12 March 2010

UK return for Celebrity Eclipse in 2011

Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Eclipse will return to Southampton for a second summer in 2011.

The 2,852-passenger Solstice-class vessel, which is to make its debut at the port next month before running a summer-long season of cruises, will spend the winter in the Caribbean before returning to the UK in April 2011.

A 14-night Italian Mediterranean cruise, which includes calls in France and Spain en route to Italy, has been added for next summer.

Four 16-night Western Mediterranean and Adriatic Coast itineraries will run instead of two this summer.

Celebrity Eclipse will be officially launched in Southampton at the end of April before embarking on its inaugural season of itineraries to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

The line’s head of field sales Michael English said: "The decision to bring Celebrity Eclipse back to the UK is great news for customers, our trade partners and the industry as a whole.

"We have already seen huge interest in Celebrity Eclipse for 2010 especially from Southampton.

"Customers love the idea of sailing on a brand new vessel, and have responded really positively to the UK-specific touches we have made to the on-board services and menu."

Travel agents and travel industry partners will attend a week-long series of launch events showcasing the ship including a charity ‘Celebrity Sunwalk’ in aid of breast cancer charity Walk the Walk.

"2011 Highlights include:

Ã¯â¬~ Four-night short break cruises to Cork

Ã¯â¬~ 14-night Italian Mediterranean cruises visiting Spain, France and Italy

Ã¯â¬~ 14-night Scandinavia & Russia cruises visiting Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Estonia, Finland and Russia

Ã¯â¬~ 16-night Western Mediterranean & Adriatic Coast visiting a number of ports in Spain, Italy, and Croatia

by Phil Davies