Celebrity Cruises’ new ship, Celebrity Beyond, arrived in Southampton on Friday ahead of her inaugural voyage on 27 April. Along with my fellow Voyage Consultant, Louisa, I was lucky enough to be invited onboard for a two-night stay, giving me ample time to experience what many believe will go on to be the jewel in Celebrity Cruises’ crown.
Following Celebrity Edge (2018) and Celebrity Apex (2021), the 3,260-guest vessel is the third ship in Celebrity Cruises’ innovative – and highly praised – Edge Series. While Celebrity Beyond shares many similarities with her sister ships, there are a few differences: She is twenty metres longer and boasts an extra deck, allowing for 179 more suites and staterooms. In addition, Celebrity Cruises’ exclusive club-style area, The Retreat, has expanded and boasts 40% more sundeck space on Celebrity Beyond.
Where the design and layout are concerned, Celebrity Cruises worked with a team of icons to bring the ship to life. These include multi-award-winning designer Kelly Hoppen CBA, Michelin-starred Chef Daniel Boulud, and Goop founder and CEO Gwenyth Paltrow. As such, Celebrity Beyond takes the Edge Series in a direction that is unique from her predecessors, with re-imagined public spaces, twenty-nine (29!) dining venues and a fully-realised wellbeing concept that rivals anything you’ll find on land.
First impressions
Catching a first glimpse of ‘your’ ship for the first time is always special, but I have to be honest, having only travelled aboard smaller vessels in the past, I was taken aback by the size of Celebrity Beyond – she is big! Resplendent with her brilliant royal blue hull, the ship painted a pretty picture and really stood out amongst all the industrial port buildings.
Celebrity Beyond is Celebrity Cruises’ third Edge Series ship.
Our first task was to get on board, which isn’t possible with Celebrity Cruises without your vaccination credentials. If you’re double or triple-jabbed, it could not be more straightforward. You’re required to do a PCR or antigen test within 48 hours of embarkation, proof of which you will need to upload onto the app. Once done, you’re free to board. Understandably, many of the questions I have had in the past year related to this topic, and it was reassuring to know that Celebrity Cruises make it easy.
My colleagues Lee and Debbie joined Celebrity Beyond two days later – please click below to hear their initial thoughts on the ship:
Accommodation
We’d been allocated a spacious mid-ship Infinite Veranda Stateroom on deck 8 for our cruise. I wasn’t sure what I would make of the Celebrity’s trademark Infinite Veranda (which extends the living space to the water’s edge). However, I was impressed! It’s a great concept and allows fantastic views without exposing you to wind chill. Furthermore, the black-out blinds and eXhale bedding make getting out of bed very challenging – in the best possible way. The ensuite bathroom was also a pleasant surprise, boasting a full-size shower cubicle and plenty of space.
It’s also worth noting that the Wi-Fi connection throughout my stay was excellent. I was able to make video calls and work from my stateroom without any technical issues.
Here’s a tour of Lee’s Concierge Veranda Stateroom:
Facilities
The decor throughout Celebrity Beyond is very modern, with light, airy spaces extending beyond the accommodation to the ship’s public areas and lounges, many of which we visited while onboard.
The first area we visited was the fitness centre which had everything you would expect to find and more. It was a considerable space, modern and clean and equipped with the latest fitness equipment. It also boasted panoramic windows so you could train with a view.
The Spa was equally well-equipped, with several treatment rooms, speciality massage tables and a sauna with a generous panoramic window. It also had a barbershop, which I had never seen on a ship before.
Finally, we visited the Solarium which is located between the swimming pool and the spa on deck 14. Again, it boasts a large glass roof, making it the perfect location for relaxing in one of the two hot tubs or swimming in the generously-sized pool on a cold and rainy day.
The indoor swimming pool at the Solarium.
Dining
Despite only being onboard for two nights, we managed to dine at a different venue each mealtime. We met up with some friends on our first night and dined at the Tuscan Restaurant. I enjoyed a delicious carbonara, and there was a lively yet homely atmosphere throughout. We dined at the Cosmopolitan Restaurant on our second night, where I ordered the Grilled New York Steak – a decision I wouldn’t hesitate to make again!
One of the speciality pasta dishes in the Tuscan Restaurant.
We also enjoyed a beverage (or two) at several venues, including Eden, perhaps the most unique and beautifully-decorated space onboard, and the Rooftop Garden, where we sat on one of the many cabanas and watched a film on the big screen. But I have to say, my favourite venue was the Magic Carpet. We sat cantilevered above the sea and enjoyed a cocktail in the sunshine.
The Magic Carpet on Celebrity Beyond.
Final thoughts
If you’re looking for a luxury cruise holiday but don’t want to miss out on the facilities bigger ships offer, then Celebrity Beyond is the ideal choice. She is an excellent addition to the Edge Series and continues Celebrity Cruises’ desire to improve the onboard experience with each new vessel.
As a new-to-Celebrity cruiser, Celebrity Beyond exceeded all my expectations, especially where accommodation and dining were concerned. This ship is a superb option for couples seeking an alternative to a more traditional resort-based holiday. At the same time, I feel younger families will love the range of things to do onboard, even more so during sea days when the ship’s facilities and attractions really come into their own.
My top tips for cruising on Celebrity Beyond
- I would avoid booking a stateroom below deck 7 as the top of the lifeboats are visible from deck 6.
- Regarding dining, I would avoid going down the Select Dining Anytime route as we experienced some trouble getting into our chosen restaurant on the first night. I would recommend Select Dining Early or Late to guarantee you have a reservation. You can always cancel or amend the time of the reservation if you need to.
Find out more
If this review has piqued your interest and you would like to learn more about Celebrity Beyond, you can speak to Jess about her time onboard by calling us on 0800 008 6677.
