When was celebrity cruises first sailing

It added an all-new, custom built ship, the passenger Celebrity Flora, in , while at the same time retiring Celebrity Xperience.

With the introduction of Celebrity Solstice, the first of the line's Solstice-class ships, in November , Celebrity took its vision to the next level and its ships to another size -- all are about 30 percent larger than Celebrity's Millennium-class ships.

With the extra space, Celebrity shook up the cruise industry with the introduction of its top deck Lawn Club -- an oasis of real grass perfect for picnics, lounging and playing classic lawn games like bocce ball. Other ships in the Solstice class are Equinox, which launched in summer ; Celebrity Eclipse, which came in spring ; and Celebrity Silhouette, which debuted in summer All carry 2, passengers. The final Solstice-class ship, Celebrity Reflection, launched in October with 3, passengers.

With the introduction of its Solstice Class, Celebrity Cruises rocked the notion that a cruise line that positions itself in the "premium" market must keep its ships small and cozy. At the same time, doubts emerged about the fate of its Millennium-class ships, but the line managed quite nicely, adding a series of enhancements that pleased even the most stalwart fans of smaller ships. The ships gained several of the most popular features that debuted on the Solstice Class, including a creperie and Italian steakhouse.

Celebrity Constellation was the first to receive the dramatic makeover when it went under the knife in spring Summit, Infinity and Millennium underwent further renovation in and , adding a top-deck movie viewing area, called the Rooftop Terrace, and Tuscan Grille restaurants. The Bistro on Five creperie also transitioned to Sushi on Five, an a la carte sushi restaurant, in Celebrity Cruises hasn't been known as an innovator since the Solstice Class debuted, but with the launch of its Edge Class, whch debuted in December , the line is shifting once again toward trendy innovations that are sure to make a lasting impression.

First and foremost of these is the Magic Carpet, a tennis court-sized moveable deck that is cantilevered off the side of the ship and can move up and down -- as low as Deck 2 and high as Deck The function of the Magic Carpet depends on which deck it's been placed. For instance, on Deck 2 it serves as a throughway for passengers getting onto and off tender boats, while on Deck 5 it serves as an alfresco extension to a raw bar restaurant.

On Deck 14 it'll function as a location for happy hours and late-night parties, and all the way up on Deck 16, it'll transform into an alternative restaurant. Find a Cruise. Cruise Tips. Maarten, the first major line to return to the Caribbean when it begins voyages on June 5.

Several other lines have announced vaccine-required sailings in Alaska starting in July or August. Alaska does not have a ban on vaccine passports. If all goes well, the CDC can approve the test sailing and allow that ship to sail with paying customers.

Officials at Port Canaveral said they were optimistic that the CDC would give similar approvals soon for simulated sailings that could in a best-case scenario begin in late June. Unfortunately, Celebrity Cruises, like other cruise companies doing business in Florida, is stuck between two powerful government entities, the CDC and the State of Florida. The most effective way to ward off COVID on cruise ships is to stop it from getting onboard in the first place.

But to Fla. Ron DeSantis, being asked to provide proof of vaccination is an onerous "vaccine passport. No doubt, a few legal tussles will be cropping up, but on June 26, Celebrity Cruises said, "In Florida, vaccinations are strongly recommended. The Celebrity Edge has all sorts of testing protocols for the unvaccinated, and despite the discomfiting sight of children and teenagers running around without masks, I never felt particularly unsafe. After the first few days, I dodged the whirl of the casino, the Theatre, and the forever crowded pool with its two-deck-high, martini-shaped hot tubs, and carved out my own little SuiteClass village.

On the last night of the voyage, just off Nassau, the Celebrity Edge and two other Celebrity Cruises ships performed a waltz of the behemoths, circling each other and sounding their horns. The cruise industry was flexing its muscles, ready for the multi-billion dollar party to begin.

As Fain noted at a press conference during the cruise, "The pandemic once seemed endless. Now, the whole thing seems like a blip.