If you're thinking about booking your next cruise, check out this blog from a member of the Travel Counsellors community who recently sailed with Celebrity Cruises...
"Over 10 years have passed since my last cruise, so I was keen to resurrect my love for the ocean and where better than on a newly launched luxury ship, Celebrity Beyond."
My first impressions of this newest Edge series ship were its incredible open spaces and outward-facing design, which took my breath away, and it was clear how much cruise ships had evolved in recent years. Embarkment was super-slick; less than five minutes, thanks to the Celebrity app which allowed me to pre-register and complete most check-in requirements before I arrived.
I entered the ship at the Grand Plaza, and what a ‘wow’ moment; inspired by the piazzas of Italy and spanning three decks, with a large LED Chandelier and Martini Bar at the centrepiece with flair bartenders and entertainment which creates a vibrant atmosphere. The vast open deck spaces include the Rooftop Garden, which has float pools cantilevered over the ocean, and this urban area is great for watching a movie and enjoying activities during the daytime and experiencing gourmet dinner in the evening.
Celebrity Beyond boasts a huge swimming pool with sunken seating areas, so I took full advantage getting some laps in. Two giant Jacuzzis in the shape of cocktail glasses rise from the pool deck to the upper level and are so spacious they never felt overcrowded as I relaxed and took in the magnificent views. The nearby adults-only solarium, which includes a smaller pool and two further Jacuzzis, is a warm haven thanks to its glass-domed roof and was the ideal spot when it was overcast one afternoon.
The iconic Magic Carpet scales the side of ship up to 13 storeys and is a clever multi-purpose engineering design used on different decks for a restaurant extension, drinks lounge and also as a tender platform. Heading to Eden it has the feeling of being outdoors with its 7000sqft of glass spanning three levels, and was continually transformed throughout my cruise, open for a chilled-out breakfast and offering open-air vibrant kitchen dining experience and tantalising shows in the evening.
There is only one place you’ll want to be as the ship sets sail and that’s in the Moroccan-inspired Sunset Bar, which boasts two terrace levels. It’s the ideal location for sipping a hand-crafted cocktail as you enjoy the chill-out vibe and admire the stunning sunset views whilst capturing some Insta-inspired photography.
A benefit of cruising is the quality of food choices, and I was very impressed. With four main evening dining restaurants, Italian, French, Mediterranean and American/International, with ‘select dining’ I got to experience them all. There was also the option to upgrade to try out one of the eight specialty dining experiences, including world-renowned chef, Daniel Boulud’s, Le Voyage, a small, intimate 85-cover restaurant, or Le Petit Chef which is a 3D animated culinary dining experience, and a must-see whatever your age.
One of my favourite areas of the ship was The Theatre, with its award-winning productions and 110ft curved LED screen wrapped around a giant circular stage offering a truly ultra-sensory immersive experience, and outstanding views from every seat. Arte show was electrifying with its acrobatics and dance, and I saw the most captivating pianist (Roy Tan) who entertained us with his iconic melodies from most-loved films; it was so good I watched it twice!
Our spacious Infinite Balcony stateroom boasted fantastic panoramic ocean views; perfect to wake up to and enjoy whilst getting ready for the evening. For those looking to indulge, I can highly recommend upgrading to ‘The Retreat’ for the ultimate luxury experience and includes Iconic Suites, Edge Villas and Duplex Suites and complete exclusivity throughout your stay (think ship-within-a-ship feel). ‘The Retreat’ has two sundecks offering Zen-garden outdoor bliss, an exclusive Luminae restaurant offering the same floor-to-ceiling views as the Captain whilst you enjoy a menu crafted by a Michelin-starred chef, and a private lounge area open 24hrs a day with dedicated concierge to tend to your every need.
Whilst at sea towards the end of my cruise, I took a morning out and headed to the fully equipped gym and luxurious spa and enjoyed a bit of ‘me-time’, experiencing the sauna, steam room and hanging cocoon pods whilst taking in the uninterrupted views.
All of the crew members, recruited from 160 countries around the world, were thoroughly attentive and really made the experience extra special, from the Captain Dimitris, Cruise Director Tim, our room attendant Anthony and Aji our main restaurant host, who treated us like royalty along with all the rest of the Celebrity team who work so hard each and every day.
All aspects of my cruise were available to view on the app including booking excursions and restaurants and I could even message family onboard, check into my stateroom and control my room temperature.
I experienced the most incredible week at sea, onboard Celebrity Beyond, and can highly recommend this to both stalwart cruisers and first-time cruisers - you will not be disappointed - and the many guests I spoke to onboard completely agreed it was their best cruise experience.
After sailing on this luxurious cruise ship, I can honestly say ‘this is the life for me’.
Rebecca, Travel Counsellors Support Team
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