Celebrity Cruises
756773
221472289
2008-06-24T17:27:41Z
Goodvac
6052161
/* External links */ {{Celebrity Ships}}
{{Infobox Company
| company_name = Celebrity Cruises
| company_logo = [[Image:Celebrity cruises.GIF|150px|center]]
| company_type = [[Public company|Public]]
| foundation = [[1989]]
| location = [[Miami]], [[Florida]]
| key_people =
| area_served =
| industry = [[Transportation]]
| products = [[Cruising (maritime)|Cruise]]s
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| num_employees =
| parent =
| subsid =
| homepage = http://www.celebrity.com/
| footnotes =
}}
'''Celebrity Cruises''' is a [[cruise line]] founded in [[1989]] by the [[Greece|Greek]] [[Chandris Group]]. In [[1997]] Celebrity Cruises Ltd. merged with [[Royal Caribbean International]] to become [[Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.]], which operates Celebrity and the [[Royal Caribbean International]] lines. Today the company is headquartered in [[Miami, Florida]] in the [[United States]]. The signature "X" on Celebrity ship funnels is the Greek letter [[chi (letter)|chi]], for "Chandris".<ref name="MM">[http://www.maritimematters.com/sun-vista.html Maritime Matters: Sun Vista], retrieved 29. 11. 2007</ref><ref name="Ulrich">Ulrich, Kurt: ''Monarchs of the Sea'', page 177. Tauris Parke, year and place of printing not stated. ISBN 1 86064 3736</ref> Common features on board are aft-glass dining rooms, formal foyer areas, alternative restaurants, balcony and suite staterooms, large pools and lounging areas, signature bars and lounges, libraries, elegant spas and gyms, as well as relaxing areas.
==History==
[[Image:Celebrity Mercury at Cabo San Lucas 1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''[[Mercury (ship)|Mercury]]'' shows the distinctive color scheme and "X" symbol on the funnel.]]
The [[Greece]]-based [[Chandris Group]] had been involved in cruise traffic since the 1960s,<ref name="Ulrich" /> under two brands: [[Chandris Fantasy Cruises]], that operated in the [[Caribbean]], and [[Chandris Cruises]], that operated in [[Europe]]. Both of these companies mainly catered for the lower end of the market, their fleets consisting of second-hand [[ocean liners]].<ref name="NineMSN">[http://travel.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=85733 NineMSN: Cruising: Celebrity Cruises], retrieved 29. 11. 2007</ref> In 1988 [[Home Lines]], at the time one of the world's leading premium cruise lines, was sold to [[Holland America Line]], and Chandris saw a chance of creating a premium line of their own. With this in mind, Chandris Fantasy Cruises' [[SS Galileo|''Galileo'']] was rebuilt at [[Lloyd Werft]], [[Germany]] in 1989, re-entering service as [[S/S Meridian|''Meridian'']] for Chandris' new Celebrity Cruises brand in February 1990.<ref name="MM" /> Just two months later Celebrity Cruises' first newbuilding, [[Horizon (ship)|''Horizon'']], entered service.<ref name="Horizon">{{sv icon}} [http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/horizon_1990.htm Fakta om Fartyg: M/S Horizon (1990)], retrieved 29. 11. 2007</ref> A third ship, ''[[Zenith (ship)|Zenith]]'', followed in 1992.<ref name="FoF">{{sv icon}} [http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/celebrity_cruises.htm Fakta om Fartyg: Celebrity Cruises], retrieved 29. 11. 2007</ref>
In 1997 the Chandris family sold their interests in Celebrity cruises to [[Royal Caribbean International]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.celebritycruises.com/aboutceleb/heroSingleTxt.do;jsessionid=00000Fs8tZgXKjyvw8YvB-J2nBv:12hdebdrn?pagename=history |title=About Celebrity: History |accessdate=2008-04-04 |publisher=Celebrity Cruises }}</ref> During the same year Celebrity Cruises took delivery of the first ''Century'' class vessel, ''[[Century (ship)|Century]]'', that was followed by ''[[MV Galaxy|Galaxy]]'' in 1996 and ''[[Mercury (ship)|Mercury]]'' in 1997.<ref name="FoF" /> Following the delivery of the ''Mercury'', the ''Meridian'' was sold to [[Singapore]]-based [[Sun Cruises]].<ref name="MM" /> Between 2000 and 2002 Celebrity took delivery of a quartet of new ships, the [[gas turbine]] -powered and aptly named ''Millennium'' class ships ''[[Millennium (ship)|Millennium]]'', ''[[GTS Infinity|Infinity]]'', ''[[GTS Summit|Summit]]'' and ''[[GTS Constellation|Constellation]]''.<ref name="FoF" /> The Celebrity Expeditions sub-brand was lauched in 2004 with the acquisition of ''[[Celebrity Xpedition]]'', a small boutique ship offering specialized cruises around the [[Galápagos Islands]].<ref>Ward, Douglas: ''Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2006'', page 237. Berlitz Publishing 2006. ISBN 981 246 739 4</ref> In 2005 the ''Horizon'' was transferred to the fleet Royal Caribbean's [[United Kingdom]] -based subsidiary [[Island Cruises]].<ref name="Horizon" /> In the same year the first ship of what was to be named ''Solstice'' class was ordered from [[Meyer Werft]].<ref>[http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=729049&highlight=117,000 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. press release: Celebrity Cruises Orders New Cruise Ship, Launches Innovative New Class], retrieved 29. 11. 2007</ref> By 2007 three more ships of this class were on order.<ref name="Solstice">[http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1004746&highlight= Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. press release: Celebrity Cruises Announces Fourth Solstice-Class Ship], retrieved 29. 11. 2007</ref>
In 2006 plans were made to transfer [[M/S Blue Moon|''Blue Moon'']] and [[M/S Blue Dream|''Blue Dream'']] from the fleet of [[Pullmantur Cruises]] to Celebrity Cruises under the names of ''Celebrity Quest'' and ''Celebrity Journey''. The ships would have joined the Celebrity Expeditions sub-brand,<ref name="Pullmantur">[http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=923985&highlight=celebrity%20expeditions Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. press release: Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Receives Antitrust Approval On Pullmantur Purchase; Announces Celebrity Expeditions And Celebrity, Pullmantur Ship Swap], retrieved 29. 11. 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=942274&highlight=celebrity%20expeditions Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. press release: Celebrity Cruises Expands 'Celebrity Expeditions'; Adds Celebrity Quest to Exotic Brand Extension], retrieved 29. 11. 2007</ref> but in the end the decision was made to form an entirely new line, [[Azamara Cruises]], to operate these ships in 2007.<ref>[http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=996028&highlight=azamara Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. press release: Celebrity Cruises Presents New, Deluxe Cruise Line: Azamara Cruises], retrieved 29. 11. 2007</ref> Also in 2007 the ''Zenith'' was transferred to Pullmantur Cruises 'in exhange' for the Azamara ships.<ref name="Pullmantur" />
==Fleet==
===Current fleet===
{| class="wikitable"
! Ship || Entered service<br>for Celebrity || Class || Capacity || Tonnage<sup>1</sup> || Flag || Notes
|-
| ''[[Celebrity Century]]'' ||align="Center" | 1995 || ''Century'' class ||align="Center" | 1778 || {{GRT|70606|metric}} || {{flag|Malta}} || Previously ''Century''
|-
| ''[[Celebrity Galaxy]]'' ||align="Center" | 1996 || ''Century'' class ||align="Center" | 1896 || {{GRT|76522|metric}} || {{flag|Bahamas}} || Previously ''Galaxy''. Will transfer to [[TUI Cruises]] in March 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1136131&highlight= |title=Celebrity Cruises' ''Celebrity Galaxy'' to Become First Ship in New TUI Cruises Fleet |accessdate=2008-04-29 |date=2008-04-29 |work=Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. press release |publisher=Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.}}</ref>
|-
| {{MV|Celebrity Mercury||2}} ||align="Center" | 1997 || ''Century'' class ||align="Center" | 1896 || {{GRT|76522|metric}} || {{flag|Panama}} || Previously ''Mercury''.
|-
| ''[[Celebrity Millennium]]'' ||align="Center" | 2000 || ''Millennium'' class ||align="Center" | 2460 || {{GT|90228}} || {{flag|Bahamas}} || Previously ''Millennium''.
|-
| ''[[Celebrity Infinity]]'' ||align="Center" | 2001 || ''Millennium'' class ||align="Center" | 2499 || {{GT|90280}} || {{flag|Bahamas}} || Previously ''Infinity'', renamed 2007
|-
| ''[[Celebrity Summit]]'' ||align="Center" | 2002 || ''Millennium'' class ||align="Center" | 2499 || {{GT|90280}} || {{flag|Bahamas}} || Previously ''Summit''.
|-
| ''[[Celebrity Constellation]]'' ||align="Center" | 2002 || ''Millennium'' class ||align="Center" | 2038 || {{GT|90280}} || {{flag|Bahamas}} || Previously ''Constellation'', renamed 2007
|-
| ''[[Celebrity Xpedition]]'' ||align="Center" | 2004 || ''Xpedition'' class ||align="Center" | 96 || {{GT|2329}} || {{flag|Ecuador}} ||
|-
| colspan="7" | <sup>1</sup>May be specified in [[gross tonnage]] (GT) or [[gross register tons]] (GRT).
|}
===Future ships===
Celebrity Cruises has ordered five new ships, the [[Solstice (ship)|Solstice]], the [[Equinox (ship)|Equinox]], the [[Eclipse (ship)|Eclipse]], and two still to be named ships.<ref name="Solstice" /> These will be Celebrity's largest vessels at 122,000 [[Tonnage|GT]], holding 2,850 passengers each, and measuring {{convert|1033|ft|m|2|abbr=on}} in length, with a beam of {{convert|121|ft|m|2|abbr=on}}.
{| class="wikitable"
! Ship || Planned delivery date || Shipyard || Projected<br>capacity || Projected<br>[[gross tonnage]] || Planned flag
|-
| ''[[Celebrity Solstice]]'' ||align="Center" | Fall 2008 || [[Meyer Werft]], [[Papenburg]] ||align="Center" | 2850 || {{GT|122000}} ||
|-
| ''[[Celebrity Equinox]]'' ||align="Center" | Summer 2009 || [[Meyer Werft]], [[Papenburg]] ||align="Center" | 2850 || {{GT|122000}} ||
|-
| ''[[Celebrity Eclipse]]'' ||align="Center" | Summer 2010 || [[Meyer Werft]], [[Papenburg]] ||align="Center" | 2850 || {{GT|122000}} ||
|-
| ''Name unknown'' ||align="Center" | Fall 2011 || [[Meyer Werft]], [[Papenburg]] ||align="Center" | 2850 || {{GT|122000}} ||
|-
| ''Name unknown'' ||align="Center" | Fall 2012 || [[Meyer Werft]], [[Papenburg]] ||align="Center" | 2850 || {{GT|122000}} ||
|}
===Retired Ships===
[[Image:MV Horizon Dock.jpg|thumb|right|''Horizon'', today sailing as the ''Island Star'']]
{| class="wikitable"
! Ship || Years in service || Tonnage<sup>1</sup> || Status as of 2007
|-
| [[S/S Meridian|''Meridian'']] || 1990—1997 ||align="Center" | {{GRT|30440|metric}} || Burnt and sank at the Straits of Malacca, 1999
|-
| ''[[Horizon (ship)|Horizon]]''|| 1990—2005 ||align="Center" | {{GRT|46811|metric}} || Since 2005 ''Island Star'' for [[Island Cruises]]
|-
| ''[[Zenith (ship)|Zenith]]''|| 1992—2007 ||align="Center" | {{GRT|47255|metric}} || Since 2007 sailing for [[Pullmantur Cruises]]
|-
| colspan="5" | <sup>1</sup>May be specified in [[gross tonnage]] (GT) or [[gross register tons]] (GRT).
|}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{commonscat|Celebrity Cruises ships}}
*[http://www.celebrity.com/ Celebrity Website]
*[http://www.celebritycruises.co.uk/ Celebrity Cruises UK Website]
{{ Members of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.}}
{{Celebrity Ships}}
[[Category:Cruise lines]]
[[Category:Celebrity Cruises| ]]
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