Celebrity Cruises

Infobox Company
company_name = Celebrity Cruises
company_
company_type = Public
foundation = 1989
location = Miami, Florida
key_people =
area_served =
industry = Transportation
products = Cruises
revenue =
operating_income =
net_income =
num_employees =
parent =
subsid =
homepage = http://www.celebrity.com/
footnotes =

Celebrity Cruises is a cruise line founded in 1989 by the Greek Chandris Group. In 1997 Celebrity Cruises Ltd. merged with Royal Caribbean International to become Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., which operates Celebrity, Royal Caribbean International, Azamara Cruises, Pullmantur Cruises and CDF Croisieres de France. Today the company is headquartered in Miami, Florida in the United States. The signature "X" on Celebrity ship funnels is the Greek letter chi, for "Chandris". [http://www.maritimematters.com/sun-vista.html Maritime Matters: Sun Vista] , retrieved 29. 11. 2007] Ulrich, Kurt: "Monarchs of the Sea", page 177. Tauris Parke, year and place of printing not stated. ISBN 1 86064 3736] Common features on board are aft-glass dining rooms, formal foyer areas, alternative restaurants, balcony and suite staterooms, large pools and lounging areas, signature bars and lounges, libraries, elegant spas and gyms, as well as relaxing areas.

History

The Greece-based Chandris Group had been involved in cruise traffic since the 1960s, under two brands: Chandris Fantasy Cruises, that operated in the Caribbean, and Chandris Cruises, that operated in Europe. Both of these companies mainly catered for the lower end of the market, their fleets consisting of second-hand ocean liners. [http://travel.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=85733 NineMSN: Cruising: Celebrity Cruises] , retrieved 29. 11. 2007] In 1988 Home Lines, at the time one of the world's leading premium cruise lines, was sold to Holland America Line, and Chandris saw a chance of creating a premium line of their own. With this in mind, Chandris Fantasy Cruises' "Galileo" was rebuilt at Lloyd Werft, Germany in 1989, re-entering service as "Meridian" for Chandris' new Celebrity Cruises brand in February 1990. Just two months later Celebrity Cruises' first newbuilding, "Horizon", entered service.sv icon [http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/horizon_1990.htm Fakta om Fartyg: M/S Horizon (1990)] , retrieved 29. 11. 2007] A third ship, "Zenith", followed in 1992.sv icon [http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/celebrity_cruises.htm Fakta om Fartyg: Celebrity Cruises] , retrieved 29. 11. 2007]

In 1997 the Chandris family sold their interests in Celebrity cruises to Royal Caribbean International. [cite web |url=http://www.celebritycruises.com/aboutceleb/heroSingleTxt.do;jsessionid=00000Fs8tZgXKjyvw8YvB-J2nBv:12hdebdrn?pagename=history |title=About Celebrity: History |accessdate=2008-04-04 |publisher=Celebrity Cruises ] During the same year Celebrity Cruises took delivery of the first "Century" class vessel, "Century", that was followed by "Galaxy" in 1996 and "Mercury" in 1997. Following the delivery of the "Mercury", the "Meridian" was sold to Singapore-based Sun Cruises. Between 2000 and 2002 Celebrity took delivery of a quartet of new ships, the gas turbine -powered and aptly named "Millennium" class ships "Millennium", "Infinity", "Summit" and "Constellation". The Celebrity Expeditions sub-brand was launched in 2004 with the acquisition of "Celebrity Xpedition", a small boutique ship offering specialized cruises around the Galápagos Islands. [Ward, Douglas: "Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2006", page 237. Berlitz Publishing 2006. ISBN 981 246 739 4] In 2005 the "Horizon" was transferred to the fleet Royal Caribbean's United Kingdom -based subsidiary Island Cruises. In the same year the first ship of what was to be named "Solstice" class was ordered from Meyer Werft. [ [http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=729049&highlight=117,000 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. press release: Celebrity Cruises Orders New Cruise Ship, Launches Innovative New Class] , retrieved 29. 11. 2007] By 2007 three more ships of this class were on order. [http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1004746&highlight= Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. press release: Celebrity Cruises Announces Fourth Solstice-Class Ship] , retrieved 29. 11. 2007]

In 2006 plans were made to transfer "Blue Moon" and "Blue Dream" from the fleet of Pullmantur Cruises to Celebrity Cruises under the names of "Celebrity Quest" and "Celebrity Journey". The ships would have joined the Celebrity Expeditions sub-brand, [http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=923985&highlight=celebrity%20expeditions Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. press release: Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Receives Antitrust Approval On Pullmantur Purchase; Announces Celebrity Expeditions And Celebrity, Pullmantur Ship Swap] , retrieved 29. 11. 2007] [ [http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=942274&highlight=celebrity%20expeditions Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. press release: Celebrity Cruises Expands 'Celebrity Expeditions'; Adds Celebrity Quest to Exotic Brand Extension] , retrieved 29. 11. 2007] but in the end the decision was made to form an entirely new line, Azamara Cruises, to operate these ships in 2007. [ [http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=996028&highlight=azamara Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. press release: Celebrity Cruises Presents New, Deluxe Cruise Line: Azamara Cruises] , retrieved 29. 11. 2007] Also in 2007 the "Zenith" was transferred to Pullmantur Cruises 'in exchange' for the Azamara ships.

Fleet

Current fleet

References

External links

* [http://www.celebrity.com/ Celebrity Website]
* [http://www.celebritycruises.co.uk/ Celebrity Cruises UK Website]