Celebrity Eclipse, the first Celebrity Cruises ship to be based from Southampton for a summer season will be arriving in the city earlier than planned in April 2010 and is introducing an additional three-night taster cruise to its schedule.

The new three-night cruise will depart Southampton on 26 April 2010 and call at Le Havre in Normandy, northern France, a destination popular with cruise travellers for day trips to Paris. Prices start from £399 per person for the three night break including meals and entertainment onboard ship, based on two sharing an ocean view with balcony.

 

Celebrity Eclipse is currently expected to arrive in Southampton for its launch celebrations, including a naming ceremony, in the week commencing 19 April 2010.

 

Robin Shaw, vice president and managing director UK and Ireland, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line explained:

 

“Launch celebrations in July this year for Celebrity Equinox were a conscious effort to showcase our new Solstice-class of ships to as many British and Irish travel professionals as possible in the build up to the arrival in 2010 of sister-ship Celebrity Eclipse dedicated to the UK and Irish market.  We are reaping the rewards of this activity and Celebrity Eclipse is the best performing ship in the Celebrity fleet. We hope that this additional taster cruise will stimulate the market further and introduce Celebrity Cruises to the new to cruise market.”

 

Celebrity Eclipse is the third ship in the Celebrity Cruises Solstice-class, and is currently being built in Papenburg, Germany. Onboard features include a real grass lawn, glass blowing studio, spa-themed AquaClass accommodation and a host of speciality restaurants and bars.

 

Thousands of British and Irish travel professionals are expected to join Celebrity Cruises in Southampton for the launch of the new ship in April 2010. Ongoing trade support includes updates to the agent training modules from Cruising for Excellence specific to selling Solstice-class ships, and a bespoke game called ‘Total Eclipse’ to enhance travel partners knowledge of Celebrity Eclipse.

 

The new three-night Le Havre sailing onboard Celebrity Eclipse goes on sale on 7 September 2009 for the first time.