Celebrity Cruises has confirmed that its newest cruise ship Celebrity Edge, due for delivery in late 2018, will be deployed in the European market next year, offering a series of Mediterranean cruises.

The mammoth cruise ship, which will be Celebrity’s largest and most technologically advanced ever built (a premium version of Royal Caribbean’s Quantum-class) will spend her maiden cruise season in the Caribbean, home-porting in Fort Lauderdale from mid-December to April.

Celebrity Edge features a platform on the side of the ship which doubles as a tender station and restaurant/bar called the “Magic Carpet.”

In April she’ll sail a trans-Atlantic repositioning cruise to Barcelona and will begin her summer Mediterranean deployment, using both Barcelona and Rome as homeports.

In a nod to the British cruise market, Celebrity Cruises will also offer a two-night mini-cruise out of Southampton, England aboard the 2,900-passenger ship.

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Her cruises out of Barcelona and Rome will be seven-night itineraries in the peak season and early summer of 2019.

The seven-night “open-jaw” itineraries are unique, calling at a total of 11 ports, with only one repeat port of call (Florence). Passengers also can opt for a back-to-back 14-night cruise.

Later in the year she’ll also sail roundtrip 10-night Western Mediterranean and 11-night Eastern Mediterranean cruises.

Celebrity Cruises expect these itineraries to be popular with Middle East cruisers who traditionally fly-cruise in the European market during the summer.

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Celebrity Cruises sailed its first ever Middle East cruise season last year, home-porting out of Abu Dhabi and cruising around the Arabian Gulf. The season proved a major success for the premium cruise line, which confirmed that it will be returning to the Arabian Gulf in the coming season.

“From our expansive new itineraries, including three exciting new ports of call and overnights in 16 cities across the region, to our specially curated shore excursions, there’s a reason we’re continually recognised and win multiple awards,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises.

Edge is being touted as a game changer for Celebrity, pioneering a revolutionary new design which sees “seamless” (or infinite) balconies which increase cabin size and a platform on the side of the ship which doubles as a tender station and restaurant/bar called the “Magic Carpet.”

The infinite balconies (top left) will increase cabin space, according to Celebrity.

Celebrity has not yet revealed where Edge will go after fall 2019, but we hope it will be to Asia, so that we get to see her at the Dubai Cruise Terminal during her re-positioning cruise.