Celebrity’s fifth Solstice-class ship, Celebrity Reflection, was floated out of the covered building dock II at the MEYER WERFT shipyards in Germany just after dawn on Sunday morning 12 August.

Her new home is currently the pier at Yard Harbour where her signal mast and two funnels will be secured.

The tallest of her four sisters, Celebrity Reflection is slated for conveyance down the River Ems in mid-September, once the work on her interior is complete and trials and tests have been undertaken.

She is also set to be the backdrop for the Papenburg Festival 2012, which will be held next door to the shipyards on 8 September.

Featuring a myriad of firsts for both the cruise industry and the line alike, the 120,000 gross-tonne vessel is the only one in the Solstice-class to offer 16 decks as opposed to 15, allowing 72 additional cabins and increased capacity in the theatre and restaurants.

Artist’s renderings of the diamond shaped industry-first all-glass cantilevered shower have been released which will be located in the 1,636-square-foot Reflection Suite.

“We wanted to give it a real precious feel. We wanted to cast it in diamond, like this beautiful stone at the top of a ring,” Celebrity Reflection designer Francesca Bucci said.

On the topic of whether the glass shower will be transparent, Celebrity Cruises’ senior VP of hotel operations, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo puts any concerns to rest.

“We made a big investment in ensuring our guests can enjoy the shower entirely free of any concerns of being seen,” Ms Lutoff-Perlo said.

“They can enjoy breathtaking sea views while discreetly showering, courtesy of the shower’s special reflective glass. But, if they seek even further privacy, the shower also features ‘smart glass’.”

Electrochromatic technology will ensure that the transparent glass can be converted to translucent glass at the flick of a switch.

“We even went so far as to install a special sensor, so if guests prefer, the glass can be automatically transformed for them.”

Celebrity’s first two-bedroom suite, located on the forward corner of Deck 14, also comes with a 194-square-foot balcony, the sea view bathroom with rain shower and round-the-clock European butler service.

The suite sits adjacent to five new 441-square-foot Signature Suites, which offer floor-to-ceiling windows and balcony doors, round-the-clock butler service, and accommodates up to four guests.

“One of the main concepts behind the Reflection and Signature Suites, given the very coveted location at the front of the ship, was the quality of the sweeping views,” Ms Bucci said.

“We designed it around the view and were really inspired by a modern, timeless idea. We wanted to wow sophisticated travellers who have seen a lot.”

24/7 European butler service is also offered on Deck 12 in the 300-square-foot AquaClass Suite, which will offer guests priority access to specialty restaurant Blu, complimentary use of the Persian Garden’s heated tile loungers and Relaxation Rooms in the AquaSpa.

“Every guest is special in a different way,” Celebrity Cruises’ butler Claudio said.

“My job is to make their cruise excellent in a way that’s perfect for them.”