Cruise Captains Know Best - What are their favorite European ports and best tips?

Advice for your next cruise can come from many places - even a first timer who hasn't yet embarked can discover information that can help guide us.  Experience does count for quite a bit though, and few have more experience cruising than cruise ship captains.  What are their favorite European ports?  What tips do they have to share with other travelers?

Celebrity Appoints First Female Sea Captain to Sail Galapagos

Celebrity Cruise lines announced this week that Captain Nathaly Albán will command the exclusive Celebrity Xploration through the archipelago of the Galapagos.  This marks the first time in cruise history that a woman will navigate the region as captain and continues the history-making promotion of qualified women to senior officer roles in the cruise industry, including appointments by lines such as Cunard and sister-company Royal Caribbean International...

Celebrity Reveals "Eden" on Celebrity Edge - Chillful. Playful. Sinful. - Panoramic Views of The Sea, Live Trees, Creative Cuisine, Unique Performances, and More

In the morning and through the afternoon, Eden Café offers a wide variety of beverages and casual culinary bites – complimentary for guests.

Today in New York Celebrity Cruises revealed impressive new details about their upcoming flag ship, the Celebrity Edge.  Presented was a new venue, Eden.  Located at the aft of the ship and larger than the Hayden Planetarium, is a lounge, dinner theater, and more, featuring 7,000 sq ft of glass windows - more than any other room at sea, live plants and herbs, and truly inspired design...

Celebrity's Newest Ship Edges Toward Reality - Keel Laid in Saint-Nazaire

An iconic step in the life of any new ship is the keel laying ceremony, when the first piece of steel is put in place.  Today in Saint-Nazaire, France the foundation was laid for the innovative new structure of the Celebrity Edge.  In front of leaders of Celebrity Cruises and STX France shipyard, an 875 ton block was lifted into the air and a coin was placed on the dock before lowering the metal section into position.  Now the vessel will begin to take shape as additional blocks can be joined to the newly-laid foundation...

Richard Fain, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd Speaks Excitedly About Celebrity Edge and Royal Caribbean Tech

Today Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, parent company to Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises had their first quarter earnings call, and in case your wondering, it seemed good news for shareholders.  For cruisers there earnings calls don't generally offer much, so there wasn't any huge news, but interestingly, most non-financial comments were about onboard technology and Celebrity Edge...

Malala Yousafzai Tapped as Celebrity Edge Godmother

Inspired by her mission and advances in furthering girl’s education, Celebrity has named 19-year old Nobel Laureate and U.N. Messenger of Peace Malala Yousafzai as the Godmother of their newest ship, Celebrity Edge, debuting late in 2018.  In addition, the Miami-based cruise line announced a two-year partnership with the Malala Fund, an organization whose mission is to secure 12 years of safe, free quality education for every girl.

Click through to read more information and get our take...

Celebrity Cruises & BravoTV.com Launch Video Series, "Isaac Takes On" - Features “Top Chef” Star Chef Isaac Toups

Just announced, "Top Chef's" Isaac Toupe will be featured on a new video series as he competes against tastemakers in a wide variety of culinary challenges while sailing the Caribbean on Celebrity Cruises.  Viewers will catch appearances from the beautiful Celebrity Reflection and its team as well as Celebrity's own Michelin-starred chef, Cornelius Gallagher.  Isaac's challenges vary from whipping up world-class omelets, creating specialty cocktails, to tacking Mofongo, a traditional Puerto Rican dish.

"We are excited about this partnership as it gives our guests...

RCCL Signs Deal With Port Everglades - Customized Rennovations of Terminal 25

port everglades terminal 25 - celebrity cruises
'X' (Celebrity) Marks The Spot @ Terminal 25

Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd (parent company to Celebrity Cruises) and Port Everglades have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) providing the framework for a long term deal between the two entities.  This agreement includes customized renovation of Port Everglades' Terminal 25 by October 31, 2018.  Standard polish, or "Edge Terminal"? 

The New Celebrity Edge - "Designed to leave the future behind"

Six spacious cabanas line the starboard side of the deck and provide another cool hot spot for incredible outward-facing views. These rentable relaxation spaces offer a private getaway and highlight Celebrity’s design DNA. At night, ambient lighting enhances the intimacy of the spaces even more.

celebrity edge magic carpetToday in South Florida, Celebrity Cruises Chairman Richard Fain and President & CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo shared details of the 117,000 GT Celebrity Edge.  From an elevating cantilever bar to Infinite Verandahs and her own tenders, "Edge Launches", everything on this ship seems to have been designed to look out to the water. This ship looks like it will really be something special.  Now, while we go book a cruise on Edge, take a look below at just some of what she'll have to offer next year (be sure to check the gallery at the bottom) and look forward to more updates soon.

 

A Chat With Celebrity Reflection Hotel Director Niyazi Korkmaz and Event Coordinator Zsofia Bak

Niyazi Korkmaz
Niyazi Korkmaz, Hotel Director

 

 

While I was on the Celebrity Reflection, Event Coordinator Zsofia Bak invited me to meet with her and Hotel Director Niyazi Korkmaz to talk about leadership, life on a cruise ship, and Celebrity Cruise line in general. We met in Cellar Masters at 6pm on the last night of the cruise. The following is a summary of the conversation and not a transcript. It should be taken as an indication of the topics discussed in the interview.