Celebrity Cruises Plans to "Go Big" in Summer of 2012

“Go big or go home” is Celebrity Cruises’ mantra for the summer and early fall season of 2012. That’s when the premium cruise line will return to Alaska and Bermuda; sail revamped voyages to Canada and New England; and offer more opportunities to enjoy Europe cruises than ever before, with five ships visiting 70 ports in 22 countries, sailing from six departure ports, and featuring 19 distinct Mediterranean itineraries.

Highlights of Celebrity’s European expansion include a new Venice homeport and Iceland cruises. While recognizing that people’s vacation time is precious, Celebrity has shaped a 2012 Europe lineup that exemplifies the premium cruise brand’s focus on offering a multitude of ways for people to have the best vacation experience possible. Some extended overnight stays and eight new ports will add even more depth to Celebrity’s already broad Europe offerings; these include Klaksvik, Faroe Islands; Akureyri, Iceland; Bari, Catania, and Ravenna, Italy; Skijolden, Norway; Koper, Slovenia and Fuerteventura, Canary Islands. Travelers can enjoy these and the 62 other ports Celebrity will visit in Europe in 2012 in ultra-premium style, as Celebrity is deploying four of its award-winning Solstice Class ships to sail full Europe seasons in 2012. They will be joined by the recently “Solsticized” Celebrity Constellation.

Guests who wish to deepen their experience in Europe can take advantage of Celebrity’s cruisetour offerings, which combine a cruise with a 3- to 5-night pre-cruise escorted land package in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. All packages are escorted by a local tour director and include hotel accommodations, transportation, select activities, breakfasts, and some additional meals.

Celebrity’s Europe season will be bookended by transatlantic sailings that will transition the ships from Europe to their next destination; these cruises range from 13 to 15 nights in length and feature ports such as Barcelona, Lisbon, the Azores, the Canary Islands and Paris/Normandy (Le Havre).

Popular Alaska vacation experiences continue with new cruisetours designed with intergenerational group appeal. For the fifth consecutive year, Celebrity Century, Celebrity Infinity, and Celebrity Millennium will return to Alaska in the summer of 2012, offering vacationers ways to enjoy vacations featuring Celebrity’s signature cuisine, activities, and service amidst unforgettable, inspiring scenery.

Guests who wish to venture deeper into Alaska can take advantage of Celebrity’s cruisetour offerings, which combine an Alaska cruise on Celebrity Millennium with a pre- or post-cruise escorted land package highlighting the region’s natural beauty, culture and heritage. A total of 20 packages will be available in 2012, including tours designed specifically for families.

Celebrity’s Bermuda lineup aims to bewitch travelers. After being “Solsticized” in January 2012, Celebrity Summit will return to Bermuda that summer for a third consecutive season, reprising its 2011 roundtrip 7-night itineraries from Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey.

Canada and New England are enchanting autumn destinations and in September 2012, Celebrity Summit will shift from Bermuda cruises to three 14-night Canada and New England sailings. Differing from previous years, the cruises, which will depart on Saturdays, will include a new port of call for Celebrity: Gaspé, a city situated on the point of the Gaspé Peninsula in eastern Quebec, Canada. To help vacationers maximize their celebration of autumn’s splendor, Celebrity is also building on its previous Canada and New England offerings in 2012 by adding more time (two full days) in Quebec City, Canada.

Shoreside options add immersion, depth to any sailing and to help round out travelers’ summer cruise experience, Celebrity will offer a variety of shore excursions aimed at satisfying a range of travelers’ interests, including winery visits, glacier tours, private floatplane trips, beach sojourns, and more. To make it easy for guests to plan their vacation, Celebrity offers the option for guests to book shore excursions in advance of their cruise.

Celebrity’s 2012 Europe and transatlantic season, as well as Bermuda and Canada/New England cruises, are now available for booking. On April 6, Celebrity’s 2012 Alaska season will open for sale. Members of Celebrity’s Captain’s Club loyalty program are eligible to receive up to $600 savings per stateroom when booking select 2012-13 itineraries before July 29, 2011. Complete details on Celebrity’s shore excursions are available online; shore excursions are not included in cruise fare.

More details about the above cruises and cruisetours are available at Cruise Diva’s Cruise News and specific itineraries can be found at CelebrityCruises.com.