Celebrity Cruises UK boss hails agent support amid 2028 itineraries launch

Celebrity Cruises’ UK and EMEA chief has praised UK agents’ support as the line unveiled its Europe 2028 itineraries.

 

The programme will see eight ships, of which four are Edge Class vessels, deployed in the region, including Celebrity Beyond replacing Celebrity Apex from Southampton.

 

General sale opens on August 25 but UK agents can pre-register for clients from August 10.

 

Speaking on a webcast with Aspire’s sister title Travel Weekly with news reporter Ella Sagar, UK and EMEA managing director Claire Stirrup said: “Celebrity Beyond is really special as we launched her in the UK a few years ago.

 

“She is bigger [than Celebrity Apex] with 22 more suites and 157 more staterooms, and there is more space with 17 decks where we have been able to put new and exciting things on there as well.”

 

Stirrup added: “We couldn’t do this without our trade partners and the support they have shown to Celebrity Apex has been phenomenal, and that’s why we’ve been able to bring in Celebrity Beyond and eight ships to Europe, four of which are Edge Class.”

 

The ship is the third Edge Class vessel and from November 2026 will have venues added on board from the line’s newest ship Celebrity Xcel and recently refurbished Celebrity Solstice, such as Orange Peel Bar & Grille, Tacos del Sol, Celebrity Pool Club and Bora.

 

Stirrup said the line will “be doing everything we can to get our trade partners on board” Celebrity Beyond in 2028.

 

The vessel will offer a range of seven, 10, 11 and 14-night sailings from the UK port between May and October, including more Arctic Circle and Iceland itineraries.

Fellow Edge Class ship Celebrity Apex will sail from Amsterdam, Celebrity Xcel from Barcelona and Athens, and Celebrity Ascent from Rome.

 

Meanwhile, Celebrity Summit will sail from a new port for the line, Reykjavik, Celebrity Eclipse will offer cruises from Barcelona and Rome, Celebrity Infinity will operate from Athens and Barcelona, and Celebrity Constellation will provide departures from Rome and Ravenna.

 

Agents will be able to access a “playbook” with lift-and-shift assets on Celebrity Central about the new itineraries, in addition to webinars and the sales team going out on the road to deliver training.

 

Separately, Stirrup said there was “a lot coming down the line” after the Europe 2028 launch day, including Alaska, Hawaii and South America 2028 itineraries going on sale on September 1, followed by Australia and Asia winter 2028-29 voyages launching on September 29.

 

She added the cruise line will be launching a “mini wave” promotion for 2026 and 2027 sailings offering triple rewards at the same time Europe 2028 itineraries go on sale.

 

“We know lots of customers are still booking last-minute cruises and holidays, and they’ve not thought to book 2027 yet,” she said.

 

She also was hopeful that a new one-stop shop trade platform might be ready this year or next year and promised more to come on river cruise itineraries as well.

 

Stirrup said: “Please support us and have a look as we’ve got announcements coming for river and some new things the sales team are going to be showcasing in the coming weeks and months.”