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| Stateroom 1091 |
Celebrity Eclipse: The "Conveyance" Journey
The Sham-WOW of Cruise Ship Experiences
by Linda Coffman
PART TWO, Celebrity Eclipse
Following the launches of
Celebrity
Solstice in 2008 and
Celebrity
Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse is the third of five
Solstice-class ships being built at Meyer Werft for Celebrity
Cruises. At 1,040 feet long and 121 feet wide, the 122,000 ton
Eclipse will carry 2,850 passengers in stylish comfort. Even in her
unfinished state it was obvious from what we could see that she will
be as beautifully appointed as her predecessors (see the links above
for Cruise Diva's exclusive reviews of the other Solstice-class
ships). Tile murals already in place along the staircase connecting
the Aquaspa on Deck 12 and Relaxation Lounge on Deck 11 are simply
exquisite. The spa itself will have an earthier green-based color
scheme and a slightly altered entryway to separate and improve the
flow between the fitness center and main spa areas.
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| Stairwell Tiled Mosaic Walls |
The Grand Foyer Tree |
After picking our way through the Persian Garden and through the
Relaxation Lounge, we headed for the Grand Foyer, which already has
its 18-foot tree in place. On Eclipse, the "pot" is a round vessel
crafted of the same resin that's used in race car bodies—super
strong and light. Beneath a crystal chandelier, the asymmetrical
Grand Foyer staircase will be the place for grand
entrances.
No tour of a Solstice-class ship would be complete without a stop at
the Martini Bar on Promenade Deck. While the bar itself isn't
covered in ice yet, the aft wall celebrates the ice theme with
organic shapes depicting the cracking of ice. Basically, the rest of
Promenade Deck is identical in layout to the other Solstice-class
ships with the only alterations being made in the color schemes and
décor. Also like the other ships, a two-deck wine tower anchors the
main restaurant, which appeared huge in its unfurnished state.
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| Martini Bar |
Martini Bar "Crushed Ice" Wall
Detail |
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|
Entertainment Court floor inlay |
Up to the Entertainment Deck, we stopped to admire the inlaid floor
in the Entertainment Court below before passing through the Eclipse
Theater show lounge where it was pointed out that artwork hung at
the entrances is mirrored in the theater's ceiling. Naturally, the
shops are incomplete (darn!), but Bistro on Five and the Café al
Bacio and Gelateria are taking shape.
My favorite public area of the Solstice-class ships is the Ensemble
Lounge where one can conveniently enjoy an aperitif before
dining in one of the nearby specialty restaurants: Murano ($35 per person cover charge), Tuscan Grill
($25 per person cover charge), and—new
aboard Celebrity Eclipse—Qsine ($30 per person
cover charge), which replaces the Asian-inspired
Silk Harvest found on Solstice and Equinox. Also located in this area is Blu, the dining room for
occupants of Aquaspa accommodations.
It's Qsine that above all captured my attention. The brainchild of
Celebrity's Vice President of Culinary Operations, Chef Jacques Van Staden,
he describes Qsine as a new approach to food. Modern and playful, Van Staden
explained it to us as a blend of childhood favorites and
memorable food experiences—an
extreme makeover for food. Menu items are sized to share and the
dining experience is interactive. For instance, you make your own
guacamole to accompany the rectangular tacos. The restaurant itself
is a Wonderland worthy of Alice herself. Whimsical upside down table lamp
chandeliers hang from the ceiling and the furnishings, which we
didn't see, promise to be as unique as the food presentations.
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| Qsine: Quirky "Chandelier" |
Qsine: Cuisine |
Naturally, there are outdoor areas aplenty. While the grass hasn't
been planted on the Lawn Club yet (installation is awaiting warmer and
more favorable weather), all the pools and solarium
lack are deck chairs, water, and sunshine. And passengers, of
course!
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| Pool Deck |
Solarium, with overhead solar
panels |
With our tour complete, we were able to sample a few of Qsine's menu
items, pictured
above—"Popcorn
Fish & Chips" (Boddington's-battered codfish and chips served with
malt vinegar or aioli), "Crunchy Munchies" (Gaufrettes, French
fries, and Sweet potato strings), "Garlic Brioche" (wrapped in paper
cones), and "Disco Shrimp" (Poached Tiger Shrimp, avocado, tomato
and celery, dressed in a cocktail Aioli with crunchy toppings). Each
dish is served in an appropriate container. The Disco Shrimp
intrigued us with it's flashing blue cube embedded in ice.
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| Signing the steel wall |
While my time aboard was short, I left my mark upon Celebrity
Eclipse. Along with fellow "conveyancers" I signed a designated
spot of bare steel. Of course it will eventually be covered by an
art piece, but I'll always think of Celebrity Eclipse as "my"
Solstice-class ship.
After arriving in Eemshaven, Netherlands, where we departed,
Celebrity Eclipse was set to embark on sea trials, followed by a
series of promotional events in Hamburg, Germany, and Southampton,
England, where the vessel will be the first in the Celebrity fleet
to be dedicated to the UK market.
During her 2010 inaugural season,
Celebrity Eclipse will offer cruises in the Mediterranean, Canary
Islands, Scandinavia and Russia, as well as short cruise options to
Le Havre (for Paris), France, and Cork, Ireland, all roundtrip from
Southampton. The ship will then sail Caribbean cruises roundtrip
from Miami, Florida, after crossing the Atlantic in November 2010.
Back to the Conveyance in
Part One
From Cruise Diva's Blog, cutting the steel:
Celebrity Silhouette Takes Shape
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