The newest ship in the Celebrity Cruises fleet, Celebrity Beyond, is officially named after the greatest gymnast of all time.
Once upon a time, genuine goddesses were chosen to be the godmothers of ships, the symbolic figures chosen to offer luck and protection to a vessel. It appears we're not far from that ancient nautical custom given Simone Biles' selection as the godmother of Celebrity Beyond, the newest ship in the Celebrity Cruises fleet.
The greatest gymnast of all time was a daring choice for the brand in this pivotal moment, following other boundary-breaking women (Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai is the godmother of Celebrity Edge, and Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code, is the godmother of Celebrity Apex). Biles is possibly the best example of going above and beyond, which is also the goal of the ship. She is the most decorated American gymnast in history and a seven-time Olympic medallist as well as a 19-time World Champion.
We didn't choose her because of her gold medals, according to Jason Liberty, CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, the parent company of Celebrity Cruises, who said that her accomplishments are obviously outstanding. "We chose her because of her strength and fortitude in speaking about her struggle in front of the public. She is a force and has tremendous discipline, but to perform what she did on a stage in front of an audience is a relatively uncommon breed.
And that's exactly the bravery and fortitude you want to see in a godmother, according to Liberty: "Someone who's willing, regardless of what the winds are, or the waves that are hitting you, to have the courage to be able to rise above and do what you think is best."
The president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, had a similar opinion. As she explained to T+L, "Our choice of godmothers is really deliberate, and I really wanted them to fit what our aim was in developing these ships: game-changing, transformational, category of one — you know, differentiating ourselves." "[Simone] is brave, well-decorated, and accomplished. Look at what she has accomplished and what that means to young women around the world."
Humble Biles was honored to be asked despite her unmatched record. Biles stated in an interview conducted soon before the naming ceremony on the ship's first American sail, "For me, it was just a big honor." "I thought, 'Okay, why me?'" Are you certain? But our excitement was palpable. My family was really happy. I think it's really amazing for me to be in the same league as all the other females who have been godmothers on the prior ships because I've been cruising since I was younger. It's a true honor.
Celebrity Beyond is the most recent illustration of Celebrity's dedication to elevating women and giving the industry first priority. It is commanded by Captain Kate McCue, the first and only American woman to be named captain of a mega-ship and, along with her equally famous hairless cat, Bug Naked, a social media sensation.
The company also launched the first all-female bridge and officer team and the first West African woman to operate on a cruise ship's bridge after asking the International Maritime Organization to recognize the Ghana Maritime Academy so they could hire its graduates. Celebrity also claims to have been the first cruise line to stop using plastic water bottles on board and to have installed solar panels on a cruise ship.
Although she was joined on the cruise by her parents, brother, sister, and closest friend, Biles was most excited to sail with her loved ones. Although it is a line you can feel good about sailing.
She chuckled as she said to T+L, "[We have] quite a gang." "However many people we wanted to invite, they let us bring them. To get away, have fun, celebrate, just be a part of something bigger than all of us, and to join together, [it's] kind of like going on a vacation to nowhere.
Biles continued by saying she was thrilled to welcome both experienced cruisers searching for a new experience and first-time cruisers. She chuckled, "My folks are here and are already attempting to book another Celebrity cruise. We've been looking at one to get my fiancé on during his off-season because he hasn't been on one. He's very thrilled, but he's also a little anxious. He will be a rookie cruiser. Jonathan Owens, an NFL player, and Biles are engaged. Cutoff-Perlo made reference to a trip on Celebrity Beyond for their honeymoon after being married in May 2023.
Of course, having unrestricted access to first-rate eateries and bars is the cruise experience's second-best feature. Biles admitted to being a big lover of the food served on Celebrity cruise ships to T+L. I'm pretty psyched about the fact that we have a reservation for Raw on 5. The Japanese-themed Raw on 5 restaurants at Celebrity Beyond serves sushi rolls, nigiri, and sashimi in addition to tempting sweets like caramelized gingerbread with wasabi gelato.
One of the many reasons to love Simone Biles:
— The Medal Count (@TheMedalCount_) November 9, 2022
She's such an all-around sports junkie pic.twitter.com/XMzYTETuRL
Biles, whose first sailing with Celebrity was on the Celebrity Infinity, was completely taken aback by Beyond when she first boarded. My mouth literally struck the floor as soon as we boarded, she said. It is breathtaking.
She is completely correct; the resort has 32 dining and drinking establishments, a floating "Magic Carpet" deck, and large suites. Due to shipyard timetables, the second ship in a series cannot be significantly changed, but the third and subsequent ships may, and this is what passengers can expect on Beyond, the third ship in Celebrity's five-ship Edge series. Anyone who has sailed Edge or Apex will recognize Beyond, but minor changes enhance the whole experience.
Celebrity was able to improve the Grand Plaza and Sunset Bar, increase the rooftop garden and suite-exclusive Retreat space, add a World Class Bar, and install Le Voyage, a specialty restaurant by chef Daniel Boulud by stretching the ship 20 meters longer and one deck higher. You can share every last piece of it with your friends and followers by moving all Wi-Fi to Elon Musk's Starlink, the first streaming-strength internet aboard cruises.
When Ascent, the following ship in the series, debuts in 2023, it will be an exact replica of Beyond. But Liberty, who also pledges a stronger emphasis on sustainability, said Celebrity has "a few more surprises" in store for the yet-unnamed final ship in the Edge series, which is anticipated in 2025.
Up to April 2023, the Celebrity Beyond sails the eastern and western Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. After then, it will cross the Atlantic to spend the spring and summer in Europe.
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