As an energized crowd watched in anticipation, Malala Yousafzai reached out her hand and penned her signature on a tablet, triggering the launch of an 18-litre bottle of Badoit mineral water against the bow of the world’s newest cruise ship – officially naming her the Celebrity Edge.
That’s what we saw on December 5th, when Celebrity cruise lines celebrated the launch of their first new ship design in 13 years, first new series of ships in 10 years, and first new ship in 6 years. Bound for a world of destinations including the Caribbean, Transatlantic, and Mediterranean, the Celebrity Edge is an impressive achievement of cutting-edge design.
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What You’ll Find on the Edge
Guests on the ship will be wowed by her outward facing layout, stunning accommodations designed by Kelly Hoppen, the jaw-dropping “Magic Carpet” floating platform, and the beautiful and innovative 3-storey “Eden” space designed by Patricia Urquiola all of which make for unmatched ocean views.
Those looking for an exquisite dining experience will be hard pressed to find a match for the Edge on either sea or land. With Michelin-starred chef, Cornelius Gallagher leading the way, the ship boasts 29 uniquely designed food and drink experiences. Imagine fresh-baked bread from a French-style café, world-class sushi, award-winning wine lists, and artfully prepared steak.
Leading the Way in Empowering Women
But the highly anticipated Celebrity Edge isn’t only a feat of design and engineering, she’s a trailblazer in the travel industry for gender equality, diversity, and inclusion. Fearlessly pioneered by Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, who is the first and, so far, only woman CEO of a publicly traded cruise line, the Edge represents the leading edge of empowering women in the cruise industry.
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Celebrity has the highest number of women captains, and their third woman captain, Kate McCue, will take the helm of the Edge in 2019. The ship also welcomes Nicholine Tifuh Azirh, who is the first woman from Ghana to be a bridge cadet on a cruise ship, and for whom Lutoff-Perlo personally advocated because of her outstanding qualifications.
Remarkably, 30% of the Edge’s crew are women, which is 50% more than any other cruise line. Every stage of the Edge’s creation was enriched with mindful decisions to empower women. It’s no wonder Celebrity chose 21-year-old activist Malala Yousafzai to be the ship’s godmother, and furthermore, is partnering with the Malala Fund to promote education for girls around the world.
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Lutoff-Perlo admits her team faced challenges while creating more leadership opportunities for women, mentioning in her address at the Edge’s official naming ceremony that “others believed our ambition might be impossible.”
And although the cruise line is already ahead of the curve, she has a vision to accomplish even more. “We’re proving them wrong, and we’re not done!” she promises. So, keep your eyes peeled for what’s to come.
Flight Centre is proud to partner alongside Celebrity to deliver state-of-the-art travel experiences that help make the world a better place. In fact, that shared mission is why we’ve developed Womenwise: a new initiative as part of our Brighter Futures vision to foster a community of empowered women leaders in our own team.
Want to experience the Edge for yourself? Simply call 1-877-967-5302 anytime or instantly find the travel expert nearest you.