How Ground-Breaking Innovation and Technology is Shaping Celebrity Cruises Return To Cruising

Celebrity Cruises is one of the most desirable and contemporary cruise lines in the world, the powerhouse behind the ground-breaking Celebrity Edge – named one of TIME Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places – and its sister ship, the soon-to-be-launched Celebrity Apex. The cruise line is owned by Royal Caribbean Group, one of the world's leading global cruise holiday companies, and following some incredible launches in 2020 has become one of the most technologically advanced and innovative cruise lines in the world.

It’s this level of innovation and technology that is helping shape Celebrity Cruises’ return to the seas, after almost a year of suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Driven by research

Driven to find the safest possible way to return to the seas, Royal Caribbean Group formed the Healthy Sail Panel in May, a task force of some of the world’s top medical and scientific experts, who came together to develop recommendations for establishing the strongest protocols in the travel industry.

Just a few months later, the panel had delivered a set of 74 recommendations to the US' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mapping how the group brands, and the industry as a whole, could return to the seas safely.

But this was just the start, and since then the group has continued to adapt and innovate, one of the most creative being the reimagined Muster safety drill, a new procedure using 'e-Muster' technology. In the process before the pandemic, but expedited as a result, the new muster turns this traditional crowded safety drill on its head, turning the process into a more streamlined, personal and safer activity.

The traditional muster requires passengers to meet on the deck of the ship and familiarise themselves with their emergency point – known as the 'muster station' – and emergency processes. In the unlikely event of an emergency, the passenger will then know exactly what to do. Muster 2.0 allows passengers to see all safety measures on their mobile device from their stateroom, avoiding contact and queues.

Along with the Muster 2.0, the app also includes clever functions like scheduled arrival time – eliminating crowds – and expedited boarding – allowing for mobile check-in via a selfie. All helping to avoid contact and touch where possible, the app also doubles as a digital key which allows guests to unlock their stateroom from the smartphones, again, not making contact with the door. Inside the stateroom, guests will also be able to control their TV, lighting, window shades and temperature from the app, eliminating touchpoints. Minimising contact with the crew, guests can also check their on-board account and plan excursions, on-board activities and make dining reservations.

These ground-breaking functions will all be available on Celebrity Cruises when it returns to the seas in 2021 – a company which is innovative by design and by nature.

Welcome to the future

This design innovation is particularly apparent on Celebrity Cruises' new vessels, from the Parabolic Ultra Bow on its Edge-Series ships (leading to a 20 per cent reduction in fuel consumption) to purpose-built Galapagos 'super-yacht' Celebrity Flora. One of the most energy-efficient ships in the world, Celebrity Flora has anchorless technology to preserve the waters she sails, and solar panels for energy.

The Celebrity brand is also responsible for some fantastic accomplishments within the Royal Caribbean Group and the wider cruise and travel industry, all shaping its name as one of the most forward-thinking, dynamic and contemporary travel brands in the world. The cruise line pioneered modern luxury cruising with the introduction of the Solstice Series in 2008, had the first solar panels at sea in 2008 and the first American female captain of a cruise ship in 2015.

In 2018, with the launch of ground-breaking Celebrity Edge, the brand launched the Magic Carpet, the first cantilevered dining venue on a cruise ship, which can also be found on Celebrity Apex. In the same year, Celebrity also replaced all plastic water bottles on board, and 2020 saw Celebrity Cruises have the first all-female bridge and leadership team to command a cruise.

Constantly evolving in an ever-changing travel market, Celebrity Cruises recently re-launched as ‘Always Included’, giving passengers another reason to sail with the contemporary cruise line by marking an end to confusing and complicated pricing systems.

With Celebrity, everything is now taken care of, including wi-fi, drinks and gratuities. So, what are you waiting for? To book a Celebrity Cruises cruise, head to celebritycruises.co.uk