Insight Guides Cruising & Cruise Ships 2024 (Cruise Guide eBook) by Insight Guides

Author:Insight Guides
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Travel, General
Publisher: Apa Publications
Published: 2023-09-11T00:00:00+00:00

Enjoying the splash park aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship.

Carnival Cruises

Celebrity Cruises

Ships

Celebrity Apex (2021), Celebrity Ascent (2023), Celebrity Beyond (2022), Celebrity Constellation (2002), Celebrity Eclipse (2010), Celebrity Edge (2018), Celebrity Equinox (2009), Celebrity Flora (2019), Celebrity Infinity (2001), Celebrity Millennium (2000), Celebrity Reflection (2012), Celebrity Silhouette (2011), Celebrity Solstice (2008), Celebrity Summit (2001), Celebrity Xpedition (2022)

About the company

Celebrity Cruises was the brainchild of Harry H. Haralambopoulos, and brothers John and Michael Chandris, London-based Greek cargo ship owners and operators of the long-defunct Chandris Lines and Chandris Cruises. In 1989, just as the cruise industry was gaining momentum, they wanted to create a newer, better cruise line, with new ships, larger cabins, and greater focus on food and service in the European tradition.

Its image as a ‘premium’ line is justified because the product delivery on board is superior to (and higher priced than) that of parent company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (renamed Royal Caribbean Group), which bought it in 1997 for $1.3 billion. Celebrity Cruises is now more akin to Royal Caribbean International, but with a more upmarket wrapper, and a higher price point.

The ships are recognizable by a large ‘X’ on the funnel, denoting the third letter from the end of the Greek alphabet, the Greek ‘chi’ or ‘Ch’ in English, for Chandris, the founding family.

In 2007 Celebrity Cruises created sub-brand Azamara Cruises (now simply known as Azamara), with three ships (of around 700 passengers), but sold the brand in 2021 to investment group Sycamore Partners, who added a fourth ship of the same series.

What is it really like?

The ships are clean and well maintained, and typically have good flower displays. The company delivers a well-defined cruise experience at a modest price. If the budget allows, book a suite-category cabin for extra benefits. Strong points include a good standard of service and a ‘zero announcement policy.’ Ships also showcase some eclectic sculptures and original artwork, from Picasso to Warhol.

The ships have more staff than other ships of comparable size and capacity, mainly in the housekeeping and food and beverage departments. However, the company has removed items such as personalized stationery from some accommodation grades, substituted cloth napkins with paper ones, and reduced the amount and quality of fresh flower displays (although there are still some).

Intrusive music is played almost everywhere, and it’s hard to find a quiet corner to sit and read). Note that there is no deck 13 aboard the ships of Celebrity Cruises.

For children

Junior passengers are divided into Shipmates (three to five years), Celebrity Cadets (six to eight years), Ensigns (nine to 11 years), Admiral T’s (12–14 years), and Teens (13–17).

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