Are you ready to travel aboard Celebrity Cruises’ most advanced cruise ship?
Celebrity Cruises’ CELEBRITY EDGE is a total game changer when it comes to cruising. With a $1 Billion budget, you’ll be impressed by the out-of-the-box experiences provided by the Edge, transforming the cruise industry with technological advancements.
Find the most state-of-the-art spa at sea, open the door to your stateroom using your phone, have dinner with a miniature 3D chef projected on your plate or ride on the Magic Carpet—the world’s first cantilevered venue at sea that travels 13 stories high.
Cruising with Celebrity is perfect for travelers who want to see the world from the comfort of a floating boutique hotel complete with fantastic service and one of the best food, drink and entertainment offerings you’ll find at sea.
Here are the top reasons why you’ll love the modern and luxurious Celebrity Edge…
1. THE INTERIORS
Stepping into the lobby felt like being captured by all the glitz and grandeur you’d expect from an upscale cruise ship. We were drawn by the Grand Plaza’s impressive chandelier, the ship’s centerpiece containing 765 LED strips illuminating three decks, plus a multitude of fancy bars, bistros and restaurants. The Martini Bar sits underneath this striking light feature.
It’s a dreamscape created by the world’s in-demand designers, including bedrooms by Kelly Hoppen, bars and concept spaces by Patricia Urquiola and an Instagrammable chandelier by Jouin Manku to name a few.
One of the most imaginative spaces onboard is Eden, a three-deck intoxicating, lush new play space wrapped in glass that’s connected to art and nature, transforming itself into a world where anyone would be tempted to commit sin. It functions as a dining, drinking and entertainment lounge aboard the new Celebrity Edge. The bar evolves throughout the day, giving passengers a unique experience every time they visit. In the morning, the quiet space is perfect for drinking coffee and reading a book.
In the afternoon, the place becomes more upbeat, offering playful concoctions inspired by nature, and when night falls, Eden transforms into a bar with interactive performance artists and aerial dancers.
The Rooftop Garden is the perfect hideaway spot—an urban playscape filled with lush greenery and natural sculptures. It also has a grill kitchen, serving delicious burgers by day, and a full-on barbecue come night time. You’ll also find a live band and outdoor movie.
2. HIGH-TECH FEATURES + QUICK BOARDING
True to their promise of “10 minutes from car to bar,” they were able to make the whole check-in process a breeze. Although I wasn’t able to time it properly because we were busy shooting, I could still honestly say it was the fastest check-in I’ve encountered. The secret? The pre-registration on the Celebrity Cruises App that uses facial recognition for guests who have checked in, scanned their passports and taken a selfie. Even if you weren’t able to register properly, you can still go onboard in a matter of minutes. (Depends on the port of origin.)
Another key feature is that you can use the Celebrity Cruise App once onboard—not only does the app know your schedule, your account balance and your restaurant reservations, but it can also open your cabin door, draw the drapes and change the temperature. So cool! Plus, if you ever meet a new friend on board, the app allows you to add, message and call each other in case you decide to hang out again.
3. INFINITE VERANDA STATES ROOM & ICONIC SUITE
A major innovation in the design of this ship is the infinite veranda concept. The new design opens up the stateroom, adding 23% more space. A simple press of a button opens the balconies directly onto the ocean, eliminating standard balconies in favor of enlarged cabins with floor-to-ceiling windows.
They’re featured in each of the ship’s 1,467 staterooms. I personally loved the extra space.
But if you’re ready to splurge, the ship’s most luxurious room is the Iconic Suite. A 1,892 square feet suite with two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a whirlpool tub and a sweeping panoramic view from front to back, it is positioned high on top of the ship above the bridge. And if you think things aren’t over the top still, wait until you find a private hot tub in your very own outdoor mini resort.
As if a private butler wasn’t enough, imagine having everything—window shades, temperature and even the lights—controlled with a touch of a button without having to leave your bed. (Can accommodate up to 6 guests.)
4. LE PETITE CHEF 3D DINING SHOW
One of the highlights of my trip was the tiny 3D chef, cooking you animated food using high-tech trick-of-the-eye to tell a delicious tabletop story.
An animated character appears beside your plate and prepares each course for you to enjoy right in front of you before you’re served with the actual dish.
The show was a friendly competition between Le Petite Chef and his international chef friends who battled it out for best cook! The Spanish chef played bullfighter and employed the assistance of a bull to produce a tomato salad with a creamy pesto sauce. The winning dish for me was the Truffle Five Cheese Ravioli prepared by the Italian chef who made fresh ravioli using a pig powered millstone.
The immersive dining experience wasn’t just a treat for the eyes but also for our taste buds as the dishes served were as impressive as the show. A must experience!
5. BEST SPA EXPERIENCE AT SEA
No Celebrity Edge cruise is complete without a trip to The Spa. It’s an experience like no other, boasting the most modern and innovative spa in the sea with more than 120 treatments, including massages, wraps and more.
Spanning more than 22,000 sq. ft., The Spa was inspired by nature with a close connection to the sea, earth and air—SEA. You’ll find, next to the floating chairs, 11 heated tile loungers with a panoramic view of the open sea, making this space the perfect zen zone to relax in after treatments at The Spa.
The Spa is better than any 5-star spa I’ve been in so far. There are infused steam rooms, a crystal energy healing room, hammam, hanging relax pods, waterfall therapy and a sauna. There are also MediSpa Wrinkle Treatments, whitening services, acupuncture, a surgeon, a Kerastase salon barber shop and a nail bar. Whatever service you need, they probably have it there.
6. UNIQUE WORKOUTS + WELLNESS CENTER
We all have that feeling of not wanting to workout while on vacation. (Someone who wants to stay fit can really feel guilty dining at all those fine restaurants on the cruise.) But when you see Celebrity Edge’s fitness center, I bet you’re gonna change your mind.
When I saw the brochure, I got really really excited to find the most modern and popular workouts available at sea! I can honestly say the fitness center is a cut above your average cruise ship facility. I was very much impressed by the studio classes offered for hot yoga, Technogym Group Cycle, Fitness on Demand virtual fitness programming, cardio boxing and Bungee Fit.
In addition, you’ll find a dozen pieces of cardio equipment such as Peloton spinning bikes, treadmills, ellipticals, stair climbers and rowing machines. Alongside the heavy machinery, they have weights and kettlebells for strength training.
7. MAGIC CARPET
Celebrity Edge’s Magic Carpet is the world’s first cantilever at sea that travels 13 stories high and serves different purposes depending on where it’s positioned on the ship.
It’s a fun place to drink and socialize. At Deck 2, for example, the Magic Carpet becomes a transit area for passengers waiting to board tenders that will take them to shore, but come sailing day, it transforms into a full bar complete with live performances and a gorgeous view over the ocean.
8. DINE IN STYLE
Here’s another reason why food lovers choose Celebrity Cruises…
Dining takes center stage on Celebrity Edge, which is why the ship has a total of 29 restaurants, cafes and bars. Five of these dining experiences are complimentary, with each restaurant featuring unique selections that showcase its regional flavor.
–Tuscan Restaurant has an Italian flair featuring Italian dishes, including freshly made pasta.
–Cyprus Restaurant reflects the cruise line’s Greek heritage, offering passengers flavorful Mediterranean fare.
–Normandie Restaurant is Celebrity’s French restaurant.
–Cosmopolitan Restaurant features an American menu with a bit of global fusion.
–Oceanview Cafe, the fifth main complimentary dining area, is the ship’s buffet restaurant with gorgeous high floor-to-ceiling windows that let in lots of light. There’s plenty of seats by the window, so you could truly have an ocean view while chowing down on the hefty variety of its international buffet spread.
All are restaurant-sized rather than huge dining halls, and they reflect the ambiance of a different part of the world.
One of the perks of staying in a suite is the access to the private dining venue Blu. Inspired by the Greek and the Mediterranean, the decor in Blu is a striking combination of white and blue. It’s one of the ship’s popular choices among passengers mainly because of the fresh and creative specialized menu.
I had one of my favorite meals in Blu. For the mains, order the charred octopus salad. We loved the smoky flavor, the tender meat and the slightly crunchy texture. It was a light dish for me but a very excellent choice. For a fuller meal, we loved the lamb chops that were grilled to perfection.
Of course, there are also extra dining experiences not included in the main dining plan.
9. THE POOLS
Rest, tan and swim! Which of the pools of Celebrity Edge would you want to escape to?
Another feature you’ll love is the pool deck designed by noted architect Tom Wright. It boasts of an outward-facing terrace with two-story martini hot tubs, private cabanas, adults-only solarium and stunning ocean views.
The best spot is at the two martini hot tubs overlooking the pool deck and sea. You’ll also want to get a photo taken with the butterfly wings sculpture next to the pool.
(High-ceilinged cabanas that overlook the ocean)
For something calm and relaxing, I suggest the ship’s adults-only Solarium, a glassy indoor pool area that filters in a ton of sunlight and features three-dimensional art that represents the colors and movements of the sea.
On the other hand, The Retreat is one more deck up where you’ll find an exclusive utopia for guests checked in the suite class. It offers a private pool, swinging chairs hanging above the pool perfect for dipping your toes in the water, a large mixed hot tub in the center and an expansive sunbathing area with plenty of lounges perfect for reading a book.
There’s also 24/7 personal butler service and access to the private restaurant Luminae at The Retreat.
10. TRAVEL TO A DIFFERENT COUNTRY (Shore Excursions)
11. ENTERTAINMENT
There are no dull moments on the cruise. With a broad range of onboard entertainment and list of endless programs throughout the day, there’s always something happening somewhere on board.
The Edge’s Theater has one of the most technologically advanced projection screens wrapped around a circular screen stage design. See a different production—from a Cirque du Soleil-inspired circus show to performances by aerialists, dancers, guest singers, comics and magicians.
(Casino on Deck 4)
The Club, in the daytime, gives you cool fun activities like a laser maze challenge, but at night, it transforms to become Undercover at The Club, with a contemporary inspired interior and live music, a DJ or even an acrobatic show every night.
12. DUTY-FREE SHOPPING
Check out the most luxurious brands on the high street while sailing the high seas, and find your favorite luxury brand items—from Bulgari to Cartier, to Tiffany—tax-free and duty-free.
Although most of its guests are on the 20-80 bracket, Celebrity Cruises did not forget to add family-friendly facilities and activities onboard. The Camp At Sea children’s club is designed in such a way that kids and teens can play with a purpose. There are over 500 plus activities from cooking to coding, to being environmental stewards—saving the seas! They’ve also partnered with Xbox, Fat Brain Toys and Anturus.
But if you have a younger family who would be happier with something more adventurous and prefer lots of top-deck toys, you should hit Celebrity Cruises’ sister company, Royal Caribbean. Celebrity is all about “modern luxury” so you might be disappointed if you don’t find any water slides, flow riders or wall climbing areas.
Final Thoughts
(Juanico Fernandez & Abigail Javellana from Our Awesome Planet, Alexa Bautista from Arpan Air and Kaine Corteza & Radjie Caram Jr. from Island Living.)
Celebrity Edge is currently on its European cruise season. You can explore a range of destinations from romantic Italian cities to the glamorous French Riviera before she heads back to the Caribbean for the winter. For more info about Celebrity Edge please visit www.celebritycruises.com/edge/.
Live an Awesome Life,
ABI of Team Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: We were media guests of Celebrity Cruises. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions and insights.
I clearly remember that last time when I visited your site I was so impressed and this time very very impressed,
thanks for the good content.