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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
Millennium.....
?
?
?

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Infinity

Summit

Brian

[ 10-16-2006: Message edited by: Brian_O ]

Celebrity was actually started by Chandris and was later bought by Royal Caribbean. Whether there were any non-Celebrity parts of Chandrix left over, and if so what hapened to them, I don't know.

Celebrity's first ship was the Meridian, which had previously been a Chandris ship (Gallileo?) and before that was something else. I believe that Celebrity was bought by Royal Caribbean in 1997, which would mean that Meridian, Horizon, Zenith, Century, Galaxy and Mercury (perhaps) were pre-RCI Celebrity ships. The M-class ships are post RCI takeover. Meridian was sold in 1997 - possibly at the time of the RCI takeover?

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Originally posted by Tom Burke:
By the look of it, the C-class ships were pretty much state-of-the-art when delivered in the mid-90s.

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Yes, they were big and state-of-the art. There passger-soace ratio was/is very good. I cruised on Mercury in 1998 when she was about one year old.

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She also had a video-wall somewhere (foyer?) which was revolotionary.

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I don't remember seeing that in June. Mind you, I could have missed it - I was too busy enjoying that delicious Fragonard painting, The Swing (well, a reproduction of it), which is hung on the Atrium wall.

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Originally posted by Tom Burke:
And of course it's possible that something that was big & impressively-modern in 1996 might simply go unnoticed in 2006, even if it was still there.

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Yes, I think it may have been six plasma-type TV's - nothing special now. I think Celebrity had a 'partnership' with Sony to provide the interactive cabin TV's etc. All very high-tech at the time.

[ 10-17-2006: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

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Originally posted by mec1:
Malcolm,

The video array and the interactive TV system were both on CENTURY, not GALAXY. CENTURY lost the video display in her atrium in the most recent refit.

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Thanks Mec, I was 'close'.

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Originally posted by mike sa:

I have always thought it weird that Carnival ships either are Carnival or are not !

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Carnival began the name branding with their DESTINY class ships in 1996, with the older ships in the fleet retaining their singular names.

I've always thought this business of inserting the Company name into the ship's name rather annoying, although it does save confusion when various lines are using the same names for some their vessels!

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Originally posted by Linerrich:

I've always thought this business of inserting the Company name into the ship's name rather annoying.......

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Solstice

Equinox

...........

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Originally posted by mike sa: With the new ships being called "Celebrity Solstice" etc do we think they will go back and rename the rest "Celebrity....." ? I have always thought it weird that Carnival ships either are Carnival or are not !

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Originally posted by CGT:

I don't think you'll see "Celbrity Solstice" on the side of the hull, just SOLSTICE.

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I think you are right becuase right now the milli. class does not have celebrity befroe their name just take for example "Summit." I have never really payed attention does carinval say on their ships "Carnival Liberty?"

The Horizon and twin Zenith were built for Chandris' Celebrity brand, but were actually designed intended to be a larger sister for the former Royal Cruise Line's Crown Odyssey. However, Panagopoulos decided a larger ship than Crown Odyssey would not offer the intimate experience he so desired for Royal Cruise Line's fiercly loyal clientel. The plans for the ship was offered to Michael Chandris who was forming Chandris's premium brand, Celebrity.

They were all built at Meyer Werft and having been CD aboard all three, they were very similar and interior fittings very similar (particular cabins). I particularly like that size ship in the 800-1200 pax range. These three were my favorites amoung the 'modern' cruise ships.

[ 10-19-2006: Message edited by: TampaMike ]

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Originally posted by Thad:
Actually I think the first block for the Solstice might have been placed in the drydock last week. The look like they will be interesting ships at least.

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