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CELEBRITY CRUISES’ 3,030-GUEST CELEBRITY REFLECTION LEAVES MEYER WERFT SHIPYARD
Fifth Solstice Class ship completes ‘conveyance’ and begins sea trials
MIAMI – September 17, 2012 – Celebrity Cruises’ highly-anticipated Celebrity Reflection has left the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, and is sailing to the North Sea. The 1,047-foot long, 121-foot wide vessel crossed the Ems River in about 10 hours – an amazing feat, considering the scale of the ship and the geography of the shipyard required the Captain to steer the ship backward, assisted by tugboats fore and aft.
Preparations for the transit – known as “the conveyance” – include removing power lines and railway tracks that normally pass over the river, to allow the ship to pass through. The journey must take place when wind conditions are calm and at high tide to ensure ample depth of water in the river to prevent the possibility of the ship scraping its multi-million-dollar paintwork.
Thousands of spectators lined the river to watch and enjoy the conveyance. Traveling at less than four miles per hour, Celebrity Reflection joins four award-winning Solstice Class sister ships which have made the same complex journey prior to officially entering service. Following sea trials and the completion of finishing work while in Emshaven, The Netherlands, Celebrity Reflection will host an invitation-only preview sailing before embarking October 12 on her first cruise from Amsterdam.
Celebrity Reflection boasts a number of industry firsts, including AquaClass Suites, Signature Suites and the ultra-luxurious Reflection Suite – the first to include a glass shower extending out over the edge of the ship. The ship also will feature designer boutiques, Celebrity’s signature specialty dining venues and glamorous main dining room, and expanded AquaSpa by Elemis experiences.
After presenting vacations from Amsterdam to Belgium and France to Barcelona, Celebrity Reflection will cross the Atlantic Ocean to arrive in Miami December 1 and depart for its inaugural Caribbean sailing December 5, following invitation-only promotional sailings. The sleek, new ship will offer guests a series of seven-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries roundtrip from Miami, Fla.
About Celebrity Cruises:
Celebrity Cruises’ iconic “X” is the mark of modern luxury, with its cool, contemporary design and warm spaces; dining experiences where the design of the venues is as important as the cuisine; and the amazing service that only Celebrity can provide, all created to provide an unmatchable experience for vacationers’ precious time. In addition to offering vacations visiting all continents, Celebrity also presents immersive cruisetour experiences in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Europe and South America. One of the fastest-growing major cruise lines, Celebrity is one of five cruise brands operated by global cruise vacation company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE, OSE: RCL). Celebrity’s fleet currently consists of 10 ships, with an additional Solstice Class ship, Celebrity Reflection, scheduled to join the fleet in fall 2012. For more information, dial 1-800-437-3111, visit www.celebritycruises.com, or call your travel agent. Follow the brand socially at www.facebook.com/
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Celebrity Cruises/Azamara Cruises, 1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, FL 33132 United States
Maralyn D. Hill, The Epicurean Explorer
President, International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association
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