RWO next-generation wastewater treatment receives a Celebrity welcome

RWO, a leading supplier of intelligent water management solutions, has successfully completed two installations of its next-generation advanced water treatment system (AWTS) – the CleanSewage Membrane Reactor (CS-MBR) for Celebrity Cruises. The sewage treatment plant on the Celebrity Solstice-class vessels, Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection, have been upgraded to the CS-MBR system, with an additional three orders placed to complete the fleet-wide upgrade.
 
RWO’s CS-MBR is a sustainable biological treatment technology that has been designed specifically to minimise a vessel’s impact on the environment, achieve the highest standards for effluent discharge and perform well ahead of regulatory requirements.
 
The installations upgrade existing RWO MEMROD sewage treatment plants on board the Celebrity Cruises ships, reflecting new regulations for existing vessels operating in Special Areas and anticipate the expansion in regulatory parameters for such vessels from 1 June 2023*. The CS-MBR is fully type-approved as conforming with IMO MEPC.227(64) including the standards of section 4.2 which addresses nitrogen and phosphorus removal.
 
Nikolaos Kolyvakis, Senior Ship Manager, at Celebrity Cruises commented: “Sustainability is a top priority for Celebrity Cruises and we seek out every opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to the highest possible standards in environmental stewardship.”
 
Lars Nupnau, Business Development Manager, at RWO said: “RWO has developed a strong working relationship with Celebrity Cruises over the last 10 years and we are delighted that the RWO CS-MBR has been selected as part of its Solstice-class upgrade strategy.”
 
Unique among shipboard AWTS solutions, the CS-MBR treatment process features submerged membranes in their final stage and can remove more than 99% of solids and bacteria, including microplastics and viruses.
 
“By using membranes in this way, the resulting water is pure enough to be re-used in other ship functions such as laundry or as technical water. The automated cleaning-in-place (CIP) control also makes the system far easier for the crew to operate and extends the membrane lifecycle significantly,” said Nupnau. “If that wasn’t enough, the CS-MBR also has a smaller footprint and uses less energy than comparable systems.”
 
“The new CS-MBR goes beyond regulatory compliance to minimise environmental impacts and maximise operational efficiency,” added Kolyvakis. “It strongly aligns with Celebrity’s commitment to investing in technologies which help protect the world’s oceans and the communities where we operate.”

Celebrity Reflection Debuts New Look After Drydock at Chantiers Naval de Marseille

Celebrity Reflection Debuts New Look After Drydock at Chantier Naval de Marseille

The Celebrity Reflection became the latest ship to showcase Celebrity Cruises’ new look following a drydock in France.

After spending over ten days at the Chantier Naval de Marseille, the 2012 vessel is now sporting a blue-coloured hull that was first introduced by the Celebrity Edge in 2018.

Part of the company’s new livery, the look is now present on ten of the 12 Celebrity Cruises large cruise ships.

During its recent shipyard visit, the Reflection also underwent maintenance and technical upkeep, in addition to regulatory and class work.

Set to cross the Atlantic for a winter season in the Caribbean, the Solstice-Class ship recently completed its tenth year in service.

First introduced in 2012, the 126,000-ton vessel is slightly larger than its four sister ships and features an extra deck with additional public areas and cabins.

Among its facilities are a glass-enclosed pool deck, a selection of ten dining venues - including five speciality restaurants - and a three-deck main theatre.

The Reflection also features Celebrity’s unique Lawn Club, an outside deck with a half-acre real grass lawn, as well as the exclusive Reflection Suite.

The two-bedroom accommodation offers a total of 150 square meters of space, in addition to a distinctive, all-glass shower extending out over the edge of the 3,030-passenger ship.

With its new blue hull, the Reflection is set to offer week-long cruises to the Caribbean during Celebrity’s 2022-2023 winter season.

Departing from Fort Lauderdale every Sunday, the vessel will sail an alternating schedule of Western and Eastern Caribbean voyages.

Itineraries include visits to popular destinations in Mexico, Belize, Honduras, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, The Bahamas and more.

For the 2023 summer, the Reflection is slated to return to Europe for a series of seven- to ten-night cruises to the Mediterranean.

Royal Caribbean Ship Arrives in St. Vincent to Help Evacuate

The Serenade of the Seas from Royal Caribbean International arrived in St. Vincent on Friday to help evacuate residents following the eruption of the La Soufrière volcano.

It's one of two ships on the scene from Royal Caribbean Group, as the company also sent the Celebrity Reflection to help, while Carnival Cruise Line sent two ships as well: the Carnival Legend and Carnival Paradise.

"Love and huge respect to our crew who, as always, come together in unimaginable ways," said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, in a Facebook post.

"Over the next few days, they’ll be welcoming guests, preparing provisions, and providing medical attention. I am so proud of our team and all the teams behind the scenes from Royal, Celebrity, and Carnival Cruises working day and night to make sure we assist the people of St. Vincent in any way we can."

 

CELEBRITY CRUISES ANNOUNCES EUROPE 2022 DEPLOYMENT

Celebrity Cruises has announced its deployment for Europe 2022, including Celebrity Apex, Edge, and the newly "revolutionized" Celebrity Silhouette sailing in the region.

Together, the six ships will visit nearly 100 destinations and offer an expanded overnight program in cities including Bordeaux, Istanbul, Jerusalem, Lisbon, Reykjavik, St Petersburg, Russia, and Venice.

 

Wi-Fi, drinks, and tips are now “Always Included” in a Celebrity cruise purchase. In addition, the line’s “Cruise with Confidence” program provides flexible cancellations and “best price guarantees”.

 

Apex, the second ship in Celebrity’s new Edge series, will sail Scandinavia and Russia and the Norwegian Fjords from the new homeport of Amsterdam. It will also offer Iceland, Ireland, and British Isles itineraries, ending the season with special Holy Land sailings roundtrip from Rome.

 

Edge meanwhile will sail from Rome and Barcelona on 7-night Mediterranean itineraries to culturally rich and romantic destinations in Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, and the Greek Islands.

 

It will end the season with some longer itineraries from Rome before returning to its homeport in Fort Lauderdale for the winter.

 

Silhouette will sail from Southampton, beginning in April 2022, to transport guests to a wide variety of popular European destinations from the Norwegian Fjords to Spain, Portugal, and the Italian Mediterranean. It will finish its Europe season in the Canary Islands in September and October.

 

Other Celebrity summer 2022 European offerings include:

 

- Celebrity Constellation sailing an array of 9- and 10-night Mediterranean itineraries between Venice, Rome, and Barcelona.

- Celebrity Infinity discovering the best of the Mediterranean on a special series of 7-night sailings between Venice, Lisbon, and Barcelona beginning in April 2022.

- And Celebrity Reflection treating guests to 10- and 11-night itineraries exploring Italy, Turkey, Croatia, Montenegro, and the Greek Islands from its new homeport of Rome.

 

The launch is supported by toolkits and guides on Celebrity Central and trade webinars hosted by sales and training teams so travel partners can become experts in all things Celebrity Cruises in Europe 2022.

A subjective list of awards for cruise experiences

Seven Seas Explorer

here's no shortage of travel industry awards and accolades. 

Today I'll offer some cruise-only nods -- a mini Academy Awards lineup, if you will --  based on my seven years of cruising for Travel Weekly. Unlike the Oscars, in which categories of longstanding tradition are properly judged, my award categories and winners are completely subjective and based mostly on one moment on one ship, rather than a studious fleetwide evaluation over time.

Plus, mine aren't broadcast on national television. And there's no statuette. But they're fun. See what you think, and offer your own winners in the comment section below.

So, with no further ado:

Best naming ceremony: Princess Cruises. Skies were grey in Southampton, England, on that June day in 2013, but who can beat royal princess Kate Middleton christening the Royal Princess? The British pomp and pageantry and the ladies in their gowns and fascinators made it unforgettable. Runner up: More royals, plus opera great Andrea Bocelli singing "Nessun Dorma" for the Seven Seas Explorer in Monaco.

Meal: Celebrity Cruises. I think it was on the Celebrity Reflection with former Celebrity public relations spokeswoman Liz Jakeway that I had a nearly flawless Italian dinner at the Tuscan Grille. Runner up: Guy Fieri's burgers on Carnival Cruise Line.

Suite:  Viking Ocean Cruises. The Owner's Suite on the Viking Star duplicates owner Tor Hagen's book collection and comes with a (faux) fireplace and a sauna with a floor-to-ceiling glass wall for ocean viewing. Runner up: the duplex suites on Royal Caribbean.

Service: Azamara. I know, not what you're expecting, but I say: try it. The relaxed style really made me feel at home on a 2016 Central America and Mexico cruise on the Azamara Journey. When my time was up, I didn't want to leave. Runner up: Seabourn.

Entertainment: Norwegian Cruise Line. "After Midnight" and "Million Dollar Quartet" on the Norwegian Escape in 2016 was a knockout one-two punch, and Norwegian has kept up the pace with each new ship: "Jersey Boys," "Kinky Boots." Great value for guests. Runner up: Royal Caribbean, where too much is never enough.

Pool: Seabourn. The cosy aft pool on Seabourn's 450-passenger ships puts sunbathers close to the water in stylish luxury. Runner up: the Solarium Pool on Celebrity, with its dancing waters fountain.

Cruise Director: Star Clippers. The line's longest-serving cruise director, Peter Kissner, hails from Bavaria and is the most personable, knowledgeable, interesting person I've yet encountered in the job.  Runner up: Azamara cruise director Eric de Gray does it all.

Internet: Royal Caribbean gets the nod for its Voom, which not only is fast and simple but was first to market. What a difference in seven years. Runner up: MedallionNet on Princess Cruises is also fast and simple (but was not first).

Children's character: Disney Cruise Line for Cinderella. As played by one of Disney's cast members, the Cinderella I saw could have stepped out of the 1950 animated feature film. The children were enchanted. Runner Up:  Ellie, the towel elephant that prowls the post-turn-down cabins on Carnival ships.

Deck BBQ: Windstar Cruises. A twilight summer deck party anchored off the coast of Portofino. Trust me, it doesn't get any better than that. Runner up: Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Celebrity Edge Booking At ‘Significant Premiums’

Just weeks ahead of the Celebrity Edge’s delivery, the new Celebrity Cruises vessel continues to drive earnings growth for Royal Caribbean Cruises.

The first new Celebrity ship in six years following the 2012 introduction of the Celebrity Reflection, the Edge represents the first of four in a new class of Celebrity vessels, at 129,500 tons with capacity for 2,900 guests.

“Demand for cruising is booming, and guests are willing to pay for innovation, quality, and design. The timing of (the Celebrity Edge) could not be better,” said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises, speaking on the company’s third-quarter earnings call on Thursday, October 25.

“She's clearly worth the wait. The Edge has been booking at significant premiums for the winter Caribbean season and for our European season next year,” said Jason Liberty, CFO of Royal Caribbean Cruises.

“The demand for our new hardware, especially for Edge, which has really come high on at a premium, has been very strong and encouraging,” Liberty added

The Edge will debut at the state-of-the-art Terminal 25 at Port Everglades later this month. The terminal is just days away from being finished and will be the homeport for the Edge for her inaugural season of seven-day winter Caribbean itineraries from Ft. Lauderdale.

Next summer the ship will transition to the European cruise market, with a crossing to Southampton where she arrives in the middle of May. From there, a repositioning voyage moves the ship to the Mediterranean for the summer season, where the Edge sails out Civitavecchia.

Celebrity Cruises orders pair of 2,900-passenger ships

Celebrity Cruises said it has ordered two 2,900-passenger ships from the STX France shipyard in St. Nazaire.

The ships are scheduled for delivery in the fall of 2018 and early 2020.

Celebrity’s most recent ship, the 3,046-passenger Celebrity Reflection, was delivered in the fall of 2012.The line recently agreed to send its oldest ship, Celebrity Century, to a new joint venture in China.

Celebrity's parent, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., said the ships are being built under the Project Edge name. RCCL said they will deliver small-ship itineraries with large-ship amenities.

"STX France designs and builds some of the most innovative and stylish cruise ships in the world, and Project Edge offers them the opportunity to again set a new standard for modern iconic architecture,” said Michael Bayley, presdient and CEO of Celebrity.

Contract costs for the ship were not disclosed. With the addition of the two new orders, RCCL said company-wide capacity is scheduled to increase by 2.4% this year, 5.5% next year, 6.7% in 2016, 3.8% in 2017 and 4.3% in 2018.

The 117,000-gross-ton ships will be part of a new class of vessels for Celebrity. the line currently operates five Solstice-class vessels, including Celebrity Reflection, and four Millennium-class vessels.

Celebrity competes in the premium segment with Holland America Line, which has a 2,650-passenger ship called Koningsdam under construction for delivery in February 2016.

Fuel efficiency and floating on air

By Tom Stieghorst

It’s funny how visions of the future can be both wrong and right.

I had that thought after viewing a museum exhibit of designs by modernist Norman Bel Geddes, including one for a cruise ship.

Bel Geddes’ big idea was streamlining and in the 1930s, he turned out everything from vacuum cleaners to passenger buses with that teardrop profile meant to increase speed. His cruise liner — with room for 2,600 passengers — is a thing of beauty, although it looks as much like a submarine as a surface ship. The exhibit included side views showing how wind eddies swirled around the superstructure of the conventional ships of the time.

Today, however, it isn’t wind resistance that is the focus of cruise industry streamlining, but water resistance. And the object is no longer to be the fastest across the Atlantic, but to cut fuel costs.

That accounts for the bulbous projection at the bow of every cruise ship, an innovation that pushes water quietly aside and improves efficiency. Cruise ships in recent years have been slathered in silicon compounds or other coatings to make them shed marine slime and slip through the water more easily.

The newest streamlining idea is set to debut on the Quantum of the Seas, the first full test of an air lubrication system that uses microbubbles to provide a cushion for the ship to ride on.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL) has tested the system in a small way on the Celebrity Reflection, but installed a full system on the Quantum as part of the ship’s technology emphasis.

The idea is to form and inject tiny air bubbles below the hull that reduce drag as the ship plows forward. Ironically for Bel Geddes, air is the instrument to provide extra cruise ship streamlining.

Other firms have tried this before, but Royal Caribbean has developed its own method of making the bubbles so that they’re small enough to be effective. It involves first heating the bubbles to shrink them, and then cooling them to prevent them from turning to steam as they hit seawater.

“We’re not only riding on air, we’re riding on air-conditioned air,” quipped RCCL Chairman Richard Fain, on a recent tour of Quantum in Germany.

The system — which only works when a ship is traveling at speed — could knock 7% to 9% off of propulsion costs, even taking into account the energy needed for heating and cooling, Fain said.

Sampling Celebrity’s new spa provider

By Tom Stieghorst

Celebrity Cruises had a nice reward for two of the 1,200 agents that attended CLIA’s Cruise3sixty event in Fort Lauderdale. They were picked for a free spa package aboard the Celebrity Reflection.

The two surprise winners were Rosie Perez, a Cruise Planners agent in Pembroke Pines, Fla., and Marcia Finkelstein, a vacation specialist at CruiseOne in Long Branch, N.J. “They were ecstatic — beside themselves,” said Dondra Ritzenthaler, Celebrity sales V.P.

What made the prize a little more special was the changeover in spa providers at Celebrity. The two agents were among the first to be treated by Canyon Ranch SpaClub staffers, who replaced the previous team from Steiner Leisure at the end of March.

Other than signage and a new area for retailing beauty products, there wasn’t much physical change to the spa, which includes two decks of treatment rooms linked by a spiral staircase; a hair salon; a Persian Garden area of heated ceramic loungers; areas for acupuncture, weight lifting and aerobics; and a relaxation area with a panoramic view that is just down the hall from the spa-oriented Aqua Class cabins.

“It’s almost like their front room,” said spa director Daniel Foxcroft.

The difference between Steiner and Canyon Ranch will come in the products and the people, Foxcroft said.

Gloria Weller, a retired information technology worker from Orlando, was one of the passengers getting ready to cruise on the Reflection who headed for the spa even before sailing.

After a five-minute Thai massage sampler, Weller said the deep muscle massage was very relaxing for her but wouldn’t be for everyone. “If you just want a feel-good massage, you wouldn’t do this.”

Finkelstein said her 80-minute package, which included a sea salt bath and full-body massage, was a very nice treatment. She said the Canyon Ranch name would probably influence a lot of people to go on Celebrity.

Peter Smith, president of Canyon Ranch, certainly hopes so. He got his first glimpse of the Reflection spa at a dedication during Cruise3sixty and said he “loved” the space, which is perched on the forward areas of decks 11 and 12, with floor-to-ceiling views.

Celebrity was smart to reward a few of the more than 200 agents who signed up to tour the Reflection during the conference. There were 24 ships to tour at Cruise3sixty, and providing a little extra incentive will help gain more exposure for its vessels going forward.

“You never know what you’re going to see,” said Perez in explaining why she chose to tour the Reflection. “You can’t sell something unless you see it.”

Celebrity’s new spa provider plans more than pampering

By Tom Stieghorst

 Celebrity Cruises is shaking up the spa services available on its ships starting in March when Canyon Ranch takes over the concession on 10 ships from Steiner Leisure Ltd.

Peter Smith, Canyon’s COO, promises to announce new treatments in the next few weeks that will be available to Celebrity passengers once the hand-off occurs.

In an interview last week, Smith outlined three emerging areas in the spa industry and in particular at Canyon Ranch, which puts as much or more emphasis on wellness as on beauty care.

• Brain health: Smith calls this “a major issue for many of our customers.” With longevity rising, there are more seniors living to an age where diminished memory or various forms of dementia are distinct threats. Canyon Ranch plans an onboard lecture series on the latest thinking behind brain health and what can be done to prevent or mitigate declining mental skills.
Brain health is a major focus for Dr. Richard H. Carmona, president of the Canyon Ranch Institute and a former surgeon general appointed by George W. Bush. He is the author of “30 Days to a Better Brain,” due out from Atria Books in May.

• Stress: “This is a huge issue right now,” said Smith. Many passengers choose to cruise in part or entirely to escape the pressures of their daily obligations to work, family and even themselves.

“It really crosses every aspect of our lives,” said Smith, and is a contributor to many modern ailments from teeth grinding and overeating to high blood pressure and heart disease.

“We’re spending a lot of our time trying to explain how to cope with stress,” said Smith.

• Sleep: Whether it is a sleep disorder or the simple difficulty of getting a full night’s rest, more people than ever need help achieving regular and healthy sleep. “As a nation, we don’t sleep,” said Smith, who said improvement of sleep habits will be another wellness offering at Canyon Ranch spas.

Although the more exotic treatments at spas can sometimes seem trivial or silly, the wellness concerns outlined by Smith are serious ones shared by many potential cruise passengers. By attending a Canyon Ranch discussion on one of these topics, they may be getting more lasting insight into rest and relaxation on their next Celebrity cruise.

With Celebrity Reflection, a big finish for Solstice class

Celebrity Solstice arriving in Fort Lauderdale ahead of her inaugural celebrations

By Tom Stieghorst

The Celebrity Reflection is the last of five Solstice-class ships built by Celebrity Cruises, and although executives won’t say they like it the best, they clearly take pride in the new baby.

The Reflection stands apart from its siblings based on size alone. Its 126,000 gross tons is 4,000 more than the others. That enables the ship to carry 72 extra cabins, adding between 150 and 200 more passengers.

The Reflection is also home to Celebrity’s first two-bedroom suite, a 1,636-square-foot apartment that offers a glass-sided shower cantilevered over the ocean.

The suite, not yet sold out for 2013, is one of a half-dozen new suites along a corridor on Deck 14 that is accessed with a private cardkey. All have extra-tall ceilings and butler service.

The rest of the vessel carries all of the Solstice hallmarks: the half-acre lawn so inviting to the toes; the bevy of specialty restaurants such as Blu and Qsine; the quirky bird’s-nest getaway nooks in the Hideaway, one of several two-deck public rooms that give the Reflection’s interior such a spacious feeling.

Of those, my favorite was the Library, a soaring wall of books with fiction on the port side and nonfiction to starboard. Sitting in front of the wall is a cozy quartet of wingback chairs that practically beg to be occupied.

A close look at the ship reveals some subtle changes in the Solstice product. Gone is Quasar, a disco. Instead, the ship’s conference center takes Quasar’s space on Deck 4.

The Reflection also has 34 new AquaClass suites, which include unlimited dining for occupants at the ship’s “clean cuisine” specialty restaurant, Blu.

Another change: Four more cabana-style Alcoves have sprouted from the lawn, double the number on Reflection’s predecessor, the Silhouette. The Alcoves, which rent for $99 on port days and $149 on sea days, fit four or five guests and provide a sun- and wind-sheltered way to enjoy the passing parade of passengers on Deck 15.

The Sunset Bar, an outdoor venue overlooking the Reflection’s stern, has been turned 90 degrees so it protrudes from the aft deck. It features a new Middle Eastern kasbah theme with orange-and-purple sofa benches and a drinks program that includes pitchers of beverages.

All of the bars seemed to have something to offer on the Reflection. The design in the Sky Observation Lounge is nothing but circles; at Michael’s Club, squares and right angles rule. There’s always a predinner crowd buzzing around the Martini Bar.

At the Molecular Bar, Junior Marino serves up fascinating cocktails made with artisanal ingredients and chilled with liquid nitrogen.

“The drinks are designed to appeal to all five senses,” said Marino, who runs a New York laboratory for high-tech designer drinks and has licensed the Molecular Bar concept to Celebrity for the Solstice ships.

Cabins on the Reflection are in keeping with Celebrity’s theme of “Modern Luxury.” At 194 square feet, my AquaClass cabin was a tight fit at times for two people. But a balcony, included on 85% of the accommodations on the Reflection, enhanced its spaciousness.

Musical entertainment on the Reflection ran the gamut from classical to pop vocalists to jazz and seemed to engage many of the guests on this two-day introductory cruise.

Speaking of a two-day cruise: I disembarked wanting more. There’s enough on the Reflection to easily occupy passengers on the weeklong cruises it is scheduled to take this winter, or the 10- and 11-day Eastern Mediterranean cruises on its deployment next summer. 

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