Celebrity Cruises returns to Australia and New Zealand for first time since pandemic began

Today Celebrity Cruises celebrates its highly anticipated return to Australian and New Zealand.

On Saturday, Celebrity Eclipse will set sail from Sydney Australia on a 12-night itinerary. This itinerary will allow guests to explore the “ruggedly scenic wilderness of New Zealand”. This first voyage will one of 17 to come for Celebrity Cruises, and specifically the ship Celebrity Eclipse, in the region.

These itineraries will start in Sydney Australia and end in Auckland, and will be conducted from now until April 2023 for the season.

“The return Down Under has bee long-awaited but someday has finally arrived! Celebrity Eclipse is the first Celebrity ship to sail this region for 930 days - a momentous occasion for the brand and our team members who have worked so hard to get to this point; and the first of many WonderFULL sailings ahead,” stated Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Celebrity Cruises.

Celebrity Cruises says that guests will be treated to enchanting experiences such as “cosmopolitan cities, stunning beaches and exotic wildlife they will explore as part of the season’s enhanced onboard and shore-side experiences, with a focus on luxury and relaxation, destination immersion, and culinary exploration.”

Highlights of Celebrity’s 2022-2023 Australian/New Zealand Itinerary:

Discover the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef from above and below with a choice of multiple exceptional experiences from privately chartered yachts to scenic helicopter rides.
Savor some of the country’s most revered wines poured by the winemakers themselves during the first-ever Australian food and wine itinerary to Melbourne, Adelaide, and Hobart.
Enjoy a new overnight opportunity in Hobart, Cairns, and Adelaide to experience the vibrant nightlife in each of these capital cities.
Stay longer in port with 8pm departures from popular destinations such as Melbourne, Brisbane, and Christchurch.
The popular Auckland to Fiji voyage makes a comeback, departing for the first time in January, and providing New Zealand guests the opportunity to enjoy this cruise for the holiday season.
A new transpacific sailing at the end of the season, transporting passengers between Sydney, Australia, and Honolulu Hawaii, as well as crossing the international date line.

Celebrity Cruises Vice President, and Managing Director of Australia and APAC, Tim Jones said the following: “we’ve been patiently waiting for this moment for so long, and to finally see the freshly painted blue hull of Celebrity Eclipse slice through the waters of Sydney Harbor didn’t disappoint. We were one of the remaining major cruise markets to return to service, and we are really proud to be continuing to the tourism industries of Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific once more, alongside rebuilding the economy of key coastal communities.”

Celebrity Eclipse is made to be seen as a luxurious and vacation within a vacation experience. The ship is equipped with 21 restaurants and bars, as well as stylish accommodations, and the Celebrity Cruises exclusive The Retreat. Celebrity Eclipse is also one of the only ships in the world that has a 1/2 acre of real lawn grass onboard. This area of the ship is called ‘The Lawn Club’, and makes for an excellent perfect spot to play outdoor games, watch outdoor movies, and enjoy live music with the friends and loved ones.

“Continuing our momentum in the region, next year we’ll be taking the guest experience to the ‘Edge’ with the debut season of Celebrity Edge Down Under! Its the great outdoors that makes this region truly exceptional and we can’t wait to welcome an equally exceptional ship that’s been uniquely designed to connect guests with their surroundings. Whether you’re flying Down Under to join us, or stepping aboard from your front door, Celebrity Edge is a chance to explore our exotic landscapes like never before, all while sailing in complete luxury,” states Tim Jones, Celebrity Cruises Vice President and Managing Director of Australia and APAC.

“Returning to this region is another significant milestone in the industry’s global recovery, as we sail forward into a bright future,” says Lutoff-Perlo, Celebrity Cruises’ CEO, about the return to Australia and New Zealand.