By
Rebecca Gibson |
STX France laid the first piece of keel for Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge at its yard in Saint-Nazaire, France on 21 June 2017.
Executives from both Celebrity Cruises and STX France watched as a traditional lucky coin was placed in the building dock before the first 875-ton block of keel was lowered into place. The remaining building blocks will now be joined together to create the ship’s superstructure.
Part of the line’s first new ship class since 2008, Celebrity Edge will be delivered in autumn 2018. The vessel will be christened by Malala Yousafzai, the youngest-ever Noble Peace Prize recipient and now Nobel Laureate and UN Messenger of Peace.
Designed completely in 3D, the 2,918-guest Celebrity Edge will feature various innovations, including suites and staterooms created by designer Kelly Hoppen MBE of Kelly Hoppen Interiors, and The Rooftop Garden developed by architect Tom Wright of WKK.
Another highlight will be the Magic Carpet – a ship-climbing platform the size of a tennis court that can scale the 16-deck ship and be positioned at four levels to provide additional space for restaurants, the pool deck and a key component to the Destination Gateway, a luxury embarkation station for guests joining tenders to get to shore.
Celebrity Edge will homeport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and embark on her maiden cruise on 16 December 2018. The ship will sail a seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise to San Juan, Puerto Rico; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten. Her seven-day Western Caribbean calls on Key West, Florida; Costa Maya, Mexico; Cozumel, Mexico; and George Town, Grand Cayman. Travelers will also have the option to book back-to-back sailings for a 14-night journey.
Sister ship Celebrity Beyond will join Celebrity Edge in 2020, followed by a ship in 2021 and another in 2022.