Investing in the Caribbean’s Past, Present and Future

By Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President & CEO, Celebrity Cruises

The mere mention of the word “Caribbean” conjures up the image of warm and friendly people, palm trees, the smell of the sea, a cold drink with an umbrella, and relaxation while you hear the pulse of a kettle drum somewhere in the distance.

The words “Caribbean cruise” conjure up similar images, and sometimes even palm trees onboard! Our guests are attracted to the idea of getting away from the daily bustle, enjoying time together, and experiencing the cultures of the Caribbean one destination at a time.

Celebrity Cruises has been taking guests to the Caribbean for almost 30 years. We’ve seen the Caribbean change, develop, get challenged by Mother Nature and rebuild to be even better than it was before. The people who call these scenic islands “home” are fun, warm, welcoming, resilient, diverse and dynamic, with beautiful hearts and minds.

We take our commitment to the Caribbean seriously and are investing in its past, present and future. We believe in opening up the world for our guests and crew. That includes giving them new ways to see and experience all that the Caribbean has to offer.

THE PAST: A RICH HISTORY The incredible islands of the Caribbean have enticed visitors for generations. It is their rich history, culture and diversity that attract us, along with the sunshine, gorgeous beaches and the year-round scents of summer.

With the very unusual year of 2017 and its active hurricane season, we do all that we can to help in recovery and regrowth of the impacted communities and tourism business. The islands are an extension of us – and of our history and cultures. Our brand and our company will always support our neighbors in the Caribbean. Anyone who has ever experienced the blue waters of the Caribbean and the warmth of its people has a soft spot in their hearts for this distinct part of the world.

PRESENT: THE CARIBBEAN WITH AN EDGE When looking at destinations for the newest addition to our family, the highly-anticipated Celebrity Edge, the Caribbean was a natural choice. She will sail over 60,000 guests to the islands in her first four months in service. With each nautical mile we sail towards the Caribbean, the eagerness of our guests continues to grow.

Celebrity Edge’s first trip of many is in December this year, and we are excited to sail with our guests to the Caribbean as we bring them closer together than ever before, to amazing islands both familiar and new.

While on Celebrity Edge, guests will revel in modern luxury with unique views as we bring the destination closer than ever before with her outward-facing design and Infinite Verandas, where with the touch of a button, your entire living space becomes the veranda, letting you walk right up to the ocean’s edge.

FUTURE Celebrity Cruises recently announced a $500 million investment in our fleet that we are calling “The Celebrity Revolution” to transform the way our guests experience their Celebrity cruise. In partnership with more than 500 leading architects, designers, and engineers, this vacation revolution is designed to bring all of our award-winning ships to the edge, giving our guests the modern luxury vacation they deserve. And many of these beautiful ships also visit the Caribbean.

We are introducing revolutionary accommodations where every detail has been elevated and every comfort refined with the help of visionary designer, Kelly Hoppen, MBE. This coordinated fusion of East meets West with clean lines and neutral tones will pamper guests with its warm, inviting opulence.

Or they can experience the carefree Rooftop Garden, where they can take in A Taste of Film or enjoy the ahh-inspiring Spa on Edge. Of course, there are also 29 unique food and beverage experiences created by our Michelin-starred chef, Cornelius Gallagher.

Celebrity is always looking for new ways to open up the world, not only through the places we visit, but also through globally inspired and immersive culinary onboard experiences, including lavish restaurant designs, bars and lounges, interactive tastings and hands-on demonstrations to choose from and enjoy.

We are investing in our fleet to improve the guest experience from start to finish. As each ship rejoins the fleet, our commitment to modern luxury will be evident to all who sail upon them.

Emerson famously said, “Life is a journey, not a destination.” At Celebrity Cruises, we believe that opening the world means engaging with the people you meet, immersing yourself in the places you travel and learning from new cultures. Whether on board or on land, we create vacation experiences that change how our guests see the world.

In the Caribbean, the climate, environment and people make it easy to offer guests a sophisticated vacation with a deep connection to the destination. This journey is one that I could take over and over again, without ever repeating the same trip twice.

“WE TAKE OUR COMMITMENT TO THE CARIBBEAN SERIOUSLY…”