It will be the first time Celebrity has operated two ships out of Southampton, with Celebrity Silhouette returning to the UK for her third consecutive year, and is testament to the support of UK travel agents, Celebrity’s president Lisa Lutoff-Perlo told TTG.
“This is the first time that we’ve had a ship in the UK since Eclipse. We’re bringing Edge to life in the UK - the UK and Ireland continue to be a really important market for us and are growing more and more important.
“When Celebrity Apex launches in Southampton in 2020 it will be another incredible moment for our company and for the UK market, especially as it will be ten years since we last named and operated a new ship from the UK,” she added in a statement.
“In 2010 Celebrity Eclipse changed the face of UK cruising with our modern luxury approach. Celebrity Apex will continue our tradition of reimagining what is expected from all aspects of a holiday at sea and elevate modern luxury cruising in ways never seen before.”
Apex is the second in Celebrity’s Edge-class, and will be almost identical to sister ship, including new features such as its Edge Villas, featuring outdoor plunge pools.
“Our new Edge-class ships are design and architectural feats that bring a closer connection to both the ocean and the destinations visited with a unique outward facing design,” Lutoff-Perlo said.
Apex will go on sale on November 29 with a dedicated trade toolkit on the new ship and its itineraries to be made available later in the year, said Jo Rzymowska, vice president and managing director – UK, Ireland and Asia.
“The appetite from our agent partners for the Edge Class of ships has been simply phenomenal – it is no exaggeration to say it’s been record breaking.
"It’s a fitting thank you to bring new ship Celebrity Apex to the UK in 2020 and showcase one of our ships to more agents than ever before. I promise that the travel industry will have never seen anything like it, and I simply can’t wait.”
