Celebrity Cruises Collaborates With "NERDEL" and The Nerdel Company to Make Wellness Education Fun for Young Vacationers

From puppets to technology, playful new onboard program will use interactive tools to teach three- to eight-year-olds how to make healthy choices

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Celebrity Cruises

Sep 15, 2011, 11:38 ET

MIAMI, Sept. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With their cool, contemporary design with warm spaces, inviting staterooms and personalized service, Celebrity Cruises' ships offer modern luxury, an ideal backdrop for wellness-themed experiences that help guests rejuvenate, relax and recharge. With a playful twist, Celebrity is now bringing children into its wellness lineup by collaborating with The Nerdel Company to offer a new, interactive program featuring activities themed around healthy choices and starring a puppet named NERDEL, known for his endearing, lovable "personality."

"We know our guests' vacation time is precious, which is why we focus on delivering a luxurious, relaxing and fun experience onboard," said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Senior Vice President, Hotel Operations. "From the sumptuous, spa-inspired AquaClass staterooms to the healthy gourmet cuisine in our AquaSpa Cafes, from our rejuvenation seminars to our fitness classes, we offer our adult guests a number of ways to include wellness in their vacation experience, and now we're looking to do the same for our younger guests, in a truly enjoyable way. By teaming with NERDEL and The Nerdel Company to offer unique and engaging games and activities, we are hoping to play a part in instilling wellness-focused values in children by empowering them with the knowledge that they need to make better nutritional choices and take charge of their physical fitness, from an early age."

Live puppet performances, puppet workshops, children's puppet performances and lessons on the art of puppeteering will be at the core of Celebrity's onboard NERDEL activities for "Shipmates" (children from ages three to five) and "Cadets" (children from ages six to eight) spending time in Celebrity's Fun Factory.

Children also will have the opportunity to explore The World of NERDEL, which includes a custom-designed Celebrity Cruises activity book with crossword puzzles, word searches, matching games, coloring and more. The World of NERDEL also offers Celebrity's young guests the opportunity to explore their musical side through custom-designed and standard sing-along songs.

Celebrity's emphasis on culinary exploration also has been integrated into its Fun Factory activities, and the NERDEL activities onboard will also include a video by the "Chef Mangel" (pronounced Mahn-gell) puppet, followed by a healthy pizza-making class.

Developed by a team that has included doctors, nutritionists, chefs, fitness professionals, educators and entertainment experts, The Nerdel Company aims to address the issues of children's obesity, hunger, fitness and health in an educational and entertaining way.

The World of NERDEL also has a land-based component that children can continue to enjoy after their vacation. From iPad applications, an interactive website – www.nerdel.com – and animated presentations, NERDEL can continue to play a positive part in Celebrity's youngest guests' continued learning about how to make healthy choices. "We are truly honored to be working with Celebrity Cruises," Dr. Marc Kesselman, Chairman and CEO, The Nerdel Company, said. "It's a wonderful match to join forces with a vacation company that leads the industry in engaging onboard experiences, to bring the highest quality of children's programming and edutainment to Celebrity's upscale brand."

Celebrity introduced its NERDEL program on the brand-new Celebrity Silhouette, which debuted in Europe this summer, and plans to launch the program on its other ships by October 15, 2011, with the exception of Celebrity Xpedition, the 92-guest mega-yacht sailing year-round in the Galapagos Islands.

About NERDEL:
The Nerdel Company is a company devoted to making children and adults all over the world more aware of healthy eating, healthy cooking and physical fitness. We are dedicated to making a present and future world of healthier children and adults. Through its multimedia approach with music, books, games, interactive website, videos, cartoons and animations, NERDEL and The Nerdel Company team will be able to reach the kids of the world, in a media form that is cool and fun to follow. Join NERDEL and The Nerdel Company Team on our mission, at www.NERDEL.com. NERDEL ® is a Registered Trademark of The Nerdel Company-all rights reserved. For more NERDEL information, please contact Ninette G. Katsoulos at [email protected].

About Celebrity Cruises:
Celebrity Cruises' iconic "X" is the mark of modern luxury, with its cool, contemporary design and warm spaces; dining experiences where the design of the venues is as important as the cuisine; and the amazing service that only Celebrity can provide, all created to provide an unmatchable experience for vacationers' precious time. Celebrity sails to Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Bermuda, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal, South America, and year-round in the Galapagos Islands. Celebrity also offers immersive cruisetour experiences in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Europe and South America. One of the fastest-growing major cruise lines, Celebrity's fleet currently consists of 10 ships, with one additional Solstice Class ship, Celebrity Reflection, scheduled to join the fleet in Fall 2012. For more information, dial 1-800-437-3111, visit www.celebritycruises.com or call your travel agent.