This was published 7 years ago
Celebrity Cruises reveals designs for new ship Celebrity Edge, due to set sail in December 2018
The Magic Carpet, an exterior platform will roam up and down from Deck 2 to Deck 16, is one of the innovations for the new cruise ship Celebrity Edge.
Celebrity Cruises famously introduced the real-grass lawn deck on its Solstice-class ships – the fifth and final ship in that class, Celebrity Reflection, launched in 2012 – and many thousands of cruisers have sailed on Celebrity Solstice during its summer sojourns in Australia. Five years on, the line has revealed plans and images for its next ship, Celebrity Edge, which is due to set sail in December 2018 and will be the first of four in the new Edge class.
It's certainly another giant leap forward in ship design, pushing the boundaries of what we imagine ocean travel is all about. The most extraordinary feature is the Magic Carpet, an exterior platform cantilevered off the starboard side of the ship that will roam up and down from Deck 2 to Deck 16.
On Deck 2, the tennis-court sized Magic Carpet will be an extension to the Destination Gateway, an embarkation station where guests can step directly from the ship's deck onto the platform to board tender boats that will take them ashore. When tendering operations have finished, the platform will move alongside Deck 5, to become an alfresco extension to a specialty restaurant; at Deck 14 it becomes an open-air addition to the main pool area; and at Deck 16 it will be the "ultimate specialty restaurant", offering a special "Dinner on the Edge" for 90 passengers. And no, you can't ride up and down on it – it's not like the Rising Tide bar on Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class ships, as I initially thought.
Ana Popara from Wind Spirit.
Another distinctive feature is the Rooftop Garden, a futuristic space decked out with living plants and sculptural pieces. It will have a bar and grill and various activities will be held there during the day; in the evening there will be live music and outdoor movie-and-meal pairing events.
Celebrity Edge will accommodate 2918 passengers (Celebrity Solstice carries 2850). It introduces two new categories of suites, Iconic Suites and Edge Villas, as well as "infinite verandas" in Edge staterooms. These are designed to bring the outside in by making the balcony part of the room; passengers can control the space by activating screens that open or close the balcony.
As well as increasing the overall number of suites, Celebrity Edge boosts the bonuses of being a suite guest. These include having access to The Retreat, a private space that comprises a sundeck and pool, a lounge with around-the-clock personal service, and exclusive restaurant Luminae@The Retreat. As they say on deck, it's Home Suite Home.
MEET THE CREW
NAME Ana Popara, from Croatia
POSITION Voyage leader, Windstar's Wind Spirit
MY JOB… is like a shore excursion manager's. I co-ordinate tours with local operators and when I can, go on tours to check their quality. I also answer passengers' questions about ports we visit, give them advice on what to see and host activities such as our private island event in Ta'haa.
A TYPICAL DAY… usually starts about 7am. I go to the office, prepare for the tour departures, go out to see the operators and make sure all the jeeps, boats and buses are ready and waiting for our guests. Then there are the next day's tours to co-ordinate and lots of paperwork – reports, feedback surveys and analysis and future excursion research. In the evening I present port talks; I've sailed here for nearly a year so know the area pretty well. And I wouldn't swap my job for anything!
FAVOURITE CRUISE MOMENT I love the departure from Moorea. No matter how many times we do it, I always go up on deck for sailaway. It is a magical, beautiful place.
FAVOURITE CRUISE PORTS There are so many it's hard to make a decision! What I like best about the ports we visit in the Society Islands is that they're not yet commercialised. Otherwise, St Juan in Puerto Rico is lovely; the people are really friendly and it reminds me of Europe.
INSIDER TIPS Explore Moorea – take a shore excursion or rent a car; in Bora Bora, go and see the lagoon; and try poisson cru from the food truck in Papeete, or anywhere we stop.
TIP
If you're heading overseas, remember to let your bank know to avoid any embarrassing and inconvenient card cancellations.
NEWS
Sel de Mer pops up in HAL's Pinnacle Grill
Holland America Line is honouring its master chef and culinary consultant Rudi Sodamin, the creator of Sel de Mer on its newest ship Koningsdam, by launching the French brasserie as a pop-up in the Pinnacle Grill and naming it Rudi's Sel de Mer. Six ships in the fleet will feature the pop-up – Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Oosterdam, Westerdam and Zuiderdam. Sel de Mer serves classic French seafood dishes with a contemporary twist – Rudi's Seafood Tower and Fruits de Mer is a favourite starter and main courses include fish bought at local markets whenever possible. Fans of French desserts can indulge in good old-fashioned crepes Suzette and apple tarte tatin, or an "artisanal" French cheese plate. You'd be hard-pressed to find this level of dining on land for $US49. See hollandamerica.com
Bookings open for world's biggest cruise ship
When Symphony of the Seas, the 26th ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet, sets sail in April 2018 it will take over the title of world's biggest cruise ship from its slightly smaller sister, Harmony of the Seas. The 6780-passenger Symphony will share many features of its Oasis-class fleetmates – seven neighbourhoods, the robotic Bionic Bar, waterfront AquaTheater and Ultimate Abyss – the tallest slide at sea – but Royal Caribbean is hinting that there will be more "first at sea" features. Symphony will cruise the Mediterranean for the summer, then move to Miami in November to begin seven-night eastern and western Caribbean itineraries from the new Port Miami Terminal A. This enormous facility has been designed specifically for Royal Caribbean's megaships and is scheduled to open when Symphony arrives. See royalcaribbean.com.au
Sydney berthing pains update
A few weeks ago we looked at proposals to "double stack" ships at Sydney's Overseas Passenger Terminal, whereby two ships would do separate turnarounds at the terminal on the same day – one possible solution to the lack of space for the increasing number of ships that would like to visit our world-famous harbour. Carnival Australia is not keen, saying that the scheme would leave no room for the unexpected, such as bad weather causing ship delays: early morning arrivals would require passengers to be up well before dawn; and evening turnaround would see passengers having to embark late into the night, with all passengers effectively losing the first night of their cruise. Carnival's executive chairman Ann Sherry firmly believes that the $213 million upgrade of Garden Island is "an opportunity to consider the long-term certainty of cruise ship access at the base at the height of the peak cruise season" – something's got to give for this booming industry to continue flourishing.
DEAL OF THE WEEK
MyCruises' Pacific island-hopping cruise-combo visits 11 ports on nine islands in four different countries in the South Pacific. Carnival Legend departs Sydney on April 3, 2018, for an 18-night cruise to Honolulu, where you spend two nights in the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani in Waikiki before boarding NCL's Pride of America for a seven-night round-trip cruise to Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the island of Hawaii. Fares start from $5290 and include the flight from Honolulu to Sydney, $200 onboard credit for Carnival Legend and all transfers. Book by May 12; phone 1300 69 2784, see MyCruises.com.au
MORE DEALS
ARANUI CRUISES Save up to $900 on select Tahiti cruises on popular cargo/passenger ship Aranui 5 in 2018. The line is offering a 10 per cent discount on all cabin categories on the ship's January 13, March 29 and June 12 departures, with a 10 per cent discount for seniors on the October 2 cruise. Fares start from $7830 for 14-day round-trip cruises from Papeete. Phone 03 9449 3778. See aranuicruises.com.au
CRUISEAWAY is offering a 19-night fly/stay/cruise package in Europe that includes four nights in Zurich, an 11-night Rhine river cruise on Viking Hild and four nights in Paris. Fares start from $6499 and include return flights, complimentary onboard beverages and shore excursions and private transfers. Valid until sold out; phone 1300 306 134. See cruiseaway.com.au
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