celebrity, celebrity cruises

Celebrity Cruises has taken its first major step toward physically launching the Celebrity Solstice in fall 2008. Celebrity President Dan Hanrahan on Wednesday ceremoniously pressed the start button for the plasma cutter at shipbuilder Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, creating the ship's first steel plate. "While it's too soon to reveal any details, I'm convinced our travel agent partners and guests are going to find this ship to be the perfect manifestation of what they appreciate most about Celebrity," said Hanrahan. Accompanying Hanrahan at the ceremony were Harri Kulovaara, Celebrity executive vice president, maritime and newbuilding; Solstice Project Manager Jarmo Laakso; Meyer Werft Managing Director Bernard Meyer; and Project Manager Uwe Wulf.

The first in a class of three ships, Celebrity Solstice will be a 2,850-guest vessel measuring 1,033 feet in length and 121 feet in width, and will feature larger standard staterooms and a higher percentage of verandas.