Celebrity Cruises Expands 'Celebrity Xpeditions'

Jason · January 26, 2005

MIAMI -- Just one year after launching "Celebrity Xpeditions," an extension of Celebrity Cruises offering elite, exotic travel experiences, the line is making good on its promise to offer one Xpeditions experience on every major cruise itinerary.

"Our goal at Celebrity is to fulfill dreams, and what we're announcing today is a compelling example of that," said Williams. "Who hasn't imagined visiting locations like the Great Pyramids, Easter Island, or the Matterhorn? The exotic destinations and exclusive experiences we offer through Celebrity Xpeditions are what many people only dream about."

Celebrity Xpeditions launched in January 2004 as a one-of-a-kind program offering travelers the premium experiences they expect of Celebrity -- in entirely new and different venues, such as the Galapagos Islands, the Arctic, the Antarctic, and Moscow.

The new Celebrity Xpeditions offerings, by cruising region, include:

* Alaska: A "fire and ice" experience in Vancouver, with helicopter and Zodiac tours of the Mt. Garibaldi volcano site and Howe Sound; and treks through the Alaskan wilderness in search of black bears.

* Bermuda: An aquatic archaeology course from the platform of a 43-foot catamaran.

* California Coastal/Mexican Riviera: Marlin fishing in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, with a tournament-seasoned crew.

* Caribbean: Underwater exploration and diving adventures culminating in National Geographic diver certification in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.

* Hawaii: Heli-tours and lava tube cave explorations in Hana.

* Mediterranean: A four-day exploration of the Great Pyramids of Egypt with leading Egyptologists; storybook stays in Switzerland, including hikes beside the majestic Matterhorn.

* Panama Canal: Behind-the-scenes visits of Johnson Space Center and Houston Space Center in Texas, led by distinguished Apollo VII Astronaut Walter Cunningham.

* South America: The Lost City of the Incas in Machu Picchu; archaeological explorations of the Copan Ruins in Honduras, and tours of the isolated Easter Island and its mysterious Moai statues carved of volcanic rock.

The new lineup joins the existing series of Celebrity Xpeditions, including cruise vacations in the enchanting Galapagos Islands onboard the 296-foot megayacht, Celebrity Xpedition; voyages in the isolated Arctic and Antarctic aboard the polar-class, 434-foot icebreaker, Kapitan Khlebnikov in partnership with Quark Expeditions; a behind-the-scenes tour of the former headquarters of the KGB and Kremlin in Moscow; a race car driving academy led by professional drivers Justin and Derek Bell in Palm Beach, Fla., and the line's pre- and post-cruise land tours on luxurious, domed rail cars and motor coaches in Alaska and the Canadian Rockies.