The first steel has been cut for Celebrity Equinox at Meyer Werft in Papenburg (Germany).Celebrity Equinox is the second of the 122,000-ton Solstice-class. Celebrity Solstice is already under construction at the yard and is scheduled for delivery in fall of 2008. Celebrity Equinox will be delivered approximately a year later. In all, four of the ships were ordered.
The ships each will carry 2,850 passengers, double occupancy, with 90% of the staterooms outside and 90% of those having private balconies. The podded propulsion system will be powered by a diesel-electric system developing up to 67,200 kWh, or approximately 91,400 horsepower.
Shown here are (l to r) Richard Fain (CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd), Jarmo Laakso (Project Manager Celebrity Cruises), and Lambert Kruse (Managing Director, Meyer Werft) just before Fain pushes the button to ignite the plasma torch.
