The Celebrity Revolution Begins: Celebrity Cruises Brings Entire Fleet to the Edge With $500-Million In Upgrades

This isn’t a makeover, it’s a $500-million game-changer.

Once again, Celebrity Cruises is set to transform the industry with the unveiling of THE CELEBRITY REVOLUTION, a more than $500-million reimagining of the fleet in partnership with more than 500 leading architects, designers, and engineers designed to bring the rest of the brand’s award-winning fleet to theEdge.

“We launched THE CELEBRITY REVOLUTION to do one thing – transform the way our guests experience the world. It began with the introduction of the industry-changing Celebrity Edge, and continued with the stunning Celebrity Flora,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. “Our dedication to improving the way guests experience the world knows no bounds. We are taking our entire award-winning fleet to the edge and giving people the vacation they truly deserve.”

THE SUITE LIFE JUST GOT SWEETER

Transforming the brand’s award-winning ships gave Celebrity the opportunity to bring its already world-class suite experience on board Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Infinity, and Celebrity Summit to lavish new heights with the help of visionary designer Kelly Hoppen, MBE. She will also infuse the newly added Reflection Suite and Signature Suites (found today on Celebrity Reflection) to Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Equinox, and Celebrity Silhouette, with her signature style – a subtle, coordinated fusion of East meets West, with clean lines, neutral tones, and a warm, inviting opulence.

“This was a new and exciting challenge to recreate something stylish and luxurious yet totally different from the accommodations that I have designed for Celebrity Edge,” said Hoppen. “I wanted to invoke a feeling of timeless luxury that welcomed guests into their own haven. Your bedroom is where you sleep and where you wake, two of the most important times of day, especially when you are on vacation. It was important to create space, harmony and luxury within a home away from home setting and I think we achieved this balance perfectly.”

With Celebrity Edge, the brand introduced an exclusive new sanctuary for all Suite Class guests called The Retreat. And now, Celebrity is bringing its most luxurious experiences fleet-wide. Every ship will offer The Retreat Sundeck and The Retreat Lounge, both strikingly designed by Hoppen. In imagining The Retreat Sundeck, she has created a chic, open-air hideaway with the feel of a high-end resort, where guests can unwind on plush loungers, sip tantalizing cocktails, and savor refreshing treats. At The Retreat Lounge (formerly Michael’s Club), Hoppen has designed a warm and sophisticated atmosphere.

“REVOLUTIONARY” ACCOMMODATIONS

When redesigning the accommodations, every detail was carefully thought through with guest comfort at the front of mind. Celebrity collaborated with renowned international hospitality design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA) to transform the staterooms on board Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Infinity, and Celebrity Summit, plus the staterooms and many of the suites on board Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection into a statement about modern luxury.

“Every detail of our staterooms has been elevated, every comfort refined,” said Brian Abel, Senior Vice President, Hotel Operations, Celebrity Cruises. “By the end of THE CELEBRITY REVOLUTION the entire fleet will have the same quality, design essence, and consistency of modern luxury, bringing our fleet to the edge.”

All staterooms will feature a fresh, chic design, rivaling the world’s best boutique hotels. They will also be fitted with Celebrity’s eXhale bedding featuring exclusive luxurious cashmere mattresses, RFID locks, pervasive Xcelerate and Bluetooth capabilities.

“REVOLUTIONARY” CULINARY

Celebrity is always looking for new ways to open the world, not only through the places the brand visits, but through globally inspired culinary experience, as well.

Guest-favorite restaurant Qsine will be added across the fleet and completely renovated, now offering the brand’s virtual Le Petit Chef experience, created by the world-famous artists of Skullmapping and presented by TableMation exclusively for Celebrity. Oceanview Café will be redesigned with an open, airy, marketplace-inspired design offering guests island after island of international delicacies, while the already-stunning Main Restaurants will undergo a beautiful redesign, with new textures and new finishes added throughout.

EVERY DETAIL IS BEING TAKEN TO THE EDGE

Even more groundbreaking innovations are on the horizon with THE CELEBRITY REVOLUTION, including:

• Expansion of the new SEA Thermal Suite – first introduced on Celebrity Edge – to offer an ahh-inspiring array of therapeutic spa experiences at sea
• Exclusive new shopping experiences featuring sought-after brands and designers, such as Shinola, John Hardy, and Hublot, plus state-of-the-art digital photo galleries that make browsing vacation memories a snap 

• Elevated bars and lounges, including the newly reimagined Passport Bar and an expansion of Celebrity’s popular Gastrobar concept, serving more than 40 craft beers, creative cocktails, and gourmet comfort food 

• More exciting upgrades to public venues all throughout each ship, including The Hideaway, Team Earth, The Library, and more 


The first “revolutionary” revitalization will take place in 2019, beginning with the iconic Celebrity Millennium, and will continue across the fleet through 2023. To learn more about THE CELEBRITY REVOLUTION, visit www.celebritycruises.com/revolution.

About Celebrity Cruises:
Celebrity Cruises' iconic "X" is the mark of modern luxury, with its cool, contemporary design and warm spaces; dining experiences where the design of the venues is as important as the cuisine; and the amazing service that only Celebrity can provide, all created to provide an unmatchable experience for vacationers’ precious time. Celebrity Cruises' 12 ships offer modern luxury vacations visiting all seven continents. Celebrity also presents incredible cruise tour experiences in Alaska and Canada. Celebrity is one of five cruise brands operated by global cruise vacation company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL). For more information, dial 1-800-437-3111, visit www.celebritycruises.com, or call your travel agent.

Windstar Cruises Makes Traveling Light Even Easier With New Luggage Forwarding, Your Home To Their Ships

Luggage Forward Partnership Allows Guests to Say 'Goodbye' to Dragging Bags Through Airports and 'Hello' to Their Bags in Their Suites/Staterooms

World travelers are all too familiar with the "bag drag," the extra hustle and hurdles involved in getting their luggage from home to the great capitals of the globe. Windstar Cruises now offers guests a reprieve from lugging their luggage through airports, navigating customs, and re-checking to a final destination, with the addition of Luggage Forward service. Now, Windstar guests can ship their luggage from their doorstep directly to their ship's accommodation (and home again), transforming the airport trek to traveling light, and they can do it with confidence.

Luggage Forward has more than a decade of experience and is recognized as the premier door-to-door, international luggage shipping service. They provide service to 200 countries and territories worldwide and a team of customs specialists handles all the country-specific paperwork to ensure seamless, on-time delivery. Travelers can track their shipment in real-time as it makes its way toward the ship. It is easy to book the service online, or by calling, and rates are transparent with no hidden fees or charges.

Travelers can take advantage of this new luggage delivery service partnership with total confidence: Bags are guaranteed to arrive safely and on time. Luggage Forward offers the world's first money-back plus $500 on-time guarantee.

"Windstar Cruises is very pleased to add this new luggage forwarding service to our selection of amenities and services," said Windstar President John Delaney. "Our guests are pretty intrepid travelers with well-developed packing skills, but whatever size your bag is, not dragging it through the airport enhances the ease and freedom of your travel experience. We believe this front-door-to-ship accommodation service will be valued by our guests."    

To learn more about authentic small ship cruising with Windstar, contact a travel professional or Windstar Cruises by phone at 877-958-7718, or visit http://www.windstarcruises.com.

SOURCE Windstar Cruises

The Newest Luxury Hotel In Indonesia To Be The Apurva Kempinski Bali

Geneva - Adding to its growing collection of distinguished properties all around the world, Kempinski gears up to unveil the latest addition to its line of five-star hotels with the opening of The Apurva Kempinski Bali in the fourth quarter of this year. This much anticipated opening marks the first extraordinary resort on the Island and its second hotel in Indonesia. “We are excited to welcome The Apurva Kempinski Bali and add this iconic property to our hotel portfolio. From its unique architecture to artfully curated interior design, The Apurva Kempinski Bali will present itself as a majestic open-air theatre in which the guests will have the opportunity to experience the wonders of this unique island.” says Michael Henssler, Chief Operating Officer Asia, Kempinski Hotels and Member of the Management Board. Set amidst the dramatic cliffs and immaculate beaches of southern Bali, the hotel features 475 well-appointed guest rooms, iconic suites and exclusive villas, five eclectic dining venues, and a Cigar & Shisha Lounge. Facilities include an ocean-facing spa and fitness centre, a 60-metre swimming pool, kids pool, and a family club. For events, business meetings and weddings, The Apurva Kempinski Bali offers a 1,076 sq m pillar-free and ocean-view grand ballroom, meeting rooms, The Apurva beachfront wedding chapels, and 2,200 sq m ocean-front lawn for an exceptional outdoor gatherings and events. Award-winning architect Budiman Hendropurnomo of Denton Corker Marshall and highly -acclaimed interior designer Rudy Dodo of Trivium Design Group worked together in creating a curated design masterpiece. From the unmistakeable characteristic of Balinese architecture, landscape and guiding principle, to the Indonesian-inspired interior design aesthetics, the nation’s heritage and meticulous craftsmanship are thoroughly reflected throughout the hotel. “We are very excited about the upcoming opening of The Apurva Kempinski Bali. We have meticulously researched and worked with artisans to assemble the best of Indonesian craftsmanship, sharing with the traveller the richness of the destination’s cultural heritage. We trust that Kempinski will strengthen our vision in delivering an elevated interpretation through personalised local experiences”, adds William Katuari, President Director of Wings Group and the hotel’s owning company. The Apurva translates as “unique and magnificent” in Sanskrit, embracing Kempinski dedication to bringing unique experiences to life. Honouring the nation’s belief in unity in diversity, the hotel establishes its distinctiveness as a tribute to the richness of Indonesian cultural heritage. The Apurva Kempinski Bali is the quintessence of luxury living in Bali. About The Apurva Kempinski Bali: Standing atop the majestic cliff of Nusa Dua, with breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean and tropical garden, The Apurva Kempinski Bali offers the epitome of beachfront luxury. This five-star hotel in Bali presents itself as a majestic open-air theatre, an embodiment of Indonesian elegance. A collection of 475 iconic rooms, suites and villas are showcased, with 60% of the accommodation featuring its own private plunge pools. From a unique culinary journey and indigenous spa treatments, to the spacious meeting rooms and alluring chapels, The Apurva Kempinski Bali is a spectacular stage where curated experiences are brought to life. About Kempinski: Created in 1897, Kempinski Hotels is Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group. Kempinski’s rich heritage of impeccable personal service and superb hospitality is complemented by the exclusivity and individuality of its properties. Kempinski now comprises a portfolio of 75 five-star hotels and residences in 33 countries and continues to add new properties in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Each one reflects the strength and success of the Kempinski brand without losing sight of its heritage. The portfolio comprises historic landmark properties, award-winning urban lifestyle hotels, outstanding resorts, and prestigious residences. Each one imbues the quality guests have come to expect from Kempinski while embracing the cultural traditions of its location. Kempinski is a founding member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands. www.kempinski.com • www.discoveryloyalty.com

TRAVELORE DESTINATION REPORT: MGM National Harbor, A Casino Resort That Exceeds Expectations. #MgmNatlHarbor

A recent weekend weekend at the MGM Grand Harbor demonstrated how small details can make the difference when vacationing including how key cards are presented at check-in with two hands with thumbs up respectful of Asian tradition and the pristine ingredients in the perfectly cooked meals at their featured restaurants.  This outstanding resort is located on the banks of the Potomac just outside of Washington DC.

The spa and Salon is outstanding. If seeking something a little different we recommend the Double Your Pleasure four handed massage. Also recommended is the Skin Booster men's facial. Your therapist will also make recommendations for add-ons specific to your needs. A custom blended eye mask was a great addition to our facial. When scheduling your treatments make sure you take the time to enjoy the Roman bath, steam room, sauna and a vitamin c infused shower. Complementary juice, infused water, champagne and mimosas are also available.

   The food at all the featured restaurants is exceptional enough for us to recommend people from nearby Washington, DC. to make the trip many times over. Typically in our experiences celebrity restaurants tend to be lacking in quality when the 'chef' is absent, not at Fish by Jose Andres and at Voltaggio Brothers Steakhouse where everything was outstanding. Pictured (left to right) Drunken Seafood Noodles at Ginger, the fresh from the water Seafood Tower from Voltaggio Brothers, melt-in-your mouth American Wagyu flank steak from Voltaggio Brothers, room service breakfast, Soft Shell Crabs from Fish, and Seared Scallops with smoked pea puree and pickled carrots from Fish.

Our exceptionally comfortable corner suite included an additional separate sitting area suitable for entertaining and business needs, all natural bathroom amenities, plush robes, and 2 large screen televisions. Extras including a 'quiet night' relaxing balm presented with turn-down service are nice touches.


For more details about planning your visit to the MGM National Harbor please visit: Www.MgmNationalHarbor.Com 

Chateau Margaux For Seat 2A: Emirates Rewrites Rules For Airlines

The carrier goes all in on luxury, betting high profit margins from first-class tickets will relieve pressure to chase masses of discount travelers

DUBAI—In a world buzzing with budget carriers, Emirates Airline is flying in the opposite direction.

Other full-service airlines have tried in recent years to match the prices and passenger growth of discount carriers, which now fly almost everywhere. Emirates is doubling down on a very different strategy.

It has revved up the glitz by pouring billions of dollars into its fleet of planes, in-flight entertainment, wine lists and seats in order to hold on to a relatively small but fiercely loyal group of the world’s biggest-spending travelers.

A wine-tasting class for Emirates cabin crew this month. PHOTO: CELIA PETERSON FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL (2)

In November, Emirates rolled out private suites on its newest Boeing 777 jets—three of the 40-square-foot single-seat cabins fit across the width of the airliner. It has upgraded its fleet of chauffeured cars that whisk upmarket fliers to and from the airport, replacing Volvos with BMWs equipped with Wi-Fi hot spots. It spent $6.7 million building a lavish lounge at Boston’s Logan airport, part of a global makeover that included upgrades for lounges in Singapore and Bangkok.

Last year, Emirates spent $56 million on its collection of fine French wines alone. It has splashed out $780 million on the stuff since 2006 and owns its own wine cellars in France. On a recent flight, cabin crew poured a $566 bottle of 1998 Chateau Margaux for its first-class passengers. On some routes, the airline regularly offers the exclusive Hennessy Paradis Imperial cognac, which retails for more than $1,000 a bottle. Emirates surprised its first- and business-class passengers on a Dubai-Paris flight in April with an onboard wine-tasting master class led by a top vintner.

“I want it to feel like you are walking into a Ritz-Carlton,” says longtime President Tim Clark, who helped start the Dubai-owned carrier more than 30 years ago.

The airline is betting that the high profit margins of its luxury tickets will allow it to avoid chasing masses of travelers riding in discounted coach seats. The idea threatens to overturn one of the tenets of how to thrive as a large network carrier.

Profit Engine

Emirates' profit has turned higher after a sharp drop during the oil-price bust. Its margins have historically beaten the industry.

Profits

Profit margin

 billion United Arab Emirates dirham

8

%

10

6

5

4

0

2

Industry average

Emirates

–5

0

’09

2008

’10

’11

’12

’17

’16

’15

2008

’09

’10

’11

’12

’13

’14

’17

’16

’15

’14

’13

Note: 1 billion dirham = $272.2 million at the current exchange rate

Sources: the company; International Air Transport Association (industry average)

For most of the rest of the industry, the strategy has, until recently, seemed too expensive and too risky. Carriers have always pushed higher-margin first-class and business seats. Analysts say those seats can make up about half of a big airline’s revenue and most of its profit.

But they have also relied on filling the rest of their planes with lower-paying economy passengers to squeeze revenue out of every flight. Big carriers add capacity when times are good, trying to fill planes and capture market share. But the excess supply naturally depresses prices, eroding profit margins.

Emirates’ focus on its top-paying customers—who aren’t as inclined to make purchases based on price—insulates it somewhat from the industry’s boom-and-bust cycle. It has a higher proportion of business and first-class seats than its peers, and it puts less emphasis on filling every seat in the plane.

Emirates’ load factor, a measure of seats sold per plane, is roughly 78%, compared with the industry average of more than 80%.

The amenities keep P.N.C. Menon, the founder and chairman of Dubai-based property developer Sobha Group, coming back. “I don’t fly with anybody else unless Emirates doesn’t operate there,” he says. He always books first class. Emirates consistently scores among top carriers in rankings by Skytrax, a London-based consultancy that factors in customer feedback.

Emirates is investing in revving up the luxury areas of its fleets. PHOTO: JASPER JUINEN/BLOOMBERG NEWS

Ticket prices are highly variable, but Emirates’ can be notably higher. On Emirates, a round trip between Dubai and London for mid-July travel was recently priced at around $10,400 in first class and $4,600 in business. A round-trip “upper class” ticket on Virgin Atlantic, with a seat that converts to a flat bed, between the cities was selling for around $3,400.

Between 2010 and 2015, Emirates’ profit margin averaged 5.5%, more than double the 2.3% average margin for the industry as a whole, according to data from the International Air Transport Association.

But Emirates has an extra sensitivity to oil prices. Lower fuel costs usually help carriers, but since so many of Emirates’ customers are in the business, a drop can hurt ticket sales.

In 2016, when oil prices were at lows, the margin slipped to 1.5%, recovering to 3% by 2017. Airlines globally averaged a 4.7% margin over the 2016-17 period.

The airline, part of Emirates Group, reported revenue of $25.2 billion for the latest fiscal year ended March 31, and profit of $762 million. It is 100%-owned by the government of Dubai, one of seven semiautonomous states that make up the United Arab Emirates. Its shares don’t trade on any exchange, so disclosure has always been limited, and analysts don’t follow it closely.

That has raised skepticism from competitors. American and European airlines accuse Emirates and other Mideast carriers of benefiting from unfair, hidden subsidies from their oil-rich government owners. Emirates and the others deny that.

Stretching Out

Emirates is one of the world's biggest buyers of jets as it adds routes and passengers, but it at times has a lower load factor, a measure of seats sold per plane.

Load factor

Number of aircraft

90% of seats sold

300

Number of destinations

85

250

Industry average

157

IN 2017-18

80

200

75

150

Emirates

70

100

Number of passengers

65

50

59 million

IN 2017-18

60

0

’12

’14

2008

’10

’16

’05

2000

’95

’15

1990

’10

Note: For fiscal years ending March 31, except for load factor

Sources: the company (aircraft, passengers, destinations); International Air Transport Association (load factor)

Despite suspicions that Emirates’ strategy alone isn’t creating all its profits, some airlines are now taking a page from its playbook. Deutsche Lufthansa AG , one of Emirates’ chief rivals in Europe, is rolling out an upgraded business class when it takes delivery of a fleet of new Boeing jets in two years. The seats will convert into 7-foot beds, which can be controlled by a passenger’s smartphone. The airline offers a cigar bar in its Frankfurt first-class lounge. It arranges rental Porsche 911s for passengers looking to kill time between flights.

“We want to offer as much premium as possible,” says Stefan Kreuzpaintner, head of Lufthansa sales for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. U.S. carriers, including Delta Air Lines Inc. and United Continental Holdings Inc., are also spiffing up their premium classes. Delta last year introduced a new business class seat, with shoulder-high privacy doors and “memory” foam cushions that retain the contours of a passenger’s body.

“Early on, some of what Emirates offered was seen as gimmicky,” says airline consultant John Strickland.  “People no longer scoff,” he says.

Reviewing products for passengers at headquarters in Dubai. PHOTO: CELIA PETERSON FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL (2)

In some ways the superluxe strategy has been around since the start of long-haul commercial aviation—for years, a mode of transportation only the rich could afford. In the 1940s, Pan Am’s fleet of long-range Flying Clippers offered filet mignon on white tablecloths. A few decades later, the Concorde came to embody the new, global jet set. A handful of Asian carriers, like Cathay Pacific andSingapore Airlines , marketed themselves as more exclusive, pricier, options for long-haul travel.

Emirates, which started in 1985 as a shuttle service between Dubai and Pakistan, turbocharged that model, taking advantage of the geography of its hub in Dubai, situated between Asia and the West. It spawned copy cats of its own—Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways.

Dubai is opening in phases a sprawling new airport that will require a fast resumption of growth at the airline to justify the cost, already $30 billion in the initial stages. Dubai’s current airport—itself a luxurious destination full of high-end lounges and services—hosts 90 million passenger a year. The new airport’s capacity is expected to eventually reach 200 million.

Low oil prices in recent years frightened off some of Emirates’ most lucrative travelers—international oil and gas executives and big spenders in the Middle East. A short-lived ban on travel to America from several Mideast countries and temporary gadget restrictions hit traffic. U.S.-bound passengers fell by 35%.

In the darkest days of the oil-price rout, when profits and margins sank, Mr. Clark cut costs—but only behind the scenes, and in the back of the plane, where economy passengers sit, not in the premium cabin. Mr. Clark brought some parts production, such as seat-number plates, in house. Emirates started serving its own, cheaper bread rolls. In economy, it stopped handing out hot towels and served less-expensive cuts of meat.

Tim Clark, president of Emirates Airline, sits in a first-class suite. PHOTO: CHRISTIAN CHARISIUS/DPA/ZUMA PRESS

Emirates also experimented with tactics some other airlines had adopted from budget carriers. It started selling discounted fares in its economy cabin, charging extra for a seat assignment or checked luggage. Last year, it began to team up with budget airline Flydubai, also owned by the Dubai government, to cooperate on some routes.

But Emirates refused to skimp on business and first-class customers. “The amount of money you would save by going from Champagne to orange juice in business class is infinitesimally small,” Mr. Clark says. “The effect on the brand is devastating.”

Now, the oil price is back up to around $75 a barrel—from a low of around $25 two years ago—and lucrative flights are being reinstated. For its flight to Houston, a key route for high-paying energy executives, Emirates has resumed using giant Airbus A380s. Emirates has been, by far, the biggest buyer of the superjumbo jet—the world’s biggest commercial aircraft—in part because of all the room it provides for business and first-class space.

The Dubai-Houston flights are now configured with 14 first-class seats, 76 business class seats and about 400 coach seats. That’s up from eight first-class and 42 business class seats and around 400 coach seats on the Boeing 777 used in recent years.

An Emirates business-class cabin in an Airbus A380. PHOTO: CHRISTIAN CHARISIUS/PICTURE ALLIANCE/GETTY IMAGES

Two years ago, Mr. Clark hired Christoph Mueller, who previously helped turn around two troubled airlines, Ireland’s Aer Lingus and Malaysia Airlines, to push Emirates’ luxury offerings beyond just comfortable seats and expensive wine lists. Mr. Mueller has a goal to turn Emirates into a high-end lifestyle companyfor the world’s wealthiest passengers.

He aims to make Emirates’ high-end passengers’ journeys as seamless as possible—from pickup at home to drop-off at the hotel. Passengers drinking a certain white wine in an Emirates lounge should be welcomed with a glass of the same once on board, Mr. Mueller says. A passenger watching a movie on their tablet on the way to the airport should be able to arrive aboard and find it spooled up and ready to continue on the plane.

A lobster dish for first-class passengers. PHOTO: IMAGO/ZUMA PRESS

Emirates plans to reconfigure its onboard kitchens to offer by year-end meal service to business-class passengers on demand, rather than at set times. Mr. Mueller wants to personalize menus, so you don’t have to eat the same thing everyone else is having.

Outside of its planes, the airline is also pushing into concierge services, such as booking hard-to-get restaurant reservations and offering all-in-one holiday packages at Dubai’s glitzy resorts.

Corrections & Amplifications 
Emirates’ load factor is roughly 78%. An earlier version of this article and an accompanying graphic incorrectly stated it was 67%. (July 12, 2018)

By Robert Wall and

 Nicolas Parasie

Write to Robert Wall at robert.wall@wsj.com and Nicolas Parasie at nicolas.parasie@wsj.com

Appeared in the July 13, 2018, print edition as 'Chateau Margaux for Seat 2A: Emirates Rewrites Airline Rules.'