Celebrity Cruises has officially taken delivery of new ship Celebrity Edge after four years of planning and almost two years of building work.

The vessel will start a transatlantic crossing from its French ship yard to its winter home port at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on November 6.

The maiden cruise departs on December 9 to the western Caribbean followed by the first eastern Caribbean sailing on December 16.

Celebrity Edge crosses the Atlantic again next spring to start a range of seven to 11-night Mediterranean cruises.

The keel laying of sister ship Celebrity Apex was conducted following the Celebrity Edge delivery ceremony at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire.

Celebrity Cruises president and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said: “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 ground-breaking 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.”