It has taken four years of planning and 23 months of construction, but the time has finally arrived for Celebrity Edge to sail to her new home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Set to arrive at the brand new Terminal 25 (T25) in Port Everglades on 19 November, the groundbreaking new ship departed the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, on Sunday (4 November) for her first transatlantic voyage.
Celebrity Edge sets sail and begins her 4,000-mile journey to Florida Picture: Bernard Biger of Chantiers de l’Atlantique
During the 4,000-mile journey, more than 1,400 crew members will be working round the clock putting the finishing touches to ensure every detail is perfect before a single guest steps aboard.
Prior to the ship’s departure from Saint-Nazaire, Royal Caribbean Cruises’ chairman and CEO Richard D Fain and Celebrity Cruises’ president and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo officially took delivery of the ship and hosted a ceremony on board.
The Celebrity Cruises executive team was also in attendance along with shipyard officials, including general manager Laurent Castaing, and 1,377 crew members from 72 different countries.
“The Celebrity Cruises team has done an outstanding job and I cannot thank the Chantiers de l’Atlantique team enough for delivering this game-changing ship and for their ongoing partnership,” said Fain. “Their work continues to transform the way our guests experience the world.”
“Today is a very special day for all of us as we have been eagerly anticipating this moment for more than four years,” said Lutoff-Perlo. “There are so many aspects of Celebrity Edge that are more groundbreaking than we could have ever imagined, and it is all a testament to the hard work, creativity and talent of everyone who helped bring this magnificent ship to life.”
The 762-ton block being lowered into position at the Celebrity Apex keel-laying ceremony
Shortly after the delivery ceremony, everyone made their way across the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard for the ceremonial keel laying of Celebrity Apex, where a 762-ton block was lifted in the air and a lucky coin was placed on the dock before the block was lowered into position.
Celebrity Edge’s inaugural season will be spent sailing alternating seven-night eastern and western Caribbean cruise itineraries, with her Maiden Western Caribbean voyage departing on 9 December, and her Maiden Eastern Caribbean voyage departing on 16 December.
Then, in spring of 2019, Celebrity Edge crosses the Atlantic again to offer guests stunning vistas of the Mediterranean with a range of seven- to 11-night sailings visiting iconic cities, including Barcelona and Rome.
Celebrity Cruises: 0800 441 4054 or visit www.celebritycruises.co.uk/edge
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