By the Caribbean Journal staff

Celebrity Cruises has taken delivery of its newest cruise ship, Celebrity Edge, the company said.

The new ship, which was welcomed in the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, is the product of four years of planning and 23 months of construction.

“The Celebrity team has done an outstanding job and I cannot thank the Chantiers de l’Atlantique team enough for delivering this game-changing ship and for their ongoing partnership,” said Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd Chairman and CEO Richard Fain. “Their work continues to transform the way our guests experience the world.”

Celebrity is a Royal Caribbean brand.

There are so many aspects of Celebrity Edge that are more groundbreaking than we could have ever imagined, and it is all a testament to the hard work, creativity and talent of everyone who helped bring this magnificent ship to life,” said Celebrity President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo.

The ship, which has a capacity of 2,918 guests, has a host of new amenities and design concepts, most notably The Retreat, a special club level.

Celebrity Edge will homeport at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, with an inaugural season of seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises.

Following the ceremony, Celebrity held the keel laying for its next new ship, the Celebrity Apex.

— CJ