With a Single Cut of Steel, Celebrity Cruises has the Edge

Construction begins on first ship of a new modern luxury class -- with a name that reflects its ambitious design

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Nov 21, 2016, 08:51 ET

SAINT-NAZAIRE, France, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The next generation of cruise ships moves from concept to construction today, as the first piece of steel is cut at the STX France shipyard for Celebrity Cruises' newest — and boldest — ship.

Celebrity Cruises continues to be a trailblazer in modern luxury travel as President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo cuts the first piece of steel for Celebrity Edge, the first ship of its class. (Photographed from left to right: Jean-Yves Jaouen, Operations Senior Vice President, STX France; Harri Kulovaara, Executive Vice President Newbuild and Innovation, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.; Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.; Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises; Laurent Castaing, General Manager, STX France)

The ship will be called "Celebrity Edge," befitting the many daring design advances and innovations of Celebrity's first new ship class since 2008. The modern luxury cruise line is also announcing today the name of Edge's sister ship, "Celebrity Beyond," signaling the incredible experience guests can expect onboard Celebrity Edge and the entire Edge Class, changing the way travelers see the world.

"Edge Class is destined to be a trailblazer in modern luxury travel," said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. "The new ships will be on the cutting edge of innovation and the leading edge of design, so the ship names are spot on and offer a sense of how Celebrity Cruises is looking into the future."

Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Celebrity's President and CEO, said: "We set the bar high for the architects and designers on Edge class, and we were rewarded with a stunning design. Cutting the ship's first piece of steel is the traditional first step in the shipbuilding process, and I'm excited to see our dreams turn into reality over the next 24 months."

She added: "We are excited to reveal more details soon, and travelers, trade partners and enthusiasts alike will not be disappointed — this ship is going to be amazing."

Laurent Castaing, General Manager STX France said: "Everyone involved in Edge has embraced the challenge of making this new class of ships dramatic and special, and we take great pride in helping Celebrity Cruises take such a remarkable step forward in ship design."

The company expects delivery of Celebrity Edge in Fall 2018. Celebrity Beyond is scheduled for delivery in Spring 2020, and the third and fourth Edge Class ships in Fall 2021 and Fall 2022, respectively.

For more information on Celebrity Cruises, visit celebritycruises.com.

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 Cruises' 12 ships offer modern luxury vacations visiting all seven continents. Celebrity also presents incredible cruise tour experiences in Alaska and Canada. Celebrity is one of six cruise brands operated by global cruise vacation company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL). For more information, dial 1-800-437-3111, visit www.celebritycruises.com, or call your travel agent.

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SOURCE Celebrity Cruises