All good things come in threes, according to the Port of Hamburg. Last Friday’s christening of the Celebrity Silhoutte followed two ship’s christenings in May – TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 2 and Phoenix Reisen’s Artania.

The traditional plaque and key ceremony took place onboard the Silhouette. Hamburg’s Economics Senator Frank Horch welcomed Captain Dimitrios Kafetzis and explained what a great honor it was for Hamburg to be selected for the christening of a Celebrity Cruises’ ship. Also present were Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises, and Dan Hanrahan, president and CEO of Celebrity.

‘We are extremely proud of the fact that Germany is the first country apart from the U.S. and the UK where the christening of a ship of the Solstice class has taken place,’ said Tom Fecke, general manager of RCL Cruises Germany. “This is not just a clear acknowledgement of the importance of the German cruise market, it is also a sign of the growing public interest in Celebrity – a cruise brand which is being discovered by greater numbers of customers and attracts more travelers with high expectations. As a popular location with a strong cruising tradition, Hamburg is the ideal venue for the event.”

On the day of the christening itself, a Celebrity Cruises Chill-Out Lounge was set up on land, offering guests a view of the 315 meter long and 37 meter wide Solstice class ship from 10.00 am till 8.00 pm. Visitors to the Chill-Out Lounge enjoyed massages and could win free tickets every hour for the HafenCity Big Wheel and take part in a big prize draw. Following the christening ceremony, at around 7.00 pm the ship headed out into the North Sea for a two-night preview cruise. The Silhouette began her maiden voyage and repositioning sailing to the Mediterranean on July 23, from Hamburg to Rome.