Celebrity Cruising: 15 ships offer splendid itineraries, stylish traveling

We boarded Celebrity's Eclipse for an exciting 15-day cruise from Buenos Aires to the Antarctic.
Here, we joined fellow cruisers to board our bus for a shore excursion and spectacular wildlife. 

CELEBRITY'S FLEET SPANS THE WORLD, WITH CLASSY STATE OF THE ART VESSELS

Celebrity ships are easily recognized by the
trademark "X," here on the line's Edge.

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

Celebrity's shore excursions include a wide range of activity,
including biking. "Cookie and Keller" enjoy a ride in Vietnam.

THE GREEKS have long been good travelers.
So it's no surprise that Celebrity Cruises owes its heritage to the Greece based Chandris Group, which launched the company in 1988-89.

We're Celebrity fans, dating back to the year the line was founded by the Greece-based Chandris Group with its first ships, Mercury and Meridian. The respected Chandris organization established the cruise line's reputation as an up-market big-ship operator. 

ONE CAN easily spot a Celebrity ship with the line's signature "X," displayed on the funnel. It's 

Close-up communion with king penguins was a highlight of our recent
 Celebrity Antarctic cruise from Argentina, a wondrous 15-day voyage. 

the Greek letter chi for "Chandris." If Chandris sounds familiar, you're old enough to remember Chandris Line, a Greek shipping company founded in 1960 by popular ship builder and developer Antonios Chandris. His began operating ocean liners between his native Greece, to Europe, Bermuda and Australia. Chandris initiated the "X" tradition on its funnels, paying homage to the first letter of  Chandris in Greek: Χανδρή. The chi was the logo for Chandris then for its successor,  Celebrity Cruises.

CELEBRITY IS rightly  proud of its ships "bells and whistles' and modern venues, including state-of-the-art cabins, restaurants, bars and attractions geared towards R&R. Its Edge is touted as "revolutionary -- designed to raise the bar of cruising."
It features a trend-setting outward facing design encouraging guests to feel connected to the sea. An expansive terrace pool deck provides spectacular views as the ship sails between ports. 

Heading out to explore aboard Celebrity 
for a thrilling wildlife adventure in Antarctica.

The resort deck offers a beautifully tended rooftop garden with an urban “playscape,” unique to Celebrity. An  asymmetrical pool also faces the sea. Comfy seating encourages a picnic while watching a movie in the garden.

Celebrity Cruises operates 15 vessels. We've cruised on 7 of those, including two trips on the line's dowager ship, Celebrity Millennium, which is nearly 24 years old and still a favorite. A highlight of our 155 cruises was a spectacular itinerary through Asia, with Bali's breathtaking landscapes and gorgeous sails into Hong Kong and Singapore.

MILLENNIUM also goes to India and South Korea and smaller ports in Malaysia.

Cookie and Keller on Celebrity,
enjoying the scenery in Halong
Bay off the coast of Vietnam. 

 Celebrity doesn't rest on its laurels, coming out with a new ship every two years. It typically keeps vessels for around 20 to 30 years before retiring them.

Several Celebrity ships offer art classes, here
glass blowing classes and demonstrations.

We were fans in the line's busy period between 2000 and 2002, when Celebrity launched four ships: Millennium, Infinity, Summit and Constellation -- all carefully chosen names carrying on the sentimental naming tradition of Chandris, who came up with Romantica for an early ship.

Writer Christene "Cookie" Meyers gives a
reading aboard Celebrity Millennium. 

These larger, modern Celebrity ships carry 2,200-plus passengers -- still reasonable compared to today's largest ship, Icon of the Seas, with 7,600 passengers.  We like Celebrity's sizes and its all-glass elevator banks, lively art lectures, stunning onboard art collections, variety of inviting, relaxing areas and a focus on culinary experiences.
THE LINE also initiated a series of programs and enhancements designed to improve onboard experience, including glass blowing among the  expanded adult enrichment program, afternoon tea and a spa cafe dinner option. This is Blu, open exclusively to passengers staying in AquaClass cabins. We've also sampled Celebrity's 98-passenger Celebrity Xpedition (a delightful 48 passengers) which gives a wonderful close-up view of the creatures and landscape of the Galapagos.  The ship, in fact, helped put Celebrity -- and Darwin's famous islands -- on the map. For Celebrity's 2024-25 itineraries, discounts and more: celebritycruises.com

School children across Montana learn to enjoy
Shakespeare thanks to inventive direction and
fine acting of Montana Shakespeare in the Schools.

ON TAP: In the next weeks, we romp with dolphins, try a tuk-tuk tour in Lisbon and join lucky kids enjoying Montana Shakespeare in the Schools. Fortunate students are enjoying a spirited offering of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" now until mid-December. Find out how your school can book a regional touring company.  There are many across the U.S. Then soon we head to Gibraltar's famous bay which offers a view of two continents and splendid sea life.   Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, performance, nature, family and more: www.whereiscookie.com