The Celebrity Class is the first of a new class of cruise ships that will be built by Celebrity Cruises. The Celebrity Class will feature a total of 1,276 staterooms, with a total capacity of 2,066 passengers. Celebrity Cruises has made the Celebrity Class cruise ship their main focus in the first quarter of 2016, including the unveiling of the first Celebrity Class ship, Celebrity Cruises’ newest medium-sized ship, the Celebrity class, at the Port of Piraeus, near Athens, Greece, on January 22, 2016.
Celebrity Apex, the largest passenger ship to ever sail the Mediterranean, began its maiden voyage from Port of Athens today. “Celebrity Apex is a project that began 10 years ago, when Greece was still a member of the euro zone. It was necessary to build an alternative to the traditional cruise ships that were coming to the port of Piraeus, as the old ships were too small and were not meeting the needs of the passengers. After the announcement of the new Greek Government, Celebrity Apex and the other ships of the Group began to be built, with the hope that they will be operational in the near future. The ships are equipped with all the latest facilities and technologies. With a capacity of 1,500 passengers, the vessels are the largest passenger
Celebrity Apex, a 23,000-ton luxury cruise ship, was on its maiden voyage from Port of Athens to Barcelona, Spain, when it was attacked by pirates on May 10, 2010. The pirates, two 35-year-old men from the Middle East, stole money and valuables from passengers as they were boarding the ship. The entire crew was taken hostage and forced to sail the ship in the opposite direction to Barcelona. However, the ship was finally intercepted by a U.S. Navy vessel off the Libyan coast on May 23.
More than a year after its original date, the Celebrity Apex has finally departed for its maiden voyage. Celebrity Cruises has launched one of this year’s most anticipated luxury ships in a familiar location.
Celebrity Cruises was founded in 1988 in Greece by the Chandris family. More than 70% of the officers on board its ships, 40 captains and chief engineers, are of Greek origin and the line still maintains close ties with the archipelago. So it’s no surprise that the Celebrity Apex left Piraeus (Athens) this week for her maiden voyage.
A summer of sailing in the Greek islands
The captain of Celebrity Apex, Dimitrios Kafetzis, has mapped out an itinerary that includes such beautiful ports as Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos and Limassol in Cyprus. Celebrity Apex was due to set sail in March, but the COVIS-19 pandemic has delayed the newest addition to Celebrity’s fleet.
Related: Essential information about Celebrity Apex
The ship will now have its home port in Athens and begin a series of cruises led by Captain Kafetzis, who said the following this week.
Today is a very proud day for me that I will never forget. I’m not only going back to sea, but I’m doing it in my own country and with an incredible team. I was born and raised here in Piraeus, less than a kilometre from our home port of Athens, and since childhood I have dreamed of being at the helm of a ship on this coast. I am honored to be the captain of Celebrity’s new flagship and to welcome our first guests on board.
The captain had his moment of glory as Celebrity Apex left port for a seven-day cruise through the historic islands of the Aegean, Celebrity Cruises’ grand return to Europe.
Photo via: Cruises
Greece – special place
Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises, who has been busy with the successful relaunch of cruises for Celebrity, was also happy and proud to be back in Greece for the cruise line:
After all this time, what a dream come true for everyone aboard this beautiful ship in one of the most exciting parts of the world. Your departure today is an important moment for our guests, our crew and our company. I think we all have moments when we pinch ourselves. Greece has always had a special place in our hearts, and it’s even more so now that we’re sailing to relive all her wonders.
Celebrity Apex sailed with a fully vaccinated crew and over 95% of guests were fully vaccinated. Passengers are free to explore the Greek islands. The cruise line has also waived the mask requirement and introduced a comprehensive testing procedure for all passengers.
About Apex Celebrity
Celebrity Apex is the sister ship of Celebrity Edge, named one of the best places in the world by TIME magazine. These ships have some incredible innovations that set them apart from other ships in the cruise industry. These include 29 different restaurants, bars and lounges, the Magic Carpet, which overlooks the sea and offers guests uninterrupted views while sipping cocktails or dining, modern two-storey villas with pools and cabanas with infinity verandas.
The Celebrity Apex was built by the Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France. The ship can accommodate 3,405 guests and 1,320 crew members. The ship weighs 130,818 tonnes and is 306 metres long.
After a year of construction work and commotion surrounding a proposed new port facility, the Greek Coast Guard officially opened the port of Attica on October 18th, 2016. The port is located 10 kilometers south of Piraeus and handles 300,000 single-container freight units per year. The facility sprawls over an area of approx. 7 hectares and is a joint venture between the Port Authority of Athens and Piraeus and the Hellenic Merchant Marine Corporation (HSX).. Read more about celebrity cruises webinar and let us know what you think.
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