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21st Jan 2027 | 16 nights | Celebrity Cruises | Celebrity Edge
Why do we love this cruise holiday? A holiday that sails through New Zealand’s iconic spots and wraps up in Sydney? Not bad at all. Especially when the price already covers the kind of cruise comforts people usually fork out extra for. It’s all sorted, so you can focus on ticking off the likes of Wellington, Napier and Tauranga without the faff. The scenic cruising through Fiordland is a real treat too, taking in Dusky, Doubtful and Milford Sound – each one with its own wow factor. And with a couple of nights in Auckland at the start, there’s time to settle in before setting sail. Ending in Sydney is no small thing either, and if you’re keen to stretch the holiday mood a bit further, there’s always the option to add on more adventure in Australia - just ask.
What's included?
Want to go all-inclusive? Ask our team about Celebrity's All Included package for drinks & Wi-Fi.
Cruise Circle Collection packages adhere to our 7 point charter:
Australia & New Zealand With Sydney Stay
2nd Feb 27 | 16 nights
Celebrity Cruises | Celebrity Edge
from £3049.00
View Package
Australia & New Zealand With Sydney Stay
14th Feb 27 | 16 nights
Celebrity Cruises | Celebrity Edge
from £2899.00
View PackageToday your holiday begins with an outbound flight to Auckland.
Welcome to New Zealand! Check-in to your 4* hotel for a 2-night stay in the city.
Spend a day at leisure exploring the city before you board your ship tomorrow.
A cruise ship visit to Tauranga (pronounced "Tao-ronger") is like getting three port calls for the price of one: Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Rotorua. Situated in the Bay of Plenty, Tauranga deserves a half-day or more of exploration. The busy city has several historical highlights (like the Elms Mission Station, said to be the oldest building in the Bay of Plenty), interesting architecture (check out the Brain Watkins House, built with local kauri wood) and tasty seafood-focused dining at the restaurants and pubs along the revitalized waterfront.
Cruise ships actually dock in the nearby town of Mount Maunganui, which is also worth visiting. There, visitors can embrace nature and the outdoors at the surfing hotspot of Mount Beach, with easy to strenuous hiking at Mount Maunganui, and in soothingly hot or warm saltwater pools at the mountain's base. Urbanites can also find lots of shopping and restaurants on busy Maunganui Road.
Finally, there's a third option that's also quite popular as a shore excursion: the town and region of Rotorua, about 75 minutes from the port. The area is a center for geothermal activity (including historic thermal baths) and Maori culture. Shore excursions to Rotorua will typically visit a geothermal park like Te Whakarewarea, Hells Gate or Waiotapu, which features the Lady Knox geyser, a natural phenomenon that erupts every day at 10:15 a.m. Other highlights may include bubbling mud pools, steaming springs, more geysers, spas, waterfalls, visits to one of the region's dozen pretty lakes, and the city of Rotorua proper. The trip is not for the nasally sensitive, as the hot springs and geysers are often accompanied by an ever-present sulphurous "rotten egg" smell.
Sadly, cruise travelers usually do not have enough time to visit all three destinations in one port call. Most choose to either stay in the neighboring Tauranga and Mount Maunganui or take the long shore excursion to the Rotorua area. Whichever way you go, you will not be disappointed.
You can't beat Wellington on a good day, so the saying goes. But New Zealand's cosmopolitan capital city, located at the southern tip of the North Island, rolls out the 'fun carpet' even when that legendary wind is blowing. Located in the centre of New Zealand, all roads lead to Wellington -- as do all ferries cruising over from the South Island just three hours sailing away across Cook Strait. According to Maori legend, the two main islands of New Zealand are actually the great canoe of Maui (the South Island) and the giant fish he caught (the North Island). Wellington Harbour is the mouth of that huge fish. So where did the city's name come from? From Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington and British Prime Minster from 1828 to 1830. Though a geographic hub, Wellington is surprisingly compact -- it's nestled between the harbour and steep, forest-clad hills -- and wonderfully walkable. The revamped waterfront area leads from the cruise dock at the eastern edge of town to the must-see Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in the west. A stroll along the quay is filled with surprises. There's a grassy playground for kids, large-scale sculptures and fun wooden walkways. Cross the street, and you'll have your choice of cafes and shops. Foodies will love Wellington for its wide range of dining options. There are close to 800 restaurants and counting -- per capita that's more than New York City. Another thing Wellingtonians are obsessed about is coffee. Kiwis, as New Zealanders are known, along with their Australian neighbours, have their own lingo for styles of coffee -- flat white (coffee with milk), short black (espresso) -- though cappuccinos remain constant and servings won't be supersized.
Follow the route once traveled by explorer Captain Cook, who discovered Dusky Sound in 1773 on his famous first voyage to New Zealand. A scenic sailing through the sound, which is located in Fiordland National Park, yields dramatic and unforgettable landscapes of deep blue waters and emerald islands. There are hundreds of islands dotting the shimmering waters of this spectacular glacier-carved fjord, which is the longest in Fiordland National Park. You'll likely spot bottlenose dolphins frolicking in the waters, as well as seals and a variety of seabirds.
Cruising Doubtful Sound offers an unforgettable journey into the heart of Fiordland National Park. With dramatic mountains, cascading waterfalls, and lush rainforests, it's a breathtaking experience, often accompanied by sightings of dolphins, seals, and penguins.
Milford Sound is the undisputed jewel of Fiordland National Park on the southwestern coast of New Zealand's South Island. Thousands of years ago, relentless glacial ice forged its rugged grandeur. Sheer faced granite walls soar 1200m skyward, white-plumed waterfalls tumble from lush hanging valleys into glassy waters and Mitre Peak rears over 5,000 feet into the mist.
This morning your holiday comes to an end as you disembark the ship. At the scheduled time take your return flight to the UK. If you're not ready to stop your holiday just here, ask us about extending your stay in Australia!
Celebrity Cruises set out to design its newest and most technologically advanced ship, Celebrity Edge, to make a statement. Not with titles -- it's not the largest, nor the most luxurious; it doesn't have the most water slides or the biggest suite at sea. But it is one of the most unusual and appealing cruise ships we've seen in a decade, and it was very much built to appeal to the contemporary traveller. (Note we didn't say cruiser.)
Celebrity Edge's draw lies within its name: It's edgy. Entertainment in the theatre is loud and influenced by today's top hits. Food venues are straight out of any big city, from a grab-and-go gourmet deli and a reservations-only sushi spot to a high-tech French bistro with an animated dining experience you have to see to believe. The cocktails you'll find in the ship's three-deck spiralling restaurant/lounge/theatre called Eden are mind-bending one-of-a-kind. (Speaking of Eden, while it's playful and chill during the day, the complex gets pretty sensual at night.)
The experience on the ship also blends edges -- between indoor and outdoor, between stage and audience. There's so much greenery onboard and so many massive windows, it's easy to feel as though you're outside, even when sitting inside Eden or in your cabin. It's especially true if you're in one of the 918 Infinite Veranda rooms, cabins that can function as an ocean view with solarium with floor-to-ceiling views and air conditioning or as a quasi-traditional balcony with the push of a button to lower the top window. (The innovation also gives you more space.)
In the theatre, the stage juts out into the audience, and in Eden, performance artists wander around the lounge, drawing people into the show. The Rooftop Garden on the top deck combines the best of the Millennium-class and Solstice-class designs, with a stage for live bands and metallic trees for performers to perch in.
Celebrity Edge didn't just revolutionize cabins, dining and entertainment. The ship has turned tendering -- that often unpleasant experience where you have to board a small boat to get to a port -- into an infinitely more pleasant experience. The Magic Carpet is a tennis court-sized moveable deck, kitted out with an open-air lounge, complete with bar and comfy couches and armchairs. From there, it's a breeze to get onto the tenders, or you can stay to get a drink and watch others get on and off -- talk about people-watching. It's somewhere people actually want to go, rather than escape.
And the Magic Carpet isn't just a tender platform. It can be positioned on Decks 5 and 14, where it serves as an eatery or bar. On special days, it climbs to Deck 16 for exclusive brunches and dinners "on the Edge."
With all these changes, there's a good chance past Celebrity cruisers, expecting the quiet sophistication that they've come to know and love from the line, are not going to be thrilled. In fact, many traditional cruisers may have a hard time with the ship. There are no quiet lounges for casual evenings of light music and a drink with friends, and for those who like to eat at the same table and time every night with the same tablemates, space is set aside in only one of the four main dining rooms.
To love this ship, you have to appreciate stylish, contemporary design, and to get the full experience, you need to be tech savvy; the ship uses facial recognition when you board for the first time, and you can control your room's lights and temperature from your phone. You'll probably know what Spotify is, enjoy craft cocktails and DJ-run Miami-style lounges. And you probably won't be travelling with your young children; this is a grown-up ship. This isn't to say that Celebrity Edge is only for those in their 20s and 30s -- in fact, the price point is probably too high for most millennials. But you'll probably have more in common with your millennial kid, niece, nephew or grandkid than you realized.
Daytime: The dress code on Celebrity Edge is resort casual most of the time, with most people wearing whatever is comfortable to hang out by the pool or on the sun deck. Many of the indoor spaces are highly air-conditioned, so be sure to bring a sweater.
Evening: At night, people tend to dress a bit nicer; women might put on a skirt and top or a simple sundress, while men will don a pair of pants and a collared shirt. "Chic" nights are held twice per cruise, when cruisers will wear their nicest duds, but you won't see too many people in truly formal wear. Men might wear a suit or a sport jacket, but you won't see any tuxes.
Not permitted: T-shirts, swimwear, robes, bare feet, flip-flops, tank tops and baseball caps are not permitted in any of the restaurants at any time, though we're pretty sure we saw a flip-flop or two in the buffet. Shorts are not permitted in any of the dining rooms at dinner time.
Theatre
Celebrity Edge's theatre is one of the most high-tech spaces you'll find at sea. It has four stage areas, though three are hidden behind massive 120-foot-wide projection screens (with 18 state-of-the-art mapping laser projectors). The screens comprise several panels, which can be opened to reveal the stages behind them. These stage areas can be lowered and raised for dramatic effect and two feature spiral staircases. The main stage is "in the round" and juts out into the audience to blend the line between the performers and the audience. In the middle of the stage is a dual-direction platform that can be raised as high as 7 feet above the rest of the stage and custom-designed props help to round out each show.
Several production shows are on offer in a one-week cruise. One thing they have in common is loud contemporary music. You'll hear songs from everyone from Rihanna, Walk the Moon, Prince and Owl City to Bruno Mars, George Michael, Justin Timberlake and Shawn Mendes.
Our favourite show was "Hype," which showed off the talents of one of the ship's resident talents, Marcus Terrell. It's basically a concert -- think a Las Vegas headline show from Cher or Britney Spears -- during which Terrell walks the audience through the musical decades with songs from Bowie, Prince, Santana and many others. It's high energy, Terrell's voice is amazing, the live band is fantastic and by the end, half the audience is up and dancing. We loved it.
Other shows include "Kaleidoscope," which we heard the cast rehearsing. We don't know if there will be a story to tie it all together, but what we saw and heard sounded like a fun, high-energy song-and-dance revue that we'd enjoy. "The Purpose" is similar to "Hype" in that it shows off the vocal prowess of a second resident singer, Ashlie-Amber Harris. The final show is called "A Hot Summer Night's Dream," which Celebrity describes as combining "light-hearted theatre and acrobatics."
The Club
The Club does double duty as the ship's late-night disco and as the venue for some more intimate, high-energy shows.
"Mirage" is an immersive, circus-style show, which has a loose theme of a dream world into which the performers fly. It's basically an acrobatics show, but done on a smaller scale and the good thing is with the double-height club, you can watch their amazing contortions at eye-level rather than having to look up.
"Undercover" is Celebrity's interpretation of a 1920's Jazz Club, so in other words, it's nothing like a 1920s jazz club. There is a live band and there are some dancers dressed in a vague 1920s way, but the dancing and acrobatics is about as contemporary as you can get, and the music does not even nod to the 20s.
Eden
We've never seen anything like Eden before, on land or sea, and we're willing to bet you haven't either. Design-wise, the space is based on the Fibonacci sequence, a mathematical equation that is found throughout the natural world and is best visualized in a snail's shell. Eden spirals up and down (just follow the figure-eight ramp way) through three decks at the back of the ship. An esoteric and overly intellectual concept to be sure, but what matters is that it translates to a stunning space filled with light and dark, living plants and an atmosphere that moves from playful during the day to sensual at night.
Eden has several distinct spaces. On the bottom of the spiral is the Eden Restaurant; only those who pay to dine there visit this space. The middle is where most of the action takes place, both as a lounge and entertainment venue; it's also where the bar is. Additionally, Eden Café is on the middle level, and it serves as a gourmet deli during lunchtime. On the upper level and ramp way, you'll find lots of places to sit and chat. Some of the areas overlook the central space so you can watch the show with less risk of getting pulled into it.
Add into the mix a group of performance artists called Edenists, who perform a version of avant-garde interactive theatre while decked out in hippie "Mad Max"-esque costumes. We're told the entire experience was inspired by the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden -- innocence lost and all of that.
It's important to note, when we say the Edenists are interactive, we're being literal. While the majority of the focus of the show is on the "nucleus," a small stage-like pedestal structure in the middle of the space, which hosts dancing, singing and acrobatic acts, Edenists do venture out into the crowd while performing. They may try to touch you. They will almost certainly try to speak with you, and there's a good chance you'll find them writhing on the ground at your feet or just standing and staring at you at some point. There are also impressive aerial acts that take place throughout the venue.
If you want to be part of the show, which runs for about 90 minutes, you'll want to stay close to the nucleus, where it is assumed you're OK with the interaction; plenty of people did just that on our sailing. If you just want to be a spectator, try to find spots off to the side or on the spiralling ramp. It's perfectly OK to shake your head no if you see an Edenist approaching you.
Chances are you'll either love or hate Eden but, no matter what, it will leave an impression -- even if it's just one of befuddlement.
Rooftop Garden
A third entertainment spot on the ship is the Rooftop Garden on Deck 15, a large outdoor park with lots of alcoves, bench seating and an overall pleasantly chill feel. There's real greenery and funky metallic tree sculptures, many of which have small round stages inside of them, for individual musicians to perch. During the day it's a nice place to relax or participate in garden games, but it's very exposed. (We have it on good authority that Celebrity will be introducing some shade awnings.) At night, the space perks up with live music on the main stage or movies on the big screen.
Daily Fun
There is always a variety of activities to do during the day on Celebrity Edge, but a good majority of passengers prefer to just relax. There are lots of spots on the ship dedicated to relaxation, from the Solarium to the Rooftop Garden and even Eden during the day, when the vibe is chill (and the Edenists aren't around).
You'll find the full list of activities in the Daily Planner, which is printed out each night and delivered to your stateroom. Early in the morning, the schedule is dominated by fitness and wellness, with options like group meditation and extra-fee fitness classes.
In the Rooftop Garden, you'll find garden games, like ring toss and Jenga, throughout the day, though there will usually be one or two hosted sessions, once in the morning and once in the afternoon.
Other activities could include trivia, spa and shop seminars, hosted board games, iLounge computer classes and a funky laser maze experience in The Club. Also look for an activity called Table Maze, which essentially boils down an escape room experience into a tabletop group of puzzles that you have to solve in order to open up a series of trunks. If you like escape rooms, you'll love it.
At Night
Night-time on Celebrity Edge is all about entertainment, whether in the theatre, Eden, the Rooftop Garden or The Club.
You won't find too much live music at night, though there will usually be at least one live set on the stage at the Rooftop Garden, running opposite the second theatre show. Before and after these shows, there's usually a movie shown up here. Options on our preview sailing included "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" and "Dirty Dancing."
You'll also find live music in the early evening at the Sunset Bar and in the Grand Plaza before and after dinner.
There's usually also a live band in The Club, generally at pre-show times to get everyone pumped up for the theatre shows.
All that is not to say there's no music -- there's plenty of that -- it's just more likely to be provided by DJs or pumped out from speakers around the ship, adding to Edge's general contemporary vibe.
The Club usually turns into a disco around midnight, after the two shows and "Revelation at Eden" have ended. Music is typically house and loud; this is paired with digital imagery on the giant LED screen lining the back wall including selfies of people in The Club taken by crew members carrying a Hypno camera.
A popular spot at night is the Casino, located midship on Deck 4. It's pushed to the side of the main indoor promenade, in its own separate space, so you don't have to walk through it to get anywhere. There are a large number of slots on both side of the walls and gaming tables for craps, roulette, poker (three card and Texas Hold'em) and blackjack. There are regular tournaments that take place -- look out for them in your daily planner. The entire casino and next-door bar are non-smoking.
Destination Gateway (Deck 2): One of the most oddly placed bars we've ever come across, the Destination Gateway bar is located all the way down on Deck 2 in a corner of the waiting area for those getting on a tender boat (called "launches" by Celebrity Cruises). There's a full range of drinks available and you are welcome to carry your drink onto the Magic Carpet, before you get onto your launch, but drinks are not permitted on the launch boats themselves.
Martini Bar (Deck 3): A Celebrity staple, the Martini Bar on Edge sits underneath the giant chandelier in the Grand Plaza. The circular bar has loads of seating at small tables. Martinis are the drink here, and you'll find a lot of variety, with interesting options such as the must-try lavender lemon drop or the dill pickle. Skilled bartenders put on a show when they can, tossing bottles and pouring a mind-boggling number of martinis at once. They even step out from behind the bar to interact with the crowds. Not sure which drink to pick? Try a martini flight.
The bar heats up just before dinner. Stick around for the light show, when the chandelier moves in time to music, a fun choreographed experience that sees people stop in their tracks and pull out their cameras to record everything. Live music also takes place here, either at the white, baby grand piano or with roving saxophonists, guitar players or bands. The bar is open during the day, and passengers congregate here in part because of its great central location. It's a popular spillover area for Café al Bacio in the morning, when the nearby coffee bar is busiest.
Casino Bar (Deck 4): Unlike most casino bars, this is not deep in the middle of the Casino but in its own spot accessible from a walkway running past the Grand Plaza. It has more of the feel of a sports bar, with slots against one wall and games on the bar itself. There are barstools so you can sit up at the bar to watch TVs showing sports, as well high tables and chairs to sit down and have a drink. On Sundays during NFL season, it's an especially popular spot.
Eden Bar (Deck 5): The Eden Bar is part of the Eden complex, which includes a lounge area and a daytime grab-and-go deli. The bar is near the central stage, and it's a little small for the size of the room it is serving. During the day, this is a quiet spot when most people sit around having coffee, but at night it gets very crowded, with people two or three deep at the bar. The bar itself is ensconced by trailing plants and herbs, many of which end up in the speciality cocktails served there. There's plenty of seating in, around and above the bar in little alcoves and raised sections of the room, as well as outside. However, the main action centres on the stage, where Edenists come and go, encouraging the audience to get involved. Edenists will try to get you to participate, so if you don't want to, stay away from the stage area, and you should be OK to watch as a passive observer.
Magic Carpet (Decks 2, 5, 14): While the Magic Carpet serves different purposes depending on where it's positioned on the ship, it always has one thing in common -- the bar is always open! Even when positioned on Deck 2 to help with the loading and unloading of launches, cruisers can stop to have a drink and relax in one of the comfy outdoor couches. At lunchtime on Deck 5 it's primarily an eatery, but at night when it's stationed there, it's mostly a lounge with drinks and light bites. One of the speciality drinks here is the Magic Carpet, which has Tito's vodka, vermouth, allspice dram, homemade grenadine and fresh grapefruit. In the late afternoon, the Magic Carpet shifts to Deck 14, where it serves drinks and a gorgeous view out over the ocean.
Prism Bar (Deck 14): The Prism Bar is the main pool bar.
Il Secondo Bacio (Deck 14): Located just inside the Oceanview Café, this is a spot to grab a drink to go with your buffet meal. While you can order just about anything, it specializes in "sunrise" cocktails, including the Celebrity Bloody Mary, Julio's greyhound and Paris screwdriver. You can also get some zero-proof cocktails, as well as Vitamin Waters, Arizona ice teas and premium orange or grapefruit juices.
Sunset Bar (Deck 15): Located all the way at the back of the ship, the Sunset Bar is hopping before dinner. As in, good-luck-finding-a-seat busy. But if you're lucky enough to grab a seat, it's a brilliant spot for watching the ship's wake and having a casual conversation. The bar itself is fairly long, taking up a solid chunk of space. You'll find a narrow seating area behind the bar and more seating around the sides. Smoking is allowed on the starboard side, and smoke carries, so if you're sensitive to it, stay to the port side. Be warned that this area lives up to its name; it's open to the beating sun and offers no shade (although we're told shade will be added).
The Retreat Pool Bar (Deck 16): Located on Deck 16, The Retreat Pool Bar is part of the private enclave for suite passengers only. The bar serves a variety of cocktails, beer and wine, while waiters circulate to make sure passengers don't go thirsty while hanging poolside.
Pools
Celebrity Edge has one long all-access pool, located smack-dab in the middle of Deck 14. The pool is flanked by hundreds of lounge chairs, with many facing out toward the ocean. (This is a theme on Celebrity Edge, which aims to connect its cruisers with the sea.) There's also a limited number of hot-ticket loungers sticking out over the shallow lip of water around the pool. A huge pair of white butterfly wings -- a sculpture -- sits at the foot of the pool and might be the most Instagrammed spot on the ship. At the forward end of the pool, you'll find some couches and cushioned chairs surrounding tables, as well as barstools around part of the pool.
A deck up, on what Celebrity has dubbed the Resort Deck, passengers can relax in one of Edge's two martini-glass shaped hot tubs. These tower over the pool deck and are covered in white tiling and LED lights, which change colour at night. In fact, the whole of the pool and the Resort Deck are awash in coloured LED lights, which could have been tacky but instead is vibrant, tasteful and exciting.
The design of the pool deck and the way it integrates with the Resort Deck above is unique, as there's actually a ramp between the two decks, around the back of the ship and back. The ramp doubles as a walking/running track but also is a visually interesting feature.
Also on Deck 14 are the ship's cabanas. Located on the starboard side, just a few steps from the pool, the ship's six cabanas are available to rent for a per-day charge (several hundred dollars per day). These accommodate up to six people for a flat fee. Your rental includes a day in the cabana, four bottles of water, six beers, unlimited soft drinks, fresh fruit skewers, a limited food selection, facial spray and cold towels. Renters also get a choice of either a bottle of wine, vodka or Champagne.
The cabanas are visually stunning, with rich wood walls dividing one from the next, two-deck-high ceilings, plenty of shade and unlimited views of the oceans. There is, however, a total lack of privacy, as other passengers can walk right through the middle of the cabana area, separating paying customers from those coveted views.
For adults only, the solarium offers serene pool time under a unique geodesic dome. The area has a wonderfully large pool flanked by a giant hot tub. It's a quiet space designed for those 18 and older, though it's also a passageway for passengers getting from the back of the ship to the Oceanview Café, so there's a lot of walk-through traffic.
Finally, The Retreat area has its own pool, located on Deck 16. This area is open exclusively to passengers staying in the ship's suites. The large pool is the centrepiece of the outdoor space; several swinging chairs hang above the pool, so passengers can dip their toes in the water while reading a book or chatting. A large hot tub is mixed in here, along with lots of seating around the pool on benches, sunbeds, at tables and on lounge chairs.
Recreation
When it comes to recreation, the ship actually is fairly quiet. Edge features two funky-looking black Ping-Pong tables, located above the pool deck. It also hosts "garden games" in the Rooftop Garden, where passengers can play Jenga or toss rope rings over the necks of glass bottles.
Sun Decks
The Resort Deck is sweeping and massive, and you'll find lounge chairs virtually everywhere. We love that there are both full sun and shaded options throughout. The ramp makes for some interesting architecture, but consequently, it can be difficult to navigate from one end of the ship to the other. Lounge chairs are positioned each day to face outward, toward the water.
You'll find the guest services desk and shore excursion area buried down on Deck 3 in a quiet spot that's just down a hall from the Grand Plaza. Shore excursions can be browsed and purchased on tablets, but there's usually someone there to answer questions as well, though there's no proper desk with someone standing behind it.
One deck up on Deck 4 you'll find a slew of small shops spread out throughout the deck -- each one selling a distinct selection of items like Edge-branded clothing and souvenirs, liquor and cigarettes, perfume, watches, high-end jewellery and designer handbags.
Also on Deck 4 is the Future Cruise space and photo gallery and Portrait Studio. The gallery is entirely digital; just tap your cruise card on one of the touch screens and get started browsing your photos. You can also book a session at the Portrait Studio (for photos in black and white, or colour) or arrange to have a private session done around the ship. One other difference from other ships: On chic nights instead of the cheesy backdrops most cruise lines set out, you'll find green screens on Edge. Have your photo taken in front of that and then the photographers will insert a variety of digital backdrops and you can pick which ones you like.
Nearby is the iLounge and Internet Café. You need to purchase a Wi-Fi package regardless of if you're checking email in the iLounge or on your personal device.
At the forward end of Deck 4 is the Meeting Place, with conference rooms.
One more deck up, on Deck 5 is the Park West art gallery, which includes a tiny museum section with ceramic works and sculpture, as well as a long corridor with Park West's typical fare of Peter Max and other contemporary artists.
Also on Deck 5 are Celebrity Edge's most high-end shops: Cartier, Bulgari and Tiffany.
There are no self-service laundrettes onboard; you can pay to have your clothing cleaned for you.
A medical centre is on Deck 2.
Spa
Celebrity Edge's spa is gorgeous and features some of the most high-tech treatments available at sea -- it's also one of the most expensive we've ever come across. Facials (of which there are only a few options) start at $140 and massages start at $170, though all the more interesting options are well into the $200s. An 18 percent gratuity is automatically applied to the price of all treatments. You can find select spa specials on port days; always keep your eye on the daily program for options.
Among the unique treatments is the Ocean Spa Wave massage, which takes place on a waterbed-based massage table. The treatment includes an algae wrap, foot and scalp reflexology, colour and aromatherapy and a half- or full-body massage.
Another interesting option is the Hot Mineral Body Boost, which makes use of a massage table that basically looks like a large rectangular sandbox. It's filled with warmed quartz crystals. A towel is placed over the crystals and you lie on top of that; it's kind of like lying on a towel on the beach. This treatment also includes a full-body massage and a mini-facial. You can also choose to have a poultice massage on this massage table.
A third option, exclusive to Celebrity Edge, is a zero-gravity wellness massage, which uses a table that has eight positions to give massage therapists the ability to offer precise massages, while taking any pressure off the body.
A selection of traditional massages is also available, as are several body therapies (wraps, ionithermie, acupuncture). Medi-spa treatments include Dysport wrinkle treatments, Restylane facial fillers, CoolSculpting nonsurgical fat reduction and Thermage skin tightening.
Some of the treatment rooms, including the anti-gravity room, are located directly below the aerobic room in the fitness centre. If there is a class going on in the fitness centre, you very well might hear it when you're getting your treatment. If getting your Zen on requires silence and tranquillity, look to schedule when classes aren't in session.
Across the way are the hair and nail salons, teeth whitening room, Kérastase Institute (where you'll find treatments like the Chronologiste Caviar treatment), men's barber and elegant SEA thermal suite.
The extra-fee SEA thermal suite features several warm ceramic loungers looking out to the ocean, as well as a variety of experience rooms, including a salt therapy room, water and colour therapy rainfall corridor, hammam, aroma steam mist room, crystalarium and infrared desert. Our favourite room is designed for swinging meditation and features five half bird's nest swing chairs that you can sink into and just relax as they rock with the motion of the ship.
Extra-fee passes to the SEA thermal suite are available for entire sailings; there are no day-only passes.
The spa is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Fitness
Celebrity Edge offers one of the best and most comprehensive gyms we've ever seen on a cruise ship. The space, located on Deck 15 forward, has much of the same equipment you'd find at your land-based health club. It's loaded with Technogym cardio and resistance machines, and it's also got a solid area for free weights, with dumbbells up to 100 pounds available. It also has plyometric boxes, kettlebells and six Peloton bikes, for those really looking to crank it up. (To use a Peloton bike, you have to see the receptionist, who will log you in with a temporary account.)
The array of classes are aimed at both mind and body, with options like meditation, yoga and barre, along with high-intensity interval training, bungee class, boxing and Ryde fitness. Meditation and the workout of the day are free, while other classes will cost extra, starting around $20 per class. You can sign up using your app or one of the tablets in the gym. Personal training also is offered, for a fee. The fitness centre is open 24 hours a day. The minimum age to work out is 13, though parents must be present and must sign a waiver on behalf of their child. You must be at least 18 to work out without an adult present.
One of our favourite fitness features actually is the jogging track, located on Decks 15 and 16. The two-lane track is surprisingly long (4.5 laps equals a mile), meandering around the Resort Deck, around the Rooftop Garden and past The Retreat. The sloping ramp makes it a fun challenge, and you'll spend a long, gradual period working your way downhill, with a short but steep uphill challenge. Plus, there are few deck chairs to get in your way as you're getting in your workout.
Dining on Celebrity Edge is a huge part of the Edge cruise experience. With nearly 15 venues, there's enough variety to choose a different spot to eat each night, if you so desire.
What's also great about the dining on Edge is how flexible it is. Cruisers can choose traditional set dining, if they want; these diners will be assigned to an early or late seating in the Cosmopolitan Restaurant and will eat at the same table every night.
But for anyone who wants to choose when and where they dine, there's Celebrity Select. Cruisers with Celebrity Select can eat at any of the four main dining rooms for dinner whenever they want, either by showing up at the door or making reservations ahead of time.
We thought the food in the main dining rooms punched above its weight, with Celebrity Signatures appetizers, such as lobster ravioli and salmon tartar, as well as more traditional options, such as Caesar salad and French onion soup. The lobster ravioli was delicious, though we thought the soup could have been thicker. Entrees were outstanding -- seared duck, roasted Colorado rack of lamb and beef tournedos.
We were also impressed with the quality and variety in Oceanview Café. But with all that said, we still found the food in the upcharge dining venues to be better than what was included.
Service in all of the restaurants was excellent, and we were especially impressed by the intuitive sommelier service when we ate in Cosmopolitan -- spotting we had opted for duck, he swapped out our cabernet sauvignon for a much better pairing of pinot noir.
Items on the dinner menus in the main dining rooms (not speciality restaurants) are clearly marked as gluten-free, vegetarian, no sugar added or lactose-free. There are also items marked as "fit fare." (We never saw a single item that didn't have at least one designation.) Additionally, there's a gluten-free dessert and baked goods counter in the buffet, and you'll find a sugar-free item or two at the regular dessert counter.
Main Dining Rooms (Decks 3 & 4, see below for specifics): Celebrity Edge has four complimentary main dining rooms: Normandie, Tuscan, Cosmopolitan and Cyprus. Each has its own décor and atmosphere, as well as a small section of the dinner menu, called "Exclusives," which you can only find there. These will always be found on the left side of the menu. Although the exclusive offerings stay the same from night to night, a second menu (with different exclusive items) is used for the latter half of longer sailings.
On the right side of the menu are the "Celebrity Signatures" and the "Classic" menu, both of which are available in all main dining rooms. Like the Exclusives items, Classic menu (Caesar salad, shrimp cocktail, grilled chicken, New York sirloin, etc.) options also do not change from night to night. The Signatures menu does change every night and makes up the bulk of each restaurant's offerings.
You can order a starter from one section of the menu and a main course from the other, or order both from just one side. The wait staff is also open to customizing dishes; for example, we craved the marshmallow sweet potatoes that came with another dish and were able to order it as a side dish separately.
There's also a special menu for vegetarians; it's the same in each restaurant, but changes daily.
Desserts in all main dining restaurants include a variety of pies, cakes, sorbet, low-fat yoghurt and ice creams, though each venue also has one exclusive dessert option.
All main dining rooms also offer a kids menu.
Normandie Restaurant (Deck 3): Inspired by Murano, Celebrity's French fine dining venue found on its Solstice-class ships, Normandie's featured menu includes contemporary French cuisine. Of particular note to Celebrity Cruises enthusiasts, the restaurant's design features authentic panels from the original S.S. Normandie that used to be on display onboard Celebrity Summit.
Normandie's Exclusives menu features countryside chicken pate, a potato and Gruyere tart (that's more tart and potato than Gruyere, but was yummy) and baked Brie as appetizers; and a beef tenderloin puff pastry, lavender-roasted salmon and slow-roasted rack of pork as entrees. The exclusive dessert is a raspberry coulis with layers of chocolate.
Tuscan Restaurant (Deck 3): This restaurant is inspired by another of Celebrity's signature speciality dining venues, Tuscan Grille. The featured menu here offers cuisine straight from Southern Italy, while the black-and-white décor reflects the fashion-forward chicness of Milan.
Tuscan Exclusives menu items are Tuscan bean soup with sausage, octopus carpaccio and an Asiago cheese flan as appetizers, and rosemary roasted chicken, strozzapreti carbonara and slow-roasted porchetta as main entrees. The exclusive dessert is tiramisu.
Cosmopolitan Restaurant (Deck 4): Cosmopolitan is a nod to Celebrity's traditional main dining rooms. There may not be a grand, sweeping staircase and a double-height room as on the other ships, but you do enter the space via a backlit wine cellar, with bottles on each side and above you.
The room itself has a glamorous feel, but if you're unlucky enough to be seated at one of the six-person tables that use banquette seating on one side, try to avoid the bench as it's straight but the table is elliptical, putting an uncomfortable distance between you and the table with no way to scoot in.
Cosmopolitan is the only main restaurant onboard open for breakfast, every day, and lunch, only on sea days. The breakfast menu in Cosmopolitan offers everything you could want in the morning; for those in a rush, the express breakfast comes with scrambled eggs, bacon and toast. Cosmopolitan is open for lunch on sea days, and on embarkation day for Concierge passengers only. The menu features a variety of Pan-American options.
For dinner, the Cosmopolitan Exclusives menu is as follows: grilled carrot and mozzarella salad with trout, barbecue-glazed short ribs and seared scallops as appetizers; and pan-roasted salmon, herb-marinated chicken breast and Manhattan-cut New York strip steak as main dishes. The exclusive dessert is a carrot cake.
Cyprus Restaurant (Deck 4): Celebrity Edge's fourth main dining room is a homage to the line's Greek heritage -- Celebrity Cruises was found in 1989 by Greece-based Chandris Group. As the name also implies, Cyprus is the ship's Mediterranean-themed main restaurant serving dinner only. Seafood is the focus, but the menu includes other options for those who aren't in the mood for fish.
Cyprus Exclusives starters include a Greek-style salad, saganaki (fried cheese) and sea bass ceviche (which was delicious!), while entrees are lamb shank tagine, Greek-style grilled sea bass and lemon dill chicken souvlaki. The exclusive dessert is Giaourti Me Meli, a whipped Greek yoghurt dish drizzled with honey and toasted walnuts.
Luminae (Deck 12): Luminae is available exclusively to suite passengers and is located next to the suites-only The Retreat section of the ship. Anyone who books a suite can dine there as they wish for breakfast, lunch or dinner (reservations are not required).
The breakfast menu is the same every morning and includes all the usual items.
The lunch menu is on a seven-day rotation (a new menu every day for seven days) and might include prawn ceviche or cream of parsnip soup as appetizers and creamy lobster rolls, grilled petite filet mignon, a vegetable stir-fry and Luminae signature burger as main courses.
The dinner menu, which rotates daily over the course of 14 days, includes items such as Maine lobster salad, beef tartar and artichoke soup for starters; venison ragout, Alaskan halibut, grilled guinea hen, roasted spiced eggplant and cauliflower "steak" for main courses; and a handful of sides and desserts.
We ate there for dinner and were not hugely impressed. It's a small menu, with a choice of four apps and five entrees. Some of the mains are designated as a "Chef's Signature" dish, including the grilled ribeye steak. If it's a signature dish and a steak, it should be almost impossible to get wrong, but this was tough, almost rubbery in texture and tasteless. Other dishes included a rack of lamb, which was rare, with a real depth of flavour; and Alaskan halibut on a tiny portion of rice, which was rather dry.
Celebrity has a partnership with acclaimed New York-based French chef, Daniel Boulud, with several menu items designed by him available only in Luminae. His chicken tagine dish, using a sous-vide method (vacuum cooked), is a standout dish on the menu.
The kids menu at Luminae is the same one you'll find in the four main dining rooms.
Blu (Deck 5): This spa-centric restaurant, decked out in pretty blue-and-white décor and found on all Celebrity cruise ships, is for the exclusive use of passengers staying in AquaClass cabins, as well as suites; it's open for breakfast and dinner only.
The dinner menu, which changes every night, features spa-style cuisine. We dined on sherry-glazed pheasant (a rarity on cruise ships) and it was a standout.
A small menu of "timeless classics" is also always available in Blu.
Oceanview Café (Deck 14): Celebrity Cruises' signature buffet restaurant has been completely reimagined for Edge. Located at the back of the ship on Deck 14, the restaurant features high ceilings and windows all around. The double height of the room is noticeable from the second you walk in; it feels brighter and more spacious than other buffet restaurants at sea. Food is arranged into stations in the centre, with seating options for two people and room for big groups. In keeping with the ship's theme of connecting to the sea, several tall bars (with high stools) are set up facing the windows. These were a favourite among passengers and filled quickly each day. At the back of the restaurant is an open-air seating area overlooking the ship's wake.
Oceanview Café is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The restaurant offers a wide variety of options at all meals, and we were happy to find healthier options alongside some great indulgences no matter the time of day. All bread is made onboard Edge, and you can watch as pastry chefs make carb-rich treats out in the open in Oceanview Café.
At breakfast, you can expect a variety of hot and cold items. At lunch a wide variety of cold options are available, plus there's a sandwich bar where you can order from a chef, who will make it exactly the way you want it. Other spots include a carving station and the daily feature station, which offers a rotating selection of deliciousness -- one day, chefs might prepare Vietnamese-style pho, the next, paella. This was one of our favourites, as many items are made a la minute and are both creative and delicious. Other hot items fell under themes like Latin American and Indian. Themes change each day. American standards are available every day, too; head to the back of the restaurant for freshly made pizza, calzones and breadsticks.
Dinner is quieter in the Oceanview Café, when many passengers elect to visit other restaurants. The mood (and dress code) is relaxed in the evening. The menu is similar to what is offered at lunch, but entrees are more robust, with carving station items like roast beef and appetizers such as ceviche. A large dessert bar serves up a variety of goodies -- small enough so that you can sample a couple -- at both lunch and dinner. Passengers craving ice cream can visit Scoops, tucked into the corner at the front of the restaurant on the port side. The selection of ice cream changes each day.
Mast Grill (Deck 14): Tucked into a corner behind the main pool is Celebrity's signature poolside grill. We were surprised at the lack of seating (about 50 spots, including 26 at shared eight-person high tops), but we loved the offerings, which include beef burgers and cheeseburgers, as well as veggie and turkey burgers, hot dogs and, of course, French fries. All items are available made to order, so it can take 10 to 15 minutes (especially for the veggie and turkey burgers). There's a great toppings bar as well.
Eden Café (Deck 5): The Eden Café is a bit hidden, off to the side of the Eden Bar, but it's a great spot for grabbing a complimentary breakfast and lunch bite. There's not much seating inside -- maybe six chairs by the windows, but there is a small outdoor area with tables and chairs.
The breakfast selection is impressive for what's mostly a grab-and-go spot with muesli, yoghurt parfait, fruit, hot oatmeal, a cold cut and cheese platter, steak and egg on a bagel, egg and cheese with your choice of either bacon or sausage, a turkey and egg white panini, and two types of wraps. And, of course, no cafe would be complete without some tempting pastries.
Lunch is as impressive with five salad choices, soups and sandwiches. There's also a daily carving station for freshly carved sandwiches and an array of pastries including cookies, muffins, nut breads and brownies.
You can also pour your own tea (12 tea choices) and coffee, or fill up a glass with orange juice, lemonade, fruit punch or iced tea for free.
Grand Plaza Café (Deck 3): This is a slightly misleading title for what consists of a small counter just below the Martini Bar in a corner of the Grand Plaza, offering casual daytime nibbles -- mostly indulgent pastries. At lunch you will find a couple of finger sandwiches on offer. Pour-your-own coffee is also available from two coffee machines. At night it is subsumed into the Martini Bar.
Room Service: Hot and cold breakfast items are available between 6 and 9:30 a.m.; just make your selections on the placard and hang it over your doorknob by 2 a.m. the night before.
The all-day menu is available from 11 a.m. (except on the first day of the cruise when it's not available until 5 p.m.) and includes a selection of hot and cold items, as well as a kids' menu.
A $4.95 service charge applies to orders placed between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Eden Restaurant (Deck 4); $65: Eden Restaurant offers five courses of "experiential" waiter-served dishes. From the menu, diners can select from two items for each course, with dishes that have such ethereal names, such as raindrops (lobster with a gribiche sauce), tidal pool (black cod with almonds and white asparagus), ashes (tuna toro with mango) or life after death (aged ribeye).
But Eden Restaurant is about more than just the food. "Edenists," a troupe of eight performing artists, each with a unique name (Bloom, Gloom, Flit, Wit, Coy, Loy, etc.) that represents some aspect of the Garden of Eden, wander around the area. They entertain diners by dancing, juggling and playing the sitar. Want one of them to visit your table? Pick up the lantern left there by your waiter and raise it into the air.
Dinner slots are available every 15 to 30 minutes between 6 and 10 p.m.
There's also a cocktail menu with items like garden (Woodford Reserve bourbon, honey syrup, lemon juice, aromatic bitters), clouds (Novo Fogo Silver cachacas, Earl Grey tea, lemon juice, rose water), planter (Del Maguey Vida mezcal, cardamom, lime, curacao) and the $45 village (Plymouth gin, Fino sherry, Earl Grey tea, lemon juice, demerara syrup, allspice dram, Tiki bitters, soda), which serves four people.
Le Grand Bistro (Deck 4); $39 for brunch, $55 for dinner, or à la carte to go: Not content to only offer a small selection of French dishes at Normandie Restaurant, Celebrity Edge also offers Le Grand Bistro. Inspired by classic French bistros, seating options range from tables on a planter-edged "sidewalk" to the inner café with sea views.
At brunch, passengers can order from a set waiter-served menu that includes omelettes, pancakes, crepes and other items. They can also opt to visit a self-service buffet; it's one of the best spots if you want lobster or crab.
Throughout the day, an à la carte counter offers grab-and-go items like muffins, croissants and Danishes.
At dinner, the entire restaurant transforms into Le Petit Chef at Le Grand Bistro. The TableMations Studio Experience features the Le Petit Chef experience, which centres on a 4D animated story starring tiny characters who prepare your dish on your table, course by course before real waiters or waitresses serve you the actual dish. The dish looks just like the animated one, and each course is a charming surprise. One chef might create pasta from scratch using fresh harvest wheat ground by a mini-pig, while another might go for an unintended ride when his icing canister gets out of hand. It's a delightful experience for families, though the relatively high price tag might restrict you to just one seating. The Le Petit Chef experience offers two set menus to choose from, but the animated characters will act out the creation of only the main menu; the other menu is for vegetarians.
Both Le Grand Bistro and Le Petit Chef feature extensive wine lists.
Fine Cut Steakhouse (Deck 5); $55: Fine Cut is the ship's steakhouse. The restaurant is open to the Grand Plaza, but it's surprisingly quiet, even when the evening's entertainment is in full swing. The steakhouse offers a menu for carnivores, so if you are a vegetarian, Edge has better options for you. Meat-lovers will love the variety of steaks on offer, ranging from the petite 6-ounce filet mignon to the 14-ounce ribeye. If you've got a bigger party, try the Butcher's Block, a family-style platter of the chef's favourite meats, served with four sides and four sauces. This serves four. If steak isn't your thing, the menu also features chicken, lobster and sea bass. Save room for the sides -- we loved the bacon mac 'n' cheese and mushroom fricassee. We also highly recommend the tangy, melt-in-your-mouth Berkshire pork belly appetizer. Fine Cut offers a kids menu, as well.
Raw on 5 (Deck 5); à la carte, $8 to $75: This simple, yet elegant Raw is so popular that despite its large size, usually requires reservations to get into. The menu, which offers hot and cold items, includes everything from oysters, crab and lobster to shrimp salad, sushi and sashimi, lobster rolls, Japanese noodles, New England clam chowder, caviar, edamame and three choices of seafood towers. Raw Bar is open for lunch and dinner.
Magic Carpet on 5 (Deck 5); à la carte: On afternoons on which the Magic Carpet is not being used for tendering, it is positioned on Deck 5, where it serves as an alfresco eatery. Originally slated to be simply an extension of Raw on 5, its menu is actually more varied. It's a lovely spot to dine with great views and a comfortable, living room feel.
Similarly, in the evening Magic Carpet returns to Deck 5 (if not being used for tendering), where it serves up drinks and a limited menu of small bites.
We recommend making a reservation for lunch and getting there nice and early in the evening.
Rooftop Garden Grill (Deck 15); $25 for lunch; $45 for dinner: Just because you're at sea doesn't mean you have to forgo the outdoor barbecue. At this venue, located in a corner of the Rooftop Garden, you can enjoy gourmet versions of your favourite backyard barbecue standards for lunch and dinner.
Dinner on the Edge (Deck 16); $65 for dinner: Once per sailing, the Magic Carpet ascends all the way to Deck 16 for an exclusive waiter-served dinner. There are no set menus for these experiences, as menus will be determined by the chef and might include items sourced at a port along with the ship's sailing. Reservations are required.
Café al Bacio (Deck 4); à la carte: Part lounge, part eatery, this Celebrity signature offers an extensive menu of speciality coffees and teas for a fee and complimentary sweet treats. Pick your poison and then choose one of the many comfy seats in the sizable accompanying lounge, laid out in a serene colour palette of gray and taupe -- except for smack-dab in the middle of the lounge, which pops with cranberry-coloured, high-backed chairs and a round carpet, also in cranberry.
Spa Café & Juice Bar (Deck 14); à la carte, $5 to $6: Anyone looking for healthy food options at breakfast or lunch will want to check out this small café located off to one side of the Solarium. The food is complimentary but the juice and smoothie bar costs extra.
Cabins on Celebrity Edge are some of the largest you'll encounter on a mainstream cruise ship. With the exception of solo and inside cabins, room sizes start at 200 square feet, but in the bulk of cabins, there's an impressive 244 square feet of space.
The cabins have a few standout features, and a few we're not yet convinced are a great idea.
We loved the bedside USB charging ports (though many rooms just have these on one side of the bed, and a handful do not have any bedside at all) as well as the digital nature of the room. There's a control panel by the bathroom, from which you can control the temperature of the room, lower or raise the automatic blinds, and turn your lights on and off (or set at half-lit). You can do all of that from your phone as well if you have the Celebrity app on your phone. At night, we almost always turned the lights off via the app so we didn't have to get up.
Speaking of the automatic blinds, they're nifty but we weren't thrilled with them because there's no way to peek out of them without opening them enough to let in a lot of light. It also means that you can't sit on your balcony or Infinite Veranda and look out a small section without leaving the entire thing open and possibly disturbing a sleeping cabin mate.
The bedding in almost all rooms is two twin beds, which can be pushed together to form a king-sized bed. The vast majority of rooms also have a couch of some kind -- either a sofa bed that holds two or a single in the form of a sofa (with back and two arms) or chaise lounge (with back and just one arm). (Despite most rooms being capable of holding three people at minimum, the ship can only carry so many passengers so you might not always be able to book a room as a triple.)
In most rooms, you'll find a moderate amount of storage space with one or two closets, a set of drawers and bedside cubby holes that are piled on top of each other. You may also have hidden shelving space in the area that curves along the outside of the bathroom. There's also a desk/counter, which can be pushed into the next-door cabinet, in which you'll find the mini-fridge, to open up more space or get a full view of the full-length mirror behind it.
Our favourite furniture/design element is the desktop white jewel box container in which you'll find the main outlets for charging your electronics (there are 110V, 220V and USB outlets). It's large enough to fit the chargers and plugs so none of that has to clutter up the shelf or desk space.
All closets have hanging space for long items; some also have a small section for shorter items to hang. Full-sized closets (found in most standard rooms) also have three small drawers; all have a small safe. In rooms in which the modular furniture curls around the bathroom, you'll also find hidden shelving, though most of it is shallow and some is oddly shaped. Your room steward might try to use some of this space for extra bedding, but feel free to move his or her stuff to under the bed if you want to use the extra room.
The bathrooms have the toilet tucked into a corner in between the wall and the shower stall (which have glass doors). It's a little tight for anyone who's not skinny. Bathrooms have plenty of storage space. Right under the sink is a drawer where you'll find a hair dryer, extra toilet paper and sanitary bags.
There are no plastics onboard Edge and that includes in the cabin bathrooms where wall-mounted containers of unbranded shampoo, conditioner and body wash are in all rooms (regardless of category), and hand soaps are wrapped in paper, not plastic. There's also no clothesline for hanging stuff to dry in the shower.
You'll find interactive flat-screen TVs in every room with live TV (14 channels), video on demand (free choices, plus $15 rentals), ship information, account info and a streaming option that allows you to link your Apple AirPlay or Google Chromecast devices to the TV.
Inside: You'll find inside cabins spread throughout the ship, ranging in size from 181 square feet (standard) to 202 square feet (deluxe). Both have the same basic layout, with a divan sofa that can be used as a third bed, but the deluxe room has a bigger bathroom and more drawer space.
Ocean View: There are three categories of ocean-view stateroom on Celebrity Edge: standard (200 square feet), deluxe (238 square feet) and panoramic (212 square feet). All can hold three to four people. All the Panoramic ocean-view rooms, which have wall-sized floor-to-ceiling windows are on Deck 6 and mimic the look of the Infinite Veranda rooms; just minus the "balcony" space and a window that opens. Views are slightly obstructed, as the rooms are located just above where the launch boats are housed; you can look out across the ocean, but you can't look down. Standard ocean views have just a picture window, while the deluxe ocean views have a larger picture window, in addition to more living and storage space.
Infinite Verandas: The bulk of Celebrity Edge's 1,467 cabins are the controversial (people either love or hate them) 244-square-foot Infinite Verandas. There are 918 of these cabins, which function as a hybrid ocean-view/balcony cabin that you can configure either way. The unique design of these rooms adds about 23 percent more space than you'll find in any other ocean view or balcony room in the Celebrity fleet.
Here's how it works: Rather than a true balcony, this space (about 42 square feet) has been brought into the room and there's a floor-to-ceiling window, which can be opened half-way for fresh air. In this "balcony" space is a small table and two chairs, just as you'd find on any balcony, and behind this are two frosted bifold doors that you can close to create a quasi-balcony feel or keep open to make the overall cabin larger. Personally, we loved being able to relax in that space with the window closed and the A/C on but get the beautiful full view.
All standard Infinite Verandas can hold three people, with some also having sofa beds that increase the capacity to four.
One thing to note: If you open the window but leave the bifold doors open as well, the A/C in the room will shut off to conserve energy. (If it starts to rain outdoors, any open windows in Infinite Verandas will automatically close, which can be confusing if you're in the room and you didn't press the button.)
There are 16 304-square-foot accessible Infinite Verandas with 65-square-foot "verandas."
Solo: There are 16 single-accommodation Infinite Verandas on Celebrity Edge, the first cabins the line has ever created specifically for solo cruisers. The rooms, which are 131 square feet, are laid out the same as regular Infinite Verandas, except everything is just slightly smaller (including the bed, which is a single, but queen-size).
Balcony: You'll find a limited number of true balcony staterooms on Edge, in two categories: Deluxe (202 square feet with a 40-square-foot balcony) and Sunset Veranda (228 square feet with an 89-square-foot balcony). Deluxe veranda rooms are located at either end of the ship and resemble all other standard cabins in terms of layout and amenities. The Sunset Verandas are aft-view rooms, but other than the bigger balcony, have the same layout and features as all other standard rooms.
AquaClass: Celebrity Edge has 106 AquaClass cabins, all in the Infinite Veranda category, two of which are accessible. These spa-inspired rooms have special touches you won't find in any other room category, including a Bossini shower panel, aromatherapy diffuser, pillow menu and daily delivery of flavoured tea and fresh fruit upon request. Additionally, people staying in AquaClass cabins have access to the spa-centric Blu restaurant and get unlimited and complimentary access to the SEA thermal suite. AquaClass passengers also have the service of a spa concierge who can make treatment reservations for them, or even create a spa regimen for them to follow during the cruise.
Concierge Class: There are 290 Concierge Class rooms, all in the Infinite Veranda category, six of which are accessible. People staying in Concierge Class rooms get priority check-in, a welcome aboard lunch in the Cosmopolitan dining room and access to a dedicated concierge who can help make a variety of reservations.
Suites: A whopping 12 percent of the cabins onboard Celebrity Edge are suites, and all of them were designed by BBC-beloved interior decorator Kelly Hoppen. Suite passengers get a bevy of perks, including butlers, meals at the private restaurant Luminae and exclusive access The Retreat. This suite enclave features a tranquil lounge as well as a pool deck that has the best views on the ship. Suite passengers have access to a concierge, 24/7, who can make restaurant reservations, arrange shore excursions or book spa appointments, among other duties. All these perks are available to passengers staying in the ship's Sky Suites -- the entry-level suite -- and above.
Sky Suite: There are 146 Sky Suites onboard Celebrity Edge, which measure anywhere from 298 square feet to 418 square feet. Balconies range from 79 to 163 square feet. The beds in many of these suites are positioned to face the balcony, and there's a funky sliding-glass divider between the bathroom and living space that can be closed for privacy or opened for those wanting ocean views from the loo.
Bathrooms include a shower–bathtub combination and separate toilet. A number of these suites can be combined seasonally with Sunset Veranda cabins to form a Sky Family Suite. The Sunset Veranda cabins add an additional 228 square feet of room space, along with 89 square feet of outdoor balcony space. Sky Suites sleep up to four, and Sunset Verandas can accommodate two. There are two accessible Sky Suites, which are 418 square feet and have 99-square-foot balconies.
Celebrity Suite: There are 16 460-square-foot Celebrity Suites, each featuring a 51-square-foot balcony, and each capable of accommodating up to four passengers. The bedroom and living area are separated by a glass divider, and the master bathroom includes a dressing area and full wardrobe. It also has a combination shower/bathtub. Seasonally, Celebrity Suites can be combined with Concierge Class cabins to create a Celebrity Family Suite, with a total area of 661 square feet. This combined category can accommodate six passengers.
Royal Suite: Celebrity Edge features four Royal Suites, each measuring 687 square feet, with a 72-square-foot balcony. The bedroom is completely separated from the large living area, which includes a dry bar, dining table for four and ample seating in the living room. The suite, which can accommodate four people, includes a powder room as well as an expansive master bathroom. The master bath features a large soaking tub, separate shower and dual sinks.
Penthouse Suite: Two Penthouse Suites, both located on the starboard side of Deck 12, are 1,378 square feet each. The balcony measures 197 square feet. These suites, which accommodate six people, have two bedrooms and two full bathrooms. Gorgeously appointed with plenty of space, the living room includes a dry bar and lots of seating at a cushion-filled couch. (The couch is convertible, accommodating two passengers when it's a bed.) There's also a large dining table and windows everywhere, allowing in oodles of natural light. Both bedrooms feature large, walk-in closets and the master bedroom additionally has a separate changing area. At 235 square feet, the master bathroom is the kind of thing people imagine when they think of luxury, with a huge jetted tub for two, separate Jack-and-Jill sinks, walk-in glass shower with rainfall showerhead, and toilet and bidet. We love that the tub sits against windows, so passengers can enjoy the view while bathing (though no one can see in). The master bedroom also features a private sitting area with Infinite Veranda.
Edge Villa: The six, two-level Edge Villas are 739 square feet and have unlimited ocean views because of their height and location at the front of the ship. (Two suites are on the port side of Decks 15 and 16, while four are on the starboard side of the same decks.) Each villa, which accommodates four, has a large, lower-level living room, dining room with dry bar and two-story windows. The bed, on the second floor, faces out to the sea. There is also a sofa bed that sleeps two. The lower floor features a full bathroom with one sink and shower with a rainfall showerhead. Upstairs, off the bedroom, is the master bathroom, which features marble tiling, a soaking tub, single sink and a separate tub and shower (also with a rainfall showerhead).
The balcony, though, is the piece de resistance. The 211-square-foot veranda feels like a little slice of heaven, with cushy couch, two padded lounge chairs, an Adirondack-style green rocking chair, table and deep jetted pool.
The Villas have direct walk-out access to The Retreat sun deck.
Iconic Suite: Edge features two of these enormous two-bedroom, two-bathroom suites that feel more like a New York City apartment than a cruise ship suite. Both suites, located at the front of the ship on Deck 12, are 1,892 square feet and feature 689-square-foot balconies. They can accommodate up to six people. They are located directly above the bridge, essentially giving those passengers the same views the captain sees.
The living area includes a dining table for six, large convertible couch, several plush chairs, a bright red swinging chair, cocktail table and several console tables. The suite includes a pantry, with a private entrance for the butler so as not to disturb passengers while they're in the room. The entire outer edge of the suite is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows.
The bed in the master bedroom faces the windows and a drop-down TV comes from the ceiling at the foot of the bed. A two-person jetted tub is the centrepiece of the marble-tiled master bathroom, which has separate Jack-and-Jill sinks, a glass-enclosed shower and closed-off water closet, with toilet and bidet.
The second bedroom area includes a large closet/changing area and marble-tiled bathroom with glass shower.
The Iconic Suite balcony sits right on top of the bridge wing. It includes a shaded sunbed, four deep, padded wicker chairs with ottomans, live plants everywhere and a deep hot tub.
Modern types who prefer a whimsical approach to onboard dining, drinking, décor and entertainment
Anyone scared off by being trendy; boisterous families; cruisers who want dining variety without paying extra
Celebrity draws a broad range of travellers, most attracted by the cuisine, unusual entertainment and creative itineraries. Passenger ages typically average in the 50s, with family groups more visible in the summer and during school vacations. The longer and more exotic cruises usually host an older demographic, and the passenger mix varies with the port of embarkation but most are from North America, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand.
Yes and no. The norm on most Celebrity sailings is smart-casual, but in the Galapagos, attire is casual. Despite the daytime casual vibe, you won't find T-shirts, swimsuits, robes, bare feet, tank tops, baseball caps or swimwear in the main restaurant or specialty restaurants at any time. Formal nights (held once on cruises six nights or shorter, twice on longer itineraries) have been replaced by Evening Chic, where anything from cocktail attire to formal wear is appropriate. The dress code also extends to the theatre on those evenings.
No. The cruise fare for a Celebrity cruise covers dining in several complimentary venues, including the Main Dining Room, Oceanview Café buffet restaurant, Spa Café, Mast Grill (on most ships) and Seaside Grill. Room service is also complimentary, except for the period between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Passengers staying at certain suite levels have additional complimentary dining privileges, and those staying in AquaClass rooms can dine in the Blu restaurant without charge. Water, basic coffee and tea, and certain juices are provided free of charge, but unless you're booked in certain suite categories, you'll have to pay extra for soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. The extensive entertainment from Broadway-style theatre to circus shows, comedy, magic, dance and live music is all available without charge. The kids' program is also free, though you'll pay extra for babysitting. Shore excursions are not covered by cruise fares, nor are gratuities, spa and salon services and some fitness classes. There is also a fee for Wi-Fi and laundry services.
On ships with the Lawn Club, hanging out on the grass, whether playing bocce or just relaxing and reading, is one of the most popular activities for Celebrity cruisers. Other popular things to do on these ships is lounge in the adults-only Solarium, hit the Canyon Ranch Spa or participate in wine tasting. Some ships also offer hot glassmaking demonstrations and classes; sign up early for the classes because they fill up fast. On ships without a Lawn Club, relaxing by the pool or in the Solarium is popular, as are the once- or twice-per-cruise Rooftop film and dinner events. At night, Celebrity showcases everything from Vegas-style production shows to comedians and cabaret, drawing a crowd each time. The ships have a robust program for kids, a lot of it centred on edutainment. Many of the activities are offered courtesy of partners like Anturus, Lonely Planet, Xbox, Fat Brain Toys and Budsies.
