Celebrity Silhouette to sail out of Bayonne!

[Conanc]

So happy to hear the news that Celebrity Silhouette will be sailing to the Caribbean out of Bayonne, New Jersey, in the winter of 2011-12! Woo-hoo! We've been waiting for something like this!!!! We love sailing on the Explorer out of Bayonne with no airfare involved and we also loved the Solstice and all the S class ships have to offer! Choices are a good thing!

[FIRELT5]

MIAMI, April 8, 2010

For those who have swooned over Celebrity Cruises' stylish new

Solstice-class ships since their introduction in 2008, the year 2011

will be the summer of love. Inspired by its new brand platform,

"Designed for you," Celebrity Cruises has created a destination

line-up for the summer of 2011 that will place all four of its

Solstice-class ships - including Celebrity Silhouette, which will set

sail next year - in Europe at the same time, for the first time.

 

 

The move marks the return of the widely lauded Celebrity Solstice -

the class's flagship vessel - to Europe. Celebrity's 2011 Europe

season also will include a series of new seven-night Mediterranean

voyages on Celebrity Constellation, which will undergo a series of

refreshments inspired by the Solstice-class vessels, later this month.

Celebrity's 2011 summer voyages and cruisetours will open for sale

beginning tomorrow and continuing through the coming weeks.

Celebrity's Captain's Club members can be the first to book voyages on

Celebrity Silhouette in Europe and, in a Solstice-class first, in the

Caribbean out of Bayonne, New Jersey, in the winter of 2011-12.

Celebrity opened its summer Bermuda voyages - 7-night roundtrip

sailings from Bayonne, New Jersey, on Celebrity Summit - on March 10.

 

 

"We believe our summer destination line-up perfectly complements our

commitment to designing cruise vacations around our guests' interests

- a commitment that is central to our brand platform, 'Designed for

you,'" said Dan Hanrahan, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. "Our

guests told us what they wanted in ship design, cuisine,

accommodations and innovations, and we designed our Solstice-class

ships around those desires. Our guests said that they want to

experience that same style on our other ships, and we committed to

invest $200 million to "Solsticize," or refit, our Millennium-class

ships to reflect some of the Solstice-class venues and design

attributes. Now, we have designed a dynamic new cruise calendar valued

by discerning cruisers and reflective of the same level of service and

sophistication we offer onboard."

 

 

When Celebrity Silhouette sets sail for the first time in July 2011,

she will offer a unique maiden voyage from Hamburg to Rome and a

special nine-night Mediterranean voyage. Then, she will offer a series

of 12- and 13-night Holy Land sailings roundtrip out of Rome.

Celebrity Equinox also will sail from Rome, offering 10- and 11-night

roundtrip Mediterranean cruises.

 

 

Celebrity Solstice, offering summer Caribbean voyages out of Fort

Lauderdale in the summer of 2010, will return to Europe next summer

with a series of 12 night round-trip itineraries out of Barcelona, and

Celebrity Eclipse - launching next month in Southampton, England -

will offer a similar line-up from that same port in 2011. The 2011

Europe cruises on Celebrity Solstice, and Celebrity Equinox will open

for sale to the general public beginning tomorrow; Celebrity Eclipse

is already open for booking.

 

 

In another Solstice-class first, Celebrity Silhouette will sail from

Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey, offering cruisers throughout the

Northeast easy driving access to a vacation on the newest ship in the

line's award-winning fleet. After Celebrity Silhouette makes her debut

in Europe, she will homeport in Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey

during the winter of 2011-12, with a series of 12-night Caribbean

voyages. Members of Celebrity's loyalty program, Captain's Club, will

have exclusive first-booking rights to Celebrity Silhouette's 2011-12

summer and winter itineraries, beginning tomorrow, through April 19.

For additional details for Captain's Club members can be found by

contacting your travel professional. Beginning April 20, the bookings

of Celebrity Silhouette will be open to the public.

 

 

With a number of guests and travel agents expressing strong interest

in having a variety of lengths of Mediterranean sailings, and to

showcase its soon-to-be "Solsticized" Celebrity Constellation,

Celebrity designed a series of back-to-back seven-night cruises

roundtrip out of Athens. Guests can take these separately or as a

14-night cruise. Three sets of the cruises will sail in September and

October, and with only one or two sea days per cruise, the itineraries

offer guests the opportunity to fully experience the culture-rich

"Holy Land" and Greek isles. The summer 2011 season also will mark the

first time that Celebrity will have six ships in Europe, with

Celebrity Mercury sailing in the region as well. In total, Celebrity

will visit 70 total ports in 23 countries in Europe, including six new

ports: Leknes (Lofoten) and Longyearbyen, Norway; Bari and La Spezia,

Italy; Bodrum, Turkey; and Kotor, Montenegro. CelebrityConstellation's

and Celebrity Mercury's 2011 Europe voyages will open in the coming

weeks.

 

 

Cruisers who wish to make the most of their time in Europe can choose

from a variety of cruisetours, land tours offered pre-cruise that are

combined with the cruise itself for a longer, more in-depth experience

of a destination. In Europe in 2011, Celebrity will offer a new

four-night Greece package on Celebrity Constellation out of Athens.

The package features Athens, Delphi (with an overnight in Itea) and

Olympia. Additionally, Celebrity will offer a variety of escorted

cruisetour packages with colorful, immersive experiences in various

cities:

 

 

* A four-night Madrid and Barcelona package

* A five-night Venice, Florence and Rome package

* A four-night Paris and London package

* A three-night Paris and Amsterdam package

 

 

Celebrity has designed a variety of shore excursions to round out the

cruise experience by contrasting the new-world style and design of

Celebrity's ships with the old-world culture of Europe. Can't-miss

examples include:

 

 

* In Ephesus, Turkey, the famous ruins of Ephesus, the largest

collection of Roman ruins in the eastern Mediterranean, including the

iconic Library of Celsus.

* In Israel, during itineraries offering overnight stays, two-day

overland tours of some of the most sacred sites in the Holy Land,

including Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Wailing Wall, and the Church of the

Holy Sepulcher.

* In Cairo, Egypt, trips to the awe-inspiring Pyramids and Sphinx.

Itineraries with two days in Egypt offer overland tour options to

explore further into this fascinating country.

* In Naples, Italy, a trip to explore either the ruins of Pompeii,

a venue that every world explorer should visit at least once in their

lifetime, or a trip to the intriguing Isle of Capri, the world's most

romantic European spot - or both.

* In Florence, Italy, tours of Michelangelo's "David," Ghiberti's

"Bronze Doors" and numerous architectural wonders including the Ponte

Vecchio, Duomo and Pisa's Leaning Tower and Field of Miracles.

* In Berlin, Germany, a visit to the Brandenburg Gate and

Reichstag, which served as Germany's Parliament building until the

early 1930s, and Potsdam Square, where the Berlin Wall used to stand.

 

 

When Celebrity Cruises' 2011-12 Alaska season opens for sale on

Tuesday, April 13, cruisers will find more opportunities to enjoy the

breathtaking scenery from the privacy of their stateroom verandas. For

the first time, Celebrity Century, which was redesigned to offer an

additional 314 verandas in 2006, will sail in Alaska, alongside

seasonal favorites Celebrity Millennium and Celebrity Infinity.

Replacing Celebrity Mercury in the region will be Celebrity Century,

which has 73% more veranda and Concierge Class staterooms. To

complement the increase in available verandas, Celebrity has designed

a dynamic line-up of itineraries, cruisetours and shore excursions to

offer something for every discerning cruiser seeking a premium Alaska

vacation experience, including two wine-themed cruises along the

Pacific Coast and a new 18-night cruisetour package.

 

 

Discerning cruisers seeking the opportunity to experience British

Columbia and Alaska in style can choose from a total of 17 repeating

seven-night Alaska Hubbard Glacier cruises on Celebrity Century. In

addition to the expanded number of veranda staterooms, the 1,814-guest

vessel's 2006 "makeover" also included the unveiling of Murano,

Celebrity's popular European-style specialty restaurant, and the first

"ice" Martini Bar at sea. Visiting Juneau, Icy Strait Point,

Ketchikan, and cruising by the awe-inspiring Hubbard Glacier, the

cruises sail roundtrip out of Vancouver from May to September.

Preceding the season will be an eight-night coastal cruise along the

Pacific Coast, sailing from San Diego to Vancouver on May 14.

 

 

Celebrity Infinity will continue to offer seven-night Tracy Arm Fjord

cruises roundtrip out of Seattle, Washington, from May to September of

2011. The itinerary also will include calls at Ketchikan, Juneau, and

Skagway, Alaska, as well as a cruise through the Alaska Inside

Passage. Bookending Celebrity Infinity's seven-night pattern will be

two 10-night Ultimate Alaska voyages roundtrip out of Seattle on May

10 and September 16.

 

 

Building on the popularity of past years, Celebrity Millennium will

present seven-night alternating northbound and southbound cruises

between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska, from May to early September.

These cruises will visit Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Ketchikan, and

Skagway, and will cruise by Hubbard Glacier. Celebrity Millennium's

2011 Alaska season will start with a 10-night West Coast wine cruise

from San Diego, California, to Vancouver on May 3, featuring an

overnight call in San Francisco, followed by a roundtrip seven-night

Hubbard Glacier cruise roundtrip out of Vancouver. At the end of its

northbound/southbound season, Celebrity Millennium will offer another

wine cruise, sailing for 10 nights from Vancouver to San Diego with

another overnight call in San Francisco, as well as calls to Monterey

and Catalina Island, California.

 

 

Celebrity has designed 21 Alaska cruisetours to offer cruisers a

variety of land tour experiences like no other into the interior of

Alaska. New in 2011 is a vacation-of-a-lifetime experience, "The

Ultimate Cruisetour - Canadian Rockies & Alaska," an 18-night package

being offered to guests sailing on Celebrity Millennium. The

experience features a six-night pre-cruise Canadian Rockies tour, a

seven-night northbound Alaska cruise, and a five-night post-cruise

Alaska land tour. Highlights of the Canadian Rockies portion include

rail travel through the Rockies, accommodations at Victoria's

acclaimed Fairmont Empress, and a two-night stay in Denali.

 

 

All cruisetours include hotel accommodations, in-tour transportation

and baggage transfers, and some meals. In Alaska, Celebrity's local

tour directors travel with the guests as they enjoy the luxury of

Celebrity's glass-domed Wilderness Express railcars and deluxe

motorcoaches.

 

 

While sailing on any of Celebrity's Alaska cruises, a wide range of

shore excursions have been designed to offer discerning cruisers

enriching experiences of Alaska's scenery, culture and history, from

train tours to cycling, from culinary extravaganzas to whale-watching.

Examples include "Pilot's Choice Glacier Exploration" in Juneau, where

guests have an opportunity to take in the beauty of a breathtaking

glacier from the viewpoint of a helicopter, and "Wild Alaska: Culinary

Extravaganza" in Icy Strait Point, where guests can savor wild Alaskan

salmon or locally caught Dungeness crab. Ketchikan's "Saxman Native

Village and Lumberjack Show" offers guests a way to experience

demonstrations of totem-pole carving and a fun-filled competition by

lumberjacks, two hallmarks of Alaskan culture.

[Azulann]

Thanks for the great news about 2011 and Celebrity! My friend and I are looking for a cruise out of Athens for Spring 2011. we want to combine the cruise with a land vacation in Greece. Can't wait to check out the web site tomorrw. :)

[rogicoco]

This is such great news. I love sailing from Bayonne. We really need new ships here. Finally the day has come :)

[LustforLife]

Did I miss something??? I didn't see anything about summer sailings to the Caribbean!!!! :mad::(:mad:

Time to find a new cruise line if I want summer sailings.

[AAAAmerican]

With a NEW Celebrity Ship from RCL :NYSE to be Home Ported soon in Hudson County, City of Bayonne, New Jersey..it IMHO is way long overdue too.

 

We have one of the largest cruising populations in the World and the cruisers have the financial means to it.

 

Thusly competition as should be.

 

Now at the Old ( MOTBY ) that's the old, Military Ocean Terminal Bayonne.. Bayonne , France is such a nice Port too but so much smaller...;)

 

Maybe now they will finally fix up Liberty Cruise Port there and its facilities. They have and were supposed to even make a pier for a second cruise ship too..maybe now this is it..

 

We do have a great new Governor in New Jersey and he is not taking any flack but helping all New Jersey people and business's .What a wonderful and good:cool::cool: administration to have a new ship arrive to be Home Ported here!

 

Will Celebrity now re-hire a Great Chef again? They used to be the top Culinary Cruise line until they got laggard and pinched too many pennies but wasted many more dollars/pounds foolishly.. and even fired there Top Chef Michael!

 

 

 

[Infi]

Thanks for sharing the press release. I'm still surprised they've decided to put Silhouette in NJ. It's a big ship to fill, and given the problems with Mercury this year (low fares, not Noro), I'd be a little wary. I hope it works out well for them. I'm sure the east coasters will appreciate a new ship.

[madelinerose]

Woo Hoo! :D;):D

[MHoward909]

Great News................

[DocJohnB]

Thanks for sharing the press release. I'm still surprised they've decided to put Silhouette in NJ. It's a big ship to fill, and given the problems with Mercury this year (low fares, not Noro), I'd be a little wary. I hope it works out well for them. I'm sure the east coasters will appreciate a new ship.

 

I think just the population statistics of these two areas negates you fears.

 

Using 4 hours as a reasonable drive time to a port and the difference in population between NJ and NC is huge.

 

AAAAmerican hit it spot on writing:

 

We have one of the largest cruising populations in the World and the cruisers have the financial means to it.

[madelinerose]

Absolutely the demographic is there! Even from Cruise Maryland:

 

Consumers: Strategically located in the heart of the largest and wealthiest region in the country. Eight million consumers with a median household income of almost $68,080 live within an easy drive.

http://www.cruisemaryland.com/aboutcruisemaryland.htm

For us, Amtrak or driving, a non-issue. I may be mistaken, but I foresee lots of Mid-Atlantic residents looking at Bayonne to sail on a brand new state-of-the-art ship. Now, I just have to "convince" DH. ;)

[Cruise_Monkey]

Have they done anything to improve the parking and/or access to the termainal in Bayonne? We sailed on Royal Caribbean out of Bayonne the second week after the termainal opened. As expected, it was chaotic, and I'm wondering how it's been lately logistically.

[FIRELT5]

Just Booked a Cat 2B Hump for 11/18/11. Prices are a bit higher than the EXOS sailing several days later but still cheaper than the QM2. I guess we are paying a premium for the new ship feel, lol :)

[emms]

I hope this isnt too stupid a question.... we havent cruised yet, Med this summer... my husband wants to cruise from New York so we can see all the sights of the skyline as we go.... is this possible ? Is New jersey a suburb of New York and where is Bayonne .

Sorry if Im sounding a bit dim but we have only been to America once and that was Disney in Florida

thanks Emma

[cherylroslyn]

I hope this isnt too stupid a question.... we havent cruised yet, Med this summer... my husband wants to cruise from New York so we can see all the sights of the skyline as we go.... is this possible ? Is New jersey a suburb of New York and where is Bayonne .

Sorry if Im sounding a bit dim but we have only been to America once and that was Disney in Florida

thanks Emma

You don't sound dim....I live here 20 minutes out of Manhattan and I don't know the answer either :( I have sailed other lines out of Manhattan, New York and the sights are beautiful.

 

Both Norwegian and Carnival sail right out of Manhattan and under the Verrazano Bridge right by the statue of Liberty and that is an amazing sight. I know Princess sails out of Brooklyn and I'm not sure what you see sailing from Brooklyn. In May I will be sailing out of Cape Liberty on Celebrity Summit I too wonder what I will see upon sail away... If anyone knows it would be appreciated..... Otherwise emms if you can wait till May I'll let you know when I get back.......

[madelinerose]

I hope this isnt too stupid a question.... we havent cruised yet, Med this summer... my husband wants to cruise from New York so we can see all the sights of the skyline as we go.... is this possible ? Is New jersey a suburb of New York and where is Bayonne .

Sorry if Im sounding a bit dim but we have only been to America once and that was Disney in Florida

thanks Emma

 

Hi Emma. There's no such thing as a stupid question. ;)

 

New York and New Jersey are 2 distinct separate states. Bayonne is in New Jersey. You will get a magnificent skyline view from Manhattan, NY (NYC) and good views from Brooklyn, NY (NYC) and Bayonne, NJ. Hope this helps a little. ;)

[robsmom]

From the port web site:

 

Re-establishing a long, proud history, Cape Liberty marks the return of passenger ships sailing from New Jersey. In our seventh year, Cape Liberty has been responsible for the safe passage of over 320,000 passengers - the second largest passenger volume among Northeast and Mid-Atlantic coast ports.

 

Cape Liberty has unparalleled views of the Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor and the Manhattan skyline. We offer ample parking, a convenient location and easy access to start and end your trip.

 

I live less than 2 hrs away and am very excited about a Solstice class ship that I would not have to fly to.

[emms]

Thanks for replying , We will wait to hear what you can see (what you saw) on your return in May .Enjoy Bermuda, thats another place on our list of places to go to one day.

 

Emma

[AAAAmerican]

Actually not really a lot , yet.

 

Oh it is better than some ports of call though.

 

Having its own exit on the New Jersey Turnpike helps speed entry to it.

 

Parking does have the newer vendor since you were last there of now Central Parking.

 

Mass transit is better than getting to Red Hook section and Pier in Brooklyn Borough , NYC, NY..;)

 

 

 

 

Have they done anything to improve the parking and/or access to the termainal in Bayonne? We sailed on Royal Caribbean out of Bayonne the second week after the termainal opened. As expected, it was chaotic, and I'm wondering how it's been lately logistically.

[cruise47]

Are there any nice hotel niceby and what is the closet airport to the cruise port?

[cruise47]

Are there any nice hotel near the port and what is the closet airport to the cruise port?

[AAAAmerican]

 

Maam,

 

What question is ever stupid? Or it would never be asked..;)

 

Nighttime seeing NYC, NY and NJ are best as the lighting makes everything look magnified.

 

Bayonne is a City in Hudson County which is a Peninsula as our State of New Jersey is as well. The Statue of Liberty which was a gift from France is located and resides right near the Port in Bayonne and she is located on Liberty Island, Hudson County, Jersey City, New Jersey.

 

:cool:

 

When youall do come stay in New Jersey and visit NYC that way you save massive amounts of your monies doing it that way. Still be able to go right across the river which by the way that part is actually a tidal estuary.:D

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope this isnt too stupid a question.... we havent cruised yet, Med this summer... my husband wants to cruise from New York so we can see all the sights of the skyline as we go.... is this possible ? Is New jersey a suburb of New York and where is Bayonne .

Sorry if Im sounding a bit dim but we have only been to America once and that was Disney in Florida

thanks Emma

[AAAAmerican]

 

Yes.

Some of the nicest hotels in the world are close by.

 

Depending on your cost points and what you want to pay for.

 

 

The closest airport to Bayonne there is in New Jersey's largest City of Newark.

 

Depending on the sizee of your aircraft too many smaller landing strips are close too. Even Sea Planes..;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are there any nice hotel niceby and what is the closet airport to the cruise port?

[Ruthk]

I have sailed out of Bayonne twice with Celebrity - both times to the southern islands, on 2 week sailings. Even though it is a 7 hour drive for us to get to Bayonne, I am thrilled that they have decided to start up again with the Caribbean. I would much rather drive than put up with all the airport hassles, and I can bring on as much clothes as I want.

Someone asked about the views. I remember one sailing, we left the harbour in the evening and it was a spectacular view - the NYC skyline, the Statue of Liberty, and the beautiful V. bridge and the most beautiful full moon - yes, I will definitely take advantage of these sailings!

Also - a big plus - I saw on the news that crime is down drastically in Newark - - they must be doing something right.

 

Ruthk,

St. Catharines, Ontario.

[AAAAmerican]

Maam,

 

Yes as in Newark they do say crime is down.

 

The current mayor of Newark, New Jersey is a boy from Old Tappan, Bergen County, New Jersey which is next to Rockland County, Tappan New York that's where then General George Washington became a Mason@!

:cool:

 

I still wonder if Martha Custis Washington was in Eastern Star?

 

 

 

 

 

I have sailed out of Bayonne twice with Celebrity - both times to the southern islands, on 2 week sailings. Even though it is a 7 hour drive for us to get to Bayonne, I am thrilled that they have decided to start up again with the Caribbean. I would much rather drive than put up with all the airport hassles, and I can bring on as much clothes as I want.

Someone asked about the views. I remember one sailing, we left the harbour in the evening and it was a spectacular view - the NYC skyline, the Statue of Liberty, and the beautiful V. bridge and the most beautiful full moon - yes, I will definitely take advantage of these sailings!

Also - a big plus - I saw on the news that crime is down drastically in Newark - - they must be doing something right.

 

Ruthk,

St. Catharines, Ontario.