Watch: Celebrity Edge from Design to Inauguration
Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai inaugurated Celebrity Cruises' newest vessel, Celebrity Edge, on Tuesday at Port Everglades’ Terminal 25 (T25) in Florida.
The 2,900-passenger vessel is the line's first new ship in six years and first new ship series in more than a decade. She is the first of four vessels from Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Class and will be joined by her sister ship, Celebrity Apex, in 2020. The next two ships will follow in 2021 and 2022.
Yousafzai, who is now a college student at Oxford University, is the inspirational co-founder of Malala Fund, which advocates for a world where every girl can learn and lead by investing in local education activists, holding global leaders accountable and amplifying girls’ voices around the world.
She discussed those issues before the ship’s crew and guests in a one-on-one interview with Celebrity’s President and CEO, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo. From girls’ education to the power of diversity, both share a profound passion and commitment to these important issues. Lutoff-Perlo said: “I am so very proud to have Malala Yousafzai as godmother of Celebrity Edge. Malala embodies our commitment to opening the world through education and gender equality. Seeing her aboard our ship sends a powerful message to our crew who represent over 70 diverse nationalities, and our guests who we sail all over the world.” She continued, “The ceremony today was both touching and symbolic of what Celebrity Cruises stands for. I am grateful to Malala, her family and Malala Fund for embracing today’s events and look forward to continuing our work together around the world.”
Celebrity is proud to partner with Malala Fund and support them in their mission to see the 130 million out of school girls around the world get 12 years of free, safe, quality education. "I'm fighting to ensure millions of girls stuck in situations of poverty or war that they didn't create can learn what they need to choose a future for themselves. But to continue making progress for girls' education, we need support from leaders in every sector. I am so grateful to Celebrity Cruises for their generous support and investment in the potential of girls everywhere,” said Yousafzai.
The brand chose to forego the traditional champagne bottle at the launch, and instead smashed a custom-made 18-liter bottle of Badoit French mineral water across the ship’s bow.
Celebrity Edge will begin her inaugural season sailing alternating seven-night eastern and western Caribbean itineraries before transporting guests to the stunning vistas of the Mediterranean with a range of seven- to 11-night sailings from cities like Barcelona and Rome in 2019. Sailing round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Celebrity Edge will make her first maiden voyage on December 9, 2018.
Ship Specifications
Double Occupancy: 2,918
Crew: 1,320
Guest Decks: 14
Staterooms: 1,467
Tonnage: 129,500
Length: 1,004 feet
Beam: 128 feet
Draft: 27 feet
Cruising Speed: 22 knots