July 11, 2024
The Celebrity Equinox, the second ship in Celebrity Cruises’ Solstice class, is celebrating its 15th anniversary this July.
Constructed at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, the 2,850-guest vessel follows the 2008-built Celebrity Solstice. After transiting the River Ems in late June, the Equinox was officially delivered to Celebrity Cruises on July 16, 2009. Nearly two weeks later, the ship was christened during a formal event at the port of Southampton, England.
Nina Barough, CBE (Commander of the British Empire) and founder of the breast cancer charity “Walk the Walk,” was honored as the godmother of the Celebrity Equinox during the ceremony on July 30, 2009. The vessel began its service the next day, embarking from Southampton on an eight-night cruise to the Norwegian Fjords.
Following this initial voyage, the Celebrity Equinox repositioned to the Mediterranean for most of its inaugural season. Later in 2009, the vessel crossed the Atlantic for the first time, commencing its inaugural winter season in the Caribbean.
Now in its 16th summer program, the Celebrity Equinox has returned to the Mediterranean. Arriving in Europe earlier this year, the ship is offering nine- and ten-night itineraries departing from Spain and Italy.
In November, the Equinox will mark Celebrity Cruises’ debut in Port Canaveral, launching a new program from this Central Florida homeport. This seasonal operation runs through late April, featuring a series of 20 three- to seven-night cruises to destinations such as the Bahamas, Belize, Grand Cayman, Mexico, San Juan, and St. Maarten.
Looking ahead, the Equinox will embark on another summer program in the Mediterranean in 2025 before making its debut in South America for the 2025-26 winter season.
The ship has undergone extensive refurbishments over the years, including a major modernization in 2019 as part of the Celebrity Revolution program.
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