Cruising News Magazine Cruising News February 2019 | Page 7

Celebrity Edge Officially Named by Godmother Malala Yousafzai
After more than four years of limitless
passion and hard work on the part of
thousands of engineers, architects,
artisans, designers and crew, Celebrity
Cruises has set sail into a new era.
Celebrity Edge joined the fleet after
a moving ceremony where the
ship’s godmother, Nobel Peace Prize
Laureate Malala Yousafzai, was joined
by all on board to “bless this ship and
all those who sail upon her.”
The naming event brought together
more than 3,000 guests, employees,
crew members and students
to commemorate the debut of
Celebrity’s first new ship in six years
and first new ship series in more than a
decade.
Yousafzai, who is now a college
student at Oxford University, is the
inspirational co-founder of Malala
Fund, which advocates for a world
where every girl can learn and lead by
investing in local education activists,
holding global leaders accountable
and amplifying girls’ voices around
the world. She discussed those issues
before the ship’s crew and guests in a
one-on-one interview with Celebrity’s
President and CEO, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo.
From girls’ education to the power
of diversity, both share a profound
passion and commitment to these
important issues.
“We are honoured that Malala
agreed to be the godmother of this
ship, a role that reflects centuries of
maritime traditions,” said Richard D.
Fain, Chairman and CEO of Royal
Caribbean Cruises Ltd, Celebrity’s
parent company. “We are especially
proud because Malala’s example
of relentless persistence and
achievement is an inspiration to our
crew, who have all worked so hard
and made real sacrifices to build
better lives for themselves and their
families.” Lutoff-Perlo added: “I am so
very proud to have Malala Yousafzai as
godmother of Celebrity Edge. Malala
embodies our commitment to opening
the world through education and
gender equality. Seeing her aboard
our ship sends a powerful message
to our crew who represent over 70
diverse nationalities, and our guests
who we sail all over the world.” She
continued, “The ceremony today
was both touching and symbolic of
what Celebrity Cruises stands for. I
am grateful to Malala, her family and
Malala Fund for embracing today’s
events and look forward to continuing
our work together around the world.”
The brand chose to forego the
traditional champagne bottle at
the launch, and instead smashed a
custom-made 18-litre bottle of Badoit
French mineral water across the ship’s
Parabolic Ultra Bow.
Celebrity Edge began her inaugural
season sailing alternating seven-night
eastern and western Caribbean
itineraries before transporting
guests to the stunning vistas of the
Mediterranean with a range of seven-
to 11-night sailings from iconic cities
like Barcelona and Rome in 2019.
Sailing round-trip from Fort Lauderdale,
Florida, Celebrity Edge made her
maiden voyage on 9 December
2018. Building on Celebrity Edge‘s
incredible momentum, she’ll be joined
by Celebrity Apex in 2020, and two
additional sister ships in 2021 and 2022.
Order for Third Explorer-Class Ship
Regent Seven Seas Cruises has
announced an order with Italy’s
Fincantieri S.p.A. to build another
stunning cruise ship that will continue to
set the standard for defining elegance
at sea. With delivery scheduled in late
2023, the new vessel will be a sister ship
to Seven Seas Explorer and Seven Seas
Splendor.
Accommodating up to 750 guests,
the intimate and spacious new ship
will be Regent Seven Seas Cruises’
sixth-all-suite vessel. Details about her
itineraries, suites, restaurants, amenities
and onboard experiences will be
revealed leading up to her 2023 debut.
“Since debuting in 2016, Seven Seas
Explorer has solidified her reputation
as the most luxurious ship ever built
based on the continuous awards and
guest accolades she earns,” said
Jason Montague, president and chief
executive officer of Regent Seven Seas
Cruises. “When Seven Seas Splendor’s
inaugural season went on sale in April
2018 we set a new single-day booking
record for our 26-year-old company,
demonstrating the anticipation for
her 2020 arrival. Each new ship is
progressively more successful. Our
growth is a reflection of the amazing
people who work across our fleet,
our valued shoreside employees, our
loyal guests and their trusted travel
advisors.”
Montague added, “Over the past 12
months Regent Seven Seas Cruises has
completed a $125 million remodelling
of our fleet, started construction on
Seven Seas Splendor, unveiled our
2020-2021 Voyage Collection with 167
itineraries and new ports, introduced
new relaxed outdoor evening dining
venues on our ships, debuted the
most immersive luxury Cuban voyage
itineraries, revealed Go Local Tours
and Regent Choice small group shore
excursions, and now we announce
one more category-defining luxury
cruise ship. These are exciting times
for everyone associated with Regent
Seven Seas Cruises and we can’t wait
to show you what’s next.”
Construction Milestone
On 1 February 2019 Royal Caribbean International
marked an important milestone as the first piece of steel
was cut for its second Quantum Ultra Class ship at the
Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Richard
Fain, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
was on hand to announce that the ship will be named
Odyssey of the Seas. It will be the 27th ship in the global
cruise line’s fleet. Set to debut in 2020, Odyssey of the
Seas will sail from the United States. Additional details
on Odyssey will be revealed later this year.
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