Review of Celebrity Beyond
Celebrity Cruises Newest Ship Goes Above And Beyond
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What is it like on Celebrity Beyond?
As with others referencing Celebrity Cruises newest ship, I cannot resist a pun - her name just calls out for it. So let’s get it out of the way before moving quickly on: this fabulous ship is BEYOND your highest expectations!
I have just spent a weekend as an invited guest on this third Edge Class ship in the Celebrity fleet, and it would be an understatement to say that I was merely suitably impressed. Boarding Celebrity Beyond in Southampton, I felt I had a pretty good idea of what to expect; after all I had been following her development since her keel-laying ceremony. I had watched Celebrity’s big reveal over zoom during lockdown; I had seen all the renders and deck plans, and even wrote a whole blog series dedicated to ‘All Things Celebrity Beyond’. Yet even armed with this wealth of knowledge, I was still unprepared for the reality of just how stunning and classy this new cruise ship is.
My first impression of the ship came from the warm response we received from the crew who formed a welcoming committee to greet us as we embarked, applauding and cheering as we passed. Interesting fact: whilst most of the crew were repatriated by Celebrity during the pandemic, 98% of them chose to return to work for Celebrity Cruises. Everyone of the crew we met were cheerful, engaging and took pride in their work, and seem fiercely loyal to the brand..
We were pretty much the first guests to step onboard this visually stunning ship, so obviously everything was pristine and smelt wonderfully new. Carpets were luxuriously and satisfyingly springy underfoot; the corridors had a contemporary hotel feel about them with wide grey doors, fabulous photographic art work and large illuminated cabin numbers. The lift/elevator lobbies were particularly pleasing as the signage was so intuitive and clear - it’s the first time I have never taken a wrong turn when returning to my cabin.
Celebrity Beyond Cabins & Suites
I was fortunate to be assigned one of the beautiful aft Sunset Sky Suites and it was beautiful. A huge, comfy super-king bed took centre stage, with chaise seating, coffee table etc., the bathroom had a two-person bath, double vanity and separate loo. The aft balcony was huge and furnished with two sun beds and a table with two small upholstered chairs, perfect for an alfresco breakfast or watching the sunset. The blinds, air con and lighting are all controlled from a touchpad at the cabin entrance. As suite guests we also had access to the exclusive Retreat, with its private sun deck, lounge and pool.
I was also given access to a range of accommodation on the ship, including the largest suite in the fleet - The Iconic Suite, a huge two bedroom, two bathroom space with a vast living area, and an expansive outside space with its own hot tub, Bali bed and a range of rattan occasional seating - perfect for a private soirée. However with a price tag of around $18000 pp for a 7 night cruise, sadly I won’t be enjoying that anytime soon.
Celebrity have introduced a range of transformational accommodations across most budgets however, including the new two-storey Edge Villas, Aqua Sky Suites and Edge Stateroom with Infinite Veranda (including single version). All cabins are light and bright with touches of burnt orange/tangerine, contemporary artwork, and upscale furnishings.
Entertainment on Celebrity Beyond
No matter where you decide to wander on this ship, there is first class entertainment to be found. During my visit The Theatre offered elevated production shows such as Elements with its jaw-dropping acrobatics and Arte, an immersive experience incorporating art, music, dance and amazing visual effects, the like of which I’ve never seen onboard a ship. At the other end of the ship, Eden offered Wonder At Eden and a silent disco, whilst in between there was karaoke with a live band in The Club one evening, which transformed into The Jazz Joint at the Club the next;, cocktail flaring in The Martini Bar and the Chandelier Show in the Grand Plaza. There were also pop-up DJ sets and, of course, The Casino.
Dining on Celebrity Beyond
As suite guests we were able to dine in the exclusive Luminae, which is for guests of The Retreat, which offers signature dishes by Daniel Boulud. We also dined in Raw on 5, one of the speciality restaurants, specialising in seafood, sushi and other authentic Japanese dishes. Pricing is on a per dish basis (see my forthcoming Dining post for menus).
We were also given a culinary tour to experience the other restaurants and sample a taste of what they have to offer. There are four further speciality restaurants - Fine Cut Restaurant (Steak/Chop house), Le Grand Bistro, Dinner on the Edge (dine on The Magic Carpet), and the jewel in the Celebrity Beyond crown, Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud. Complimentary dining includes four themed main dining rooms - Cyprus (Greek), Tuscan (Italian), Normandie (French) and Cosmopolitan (New American) - each of which has their own personality and styling. There is also Cafe Al Bacio, The Spa Cafe and Juice Bar and The Oceanview Cafe, which has been enhanced by strong contemporary design which elevates it from similar venues on other ships. The food in all the dining venues were fresh, delicious and well-presented. The Oceanview Cafe remains my favourite buffet (or food market) at sea.
Bars & Lounges on Celebrity Beyond
I managed to try each of these watering holes - quite a feat given I was only onboard for two nights. The alfresco Sunset Bar is exquisite, especially in the sunshine, where it’s Moroccan design really stands out. The World Class Bar, is a refined cocktail bar offering “fine drinking” to match the fine dining available onboard. Cocktails are made with a touch of theatre by the expert mixologists. For poolside libations head to the Mast Bar or if beer is more your thing you might want to visit the Craft Social Bar which has the feel of a sports bar.
The place to be in the evening is, of course, the fabulous Martini Bar in the centre of the Grand Plaza, where you can enjoy a range of curated cocktails prepared by entertaining mixologists to musical accompaniment under the impressive Chandelier. Whilst Celebrity Cruises fares are all inclusive of drinks, you will need to upgrade to the Premium Package to include some cocktails and martinis.
Oudoor Spaces on Celebrity Beyond
It was fabulous to have access to The Retreat, which has an upper and lower sun deck with luxuriously upholstered sun loungers and seating nooks. There is a small pool with swings suspended over one end so you can dangle your feet in the cooling water, plus hot tubs.
(Separate post dedicated to The Retreat coming soon).
The resort deck is also a fabulous space with a warm 75 ft long main pool at its centre, the Rooftop Garden with its sculptured “trees” and small cantilevered infinity pools, plus access to the Solarium indoor pool. There is also The Mast Grill for daytime snacks and an Al fresco speciality restaurant, the Rooftop Garden Grill.
Art on Celebrity Beyond
One feature I wasn’t expecting was the extraordinary art onboard the ship. Of course there is the obligatory Art Gallery offering art acuctions. However the pieces curated especially for the ships decor are absolutely stunning - from the polarising Elephant sculpture on the Resort Deck to the mirrored gallery with bronzed ergonomic, sculptured seats and boulders and the photographs adorning the corridors. The ship really is a feast for the eyes.
Difference from Previous Edge Class Ships
Tonnage: 140,600 GT Length: 1073 ft Beam: 128 ft Draught: 27 ft Speed: 21.8 kts Cabins:1646 Decks: 17
Celebrity Beyond was given a 20 Metre stretch to “Make Extraordinary Even Better”. She has been given an additional deck (Deck 17 upper Retreat Deck) and has a longer, sleeker profile than her sister ships Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Apex. The ship has an additional 179 suites and cabins/staterooms and The Retreat has a 40% larger sundeck. The Resort Deck has been expanded with even more open-air spaces and incorporates the stunnng Sunset Bar which is 180% larger than previous versions.
A Word About Celebrity Beyond design
Celebrity Beyond really stands out as a result of its stunning contemporary design. UK designer, Kelly Hoppen CBE was responsible for the interior design of The Retreat, and added her styling to the Rooftop Garden, Resort Deck and Luminae restaurant. She was also responsible for the colour palette and design features found in suite accommodations.
The stunning reimagined spaces of the Sunset Bar was designed by Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Series Design Ambassador Nate Berkus, and it really is an exceptional space reminiscent of Moroccan architecture.
Read all about the design of Celebrity Beyond in my related post HERE
In summary, I really loved EVERYTHING about this ship. The accommodation at every level was stylish, light and luxurious; the food in every venue, whether complimentary or speciality was delightful; the interiors were contemporary but didn’t lack warmth - I would describe them as modern-luxe and the external spaces were spacious with fabulous design features and lots of comfy seating nooks. The price point may be higher than some cruise lines, but what you get for your money is considerably more - all-inclusive drinks, tips and wifi plus an elevated guest experience. I can’t wait to book a longer cruise on this ship so I can really kick back and explore the ship even further and let it transport me somewhere BEYOND the sea.
More about this fabulous ship on my dedicated page All Things Celebrity Beyond