Celebrity Cruises is slotting in a one-off pre-maiden cruise from Southampton UK on new ship Equinox. The line’s second 2,850-passenger Solstice Class vessel will run an eight-day Norwegian fjords itinerary from July 31. This is in addition to the ship’s maiden voyage from Southampton to Civitavecchia on August 8. The eight-night itinerary will see Celebrity Equinox visiting five ports in Northern Europe, with prices starting at £999 based on two people sharing a balcony cabin and free car parking at Southampton.

Celebrity is enabling passengers booked on the August 8 inaugural sailing to combine the 10-night “Best of Europe” cruise with the Norwegian fjord cruise. Those taking up this option will receive an onboard credit of $200 per cabin or $300 per suite. The eight-night Norway cruise includes visits to Stavanger, Flam, Geiranger, and Oslo. The 10-night maiden voyage will visit Le Harve, Cherbourg, Vigo, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Cartagena and Barcelona before the port of Rome.

Robin Shaw, vice president and managing director, Celebrity Cruises, UK and Ireland, said: “This is a great and unexpected opportunity to showcase Celebrity Equinox in Northern Europe for the first and only time this season, prior to a dedicated Solstice class ship sailing out of Southampton for the summer 2010 season.”