GMN

The main concept of Celebrity Cruises is to offer almost deluxe cruises at more affordable prices (something impossible at first sight), but the company has turned this concept into winning formula throughout the past seven-eight years. The cruise line introduced a new generation of cruise ships, representing classic cruising, updated for contemporary life style. Royal Caribbean International acquired Celebrity Cruises in 1997, but Celebrity Cruises continues to operate as a separate brand. The cruise line introduced a new generation of cruise ships, representing classic cruising, updated for contemporary life style. Celebrity Cruises was the brainchild of John Chandris of the renowned Greek shipping family, who created the cruise line in 1989, promising he would “exceed expectations.” He accomplished his goal by offering much higher standards of food and service than cruisers were accustomed to in a mid-price cruise experience. In addition to the smaller Horizon and Zenith ships, Chandris ordered three new stunning cruise ships in the mid 1990’s, Century, Galaxy and Mercury. They were the first mid-price cruise ships to boast suites with butlers, the largest spas at sea, an extensive collection of private art, large staterooms in all categories and sophisticated touches such as a piano lounge, champagne and martini bars. Acquired by Royal Caribbean International in 1997, Celebrity Cruises has retained its own identity, with food and service maintained at high levels. Now that Celebrity Cruises has launched Constellation, its last new build cruise ship for a long, long time, the company is turning its attentions inward. The goal is ambitious: the company is introducing a series of enhancements that it hopes will position Celebrity Cruises as a legitimate Crystal Cruises competitor, albeit with a younger passenger demographic. Celebrity Cruises, with the launch in 2004 of its Xpedition sub-brand, is also moving into an intriguing new direction. Aiming to offer its upmarket, active passenger base a new option, the cruise line is featuring more unusual cruise experiences. At this point, the major thrust focuses on the Galapagos, where Celebrity has become the only big ship cruise line to offer year-round sailings. But wait: you won’t find Millennium or Galaxy (or even Horizon or Zenith) trawling these small ship waters. Instead, the company has acquired the former Sun Bay I, a 2,329-ton 98-passenger cruise ship, and transformed it into Celebrity Xpedition. The aim? To combine the line’s big stylishness with more adventure-oriented destinations. The company is planning to expand the concept to include cruises to Antarctica, the Arctic and Alaska via a former Soviet icebreaker it will charter from Quark Expeditions, an adventure cruise specialist.

Cruise ships and itineraries:

Celebrity Xpedition: Ecuador registered, built 2001, 2.842 gross tons, 100 passengers, 64 crew members. Itineraries: Galapagos Islands.
Constellation: Liberia registered, built 2002, 91.000 gross tons, 2.449 passengers, 1.000 crew members. Itineraries: Western Mediterranean, Western Europe, Baltic Capitals, Scandinavia/Russia, Norwegian Fjords, Trans-Atlantic, Southern Caribbean.
Summit: Liberia registered, built 2001, 91.000 gross tons, 2.449 passengers, 1.000 crew members. Itineraries: Hawaii, Eastern/Western Caribbean, Panama Canal, Alaska.
Infinity: Liberia registered, built 2001, 91.000 gross tons, 2.449 passengers, 1.000 crew members. Itineraries: Hawaii, Panama Canal, Southern Caribbean, Alaska.
Millennium: Liberia registered, built 2000, 85.000 gross tons, 2.100 passengers, 999 crew members. Itineraries: Eastern/Western Caribbean.
Mercury: Liberia registered, built 1997, 74.000 gross tons, 1.870 passengers, 909 crew members. Itineraries: Hawaii, South America, Western Caribbean, Panama Canal, Alaska.
Galaxy: Liberia registered, built 1996, 77.713 gross tons, 1.870 passengers, 909 crew members. Itineraries: Caribbean.
Century: Liberia registered, built 1995, 70.606 gross tons, 1.750 passengers, 858 crew members. Itineraries: Eastern/Western Caribbean.