Living the “Celebrity Life” Aboard Celebrity Equinox

Cruise Diva is boarding Celebrity Equinox here in Southampton today for the naming ceremony and other inaugural events, but there's something new rolling out on board that's just about as exciting as the formal gala scheduled for tonight. Something we’ll be hearing a lot more about is “Celebrity Life,” a new series of palate-pleasing, intellectually-enriching, and life-enhancing programs designed to deliver the most unique and sophisticated onboard experience in premium cruising. Built on long-established pillars of the Celebrity brand—dining, enrichment, and wellness—Celebrity Life encompasses three distinct program categories: “Savor,” “Discover,” and “Renew.”

“Savor” takes an already stellar culinary experience to new heights, with eight new wine enrichment events designed to expand your understanding and appreciation of the fascinating world of wine, six spirits and mixology tastings to bring out your inner bartender, and more than seven different interactive culinary arts programs hosted by the ship’s Executive Chef and his team (as well as a special lineup of guest chefs who will set sail with Celebrity over the course of the year).

“Discover” presents an opportunity to do or learn what you have always wanted to try, but can never find the time to do at home. Whether it’s ordering a bottle of Chianti in Italian, or exploring the universe in 40 minutes, you can delve into a wide variety of interests. Highlighted by Celebrity’s new association with Smithsonian Journeys, the educational travel program of the renowned Smithsonian Institution, the “Beyond the Podium” enrichment series will offer far more than the typical enrichment lecture. Or you might prefer to learn a new language through Celebrity’s alliance with Rosetta Stone®, enhance your iPod listening experience by discovering new iTunes tips and tricks, or boost your technological prowess through Celebrity’s “digITal” series, with courses ranging from Photoshop and Windows primers, to BlackBerry and blog creation tips. Other enhancements to the edu-tainment program range from astronomy and celestial navigation to sharing the stage with Celebrity’s professional dancers during itinerary-influenced, interactive productions. In addition to participating in cultural, world, and ballroom dance classes, you’ll also have the opportunity to compete in the “Everybody Dance” competition, culminating in a vote for “star” dance champions on every sailing.

“Renew” offers an improved, more goal-oriented approach to classes, seminars, and treatments designed to help you on a journey to looking younger, feeling better, and living longer. Redefining the spa experience with an innovative range of beauty and wellness options, Renew offers three areas of enrichment within the program: “Ageless,” “Energy,” and “Longevity,” each with its own slate of treatment selections, seminars, and workshops. You can participate in motivating classes and also experience results-driven spa or fitness treatments created for each series within the program. How does a a 24-karat gold facial to target fine lines and wrinkles sound? To promote self-awareness and healthier living, you can take home nutritional information, wellness assessments, and realistic “Life” prescriptions to incorporate into your everyday routine.

Celebrity Life “goes live” when Celebrity Equinox leaves Southampton and enters service on July 31st and the program will be introduced across the balance of the fleet by the end of November.

To get you in the mood to come aboard and explore Celebrity Equinox with me as I begin a two-night preview sailing, here is her “live” arrival in Southampton last week.