Celebrity Solstice Float Out

[JoeyandDavid]

MEYER WERFT shipyard has announced that the float out of Celebrity Cruises, Celebrity Solstice is scheduled for Sunday, August 10th. The float out, which is still subject to weather conditions, means that the largest addition to Celebrity's fleet will leave the covered building where it has been assembled over the past 16 months, for the first time. According to the schedule released by MEYER WERFT, the cruise ship will slowly start leaving the building dock around 7.30 am. By 9.00 am the Celebrity Solstice will be moved in the harbor. During the day, a variety of engine and other mechanical tests will take place while the ship remains in the harbor. By 2.00 pm it is expected that the ship will be berthed alongside the yard's pier. Once the ship is berthed at the pier, the additional fitting out work will be completed. This work includes the mounting of the ship's two funnels, which is schedule for next Monday and a completion of the ship's interiors. The river Ems passage to the sea trials port in Eemshaven (Netherlands) is scheduled to will take place on September 27th. Celebrity Solstice is the first of at least three new-ships of the same class. The second ship will be named Celebrity Equinox. Each of the three ships will be 2,850-guest vessels measuring 1,033 feet in length and 121 feet in width. Following several weeks of inaugural activities, Celebrity Solstice will make its maiden voyage December 14, 2008, on a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico; Basseterre, St. Kitts; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten. The itinerary will be offered on Sundays through April 5, 2009, with an alternating itinerary calling on San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Tortola, B.V.I.; and Labadee, Haiti, through April 12, 2009.

[DebbieandJerry]

Can't wait! Sure hope the cruise line doesn't fall prey (like the airline industry)