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Celebrity Edge Deck Plans & Reviews

Celebrity Edge

Activities & entertainment

• Destination Gateway
• Edge Cabanas *
• Enrichment Lectures
• Fitness Center
• Fitness Classes *
• Hot Tubs (4)
• Jogging Track
• Magic Carpet
• Motion Studio A
• Motion Studio B
• Relaxation Room
• Rooftop Garden
• Sea Thermal Suites *
• Team Trivia
• Treatment Rooms *
• Camp At Sea
• The Basement
• The Retreat Lounge
• Casino Tournaments *
• Comedy Shows
• Disco & Dancing
• Featured Films
• Grand Plaza
• The Theatre
• Rooftop Garden Grill - Al Fresco Dining *
• Drink Specials
• Mixology Classes *
• Wine Tasting Seminars *
• Sunset Bar - Aft Bar *
• Blu - Aqua Class
• Casino Bar - Casino Bar *
• Mast Grill - Casual
• Oceanview Café - Casual
• Café Al Bacio - Coffee Bar *
• Grand Plaza Café - Coffee Bar *
• Il Secondo Bacio - Coffee Bar *
• Eden Bar - Craft Cocktails *
• Eden Restaurant - Dinner Theatre *
• Spa Café & Juice Bar - Healthy Fare
• Le Grand Bistro - Interactive French *
• Cosmopolitan Restaurant - International
• Cyprus Restaurant - International
• Normandie Restaurant - International
• Tuscan Restaurant - International
• Raw on Five - Japanese *
• Eden Café - Light Fare
• The Martini Bar - Martini Bar *
• Magic Carpet - Panoramic Dining *
• Pool Bar - Pool Bar *
• Fine Cut Steakhouse - Steakhouse *
• Luminae at the Retreat - Suite Class
• The Retreat Pool Bar - Suite Class
• Excellent 140
• Very Good 46
• Terrible 28
• All languages ( 277 )
• English ( 269 )
• Spanish ( 7 )
• Italian ( 1 )

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Review: Celebrity Edge

Reviewed by Ramsey Qubein

What is the line? Celebrity Cruises

Name of ship? Edge

Passenger occupancy? Around 3,000

Itinerary? Rome to Barcelona

Start out with the big picture—what is this cruise line known for?

Celebrity is part of the Royal Caribbean Group known for its solid mix of family-friendly entertainment and floating fun in the Caribbean, Mediterranean and other parts of the world. Celebrity always takes things a step further by mixing a bit of upscale glamor into its ships, especially its newest vessels. Just remember not everything is included, but this allows travelers to pay for the extras (drink packages, specialty dining or shore excursions) that fit their needs.

Tell us about the ship in general

The ship set sail in 2018 on Celebrity’s classic Mediterranean and Caribbean sailings with around 3,000 passengers immediately enamored with this next phase in the line’s ships. While hardly the largest ship at sea, Edge delivered a new chapter in amenities for the line that made headlines: a cantilevered bar (dubbed the Magic Carpet) that rose up and down the side of the ship like an elevator; rooftop garden with art sculptures; and a restaurant with 3D animation on the table where Michelin-starred cuisine is served. Celebrity tapped famous well-known names like Nate Berkus (the duplex Sunset Bar) and Gwyneth Paltrow (the spa using GOOP products) to influence various features of the ship.

Who is onboard?

Edge class vessels are sure to attract a more sophisticated, maybe even slightly older, crowd although this could be dependent on the itinerary. Families are on board, but not as many as on other ships. This ship also has made such a, forgive the pun, splash that it appeared to draw lots of first-time cruisers on my sailing. The mix of American and European travelers was obvious with multiple languages exclaiming their impressions of the exotic design spaces, which were unlike anything I had seen on most other ships.

Describe the cabins

Bright and colorful, the cabins had pops of magenta, purple or green. There are inside cabins as well as ocean-facing staterooms (either via windows or verandas). What I found most exciting was the new Infinite Veranda category, which extended the cabin all the way out to the edge of the ship, using what would traditionally be the balcony’s space as additional living room space. The traditional balcony with sliding door was replaced by an electronic window that could be electronically lowered halfway creating the illusion of a balcony while also expanding the cabin’s footprint. Another unique feature: there are single-cabin, Infinite Veranda rooms, which gives solo travelers yet another stateroom option that won’t break the bank.

AquaClass cabins are focused on a wellness routine with everything from pillow menus and Cashmere mattresses to healthy dining in a private restaurant and VIP access to the spa and thermal suite. In The Retreat, it felt like a world unto its own. A private lounge had snacks and drinks all day plus an outdoor terrace where I would routinely work from as we sailed away.

Tell us about the crew

The crew hails from around the world and brings next-level hospitality to each guest, but it was the staff in The Retreat that impressed me most. They took the time to remember my favorite white wine (a French Chablis), favorite time for breakfast (usually in my stateroom, in bed around 9 am), favorite place to sit on my laptop (on the terrace in The Retreat lounge) and even preferred spot by the pool (in the shade, but with a side view as we were sailing). When out and about within the ship, I found that if you developed a routine by visiting the same spot for pool towels, Indian food on the buffet or pizza from the aft grill, the staff would also remember your name, too.

What food and drink options are available on board?

Instead of your standard main dining room, I really loved how this ship divided the included dining area into four separate restaurants (each with their own menu like Mediterranean or French). This means you can dine in a different environment each day without paying extra.

Specialty restaurants are also available for an extra fee. There’s a raw bar and sushi counter, American steakhouse, French bistro, garden grill, Le Petit Chef (kids and adults love watching the cartoon chef dance on the table screens and walk guests through their meal experience) and Eden, where the mulligatawny soup and tandoori style beef were my favorites. Kudos to Celebrity for creating an entire plant-based tasting menu rather than leaving vegetarians with the same-old boring pasta and Portobello burger options you’d find elsewhere.

The Magic Carpet is open as a restaurant or just as a bar, and to experience its different positions as it ascends the side of the ship while you dine or tipple is great fun. AquaClass guests have their own restaurant serving healthier fare, as do suite guests in The Retreat, both of which are included in the rate for those passengers. I personally loved the way Oceanview Cafe was designed. It’s the buffet, but it has a back patio terrace that seems like you’re on a private yacht with only a few tables. Instead of one traditional line, the buffet is grouped into small islands with a presentation much more like a gala event with carving stations, charcuterie and cheese boards, and destination-specific dishes (I loved the large paella).

There are always burgers and fries by the pool, drinks at every corner of the ship (don’t miss the Berkus-designed Sunset Bar where you can watch the ship’s wake as you sail away from beautiful ports) and craft cocktails in the Eden Bar. Many afternoons, I would nestle myself into one of the swing chairs behind the living garden walls with a book.

The martini bar in the center of the ship comes alive in the late afternoon and evening with bartenders putting on shows for patrons. I couldn’t believe a stack of 20 full martini glasses, one on top of the other, didn’t topple over as they were building a beverage pyramid to the applause of other passengers.

Is there a spa on board and is it worth visiting?

After an excellent massage in the spa (I was lucky to get a coveted spot on the sea day as those can go quickly), I headed for the Thermal Suite for a soak in the sauna and steam room. Since the sauna has a window looking outward, you could watch the ocean pass by as you relaxed.

There was also a salt room, crystalarium (where I counted on the healing Amethyst crystal to rectify a week’s worth of indulging in the great food and drink on board), and heated tile lounge chairs to finish off the experience while facing the ocean. Instead of working out in the enormous gym, I chose to do laps around the ship’s wraparound jogging track.

Activities and entertainment

I loved spending time at the rooftop garden with a book, catching a movie on the large screen or having a bite to eat in the breeze on a sailing day. Live bands perform here during each sailing. The pool deck buzzes with activity, and it is hardly as crowded as you might see on a much larger ship. The solarium has another pool protected from the hot sun, which was great on port days when there was limited breeze.

The architecture of the ship’s exterior and interior spaces is very design-forward. Large art sculptures, a hallway of distorted mirrors, curving staircases and a striking chandelier in the tri-deck grand plaza are all just some of the elements that would make you think you’re in a hotel on land rather than on sea.

The theater has a wraparound design with people sitting in almost a complete circle with the stage in the middle. Enormous electronic screens synced to the music or theme of the production only add to the excitement in the shows. Some of the screens rise up to reveal additional stage areas for cast members behind them. My favorite performance was “A Hot Summer Night’s Dream,” a show that blends extracts from Shakespeare’s writing with an impressive acrobatic and dance show, topped off with dramatic music. It was truly something different compared to other cruises.

How was the experience for families?

There are both kids and teens clubs divided into age brackets to target the appropriate activities. Among them are video game tournaments, educational activities and even slumber parties, but the location on one of the lowest floors seems like it is designed to isolate the ruckus of fun from the quieter pool and resort deck areas (something I didn’t mind at all).

Where did it sail and how were the excursions? Did anything stand out?

The excursions are not free, but I enjoyed wandering on my own in each of the ports. Most of the time, the ship docks near tourist areas, but sometimes you may have to pay extra for transportation. This is the case in places like Civitavecchia (the port for Rome) and Livorno (the port for Florence) where a train or bus is necessary).

Are there any stand out sustainability or green initiatives about this cruise?

Edge is 20 percent more energy efficient than previous classes and it is designed to have fewer emissions. Single-use plastics are minimal, and guests will only be offered a paper straw upon request to reduce waste.

Anything we missed Don’t be surprised by the performance artists in Eden that stop by different tables with magic tricks or entertaining acts as you enjoy a cocktail. It’s whimsical and fits well with the garden-style design of the space. The club can be very busy on some nights, but just “crickets” on others. It depends how early of a morning most travelers have the next day (some ports have early tour departures).

Basic Wi-Fi is included in the fare, which works well for email or web surfing, and I used it frequently while I was remote working from the ship. You can pay extra for streaming speeds.

Finally, give a sentence or two on why the cruise is worth booking.

Adults will find Celebrity Edge to be an excellent ship for a romantic getaway or for fun with friends. Families have plenty to do, too. Often on other ships, couples need to hide away to avoid the hubbub, but on Celebrity Edge , the ratio of ample space for only 3,000 people means that, like me, you’ll find a corner to call your own.

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Celebrity Edge

Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises |

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Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 524 guests have reviewed Celebrity Edge , giving it a rating of 4.5 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type, most recent reviews.

Mixed Experience on the Celebrity Edge: Exceptional Dining, Service Issues, and Unexpected Charges

May 25th, 2024

My recent experience on the Alaska cruise aboard the Celebrity Edge was largely positive. The overall trip was great, and I would like to highlight some specific aspects of our journey. Blu Restaurant: The food at Blu restaurant was delicious, and my family and friends were very satisfied with both the food and the service. The waitstaff were friendly and provided excellent service throughout our meals. Eden Restaurant: Unfortunately, we encountered some issues with the lunch special at Eden. Despite confirming multiple times that the total amount per person, including the 20% service charge, was $70, we were ultimately charged $70 plus a 20% service charge, totaling $84 per person. Additionally, the Dungeness crabs were extremely disappointing and not fresh. If this had occurred at a restaurant off the ship, I believe we would have received a refund for the crab. However, we did not even receive an apology from the restaurant. Room Service: Our room service attendant provided great service for almost the entire six-night trip. However, on the last morning, we had confirmed a departure time of 9:30 AM, but were rudely awakened at 7:00 AM and informed that the departure time was 8:20 AM. After returning from breakfast at 8:10 AM, our attendant, Alex, was very upset and informed us that we needed to vacate the room by 8:00 AM, regardless of the departure time. In our rush to pack, Alex did not say goodbye and remained visibly angry. Interestingly, my family members on the same floor did not experience this issue, so we moved to their room to wait until 9:30 AM. Luggage Valet Service: We were unexpectedly charged $70 for the luggage airport valet check-in service. On other cruise lines, we have used this service multiple times without any charge, especially since we have free checked bags with Alaska Airlines. I do not understand why we were charged for this service on Celebrity Edge. In summary, while the food and service at Blu restaurant were exceptional, and our overall experience was enjoyable, the issues at Eden restaurant, the unpleasant room service experience on the last day, and the unexpected charge for luggage valet check-in left a negative impression. I hope these concerns can be addressed to improve the experience for future guests.

Traveler Type

Large Group

2-3 cruises

Alaska Adventure

May 21st, 2024

I am not sure that cruising is our thing. Too many fees, not enough seating if you cannot go outside in the main dining, the specialty restaurants are way overpriced and not enough activities for adults, need to add some game rooms.

Overcharging Customers on Celebrity Cruises and How to Avoid Overpaying

I am repeating here the lengthy comment I made else were in this review: Rip-off Cruise Prices and How to Avoid Them-Beware of Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Recently, I went on a Celebrity Cruise. Before making the final payment for the cruise, I did my usual check and found that a lot of cabins were still available. As a person who has been on 75 plus cruises, wrote a dissertation on travel agencies, and teaches the Cruise Ship Management/Marketing course at my University, I am quite aware of the cruise lines marketing practices. So, I did the usual thing and checked to ensure there would not be a price drop after the final payment. This was checked directly with the cruise line, and guess what? They lied to the travel agency and me! Further, they would not make any accommodation to make up for the overpayment. In this case, the overpayment was over $1,200. The one other time I had this happen for a lower amount was with Norwegian Cruise Line and they offered me a future cruise credit or a cabin upgrade. After many runs around, Celebrity would do nothing. I also found on the cruise that many people had the same story. I would say it was at least 25 percent of the passengers but it may have been a lot more as just people I asked at random amounted to much more than 25%. Cruise lines overprice things, and then when they go into non-refundable fare periods, which are usually 120 days before the cruise, they tend to drop the price due to unsold cabins. This is largely due to the fact that some of them do not have good capacity controls, and from what I have seen, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity are the biggest culprits. (Capacity controls are statistically calculable and are used by most travel companies, including airlines, hotels, etc.) Often with other travel products, you get a better price if you book early! Many other companies, such as Delta Airlines, always give you a credit for a future flight (always frequently check the fares for airline tickets after your initial booking) and if you do not pay for a rental car in advance (I advise not to pay for any rental car in advance unless it is a huge bargain) it is often that if you start checking about a week before your rental, you will find a price drop. From my experience, Gate 1 Travel and Virgin Cruises have excelled with the concept of pricing correctly early on and then raising the prices rather than lowering them. Many others do much better than RCL/Celebrity. Other cruise lines price things accurately and, therefore, do not have these problems with filling the ship. Carnival, NCL, and MSC, from what I have experienced, are not as guilty, and clearly, Virgin is the champion at not doing this. On Virgin , I booked a cruise months prior to departure, and they gave me a lot of perks and the best price. The price included $700 worth of bar purchases for a seven-day cruise. I think I will be buying drinks for a lot of cruisers! As a result of the Celebrity debacle, I will never book an RCL or Celebrity cruise before 120 days prior to the departure of the cruise. If we all do this, they will be forced to stop screwing people who are loyal to them and book cruises far in advance. Celebrity also tends to tout you with what are really non-bargains to book again while you are on the ship. Other cruise lines try to get you to book another cruise while on the ship but are usually offering a better deal! It is pretty easy to see if a price drop will or is likely to happen. Go on the site of the cruise line or any of the online agencies and try to book it about 125 days out. They will show you the cabins that are available in each class of cabin, so it will take a while to get a good picture of what is happening. If you see many cabins still available, you should probably not make your final payment and cancel your reservation. Usually, there is no penalty for doing this or very little. (Incidentally, when you make the original booking, make sure there is no penalty for canceling within 120 days before the cruise. Sometimes, the cruise line does this to try to lock you into the reservation further.) Also, be more cautious when booking any cruise that is ten days or more because these are the ones that sometimes have booking problems simply because not everyone in the population can afford to take this amount of time off. If you see many cabins left, drop any reservation you may have had and look forward to the price drop. If the price does not drop on the cruise you booked, you can rebook it or just pick from the many other last-minute availabilities that are out there.

May 18th, 2024

Loved it! The crew was fantastic and made this one of the most enjoyable cruises I've been on.

Great cruise with just a few issues

May 17th, 2024

For the most part this was a wonderful cruise. However, I think Royal is probably more our speed. We found the guests to be very mellow and they would plant themselves all day in the grand atrium making it almost impossible to enjoy that area and the coffee area. That being said, the ship rarely felt crowded and that included the pool and solarium areas which were stunning. We had a great time and will cruise celebrity again.

Sophisticated adult oriented cruise

May 16th, 2024

Another positive experience on Celebrity cruises! The food, staff, and accommodations (aft balcony) were remarkable.

Beautiful ship with excellent service, food, and activities. Itinerary was just okay.

May 14th, 2024

We have cruised with Celebrity a lot. This is our second cruise on the Edge class and we really love these ships. We like the bigger Martini Bar and the Club. The staff on the Edge ship were excellent. Everyone from the Captain, Cruise Director, to the bartenders and room stewards were friendly and on point.

Cruise was damaged by inappropriate action of captain.

We were unable to travel our itinerary because Hawaii banned the ship from Nepali coast due to captain's disregard to navigational rules. Possible coral damage due to this close pass by. No compensation or apology given. The cruise line is under investigation for this. Captain should be held accountable.

One of the newest large ship 130,000 tons

May 8th, 2024

The cruise was 18 days from Sydney, Australia to Honolulu, Hawaii stopping in New Zealand and Tahiti. The ship ride was smooth. The Internet service was good.

Great cruise. on a great ship with a great crew

May 7th, 2024

Great ship, great crew, plenty to do, food was great and the shows outstanding

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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Celebrity Edge Cruise Ship Review and Photos

Here’s my Celebrity Edge ship review following the inaugural cruise. Those inaugural cruises, usually only 2 nights, don’t give you much time to explore and review. 

But I managed to pack as much into the short cruise and took as many photos as humanly possible. So keep reading for just about all the information you’d need to know what to expect aboard Celebrity Edge. 

This is the first ship in Celebrity’s new Edge Class of ships.

Celebrity Edge Review

From the cruise line that coined the phrase “Modern Luxury” over a decade ago, Celebrity Edge is one amazing ship. Its innovations truly push the envelope way to the edge. 

Completed in October 2018 in France and now at its homeport of Fort Lauderdale, Celebrity Edge welcomed media and travel agents onboard for a two-night curiosity cruise.

While two nights isn’t much time to fully get to know a new ship, you’d be surprised how much ground you can cover when pressed for time. There were stateroom tours, spa and fitness center tours, and a dine-around tasting at each of the main restaurants. 

From the extremely and cleverly designed outer decks to the three-story glittering Grand Plaza, there wasn’t much time to dawdle.

The first of four Edge class cruise ships, Celebrity Edge  really has gone the distance. Not only in innovative concepts from dining options to fitness choices and relaxation but to visual entertainment experiences that are like nothing you’ve ever seen on a cruise ship. Or possibly anywhere.

So let’s start the honest-to-goodness highlights of my Celebrity Edge review with real photos, not artist renderings.

Fast Facts:

Year built:   2018 Weight: 129,000 tons Passengers:   2,908 Crew: 1,320 Staterooms:  1,467 Inside staterooms:   131 Solo staterooms: 16 – none inside Dining venues: 27

Welcome aboard Celebrity Edge

Public Rooms and Spaces

The first thing that hits you when you begin walking around is the Grand Plaza. An open, three-story venue with the key meeting place on the ship, the Martini Bar. There’s also Café al Bacio and the Grand Plaza Café.

There are also several upscale shops including Tiffany’s, Coach and an Apple store. Celebrity Cruises is an authorized Apple reseller.

Celebrity Edge Staterooms

As you might imagine, there are dozens of stateroom categories, configurations and choices. I counted 20 categories ranging from the Iconic Suite at 1,892 sq. ft to the Edge Stateroom with Infinite Veranda (probably will be the most popular for a while) and inside staterooms, of which there are only 12. 

There are a total of 25 wheelchair accessible staterooms, including two Sky Suites, eight with the Infinite veranda and three deluxe inside staterooms.

Here’s my “Edge Stateroom with Infinite Veranda:

Two things I learned about the Infinite Veranda window: 

1. It’s ultimately controlled by someone on the bridge (so if it’s bad weather, someone will lock it closed)

2. I took this photo when my window finally decided to work. It malfunctioned (or was controlled on the bridge) for most of my two-day cruise. It was like being in an oceanview stateroom with a fixed-closed window almost the entire time.

READ NEXT:  Celebrity Goes Exploring the Galapagos in Luxury

Celebrity Edge Review – Dining Options

In total, there are by my count 18 restaurants/places to eat onboard Celebrity Edge. Of those 18, seven charge a fee for speciality dining.

Fine Cut Steakhouse Le Grand Bistro Le Petit Chef & Friends Eden Restaurant Raw on 5 Magic Carpet – an outdoor extension of Raw on 5 with a separate menu Dinner on the Edge – Dine at the top of the ship on the Magic Carpet when in port. Reservations taken only when onboard.

Complimentary dining:

Main dining rooms:  Normandie, Tuscan, Cyprus, Cosmopolitan Spa Café Eden Café Oceanview Café – the Lido Buffet Mast Grill Rooftop Garden Grill

For Suite and Aqua Class Guests:

Luminae Blu

Bars and Lounges 

Aside from the Martini Bar in the Grand Atrium pictured above, there are nine more bars and lounges scattered around the ship. Another Celebrity carry-over is my favorite…the Sunset Bar, located where else but at the very aft of the ship.

Relaxation:

For relaxing and simply doing nothing, Celebrity has you covered.

Parting Thoughts

This is just a preview of what you can expect on Celebrity Edge cruise ship. Celebrity spared no expense to create an almost fantasy-like cruise experience for guests over 21-years. 

Families with small children will find Celebrity’s Camp at Sea excels at keeping kids entertained. Activities range from S.T.E.M. experiments and demonstrations to culinary creating and arts and crafts.

Staterooms are very large and appear even more so because of the sleek furniture, pale colors and minimalist design. I wasn’t all too comfy with the mattress, though. Maybe it starts out extra extra firm to last through several years of use. 

Overall, I really liked my stateroom, except for my Infinite Verandah window not working 80% of the time.

It’s always hard to get a feel for a new ship with only two days to experience what others spend a week investigating. 

For example, the traffic flow at Oceanview Café was well-designed and shouldn’t get too crazy at feeding times. Corridors seemed wider than usual, too. The ship’s designers did a fantastic job with guest-to-space ratio.

There are only two elevator banks, forward and aft. At first I thought one more bank of elevators in the middle of the ship would have been a good idea. However, these elevators are enormous! They’re fast, easy to know which buttons to press and six elevators in each bank.

Celebrity Edge is Best For: 

The first guest demographic that comes to mind is the 35-50 age group. It’s really such a cool ship, though, that unless you hate avant-garde concepts or 21st century technology, just about anyone will be wide-eyed at what they find onboard. 

You won’t find a low-key classical string quartet but if you venture into Eden, you’ll experience trippy, other-worldly performance art.

If you think you’ve seen and done it all, don’t mind cruising with 2,900 other guests and like to spend days at sea on deck in the open air, Celebrity Edge might be the best choice for your next cruise. It’s totally unique.

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Hi CM, Thank you for your lovely comment. Cruise lines get higher revenue for balcony staterooms so the less inside, the more they can charge. It’s all about economics, right? Inside staterooms are nice and cozy for sleeping, for sure. Happy cruising, Sherry

This is a really thorough review, thanks for writing it! I really enjoyed it. I’m most shocked at the lack of inside staterooms. I’m a big fan of insides.

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Updated on August 31, 2022 by Sherry Laskin

God Save The Points

Elevating your travel

Review: Celebrity Edge Sky Suite || The Best Cruise of My Life

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In my 36 years, I have been on almost 75 cruises. On these trips, I have cruised various regions of the world including, North America, the Caribbean, South America, Europe and Asia. Being able to walk onboard, unpack only once, and to wake up in a new place every day is a pretty nice way to travel. One of the things I like best about cruising is that you get a little taste of a new place. Then, you can travel there again by land if you love it, and so that you can explore it on a more in-depth level.

I know that cruising is polarizing to most people, but for others, it’s an affordable and easy way to see the world. And if you pick the right ship and cruise line, your cruise vacation can be one of the most enjoyable and relaxing vacations of your life.

Why I Wanted to Sail on Celebrity Edge

I have sailed on many cruise lines over the years: Carnival (that was a one-and-done and NEVER again), Norwegian, Princess, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Disney, Celebrity and Regent.

But I have to say — Celebrity has been my go-to cruise line for the past decade. To me, Celebrity ticks all of the right boxes: delicious cuisine, consistently outstanding service, beautifully maintained ships, diverse itineraries, and most importantly, a great value for the price point.

That’s why when Celebrity launched its new “Edge Class” of ships in 2018, dubbed by the brand as representing “a monumental leap in design and innovation,” I knew I needed to check it out for myself.

And in a nutshell, WOW, just WOW! I was TOTALLY blown away and I can honestly say that Celebrity delivered on that promise.

Celebrity Edge Overview

The Celebrity Edge is the first of brand’s Edge-Class series of ships. Launched in 2018, Celebrity Edge is billed by the company as “a ship designed to leave the future behind.” And boy does it ever!

Celebrity coined it catchphrase “Modern Luxury” over a decade ago, and the Edge   is the true embodiment of that slogan. Its design, decor, service, innovation, etc., truly pushes the envelope, and it marks a turning point in the approach to ship design for the entire cruise industry.

With 29 dining venues, and multiple entertainment facilities, there is something for everyone onboard. The cutting-edge ship boasts many firsts in the cruising industry, such as the Magic Carpet lounge, which floats up and down the side of the ship. Celebrity Edge provides almost everything onboard that any other cruise ship would, but she does so with a one-of-a-kind, contemporary panache and luxury flair.

Celebrity Edge Quick Facts:

Year built:   2018 Weight:  129,000 tons Passenger Capacity:   2,918 Crew:  1,320 Staterooms:   1,467

How I Booked + Itinerary

I have been booking all of my cruises for the past 15+ years via an OTA called Vacations To Go — shoutout to my cruise consultant Donovan!

Being an avid cruiser, I have found that Vacations to Go has the absolute best pricing — most of the time even better than booking directly with the cruise line itself — and VTG even offers additional perks and onboard credits that you won’t find on other travel sites or offered by the cruise lines when booking direct. Of note, I paid for my Celebrity Edge cruise with my  Chase Sapphire Reserve  to earn 3X points, since it’s coded as a travel purchase.

For a 7 night voyage on Celebrity Edge in a Sky Suite stateroom, I paid $5,000 total for two passengers. Included for a Suite Class reservation were the following:

• Free Premium Alcohol Package
• Tips Included
• Free Premium WiFi

In addition, Donovan at VTG was able to score us an onboard credit of $400 per person, which we could use at our discretion for extras like shore excursions, specialty dining, spa, casino, shopping, etc.

Since I have been on so many cruises, I like picking unique itineraries, and I have found that Celebrity has some of the best in the industry. I chose this specific 7 night voyage departing from Ft. Lauderdale, because it ported at an island on my bucket list — Tortola, British Virgin Islands. In addition to the BVIs, the ship also stopped in the Bahamas and St. Maarten.

Sky Suite Stateroom

We booked cabin 9204, and I fell in love immediately when I walked through the door. The Sky Suite is perfectly designed, and offers a blend of expansive views along with a luxe interior. The large, 319 square foot suite featured a king-size bed with a cashmere mattress and a spacious, private veranda. 

The decor was modern, clean and super chic. I also loved that Suite passengers were assigned a dedicated butler, and it was awesome to have a cold bottle of sparkling wine waiting for us everyday in the stateroom for our daily, afternoon happy hour on the veranda.

The split bathroom features a very large rain shower and a tub — yes a spacious spa tub on a cruise ship! I was blown away! It was so large, in fact, that 2 adults could fit in it comfortably. Trust me, I tested it 😉

In addition, there was a lovely seated vanity, which made getting ready for dinner each night a leisurely and relaxing experience.

The Retreat (Exclusive Access Only for Suite Class Passengers)

The Retreat isn’t a place. It isn’t an amenity. It isn’t a service. It’s all of this and more.

The Retreat includes a private restaurant, and an exclusive lounge and sundeck that rival any five-star resort. The Retreat has a dedicated team of attendants, concierges, and butlers who do everything to ensure you never have to lift a finger on your vacation. And the service was phenomenal!

As avid cruisers will know, the pool deck on any cruise ship is the main attraction onboard, and also where hoards of people congregate on a daily basis. It can be like the Hunger Games to find a open sun lounger, and having to weave and swerve between the crowds can become and exhausting and arduous task. And that’s not something you really want to deal with on vacation.

Well, if you want to avoid the masses, then The Retreat will be your refuge. I have never experienced a pool deck on a cruise as laid back, uncrowded and relaxing at The Retreat on the Celebrity Edge. On top of that, I have never seen a pool on a cruise ship as gorgeous as this. I mean those floating chairs over the pool and posh cabanas are just to die for!

Luminae Restaurant

This private restaurant for Suite Class passengers boasts a boldly elegant interior that’s as distinctive as the cuisine. The dishes here are found nowhere else on board, including the new Daniel Boulud signature dishes complimentary to all guests of The Retreat.

We had almost every meal at Luminae, and it was absolutely divine! The service was impeccable, the food was the BEST I have ever had on any cruise, and the decor was lavish. You’ll be hard pressed to find better food or service at sea than Luminae!

The Retreat Lounge

This exclusive lounge is warm and inviting. Suite passengers can enjoy complimentary beverages, gourmet bites, and a stylish place to unwind in style, along with the services of The Retreat Concierge.

We enjoyed having afternoon tea here few times throughout the cruise, and we also used this space for getting some work done. It was the perfect place to chill and answer emails, all while admiring the view of the ocean through the large, floor-to-ceiling windows.

I love going to the spa on vacation, and there are spas and then there are SPA-AHHHHHHS. And The Spa on the Celebrity Edge has to be the most decadent on the seven seas.

At the heart of The Spa on Celebrity Edge is the SEA Thermal Suite and its eight distinct therapy rooms. It’s a playground for the senses and an incredible place to relax before or after your treatments. Basically, Celebrity has taken everything that has made its iconic Persian Garden so popular on its older fleet of ships, and elevated it to a whole new level of tranquility.

At the Celebrity Edge Spa you’ll find things that have never before been on any cruise ship: a hammam, a crystalarium, a salt room, an infrared sauna, a rainfall water therapy room, a float room, and so much more.

I spent almost all of our onboard credit in the spa, and it was a divine delight of the senses. I enjoyed a variety of wonderful treatments, and found The Spa on the Edge to be the perfect oasis for pampering and relaxation. It was by far the best cruise ship spa that I have ever experienced in my life!

Overall Onboard Experience

The Celebrity Edge is an award-winning ship, and rightfully so!

The design elements of Celebrity Edge are totally, off-the-charts amazing, and at every corner you’ll be in awe of the meticulous attention to detail that the architects and interior decorators brought to life when designing this ship.

A Ship Designed to Leave the Future Behind

Honestly, there are so many one-of-a-kind spaces onboard that it is hard for me to know where to start. Wherever you go on this cutting-edge ship, the fusion of art, design and sculpture are part of the riveting sailing experience.

And there are surprises in store around literally, almost every corner. For example, there is a huge room filled with free-form bronze figures of trees, which is known as “Avalon.” It is almost eerie, but completely mesmerizing. And there was no explanation as to what we were looking at—just captivating and enchanting, “living” sculptures.

In total, there are 4,000 works of art on Celebrity Edge. In addition to Avalon, my other favorite piece was this a model of a ship—made of thousands of pearls!

Even the main Resort Deck is a work of art! At the center of this space is a 25-yard lap pool, which is the largest in Celebrity’s fleet. And positioned magnificently above the Pool Bar is an ever-changing LED light art installation. Another attention-grabbing addition to the pool deck are striking, two-story martini hot tubs, that take unwinding at sea to new heights.

The spaces on Celebrity Edge transform from day to night, so sometimes it’s hard to categorize them. For example, Eden features panoramic ocean views and an atmosphere that evolves as the day goes on.

Eden introduces the industry-changing concept of outward facing spaces designed to build a greater connection between you and the sea. It’s three levels of sensory experiences, which are all designed to awaken your spirit of wonder in unique and exciting ways. Each day or night that you visit, you’ll encounter a new fusion of music, libations, culinary delights, and experiences, which are unlike anything else at sea.  

Final Verdict

As you can see, the Celebrity Edge is not your average cruise ship. For cruisers, and non-cruisers alike, I don’t think you’ll find a ship as beautiful or as modern as this — except for the Celebrity Beyond , which is the newest Edge Class ship that Celebrity launched last year. And on top of that, the service and hospitality we experienced onboard was top-notch, and some of the best on the seven seas!

Hands down, the Celebrity Edge was my favorite cruise of all time, and I would sail on her again in a heartbeat. If you’re planning a cruise in 2023, or thinking of planning one, I strongly advise you to consider the Celebrity Edge and her sister ship the Celebrity Apex , or the newest Edge Class of ships the Celebrity Beyond and the Celebrity Ascent (debuting later this year). Trust me, unless you’ve already sailed on a Celebrity Edge class ship, then you’ve never cruised like this before!

Ceci Sutcliffe

Ceci Sutcliffe is a wanderlusting avgeek and self-professed points and miles junkie. After working in the credit card industry for over 4 years, where she launched one of the most popular premium travel... More by Ceci Sutcliffe

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10 Comments

Such a fine line between an advertorial that reads like a press release and an actual review, that typically can be incredibly laudatory but at least is able to someone identify room for improvement. As someone who has been on “75 cruises,” was there literally nothing that you’d change? And for the sake of clarity, while you presumably receive a referral commission from Lucky’s Chase page, do you receive an affiliate /referral fee from Celebrity if we book through the links?

No press releases were used here to write this review. I paid all $5,000 in cash, and actually took this trip before I started writing for GSTP. Quite honestly, that’s the thing that blows me away about this cruise over others. There was NOTHING I would change about this ship — it was the perfect cruise for me and for the type of vacation I wanted to take at the time. In terms of the affiliate/referral fee, as you can see in the post, I actually called out a cruise OTA called Vacations to Go. I have been booking with them for 10+ years, since they 90% of the time offer the cheapest rates. And no, they and Celebrity are not an affiliates of GSTP. Just wanted to share a hot tip with our readers, since a penny saved is a penny earned!

I couldn’t wait to read your post, especially with a title like that. I wanted to read about where you went and what you did. It wasn’t that at all–maybe you could retitle it to” Best Cruise SHIP I’ve been on”? Not to detract at all from the content, which really has me interested in checking out the ship. And thanks for the pointer about where you buy your cruises–I’m filing that away for sure!

Everything is relative, Chris. In all honesty, other than the BVIs, this itinerary was nothing to write home about. I picked this cruise to experience the new Edge class of ship and to go to Tortola, and that was the whole point of the vacation. To some, a cruise is the best because of where they went, and for others, a cruise is the best because of the experience they had onboard.

Glad to hear that this peaked your interest to check out the new Celebrity ships though, and def get in touch with Donovan Brooks at Vacations to Go. Have saved tens of thousands of dollars over the years booking with him versus other sites or booking direct with the cruise lines. But of course, always price compare before you end up booking — sometimes you can find killer deals when the cruises line are running their own sales!

WOW, I absolutely hate Celebrity and we to have tried them all, again and again. Rust Bucket Celebrity Solstice should be sunk and used to create reefs.

Never been on Solstice myself, so can’t speak to that ship. But as you can see, Edge is on a whole different level from any of Celebrity’s older fleet!

Poorly prepared, cooked and just bad food, no sense of how to cook the various meals, display or just plain keep it warm. Almost all food is cold. No idea on changing buffet items on a regular or semiregular basis. Cross contamination present on my last cruise. Total disorganised layout with staff unable to distinguish what is in front of them. You ask for ham they give you turkey. The Edge is a lovely ship but those in the buffet are in need of massive training. The restaurants forget it, you are better off if you can get McDonalds, Burger King or Wendy’s. Ex. Onion soup..no onions just sugar. Steak asking medium with pink interior you get it overdone and inedible. No more Celebrity for me, not worth the money.

Wow that’s quite the critique, John! I never ate at the buffet on the Edge, since with Suite class we had our own dedicated dining areas, and I too hate buffets on cruises. I also never dined at any of the specialty restaurants, since I didn’t want to pay the upcharge, and since Luminae consistently had an intriguing and delicious new menu each day.

A bit harsh on carnival. Dollar for dollar great value. Have had way more experience on the high seas than you so i know what I am talking about. 75 cruises is hardly gives you status or knowledge on this industry . Try 212 cruises then you can comment.

So unkind, Paul.

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Celebrity Edge Full Cruise Review (Food, Ship, Entertainment and More)

I’ve just disembarked a cruise on one of the most exciting and expensive cruise ships in the world. I  saw and did things that I didn’t know were possible at sea!

The ship I was sailing on was Celebrity Edge, which was launched in 2018.

She is home to the world’s first floating restaurant platform, which rises up 12 decks on the side of the cruise ship.

For years I’ve cruised with the budget and mainstream cruise lines but a cruise on Celebrity Edge has always been just out of reach, as much as I wanted to do it.

When I saw that Celebrity had an offer that meant that flights would only be £1, I decided that it would be a good time to give it a go!

I’ve wanted to take my Mum on a cruise for a while and this seemed like the perfect opportunity for a quality mother-and-daughter adventure – or so I hoped! 

Before this cruise, I didn’t know what to expect from Celebrity or from the ship.

I’d heard great things about Celebrity’s food and entertainment – but I’m pretty sure that this is the most expensive cruise that I’ve ever paid for myself!

I didn’t know how it could realistically be worth the price that I paid, and like with any cruise, alongside the great reviews, there were also plenty of bad reviews.

Some passengers had described Edge as “disappointing” or a “major fail.”

We embarked the ship in Barcelona, and set sail for a 7-night Mediterranean cruise.

A Stressful Transfer!

My cruise actually started off in a more stressful way than I’d have liked. We were directed into the airport’s car park to pick up our transfer bus, as my cruise had the transfers included.

We couldn’t see the bus anywhere and couldn’t get back into the airport to ask where we were meant to be going because everything was one-way!

We were just faced with escalators that were all going the wrong way – and I didn’t fancy running the wrong way up one of those!

It was very hot, and after about 15 minutes of frantically running from bus to bus, I was thinking that we would just have to give up and get a taxi – and hope that our bags would be taken to the ship. 

All of a sudden we saw our bags on a baggage trolley across the car park – I was so happy to see them!

We followed them to the bus and were able to ask the person working there where we were meant to be.

It was not the straightforward start that I was hoping for but I  was sure that the cruise would be worth it. I’d just be arriving a little more flustered than planned! 

The stressful transfer was more than made up for when we managed to check in for the cruise at the cruise terminal in about 20 seconds!

Pre-cruise we had already taken our security photos, filled out the health declaration and added our credit card to our account. When we arrived at the port, all we had to do was show this QR code which was checked against our passports. 

I’ve embarked on cruises in the past where it’s taken 2 or 3 hours, so checking in in 20 seconds was pretty incredible. I hoped that this was a sign of good things to come !

As soon as we stepped onboard we were directed towards our Muster Station – which happened to be the theatre.

It’s a legal requirement that on all cruises all guests have to complete a safety drill. This was once again made very easy because we’d already watched the safety videos on the App.

All we had to do was go to check in at the place where we would muster in case of an emergency.

The theatre was the first place that I had seen on board and it looked very impressive!

The stage comes out into the main room and the theatre can seat up to 900 people. It looked like all the seats had a good view and I’d heard lots of good things about Celebrity’s entertainment.

I knew that there would be a show in here every night and that Celebrity allowed the filming of their shows so I’m happy to report that I recorded lots of footage to share in my videos later.

As it was a beautiful day in Barcelona, we headed straight up the stairs to the top deck of the ship.

Here I got my first glimpse of the floating platform on the side that Celebrity call the “Magic Carpet.” I wandered through an area which made me think of shark’s teeth – or being inside of a whale !

I knew that Celebrity had spent a billion dollars on this ship – and the top deck certainly did feel like it had had lots of money spent on it.

There was a big pool in the middle and another inside pool in an area called “The Solarium. “

This was an adult-only area – but I didn’t expect that I would be seeing too many kids on this cruise.

Celebrity isn’t really marketed as a family cruise line, it’s a more luxurious, grown-up cruise – and that suited me perfectly !

At this point, I didn’t know how many nationalities would be onboard, but I was surprised to find out as the cruise went on. 

I went to the toilet – and I think you can tell a lot about a cruise line, or any building really by the effort they put into their public toilets!

Celebrity Edge’s toilets were beautiful, the room I mean not the actual toilets, there were individual little towels/cloths to dry your hands on, not the usual paper towels.

“If the rest of this ship is as good as this, I will be very happy! “

It’s an odd theory I know but it’s never let me down before, if the toilets are gross, the ship probably will be too. If they’re beautiful, and smell lovely like these did, the ship probably will be lovely too!

There were real plants everywhere in the solarium, and it had that lovely humid “inside pool” smell.

Exploring the top deck a little further we found what is called the “Rooftop Garden.”

It isn’t uncommon for cruise ships to have some real plants onboard, but Celebrity has taken this to a whole new level in the Rooftop Garden.

I felt like I would be spending a lot of time here during the cruise – and I was absolutely right. I didn’t expect to meet a real lizard here, but I did!

He must have been very confused to have crawled onto the ship somehow in one country and woken up in another!

I Googled it when I got home and apparently, the red thing under his throat means he is trying to fight me – maybe he didn’t want to be a YouTube star – too late though lizard! 

By this time we were getting pretty hungry and we had seen a Grill down by the pool. All of the food here was included and I had a Veggie Burger with LOTS of pickles. (I think a pickle is a Gherkin in the UK.)

I absolutely love putting pickles on burgers, just as much as I love putting ketchup on Pizza!

To the side of the grill (which is called the “Mast Grill”) there were a couple of drinks machines and a soft ice cream machine.

I made myself a drink by watering down the juice to make something that tasted like the drink “squash” I’m used to in the UK.

On most cruises you’ll find that water and tea and coffee are free all the time in the buffet but juices are often only available at breakfast.

I was happy to see free lemonade and juices in the buffet at lunchtime. As I hadn’t bought a drinks package I was looking for all the free drinks that I could find!

This may have been the most expensive cruise I’d ever booked – but I definitely wasn’t going to spend more than I needed to! Free is definitely my favourite price! 

Our cabins were ready to use from 2 pm, and I was so excited to get to have a look around.

Usually, I cruise in an inside cabin but I had booked myself the controversial “Infinite Veranda” cabin. It’s like an oceanview cabin – but with a big window that opens.

This is instead of the usual balcony area outside of the cruise ship.

My first impressions of the cabin were great, it felt very spacious and modern, and I was looking forward to spending my week here.

I wasn’t sure that I would like the Infinite Veranda concept more than a standard balcony, but only time would tell.

To hear more about the Pros and Cons of the Infinite Balcony cabin, read this article next:

Celebrity’s Infinite Veranda Staterooms – Pros and Cons, and Comparison With Standard Balcony Cabins

One of my favourite things about embarkation day is that feeling when you run around the cruise ship and try to see as many things as possible. It’s always such a relief to actually be there onboard the ship after a long day travelling.

I’d heard that there was a space on Celebrity Edge called “Eden” that was split over 3 decks – and I knew I had to find it!

Checking one of the handy maps that you can find all over the cruise ship, I found Eden at the back of deck 5.

To get there I had to walk through a strange room where it was dark, and there were mirrors and trees everywhere! In this room, there was relaxing music playing and it felt like I was being transported magically into Eden!

I’ve been cruising for years but walking in Eden was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced on a cruise ship before!

The area is split over three decks with a bar in the middle and a restaurant on the lower level. Everywhere there were plants and lights hanging down, and the whole place had relaxing background music playing. I was looking forward to seeing what entertainment would be in here.

I think that Celebrity might have changed the entertainment that is put on in this venue recently because I definitely was surprised by how the space was used – even though I’d done my research. 

The restaurant in Eden is what is called a “Speciality Restaurant,” meaning that it costs extra. There are plenty of restaurants onboard where the food is included.

It definitely isn’t a requirement that you ever spend any extra money on food on a cruise – but there are often extra options available if you want something special.

Celebrity Edge has four main dining rooms and they offer an early dining time, a late dining time and what is called “Anytime dining.”

I had “Anytime dining” which meant that each day I could book the restaurants on the App on my phone and could pick which restaurant and which time to eat each evening.

Each main restaurant feels nice and intimate – but they do hold over 300 people each. 

I noticed in the App that the main dining rooms opened at 5.30 pm, which for me was perfect as I definitely am an early diner. 

We decided to eat in the Normandie restaurant first. The restaurant felt very elegant, the food was great and the service was fantastic – helped perhaps by the fact that we dine at 5.30 pm so there weren’t many other people in the restaurant.

Celebrity do have a separate vegetarian menu in the main dining rooms, and allergens like gluten were usually marked on the main menus too

All meals in the main dining room also come with unlimited bread, and each day we were given 3 different kinds of butter or dips. Celebrity certainly knows how to do bread – and I made the most of it!

By the end of the cruise, I felt like I was mostly made of bread – and that isn’t a complaint, I love it!  

After drinking the included water at dinner I wanted to go and get a proper drink. By a proper drink I of course mean a Coke Zero. I thought that we might as well start with a drink in the bar on the “Magic Carpet. “

Our day had started at around 5 am and the transfer stress and fun of exploring a new cruise ship had certainly worn me out. We decided to call it a night early and skipped the theatre show.

I knew that there was lots of entertainment later on the ship that I wanted to see, and I also knew that I had only explored a tiny part of the ship so far.

I knew that there were so many bars, restaurants, and cafes – I hadn’t even seen the main Atrium at this point, but I was very happy to see the inside of my eyelids as I fell asleep! 

When I woke up and opened the window blind the next day I was greeted with an incredible view of Cannes in France.

We were “tendering” which means that you don’t dock by the land, you use little boats to get from the ship. It’s like a free boat tour and you get fantastic views as you sail into and out of the ports.

In the buffet we decided to get breakfast. They do have main dining rooms open for breakfast too and there is a cafe in Eden as well – but I’m not an early riser and prefer to just grab some bread or a banana (or both if I’m feeling very adventurous!)

The buffet onboard Celebrity Edge was MASSIVE and I was looking forward to coming back later in the day to explore the food options properly.

I was amazed by the quality of the decor in the buffet, sometimes buffets can feel like school canteens -but this space always felt elegant and classy.

You could tell that they had spent a lot of time thinking about the details and the different designs of each space. 

At the back of the buffet was an area that usually served pizza and there was seating all the way around and out the back and an outside seating area too.

It was a beautiful day in Cannes and I visited the beach, had a wander through the town and did a little bit of yacht “window-shopping.”

I don’t know what it was about my itinerary on this cruise, but we saw a lot of Yachts. Just when I felt like I had got on a fancy ship for a change, the yachts come to one-up me…

Boarding Celebrity Edge again did feel very nice though, we were given little glasses of water and icy cold towels while we waited for the tender- which definitely is a premium cruise line thing. Some other budget cruise lines might offer to sell you water, so to get it free was lovely. 

We also had to tender the next day in Portofino, Italy – which is one of the prettiest places I’ve ever been to.

It was really busy but so worth a visit. I even found a restaurant with a floating platform that you could sit and eat on. This would definitely make me feel seasick, I don’t think I’d last very long on there! 

On the way back from Portofino we had the pleasure of the Captain of the Celebrity Edge actually sailing us back to the ship in the tender boat!

He was a funny guy, and later in the cruise when I did a live stream on my YouTube channel he accidentally guest-starred by broadcasting his announcement into my cabin – it was very funny!

When asked how to become a Captain he joked that it was a “two-week online course” but it took him “15 years because “I must be a slow learner!” 

Heading back to the ship, we decided to stop to get a drink in the onboard Cafe. The Cafe has lots of cakes and cookies which are included in the cruise fare.

I can confirm Celebrity absolutely does have the best cookies at sea – not just because of the quality (which is very good) but also because of the access to cookies. Day or night they had cookies here waiting for me!

As I didn’t have a drinks package a can of Coke Zero cost me a little over $5. The advertised price was $4 but there is a gratuity of 18% added on top of that. Sometimes we did have some French or Spanish tax added on top of that too!

I don’t usually drink enough to make back the cost of an alcoholic drinks package, but they do have a soft drinks package available.

Before the cruise I wondered if this might be worth it – but at $30 per day, I’d have to drink at least 6 sodas a day to break even. I don’t doubt that I could do that, but I probably shouldn’t – so I decided not to buy a package and to just pay as I went – which was the right decision for me.

We went to the buffet for lunch and I was amazed by just how much choice there was.

The Oceanview buffet is easily double or three times the size of the buffets I’ve seen on other cruise ships of a similar size.

I loved the ice cream station – which also had cookies available all the time. There were Nachos, doughnuts, Fish and Chips – all kinds of things that you wouldn’t usually put together on a plate!

When you’re in a buffet and all the food is included, you can create the weirdest meals! They had the most incredible cakes and doughnuts and one day they had terrifying-looking fish! I definitely avoided those, but I could because there were probably about 70 other potential dishes to choose from.

The buffet was open from 6 am to 1 am and it only closed briefly in that time. There was an hour between breakfast and lunch that it was closed. Breakfast went on until 11 am – which was great. 

It wasn’t normally too busy in the buffet, the only day that it was was when we had a sea day a little later in the cruise.

There weren’t any main dining rooms open for lunch, so everybody was in the buffet or the poolside grill.

There is room service available at a cost and there were plenty of speciality restaurants you could pay extra for – but I was disappointed that none of the main dining rooms opened for lunch.

Considering that there were four main restaurants onboard, I’d have thought they’d open one or two for lunch on sea days – but they never did.

Even on that busy day though, it still wasn’t unbearable, it was just as busy as you’d see on other cruise lines on regular days. 

Heading back to our cabin and picking up our daily schedule I noticed that it was “Chic Night.”

This is Celebrity’s version of a formal night and they define Chic as “dressing to impress, glamour and sophistication in your own way.”

I didn’t get the impression that the dress codes were particularly strict or enforced, as long as you wear a shirt with a collar or a decent dress, it’s fine.

In recent years most cruise lines have made the move to relax their dress codes, I did put on a dress but not everybody took part and each person’s definition of “sophisticated” is different. 

On our seven-night cruise, we had one “Chic Night” and the rest were “Smart Casual” nights.

All of the food onboard was fantastic and this was no exception. I’ve always thought that Celebrity was a cruise line for foodies – and this cruise definitely did confirm that. 

We headed to another of the main dining rooms, Cyprus. Here I found the stringiest cheese in the world!

I was looking forward to an evening of entertainment onboard the ship, seeing as how I’d missed most of it the night before.

In the theatre was a show called “Kaleidoscope” which is a word that I struggle to spell! I was amazed to see that there were 16 singers and dancers during the show and every single one was incredible. I never saw a foot out of place, there was never a note out of tune, it was amazing

Everybody has different things that they like in theatre shows and for me, I like colours and costumes, I like sets that change and technology.

Every show that we saw onboard Edge had this and more. Most of the shows didn’t really have a story, they were collections of songs but they felt much more modern than the classic cruise ship entertainment that I’m used to.

They used songs that I liked, and we saw 3 shows from the theatre team during the cruise.

There were incredible acrobatic shows and later in the cruise, we saw a theatre team show that was backed by a 7 person band.  That was just incredible, the musicians didn’t even have sheet music half the time, so that blows my mind !

Up next was a silent disco in the Atrium – and apart from walking by it occasionally this was the first time that I’d really used this space.

The Atrium of a cruise ship is usually the heart of the ship, it’s right in the middle and lots of restaurants and other things will come off of it. Celebrity Edges atrium was huge, they’d have live music in here in the evenings and there was a bar on the bottom level.

We grabbed our silent disco headphones. Everybody can pick which station their headphones are tuned into, theres a red, blue and green station and each one has a different song.

It’s a lot of fun to see what everybody else is listening to, but it’s perhaps even more fun to watch it without any of the sound!

It’s so awkward and funny to see 20 people suddenly singing a random Abba song in tune! It’s a great idea for a cruise ship and Celebrity had quite a few silent discos onboard.

At this point, I still hadn’t seen much in the way of Trivia or Gameshows and I still hadn’t seen areas like the casino but I knew that I still had plenty of time onboard to explore.

I’m convinced that you could be on this ship for 7 days and still not find everything if you weren’t looking. Even if you were just trying to look at all of the art that would be a challenge !

We headed back to our cabin and found a chocolate on our pillow waiting for us. If you were to go back 20 years most cruise lines did this but due to cutbacks they mostly stopped.

I was really enjoying the more luxurious cruising experience – and I was starting to understand why the cruise cost more than I was used to. 

There were some real benefits – like the number of crew that were always around and the space per person that I hadn’t really understood the value of before this cruise. We never had to wait for anything and could always have multiple seats if we wanted to. 

I’ve been on some busy cruise ships over the years and recently cruised on a ship with 900 children onboard. Celebrity Edge couldn’t ever be described as busy, there were always quiet places to be found. 

The next ports that we visited were La Spezia in Italy and Ajaccio in Corsica. I hadn’t ever been to either of these before, and I was happy to see that we were docked so we could just wander straight off the ship.  

In La Spezia, we were docked next to the MSC Seaview which is a big cruise ship from the budget cruise line that I sailed on a couple of years ago.

Find out all about my amazingly cheap Caribbean cruise on MSC Seaview by watching this video:

I loved my time on that ship – and was loving my time on Celebrity Edge – but it was clear that the two were very different!

I probably could have taken the cruise on the MSC Seaview for half, or maybe even a third of what I paid for Edge but I wouldn’t have nearly as much space per person. I wouldn’t have enjoyed the entertainment or food as much and I definitely wouldn’t have got a chocolate on my pillow!

Still, I don’t think I’ll ever give up on budget cruising, there’s something really great about being on a cruise that costs less than staying in a hotel on land. 

Next up on my schedule was Trivia and I decided to start with the general knowledge version, they had Trivia multiple times a day and it usually happened in a venue that is called “The club.”

It was a two-story lounge in the middle of the ship, and late at night this area really comes alive. It was the perfect place to watch a gameshow and they do also do a few exercise classes in here too.

The daily schedule was fairly busy with events but Celebrity are definitely known for being a relaxing luxurious cruise line, as opposed to a party line. They do have parties of course but not in the same way that you’d find on a cruise line like Carnival.

Whenever I cruise I spend $10 in the casino in a slot machine, overall I am definitely down but I still always give it a go. It didn’t take me very long at all to lose my $10 !

When I was pressing the buttons on the screen I realised that I had $5 in the bonus credit section, this wasn’t mentioned anywhere that I’d seen and I just found it by chance.

I checked my mum’s card and she had the bonus credit too. After losing my $10 credit I lost the $10 bonus credit too – but I could have won it big, so it’s always worth checking that bonus button!

It’ll be linked to your cruise card if it is there and your password is usually something to do with your date of birth – but you can ask anybody working there if you don’t know it. 

One of my favourite ways to spend my time on this cruise was to sit up in the Rooftop Garden with my Mum, either in the afternoons in the shade or as the sunset.

We’d get a drink from the bar at the back called “The Sunset Bar” and I’d catch up on my work. Not a bad place for an office!

We would watch live music in Eden and one day I even managed to get up before 9 am to make it to the breakfast they have in Eden that’s included in the cruise fare.

I had a wrap for breakfast, and found a lovely little outside seating area by the Eden Cafe.

On the other side of the ship was a smoking area that was beautiful – and I’ve never used the word “beautiful” to describe a smoking area before!

Usually, the people that smoke are left in the worst locations but there was a lovely area here and another up by the Sunset Bar. 

As well as the theatre teams show they also had guest acts performing and we saw a great show called “Women of Rock” and a couple of shows by a fantastic trumpeter.

The man behind the trumpet was called Ollie and he was also a great singer, he performed songs from all genres and the big screens and live band really helped to take performances like this up a notch. I loved sitting on the top level of the theatre as I had a great view and they had bar service in here too.

From up there I could get a great overview of who else was on this cruise.

In terms of passenger age demographic, this was definitely one of the most diverse cruises I’ve been on. There were people of all ages onboard.

There were some children onboard but Celebrity isn’t really aimed at kids, you won’t find Peppa Pig by the pool or ropes courses or anything like that but if do bring kids they won’t feel out of place or uncomfortable.

They have great kids clubs and I suppose that’s why I didn’t really see any kids during this cruise, they were all happy in the clubs – and me not in the clubs! 

Our cruise director Tim who was fantastic told us that there were 400 children onboard, which surprised me. I would have guessed maybe 100 -probably not even that.

There were plenty of teenagers onboard and people my age, all the way up to people who I assume were in their 80s or 80s or 100s – but it is not polite to ask of course! 

The majority of people onboard were from the UK, the US or Spain but I did also meet people from Australia, Canada and Germany. All of the entertainment and everything was done only in English but I did often hear people speaking other languages – which I like. 

Personally, I like to cruise with a mix of nationalities, I think it makes it more fun and it feels to me more like being away on holiday. If I go on a cruise and everybody else there is exactly the same as me, that’s sometimes a bit weird, it’s like you just picked up your town and floated it out somewhere. 

Some cruise trivia is that Celebrity Edge was the first cruise ship to set sail from the United States after the Covid shutdown. That was in June of 2021. The ship was limited to 40% capacity and the industry had been shut down completely in the US for 15 months. 

Watch this video next to find out more about this amazing, billion-dollar cruise ship!

I said earlier that this was the most expensive cruise that I’ve ever booked – and I’m pretty sure that’s right.

I usually like to stick to a budget of around £100 per person per night which is $127 USD, I like that price to include all of the taxes and fees and gratuities. I have cruised on multiple cruises that have cost me less than half that. 

In total for this cruise for me and my Mum sharing an infinite veranda cabin, I paid £2920 ($3715) which comes in at just over £200 per person per night.

That price did include flights and transfers, but the daily gratuities weren’t included. These came in at $17.50 per person per day so that added on an extra couple of hundred dollars.

As much as I love budget cruising the thing that I care about most is that the price that I paid matches the experience that I got, I paid more than usual for this cruise but it certainly felt like I got more in return. 

One of my favourite things about this ship was the “Magic Carpet” which is used as a bar and a tender boarding platform.

We had two tender ports during this cruise, so had the chance to use it lots of times. To find out how this platform moves, what it’s used for and why it doesn’t cause the ship to topple over, check out this video next. 

Before You Go!

Celebrity has a reputation for being a great cruise for those who love their food! To find out more about the food I ate whilst onboard, read this article next.

Everything I Ate on my Celebrity Cruise (Photos and Menus) – Food Review

To see how this compares to food on the more “budget” cruise lines like MSC, find out what I ate on my MSC Seaview cruise here:

Everything I Ate on my MSC Cruise (Photos and Menus) – Food Review

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• Celebrity Cruises

Edge 1/2/22 Midweek Review

By rkcruiseky , January 5, 2022 in Celebrity Cruises

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Celebrity Edge January 2, 2022  

This is probably my 8 th   or 9 th   cruise on Celebrity.     My 2 nd   on the Edge. I have been on the Millennium Class, Solstice Class and Edge Class Ships.     This cruise I was supposed to be with some others, but because of a variety of reasons, some Covid, some not, I ended up sailing alone.     Which, has been great, relaxing week so far for me.  

Sky Suite, Aft corner

I was originally booked in an Infinite Verandah, but was looking for something different.     Popped over to Celebrity’s MoveUp and placed a low-ball offer on a SkySuite.     Love the room.     So glad I moved up.     Lots of space, plus the ability to use the Retreat Amenities is a great.

You will notice several people on the forums knock the bathrooms of the SkySuites.     Not really sure why, but the bathroom is spacious.     The tub/shower combo is very large compared to the standard showers in the other rooms.     Is the tub really a soaking tub?     Not really, but it is a tub.

This room is on the aft and in the left corner, so the balcony is much larger than most.     Room for 2 lounge chairs and 2 standard chairs.      

Frustration with the room   – knowing that I was traveling during COVID, I loaded my laptop with tv shows and movies to watch on the tv.     On the Edge Class Ships, you are not able to stream or physically hook up (HDMI) an external device to the television.     I tried all of the “tricks” online, but it didn’t work.     I talked to the IT manager who said only in Royal Class Suites and above do you have the functionality of switching inputs… That is frustrating.     But I’ll survive!  

Covid World 2022

We live in a pandemic, and everything has changed even if temporarily.     I was nervous about cruising during the current surge mainly for the changes that would be implemented onboard.     I was on the Edge in September 2021, and at that time it seemed the virus was going away. When I was on board then there were no masks anywhere and no signs of any positive cases.  

In my real-life job, I have dealt with enforcing Covid protocols and procedures, and have worked closely with close contact situations and deciding if a quarantine is needed.     I don’t envy anyone who is in the position of being in the middle and enforcing and communicating changes.     I was not surprised at all when Celebrity required masks, honestly, I was a little relieved.     Not because I love masks, but because it reminds us to not let our guard down.     No one wants to be quarantined, especially in a cruise ship.    

I do think that how this was communicated to passengers could have been handled differently.     We were handed a sheet of paper at check in stating that masks are now required.     Would I have canceled my cruise?     No, but I think giving everyone the opportunity to make their own informed decision is important.    

Upon arrival on board, it seems that a small part of Deck 6 Aft has been seaside for quarantines in the event it was necessary.     This deck has a number of IV cabins, which, if you are indeed quarantined, would be nice to have access to fresh air.  I don't know if any passenger is quarantined. 

Everyone seems to be doing  just fine.  People seem happy and are enjoying the great ship and fantastic weather.   

Covid Announcements

• We did hear one day that a small number of crew tested positive (Casino staff)
• Tuesday night, in the casino, we were informed that the Casio would be closed on Wednesday, not sure about the rest of the voyage.  

The food on all of Celebrity Ships is amazing.     The Ocean View Buffet was good as ever.

Luminae , the Suite Restaurant, was good but not as “stellar” as I had hoped.     Very good food, great staff, menu is a bit small.     They will go out of their way to make sure you have what you want.     The menu is just a suggestion, traditional cruise dinner fare is always available.    

On my September cruise, I neglected to go to   Eden   Café   for lunch.     Just forgot about it even existing really.     It is sort of hidden away.     Well, this cruise I made a point to go and I love their lunch offerings.     Great sandwiches, salads and soups.     AND, the only place on board that I have found potato chips!

Fine Cut Steakhouse   and   Rooftop Garden Grill   were both very nice.     Food and service was great.

On a cruise I always end up really wanting salty snack foods like chips and popcorn which you can’t really find…  

I really want to like the Edge Ships model for dinning, but really miss the true Italian Restaurant Tuscan Grille on the Solstice Class Ships.    

Retreat Amenities

I love having access to the Retreat.     Nice and quiet pool deck with lots of shade. One thing that has surprised me about this sailing is that all of the pools and hot tubs (inside and out, main pool, Solarium and Retreat) are ghost towns by 6 PM.     They don’t close until 11 PM.     So, each night I have been able to go and enjoy the hot tubs basically by myself!  

Final thoughts about the Edge Class and Celebrity

I have been very happy with Celebrity, and given the chance for my next cruise it will likely be on Celebrity again.     If everything aligns, I would book a Solstice Class Ship next time just for a change of pace and some different venues.   The Edge is great, but I’d like something a bit different next time.  

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Eden Cafe for lunch is amazing - try it for breakfast.

Thanks for the report.  We are trying the Edge class (Apex) for the first time in May.  Enjoy the rest of your cruise!

Thank you for your mid-trip review.  We will be sailing her on Jan 16th and look forward to enjoying endless ocean views, sunshine, wonderful food and chillaxing.  

16 minutes ago, jbandkb said: Eden Cafe for lunch is amazing - try it for breakfast.

Is there a charge for Eden Cafe.

We were on the 12/12-12/19 cruise in 7309(Sky Suite corner aft portside).  Sounds like you might be in the same room. Loved this room for the space including the large balcony and nice bathroom. Hope you enjoy the rest of your time onboard!

Ask about potato chips in Luminae!  😉

23 minutes ago, drakes2 said: Is there a charge for Eden Cafe.

 Not for lunch!

21 minutes ago, drakes2 said: Is there a charge for Eden Cafe.

There is no charge for Eden Cafe which is only open for breakfast and lunch on Seadays. In addition to potato chips you'll only find the most amazing brownies at lunchtime at Eden Cafe. 

Curious was there any limit to the amount of people in retreat pool? In our July cruise they were sometimes packed liked sardines. Back then no masks were required for vaccinated passengers.

7 minutes ago, George C said: Curious was there any limit to the amount of people in retreat pool? In our July cruise they were sometimes packed liked sardines. Back then no masks were required for vaccinated passengers.

It can be full. I didn’t see any restrictions or limits imposed or enforced.   

our first sea day was quite chilly (only 70) so it was empty most of the day.   

at night it’s empty. 

CruiserFromSC

Are they still having shows in the evenings?  Has anything else been impacted by positive crew cases besides the casino?  Thanks so much!!

Thanks for your review...  

What has been your experience so far with the level of service you're receiving from your Retreat Host?

We just booked a sky suite for the Beyond TA in April of 23.   They had Aft Sky Suites available  and we were tempted.  We ended up not booking one as I thought that we might not get as much personal attention being so far removed from the other suites, especially with Beyond raising the bar with their Retreat enhancements.    The main thing we use our Retreat Host for is to bring us either afternoon Tea or Wine and nibbles around 5.  

My friend and I also cruised on Edge in September (also our second time on Edge).  At that time, Celebrity offered a solo discount.  We were able to get separate Sunset Verandahs for less than we paid to share a SV the first time around.  

She is an amazing ship and hopefully I'll be able to sail on her again.  

I'm now waiting patiently to find out if I'll be sailing on Reflection in two weeks...pretty iffy at this point!

Thanks for the great review.

Enjoy the rest of your cruise.

5 hours ago, rkcruiseky said:   Celebrity Edge January 2, 2022       Frustration with the room   – knowing that I was traveling during COVID, I loaded my laptop with tv shows and movies to watch on the tv.     On the Edge Class Ships, you are not able to stream or physically hook up (HDMI) an external device to the television.     I tried all of the “tricks” online, but it didn’t work.     I talked to the IT manager who said only in Royal Class Suites and above do you have the functionality of switching inputs… That is frustrating.     But I’ll survive!    

Since the Apex is a sister ship I'm wondering if this will also be a problem there? I'm curious since I've watched a bunch of YouTube videos that Herr travel puts out and he's always talking about being able to stream videos to the TV's in the room. 

1 hour ago, Panzano said: Thanks for your review...     What has been your experience so far with the level of service you're receiving from your Retreat Host?   We just booked a sky suite for the Beyond TA in April of 23.   They had Aft Sky Suites available  and we were tempted.  We ended up not booking one as I thought that we might not get as much personal attention being so far removed from the other suites, especially with Beyond raising the bar with their Retreat enhancements.    The main thing we use our Retreat Host for is to bring us either afternoon Tea or Wine and nibbles around 5.  

We have a aft corner sky suite on beyond in November, we will be doing lots of walking to get to retreat and Luminae, maybe we will do move up again and get penthouse like we did in July on edge.

5 hours ago, rkcruiseky said:   Celebrity Edge January 2, 2022     This is probably my 8 th   or 9 th   cruise on Celebrity.     My 2 nd   on the Edge. I have been on the Millennium Class, Solstice Class and Edge Class Ships.     This cruise I was supposed to be with some others, but because of a variety of reasons, some Covid, some not, I ended up sailing alone.     Which, has been great, relaxing week so far for me.     Room Sky Suite, Aft corner   I was originally booked in an Infinite Verandah, but was looking for something different.     Popped over to Celebrity’s MoveUp and placed a low-ball offer on a SkySuite.     Love the room.     So glad I moved up.     Lots of space, plus the ability to use the Retreat Amenities is a great.   You will notice several people on the forums knock the bathrooms of the SkySuites.     Not really sure why, but the bathroom is spacious.     The tub/shower combo is very large compared to the standard showers in the other rooms.     Is the tub really a soaking tub?     Not really, but it is a tub.   This room is on the aft and in the left corner, so the balcony is much larger than most.     Room for 2 lounge chairs and 2 standard chairs.         Frustration with the room   – knowing that I was traveling during COVID, I loaded my laptop with tv shows and movies to watch on the tv.     On the Edge Class Ships, you are not able to stream or physically hook up (HDMI) an external device to the television.     I tried all of the “tricks” online, but it didn’t work.     I talked to the IT manager who said only in Royal Class Suites and above do you have the functionality of switching inputs… That is frustrating.     But I’ll survive!     Covid World 2022 We live in a pandemic, and everything has changed even if temporarily.     I was nervous about cruising during the current surge mainly for the changes that would be implemented onboard.     I was on the Edge in September 2021, and at that time it seemed the virus was going away. When I was on board then there were no masks anywhere and no signs of any positive cases.     In my real-life job, I have dealt with enforcing Covid protocols and procedures, and have worked closely with close contact situations and deciding if a quarantine is needed.     I don’t envy anyone who is in the position of being in the middle and enforcing and communicating changes.     I was not surprised at all when Celebrity required masks, honestly, I was a little relieved.     Not because I love masks, but because it reminds us to not let our guard down.     No one wants to be quarantined, especially in a cruise ship.       I do think that how this was communicated to passengers could have been handled differently.     We were handed a sheet of paper at check in stating that masks are now required.     Would I have canceled my cruise?     No, but I think giving everyone the opportunity to make their own informed decision is important.       Upon arrival on board, it seems that a small part of Deck 6 Aft has been seaside for quarantines in the event it was necessary.     This deck has a number of IV cabins, which, if you are indeed quarantined, would be nice to have access to fresh air.  I don't know if any passenger is quarantined.    Everyone seems to be doing  just fine.  People seem happy and are enjoying the great ship and fantastic weather.      Covid Announcements We did hear one day that a small number of crew tested positive (Casino staff) Tuesday night, in the casino, we were informed that the Casio would be closed on Wednesday, not sure about the rest of the voyage.     Food The food on all of Celebrity Ships is amazing.     The Ocean View Buffet was good as ever.   Luminae , the Suite Restaurant, was good but not as “stellar” as I had hoped.     Very good food, great staff, menu is a bit small.     They will go out of their way to make sure you have what you want.     The menu is just a suggestion, traditional cruise dinner fare is always available.       On my September cruise, I neglected to go to   Eden   Café   for lunch.     Just forgot about it even existing really.     It is sort of hidden away.     Well, this cruise I made a point to go and I love their lunch offerings.     Great sandwiches, salads and soups.     AND, the only place on board that I have found potato chips!   Fine Cut Steakhouse   and   Rooftop Garden Grill   were both very nice.     Food and service was great.   On a cruise I always end up really wanting salty snack foods like chips and popcorn which you can’t really find…     I really want to like the Edge Ships model for dinning, but really miss the true Italian Restaurant Tuscan Grille on the Solstice Class Ships.       Retreat Amenities I love having access to the Retreat.     Nice and quiet pool deck with lots of shade. One thing that has surprised me about this sailing is that all of the pools and hot tubs (inside and out, main pool, Solarium and Retreat) are ghost towns by 6 PM.     They don’t close until 11 PM.     So, each night I have been able to go and enjoy the hot tubs basically by myself!     Final thoughts about the Edge Class and Celebrity I have been very happy with Celebrity, and given the chance for my next cruise it will likely be on Celebrity again.     If everything aligns, I would book a Solstice Class Ship next time just for a change of pace and some different venues.   The Edge is great, but I’d like something a bit different next time.  

Ask your PRH to keep you stocked with potato chips. We are onboard too and Rhona brings my husband chips every night because she knows he loves them. 

7 hours ago, kwokpot said: There is no charge for Eden Cafe which is only open for breakfast and lunch on Seadays. In addition to potato chips you'll only find the most amazing brownies at lunchtime at Eden Cafe. 

Those brownies are the best.....

NutsAboutGolf

Yes yes, eat the brownies!  (let's not tell anyone how good the cookies are...lol)

5 minutes ago, NutsAboutGolf said:   Yes yes, eat the brownies!  (let's not tell anyone how good the cookies are...lol)

I was on the Summit 5 day cruise and was wondering if any location such as Cafe Al Bacio would have brownies. They didn't and I wasn't able to find any brownies anywhere.

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Travel Babbo

A Family Travel Blog

The Celebrity Edge with Kids: A Review

By Eric Stoen on December 6, 2018 • Last Updated February 7, 2023 This post may contain affiliate links. Read my Disclosure here .

A Celebrity Edge Review

When I received an invitation for a preview sailing of the Celebrity Edge , I wasn’t initially excited. Our last cruise with kids with Disney had been decidedly mediocre and we didn’t have another cruise in our travel plans. But I was also intrigued. The Celebrity Edge was supposed to be the most advanced ship ever, with some really cool features like a cantilevered restaurant on the exterior of the ship. And then when I mentioned the invitation to my 8-year-old daughter, she jumped at the opportunity to miss a couple days of school and join me. I mean, how many times would she be able to say she was one of the first kids ever on a ship?

So I accepted the invitation and we flew out from Santa Barbara on a Wednesday morning, connecting in Phoenix and Charlotte, and arriving into Fort Lauderdale around 8pm. The nice thing about Fort Lauderdale is that the airport, several hotels, and the cruise port are all very close together, making the trip easier. Less than 15 minutes after walking off the plane we were at our hotel.

Thursday morning we checked out of the hotel at 11:00 and then headed to the cruise port at noon. Check-in and embarkation were remarkably fast because we had already completed all paperwork online, including uploading photographs. Definitely do this to save time, either through the app ( iTunes  | Google Play ) or website, in order to skip lines. A couple of facial scans and a luggage check later, we were walking onto the ship. We headed straight to our cabin.

Celebrity Edge Review: Staterooms

We were in stateroom 12228, near the middle of the ship on the deck right below the pool. We always prefer stairs to elevators on ships, so it was a little bit of a hike to Camp at Sea (the Deck 3 Celebrity Edge kids club) and the Deck 4 restaurants, but it was extremely close to the pool, the Rooftop Garden and the Oceanview Café – the main buffet spot (and site of the all-important 24-hour coffee).

The cabin felt large compared to cabins on other cruises with kids we’ve been on. There was plenty of storage (drawers and closets), and the bathroom was large by ship standards. 12228 sleeps four. There was one king-size bed and a couch that converted to another bed. There’s a very upscale feel, including the gorgeous bathroom and shower.

One of the coolest elements is that there is, and isn’t, a balcony. It’s basically an enclosed veranda (an “Infinite Veranda”), where you can have the interior door open and have a larger cabin, or close it off and have a separate patio. There’s a window that raises and lowers, giving you the same feel of a standard ship balcony. When we were in the stateroom my daughter spent half her time on the bed and half in one of the chairs on the veranda – typically doing homework.

We LOVED walking around and exploring the Celebrity Edge. It is truly an incredible ship from a design perspective. From the three-level Eden area to the pool and pool cabanas to the previously-mentioned cantilevered restaurant/lounge (the Magic Carpet), it’s spectacular. And it’s colorful (in a very classy way) and there are places to relax everywhere. Our preview cruise was unfortunately only two nights, and I have the feeling that even with all of our exploration, we missed a lot. Over a 7 or 10-day cruise, I’d love constantly finding new places to relax and read. And I went up to the top deck both mornings to watch the sunrise, but both days the sun was in the same direction relative to the front of the ship. I’d love to be able to see the sunrise (and sunsets) from different spots.

Celebrity Edge Review: Dining

There are 29 restaurants, cafes, bars and lounges on the Celebrity Edge, from the Oceanview Café that serves all meals (in buffet style) to Luminae and Blu which are reserved for certain suites/guests, to Fine Cut Steakhouse, Le Grand Bistro / Le Petit Chef, Raw on 5, the Magic Carpet, the Rooftop Garden Grill and Eden, with dining on a reserved basis. Plus there are the main four restaurants (Tuscan, Cyprus, Normandie and Cosmopolitan). We had breakfast each day at Oceanview Café, lunch both days at Cosmopolitan, a late afternoon snack at the Mast Grill, and dinner at Le Petit Chef (the transformation of Le Grand Bistro in the evening) and at Oceanview Café the second night. We could have been more adventurous, but when I travel with my kids they get to choose, and buffets are simply easier and more flexible than set seatings. Plus the food at the buffet is legitimately good, with a lot of meat and vegetarian choices and international selections (heads up – some of the Indian dishes are spicy). And there are a ridiculous number of desserts.

I mentioned Le Petit Chef. Do this. Make a reservation and go. Do not miss out. It costs an extra $55 and it’s worth it – a truly unique dining experience where your table comes to life through animation. The basic story line is that four chefs (one for each course) are competing to make the best dish, but the fun is in watching each chef create your dish – right before the real version comes out. It really was fun, and the animation is gorgeous and creative. Plus the food was great.

The Vibe / Kid-Friendliness / Disney Comparison

So we’re not anti-Disney by any means, but our Disney Cruises have really tested us as to how much Disney we can take. Well before the end of our 12-night cruises with them we’ve gotten tired of the constant Disney soundtrack, the characters everywhere, the themed dinners, and honestly, the talking down to us by cast members (like hearing “wipey, wipey” when we would enter a dining room). And with staff constantly interacting with us, we always had to be on and ready to interact back.

By contrast, the Celebrity Edge was low-key luxury; much more the way we like to vacation. The staff was professional – always around when we wanted them, but not in our faces in a fake-cheery manor when we didn’t. We could relax, and we could enjoy the gorgeous ship. And we both felt like the entire ship was kid-friendly. My daughter was comfortable everywhere. She says she liked it better than Disney – specifically the Celebrity Edge kids club (info below) and the pool. She doesn’t need a water park or drop slide to have fun. Give her a nice, uncrowded pool and she’s happy every time. And honestly, my kids don’t want to be around 1,000 other kids.

I would say that if you have very active teens and are exploring cruises with kids, they may be bored on the Celebrity Edge. There’s not a basketball court, or climbing wall, or arcade, or crazy pool like we’ve seen on other ships. There are a couple of ping-pong tables, and we loved playing giant Jenga and ring toss at the Rooftop Garden, and there’s a jogging track, but it’s definitely not an amusement park. Again, that’s perfect for how we like to travel. But you may be different.

Celebrity Edge Kids Club – Camp at Sea

Camp at Sea is the Celebrity Edge’s kids club. There are actually three different sections, for 3-5 year olds, 6-9 year olds, and 10-12 year olds. My daughter loved the section for 10-12 year olds. It’s all STEM-based, with LEGO, robots and computers galore, plus video games and interactive toys like Rubik’s Cubes. We also played Foosball for a while.

My daughter was one of only four kids on our sailing and she was completely welcomed at Camp at Sea every time we went down there, but we can’t speak to any of the group activities (scavenger hunts, hula hooping, obstacle courses, coding, robotics, and more). Next time.

Note: Camp at Sea is complementary several hours a day, and there’s an hourly charge for other periods, or for sleeping (camping) overnight. Or you can purchase a package that includes everything Camp-related.

Celebrity Edge Basics

The Celebrity Edge holds 2,900 guests. Our preview sailing had 1,943 guests, so we were roughly 2/3 full. It never felt remotely crowded anywhere, and I can’t imagine that sailing at capacity would feel crowded very often.

Celebrity Edge 2023 and 2024 Sailings

In 2023 the Celebrity Edge is in the Caribbean through April for 10-11 night sailings (with several different itineraries ).

From April through October the Celebrity Edge is in Europe, with 7-12 night sailings to Italy, France and Spain. Note: Please don’t do a day trip to Rome or Florence off the Edge or any other ship!

In October 2023 the Edge heads through the Suez Canal to Bali and then will spend six months around Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific before heading to Hawaii and Alaska in May 2024.

Depending on the sailing, prices start at $999 per person in the Caribbean and $1,117 in Europe and the Mediterranean. The South Pacific sailings start at $920 per person. There’s a discount for groups/families.

Celebrity Edge Review: Summary

The Celebrity Edge made me like cruises again! My daughter and I both wished that our cruise was a lot longer. We didn’t stop at any ports, so I can’t speak to the disembarkation/embarkation process, but Celebrity seems to have everything else down to a science so I’m optimistic that there won’t be issues in port. My kids aren’t super-social. They like reading and relaxing and appreciate luxury and really good food, and this is an absolutely perfect (kid-friendly) atmosphere for that – basically, a wonderful upscale floating hotel where you can unpack once and see different destinations every day. Kind of perfect if you’re not looking for an amusement park!

More from Travel Babbo

April 3, 2019 at 9:37 am

Loved this review! Thank you!

September 1, 2019 at 7:53 am

Thank you for the review. We are looking at the Celebrity Apex for in the summer 2020 My daughter is 13 years old. We love the pictures. Many thanx

Danielle from Holland

November 17, 2019 at 5:52 pm

Loved this review! Great detail and enjoyed the Disney comparisons 😉 – we r over Disney too! Looks like the Edge will be a great ship like Royals Oasis.

January 3, 2020 at 4:58 pm

Thank you for the thoughtful review! We are looking for summer 2020 and have 5 and 10 yo boys 🙂

January 16, 2020 at 1:08 am

Thanks for the review!

Going on a 7-night Caribbean experience with my family on the Celebrity Edge in February, can’t wait!

January 16, 2020 at 8:34 am

Have a great time! We would love to be on the ship again.

January 26, 2020 at 10:10 am

Taking my 5 and 7 year old on the Celebrity Edge early February and we are all excited! Recently sailed on Celebrity Solstice in Alaska, but this will be the first time for the kids to join. I am hoping they enjoy the Camp at Sea and they allow our 5 year old to join the 6-9 group since he is shy and doesn’t like leaving his sister’s side!

January 27, 2020 at 8:34 am

Have fun! If you think of it after the cruise, please let me know whether they’re flexible on the Camp at Sea age. Would be great for other families to know.

February 20, 2020 at 12:27 pm

Hi there, just curious how your kids liked it. We are taking our 8 and 5 year old in April, and I’m a little concerned if there will be enough for them to do/ enough pool space. Please let me know if you have a min. thanks, Lauren

July 7, 2021 at 7:06 pm

We are confirmed for our family! Wife and I, Daughter 18, Son 12 and Daughter’s friend 17. Looking forward to our 7 day cruise on Edge in August 2021!!!!

Eastern Caribbean Sailing – FROM FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA

July 8, 2021 at 7:45 am

Have a great time!

December 1, 2021 at 10:17 pm

Loved your review! Thanks for this. May I ask what was the Covid PCR test at the terminal like for your kids? Did the testers go way up in their sinuses or not so deep? I know it may sound like a silly question but it would put my mind at ease because I’m worried we will travel across the country and my child may panic and refuse. However, if it’s the basic painless nose swab, it won’t be an issue.

December 2, 2021 at 7:59 am

We traveled pre-pandemic, so I don’t have direct experience, but in the past year I haven’t seen any long swabs at all. Between my kids and me, we’ve probably gotten 100 covid tests, and all have been shallow. I’m assuming it’s the same at the port.

November 12, 2022 at 6:03 pm

Trying to convince my wife to allow my 3 year old grandson (turns 4 at the end of the cruise to come with us.

November 13, 2022 at 7:09 am

That would definitely be a different cruise experience, but fun. The kids club is good.

April 27, 2023 at 12:45 pm

Why did you say not to do the day trip to Rome or Florence?

April 27, 2023 at 3:21 pm

I have a post on that! https://travelbabbo.com/why-you-should-never-do-a-day-trip-to-rome-or-florence/

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Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Edge Debuts in Alaska

Celebrity Cruises announced on May 17 that its ship, Celebrity Edge, embarked on its first roundtrip to Alaska from Seattle for a seven-night Dawes Glacier itinerary.

The ship, which is unique in its outward-facing design to maximize guests' viewing experience, is planned to make stops in Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway during its first seven-day voyage.

From May through September 2024, The Celebrity Edge will sail roundtrip from Seattle and one-way between Vancouver and Seattle on six- and seven-night journeys.

"There's no better way to see the pristine Alaskan wilderness than onboard Celebrity Edge, which was specifically designed to create a closer connection between guests and destinations," President of Celebrity Cruises Laura Hodges Bethge said. 

"Our elevated vacation options are redefining travel, especially in this region," Bethge Continued.

A Variety of Accommodations and Things to Do

Guests on Celebrity Edge will enjoy stunning views of their surroundings with the Magic Carpet viewing platform, which allows them to see the picture-esque scenery in comfort.

The itineraries also provide ample opportunities for guests to view whales and eagles from the ship and bears, bald eagles, sea ducks, deer, moose, and wolves on excursions to places like Ketchikan and the Endicott Arm.

Accommodations for the itineraries include rooms that range from two-story Edge Villas with plunge pools to staterooms with Infinite Verandas.

The ship contains 29 restaurants, bars, and lounges, the menus of which are globally inspired and crafted by Michelin-starred chefs. It also contains  'The Grand Plaza,' a three-story meeting place inspired by the plazas of Italy that houses several restaurants, including The Grand Plaza Cafe, Cafe al Bacio, and a martini bar.

In addition, the ship is also home to 'The Retreat,' which is exclusive to suite guests and contains a private restaurant and exclusive lounge with a dedicated team of butlers, attendants, and concierges on hand.

Hot Topic: Surprise Cruise Reveal Ideas

Celebrity Cruises Classes Explained: AquaClass vs The Retreat vs Concierge

Once you’ve decided to go on a Celebrity Cruise, you’re faced with deciding what type of class you want to book, if any. You can book a regular stateroom or choose to book one of Celebrity Cruises’ higher-level classes, including AquaClass, The Retreat, Concierge, or an Aqua SkySuite. 

But what perks do they come with? And are they worth the investment? We will compare and contrast the classes in this vs that points along with a helpful table comparing all the info at the end of the post. 

Disclosure: This post has affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission if you click the link and proceed with a purchase  at no cost to you . We were hosted by Celebrity Cruises for this review. We only recommend cruises, experiences, products, and services we personally use and enjoy. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Ranking Celebrity Cruises Three Class Options

Wondering which class has the least perks and which has the most? Here’s the order from least to most: 

• The Retreat

All three options are available on all Celebrity Cruise ships, even though the look and feel of The Retreat Sundeck may vary from ship to ship, and the spas vary as well, depending on the ship series. (Celebrity currently has three ship classes: Edge, Solstice, and Millenium.)

For example, we were on Celebrity Apex and enjoyed a yellow color as an accent in The Retreat. We noticed the accent color is red on Celebrity Beyond .

Important Distinction: What is an Aqua Sky Suite with Celebrity Cruises? 

There are three upgraded class options with Celebrity Cruises that we mentioned above. However, there’s an additional “fourth” class you can book that gets you the perks of AquaClass while also allowing you to be a guest of The Retreat. 

Being in an Aqua SkySuite will reward you with this dual-perk situation.

You’ll be able to enjoy dining at Luminae and Blu (The Retreat’s private restaurant and AquaClass’s private dining), have workout gear in your room, and special spa access. 

Guests of one or the other (The Retreat or AquaClass, not both) only enjoy some of these benefits. Guests in Aqua SkySuites enjoy the best of both worlds and enjoy all of the perks of both class types.

In summation, if you want to enjoy two classes during your Celebrity Cruises vacation – AquaClass and The Retreat – book an “Aqua SkySuite.” 

AquaClass vs. The Retreat vs. Concierge: Suite Perks and Amenities

How many different suite/cabin options are in each class .

The Retreat has a whopping 10 different options of suites. On the other hand, AquaClass and Concierge simply have one option. That makes booking a suite in AquaClass and Concierge simple!

A Concierge suite is essentially the same type of cabin as an infinite veranda it's just called Concierge when you upgrade to the class to get the perks. The suite looks the same you just have added benefits. 

All AquaClass suites are the same suite (just one option) and all Concierge suites are the same. 

The Retreat Suites 

Here are some of the suites you can book that are part of The Retreat (in order from least square footage to the most): 

• Sky Suite: this is an entry-level suite and the most affordable way to be in The Retreat (319 sq. ft.)
• Aqua Sky Suite (319 sq. ft.) – same square footage as the Sky Suite, just different perks
• Celebrity Suite (401 sq. ft.) 
• Royal Suite (687 sq. ft.) 
• Edge Villa (739 sq. ft.) 
• Penthouse (1,378 sq. ft.) 
• Iconic Suite (1,892 sq. ft.) 

Celebrity, Royal, Edge, Penthouse, and Iconic are considered upper suites of the suites listed above. 

Priority Location of Suites

All three classes enjoy desirable locations of suites on the ship. (You’re on a Celebrity Cruise – is there a bad stateroom location? We think not!) 

You will never get an inside stateroom with any of these upgraded classes. You can even request a specific room upon booking, based on availability. 

Premium Bedding

All three classes, Aquaclass, The Retreat, and Concierge, have upgraded premium bedding. 

Pillow Menu

Yes, you read that correctly! When you sail with Celebrity Cruises in a Concierge, AquaClass, or The Retreat suite, you get a pillow menu to order your preferred pillow type! 

In-Room Workout Gear

Many people who sign up to be included in AquaClass are fitness-focused. As such, Celebrity accommodates their fitness-forward lifestyle by providing a menu of workout gear that they can have in their room. 

This was delivered to our stateroom on our first day aboard the ship. You can choose from various things like a kettlebell, yoga mat, yoga block, strengthening equipment, and a meditation pack. 

Guests of AquaClass and Aqua Sky Suites can take advantage of this perk.

Beach Towels

All three classes take beach towels provided in the suite to offshore excursions for use during the cruise. 

They are delivered to your suite in a lovely Nate Burkus tote bag; the bag is yours to keep after the cruise. 

In-room binoculars are provided for all three classes: The Retreat, Concierge, and AquaClass. 

You don’t need them while you’re at sea in a place like the Caribbean, but they are useful during sea days on an Alaskan cruise. Additionally, they're helpful during select excursions; just don’t forget to return them to your suite closest (where they're stored) when you’re done!

Personally, we always bring our binoculars because there's never been a time when the cruise line-provided binoculars have been as solid or as high-quality as our own.

Daily Canapés

All three classes enjoy canapés delivered to their suite throughout the cruise. It’s a nice little in-room snack if you’re hungry. If you find they're not being delivered, simply request them.

Suite Water Service

With AquaClass and Concierge, only, you will receive a complimentary bottle of water upon arrival. 

That said, we also saw bottles of water that guests could take to go in the disembarkation area when leaving the ship for excursions or to explore a port. (We appreciated that the bottles were aluminum, in line with Celebrity’s commitment to sustainability .) 

Additionally, AquaClass and Aqua Sky Suite guests have daily bottled water service in the room.

Suite Welcome Gifts/Drinks

If you are a guest of AquaClass or Concierge, you can receive sparkling wine and fruit when you arrive to your suite upon request. 

We had this in our room and couldn’t wait to toast to a great cruise, which we promptly did after getting situated. 

Don't Delay Your Celebrity Cruises Vacation!

Celebrity Cruises is one of our favorite cruise lines, thanks to the sophistication and beauty of the ships and staterooms, friendly crew, shopping, entertainment, and delicious food + drinks.

AquaClass vs. The Retreat vs. Concierge: Relaxation Areas on the Ship 

Dedicated pool .

There is a special top-deck lounge and pool area for guests of The Retreat, called The Retreat Sundeck. While the environment of the Sundeck has an adults-only vibe, The Retreat pool and Sundeck areas are not adults-only. It's open to all ages as long as the guest is part of The Retreat.

It was very nice to enjoy this area on Celebrity Apex. It’s much more intimate than the “public” pool areas. Retreat guests access the area with their key cards, which opens the Sundeck door. Here, guests find various lounge chairs and couches, a small pool area, and a dedicated bar. 

There was also poolside food available to order for a few hours for lunch and assorted treats served by surprise other times. For example, we were offered ice cream cups one afternoon, while another afternoon, we were served colorful, refreshing fruit skewers.  

AquaClass and Concierge guests do not have a dedicated Sundeck. 

We also want to note that The Retreat Sundeck is a perk on Edge-class ships and Revolutionized ships. It’s unavailable on the following Celebrity Cruises ships: Solstice, Eclipse, Reflection, Infinity, and Constellation.  

Special Spa Access

AquaClass and Aqua Sky Suites guests enjoy passes to the SEA Thermal Spa on Edge class ships for the duration of their cruise. This includes a steam room, sauna, Crystallarium, salt room, float room, and more. AquaClass guests have complimentary access to the Persian Garden/Spa on non-Edge ships. 

Spa Concierge helps take care of any spa requests AquaClass guests have.

Concierge guests and Retreat guests do not have special spa access. An additional fee applies for all non-AquaClass guests. 

Anyone on the ship can book a spa appointment; we recommend doing so before your cruise to secure a preferred appointment spot. 

AquaClass vs. The Retreat vs. Concierge: Drinks/Beverages and Restaurants (Beyond your Suite)

Exclusive restaurants.

Two classes of the three get you access to exclusive restaurants with Celebrity Cruises. The Retreat has Luminae for its guests, while AquaClass guests get access to Blu. 

Luminae is focused on elevated food, flavors from around the globe, and a superior dining experience. Blu is focused on some healthier dining options and sustainability. (Even though we want to reiterate that Celebrity Cruises, as a whole, keeps sustainability at the forefront of its brand, ship-wide.) 

Though it’s not particularly a “restaurant,” The Retreat Sundeck has food available for lunch. 

We compare Luminae and Blu here .

You do not have to dine at these restaurants if you're in AquaClass or The Retreat; it's simply only an option if you are a part of these Celebrity Cruises suite classes. In other words, guests who are not a part of either class cannot dine in these restaurants. Only guests who are have that option.

Exclusive Lounge Area

The Retreat Lounge is special for Retreat guests. On non-revolutionized Celebrity ships, it’s called “Michael’s Club.” AquaClass and Concierge guests have no such lounge. 

The Retreat Lounge is a beautiful area to have continental breakfast if you want another option besides the ship’s many restaurants and dedicated Luminae restaurant. 

The lounge is open all day for beverages, from coffee drinks to tea and cocktails. They also have self-serve mini-fridges where you can grab a drink like sparkling or still water.

The Retreat Lounge offers guests some lite bites if you want to have yourself a little cocktail hour and collect a cheese plate and some charcuterie before dinner. They host afternoon tea some days, complete with scones and pastries. 

You can also ask a dedicated concierge team that’s there any questions you may have about the ship or excursions. 

The lounge is open 24/7; service times vary, but we generally found someone from the crew/concierge team there from early morning to late at night. It's simply a lovely place to relax.

Premium Drinks 

Premium beverages, including cafe drinks like lattes and espressos, cocktails, and wine, are included with The Retreat at The Retreat Lounge and all over the ship. AquaClass and Concierge classes do not have a space like this with premium beverages and it's not automatically added to the class type reservation. 

However, you can inquire about drinks packages or All-Included rates (which includes a Classic Drink Package) when you book your cruise, giving you the luxury of not having to pay per drink. 

Dining Invitations

You may have heard about things like a Chef’s Table for a special dinner on some cruise ships. For example, river cruises usually have a “Captain’s Dinner” evening, and barge cruises do too. Princess Cruises has a version of this on steroids with its Chef’s Table experience. 

Celebrity Cruises doesn’t have that. However, they extend an invitation to Concierge guests to join a welcome lunch. The Retreat and AquaClass do not have this (but they do have their exclusive restaurants, Luminae and Blu.) 

AquaClass vs. The Retreat vs. Concierge: Getting On and Off the Ship

Priority boarding on embarkation day.

The embarkation hours of big ocean cruise ships (and the thousands of people trying to board the ship) are rarely someone’s favorite activity, minus the excitement of getting on the ship at the end of the process. 

This is why you may appreciate that being part of The Retreat will get you an additional perk: early boarding! 

AquaClass and Concierge do not enjoy this benefit; only The Retreat does.

Priority Disembarkation and Tendering in Ports During the Cruise 

None of the classes will get you this perk. However, we did have our suite Host escort us to the front of the line one day when we were disembarking at Grand Cayman. 

Priority Disembarkation (at the End of the Cruise)

The same rule applies for disembarkation as embarkation: The Retreat guests get priority disembarkation. 

This means you get your first choice of time to leave the ship on the last day. In many cases, because people want to prolong their cruise, you can choose to be one of the last to disembark. 

AquaClass vs. The Retreat vs. Concierge: Dedicated Service and Crew Members

Butler/host.

All three classes enjoy some sort of butler or host service: 

• Concierge Class has concierge team members at their assistance
• The Retreat has a dedicated Personal Retreat Host per suite (same for Aqua Sky Suites)
• AquaClass has a dedicated Spa Concierge and stateroom attendant

Guests of The Retreat can also direct their questions to a dedicated concierge team in The Retreat Lounge. 

Pre-Cruise Concierge

Only The Retreat guests can take advantage of a pre-cruise concierge service to assist with booking onboard experiences, activities, and port excursions before they board. 

AquaClass vs. The Retreat vs. Concierge: Additional Perks 

Anyone who books a cruise with Celebrity needs to choose whether they want to purchase the Cruise-Only or Always Included rate. 

As expected, the Cruise-Only rate does not include Wi-Fi or drinks. 

In contrast, the Always-Included rate includes internet (Unlimited Basic WiFi Package), gratuities, and a Classic Drinks package for the entirety of your cruise.

The exception is for The Retreat guests because all perks – like WiFi and premium drinks – are already included. Retreat guests enjoy a Premium Package for drinks, tips included, On Board Credit (OBC), and the Unlimited Premium WiFi Package. 

Included WiFi

WiFi is included with The Retreat. It is not included with AquaClass or Concierge, though any guest can either add on wifi or take advantage of a promotion to include Wi-Fi when booking. (Such as if AquaClass/Concierge guests are booking an “All Included” rate.) 

Shoe shining is included for all three classes upon request. 

Special Theater Seating During Shows

Celebrity Cruises has premium evening entertainment . The Retreat guests can sit in a special, premium reserved area of the theater during performances on Evening Chic nights. 

(“Evening Chic” is Celebrity Cruises’ term for formal nights, which are less formal than gowns and tuxedos like Cunard Cruises have. Evening Chic calls for elevated, elegant evening attire, whichever way you interpret it in what you wear. They are fun evenings designated to be a little fancier than others if you want to get dressed up.) 

We never used this reserved seating perk because we always found available seating. However, we imagine it’s a nice option for times when the theater is packed. 

Guests of AquaClass and Concierge do not have reserved seating. 

AquaClass vs. The Retreat vs. Concierge: Cost

It may not be the answer you’re looking for, but we recommend looking up the current cost of the Celebrity Cruises vacation you’re considering to understand the price. This is to ensure you’re getting the most accurate numbers. 

Perhaps it’s hyperbole, but you can find hundreds of combinations of packages and rates for cruises. You may look up cruise rates today and then look next month and find different options.  

Factors that affect cost include: 

• Cruise location/ports
• Time of year 
• Availability 
• What class you’re looking to book 
• Current promotions

If you are lucky, prices may be such that it's a no-brainer to book AquaClass with an All-Included rate or to be in The Retreat in a suite you didn’t think you could afford. 

It all depends on when you look and when you book. If you find a great rate, grab it!

Is Upgrading to One of These Classes Worth It on a Celebrity Cruise? 

Overall, we think it is. However, it depends on what’s important to you during your cruise vacation.

For example, we really like small, exclusive experiences. This is especially true onboard a huge cruise ship. Small experiences and venues (dining and pool areas included) make a huge ship feel cozier to us. 

And sure, we’ll say it: we like feeling a little more special when we travel. It helps us unwind and relax more to know we’re in the hands of a select team.  

However, if you don’t need more than the main dining and specialty dining options on the ship and the main pool area that everyone can use is a-okay with you (heck, maybe you don’t even care about the pool at all and you prefer spending time in the casino) then booking a regular stateroom and getting the already included amenities may work for you. 

An additional example is if wellness is paramount to you. If so, AquaClass could be just the cruise experience you’ve been searching for, with special spa access, in-room fitness equipment, a dedicated restaurant focused on lower-calorie ingredients and sustainability.

Another thing to consider, especially with The Retreat, with premium drinks included, is whether “free” cocktails, smoothies, and coffee drinks are even important to you. If they are, The Retreat has great perks. But you won't find value in included drinks if it’s unimportant to you. 

Understandably, most guests will not want to pay for perks they won’t use.

To answer the question of “Is it worth the upgrade?” you first need to lay out your cruise priorities, then review this post again to see if your priorities align with the offerings in one of the upgraded classes. 

Is AquaClass Worth It? 

AquaClass is good for guests who want wellness to be a vacation focus or it's simply a lifestyle value they want to emphasize during vacation. The in-room workout gear, special spa passes, and overall attention to health in AquaClass is certainly a special offering from Celebrity Cruises. 

If you’re not that into wellness or fitness, but you love the idea of a dedicated restaurant and some extra special attention, spring for The Retreat instead.

Is The Retreat on Celebrity Cruise Ships Worth It?

Having sailed onboard Celebrity Apex in The Retreat class, we cannot imagine sailing with Celebrity again and not being in The Retreat. 

We felt special, loved that we could go to Luminae as our home base/default dining experience, and really enjoyed The Retreat Lounge for pre-dinner cocktails every day. The Sundeck was great for avoiding crowds at the main pool. 

We recommend The Retreat!

Is Concierge with Celebrity Cruises Worth It? 

Concierge certainly doesn’t have all the perks of The Retreat, and it does not have as many bonuses enjoyed in AquaClass. Still, it’s a nice entry-level way to get a taste of what a higher level of service will be like with Celebrity Cruises if you’ve never experienced it.

While you won’t have a dedicated restaurant like Luminae or Blu, you will enjoy a special welcome lunch, an in-room welcome treat, daily canapés, premium bedding, shoe-shining, binoculars, and a dedicated concierge.

➜ Check Cruise Prices on Celebrity Cruises

Helpful Chart Comparing all the Class Types on Celebrity Cruises

If visual charts help explain things (they do for us!), we created the chart below so you can see the Celebrity Cruises class types. It's very easy to compare AquaClass vs The Retreat vs Concierge at a glance this way.

Conclusion of Celebrity Cruises Class Types

The Retreat may be the ultimate way to enjoy all the perks Celebrity Cruises has to offer, while AquaClass is ideal for wellness-focused cruisers. If you want to dip a toe into upgraded class waters to try it out, a Concierge-level suite could be the perfect fit.

Read this next:

• 11 Memorable Surprise Cruise Reveal Ideas
• Helpful Info about Luminae in The Retreat on Celebrity Cruises
• Celebrity Cruises The Retreat Review: a Ship-Within-a-Ship Worth the Cost

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12 comments.

I went searching for the compare/contrast for these 3 elevated options. Your page gave me just what I was looking for, and I especially appreciate noting the differences on the newer vs older ships. Thank you for your effort!

Your comment means so much to us, Gayle! We work hard to produce the most helpful content for our readers and reading your message brought such smiles to our faces and warmed our hearts! We appreciate you and hope you’ll continue to come back to Sometimes Sailing for more helpful cruise content! – Mikkel + Dan

Thank you for this detailed, helpful review!

Thank you so much for your note of appreciation, Linda. It means a lot to us! We create this content for readers like you! – Mikkel and Dan

You have a great comparison with a few incorrect details. The Retreat Class does get a welcome gift/wine upon arrival. Along with the Upper Suites of Royal & Above receiving 2 Full bottles of Liquor of your choice & Mixers complimentary. You also receive water and refreshments daily from your butler. Additionally The Retreat guests do get priority disembark on tours if you go to the Retreat lounge. Some other additional information is that there are private parties and Speciality Restaurants is included for Breakfast, Lunch , & Dinner for Royal Suites & Above. Just some new information from a guest who has travelled in these accommodations

Thanks, John! We appreciate the insight. Our info came from Celebrity Cruises directly, so we’ll be sure to reach out to them to say, “Heyyyy are these new perks?!” 🙂

Thanks for the comparisons between those 3 class cabins. I was specifically looking for the value between an SV cabin and a Concierge cabin which I usually book if not Retreat. If only losing a dedicated concierge and a lunch (not ever attended), is there any justification for the rather large difference in cruise cost IYO?

Hi Carole! To clarify, do you mean “Sunset Veranda” when you say SV? If so, you’re not missing out on anything if you book an SV cabin compared to concierge if you aren’t attending the lunch and aren’t using the concierge service.

Thanks for the comparison. It is most helpful. Just wonder if you tip the retreat team in addition to the prepaid gratitude and if so how much is a reasonable amount and do you tip everyone who served you in Luminae?

Hi Lee! It’s entirely up to you. They always welcome extra gratuity and are allowed to accept it. Just bring some extra cash for that. It depends on the length of your sailing but an extra $2 per day even equates to a good amount of extra money in their pocket at the end of a 7-day+ cruise. It’s entirely up to you though.

Love how you defined each class. Very good information. We love the retreat suites. Would love if it included Blu and spa. A great comparison. Thank you

Thanks, Robyn!

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2 dead and 5 missing after a boat collision on the Danube River in Hungary

Police say two people have died and five are missing following a boat collision on the Danube River in Hungary. Police said they determined that a river cruise boat had been in the area at the time of the accident. They stopped a cruise boat with a damaged hull near the town of Komarom, more than 50 miles (80 kilometers) further upriver.

Damage is seen on the front of the cruise ship which was involved in a Danube River accident earlier in Budapest Hungary, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Police say two people have died and five are missing following a boat collision on the Danube River in Hungary. (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)

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Police investigators examine the bow of a river cruise ship after an incident, in Komarom, Hungary, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Police say two people have died and five are missing following a boat collision on the Danube River in Hungary. Hungarian police received a report late Saturday night that a man had been found with a head injury on the shore of the Danube near the town of Veroce, around 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of the capital, Budapest. (Csaba Krizsan/MTI via AP)

The bow of a river cruise ship is examined by police experts after the ship was stopped in Komarom, Hungary, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Last night the ship crashed with a motor boat with eight persons onboard on River Danube, north of Budapest. One person has been rescued with serious injuries, two bodies have been recovered and five passengers of the boat are being looked for. (Csaba Krizsan/MTI via AP)

Police look at a river cruise ship after an incident, in Komarom, Hungary, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Police say two people have died and five are missing following a boat collision on the Danube River in Hungary. Hungarian police received a report late Saturday night that a man had been found with a head injury on the shore of the Danube near the town of Veroce, around 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of the capital, Budapest. (Csaba Krizsan/MTI via AP)

Police officers stand on the deck of a river cruise ship after an incident, in Komarom, Hungary, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Police say two people have died and five are missing following a boat collision on the Danube River in Hungary. Hungarian police received a report late Saturday night that a man had been found with a head injury on the shore of the Danube near the town of Veroce, around 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of the capital, Budapest. (Csaba Krizsan/MTI via AP)

A view of the damage of the bow of a river cruise ship after an incident, in Komarom, Hungary, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Police say two people have died and five are missing following a boat collision on the Danube River in Hungary. Hungarian police received a report late Saturday night that a man had been found with a head injury on the shore of the Danube near the town of Veroce, around 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of the capital, Budapest. (Csaba Krizsan/MTI via AP)

A car of the diving service of the fire brigade is parked behind the closed gate of a military port where rescuers search for victims of a boat accident in Northern Budapest, Hungary, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Last night a motor boat with eight persons onboard crashed with a large river cruise ship on River Danube, north of Budapest. One person has been rescued with serious injuries, two bodies have been recovered and five passengers of the boat are looked for. (Peter Lakatos/MTI via AP)

his photo provided by BRFK Facebook shows a damaged boat at the northern edge of Budapest where it was towed, after being discovered in the water by police following a boat collision on the Danube River Sunday, May 19, 2024. Police say people have died and several are missing. (BRFK Facebook via AP)

This photo provided by BRFK Facebook shows a damaged boat at the northern edge of Budapest where it was towed, after being discovered in the water by police following a boat collision on the Danube River Sunday, May 19, 2024. Police say people have died and several are missing. (BRFK Facebook via AP)

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Police say two people have died and five are missing following a boat collision on the Danube River in Hungary.

Hungarian police received a report late Saturday night that a man had been found with a head injury on the shore of the Danube near the town of Veroce, around 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of the capital, Budapest. The bodies of a man and a woman were later discovered nearby.

Hours after police began their search, they discovered a damaged boat in the water, which they towed to shore. They are still searching for five adults — three men and two women — who they believe were on the boat.

Police said they determined that a river cruise boat had been in the area at the time of the accident. They stopped a cruise boat with a damaged hull near the town of Komarom, more than 50 miles (80 kilometers) further upriver.

Hungarian public television station M1 reported that the cruise boat, Heidelberg, is a 109-meter (357-foot) Swiss craft that can accommodate 110 people. No passengers on that boat sustained injuries, M1 said.

The Danube at Veroce is roughly 1,500 feet (460 meters) wide and is in the center of an area called the Danube Bend where the river makes a sweeping, nearly 90-degree turn to the south. The area is a popular recreational and boating destination and is on a route often used by cruise boats between Budapest and the Austrian capital, Vienna, some 140 miles (230 kilometers) upriver.

The deadly accident comes five years after at least 27 people were killed in Budapest when a river cruise boat collided with a smaller tourist vessel , sinking it in seconds.

The tourist boat Hableany, carrying 35 people who were mostly South Korean tourists, was overtaken from behind by the much larger cruise boat, Viking Sigyn, beneath Budapest’s Margit Bridge, in May 2019.

The Ukrainian captain of the Viking Sigyn was last year found guilty of negligence leading to a fatal mass catastrophe and sentenced to five years and six months in prison. He has appealed the decision.

Police on Sunday said they have initiated criminal proceedings against an unknown perpetrator on suspicion of endangering water transport and causing the death of several people.

A spokesperson for the Directorate General for Disaster Management told Hungarian news agency MTI that a group of nearly 90 people from several regional disaster management agencies were conducting the search for the missing from the land, water and sky.

Twelve boats and three drones are involved in the search, and two rescue divers are also involved, Imre Doka said.