2nBv:12hdebdrn?pagename=history |title=About Celebrity: History |access-date=4 April 2008 |publisher=Celebrity Cruises }} leading to the formation of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (later Royal Caribbean Group) as a holding company to keep both brands separate and the renaming of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line to Royal Caribbean International. Following the delivery of the Mercury, the lines first ship, the Meridian, was sold to Singapore-based Sun Cruises.
== ''Millennium'' class debut ==
File:GTS Summit - Celebrity Cruises - RCCL.JPG
Between 2000 and 2002, Celebrity took delivery of a quartet of new ships, the first gas turbine-powered cruise ships, and aptly named Millennium-class ships {{ship||Millennium|ship|2}}, {{ship|GTS|Infinity||2}}, {{ship|GTS|Summit||2}} and {{ship|GTS|Constellation||2}}. The new class of ship introduced a new hull livery, with dark blue hull, gold stripes, and red accents on the mast and funnel. The livery was short Iived, and after a few years, would revert to Celebrity's original white hull, dark blue stripe color scheme.File:Celebrity Millennium at Kurushima Strait (cropped) (cropped).jpg
The Celebrity Expeditions sub-brand was launched in 2001 with the acquisition of {{ship||Celebrity Xpedition}}, a small boutique ship offering specialized cruises around the Galápagos Islands.Ward, Douglas: Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2006, page 237. Berlitz Publishing 2006. {{ISBN|981-246-739-4}} In 2005, the Horizon was transferred to the fleet of Royal Caribbean's United Kingdom-based subsidiary Island Cruises. In the same year, the first ship of what was to be named Solstice class was ordered from Meyer Werft.[http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=729049&highlight=117,000 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. press release: Celebrity Cruises Orders New Cruise Ship, Launches Innovative New Class] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924085036/http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=729049&highlight=117,000 |date=24 September 2015 }}, retrieved 29. 11. 2007 By 2007, three more ships of this class were on order.[http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1004746&highlight= Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. press release: Celebrity Cruises Announces Fourth Solstice-Class Ship] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010232258/http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1004746&highlight= |date=10 October 2007 }}, retrieved 29. 11. 2007
In 2006, plans were made to transfer {{MS|Blue Moon||2}} and {{MS|Blue Dream||2}} from the fleet of Pullmantur Cruises to Celebrity Cruises under the names of Celebrity Quest and Celebrity Journey. The ships would have joined the Celebrity Expeditions sub-brand,[http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=923985&highlight=celebrity%20expeditions Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. press release: Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Receives Antitrust Approval On Pullmantur Purchase; Announces Celebrity Expeditions And Celebrity, Pullmantur Ship Swap]{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, retrieved 29. 11. 2007[http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=942274&highlight=celebrity%20expeditions Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. press release: Celebrity Cruises Expands 'Celebrity Expeditions'; Adds Celebrity Quest to Exotic Brand Extension]{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, retrieved 29. 11. 2007 but in the end the decision was made to form an entirely new line, Azamara Cruises, to operate these ships in 2007.[https://archive.today/20120910174039/http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=996028&highlight=azamara Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. press release: Celebrity Cruises Presents New, Deluxe Cruise Line: Azamara Cruises], retrieved 29. 11. 2007 Also, in 2007, the Zenith was transferred to Pullmantur Cruises 'in exchange' for the Azamara ships. Transfer of the Zenith also meant the end of Celebrity Cruises' association with Bermuda for the time being, as no ship was brought in to replace her on the cruises to Bermuda.{{cite web |url=http://cruisebusiness.com/cbr_old/news.php?u=20081124235020 |title=Celebrity returns to Bermuda in 2010 |access-date=25 November 2008 |date=24 November 2008 |work=Cruise Business Review |publisher=Cruise Media Oy Ltd |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502224430/http://cruisebusiness.com/cbr_old/news.php?u=20081124235020 |archive-date=2 May 2009 |url-status=dead }} In April 2010, The Celebrity Summit began to reposition yearly to New Jersey to offer cruises to Bermuda.{{cite news| url=http://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/legacy/item.aspx?ak=58613530.blog&type=blog | work=USA Today | title=Most Popular | first=Gene | last=Sloan}}
File:Cruise Ship Celebrity Solstice.jpg
In 2007–2008, all Celebrity Cruises' ships were renamed with a "Celebrity" prefix added to the pre-existing ship names.{{cite book |title=Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships |last=Ward |first=Douglas |year=2008 |publisher=Berlitz |location=Singapore |isbn=978-981-268-240-6 |page=[https://archive.org/details/berlitzcompleteg00ward/page/8 8] |url=https://archive.org/details/berlitzcompleteg00ward/page/8 }}
== ''Solstice'' class debut ==
{{ship||Celebrity Solstice}}, the first ship in the new Solstice class, was delivered to Celebrity on 24 October 2008.{{cite web |url=http://www.cruisebusiness.com/cbr_old/news.php?u=20081024130723 |title=Meyer Werft delivers Celebrity Solstice |access-date=13 November 2008 |date=24 October 2008 |work=Cruise Business Review |publisher=Cruise Media Oy Ltd |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502224327/http://www.cruisebusiness.com/cbr_old/news.php?u=20081024130723 |archive-date=2 May 2009 |url-status=dead }} In May 2009 Galaxy was transferred to the fleet of TUI Cruises, a joint venture between Celebrity Cruises' owner Royal Caribbean Group and TUI AG and renamed as Mein Schiff.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1136131&highlight=|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911014812/http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1136131&highlight=|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 September 2012|title=Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. {{!}} Investors|website=www.rclinvestor.com|access-date=4 June 2016}} Two more Solstice-class ships entered service – the {{ship||Celebrity Equinox}} in 2009 and the {{ship||Celebrity Eclipse}} in 2010.
In 2011, {{ship||Celebrity Mercury}} was sold by Celebrity fleet to become Mein Schiff 2 for TUI Cruises.[http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/4068-52710-celebrity-mercury-to-become-second-ship-in-tui-cruises-fleet.html Celebrity Mercury to Become Second Ship in TUI Cruises Fleet]. Cruise Industry News. Retrieved on 10 December 2011. The fourth Solstice-class ship the {{ship||Celebrity Silhouette}} entered service in 2011. The {{ship||Celebrity Reflection}} was delivered in 2012.
In 2014, Celebrity Cruises launched a blog called "Catalyst," which covered travel, fashion, and culture.{{cite web|url=https://celebritycruisescom.wordpress.com/|title=About Celebrity Cruises Catalyst|website=celebritycruisescom.wordpress.com|publisher=Celebrity Cruises Catalyst|access-date=11 September 2019}}
In April 2015, Celebrity's oldest ship, the {{ship||Celebrity Century}}, departed the fleet.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=5735|title=Celebrity Cruises Confirms Departure of Celebrity Century|website=Cruise Critic|access-date=4 June 2016}}
== ''Edge'' class debut ==
File:Celebrity Edge leaving Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.jpg
On 4 December 2014, Celebrity Cruises signed a letter of intent for a new class of vessels. The two 2,900-guest, 117,000 GT ships would be developed under the project name EDGE and will build upon the brand's Millennium-class and Solstice-class vessels. The company took delivery of the first Edge-class vessel, the {{ship||Celebrity Edge}}, on 31 October 2018,{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/19882-celebrity-edge-delivered.html|title=Celebrity Edge Delivered|date=2018-10-31|website=www.cruiseindustrynews.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2019-09-11}} followed by the {{ship||Celebrity Apex}} in 2020, and enlarged stretched Edge-class {{ship||Celebrity Beyond}} in 2022.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/11946-celebrity-cruises-orders-two-new-ships.html|title=Celebrity Cruises Orders Two New Ships|website=www.cruiseindustrynews.com|date=4 December 2014|access-date=4 June 2016}} The Edge class introduced a new livery for the brand, with blue painted hulls that would be incorporated on the rest of the fleet as part of the Celebrity revolution initiative.{{Cite web |date=2018-03-01 |title=Celebrity Shows Off New Livery for Edge |url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/18585-celebrity-shows-off-new-livery-for-edge.html |access-date=2022-11-13 |website=www.cruiseindustrynews.com }}{{Cite web |date=2019-04-26 |title=Celebrity Revolution Kicks Off With Millennium |publisher=Celebrity Cruises |url=https://www.celebritycruises.com/blog/celebrity-millennium-revolution |access-date=2022-11-13 |website=Celebrity Current }}
In December 2014, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, a 32-year veteran of Celebrity Cruises, was promoted to president and chief executive officer.
On 14 March 2016, Celebrity Cruises announced the planned acquisition of the Galápagos Islands tour operator Ocean Adventures and its two ships, the 48-guest MV Eclipse (now Celebrity Xperience) and the 16-guest catamaran MC Athala II (now Celebrity Xploration). The move expanded Celebrity's guest capacity in the Galápagos by 65 percent.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/14057-celebrity-makes-moves-in-galapagos-acquires-two-ships.html|title=Celebrity Makes Moves in Galapagos, Acquires Two Ships|website=www.cruiseindustrynews.com|date=14 March 2016|access-date=4 June 2016}}
Celebrity Cruises announced on 11 October 2017, that it would perform legal same-sex marriages on its ships while in international waters following the legalization of same-sex marriage in Malta, where most of the Celebrity fleet is registered.{{cite news|last1=Herrera|first1=Chabeli|title=Celebrity Cruises can now perform same-sex weddings in international waters|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/gay-south-florida/article178335781.html|access-date=12 October 2017|work=Miami Herald|date=11 October 2017}} The company already hosted same-sex marriages while docked in jurisdictions where they are legal, but the change in Maltese law allowed the company's captains to perform legally-recognized marriages while in international waters.{{cite news|last1=Satchell|first1=Arlene|title=Celebrity Cruises now offering legal same-sex marriages on ships sailing internationally|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-bz-celebrity-cruises-same-sex-weddings-20171011-story.html|access-date=12 October 2017|work=Sun-Sentinel|date=11 October 2017}}
In July 2018, the company announced its intention to invest more than $500 million to refurbish all Millennium-class and Solstice-class ships in its fleet between 2019 and 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=8760|title=Celebrity Cruises to Refurbish Entire Fleet - Cruise Critic|website=www.cruisecritic.com|language=en-us|access-date=30 July 2018}}
In 2020, due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, sailings were suspended on various dates in various regions. On 12 January 2021, a report indicated that sailings were suspended worldwide "through April 30, including the May 1 transatlantic cruise on Celebrity Apex". Between May and October 2021, "Europe and transatlantic cruises on Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Constellation will also be suspended May through Oct. 2021".{{cite web |url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/24190-royal-caribbean-extends-suspension-of-cruising-through-april.html |title=Royal Caribbean Extends Suspension of Cruising Through April |date=12 January 2021 |work=Cruise Industry News |access-date=13 January 2021 }}
On 19 March 2021, Celebrity Cruises announced that it would be resuming its North American cruises in June, sailing out of St. Maarten and that to board all adults, including crew, will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Children were allowed to show evidence of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours.{{cite web |last1=Kaji |first1=Mina |last2=Benitez |first2=Gio |title=Celebrity CEO says 'public ready to cruise,' as line announces North American voyages |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/royal-caribbean-celebrity-resume-north-american-cruises-june/story?id=76561188 |publisher=ABC News |access-date=21 March 2021}} On 26 June, Celebrity Edge became the first cruise ship to leave the United States with ticketed passengers since March 2020. It set sail from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.{{Cite web|title=Celebrity Cruise Ship Sets Sail on First Voyage With Ticketed Passengers|url=https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/celebrity-edge-cruise-passengers-launch-florida|access-date=2021-06-29|website=Travel + Leisure|language=en}}
On 29 August 2022, a tugboat strike caused {{ship||Celebrity Eclipse}} to delay its departure from the Port of Vancouver by almost 12 hours.{{Cite web |title=Cruise ship stuck in Vancouver due to tugboat strike departs a day late [u] |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/cruise-ship-passengers-stranded-vancouver-tugboat-strike-1.6565640 |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=CBC News}}
Fleet
=Current fleet=
=Future fleet=
A new class named Nirvana is planned,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestreet.com/travel/celebrity-cruises-ends-ship-class-plans-new-one-amping-another|title=Celebrity Cruises ends ship class, plans new one, amping another|date=10 November 2024|website=TheStreet}} and Celebrity has announced they are building ships for the river cruising market,{{Cite web|url=https://www.celebritycruises.com/river|title=Celebrity River Cruises: New Europe River Cruises Sailing 2027|website=Celebrity Cruises}} expected to start service in 2027.
=Former fleet=
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Celebrity Cruises}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
- [http://www.celebritycruises.com/home.do Official website]
- [http://www.celebritycruises.co.uk/ Official UK website]
{{Portal bar|Transport|Companies|Oceans|USA|Florida|Greece}}
{{Subsidiaries of Royal Caribbean Group}}
{{Celebrity Ships}}
Category:Companies based in Miami
Category:Companies based in Miami-Dade County, Florida
Category:Royal Caribbean Group
Category:1988 establishments in Florida