March 2014

Celebrity Cruises has revealed its 2015 Europe itineraries, with five state-of-the-art ships sailing to 94 incredible destinations in 28 countries. With new exciting ports of call and a greater variety of itineraries to choose from, Celebrity will be sailing to Europe’s most intriguing destinations. The modern luxury brand will offer more than 65 enticing overnight stays, giving guests the chance to fully immerse themselves in each destination. Many of the overnight visits will also take place during must-see events and celebrations allowing vacationers to experience Europe as a local.

Captain’s Club loyalty members now have exclusive 'Priority Access' for booking their Europe vacations before the official on-sale date on Tuesday, March 18.

The cruise line’s newest and most luxurious ship Celebrity Reflection will sail her 2015 summer and fall season in Europe along with the award-winning Celebrity Silhouette, Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Constellation and Celebrity Eclipse.

New itineraries for 2015 include:

Celebrity Constellation: The Millennium Class ship will sail the Mediterranean with a new selection of seven-night itineraries. Venice, Italy will be the new home for the modern luxury ship, joining Istanbul, Turkey and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy:

• Greek Isles and Turkey seven-night sailings: Departing from Venice and calling in Dubrovnik; Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey; Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Corfu and Katakolon, Greece; and more

• Black Sea and Greek Isles 12- to 14-night itinerary: Visiting Burgas, Bulgaria; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Athens (Piraeus), Mykonos and Santorini, Greece; Koper, Slovenia; and the Bosphorus Strait

• A special 14-night sailing on July 19, 2015, will sail from Venice during the Redentore Festival, an exciting and atmospheric Venetian tradition that dates back to more than 400 years ago.

Celebrity Silhouette: Northern Europe will be the new destination for Celebrity Silhouette in 2015 and guests can enjoy more overnight stays in top European ports of call:

• Scandinavia and Russia: 12-night roundtrip from Amsterdam to Stockholm with three overnight stays in the exciting cities of Copenhagen, Denmark; St. Petersburg, Russia; and Stockholm

• The British Isles: Roundtrip from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Fredericia, Denmark; Cork, Dublin and Waterford, Ireland; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Holyhead, Wales; Dover and Liverpool, England; and Paris (Le Havre), France and more; plus overnight stays in Dublin Bay (Dun Laoghaire), Ireland; and Edinburgh, Scotland for guests to enjoy the British Open golf tournament.

Celebrity Equinox: Popular in 2014, Celebrity’s seven-night itineraries will feature a greater variety of Mediterranean vacations to choose from in 2015. These sailings can be combined into a destination-immersive Mediterranean Grand Tour vacation experience of up to 28 nights. Celebrity Equinox will sail from Athens as a new port in 2015, plus Barcelona, Istanbul and Rome:

• The series of seven-night itineraries include visits to Nice (Villefranche), France; Athens, Chania, Crete and Rhodes, Greece; Ephesus and Istanbul; Catania, Florence, Genoa, Rome, and Sicily, Italy; Ajaccio, Corsica; and there are new overnight stays in Ibiza, Spain and Mykonos, Greece, where guests can enjoy the vibrant nightlife.

• Guests also have the unique opportunity to experience an overnight in Cannes, France during the star-studded Cannes Film Festival. The 10-night Mediterranean itinerary sets sail on May 11, 2015 from Barcelona to Rome

Celebrity Eclipse: A series of 11- to 14-night sailings will explore Europe’s top sun and beach destinations, and the ship’s 13- to 15-night itineraries will visit popular destinations in Northern Europe:

• Sailing roundtrip from Southampton, England, Celebrity Eclipse will cruise into Ponta Delgada, Azores; Lisbon and Madeira (Funchal), Portugal; Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura, Canary Islands

• Vacationers can also enjoy 13- to 15-night Scandinavia and Russia itineraries to historic cities, including Copenhagen; Stockholm; Tallinn, Estonia; Klaipeda, Lithuania; Gdansk (Gdynia), Poland; St. Petersburg; and Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany.

Celebrity Reflection: The ship’s third successful consecutive season in Europe offers a series of 10- and 11-night Mediterranean sailings from Rome to the Greek Isles and Turkey; and the 11-night itinerary features an overnight stay in Istanbul.

In 2015-16, the premium brand will also introduce the newly announced “Suite Class” experience. Beginning April 2015, the new luxurious offerings include a dedicated suites-only restaurant, VIP lounge, complimentary premium drinks and more. For further information, visit www.celebritycruises.com/suiteclass.

Celebrating the launch of Celebrity’s World Tour, each destination will open with an incredible offer. Guests can receive up to $400 to spend onboard for every cruise or cruisetour that is four nights or longer (from the newly available itineraries) and booked by April 30, 2014, excluding Celebrity Xpedition sailings. In addition, the offer can be combined with select future promotions. For more information, guests can contact a travel agent.

Celebrity will continue to reveal its full 2015-16 lineup as each set of itineraries opens for bookings.

Opening dates for 2015-16

Destination	Captain’s Club exclusive 'Priority Access'	General public on-sale date
Galapagos Islands	Now open	Now open
Alaska	Now open	Now open
South America & Panama Canal	Now open	3/11/14
Europe	Now open	3/18/14
Caribbean	3/20/14	3/25/14
Asia, Australia & Hawaii	3/27/14	4/1/14
Bermuda & Canada	4/3/14	4/8/14

For more information contace a cruise travel agent.

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An exotic “Journey to Three Continents – African Safari, Turkey and the Black Sea”

Celebrity Cruises today unveiled a new vacation experience for guests, which combines the exhilaration of an African safari with the relaxation of a modern luxury cruise. Vacationers can indulge in the wonders of a wildlife safari and then set sail onboard Celebrity Constellation to discover the beauty, history and culture of the Black Sea and Turkey.

Beginning in the Republic of Kenya, Celebrity’s new 2014 escorted journey visits the three continents of Africa, Europe and Asia. Guests can enjoy the sights and sounds of Nairobi, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara, observe the breathtaking wildlife of two game reserves by day, and indulge in luxurious hotels and game lodges by night. Following the Kenyan adventure, vacationers will continue onto Istanbul, Turkey for an exciting and awe-inspiring cruise. While at sea, guests can indulge in the luxuries that one can expect from Celebrity - fine dining, top-tier service and culture-rich destinations.

The vacation package includes:

• Air travel to and from JFK: Upon arrival in Nairobi, Kenya, guests will be greeted by Celebrity’s Destination Concierge, who will escort guests throughout their trip

• Five nights in Africa at four- and five-star hotels and game reserve lodges

• Three African safari expeditions

• Immersive 11- to 12-night cruise roundtrip from Istanbul to the Black Sea: The 12-night sailings will also visit the Greek Isles, and the 11-night itinerary sails to Sochi, Russia

• Classic Beverage Package, including wine and spirits

• All transfers during the trip in Kenya and Istanbul

“Our new 'Journey to Three Continents - African Safari, Turkey and the Black Sea' is unique and unlike anything we've offered before. We continuously strive to offer our guests one-of-a-kind immersive experiences, and with this new escorted journey we are combining the very best on land and at sea,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. “From the thrills of East Africa to the charms of the Black Sea, this trip offers the perfect mix of exhilaration and relaxation. We will be revealing more enticing land and cruise vacations this year, giving our guests more opportunities to discover all seven continents in modern luxury style.”

Kenya has some of the best game viewing in the world, with an opportunity to see Africa’s Big Five (elephant, rhino, leopard, lion and buffalo) up close and personal. This fall on the Kenyan pre-cruise stay guests will experience the Karen Blixen Museum & Giraffe Center – featured in the Academy Award-winning movie “Out of Africa” – world-class game drives in the Masai Mara, and delicious yet adventurous local cuisine.

The Journey to Three Continents - African Safari, Turkey and the Black Sea vacation will be offered with select 11- or 12-night sailings onboard Celebrity Constellation, with journey departures from JFK on September 13, September 28 and October 7, 2014. Guests can contact a travel agent to book this once-in-a-lifetime, customized African safari experience. 

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In an industry first, ever-innovative ultra-luxury cruise specialist Crystal Cruises is introducing Ambassador Hostesses on select cruises, expanding its hugely popular onboard dancing program.  Female counterparts to the line’s Ambassador Hosts – professional dance partners for ladies without one – will debut on three Ballroom at Sea Experiences of Discovery voyages in 2014 and 2015.  Along with eight male dance hosts (double the usual number), the Trans-Atlantic sailings will each feature two Ambassador Hostesses to cha cha, swing, and waltz with solo gentlemen during evening dance sets, live orchestra performances and dance classes in the ships’ posh lounges.  The three voyages set to get guests’ tapping this year and next include:

• October 5, 2014, Lisbon/Miami, Crystal Symphony (10 days)
• June 12, 2015, New York/London, Crystal Symphony (16 days)
• December 11, 2015, Lisbon/Miami, Crystal Serenity (11 days)

 

“Thanks to the suggestion of one of our popular dance instructors, we tested Ambassador Hostesses on a recent cruise and the response was fantastic,” says Bret Bullock, vice president of entertainment.  “Similar to tennis players who play better when they play with a pro, dance enthusiasts are inspired by partnering with experts who really know the steps and the more advanced nuances.”

Crystal Cruises has been featuring Ambassador Hosts on its cruises since the company’s inception, as there are traditionally more women than men seeking dance partners.  While every Crystal cruise boasts at least four Hosts, on select voyages with many more dance sessions, the line adds more when possible.  Hosts also serve as dance partners to guests traveling with spouses or companions who don’t dance, as well as socialize with all guests, join singles dining tables, and accompany group excursions ashore.

Crystal is known for its welcoming atmosphere for solo travelers, with some of the industry’s lowest single supplement fares, assigned seating in the Crystal Dining Room, a singles get-together, and a “Table for Eight” program that joins single cruisers together for dinner in specialty restaurants like Nobu Matsuhisa’s Silk Road and the Sushi Bar.

“A Crystal cruise is so inherently comfortable and luxurious for a single traveler,” adds Bullock. “But no matter how independent one is, one cannot ballroom dance without a partner.”

Until April 30, 2014, all-inclusive “Book Now” fares for the upcoming “Ballroom at Sea” cruises start as low as $2,595 per person.

Crystal Cruises’ award-winning entertainment offerings include a range of venues and performances, from cabaret nightclub to piano bar saloon; acclaimed productions to headline entertainers; and sophisticated enrichment activities to in-room Blu-ray-viewing, for all world travelers.

Contact an agent for more information.

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