Hi Everyone,
I received this press release from Celebrity and thought it would be
of interest. If you have missed any of my news' postings, they are
available on my web site.
Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com
"Turf’s Up!" The Grass Really is Greener on Celebrity Solstice
Miami - (January 19, 2008 ) - There is a new job opening at Celebrity
Cruises: groundskeeper. The perfect candidate must be willing to
perform his or her duties while traveling the world aboard a
beautifully appointed ocean liner. The successful candidate also must
be a dedicated horticulturist who possesses an unmistakable enthusiasm
for the unexpected, as the greens will be miles out at sea.
When Celebrity Solstice launches in December, vacationers will find
that the grass really is greener on a Celebrity Cruises vacation. The
ship will present an industry first on the top deck of the ship: real,
growing grass, set in an innovative new country club environment known
as "The Lawn Club."
The half-acre Lawn Club on Celebrity Solstice will invite guests to
enjoy bocce ball and croquet, practice their putting, picnic with a
basket of wine and cheese, or simply feel the grass between their
toes, while sailing the oceans of the world. The area also will
feature the Hot Glass Show, another first in the industry, developed
in collaboration with The Corning Museum of Glass; the Patio on the
Lawn; the Lawn Club Shop, and the Sunset Bar.
"We want our guests to experience the unexpected, like the thrill of
sinking a putt on a freshly manicured lawn in the middle of the
ocean," said Dan Hanrahan, President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises.
"The experiences on and around the lawn exemplify what we aim to
achieve: to recognize, celebrate and indulge our guests in style."
"Everything about the Celebrity Cruises brand is authentic," said
Richard D. Fain, Chairman of Celebrity Cruises. "Our vision for a
completely genuine experience demanded nothing less than real grass,
and we sought out the right innovation to make that vision a reality."
Achieving that reality was no easy task. Celebrity worked with design
firm Wilson Butler Architects to design the entire club area, then
engaged a team of landscape architects and irrigation specialists
along with turf and soil scientists at the University of Florida.
Together, they conducted extensive research and tested a variety of
grasses to determine which can withstand the winds, sun, shade and
temperature variations that will affect the grass and soil as the ship
sails in the Caribbean this winter. Other considerations included the
ability of the grass to tolerate foot traffic, irrigation and
day-to-day care and maintenance of the grass. Even the weight of the
grass and soil had to be considered, as well as the water they absorb
from the atmosphere and from irrigation.
Metric Facts about The Lawn Club on Celebrity Solstice
• At 2,130 square meters (22,927 square feet), The Lawn Club is
just over a half-acre in size.
The Lawn Club is:
• Over three times larger than New York’s Rockefeller Center ice
skating rink (668 sq. meters)
• 1.7 times larger than an Olympic-size swimming pool, which is
1,250 sq. meters
• The equivalent of 8.2 tennis courts (these are 260 sq. meters
each)
• 2.4 times the size of Centre Court at England’s Wimbledon Lawn
& Tennis Club, which is 902 sq. meters
• One-third the size of a regulation soccer field, which is
6,500 sq. meters
The Lawn Club is the central element of the top-deck experiences on
Celebrity Solstice. The Patio on the Lawn offers elegant yet relaxed
sitting areas where luxury meets casual country club charm. Guests can
read the morning paper, lose themselves in a good novel, or enjoy a
cup of gourmet coffee with friends, courtesy of the patio’s coffee
cart service.
The Hot Glass Show, presented in collaboration with The Corning Museum
of Glass, is the patio’s main feature. In its own, dedicated
glassblowing studio, the Hot Glass Show will present the history and
craft of glassblowing, from its ancient origins to its current
countless uses. Three resident "gaffers" – highly skilled glassblowing
artists – will educate and entertain cruisers with live glassmaking
shows, lectures and workshops.
The area also features the Sunset Bar – the ideal sailaway setting on
any ship, enhanced on Celebrity Solstice by the natural grass in The
Lawn Club. Located at Celebrity Solstice's highest point aft, the
Sunset Bar provides breathtaking views in a relaxed atmosphere. "We're
confident our guests will be thrilled with The Lawn Club and the many
new entertainment and sports options it offers," Hanrahan said.
Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise
experiences with highly personalized service, exceptional dining, and
extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska,
Australia/New Zealand, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean,
Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal and
South America. The line also offers unique land-tour vacations in
Alaska, Canada, Europe and Australia through its cruisetour affiliate.
Noted for "The World's Best Large Ships," as voted by the readers of
Conde' Nast Traveler (February 2007 Cruise Poll), Celebrity's current
fleet will be joined by Celebrity Solstice in 2008, Celebrity Equinox
in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, and a fourth Solstice-class ship
in 2011. For more information, call your travel agent. |