<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Conventional wisdom advises the use of special eye protection when  viewing an eclipse. But none of that was necessary for the thousands of  individuals who lined the banks of Germany's River Ems last Thursday to  see Celebrity Eclipse embark on a fascinating adventure in cruising. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The third of five in Celebrity Cruises' $3.7-billion Solstice Class  fleet, Celebrity Eclipse today made her first departure from the  innovative Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, to embark on what  is very likely to be the most challenging ride of her life: an event  known as the "conveyance." </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">At the tightest points along the way, there are as few as two  feet between each side of the 1,040-foot-long, 121-foot-wide Celebrity  Eclipse and the locks. The depth of the river and the draft of the ship  allow for mere inches - or less - beneath the ship. These factors and  others led Celebrity Cruises and Meyer Werft to essentially create a  science all their own, carefully monitoring the position of the moon and  tidal conditions to identify the precise moment when the depth of the  river is ideal for the ship to set sail from the shipyard. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Cruise ship captains generally do not expect to encounter the  challenges the conveyance presents," said Celebrity Eclipse Captain  Panagiotis Skylogiannis. "Although I am accustomed to docking in tight  ports, I prefer to be chasing sunshine in the open sea. Celebrity  Eclipse is only a few feet slimmer than the narrowest lock we have to  navigate, which isn't much room, particularly when the president of the  company is onboard, keeping a close watch! But we've done this twice  before, and I am entirely confident of another smooth and successful  passage." </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Celebrity's President &amp; CEO Dan Hanrahan and the Captain are  far from alone on the ship. This year, among those experiencing the  once-in-a-lifetime conveyance are a host of winners of the line's global  "Eclipse of a Lifetime" sweepstakes. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">"This event is a vivid example of our 'Designed for you' brand  platform, as it's an experience ideally suited for discerning cruisers  like those who entered our sweepstakes," said Hanrahan. "Our sweeps in  North America alone generated more than 200,000 entries, which attests  to the appeal of this very unique experience." </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Before setting sail, the lucky winners - as well as a select  group of travel agents and elite members of the press - had the  exclusive opportunity to press the button activating the very first cuts  of steel that will become a permanent part of the next ship in  Celebrity's Solstice Class fleet, Celebrity Silhouette, during a  customized, private tour at Meyer Werft shipyard. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">After arriving in Emshaven, Netherlands, where those fortunate  first few individuals to experience Celebrity Eclipse will depart, the  ship will embark on sea trials, followed by a series of promotional  events in Hamburg, Germany, and Southampton, England, where the vessel  will be the first in the Celebrity fleet to be dedicated to the UK  market. During her inaugural season, Celebrity Eclipse will offer  cruises in the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Scandinavia and Russia, as  well as short cruise options to Le Havre (for Paris), France, and Cork,  Ireland, all roundtrip from Southampton. The ship will present  Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Miami, Fla., after crossing the  Atlantic in November. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Celebrity Eclipse will be the industry's first to offer the  "Celebrity iLounge," complete with a retail area offering the latest  products through Celebrity's Authorized Apple Reseller status, and the  first to present "Qsine," a "uniquely unordinary," interactive dining  venue complete with wine menus on a personal touchscreen. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Like her sister ships - Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox -  Celebrity Eclipse will present The Lawn Club, with real, growing grass;  The Hot Glass Show, a glassblowing show and studio developed with The  Corning Museum of Glass; 10 unrivaled dining venues, including Qsine;  and widely varied entertainment, including shows with breathtaking  aerial acts. </span></p>