Celebrity Cruises has officially taken delivery of the latest addition to its fleet, Celebrity Edge.

The delivery took place at a ceremony on board the ship, hosted by Royal Caribbean Cruises’ chairman and CEO Richard D. Fain and Celebrity Cruises’ president and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo.

In addition, the cruise line also held the keel laying for Celebrity Apex, the second ship in the Edge-class.

Celebrity will christen Apex in Southampton in April 2020.

“The Celebrity Cruises team has done an outstanding job and I cannot thank the Chantiers de l’Atlantique team enough for delivering this game-changing ship and for their ongoing partnership,” said Fain. “Their work continues to transform the way our guests experience the world.”

Lutoff-Perlo added: “Today is a very special day for all of us as we have been eagerly anticipating this moment for more than four years.

“There are so many aspects of Celebrity Edge that are more groundbreaking than we could have ever imagined, and it is all a testament to the hard work, creativity and talent of everyone who helped bring this magnificent ship to life.”

On 6 November, Celebrity Edge will begin her transatlantic voyage to her home port at T25 at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Her inaugural season will be spent sailing alternating seven-night eastern and western Caribbean cruise itineraries, with her maiden Western Caribbean voyage departing on 9 December, and her maiden Eastern Caribbean voyage departing on 16 December.

In spring 2019 the ship will sail a range of seven to 11-night itineraries in the Mediterranean.

Celebrity Edge will be joined by her sister ship, Celebrity Apex, in 2020, and two additional ships in the Edge series in 2021 and 2022.