Shortly after the launch of Solstice, it became clear that Blu restaurant (and the Aqua Class experience) was a big hit with our guests. We also knew it would be a welcome addition to the “Solsticizing” of the Millennium class ships. However, as is often the case with complex projects, the question of “How do we do this?” was a bit tricky. As it turned out, it was all about the galley.
We consider each of our restaurants to be a “unique destination unto itself.” As a result, we typically require both a dedicated “Front of the House” (dining room) and a “Back of the House” (kitchen or galley) space to make a restaurant a success. The highly refined and detailed nature of the cuisine in Blu requires a dedicated galley space, so the idea was originally discussed for the Constellation “Solsticizing.” However, the idea was abandoned when, after multiple attempts, we couldn’t find a solution for a dedicated galley. And believe me, it wasn’t for a lack of trying! So, as we began discussions for the Infinity “ Solsticizing ,” we rallied the team and once again asked the question, “How do we do this?”
It is often said that those closest to the problem have the best solution, and this situation is a perfect example of where this rings true. It was actually our shipboard team of Chefs and operations managers—led by our Corporate Food and Beverage Operations Manager, Edi Kevorkyan, and our Senior Traveling Executive Chef, Thomas Szymanski—that came up with the solution to dedicate a section of the main galley for Blu. They were confident that, with a few simple equipment modifications, we could execute the entire Blu menu on the Millennium class just as we do on the Solstice class. And while there were some hesitations amongst our team, we decided to give it a shot.
Not surprisingly, it has worked beautifully; as a result, the process has continued on Celebrity Summit and will move on to Celebrity Millennium later this month. Every member of our team has a voice to help us solve our problems and deliver solutions. After all, “All of us are smarter than any one of us.” And now, many more guests will be able to enjoy the Aqua Class experience, and Blu, as a result.
Scott Steenrod
Associate Vice President
Food & Beverage Operations
You recently heard from my colleague, Scott Steenrod, who shared the story of how Qsine was brought to life. He mentioned that one of the most exciting things we do here at Celebrity Cruises is create new concepts, and as the Director of Product Development, I couldn’t agree with him more.
Creativity and innovation are at the core of everything we do, whether we’re working with the Food and Beverage Team and our talented chefs to bring our lifestyle book, Excite the Senses, to life, developing exciting new concepts for Celebrity Reflection—our newest ship debuting in October—or finding the perfect name for a new program or venue that can capture its very essence. But, not everything we do is about creating new products. Often times it’s about taking a guest’s experience from “good” to “exceptional.”
For example, when we introduced “eXhale”℠, our luxurious sleep bedding, we thought, “how can we make it an even better experience?” With pure Egyptian cotton linens and plush duvets and pillows, the only stone left unturned was the mattress. But not just any branded mattress would do. So, we set out to not only find a new mattress, but also a manufacturer we could partner with to deliver the most innovative product on the market. After some research and visiting hotel trade shows around the country, we discovered Reverie®, a not so well known yet innovative manufacturer in the field of luxury bedding and adjustable bases.
We worked with them to create a custom mattress for our staterooms that would feature their unique air cylinder technology, plush pillow top, and bamboo mattress cover to keep you cool and comfortable while you sleep. Reverie named this exclusive design, ‘Reverie Dream Lite’. For our suites, we selected their top of the line ‘Reverie Dream’ mattress. Not only did this mattress have their patented technology, but also—with the help of suite butlers—the firmness of the mattress can be customized according to preference.
These new mattresses represent one of the single largest “Solsticizing” investments we’re making on the Millennium Class. I’m so happy the decision was made to move forward because rejuvenation is such a big part of the vacation experience, and we think there’s no better place to start than a good night’s rest. What I am most proud of though, is that these mattresses are made of natural, raw materials farmed in a sustainable manner and are almost entirely recyclable!
How do we maintain the creativity needed to continuously innovate? We utilize the canvas of our beautiful ships devised by our amazing architects and designers. We collaborate with teams across the company to develop the experience that brings the concept to life. We get input from the crew and staff onboard. But, first and foremost, we look for inspiration from you and your feedback. We can’t wait to hear what you think of the new mattresses onboard the newly Solsticized Celebrity Millennium!
Dominique P. Bonavita
Director, Product Development
Happy New Year!
As we kick off the New Year, I’d like to thank you for your support of Celebrity Cruises in 2011. Whether you sailed with us, thought about sailing with us, or are a Travel Partner who markets and sells Celebrity vacations, you have my appreciation. I know that determining where and when to go on vacation is a very important decision. Entrusting us with that precious time is something all of us at Celebrity take very seriously, and we appreciate and enjoy the opportunity to serve you.
I’d like to also extend thanks to our exceptional Crew Members. They are the people who deserve all the credit for the incredible vacation experience we deliver, and although I may be biased, I truly believe our Crew Members are the best in the industry.
As I reflect on 2011, I am amazed by how much took place. We took delivery of our fourth stunning Solstice Class ship, Celebrity Silhouette, in July and held formal naming ceremonies in the charming city of Hamburg, Germany. In November, we celebrated the ship’s stateside debut in Cape Liberty, NJ, with a series of special events preceding the ship’s first 12-night Caribbean season. Our second of four Millennium Class ships, Celebrity Infinity, was Solsticized in an ambitious three-week revitalization. We launched a new brand positioning – “Modern Luxury” – which we believe perfectly captures the essence of what the Celebrity brand is all about.
The year was also rich with awards and accolades. In fact, we were fortunate enough to receive more awards in 2011 than ever before. And while we are grateful for all, three of them made us particularly proud; in the prestigious Conde Nast Traveler magazine’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards, Celebrity was named the “World’s Best Large-Ship Line,” while in CruiseCritic’s discerning annual Editors’ Picks Awards, Celebrity was named “Best for Dining.” Our invaluable Travel Partners also honored us in Travel Weekly’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards, voting Celebrity “Best Premium Cruise Line” and “Best Cruise Line in Europe.”
It was an exciting year, and I anticipate that 2012 will be the same. We’re gearing up for the launch of our fifth Solstice Class ship, Celebrity Reflection in October, and the completion of our $140-million Solsticizing initiative. Celebrity Summit heads to Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport, Bahamas this month, and Celebrity Millennium does likewise in April, essentially completing our Solsticizing project with the exception of some additions to Celebrity Constellation in 2013. All of this work on the Celebrity fleet is the outgrowth of our constant commitment to delivering an extraordinary, modern luxury vacation experience on every ship.
For those of you who booked or sailed on a Celebrity vacation in 2011, a big thank you for your support. For those of you still in the decision mode, I hope you will consider Celebrity. I promise you we’ll do everything we can to make it one of the best vacations of your life.
-Dan Hanrahan
