World Class Bar

New World Class Bar on Celebrity Eclipse. What is that all about! Replacing the Molecular Bar on Deck 5. Is this just another excuse to charge more for drinks? As I understand it, only Premium Drinks packages will be available for this experience! Along with Luminae, an exclusive restaurant for those staying in Suite Class accommodation, Celebrity is becoming a 2 tier Ship. Just don't like the way Celebrity is going.

New World Class Bar on Celebrity Eclipse. What is that all about! Replacing the Molecular Bar on Deck 5. Is this just another excuse to charge more for drinks? As I understand it, only Premium Drinks packages will be available for this experience! Along with Luminae, an exclusive restaurant for those staying in Suite Class accommodation, Celebrity is becoming a 2 tier Ship. Just don't like the way Celebrity is going.

Here's the press release..

First "World Class™ Bar" Revealed by Celebrity Cruises and Diageo Global Travel Americas

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May 18, 2015

Celebrity Cruises and Diageo Global Travel Americas have partnered to launch the world's first permanent "World Class™ Bar". The striking bar space onboard Celebrity Eclipse provides interactive and luxurious drinks experiences created by World Class-certified mixologists.

Celebrity is renowned for its highly skilled and engaging bartenders, and partnering with the world’s leading premium drinks company provides Celebrity's expert mixologists with exclusive menus that feature cutting-edge cocktails - delivering the ultimate high-end drinks experience for vacationers. World Class Bar debuted on Celebrity Eclipse and will soon be followed by bars onboard Celebrity’s four remaining Solstice Class ships.

The curated and exclusive menu features new craft cocktails and a series of "rituals," available only onboard Celebrity, including:

MYSTIC KETEL ONE® – a unique ritual serve, this tropical cocktail is made with Ketel One® Vodka. A specially designed kettle cools the mixture of strawberries, pineapple, aloe vera, lime juice, ginger liqueur and Ketel One and releases a vapor.

ACAPA® OLD FASHIONED – rich Zacapa® 23 Rum is mixed with angostura bitters and a dash of chocolate mole for a twist on one of the classics, as Zacapa elevates the “Old Fashioned” to the next level.

CELEBRITY No. TEN™ – a refreshing cocktail made with unique Tanqueray® no. Ten™ gin, fresh raspberries, a dash of bitters, lemon juice and crème de violette and topped off with ginger ale.

"Our award-winning culinary program gives guests the opportunity to indulge in new tastes and experiences during their vacation, and the World Class Bar will do this by offering the very best of mixology, custom-created craft cocktails and expert bartenders," said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. "World Class is at the forefront of contemporary cocktail culture, which is a perfect fit for Celebrity as we continue to bring modern luxury to affluent vacationers."

Doug Bagley, Managing Director, Diageo Global Travel and Middle East, said: "We are delighted to partner with Celebrity Cruises to launch this first, groundbreaking World Class Bar onboard a cruise ship.Celebrity is world-renowned for providing luxurious guest experiences, and this bar will provide exceptional drinking experiences for its guests. It brings to life our World Class ambition to inspire the world to drink better through innovations such as unique ritual serves, and it represents a bold approach to growing the fine-drinking category."

Since 2009, more than 15,000 bartenders have been inspired by and educated in the craft of mixology by World Class, and each year the globally renowned Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year competition showcases some of the best talent in the industry.

About Celebrity Cruises:

Celebrity Cruises' iconic "X" is the mark of modern luxury, with its cool, contemporary design and warm spaces; dining experiences where the design of the venues is as important as the cuisine; and the amazing service that only Celebrity can provide, all created to provide an unmatchable experience for vacationers' precious time. Celebrity Cruises' 10 ships offer modern luxury vacations visiting all seven continents. Celebrity also presents immersive cruise tour experiences in Alaska and Canada. Celebrity is one of six cruise brands operated by global cruise vacation company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE, OSE: RCL). For more information, dial 1-800-437-3111, or call your travel agent.

About Diageo:

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits, beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo's website. Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, DrinkiQ website, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere. Please Drink Responsibly. Visit DrinkiQ website

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New World Class Bar on Celebrity Eclipse. What is that all about! Replacing the Molecular Bar on Deck 5. Is this just another excuse to charge more for drinks? As I understand it, only Premium Drinks packages will be available for this experience! Along with Luminae, an exclusive restaurant for those staying in Suite Class accommodation, Celebrity is becoming a 2 tier Ship. Just don't like the way Celebrity is going.

The molecular bar was already premium-only, so that isn't that much of a tradeoff. What is new is that the WCB has "super-premium" drinks that are $3 (+grat) above the premium package, even.

There are several threads talking about suite amenities; I think Celebrity is handling the Suite better than many other mass-market lines. NCL's Haven is a 2-tier ship. Luminae, Michael's Club, and ... that's pretty much it, isn't really, IMO.

What is new is that the WCB has "super-premium" drinks that are $3 (+grat) above the premium package, even.

The molecular bar was already premium-only, so that isn't that much of a tradeoff. What is new is that the WCB has "super-premium" drinks that are $3 (+grat) above the premium package, even.

 

There are several threads talking about suite amenities; I think Celebrity is handling the Suite better than many other mass-market lines. NCL's Haven is a 2-tier ship. Luminae, Michael's Club, and ... that's pretty much it, isn't really, IMO.

Thanks. Another comment on another thread said the 3 x $18 drinks at the new World Bar are not included in ANY package so even with the premium package you still have to pay the full $18 to try them...ho hum.....just have to wait till July to find out!

Thanks. Another comment on another thread said the 3 x $18 drinks at the new World Bar are not included in ANY package so even with the premium package you still have to pay the full $18 to try them...ho hum.....just have to wait till July to find out!

That comment was SOMEWHAT misleading :) With the Classic package, you'll pay the full $18 since it is above the limit of the package. With the Premium package, you'll only pay the difference between the package's limit and the price of the drink.

Thanks. That makes more sense.

Thanks. Another comment on another thread said the 3 x $18 drinks at the new World Bar are not included in ANY package so even with the premium package you still have to pay the full $18 to try them...ho hum.....just have to wait till July to find out!

One of these comments came from me as I phoned celebrity UK and that is what they told me... Celebrity call centre strikes again...!! [emoji57]

I was pleased to be wrong and can confirm you only pay the extra for the over the limit drinks as I was on the recent eclipse sailing to the fjords! [emoji483][emoji16]

That comment was SOMEWHAT misleading :) With the Classic package, you'll pay the full $18 since it is above the limit of the package. With the Premium package, you'll only pay the difference between the package's limit and the price of the drink.

Misleading maybe but it was only because celebrity UK had told me so! I should know by now not to believe anything a celebrity call centre says... [emoji23]

Think I will just drink elsewhere for free[emoji41]. Will be interesting to see how they do once the novelty wears off.

Given the small size of the World Class bar (certainly on the Eclipse) with around 20 stools/seats, in the context of the size of the ship, this is really small beer (pun intended.) Can't say it worries me.

We are just off the Eclipse and there was never anyone drinking any of the Cocktails at that bar, once saw someone with a vodka coke but that it. Only one barman who looked extremely annoyed to be standing there!

"As I understand it, only Premium Drinks packages will be available for this experience! Along with Luminae, an exclusive restaurant for those staying in Suite Class accommodation, Celebrity is becoming a 2 tier Ship."

Anyone can purchase a drink at the World Class Bar, drinks package or no. It is not exclusive or restricted to just a certain class of stateroom passenger.

We are just off the Eclipse and there was never anyone drinking any of the Cocktails at that bar, once saw someone with a vodka coke but that it. Only one barman who looked extremely annoyed to be standing there!

We spent most of our time at that bar on our cruise, not a cocktail drinker normally, however, we loved the ones they had on the menu.

The bar wasn't ever busy though, a shame really, I guess it depends which drinks package you have and if you don't mind waiting a while to be served.