Celebrity Cruises announced tonight (17 October) that its new cruise ship, Celebrity Edge, will set sail in the Mediterranean in summer 2019, calling Rome and Barcelona home from May to October.
And before the ship officially kicks off her first summer season, Celebrity Edge will host an exclusive two-night preview sailing for media and agents departing from Southampton on 13 May.
The Magic Carpet will be among signature features on Celebrity Edge
Following the showcase sailing, the ground-breaking new ship’s first official European cruise will depart from Southampton two days later offering a 10-night Iberian Peninsula sailing to Lisbon, Portugal and Cagliari on the beautiful island of Sardinia.
The cruises went on sale this evening and almost immediately crashed the website.
Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises, told journalists and travel agents at a gathering in London: “Europe has never seen a ship like this before and you’ve never seen Europe like you’ll see it from Celebrity Edge. Its curation into the most stylish, intimate and intuitive ship to ever sail is carefully complemented by the destinations featured on the first European season.
“The UK and Ireland is such a significant market for us that we wanted to celebrate the start of her summer season by offering guests the first scheduled European cruise direct from Southampton.”
Throughout the summer, Celebrity Edge will offer a range of seven to 11-night sailings, visiting destinations such as Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Mykonos, along with the likes of Ibiza and Valencia where she will boast longer evening stays in port.
The itineraries will also feature two brand new, Celebrity Cruises-first ports – the picturesque Nauplion in the Peloponnese region of Greece and the stunning Santa Margherita, located on the Italian Riviera close to one of Italy’s most famous villages, Portofino.
Lutoff-Perlo, added: “From island escapes, culture capitals of the world and the ‘hot list’ destinations of the future, Celebrity Edge’s summer 2019 itineraries promise to enhance and bring to life this revolutionary ship and change the way you experience the world.”
Celebrity Edge marks a turning point in Celebrity Cruises’ approach to ship design, with its revolutionary, outward-facing infrastructure – highlighted by and the Edge Stateroom with an Infinite Veranda.
With this in mind, all of the destinations within the inaugural European season for Celebrity Edge have been carefully selected to offer exquisite views and unparalleled access to the natural beauty, culture and experiences of the region.
A new ship opens up the possibility for new experiences, and with that in mind, Celebrity Cruises has carefully curated a new shore excursion programme that offers in-depth, authentic and locally inspired experiences.
Stateroom accommodations on-board Celebrity Edge feature an Infinite Veranda which merges the boundaries between outside and inside to create one larger space and open-air access to the sea. The interiors are all designed by renowned interior designer Kelly Hoppen and fuse a trio of style, design and elegance.
The revolutionary Infinite Veranda brings guests closer to the ocean than ever before, to ensure that the destination experience begins before even stepping off the ship. Celebrity Edge’s suite offering has also been redefined with the introduction of two spectacular new categories, Iconic Suites and Edge Villas, as well as a new private utopia called The Retreat offering suite guests a private sundeck, lounge and dedicated restaurant.
Cantilevered from the side of the ship, the Magic Carpet makes Celebrity Edge’s distinctive profile recognisable from miles away. At the summit of the ship on Deck 16, the Magic Carpet becomes the ultimate speciality restaurant offering a special “Dinner on the Edge”, with late night departures from some of Europe’s most scenic destinations.
At its lowest position on Deck 2, Magic Carpet is a key component to the Destination Gateway, a luxury embarkation area where guests will be whisked away on-board sleek Edge Launches – transforming the guest experience in smaller ports of call such as Villefranche and Cannes.
Jo Rzymowska, Celebrity’s UK managing director, added: “The itineraries for the first European sailings have been developed to ensure there is a wide appeal, including idyllic hidden getaways and city hotspots – with the added benefit of the option to sail from Southampton.”
Celebrity Edge’s new 2019 summer season went on sale this evening The summer season includes one sailing from Southampton to Rome (Civitavecchia) on 15 May. Summer 2019 Mediterranean sailings will depart from both Rome (Civitavecchia) and Barcelona.
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