Miami - (November 23, 2008 ) - After showcasing its new Celebrity Solstice to more than 8,000 members of the travel agency community, press and other dignitaries on a series of two-night preview cruises, Celebrity Cruises today eagerly welcomes guests embarking on the ship's maiden voyage.

"This is yet another significant milestone in the rapid growth and evolution of the Celebrity brand, as Celebrity Solstice - our first in a series of five spectacular Solstice-class ships - officially enters service," said Celebrity's President & CEO Dan Hanrahan. "We hope our guests on this sailing are as elated with the extraordinary service, design, dining and entertainment as preliminary trade and press response would indicate."

Among the many accolades the ship has already received:  

• The "wow" factor: Some have it; others don't. And I'm not talking about fashionable celebrities here. Well, yes I am. Celebrity Cruises, that is. As a veteran of more than 50 cruises, I'm not easily dazzled. But one spin around the decks of the 122,000-ton, 2,850-passenger Celebrity Solstice had me saying 'wow.'" - Harry Shattuck, Houston Chronicle
• My own view - and one widely held by other cruise writers and travel agents on board: The hype is justified. Solstice is, simply, one of the most comfortably stylish ships on the seas. It's a premium ship - that's to say, it aims at upscale ambiance, dining and service, but without the super-high price of true luxury cruising. And it hits the mark." - Jane Wooldridge, Miami Herald "Celebrity Solstice breaks the mold in every conceivable way." - Ralph Grizzle, Avidcruiser.com
• First impressions of the ship? In a word, 'wow!' The design of the ship is exquisite, with space after space that makes you gasp with surprise and amazement." - Gene Sloan, USA Today
• The chatter is unbelievable. I can't remember a time when a group of executives in retail companies sat around and talked about a ship like this." - Mike Drever, president and CEO of Expedia CruiseShipCenters, quoted by Johanna Jainchill in Travel Weekly
• Travel agents at Travel Trade's 25th Annual Leisure Travel Conference were among the first agents to inspect the Solstice, and the new ship got rave reviews. One agent told Travel Trade that he has been in the business for 40 years, and the Solstice is 'the best hardware that I have seen.'" - Travel Trade
• Mainly, agents gushed about the style, space and imaginative details of the line's first post-Panamax ship. 'The ship is fabulous,' enthused Bob Newman of The Cruise Brothers, pointing to 'all the open spaces ... It feels open and bright.' 'Everywhere you look there's something that charms the eye,' said Jo Kling of Landry & Kling Cruise Event Services." - Anne Kalosh, Seatrade Insider 

Celebrity Solstice presents 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale until April 2009, with visits to San Juan, St. Maarten, Tortola, Haiti, and St. Kitts, depending on the itinerary. Celebrity Solstice sets sail on a transatlantic voyage from Fort Lauderdale April 19, 2009, ending in Rome, where the ship will offer a series of roundtrip 10- and 11-night Eastern Mediterranean sailings. 

Celebrity Solstice will be one of five Celebrity ships presenting enchanting Mediterranean and Northern Europe cruise vacations in 2009.

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highly personalized service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal and South America. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Australia, Canada, Europe and South America. Noted for four of the top 10 "Top Cruise Ships in the World" in the large-ship category, as voted by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler (February 2008 readers' poll), Celebrity's fleet - including the new Celebrity Solstice - will be joined by Celebrity Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011, and a fifth in 2012. For more information, call your Cruise Vacation World, dial 1-888-828-7327. 

Miami - (July 28, 2008 ) - Cruise enthusiasts who enjoy the intrigue, drama and romance of daytime TV's most popular soap operas – and the actors who star in them – are likely to find the vacation of their dreams in "Soap Cruise," which will be held on Celebrity Century in 2009.

Soap Cruise – the second voyage of its kind – will pair Celebrity's Star TreatmentSM with exclusive activities allowing guests who have purchased the Soap Cruise package the opportunity to directly interact with 16 of the hottest actors on all eight of daytime TV's top shows. The activities will include autograph and photo sessions, soap opera trivia games, an elite cocktail party with the stars, and other special events, including the opportunity to write a script and act it out with one of the stars.

Hosting Soap Cruise will be Cameron Mathison, who plays "Ryan" on All My Children, and has appeared on Dancing with the Stars. Mathison will be joined on Celebrity Century by fellow All My Children actors Alicia Minshew ("Kendall") and Jacob Young ("J.R."); Austin Peck ("Brad") from As the World Turns; Brandon Beemer ("Owen") of The Bold and the Beautiful and formerly "Shawn" on Days of Our Lives; Winsor Harmon ("Thorne") and Lesli Kay ("Felicia") of The Bold and the Beautiful; Nadia Bjorlin ("Chloe") and Jay Johnson ("Philip") of Days of Our Lives; Bradford Anderson ("Spinelli") and Greg Vaughn ("Lucky") from General Hospital; Murray Bartlett ("Cyrus") and Ricky Paull Goldin ("Jake") of All My Children, formerly ("Gus") on Guiding Light; Kamar de los Reyes ("Antonio") on One Life to Live; and Don Diamont ("Brad") and Christian LeBlanc ("Michael") of The Young and the Restless.

The soap stars will mix it up exclusively with guests who have booked the Soap Cruise package on Celebrity Century's January 22 itinerary departing roundtrip from Miami, with visits to Key West, Fla., and Cozumel, Mexico. A limited number of staterooms have been reserved for guests interested in experiencing Soap Cruise. For reservations and to view images and video from last year's Soap Cruise, visit Soap Cruise website or call (248) 855-7918. Bookings on Celebrity Century's January 22 itinerary through other avenues will not include access to Soap Cruise activities.

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highly personalized service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal and South America. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Australia, Canada, Europe and South America. Noted for four of the top 10 "Top Cruise Ships in the World," as voted by the readers of Conde' Nast Traveler (February 2008 readers’ poll), Celebrity's current fleet will be joined by Celebrity Solstice in 2008, Celebrity Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, and a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011. For more information, call your Cruise Vacation World, dial 1-888-828-7327. 

Miami - (May 12, 2008 ) - For cruise enthusiasts who long to enjoy the vibrant colors of the Mediterranean from onboard one of the world's top-rated cruise lines, their dream vacation is now within reach. Celebrity Cruises is offering travelers the opportunity to "Fall…for Celebrity's Mediterranean" by taking advantage of a sales promotion offering discounts on select sailings in the region.

Guests who book certain Mediterranean cruises are eligible to receive a $300 per person air or cruise credit for the first two guests in a stateroom and a $100 air or cruise credit for each additional guest in that stateroom. If guests book their airfare and cruise fare with Celebrity, the credits will apply to their airfare. If guests book only their cruise fare with Celebrity, the credits will apply to their cruise fare.

The promotion is valid for all Mediterranean cruises on Celebrity Century, Celebrity Galaxy, and Celebrity Summit with a departure date in October or November of this year, when booked between May 19 and June 1, 2008. Itineraries include 10- and 11-night eastern and western Mediterranean cruises and 14-night "Classical Mediterranean" and "Mediterranean Legacies" itineraries.

Celebrity Cruises encourages guests to visit Celebrity Cruises website for more details.

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highly personalized service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal and South America. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Australia, Canada, Europe and South America. Noted for "The Top Cruise Ships in the World," as voted by the readers of Conde' Nast Traveler (February 2008 readers’ poll), Celebrity's current fleet will be joined by Celebrity Solstice in 2008, Celebrity Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, and a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011. 

Miami - (February 06, 2008 ) - Ten of 2008's hottest new restaurants will open this fall, but diners won't need special connections to book a table. In fact, they won't even need directions, since the GPS coordinates will change daily. That's because the 10 restaurants are all on one of the world's most eagerly awaited new cruise ships: Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Solstice.

"The dining experience has always been central to our guests' cruise experience, and on Celebrity Solstice, we'll present the extraordinary service the brand is known for, in venues designed to perfectly complement the spectacular cuisine," said Celebrity's President and CEO Dan Hanrahan. "The larger size of Celebrity Solstice allows us to offer more options for our guests, with menus created by some of the best talent in the business."

"Celebrity has long been recognized as a leader in the culinary arena, and we're clearly taking it to the next level with Celebrity Solstice," said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO of Celebrity's parent company, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "In addition to outstanding cuisine, we believe the brand also will be recognized for some of the most impressive design work in the industry when Celebrity Solstice sets sail."

Celebrity partnered with some of the world's best designers in the hospitality business to create the restaurants onboard Celebrity Solstice; among them, preeminent restaurant and hotel designer Adam Tihany, who created such lauded restaurants as Per Se, Jean Georges, Le Cirque, The Sea Grill and Osteria del Circo in New York; Aureole, Bouchon and Seablue in Las Vegas; and Monte's and the chic Mandarin Bar at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London.

In his first foray into design onboard a cruise ship, Tihany created Celebrity Solstice's dramatic, two-level Grand Épernay dining room; the classic steakhouse, "Tuscan Grille," and the stylishly casual "Oceanview Café and Grill" on the ship's lido deck. His sophisticated, often groundbreaking design is evident on Celebrity Solstice in the Grand Épernay's two-story wine tower, to the Napa-meets-Old-World-Italy ambience in the ship's inviting Tuscan Grille.

Driving the creation of the tantalizing menus for each venue are Celebrity's Vice President of Food & Beverage Jacques Van Staden, in conjunction with Celebrity's culinary consultant Blau & Associates. Van Staden was previously one of the top chefs and restaurateurs in Washington, D.C. and Las Vegas. Blau & Associates is credited with shaping the dining experience at high profile destinations such as the Bellagio and Wynn Resort and Casino, and developing the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino's Simon kitchen + bar, named one of the best new restaurants in America in 2003 by Esquire magazine.

Together with Celebrity's highly experienced Food and Beverage team at its Miami headquarters and across the fleet, Van Staden and the Blau & Associates team have carefully created menus for each restaurant onboard Celebrity Solstice based on a pairing of thorough studies of guests' culinary preferences and the latest dining trends from around the world. The team will take their creations into test kitchens later this month to ensure each selection meets Celebrity's discerning guests' tastes.

 A "Taste" of Celebrity Solstice's Dining Venues:

The Grand Épernay
Old Hollywood glamour meets stunning contemporary design in this refined, sweeping main dining room created by Adam Tihany, highlighted by a distinctive, dramatic, two-story glass wine tower. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, evening entrée options include peppered bison filet with red onion preserve; smoked filet with lentil stew, sultana caper and beef jus; and taro-crusted salmon filet with glazed Brussels sprouts, turnip hash and apple cider sauce. A champagne collection from the region inspiring the venue's name includes Perrier Jouet Grand Brut, Moet & Chandon Dom Perignon, Heidsieck and Monopole, Champagne Pol Roger, and Louis Roederer Cristal.

Tuscan Grille
The Old World charm of Italy is the inspiration behind this Tihany-designed specialty venue, where guests enter through an archway reminiscent of a fine Napa Valley wine cellar. There, diners can enjoy Caesar salads prepared tableside, antipasti bar, Kobe beef, and a variety of steaks, all paired with a robust list of fine Italian wines.

Silk Harvest
Exotic Asia is the theme of this contemporary, casual specialty restaurant designed by RTKL. The menu serves up a fusion of hot and cold, spicy and mild Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese and Indian selections, while the specially-selected libations include a variety of sakes, Asian-influenced martinis and beers, and cocktails created with ginger root and acai berries.

Blu
"Clean cuisine" is served in this soothing specialty venue designed by Celebrity's own Newbuilding and Design team. A venue exclusively for guests booked in Celebrity Solstice's new AquaClass category of accommodations, Blu is open for other guests on a space-available basis. The menu features savory appetizers such as roasted beet salad with goat cheese; Mediterranean chopped salad with pita chips and pomegranate vinaigrette; and entrees including blackened ahi tuna, pan-seared filet mignon, and herb-crusted rack of lamb.

Murano
A twist on the restaurant of the same name on Celebrity Century, and reflective of the specialty restaurants on the cruise line's Millennium-class fleet, Murano presents a blend of classic and modern Continental cuisine. The warm, elegant restaurant designed by BG Studios of New York features dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows, with romantic ocean views that pair beautifully with the fine Riedel stemware, exquisite bone china and gleaming silverware. The wine cellar offers options from around the world, with a focus on boutique-style and limited-production vintages. Appetizers include warm goat cheese pancakes with sweet bell pepper nage; salads include a combination of Maine lobster, white asparagus and black truffle lobster aioli; and entrees run the gamut from spice-roasted duck with raisin-apple compote to pan-seared turbot with Alaskan King crab ragout.

Bistro on Five
A variety of specialty crepes highlight the menu in this casually-chic location, where guests are welcome to take out selections, but the ocean views are likely to entice them to stay. Designed by Wilson Butler Associates, the venue's creperie is complemented with sandwiches, soups, salads, desserts and entrees including quiche, fish and chips, baked ziti and chicken pot pie nearly around-the-clock.

Café al Bacio & Gelateria
This upscale coffeehouse radiates all the energy of a popular European café, highlighted by a sophisticated gelateria serving authentic gelatos and Italian ices, as well as signature and specialty coffees, teas, fresh-baked pastries, chocolate truffles and petit fours.

 AquaSpa Café
The AquaSpa Café is the perfect option for guests seeking quick, lighter fare. A signature venue introduced on Celebrity's Millennium-class fleet, and designed by RTKL, the soothing, airy setting invites guests to dine at comfortable tables while soaking up the tranquility of the Solarium, or enjoy their cuisine while nestled in the comfort of the lounge chairs.

Mast Grill & Bar
Comfort food is the focus of this ultra-casual, poolside venue, where the simple, fast and tasty options include burgers grilled to order, tacos, nachos, hot dogs, bratwurst, chicken wings, lamb gyros, Reuben sandwiches, and onion rings.

Oceanview Café and Grill
Embodying the casually chic atmosphere of a European marketplace, this Tihany-designed restaurant offers extensive menus with international flavors that change to reflect the regions in which the ship is sailing. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the venue offers plenty of outdoor seating for dining al fresco and soaking up the sun and sea air. Inside, during evening hours, a special section of the venue features tables draped with linen tablecloths for yet another casual dining option.

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highly personalized service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal and South America.

The line also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Canada, Europe and Australia through its cruisetour affiliate. Noted for "The Top Cruise Ships in the World," as voted by the readers of Conde' Nast Traveler (February 2008 readers’ poll), Celebrity's current fleet will be joined by Celebrity Solstice in 2008, Celebrity Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, and a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011.

Miami - (January 07, 2008 ) - Celebrity Cruises has launched the Celebrity Triple Star Celebration, a booking promotion that rewards travel agents and guests for booking, during the next two months, cruises sailing in three key destinations: Alaska, the Caribbean and Europe.

Travel agents who book at least one Celebrity cruise for each of those destinations by February 29, 2008, will qualify to be entered into a drawing for prizes. Celebrity Cruises will award three grand prizes, each of which consist of a trip for the winner and one guest to the Celebrity Eclipse steel-cutting or the Celebrity Solstice float-out (including air travel and a hotel stay). The grand prizes also each include one trip-of-a-lifetime sailing in an ocean-view stateroom plus air travel for the winner and one guest, on one of the following: Celebrity Solstice's inaugural sailing in the Caribbean, a Celebrity Xpedition voyage in the Galapagos Islands, or a Celebrity cruise in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, or Europe. Celebrity will award a total of 18 agents with a second prize: one of nine Apple iPod Touch MP3 players or nine Nintendo Wii video game consoles. Three hundred travel agents will win a third prize, which is a stateroom on Celebrity Solstice during one of its pre-inaugural sailings later this year.

In keeping with its "Starring You" advertising theme, Celebrity is granting consumers who book Celebrity Cruises vacations in Alaska, the Caribbean, or in Europe between now and February 29, 2008, onboard credit based on the length of the voyage. Guests can spend the onboard credit on a variety of experiences that pamper them, including spa treatments, shore excursions and more. Guests who book sailings that total less than six nights will receive $50 in onboard credit per stateroom. Guests who book voyages that total seven, eight or nine nights will receive $100 in onboard credit per stateroom. Guests booking voyages lasting ten, 11, 12 or 13 nights will receive $150 in onboard credit per stateroom, and guests booking voyages lasting 14 nights or longer will receive $200 in onboard credit per stateroom. Guests who book quickly will enjoy reduced deposits: those who book any Celebrity Alaska, Caribbean or Europe cruise before January 20, 2008, will only have to pay 50% of the deposit fare at the time of booking.

All aspects of the Celebrity Triple Star Celebration promotion are valid for new, individual bookings only. The promotion does not apply to group bookings, transatlantic sailings or repositioning sailings, and is not combinable with any other offer. The onboard credit received through the Celebrity Triple Star Celebration is not transferable. If guests do not use the full amount of onboard credit during their sailing, they will not be refunded any remaining credit.

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highly personalized service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, California, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, Panama Canal and South America. The line also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Canada, Europe and Australia through its cruisetour affiliate. Noted for "The World's Best Large Ships," as voted by the readers of Conde' Nast Traveler (February 2007 Cruise Poll), Celebrity's current fleet will be joined by Celebrity Solstice in 2008, Celebrity Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, and a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011.

Miami - (January 07, 2008 ) - Celebrity Cruises has launched the Celebrity Triple Star Celebration, a booking promotion that rewards travel agents and guests for booking, during the next two months, cruises sailing in three key destinations: Alaska, the Caribbean and Europe.

Travel agents who book at least one Celebrity cruise for each of those destinations by February 29, 2008, will qualify to be entered into a drawing for prizes. Celebrity Cruises will award three grand prizes, each of which consist of a trip for the winner and one guest to the Celebrity Eclipse steel-cutting or the Celebrity Solstice float-out (including air travel and a hotel stay). The grand prizes also each include one trip-of-a-lifetime sailing in an ocean-view stateroom plus air travel for the winner and one guest, on one of the following: Celebrity Solstice's inaugural sailing in the Caribbean, a Celebrity Xpedition voyage in the Galapagos Islands, or a Celebrity cruise in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, or Europe. Celebrity will award a total of 18 agents with a second prize: one of nine Apple iPod Touch MP3 players or nine Nintendo Wii video game consoles. Three hundred travel agents will win a third prize, which is a stateroom on Celebrity Solstice during one of its pre-inaugural sailings later this year.

In keeping with its "Starring You" advertising theme, Celebrity is granting consumers who book Celebrity Cruises vacations in Alaska, the Caribbean, or in Europe between now and February 29, 2008, onboard credit based on the length of the voyage. Guests can spend the onboard credit on a variety of experiences that pamper them, including spa treatments, shore excursions and more. Guests who book sailings that total less than six nights will receive $50 in onboard credit per stateroom. Guests who book voyages that total seven, eight or nine nights will receive $100 in onboard credit per stateroom. Guests booking voyages lasting ten, 11, 12 or 13 nights will receive $150 in onboard credit per stateroom, and guests booking voyages lasting 14 nights or longer will receive $200 in onboard credit per stateroom. Guests who book quickly will enjoy reduced deposits: those who book any Celebrity Alaska, Caribbean or Europe cruise before January 20, 2008, will only have to pay 50% of the deposit fare at the time of booking.

All aspects of the Celebrity Triple Star Celebration promotion are valid for new, individual bookings only. The promotion does not apply to group bookings, transatlantic sailings or repositioning sailings, and is not combinable with any other offer. The onboard credit received through the Celebrity Triple Star Celebration is not transferable. If guests do not use the full amount of onboard credit during their sailing, they will not be refunded any remaining credit.

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highly personalized service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, California, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, Panama Canal and South America. The line also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Canada, Europe and Australia through its cruisetour affiliate. Noted for "The World's Best Large Ships," as voted by the readers of Conde' Nast Traveler (February 2007 Cruise Poll), Celebrity's current fleet will be joined by Celebrity Solstice in 2008, Celebrity Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, and a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011.

Miami - (September 10, 2007 ) -  Celebrity Cruises has officially launched the production of Celebrity Equinox, the second 122,000-ton ship in the line's four-ship Solstice-class fleet. Richard Fain, CEO of Celebrity's parent company, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., last week pressed the button of the plasma torch at shipbuilder Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany.

Joining Fain (left) at Meyer Werft were Celebrity Solstice-class Project Manager Jarmo Laakso and Meyer Werft Managing Director Lambert Kruse.

Like its sister ships, Celebrity Equinox will have larger standard staterooms, 90 percent of which will be outside, and 85 percent of all staterooms will have verandas. The 2,850-guest vessels each will have an exceptional range of guest-inspired services and amenities, 1,425 staterooms, and will measure 1,033 feet in length and 121 feet in width.

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highly personalized service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, California, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, Mexican Riviera, Panama Canal and South America, and will begin sailing in Australia and New Zealand in November. The line also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Canada, Europe and Australia through its cruisetour affiliate. Noted for "The World's Best Large Ships," as voted by the readers of Conde' Nast Traveler (February 2007 Cruise Poll), Celebrity's current fleet will be joined by Celebrity Solstice in 2008, Celebrity Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, and a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011. For more information, call your cruise travel experts at Cruise Vacation World at 1-888-828-7327.

Baltimore - September 05, 2007 --- The Scholar Ship, the first oceangoing study-abroad program developed specifically for an international student body, will make its maiden voyage from Athens, Greece on September 5, 2007. More than 200 undergraduate and postgraduate students from 35 countries will travel to four continents over 16 weeks.

The Scholar Ship, backed by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., and supported by seven international universities, will immerse students and faculty in an intercultural living and learning environment aboard a 201-meter ocean liner specially equipped for the academic program.

Students and staff will embark on The Scholar Ship in Piraeus, Athens on a westward course to Lisbon, Portugal; Panama City, Panama; Guayaquil, Ecuador; Papeete, Tahiti; Auckland, New Zealand; Sydney, Australia; and Shanghai, Macau and Hong Kong in China. Ports of call provide extensive educational opportunities for students through a port program in which students participate in academic field study, community service and independent travel.

Seven international universities collaborated in the curricula development for The Scholar Ship, including the University of California, Berkeley and Macquarie University in Sydney, which has been designated to award academic credit to students. Other participating "Academic Stewards" include Fudan University, China; Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico; Cardiff University, United Kingdom; Al Akhawayn University, Morocco; and the University of Ghana.

Multinational corporations such as IBM, Microsoft and HSBC Bank also have been engaged to ensure the program's learning outcomes are relevant and practical for students. The Scholar Ship's introduction reflects the increased interest and extraordinary growth in enriching study abroad programs worldwide.

"The Scholar Ship promises to be a microcosm of our global age: a laboratory for global democracy," said John Lie, Dean of International and Area Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. "In creating a truly transnational learning community, with its stress on experiential learning, The Scholar Ship represents a bold experiment in international and global education."

Program fees are approximately $20,000 per semester. A $ 2 million fund has been established for the 2007/2008 academic year to broaden the availability of the program to students from diverse backgrounds. Grants are awarded based on academic merit and economic need.

Miami - (June 18, 2007 ) - Celebrity Cruises is beaming about the approach of summer solstice. The term for the longest day and shortest night of the year, summer solstice traditionally marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, but at Celebrity Cruises, it also marks the opening of bookings for Celebrity Solstice^SM, the top-rated premium cruise line's first new ship since 2002.

Bookings for Celebrity Solstice will open exclusively for members of Celebrity's loyalty program, "Captain's Club," on June 21, the date of this year's summer solstice. Beginning July 5, all other cruise enthusiasts are welcome to book a Celebrity Solstice vacation. "We are thrilled with the early interest and enthusiasm we're receiving from our guests and travel partners about Celebrity Solstice," said Celebrity's President Dan Hanrahan. "As a special gesture of appreciation to our loyal Captain's Club members, we're pleased to offer them the first opportunity to set sail in the ship's inaugural season."

Celebrity Solstice will offer the extraordinary service and dining experience the brand is known for providing, along with a variety of compelling new features that will be revealed over time.

One of those features is the line's new AquaClass^SM category of veranda accommodations expressly designed for spa enthusiasts. Guests booked in AquaClass will receive unlimited access to Celebrity Solstice's new AquaSpa relaxation room and the Persian Garden, an exotic aromatherapy and steam room, as well as exclusive, complimentary dining in Blu, an intimate, 130-seat specialty restaurant whose design is likely to be as inviting as the cuisine.

AquaClass^SM will comprise 130 of the ship's 1,425 staterooms. A full 85 percent of all staterooms onboard Celebrity Solstice will have verandas, and all staterooms will be equipped with flat-screen TVs, smarter storage and closet space, spacious bathrooms, and plush European bedding. The ship will offer wireless Internet access throughout.

Following several weeks of inaugural activities, Celebrity Solstice will make its maiden voyage December 14, 2008, on a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico; Basseterre, St. Kitts; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten. The itinerary will be offered on Sundays through April 5, 2009, with an alternating itinerary calling on San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Tortola, B.V.I.; and Labadee, Haiti, through April 12, 2009. Fares for veranda staterooms begin at $1,099 per person, based on double occupancy.

Celebrity Solstice^SM will be the line's first in a class of four 2,850-guest vessels with an exceptional range of guest-inspired services and amenities. German shipbuilder Meyer Werft is building the 122,000-ton vessels. Meyer Werft also built the line's Century-class fleet: Celebrity Century, Celebrity Mercury, and Celebrity Galaxy.

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highly personalized service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, California, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, Mexican Riviera, Panama Canal and South America, and will begin sailing in Australia and New Zealand in November. The line also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Canada, Europe and Australia through its cruisetour affiliate. Noted for "The World's Best Large Ships," as voted by the readers of Conde' Nast Traveler (February 2007 Cruise Poll), Celebrity's current fleet will be joined by Celebrity Solstice in 2008, Celebrity Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, and a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011.