Latest news with #LauraHodgesBethge
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Celebrity Cruises plans massive ship upgrades
Celebrity Cruises plans massive ship upgrades originally appeared on Come Cruise With Me. Celebrity Cruises plans to overhaul its Solstice Series ships again. The brand is investing more than $250 million to modernize these, starting with Celebrity Solstice in 2026. Passengers can look forward to eight new experiences, including four new-to-sea spaces, and many redesigned favorites, which elevate everything that makes these ships unforgettable. Bow-to-stern innovations include reinvented outdoor escapes with enhanced views, new restaurants, and entertainment designed to create moments of connection with loved ones, as well as a redesigned stay with all-new stateroom categories and ship-wide stateroom Solstice will be the first of the Solstice Series ships to be made new again, welcoming guests for reimagined vacation experiences starting in March 2026. On board, new experiences from morning to night will make the journey just as exciting as the destinations. Plus, all 1,479 staterooms on Celebrity Solstice are getting an upgrade, offering more ways to feel at home when miles away at sea.'Our Solstice Series ships represent the best of classic cruising, and now we're elevating this vacation experience even further by adding brand-new experiences and enhancements at every turn,' said Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge. 'Guests will enjoy more ways to explore and restore, all while staying true to what made our guests fall in love with these ships in the first place.' Here are some of the changes being made: Boulevard Lounge:Good times and glamorous vibes will take center stage at this brand-new, intimate entertainment venue. With always-on programming, from interactive daytime activities like new game shows and trivia to elevated evenings of candlelit concerts and dueling pianos, this cabaret-inspired lounge offers a dramatic new take on showtime. Boulevard Bar: Just steps away from the lounge, guests can pull up a seat for handcrafted cocktails before or after the show — or both. Celebrity Barcade:Guests should bring their A-game to this new, elevated sports bar, the perfect place to both watch and play games. Guests can catch their favorite sports teams from multiple screens positioned so well they'll never miss a pass; or challenge their friends to a round of billiards, darts, or their favorite retro board game. Guests can enjoy a number of new dining options: Trattoria Rossa –Step into an Italian hideaway that blends opulence with modern design to experience a restaurant that bursts with charm from every corner. In this perfect setting to reignite date night, guests will have a front-row seat to the action with authentic tableside preparations of dishes inspired by Italian classics, including fresh pasta made from scratch daily. Fine Cut Steakhouse –The Forbes Travel Guide-rated, Edge Seriesfavorite steakhouse will bring upscale dining with service that's elevated to an art form. And check out these new bars and other innovations: The Sunset Park:Transforming the top deck of Celebrity Solstice, guests can enjoy unparalleled views fromthis half-acre outdoor oasis. Plus, with elevated cuisine, refreshing cocktails, lawn games, open-air concerts and more, a day at the park never looked so good. New private cabanas: Relax with sweeping ocean views and more shade, while dedicated attendants cater to your every whim. Expanded Sunset Bar:Drink in the views along with a refreshing cocktail, as every hour is happy hour. The Retreat suite area will be refreshed as well: Enhanced Suites: A completely reimagined stay at The Retreat awaits, making the most elevated experience at sea even better, as Celebrity Solstice will sail with enhanced suites. All-new Retreat Sundeck: Unwind in style at an all-new sundeck with ample outdoor seating and shade, exclusive for guests of The Retreat. Guests will relax carefree in an oversized hot tub, as they enjoy prime views from the top of the ship. Redesigned Retreat Lounge: The perfect place to enjoy a light bite or catch up with friends over drinks, reserved for guests of The Retreat. Some cabins will also be overhauled: Refreshed AquaClass Staterooms: A fully immersive, next-level wellness vacation awaits. Every room is updated with spa-inspired elements – from massaging shower heads, aroma therapy diffusers, in-room yoga mats, luxurious robes and slippers, and even a pillow menu for the perfect night's sleep. AquaClass guests can also enjoy complimentary access to the all-new Relaxation Lounge at The Spa. Four brand-new stateroom categories: New stateroom categories offer more ways to stay: The Panoramic Infinite Veranda Suite, Deluxe Panoramic Oceanview Suite, Panoramic Ocean View Suite, and Deluxe Panoramic Ocean View. These new stateroom categories are available to book starting mid-June. Guests will enjoy all of these enhancements on Celebrity Solstice vacations starting in March 2026 with unforgettable Asia and Australia itineraries, followed by summer sailings in Alaska. In September 2026, Celebrity Solstice will also bring guests on a once-in-a-lifetime, 110-night Grand Voyage from Canada to Southeast Asia. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by Come Cruise With Me on May 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
The Independent
29-01-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Celebrity announces new river cruises for 2027
Celebrity Cruises is looking to replicate its luxury ocean cruise experience for passengers on the world's top rivers. The Royal Caribbean Group brand has ordered 10 ships to launch Celebrity River Cruises. Destinations and itineraries haven't yet been revealed but Celebrity Cruises said it will sail 'through the heart of Europe's culture and history' and on the 'world's most iconic rivers'. Bookings will open later this year and sailings will start in 2027. The river cruise ships will have the same design as the current Edge series ocean ships. Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises, said: 'Celebrity River Cruises will bring the quality and sophistication of our Edge series ocean ships to the most iconic rivers, starting with Europe. 'We've redefined travel on the ocean with our best-in-class hospitality, award-winning food and beverage experiences, and elevated design and style. We are thrilled to bring these experiences to the river and combine them with authentic, destination-rich itineraries that will give our guests an experience unlike any other.' Jason Liberty, president and chief executive of Royal Caribbean Group, which owns Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea, said: 'We're thrilled to announce our entry into the river cruise market through our Celebrity Cruises premium travel brand. 'Our guests and travel partners should expect us to do what we do best – innovate and elevate the river cruise experience as we meet the growing demand for intimate, culturally enriching travel experiences.' Liberty highlighted research showing that half of the brand's passengers have experienced or are intending to go on a river cruise. He added: 'We know they will enjoy Celebrity's elevated offering on the river. 'By leveraging our valuable loyalty programmes across our brands, we will deepen customer engagement and further our ability to keep guests within our ecosystem of vacation offerings. 'We are the best in the world at delivering the vacation of a lifetime, and this is the latest example of how we are building the capabilities to deliver a lifetime of vacations.'
USA Today
28-01-2025
- Business
- USA Today
This popular line is launching river cruises in 2027. Here's where it will sail.
This popular line is launching river cruises in 2027. Here's where it will sail. Show Caption Hide Caption How to find the best price, perks when booking a cruise Find the cruise that works for your budget with these tips. Problem Solved Celebrity Cruises will launch river cruises in 2027 with bookings opening this year. The cruise line has ordered 10 ships for its new river cruise offering. The news comes after Celebrity Cruises announced it had ordered a sixth Edge Series ocean ship. Celebrity Cruises is expanding to new waterways. The cruise line will launch river cruises in 2027, with bookings opening this year, the company announced Tuesday. "Celebrity River Cruises will bring the quality and sophistication of our Edge Series ocean ships to the most iconic rivers, starting with Europe," Laura Hodges Bethge, Celebrity's president, said in a news release. "We've redefined travel on the ocean with our best-in-class hospitality, award-winning food and beverage experiences, and elevated design and style. We are thrilled to bring these experiences to the river and combine them with authentic, destination-rich itineraries that will give our guests an experience unlike any other." The cruise line has placed an initial 10-ship order for its river offering. European river cruise guide: 'You're not fighting the crowds' Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Celebrity's parent company, Royal Caribbean Group, noted that roughly half of its guests have been on or intend to take a river cruise. 'By leveraging our valuable loyalty programs across our three brands, we will deepen customer engagement and further our ability to keep guests within our ecosystem of vacation offerings,' he said in the release. The company said passengers will visit 'culturally and historically significant cities' but has not yet shared specifics on the itineraries. Travelers can sign up for updates on Celebrity's website. The news comes after the cruise line announced earlier this month that it had ordered a sixth Edge Series ocean ship, slated for delivery in 2028. The line's fifth Edge Series ship, Celebrity Xcel, will set sail in November. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@
