Celebrity Edge takes to the seas for the first time.

Celebrity Edge has been completing her sea trails from the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France, which will be building all 4 of the ‘Edge’ Class vessels over the next few years. At 117,000 tonnes, she is relatively small in what has become a build bigger and bigger market. I think that’s bloody refreshing! She set out and will complete tests on all aspects of safety, speed, efficiency, stopping distance and manoeuvrability.

The sea trials have taken place days after the steel cutting took place on the Edge’s little sister as Celebrity announced the name for their 2nd Edge Class ship will be the Apex.

Exciting times ahead for Celebrity then, with the Edge officially launching in December 2018, the Apex due for delivery in Spring 2020 and the third and 4th Edge Class ships in Autumn 2021 and 2022 respectively. The innovative ships will be the first to feature the “infinite balconies” giving guests the option to use their balcony as indoor space just by pressing a button! They will also feature the Magic Carpet, which will change uses on each deck giving guests a totally unique experience that they cannot get on any other cruise ship. It will also act as a tender station, a restaurant or a bar. Very innovative.

I can’t help but wonder if Celebrity will sell on some of their older vessels to make way or just be keeping up with the ever growing cruise markets. I’m also wondering where the 4 Edge class ships will be deployed. I think with them being an American company they will have to have at least 1 of them home-ported there, but I can’t help but think how awesome the infinite balconies will be if travelling somewhere really cold!