Ernie - decision making time!

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Highly-Anticipated Celebrity Solstice Extends Inaugural Season

Three additional sailings in 2008 include new maiden voyage

MIAMI, May 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Celebrity Solstice, widely heralded as the most exciting ship entering the market even before it launches, has introduced three additional sailings for cruisers to enjoy during its inaugural season this year.

Celebrity Solstice now will enter service with a Thanksgiving cruise, November 23, 2008, three weeks prior to its previously announced date of December 14, followed by two additional 7-night Caribbean cruises. Each new seven-night cruise -- November 23, November 30 and December 7, 2008 -- will present the same itinerary, departing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, with visits to San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Basseterre, St. Kitts.

Acknowledging that some guests booked on Celebrity Solstice's original maiden voyage of December 14 may wish to switch to the new maiden voyage, Celebrity has established a two-week rebooking window from today through June 12. During that time, guests booked on the December 14 sailing will have the opportunity to transition to the November 23 cruise without penalty, in the same stateroom or suite as originally booked, at the original fare. Guests encountering air-change fees as a result of opting to switch will be reimbursed for those fees up to $100 per person, provided acceptable proof of fees is presented to Celebrity by January 31, 2009.

Bookings for the November 23 sailing will be open exclusively to guests booked on the December 14 cruise until June 12, when the special two-week rebooking period ends. Bookings for the November 30 and December 7 sailings open today.

Guests on every sailing of Celebrity Solstice will experience a series of brand-defining, first-in-the-industry features onboard, including a half-acre Lawn Club with real grass, a glassblowing show and studio developed with The Corning Museum of Glass. Guests also will experience unrivaled dining venues offering trendsetting cuisine and design, and widely varied entertainment, including new theater productions in partnership with Poet Theatricals. The 2,850-guest vessel also will have staterooms 15 percent larger than those on previous Celebrity ships, 90 percent of which will be outside, and 85 percent of all staterooms will have verandas.

We're on the maiden voyage of the Ruby Princess and this was moved up by a week. Princess handled it similar to Celebrity, but without the airfare change compensation - Princess felt that it was moved up sufficiently early enough that most people wouldn't have booked air (not that we agree with that particular sentiment though).

So . . . are you going to move your booking?

[ 05-29-2008: Message edited by: cljw ]

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Originally posted by cljw:

So . . . are you going to move your booking?

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Not sure yet. I'm traveling with quite a few other people so it will depend on what they do. To be honest, it doesn't matter so much to me if it's the first or forth cruise. The ship will be brand new no matter how you look at it, and many people will have experienced it even before the first revenue cruise.

1. I don't like to travel over the holidays. Too hectic and too many children onboard the ship.

2. More difficult for me to get time off from work

3. Airfares will likely be more expensive

4. Even though it's the first revenue cruise, I know I won't be the first one actually onboard, so will it really matter if I'm not on the first cruise? There will be several travel agent/PR functions prior to the first revenue cruise.

This being said, I do think I may switch to the December 7th sailing. The kids are back in school and the rates are fantastic. I can upgrade from my current category 1A to an aft facing Concierge Class on Resort Deck and actually save over $300.

I held the December 7th sailing just in case, so now I just have to make up my mind.