All Aboard the “Celebrity iLounge”

Following the launch of its new brand platform, “Designed for you,” last month, Celebrity Cruises has announced plans for a new venue whose design, products and programming are sure to appeal to today’s cruisers.

When Celebrity Eclipse – the third in Celebrity Cruises’ stylish Solstice Class fleet of ships – launches in April, guests will find the first “Celebrity iLounge.” Designed to not only offer a hip, modern lounge ambience, Celebrity also created the space to offer what its guests said they wanted most in an Internet café: easy access to the Internet, inspiring classes and new products.

The Celebrity iLounge is composed of three main areas: a series of 26 contemporary workstations where guests can check their e-mail, retain their social media connections, or print boarding passes; a retail space offering cruisers the opportunity to see and try out the latest MacBooks®, iPods® and accessories; and an enrichment center where certified staff will offer guests tips on Mac or iPod usage.

“Our new Celebrity iLounge is a direct outgrowth of our ‘Designed for you’ brand platform, and our commitment to listen to our guests and offer experiences and programs expressly designed for them,” said Celebrity’s President and CEO Dan Hanrahan.

“Our surveys show that our guests rely heavily on the Internet for research, learning and staying in touch, so we think this new offering will be a big hit," said Celebrity’s President and CEO Dan Hanrahan, "as will the contemporary online classes offered through the ‘Discover’ series of our inspiring and enriching ‘Celebrity Life’ experiences.”

Celebrity will offer in the Celebrity iLounge a series of engaging new courses designed to suit its guests’ interests – including do-it-yourself photo books, movie editing and web design, through programs including iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD and iWeb. And whether guests are savvy or novice users of Mac or iPod products, Celebrity’s certified staff will be well-equipped to assist, following more than 125 hours of training in operating systems, applications, and products. They also will be poised to illustrate to guests the differences between Macs and PCs.

Guests eager to expand their collection of merchandise will find the Celebrity iLounge an enticing venue, too. As an Authorized Apple Reseller, Celebrity will have products available for guests to purchase, including iPods, MacBooks, and essential accessories.

The Celebrity iLounge also will be presented on Celebrity Silhouette, which launches in 2011, and the fifth ship in the Solstice Class fleet, which sets sail in 2012.