By
Alex Smith |
Celebrity Cruises’ newest ship Celebrity Beyond has successfully completed sea trials in the Bay of Biscay ahead of her maiden voyage on 27 April from Southampton, UK.
The trials were overseen by more than 50 crew members, including Captain Kate McCue. Celebrity Beyond’s manoeuvrability, fuel efficiency, safety and comfort were tested as part of the trials, before the ship returned to the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to have completed this important milestone as it brings us that much closer to welcoming our guests onboard to enjoy their own ‘Journey WonderFull,’ on Celebrity Beyond,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises. “Beyond showed why there is so much more to her than just her looks. Like her sister ships – Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Edge – she went beyond what was needed to demonstrate she’s ready.”
Celebrity Beyond is 21 metres longer than her sister ships Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Apex, meaning that she will be the largest ship in the Celebrity fleet when she makes her debut. New features onboard the ship will include the Le Voyage fine dining restaurant, a multi-level Sunset Bar designed by Nate Berkus, a redesigned central Grand Plaza spanning three decks and an expanded rooftop garden.
Celebrity Beyond’s 10-night maiden voyage will visit Bordeaux in France, Lisbon in Portugal and Seville, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona in Spain. She will then begin offering a range of Mediterranean sailings, including nine-night Italian Riviera and France itineraries and a 10-night Greek Isles itinerary until early October, when she will redeploy to the Caribbean.