Celebrity Cruises has announced today that they have finalized their plans for a ship swapping involving Pullmantur’s Blue Dream and Celebrity’s Zenith. The Blue Dream will be renamed Celebrity Journey and will join Celebrity Cruises fleet in April 2007, sailing to Bermuda round-trip from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey beginning May 5, 2007.Before officially switching brands, the new Journey will undergo a one-month revitalization and drydock to incorporate many of Celebrity’s signature elements such as two specialty restaurants, expanded spa services, including in-room offerings, expanded concierge service, including butlers and additional guest suites. The restyled ship will then sail the same Bermuda itineraries originally scheduled for the Zenith.
The Celebrity Zenith will sail regularly scheduled Caribbean itineraries from Tampa until April 13, at which time she will sail a Caribbean and Bermuda itinerary from Tampa to Cape Liberty. The April 13 sailing will be the ship’s last sailing as part of the Celebrity fleet before she redeploys to the Pullmantur fleet in June 2007.
The Celebrity Journey was originally constructed in France and entered service in May 2000 as the R6 from Renaissance Cruise Line. Soon after, the R6 was purchased by Pullmantur and renamed the Blue Dream. With slightly more than 700 guests, the 30,000 ton Celebrity Journey will offer a traditional Celebrity cruise experience in a more intimate environment. With upgraded amenity packages and butler service in every stateroom, guests onboard the Journey will truly feel pampered every day of their cruise experience.
“Celebrity Journey will be an ideal ship for the Bermuda market,” said Celebrity Cruises President Dan Hanrahan. “Its smaller size and upscale style are perfect complements to premium destinations such as St. Georges & Hamilton.”
