Celebrity Cruises anticipates its largest growth will come from the UK market over the next few years as the business announces that the new 122,000 GRT Celebrity Eclipse will be based at Southampton in summer 2010 offering cruises to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. The ship will also enjoy its launch celebrations in Southampton where the trend-setting new ship will be showcased to UK and Ireland consumers and trade partners over a week long event.

Dan Hanrahan, president and CEO, Celebrity Cruises, explained:

“Celebrity Cruises has enjoyed a strong relationship with the UK and Ireland market and experienced steadily increasing guest numbers in recent years. Investing in the future of that relationship with Celebrity Eclipse homeporting from Southampton is an exciting development for our business. In 2009 we have the huge opportunity of the two newest ships from Celebrity Cruises – Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox - based in Europe. This increases in 2010 as Celebrity Eclipse leads the charge to further maximise the potential of the UK and Ireland market.”

The news was announced on 13th November 2008 onboard the newest ship from Celebrity Cruises, Celebrity Solstice, the first ship in the brand’s Solstice-class, during the inaugural celebrations to launch the ship in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Celebrity Eclipse will be the third Solstice-class ship alongside Celebrity Equinox which will launch in July 2009 in Southampton, and then operate out of Civitavecchia (Rome).

Ground-breaking features seen onboard all three 2,850-guest Solstice-class ships include:

• The Lawn Club, the first real grass growing at sea featuring a lawn area larger than eight (8) tennis courts
• A Hot Glass Show, with live glassblowing demonstrations
• Ten different restaurants including the main dining room inspired by old Hollywood glamour, and smaller speciality venues with ambience designed to complement the first-class cuisine
• A new accommodation class, AquaClass, featuring a range of relaxation options such as dream-enhancing television programming, a welcome kit with teeth whitening sample, the option to dine in the exclusive restaurant, Blu, dedicated to guests staying in AquaClass accommodations and complimentary access to the Persian Garden within the onboard extensive AquaSpa facility
• Rooms based on the design inspirations of five women selected for their travel and hospitality knowledge
• Over 90 percent of the accommodation onboard Celebrity Eclipse will be outside staterooms, and 85 percent will have a balcony

Other onboard facilities include 19 different boutiques and shops such as the by-appointment-only Boutique C featuring the specially designed Solstice Diamond.

Robin Shaw, vice president and managing director, Celebrity Cruises, UK and Ireland explained:

“The UK and Ireland remains one of the fastest growing cruise markets in the world. Having the newest Celebrity Cruises ship based out of Southampton in 2010, and dedicated to the UK and Ireland, offers a fresh and contemporary alternative to traditional players. Celebrity Eclipse will set new standards in the large ship luxury market and clearly show the ongoing and industry leading commitment of Celebrity Cruises to the UK and Ireland travel industry.”

Sailings from UK ports of call are traditionally the most popular and easiest to sell for travel agents. Celebrity Cruises expects to generate a majority of sales for the new ship via this channel, thereby increasing the growth opportunities for travel agents and cruise specialist businesses in the UK and Ireland.

Celebrity Eclipse will go on sale during the first week in March 2009. Itineraries for the new Celebrity Eclipse are expected to offer traditional Mediterranean favourite destinations, popular northern European cities, as well as short cruise taster options.

Formed in 1990, Celebrity Cruises sails to over 245 different destinations around the world.

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highly personalised service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal and South America. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Australia, Canada, Europe and South America. Noted for four of the top 10 "Top Cruise Ships in the World" in the large-ship category, as voted by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler (February 2008 readers’ poll), Celebrity’s fleet – including the new Celebrity Solstice – will be joined by Celebrity Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011, and a fifth in 2012.

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