Celebrity Edge Delivered
Following more than four years of planning and 23 months of construction, Celebrity Cruises officially took delivery of Celebrity Edge yesterday (Oct. 31), representing a truly historic occasion for the cruise line.
As part of the monumental moment, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.’s chairman and CEO Richard D. Fain and Celebrity president and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo hosted a ceremony aboard Celebrity Edge, while docked in the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The Celebrity executive team were also in attendance, along with shipyard officials, including general manager Laurent Castaing and 1,377 crew members from 72 different countries.
“The Celebrity team has done an outstanding job and I cannot thank the Chantiers de l’Atlantique team enough for delivering this game-changing ship and for their ongoing partnership,” said Fain. “Their work continues to transform the way our guests experience the world.”
“Today is a very special day for all of us as we have been eagerly anticipating this moment for more than four years,” added Lutoff-Perlo. “There are so many aspects of Celebrity Edge that are more groundbreaking than we could have ever imagined, and it is all a testament to the hard work, creativity and talent of everyone who helped bring this magnificent ship to life.”
Following the Celebrity Edge check-signing and delivery ceremony, attendees made their way across the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard for the ceremonial keel laying of Celebrity Apex, sister ship to the Edge, where a 762-ton block was lifted in the air and a lucky coin was placed on the dock before the block was lowered into position.
On Nov. 6, Celebrity Edge will begin its transatlantic voyage to its home port at T25 at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Its inaugural season will be spent sailing alternating seven-night eastern and western Caribbean cruise itineraries, with its Maiden Western Caribbean voyage departing on Dec. 9, and its Maiden Eastern Caribbean voyage departing on Dec. 16.
In the spring of 2019, Celebrity Edge crosses the Atlantic again to offer guests seven- to 11-night Mediterranean sailings.
Pictured, top: Prior to the historic delivery ceremony for Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Cruises’ leadership team gathered in Eden. Shown are (l-r) Niyazi Korkmaz, Celebrity Edge hotel director, Captain Costas Nestoroudis, Celebrity president and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Stavros Zanikos, Celebrity Edge chief engineer, and Matthaios Karandreas, Celebrity Edge staff captain.
