Celebrity Cruises' Solstice

[JoeyandDavid]

MIAMI, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrity Cruises has taken its first major step toward physically launching Celebrity Solstice in Fall 2008. The line's President Dan Hanrahan today ceremoniously pressed the start button for the plasma cutter at shipbuilder Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, creating the ship's first steel plate.

"This is a very exciting day for the Celebrity brand, as we take the first tangible step toward making Celebrity Solstice a reality," said Hanrahan. "While it's too soon to reveal any details, I'm convinced our travel agent partners and guests are going to find this ship to be the perfect manifestation of what they appreciate most about Celebrity."

Accompanying Hanrahan today were Celebrity's Executive Vice President Maritime & Newbuilding Harri Kulovaara, Celebrity Solstice Project Manager Jarmo Laakso, and Meyer Werft's Managing Director Bernard Meyer, Lambert Kruse and Project Manager Uwe Wulf.

The first in a class of three ships, Celebrity Solstice will be a 2,850- guest vessel measuring 1,033 feet in length and 121 feet in width, and will feature larger standard staterooms, a higher percentage of verandas, and an exceptional range of guest-inspired services and amenities.

Noted for "The World's Best Large Ships," as voted by the readers of Conde' Nast Traveler (February 2006 Cruise Poll), Celebrity's current nine-ship fleet will be joined by Celebrity Solstice in 2008, Celebrity Equinox in 2009, and a third Solstice-class ship in 2010. For more information, call your travel agent, or visit the Celebrity web site at http://www.celebritycruises.com.

[mercedes]

I am planning a cruise to Scandinavia and Russia in 2008, I was going to book the Celebrity Century, but I wonder if Celebrity Solstice will be going there.

[sailingrose]

Looking forward to hearing more about the Solstice class of ships.

[Shari2]

Can't wait for their new ships!!!!