Celebrity Beyond
Beccy Miller
Some of the gang had the pleasure of experiencing the brand new Celebrity Beyond last weekend. The third of the Celebrity Edge class ships, here are some of her stand-out features:
The Magic Carpet
A movable deck cantilevered off the side of the ship which moves from decks 2 to 16, and doubles as a restaurant, a bar and an embarkation area.
Infinite Balconies
Designed to blend indoors and outdoors, and adding almost a quarter of the size of the cabin by using bi-fold doors. The ship will has 918 Infinite Veranda cabins, including 16 single-accommodation rooms, the first time Celebrity has catered specifically for solo travellers.
Iconic Suites
Each coming in at more than 5,000 square feet and located above the bridge, facing forward, giving occupants the same view as the captain. Iconic Suites have two bedrooms and 700-square-foot balconies placed over the bridge wing; balconies have private Jacuzzis and cabanas.
Edge Villa
A two-level suite that features an elevated master bedroom, large living room and two full bathrooms. The six Edge Villas span decks 14 and 15. Each Edge Villa balcony features a private plunge pool
The Retreat
Free to use but only be available to passengers staying in suites, includes a private pool and sundeck, lounge and restaurant. The lounge serves breakfast and hosts a happy hour daily.
Resort Deck
This features a large pool flanked by sculptural trees and two "martini glass" Jacuzzis that overlook the deck below.
The Rooftop Garden
This combines the popular top-deck Lawn Club found on the Solstice-class ships with the Rooftop Terrace that is so popular on Millennium-class ships. The Rooftop Garden is an area filled with live greenery inspired by childhood playgrounds. The sculptures double as seats for musical performers. During the day, The Rooftop Garden will host yoga and various games and activities. At night, passengers can show up for live music and the line's "A Taste of Film," which pairs movies and dining.
Dining
Within the Rooftop Garden will be a Rooftop Garden Grill, a for-fee alternative eatery, which will serve gourmet burgers during the day and transform into a swanky barbecue joint at night. Another alternative dining venue is Raw Bar on Deck 5.
Suite-Exclusive
The line's suite-only Luminae, which is a partitioned section of the main dining room, has been turned into the Luminae at The Retreat, a standalone restaurant located on Deck 11. Luminae serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Here is what the team thought...
Mark:
I was thrilled to be able to head onto the largest and newest ship in the Celebrity Cruises fleet, Celebrity Beyond. The Edge class really took things up a notch at Celebrity and yet somehow, Celebrity Beyond seems to have…erm, gone beyond what they achieved with Celebrity Edge. Staterooms are thoughtfully designed with plenty of charging points, comfortable beds, decent amounts of storage and well-proportioned bathrooms. I was allocated an Aqua Class Infinite Veranda stateroom that included some extras such as an upgraded shower with fantastic rainfall options and exclusive access to the Blu restaurant. The Infinite Veranda will be familiar to anyone who has been on a river cruise and offers a huge amount of flexibility of space, plus floor to ceiling electrically operated blinds ensure total blackout which is rare for a balcony stateroom. We looked at a wide range of accommodations from good value interior to the lavish suites in the expanded enclave called the Retreat. There are a huge number of suites onboard to choose from; whatever your party size and budget, you can enjoy an exclusive lounge, pool and restaurant and feel like you are on a small ship, yet just be steps away from the spa and facilities of a large ship. Amazing!
Service and dining were impressive but it was the design of the public areas that left a lasting impression. Everywhere you looked, there were little nooks and crannies; seating in different sized clusters, on different levels. Much of it would be facing different ways and furnished in different colours… some would be lounger-style, others a bit more formal. It created the impression of distinct spaces so instead of a sea of identical chairs which can sometimes greet you on a larger ship, it felt so different and left me wanting to explore more. And I intend to… I’m looking at potential options for my own holiday!
Shell:
From the moment we saw the ship docked in Southampton, we knew she was going to be great.
My favourite bar was the pool bar, it gives a real sense of being on holiday and instantly relaxes you. There is every type of seating you would need and want from private booths, loungers and tables and chairs. The menu is great too from wines and beers to cocktails and mocktails. My favourite restaurant was Raw on 5. The food was incredible. We opted for sharing plates and we ate sushi, gyoza, pork belly, lobster, crab and even oysters. This was a highlight of the whole trip for me and I would recommend anyone to book it.
I feel like I should say that the Iconic Suite was my favourite cabin because it has a real sense of occasion and you would spend your holiday in real luxury. The truth is, the Sunset Verandah was my favourite. The cabins are plenty big enough and the balcony overlooks the back of the ship giving you great views regardless of where you are on your cruise. In true Celebrity Cruises style, every cabin is decorated beautifully and the technology in them is really impressive. They even have a ‘Movie’ setting on the lights where it dims the whole room leaving just a few lights on. Perfect for a quiet night in with room service!
Want to try out Celebrity Beyond for yourself? Take a look at a selection of her sailings here.
