Celebrity Cruises’ ex-UK ship Celebrity Eclipse is to undergo a revamp when it enters drydock in April 2015.
The ship will return to the UK for its first sailing from Southampton next year on May 9 with a new dining venue, revamped pool area and an upgraded casino.
Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, sales director at Celebrity Cruises, said the revamp would excite the UK market, particularly repeat customers keen to see the changes.
The ship’s Cellar Masters wine bar is being transformed into Gastrobar, which will serve more than 40 craft beers.
Tempest-Mitchell said the bar, which is currently available only on Celebrity Equinox, would become a “trendy and cool place to eat and drink”.
“It will follow the innovation we have in speciality dining venue Qsine, with customers ordering their food and drink on an iPad,” she said. “We will be able to pair food and drink nicely.
“This was only added on Equinox in the past four or five months so it’s very exciting to have it coming to Eclipse too.”
The pool area on the ship is also being transformed with the addition of a frozen drink bar called Slush.
The American-style casino will also become more British with 12 new British-themed slot machines, and American-style roulette wheels being replaced by European-style ones. The line is also installing a private photo studio.
“This is extremely exciting for us at Celebrity Cruises, especially with the ship sailing from the UK,” Tempest-Mitchell added.
Agents will be sent a four-page brochure highlighting the changes to Celebrity Eclipse.