Celebrity names third Solstice-class ship

When Celebrity announced in July it was building a [% 1284012 | | third Solstice-class ship %], I suggested it be named the Celebrity Declination or Celebrity Capricorn. A creative reader suggested the Celebrity Helios. The cruise line did not take any of our suggestions and decided instead to name the ship the Celebrity Eclipse.

The Eclipse will debut in 2010, while its sisters, the Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox, sail their maiden voyages in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Each of the ships will carry 2,850 guests and have large standard staterooms, as well as more outside cabins and more balconies than Celebrity’s current ships.

While I’m disappointed that Celebrity didn’t adopt one of my first-choice names, I have to admit that its selection was for the best. In an era of competitive ship-building, a cruise line wants its competitors to know that its ship will eclipse their efforts to create the best holiday vessel at sea.