After more than 4 years of planning along with 23 months of building, Celebrity Cruises officially took delivery of its newbuild, Celebrity Edge, on Wednesday, October 31.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Chairman & CEO Richard D.Fain and Celebrity's President & CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo hosted an official ceremony aboard Celebrity Edge, while she was docked in Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire. Celebrity Executive Team were in attendance together with shipyard officials, of which General Manager Laurent Castaing, as well as 1,377 crew members from 72 countries.
Following the ceremony, attendees made their way across Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard for the keel laying of Celebrity Apex. A 762-ton block was lifted and a lucky coin was placed on the dock prior to lowering the block into position.
On November 6, Celebrity Edge will commence her transatlantic cruise to her home port at T25 Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale FL. Her inaugural season will feature 7-night eastern and western Caribbean itineraries, with a Maiden Western Caribbean voyage departing December 9, and a Maiden Eastern Caribbean voyage departing December 16, 2018.
In spring of 2019, Celebrity Edge crosses the Atlantic ocean again to offer Mediterranean vistas with a range of 7- to 11-night voyages visiting iconic cities, such as Barcelona and Rome.