Celebrity rings the changes

Now that Celebrity Eclipse has finished its first European season, and crossed the Atlantic to spend the winter sailing from Miami, American journalists have had their first chance to see the ship,.
They expected to be in Southampton for the launch – performed by breast cancer survivor Emma Pontin – in April. But the Icelandic ash cloud which grounded flights kept them at home, and the ship was sent on a rescue mission to Spain to ferry home trapped British holidaymakers.
Eclipse is the third of five planned Solstice-class ships being built for Celebrity. The next one, Silhouette, followed Disney Dream into dry-dock at the Meyer-Werft yard in Papenburg and will be delivered next year.
Taking the media on a tour of Eclipse at the weekend, CEO Dan Hanrahan hinted that there will be subtle changes to Silhouette and also to Reflection, the final ship on order and due for completion in 2009.
Infuriatingly, the hints were as far as it went, and we are left guessing at what exactly the changes will entail. An announcement is promised for December 8.
Meanwhile, the company has announced details of an upgrade planned for the 10-year-old Celebrity Infinity, which will be carried out next November during a dry-dock in Grand Bahamas.
The ship will gain Solstice-class features including a Tuscan Grille steakhouse, a Bistro on Five creperie, Cellarmasters wine bar, Martini Bar and a Café al Bacio and ice cream servery. It will also be fitted with an iLounge internet centre.
Also new will be 37 AquaClass cabins and six inside staterooms in what is now the kids’ club on Deck 11 and 17 ocean-view staterooms on Deck 3. Balconies will be added to some existing suites. A Blu restaurant for AquaClass passengers will be created in part of the existing main dining room. New facilities for children will be provided in part of the observation lounge. Double occupancy capacity of the 90,288-ton ship will be increased from 1,950 to 2,154.