Celebrity Cruises Ships, Excursions and Ports

CELEBRITY CRUISES

                Celebrity Cruise Lines offers trips to Alaska, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada/New England, the Carribean, Europe, the Galapagos Islands, the Pacific Northwest, the Panama Canal, South America, and even offers a TransAtlantic journey.  Cruises to Australia/New Zeland and Hawaii will begin within the next few months.  Tripology travel agents are standing by to help you plan every detail of your next cruise vacation.

 Started in 1989, Celebrity Cruise Lines was originally founded as a subsidiary of the Greek Chandris Group, offering upscale tours to Bermuda.  The Chandris Group won 2 of the 5 government-issued cruise contracts offered by Bermuda, and introduced their initial fleet, the now-retired ships Horizon and Meridian.  (Horizon was rebuilt as Island Cruises’ Island Star in 2005, and Meridian was sold to Sun Cruises in 1997.)  A sister ship to Horizon, Zenith, was introduced to the fleet in 1992, and was retired from the Celebrity fleet in 2007.

The Chandris family sold their stake in the company to Royal Carribean in 1997, who rapidly grew their fleet of ships.  That year, three cruise ships were added: the first Century Class vessel Century, followed by the Galaxy and Mercury.  2000 brought more growth, and by 2002 Celebriy Cruises had 4 additional gas turbine-powered vessels: Millenium, Infinity, Summit, and Constellation.  These 4 boats became the Millenium Class fleet.

In 2004 Celebrity introduced expedition voyages to the Galapagos Islands on their new Celebrity Xpedition ship.  The Miami-based company continued to grow, and now has 29 ships in service.

Celebrity Cruises pride themselves on classic, elegant trips, as they did when they first started sailing to Bermuda 20 years ago.  Expect to be warmly welcomed onto your Celebrity Cruise with  champagne, cold towels, and poolside sorbet, services added in 2003.  Further additions include Sushi, yoga and pilates, and even acupuncture. 

Tripology can help you to book not only your cruise aboard a Celebrity Cruise line, but also flights to and from the embarkation port and even hotels nearby. 

 Aboard your Cruise Ship

Meals: 

                All breakfasts are offered with open seating.  There are two seatings for dinners; the first at 6:15 and a second at 8:30 p.m, though casual dining can be enjoyed between 6:30 a.m. and 1 a.m. at a variety of on-board restaurants and cafés.  If you are unable to make it to one of the ships’ restaurants for a meal, 24-hour room service is offered on all ships at no additional cost.  Don’t forget to bring formal attire if you plan on dining at one of Celebrity Cruise’s specialty restaurants!

Specialty dining does carry a per person charge, which is an incredible value for the multiple-course meal prepared by your tableside.

There is a $30 charge for your four-course meal at the Murano,  RMS Olympic, SS United States, SS Normandie and Ocean Liner Restaurants.  Drinks may be purchased alongside your meal.  If you desire a six-course meal with wine pairings, you are able to upgrade for an additional fee.

Four-course dinners cost $25 at the Tuscan Grille.  Beverages are not included in the fee.

Dining at Silk Harvest is $20 for a full menu, excluding drinks.

There is a nominal fee for dining at Bistro on Five.  The $5 fee does not include drinks.

Guests must be at least 12 years of age to dine in specialty restaurants excluding Silk Harvest and the Tuscan Grille, where children of all ages are welcome.  Children staying in AquaClass staterooms are welcome in any dining lounge, but must be accompanied by an adult.  Tripology’s travel agents can help you decide which dining experience is right for you and your family on this vacation.

All Celebrity Cruise ships offer a variety of casual dining restaurants including an outdoor grill, sushi café, and a coffee shop, Cova Café di Milano.  AquaSpa cafés, offering light and healthy cuisine, are found exclusively aboard Millennium and Century class ships.

 Internet:

                All ships have internet access in their Web Cafes as well as several wireless access points.  Access is available 24 hours a day.

                Multiple packages are available for web use.  With no package the fee is $0.65 p/minute, and package prices range from $400-$100.

                Though Safari is not a supported platform, all Windows systems and Firefox are useable.

Golfing:

                Golf is offered on cruises to the Caribbean, Hawaii and in Alaska.  Your Tripology tavel agent can help you to sign up for tee times.

Travelling with Children:

                Celebrity Cruise lines offers a variety of activities for your children while aboard their ships.   All Celebrity youth counselors have formal education in Recreation, Education, Child Development or related fields.  Youth counselors are certified in CPR, and most speak multiple languages.

                Children’s activities are available daily from 9 a.m.-10 p.m.  Sleepovers are available each night for a $6 fee.

                For children ages 3-6, there are theme parties, treasure hunts, T-shirt decorating, arts & crafts, and much more.  All children must be completely toilet trained to participate.

                Children aged 7-9 can enjoy parties, relay races, arts & crafts, movies, fitness activities, talent shows, and more.

                For children 10-12, similar activities are available as well as pool olympics, other sport activities, karaoke and late night pizza parties.

                In addition to the above activities, for children 13-17 there is also team trivia.

                Children with Disabilities must have signed copies of Accommodation Request forms prior to participation.

                And if you need some time away from your kids, babysitting is available for $8 per hour.  Reservations must be made 24 hours in advance, or can be taken care of prior to embarkation by your Tripology travel agent.

Special Needs/Disabilities:

                Dietary restrictions:  All dietary needs can be accommodated onboard.  Special food needs are served in the main restaurant only, and accommodations are available for vegetarians, vegans, diabetics, and those who keep kosher.  Low fat, low sodium, gluten and lactose free and low cholesterol options are available for lunch and dinner.  All special dietary requests need to be made 40-80 days in advance, dependent on your originating port.  Please let your Tripology travel agent know of dietary restrictions as soon as possible to ensure that all your needs are met by Tripology and Celebrity Cruises.

                All ships have staterooms designed to accommodate special needs. 

Weddings and Vow Renewal Services

Wedding and vow renewal services are available at the ports of Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Cozumel, Ft. Lauderdale, Key West, Grand Cayman, Juneau and Ketchikan, AK, New York, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, San Juan, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, and Vancouver.  Weddings may not be performed at sea.  Valid marriage licenses must be secured in the jurisdiction in which the vows are taken. 

About the staterooms:

                All rooms come equipped with soap, shampoo, conditioner, hair dryers, and safes.

Though rooms do not have irons or ironing boards, laundry services are available for a fee on all vessels.

The AquaSpa Program:

                AquaSpa offers all traditional spa services as well as hydrotherapy baths, acupuncture, saunas and herbal steam baths.   You can also take advantage of Celebrity cruise’s step aeropbics, spinning, yoga and pilates classes, or enjoy a personalized gym workout with one of Celebrity’s trainers. Packages can be purchased pre-embarkation or on the vessel.  AquaSpa is available on all ships except the Celebrity Xpedition to the Galapagos Islands. 

                For a completely relaxing experience, make sure to ask your Tripology travel agent about Ritual treatments to ease tension and stress.

Smoking: 

Smoking is prohibited in all staterooms, stateroom verandas, dining venues, casinos, theatres, hallways, elevators, and corridors.  Smoking is restricted to designated indoor and outdoor smoking areas.  Celebrity maintains a non-smoking policy on all components of their land tours.

Awards: 

Celebrity Cruises was deemed one of the top 10 largest ships in Conde Nast Traveler’s “World’s Greatest Ships” reader survey, Feb. 2003.

Itineraries:

                Celebrity Cruises have trips all over the world.  Just let Tripology know where you want to go, and our travel agents will take care of the rest!

Alaska – Celebrity Cruises offers two types of trips to Alaska, traditional cruises and cruise tours, where passengers spend a few days on land either before or after embarking.   For either option, departure ports are in Los Angeles, Seattle, Vancouver, San Diego, and Seward, Alaska.  The infinity, mercury and Millenium are the cruise ships used.

Traditional Cruises are offered from 7-14 night stays, and embark regularly from May-September.  Prices range anywhere from $349-$3,899.

Cruisetours also run May-September, and range in price from $919-$4,397.  Trips are 10-18 nights, with the option to have your excursion pre-or post-cruise.

Antarctica-  These cruises begin and end in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  The 14-night trip costs between $1,299 and $5,199.  Celebrity Infinity ships make the journey in January and February.

Bahamas – There is a 2 night short cruise to the Bahamas aboard the Celebrity Century offered each January.  Prices range between $199 and $749.  Voyages begin and end in Miami.

Bermuda – Cruise packages to Bermuda are available April-September.  The 7 nights packages run between $699 and $2,199.  Trips run between either New Jersey and Bermuda, or New England and Bermuda, though all cruises originate in Bayonne, New Jersey.  New England crusies are offered only in May and June.  All Bermuda voyages are on the Celebrity Summit ships.

Canada/New England can be visited in September and October.  Vacation packages are 7-14 nights aboard the Constellation or Summit vessels.  Embarkation and Disembarkation are in Cape Liberty, Bayonne, NJ.  Prices range from $1,099-$4,399. 

Carribean cruises are offered year round for 4-15 nights. Departures are available from Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Baltimore, Charleston, San Juan, Puerto Rico or Cape Liberty, Bayonne, NJ.  Trips range in price from $349-$6,199.  The Carribean offers the most options within the fleet for your travels:

Celebrity Century ships depart from Miami.

Celebrity Equinox vessels embark in Ft. Lauderdale.

Celebrity Constellation boats originate in NJ and both Florida ports.

The Celebrity Millennium leaves from San Juan

The Celebrity Mercury embarks in Baltimore and Charleston

The Celebrity Solstice embarks in Ft. Lauderdale, and

The Celebrity Summit leaves from New Jersey and San Juan.

Europe Ships embark regularly May through November.  There are options to embark in Barcelona, Spain, Amsterdam, Holland, Harwich or Southampton, England, and Rome or Venice, Italy.  3-14 day trips are offered through the mainland, Scandinavia, Russia, the Mediterranean, the Western Mediterranean, The Artic Circle, and throughout England and Ireland.  Price range $595-$5,749.

The Century fleet departs from Barcelona and Amsterdam for Western Mediterranean Scandanavian/Russian, European, and Arctic Circle cruises.

The Constellation leaves from Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Harwich, England.   Itineraries include Mediterranean, Norwegian Fjords, Northern Europe, Arctic Circle, and Scandinavian/Russian cruises.

The Eclipse embarks in Southampton for cruises to Cork, Ireland, the Spanish Mediterranean, Scandinavia/Russia, Western Mediterranean/Adriatic Coast, and the Canary  Islands.

The Eqinox travels from Barcelona, Southampton, and Rome for journeys to both the Eastern and Western Mediterranean, the Norwegian Fjords, the Holy Land, Ancient Empires, and a Best of Europe cruise.

The Solstice embarks in Rome for an Eastern Mediterranean Cruise.

The Summit embarks in Barcelona and Venice for Classical Mediterranean and Mediterranean Legacies Cruieses.

Galapagos trips run year round. 7-night trips are available for $2,299-$8,179.  All start and end at Baltra (Galapagos), and are on the Celebrity Xpedition ship.

Pacific Northwest trips are offered in September and October for 3-12 night stays.  General Pacific Northwest crusises are offered in addition to specialty wine cruises.  Wine cruises originate in Vancouver and sail on the Millennium ships for between $749 and $2,499.  Wine Cruises are 10, 11 or 12 nights.  Pacific Northwest cruises are 3 or 4 nights long, embarking in Seattle on the fleet of Mercury ships for $289-$729.

Panama Canal trips are available October –April, and are

13-17 nights.

Sailing Westbound:

Trips originating in Miami are aboard the Celebrity Constellation.  The 13 or 14 night tips cost $999-$3,199 and are available November-February.

If you are traveling out of Ft. Lauderdale, you will be aboard the Celebrity Infinity. Trips depart October - April and cost between $949 and $3,499.

The Celebrity Millennium sails out of the port of San Juan, Puerto Rico in April for $1,199-$3,499.

Sailing Eastbound:

Originating in San Diego, the Celebrity Constellation, Infinity, Millennium, and Mercury sail between September and April for $l,949 - $3,849.

Both the Infinity and the Millennium embark in Los Angeles in October and November.  These Eastbound voyages cost $999-$3,299.

And traveling from the port of Seattle, the Infinity leaves every September for between $999 and $3,499.

South America can be visited December through March.  Most South American cruises go between Valparaiso, Chile, and Buenos Aires, Argentina, with options to embark in either city, though there is an option to go from Valparaiso to Ft. Lauderdale.  Prices for these 14-night cruises run from $929 to $7,499.  All South American cruises are on board the Celebrity Infinity.

Transatlantic journeys are offered in Nov and April for 13-16 nights.

Sailing Westbound:

For $829-$2,799 you can begin your transatlantic journey in Barcelona on board the Celebrity Century, Celebrity Summit, or Celebrity Constellation.  All cruises originating in Spain leave in November.

To begin your voyage in September, embark on the Constellation in Harwich, England.  Prices range from $2,289- $9,599.  

Or take the Eclipse from Southhampton, England, in October for anywhere from $1,149-$3,249.

TransAtlantic voyages from Rome can be taken aboard the Equinox or the Solstice in November, costing between $999 and $3,299.

Sailing Eastbound: 

Eastbound cruises embark from the port of Miami aboard the Celebrity Constellation each April, and cost from $899-$2,799.