Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises: the back story
The back story
About Celebrity Cruises: the back story
Celebrity has sailed since 1988 and now runs fifteen ocean ships for Royal Caribbean Group. Its signature is design: ships that turn their rooms, restaurants and pools outwards to face the sea.
A line built on design
Celebrity has sailed since 1988 and grew into the premium brand of Royal Caribbean Group, with fifteen ocean ships across four families. The Millennium Series ships carry around 2,200 guests; the Solstice Series, up to about 3,000, keep a Lawn Club on selected ships; and the Edge Series, from Celebrity Edge onwards, rethought the ship from the outside in.
The Edge idea
On an Edge Series ship, almost everything faces the water. The Infinite Veranda turns the whole stateroom into a balcony at the touch of a button. The Magic Carpet, a cantilevered platform with a full bar on the starboard side, reaches 13 storeys above the sea on Celebrity Beyond. Eden has three storeys of windows, and the Rooftop Garden, redesigned by Kelly Hoppen on Celebrity Beyond, now reaches over the water’s edge.
On the Edge Series, almost everything faces the sea.
A ship within a ship
The Retreat is Celebrity’s answer to the luxury lines. Every suite in it comes with a butler, the suites-only restaurant Luminae, with dishes by Celebrity’s Global Culinary Ambassador Daniel Boulud, and a private lounge and sundeck. At the top sit the Iconic Suites, high above the bridge with more than 2,500 sq ft inside and out, and the six two-storey Edge Villas, each with a plunge pool on its terrace.
Boulud at sea
Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud, the chef’s first signature restaurant at sea, opened on Celebrity Beyond. Across the Edge Series there are, in Celebrity’s count, up to 32 places to eat and drink, from AquaClass’s Blu to Eden’s evening menus, cooked daily by more than 200 chefs.
The Galápagos
Far from the big ships, Celebrity Flora sails the Galápagos with 100 guests, every one in a suite. Celebrity calls her the first all-suites ship designed exclusively for these islands; she holds her position with dynamic positioning instead of dropping anchor, and certified naturalists of the Galápagos National Park guide every landing. Drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities, park fees and twice-daily excursions are included.
Our advice: on a first Celebrity cruise, choose an Edge Series ship and a veranda stateroom, and add the All Included rate at booking, as it cannot be added later. If you are tempted by The Retreat, it makes most sense on Edge ships, where its sundeck is available. For the Galápagos, Celebrity Flora’s inclusive fare makes the budgeting simple.
Why it's on our list
- Sailing since 1988
- The Edge Series: five ships and counting
- The Retreat, a ship within a ship for suites
- Celebrity Flora, built for the Galápagos
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Celebrity Cruises: the back story before you go.