Consistently recognized with five- and six-star rankings as the highest rated premium cruise line by leading cruise guides and travel industry authorities, Celebrity is an innovative cruise line committed to excellence in design and service, offering discriminating consumers a high quality cruise vacation at the best possible value.

Since its inception in 1989, Celebrity has held true to its original commitment of taking the very best aspects of classic, elegant cruising and updating them to reflect current lifestyles.

What sets Celebrity apart from other vacation choices today is the cruise line's passionate dedication to providing guests with a cruise experience that "exceeds expectations." This extraordinary performance level has become the definition of Celebrity Cruises, and has set the worldwide standard for today's expression of what first made cruising famous - high quality, superior design, spacious accommodations, grand style, attentive service and exceptional cuisine.

The excellence of Celebrity's existing cruise product continues with the cruise line's Millennium-class ships which embody even greater technical achievement and meaningful innovation, while retaining the distinctive style, sophistication and service elements that have become the hallmark of a Celebrity cruise.

1989

Celebrity Cruises was founded by the Chandris Group as an upscale line to establish a new level of "premium" cruising offered at an intelligent price. Celebrity identified its potential customers as quality buyers who are well-informed about products and services, who consider their purchasing decisions carefully, and who regard quality and value as the essential criteria for their vacation choices.

Celebrity Cruises promised and then delivered a level of exceptional service and cuisine unmatched in the industry, except at the highest prices. Recognition of Celebrity's onboard program excellence throughout the industry and among the cruising public refocused the industry's emphasis on "software sensitivity" rather than hardware superiority.

Understanding the importance of excellence, Celebrity custom-built kitchens to turn out the finest gourmet cuisine, created from scratch and produced with the freshest ingredients; created the technology necessary to deliver sophisticated entertainment; and made tremendous investments to ensure the optimum safety standards of its vessels.

The cruise line's standards of excellence also extended to its officers and staff who were selected and trained to anticipate guest comforts and needs.

Celebrity established and still maintains today a relationship with London-based, three-star Guide Michelin master chef and culinary consultant Michel Roux, who was engaged to design food service and train the fleet's executive restaurant staff. His award-winning culinary contributions quickly established Celebrity as preeminent in offering outstanding shipboard cuisine.

1990

Celebrity's first generation of ships, the 30,440-ton, 1,106-guest Meridian (formerly Galileo, rebuilt at Lloyd Werft, Bremerhaven, Germany), and the 46,811-ton, 1,350-guest Horizon (built at Jos. L. Meyer GmbH & Co./Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany) entered service.

With both ships offering summer Bermuda itineraries, Celebrity became the largest cruise operator to this exclusive destination. Meridian was also the first ship to call at King's Wharf on Bermuda's historic West End.

1991

Recognizing the importance and growing popularity of family cruising, Celebrity introduced its comprehensive "Family Cruising" program of age-appropriate children's activities along with customized menus for younger cruisers.

1992

The 47,225-ton, 1,375-guest Zenith, also built at Meyer Werft, entered service as a sister ship to Horizon.

In support of the growth of the cruise line, Celebrity Cruises entered into a joint venture with Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG), one of the largest bulk-shipping companies in the world.

1993

Celebrity announced a second expansion phase with Meyer Werft to construct a series of three 70,000-ton, "Century"-class cruise vessels.

1995

Introduced as the first of Celebrity's new generation of "Century"-class ships, the 70,606-ton, 1,750-guest Century entered the cruise industry with innovative onboard programs and services, including the first cigar club at sea, a 10,000-square-foot AquaSpa with a 110,000-gallon Thalassotherapy pool, and Celebrity Network, the most advanced interactive television system ever installed on a cruise ship.

Celebrity's investment in new technologies included an unprecedented alliance with the Sony Corporation of America to create one of the most technologically sophisticated communications and entertainment systems in the cruise industry on all "Century"-class ships.

Celebrity Cruises also created another industry "first" - a new type of fleetwide spa program that introduced a unique vacation choice onboard all Celebrity ships. The custom-branded AquaSpa program was the first commisionable spa and fitness package to be sold as part of a cruise vacation.

1996

With the inauguration of Celebrity Cruises' Trans-canal, Pacific Coastal and Alaska itineraries, Horizon became the first Celebrity ship to call on the West Coast of the United States.

The 77,713-ton, 1,870 Galaxy entered service and introduced the largest suites and verandas at sea.
Galaxy received a perfect 100 in its first U.S. Public Health Service inspection (as had Century), making Celebrity the only cruise line to have two consecutive ships enter service with a score of 100.

1997

Galaxy inaugurated Alaska, Trans-canal and Pacific Coastal itineraries, becoming the largest ship ever to transit through the Panama Canal and call at San Diego, Los Angeles and Alaska.

Meridian was sold to Metro Holdings of Singapore.

The magnificent 77,713-ton, 1,870 passenger Mercury entered service in November, debuting the cruise industry's first gourmet pizza room service delivery and introducing Milan's famed Pasticceria confetteria COVA gourmet food items. With the completion of this third "Century"-class vessel, Celebrity more than doubled its size from 3,834 to 8,215 beds.

Celebrity Cruises merged with Royal Caribbean International