Galaxy to leave Celebrity fleet

[Joanandjoe]

April 29, 2008

It's True: Celebrity Galaxy To Move to Germany

After a few weeks of increasingly fevered speculation, Celebrity Cruises today came clean about its plans for Celebrity Galaxy. That ship will, after its last cruise on March 2, 2009, transfer over to TUI Cruises, a new, German-based cruise line that's a joint venture between Royal Caribbean, Celebrity's parent, and European mega-operator Tui AG.

In the cruise industry version of tea leaf reading, the news today is no big surprise for a number of reasons. Celebrity's honchos have not been shy about emphasizing the line's newer (and newest) ships, starting with the debut of Solstice, a new design for the company, later this year. As well, the 77,713-ton, 1,850-passenger Galaxy, which launched in 1996, had no itineraries listed on Celebrity's Web site beyond the March 2 sailing -- while others in the fleet have voyages listed through spring.

And finally? Despite undergoing a refurbishment which, ironically, is taking place right now, Celebrity Galaxy did not receive the massive transformation accorded sister ship Celebrity Century. The latter, you may recall, received a $50 million upgrade back in 2006; the job included adding 314 balconies to its exterior, gutting and rebuilding its spa, and adding Murano, a new alternative restaurant.

Celebrity Galaxy's getting a $4 million makeover this week at Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport but the investment, which will cover cosmetic upgrades, is peanuts compared to that of Celebrity Century.

The ship is planned to depart from Freeport on May 3 on an Atlantic crossing, after which it will begin sailing Europe cruises.

Galaxy and Century, along with Mercury, are part of a sibling trio that represents the fleet's most venerable ships. Now speculation is bound to focus on Celebrity Mercury, which like Celebrity Galaxy, was accorded only a minor refurbishment (which took place last year).

We'll keep the tea leaves handy.

[JoeyandDavid]

April 29, 2008

It's True: Celebrity Galaxy To Move to Germany

After a few weeks of increasingly fevered speculation, Celebrity Cruises today came clean about its plans for Celebrity Galaxy. That ship will, after its last cruise on March 2, 2009, transfer over to TUI Cruises, a new, German-based cruise line that's a joint venture between Royal Caribbean, Celebrity's parent, and European mega-operator Tui AG.

In the cruise industry version of tea leaf reading, the news today is no big surprise for a number of reasons. Celebrity's honchos have not been shy about emphasizing the line's newer (and newest) ships, starting with the debut of Solstice, a new design for the company, later this year. As well, the 77,713-ton, 1,850-passenger Galaxy, which launched in 1996, had no itineraries listed on Celebrity's Web site beyond the March 2 sailing -- while others in the fleet have voyages listed through spring.

And finally? Despite undergoing a refurbishment which, ironically, is taking place right now, Celebrity Galaxy did not receive the massive transformation accorded sister ship Celebrity Century. The latter, you may recall, received a $50 million upgrade back in 2006; the job included adding 314 balconies to its exterior, gutting and rebuilding its spa, and adding Murano, a new alternative restaurant.

Celebrity Galaxy's getting a $4 million makeover this week at Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport but the investment, which will cover cosmetic upgrades, is peanuts compared to that of Celebrity Century.

The ship is planned to depart from Freeport on May 3 on an Atlantic crossing, after which it will begin sailing Europe cruises.

Galaxy and Century, along with Mercury, are part of a sibling trio that represents the fleet's most venerable ships. Now speculation is bound to focus on Celebrity Mercury, which like Celebrity Galaxy, was accorded only a minor refurbishment (which took place last year).

We'll keep the tea leaves handy.

Good post

Thanks for the information.... I guess this is another reason to sail her in December so we can say yes we did!!

[sailingrose]

Figured she'd be gone eventually since her sister Horizon was transferred already.

Thanks for the post

[JoeyandDavid]

Figured she'd be gone eventually since her sister Horizon was transferred already.

Thanks for the post

who wants to bet the Murcury gets a refit and will be a keeper?

[Joanandjoe]

who wants to bet the Murcury gets a refit and will be a keeper?

It's a coin flip, Joey. Three virtually identical ships. Century gets a remake while Galaxy leaves the fleet. I guess Mercury could go either way. My bet: she'll stay without major changes until the second Solstice class ship joins the fleet, then will go to another line owned by RCI. I think that the Century refit was in process before the Solstice ships were ordered, and they decided not to do a similar refit on Galaxy.

[JoeyandDavid]

who wants to bet the Murcury gets a refit and will be a keeper?

It's a coin flip, Joey. Three virtually identical ships. Century gets a remake while Galaxy leaves the fleet. I guess Mercury could go either way. My bet: she'll stay without major changes until the second Solstice class ship joins the fleet, then will go to another line owned by RCI. I think that the Century refit was in process before the Solstice ships were ordered, and they decided not to do a similar refit on Galaxy.

interesting observations... you do have a point..

[sailingrose]

Seems that RCI/Celebrity will be moving most of their older ships to the European market as new ships come out.