Since this is the first time I’ve had the honor of being the author, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Brian Powell, and I have the pleasure of working for Celebrity Cruises in the marketing department. I’ve been with Celebrity for over eight years, leading our revenue management team for two years and working with our marketing team in various leadership roles for the last six-and-a-half years.

On many levels, I’m thrilled to have been chosen to do this assignment. First and foremost, I’m on my way back to Papenburg, Germany. It brings me back to my very first role within the marketing department, when I was a part of a very special team that helped develop and deliver Celebrity Solstice.

Tomorrow, I’m leaving London after a quick visit with my UK colleagues to head over to Papenburg, and join Celebrity Reflection as she leaves the Meyer Werft shipyard early Sunday morning and makes her way up the River Ems to the North Sea.

For today, I wanted to share some personal photos from my first trip to Meyer Werft during the summer of 2008, when I saw Celebrity Solstice while she was still being built. This trip was made for two reasons – for the ceremonial “start up” of the ship’s engines and for the “chair show.” The “start up” of the engines is self-explanatory, while the “chair show” warrants some description.

The Chair Show

The “chair show” is the first viewing and testing of the seating on the ship. By testing, we mean that our Celebrity Solstice development team sat on, and provided feedback on, every single seat that was to be used by our guests and by our crew from the ship. It was my first time participating in a “chair show,” so it was novel to me. Afterward, it was clear that you can’t judge a chair by its sexy legs or its seductive, silky look and touch. The “chair show” just reiterated to me the level of detail we go to, as a brand, to ensure that our guests are comfortable… always.

Please take a look at a few of the photos. You’ll see some of the chairs we tested, which you may recognize; The Lawn Club, before the grass was introduced; Celebrity Equinox already being assembled by the side of Celebrity Solstice; the first AquaClass, five-head shower setup in the stateroom mock-up; the actual build-out of our innovative adjoining stateroom setup; and lastly, a picture of me standing at the stern of the ship. The last photo was taken to prove to my friends that I really was there, to show my kids that “Papa” had a pretty cool job, and, most importantly, to serve as a keepsake, so that I could always remember being a part of something extremely special.

The First Lawn Club

Celebrity Equinox being built next to the Celebrity Solstice

The first AquaClass Stateroom Shower

A new twist on adjoining staterooms

Inside with Celebrity Solstice

Thanks for joining me on this quick walk down memory lane. I’m going to go and try to get some sleep prior to my flight to Germany tomorrow. I’m feeling the same sense of excitement as I did a little over four years ago when I made my very first trip to see Celebrity Solstice at Meyer Werft. I can’t wait to see the wonderful evolution that Celebrity Reflection has made, and then share it with every one of you.

Brian P. Powell
Associate Vice President, Marketing
Celebrity Cruises

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