New cruise ship Celebrity Edge arrives to Florida
Celebrity Edge has made it to Florida.
The first in a new class of ship from Celebrity Cruises arrived to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale today amid water-spraying tug boats and helicopters flying overhead.
The 2,918-passenger ship arrived to the cruise line’s new terminal at the port before it begins Caribbean duties starting Nov 21.
The arrival was attended by Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Chairman and CEO Richard Fain who took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony with port and city officials.
“We always knew we were going to come to South Florida in its first season,” Lutoff-Perlo said. “It also made sense to come to Port Everglades because from the very beginning, Port Everglades was extremely interested and determined to bring this modern luxury ship here.”
Edge’s new home the $120 million renovated Terminal 25, which is the first brand-specific terminal for Celebrity Cruises, and officials expect to see 500,000 passengers move through it annually.
The 1,004-foot-long vessel’s unique features include the Magic Carpet, a large multi-use elevator of sorts that moves up and down the side of the 16-deck ship while playing the role of mass transportation, but also as an entertainment and dining venue.
Another unique feature on Edge is the three-story venue called Eden that will feature an 18-foot-tall wall of plants over a bar that uses ingredients from the plants in its drinks. The venue will act as relaxing lounge during the day and dinner theater venue at night with aerialists and musicians. Other features include martini glass-shaped jacuzzis, staterooms without sliding doors and two new suite categories.
“It took some courage to invest in the kind of ship that we built with Edge,” Fain said. “But now that she’s here and finished there’s absolutely no doubt that she will not only be an aesthetic success, but a commercial success.”
Fain said the demand for the ship has been unprecedented.
“I don’t think we’ve ever had a ship that’s had so much anticipation and such excellent forward bookings,” he said.
The ship will continue sailing seven-night alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries until summer 2019 when it migrates to the Mediterranean. It’s one of five new ships debuting in Florida this year including the recent arrival of the largest ship in the world. Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas.
Celebrity Edge is the first of a new class of ship. The line’s last class of ship, the Solstice class, debuted more than 10 years ago. A sister ship, Celebrity Apex, is slated for delivery in spring 2020 with two more on order for 2021 and 2022.
“When I got the opportunity to design a new ship for the first time in 13 years, we had a great opportunity to transform the brand,” Lutoff-Perlo said. “I think we found along the way that we have not only transformed the brand but we’ve transformed the industry with Celebrity Edge.”
rtribou@orlandosentinel.com, 407-420-5134
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