Celebrity Cruises has taken delivery of their newest cruise ship, Celebrity Edge. After four years of planning and almost two years of construction, the Celebrity Edge was officially welcomed to the Celebrity Cruises fleet at the delivery ceremony at Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.’s Chairman and CEO Richard D. Fain and Celebrity’s President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo hosted a ceremony aboard Celebrity Edge, while docked in the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The Celebrity Executive Team were also in attendance along with shipyard officials, including General Manager Laurent Castaing, and 1,377 crew members from 72 different countries.
Richard D. Fain, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.’s Chairman and CEO said:
“The Celebrity team has done an outstanding job and I cannot thank the Chantiers de l’Atlantique team enough for delivering this game-changing ship and for their ongoing partnership,” said Fain. “Their work continues to transform the way our guests experience the world.”
Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO or Celebrity Cruises said:
“Today is a very special day for all of us as we have been eagerly anticipating this moment for more than four years,”
“There are so many aspects of Celebrity Edge that are more groundbreaking than we could have ever imagined, and it is all a testament to the hard work, creativity and talent of everyone who helped bring this magnificent ship to life.”
Immediately following the Celebrity Edge check-signing and delivery ceremony, attendees made their way across the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard for the ceremonial keel laying of Celebrity Apex, sister ship to Celebrity Edge, where a 762-ton block was lifted in the air and a lucky coin was placed on the dock before the block was lowered into position.
Celebrity Edge will depart the shipyard on November 6, 2018 and start her transatlantic journey to her new home port in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The ship will be sailing alternating 7 Night Eastern & Western Caribbean itineraries though the Spring, before returning to Europe for Summer cruises in the Mediterranean.
More details on Celebrity Edge can be found at www.celebritycruises.com/edge