The Celebrity Edge – Absolutely Beautiful
It’s said that Celebrity Cruises’ president Lisa Lutoff-Perlo is in love, but her husband need not worry, his competition is the new flagship Celebrity Edge, currently getting her finishing touches at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France.
Her admiration was evident during yesterday’s by-invitation-only industry sneak peek and tour of the Edge in France, attended by PressToday’s Greg Coates.
The 2,918-passenger Edge will debut in late November, homeporting in Fort Lauderdale and offering Caribbean sailings, before moving to the Mediterranean next summer.
Described as “the most anticipated ship of the year,” Celebrity Edge is 95.5% complete and set to be delivered in six weeks time. The attention to detail is evident throughout the ship and from all accounts from those on hand, the Edge is very impressive.
“I’m amazed at the level of detail,” said Lutoff-Perlo, while admitting her two favourite things are the ceilings and the staircases.
“They’re all works of art, absolutely beautiful.”
She added that while Celebrity Edge is certainly luxurious, it is at the same time “approachable and not pretentious.”
Unique features aboard the ship include several industry firsts such as the Magic Carpet, a 90-ton platform that is cantilevered over the side of the ship and can be moved up and down to serve different functions, from a tender boarding platform to open-air dinners in the sky.
Other unique Edge features include infinite verandah staterooms, a roof-top garden and custom-built launches (or tenders). Also unveiled during the sneak peek tour was the ship’s incredible Grand Plaza, located at the heart of the ship and inspired by the piazzas of Italy. It features a chandelier that spans three decks.
Among the Canadians on hand for the Edge event was Ensemble Travel Group co-president Lindsay Pearlman, who shared his thoughts with PressToday.
“Spectacular. The flow of it, compared to what you normally see, it’s open, yet intimate,” he said. “Instead of being a ship with art, you’re on a ship that is art.”
For more on Celebrity Edge and its pending launch, watch for upcoming issues of Canadian Travel Press and Travel Courier.
In the main photo:
Lisa with Harri Kulivaara (l) and Richard Fain, both of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
