Pop Art Icon Peter Max to Celebrate Birthday on Celebrity Solstice

Guests have unique opportunity to purchase customized works created by Max; Various artists' works to be auctioned for Celebrity's Crew Welfare Fund

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Celebrity Cruises

Oct 13, 2010, 04:25 ET

MIAMI, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- As holder of one of the world's largest corporate collections of contemporary art – including commissioned works holding large, live trees suspended within its sweeping, signature Grand Foyers -- and the first in the industry to offer self-guided art tours on an iPad®, Celebrity Cruises is thrilled to serve as the platform for the birthday celebration of one of the world's best known creators of pop art, Peter Max.

Celebrity's art auction partner British American Auctions is hosting a "Top of the Art Collection VIP cruise" on the October 17th sailing of the stylish Celebrity Solstice, with Max onboard as a special guest of honor.

One of the most popular artists of the era, Max has been an icon in the world of contemporary art for more than 40 years, with his diverse body of work appealing to a broad spectrum of collectors and appearing not only in galleries around the world, but also on a 600-foot Woodstock concert stage, a giant World's Fair mural, and even a super jet. Cited as "America's painter laureate," Max also helped initiate The Statue of Liberty Renovation Project in 1984.

In addition to celebrating his birthday in style on Celebrity Solstice, Max will participate in a question-and-answer session and signing event with guests onboard. An extensive collection of the acclaimed artist's masterpieces will be on exhibit to mark the occasion. On that same sailing, British American Auctions also will donate various artists' works for auction, with proceeds benefiting Celebrity's "Crew Welfare Fund," which assists members of the crew in times of need.

With Max's work generally thematic of the 1960s, Celebrity will present in his honor on Celebrity Solstice's October 17th sailing a special adaptation of its nightclub party, "Groove," a 1960s-themed interactive event open to all guests.

At the same time, Celebrity is rolling out across the fleet (with the exception of its megayacht, Celebrity Xpedition, in the Galapagos Islands) a unique offering created with British American Auctions: the opportunity for guests to purchase customized works of art created by Max, complete with the color scheme they request, and to have their personal photographs and portraits transformed with a colorful brush into original works of art by Max.

Celebrity Cruises is designed for discerning cruisers, with modern, sophisticated environments, impeccable service, enriching and inspiring onboard programs, and award-winning cuisine. The ultimate in premium cruising, Celebrity sails in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Bermuda, California, Canada/New England, Europe, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal, South America, and year-round in the Caribbean and the Galapagos Islands. Celebrity also offers immersive cruisetour experiences in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Europe and South America. Celebrity's mega-series of honors include being named the top mega-ship line in Conde Nast Traveler's annual Readers' Choice Awards (November 2009). Celebrity's fleet currently consists of 10 ships. Its $3.7-billion investment in building five stylish Solstice Class ships between 2008-2012 represents the largest five-year investment in premium cruising. For more information, call your travel agent, dial 1-800-437-3111 or visit www.celebritycruises.com.