Celebrity Edge: What to expect on the $1bn cruise ship
The sister ship to the revolutionary Celebrity Edge will be named in the UK and based in Southampton for its first ever cruises, it was announced today.
Celebrity Apex - the second Edge-class ship from Celebrity Cruises - will be christened in the British port in April 2020.
The news was announced at a sneak preview of Celebrity Edge, which will make its maiden voyage in Florida in late November, at its shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.
Basing Apex in Southampton will be the first time that Celebrity has operated two ships from the UK’s busiest cruise port, with Celebrity Silhouette returning there in 2020 for its third consecutive year.
Like Edge, Apex will feature innovative features such as the Magic Carpet restaurant, which rises and falls between decks on the side of the ship, and staterooms with ‘infinite’ balconies. Much of the interior design has been done by former Dragons’ Den star Kelly Hoppen.
Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, the president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises, said: “When Celebrity Apex launches in Southampton in 2020 it will be another incredible moment for our company and for the UK & Ireland market, especially as it will be ten years since we last named and operated a brand new ship from the UK.
“In 2010 Celebrity Eclipse changed the face of UK cruising with our modern luxury approach. Celebrity Apex will continue our tradition of reimagining what is expected from all aspects of a holiday at sea and elevate modern luxury cruising in ways never seen before.”
Celebrity Edge offers 29 restaurants and bars, including four main dining rooms and seven new speciality restaurants.
It also features a three-storey venue called Eden, which transforms from a ‘chillful’ lounge in the morning to a ‘playful’ performance area in the afternoon and a ‘sinful’ restaurant in the evening.
In The Retreat, passengers will have a private pool and lounge, plus round-the-clock personal butler service.
The Rooftop Garden offers games and activities during the day and outdoor movies, concerts and meals at night.
The Theatre is designed to be an immersive experience with the main stage extending into the audience. With a large cast, four stage areas and three large, moving projection screens, the venue will offer five new shows, including the Shakespeare-inspired A Hot Summer Night’s Dream.
During the day, The Club will host a laser maze, drone hunting obstacle course and more, before becoming a Prohibition-inspired venue.
The children’s programme, Camp At Sea, organises more than 500 activities in two spaces - one for youngsters and the other for teens.
Kelly Hoppen has designed the 22,000 square-foot spa, which will offer more than 120 treatments including a ‘zero-gravity’ wellness massage and ‘thousand flower’ detox wrap. The thermal suite includes a hammam, salt room, steam room and rainfall water therapy room.
Celebrity Edge will make its maiden voyage on November 25, 2018, using a new terminal, T25, at Port Everglades in Florida. It will be christened on December 4 by Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.
During its inaugural season, Edge will sail alternating seven-night eastern and western Caribbean itineraries. The ship is due to call at Southampton on May 13, 2019, and set off two days later to Rome to start a European season.
After Apex, two more sister ships will be introduced in 2021 and 2022.
