CRUISE CATEGORIES:

Ship Category: Large Ships up to 4000 Passengers

Capacity: 2593 to 3480 Passengers 

Ships: 11 

Customers: Adults, Couples, Families 

Description and Background:

Celebrity Cruises is a premium cruise line with large ships that has been owned by the Royal Caribbean Group since 1998. The company announced an exciting $500 million project in 2018 to “revolutionize” its entire fleet of nine vessels over the next five years while adding five new “Edge Class” ships with luxury enhancements. One focus of the project is the addition of an exclusive high end resort area called The Retreat on all ships. The Retreat features approximately 150 suite rooms and villas which enjoy special amenities. These amenities include a European style beach club and pool, a 24-hour lounge with beverages, light fare and concierge services, and a fine dining area called Luminae with special culinary offerings from Chef Daniel Boulud. Another focus of the renovation project is to introduce innovative technology and redesign the interiors of all staterooms and public areas on ships, and to deploy new venues on selected ships such as the Magic Carpet café and entertainment porch that moves vertically along the side of the ship. 

Celebrity ranks as one of the top eight cruise lines in the world in terms of the number of passengers carried each year. It seeks to provide an elevated level of guest services and shipboard activities that will attract sophisticated cruisers, younger couples, and family travelers. Celebrity’s existing Millennium and Solstice Class ships hold from 2593 to 3480 passengers and the new Edge Class ships will carry around 3300. The company competes with other large ship cruise lines such as Norwegian, Princess, Holland America and MSC. 

NOTABLE FEATURES OF CELEBRITY SHIPS:

The Millennium class vessels and the five Solstice class vessels introduced features that were new and interesting for larger ships at the time. For example, Celebrity created a separate enclosed pool area on the resort deck for all adult passengers called the Solarium. It has spa features such as thalassotherapy beds, comfortable lounge chairs, and quiet area hot tubs. In addition, for many years there was an excellent spa café in the Solarium which had healthy food available throughout the day such as smoked salmon, croissant sandwiches, fruit, and other delights. The spa and fitness center on the resort deck was supplemented by a relaxation area known as the Persian Garden which is now only available to Aqua class passengers and passengers who purchase day passes. It includes steam rooms, saunas, heated relaxation loungers, locker rooms and refreshments. The Solstice class ships added a half-acre real grass lawn to the rear portion of the upper deck called The Lawn Club. It features a hot glass class center with seats, a screen that displays movies at various times, a small grill with seating, and areas for lawn bowling and bocce.

All Celebrity ships are designed with multiple pool options, sunning areas, and recreation areas. Consequently, once cruisers get familiar with the layout and all the various nooks and crannies of the ship, it is easy to find either a quiet or shady area to read a book or a seat near the action. There is an avant garde retreat area on deck 7 of the Solstice class ships called The Hideaway which has become popular for this purpose. For younger passengers and the athletically inclined, the youth centers and sports deck available on most ships provide a special place for meeting others and exercising. It is not yet clear, however, whether some of these historic Celebrity features will be eliminated in retrofitting the nine older ships to add The Retreat and its accoutrements to the upper decks.

The interiors of Celebrity ships match the style of a boutique hotel by adding bright touches to the soft earth tones in the common areas. It will be interesting to see if the “dazzling and avant-garde” design features of the Edge class vessels are incorporated into the remodeled vessels as that project continues.

DINING

Each ship has over a dozen dining options available to all passengers. The principal locations for meals on all ships are the Main Dining Room and the Oceanview Café. The Oceanview Cafe is organized with separated serving and food preparation stations so both people snacking or seeking a relaxing meal can move freely and peruse the available choices. Passengers also have access to grill stations on the resort deck and the Lawn Club, spa food in The Solarium, and specialty coffees, pastries and treats at a European style coffee house called Cafe al Bacio.

Most ships present several specialty dining options such as French cuisine at Murano, the Tuscan Grille which is described as “an Italian ristorante and enoteca with a contemporary twist,” traditional Japanese fare at Sushi on Five, and an artistic dining experience called The Le Petit Chef. Passengers need to purchase a specialty dining package to access these restaurants unless included in a reservation offer. Aqua Class guests have exclusive to an additional restaurant for breakfast and dinner called Blu which strives to provide an “imaginative way of preparing popular dishes without fussiness or pretense” and features many spa inspired dishes and “clean” cuisine. Similarly, passengers staying in The Retreat can eat all their meals at the Luminae on the 15th deck which features striking black, gold and cream décor and presents a changing menu of international dishes each day.

One focus of the Celebrity Revolution is to add more specialty restaurants and al fresco dining locations to the ships. In total, there are twenty-nine unique food and beverage experiences provided on board Edge class vessels. New offerings include the Fine Cut Steakhouse, Le Grand Bistro, a sophisticated seafood location called Raw on five, and the innovative Eden Restaurant. The most dramatic venue is the Magic Carpet locale which extends outward from the ship and can move from deck to deck. It has comfortable seating, a full bar, and space for live music performances. 

STATEROOMS

The staterooms on Celebrity include the usual categories of inside cabins, Oceanview cabins, and veranda cabins. The rooms in these categories range from 170 square feet to 242 square feet, but family veranda rooms and sunset veranda rooms in the rear of the ship are larger. These three classes of passengers all receive the same services and benefits but can purchase access to the specialty restaurants along with upgraded beverage and spa services. One popular option is the concierge veranda rooms which come with amenities like dedicated concierge services, along with daily wine, hors d’oevres and room enhancements. 

When Celebrity debuted the Solstice class ships, it added Aqua Class staterooms and suites to its offerings. These guests enjoy a state-of-the-art veranda room with wellness touches together with access to the Blu restaurant, fitness classes, and additional spa suites. The Edge class vessels have enhanced the Aqua staterooms by creating an infinite veranda room where the traditional balcony area is incorporated into the stateroom and the upper half of the outer wall is replaced with a window that can be raised or lowered. Most important, Celebrity has added a new first-class product, the all-suite Retreat area, to its new ships and renovated ones. There are numerous suite products available at the Retreat which range from several hundred square feet in size to close to two thousand square feet. These include a two-deck high villa on the Celebrity Edge with a plunge pool. Retreat quarters come with exclusive access to private areas of the ships.

SHIP ACTIVITIES:

Celebrity Cruises offers all the onboard activities found on other large cruise ships without the amusement park attractions of some Royal Caribbean, Norwegian or Carnival vessels. The entertainment and wellness facilities of the ships have been continually improved over the past decade and the Revolution project emphasizes these activities. Exercise options now include F45 fitness classes and Peloton cycling along with a full array of weight machines and cardio equipment. The spa services are extensive and professional therapists provide specialty treatments. Other activities available in the spa are a Women in Wellness program, Gwyneth Paltrow’s wellness products, and a Kerastase Salon beauty experience. 

The entertainment philosophy of Celebrity seems to be that passenger seeking luxury accommodations do not have to be bored and may want to party too. Celebrity describes its entertainment activities as follows: “Our luxury cruise ships are filled with entertainment for all ages and preferences. Watch riveting shows at the cutting-edge theater, which feature popular music, stunning dance sequences, and gravity defying acrobatics. Sign up for a wine tasting with one of our expert sommeliers or take a hot glass class…. Take the kids to the Camp at Sea…. Arrange a romantic picnic at the rooftop Lawn Club, where you can lounge on a half-acre of real grass while gazing at the ocean. Enjoy a thrilling night out at the casino or a leisurely afternoon shopping in the onboard boutiques. Sip on cocktails and dance under the stars….”

ITINERARIES:

Over the past two decades, Celebrity has expanded its traditional focus on cruises to the Caribbean, Europe, and North American ports to reach locations throughout the world. Celebrity cruises now embark from major ports in Australia, Asia, and South America. Ships sailing from U.S. ports visit not only the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Bermuda, but also travel to Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, and the Panama Canal. Celebrity also has three small expedition vessels carrying one hundred passengers that are used for voyages to the Galapagos Islands and Antarctica. 

Celebrity has for many years offered excellent itineraries for visiting key destinations in the Mediterranean and northern Europe. Some interesting destinations planned for the next two years include cruises to Iceland, Ireland, and Greenland, and to the South Pacific. While seven- and eight-day cruises are common, the large ships offer enough activities to make a 15-day voyage on Celebrity interesting and enjoyable. 

EDITOR’S PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:

Years ago, I cruised on Celebrity’s Millennium and Solstice class vessels with my wife and son to numerous European countries for the first time. We had fun on the ships and found that the excursions offered in places like Turkey, Egypt, Russia, Norway, Scotland, and Spain provided our family with useful introductions to those countries. These experiences led us to visit Europe on our own in subsequent years and to learn more about the history, culture, and people of these nations. Our most recent cruise on Celebrity took place in the fall of 2019. Celebrity offered an expansive itinerary which included three stops in Croatia, one in Slovenia, and one in Montenegro, followed by a visit to Sicily and two stops in the Balearic Islands, and ended with visits to Valencia and Barcelona. Although the Infinity was beginning to show its age and will benefit from its scheduled upgrade in 2022, we enjoyed the experience and remain loyal Celebrity customers. 

The massive changes in style and substance being implemented by the company represent a bold approach. They could help Celebrity rise above the crowd or cause confusion among cruisers. Early reports by travelers about the EPIC class ships are positive, but it remains to be seen whether these revolutionary changes will enhance passenger experiences on the Millennium and Solstice class vessels. Three questions arise about these changes. First, will existing Celebrity cruisers buy into the three levels of service Celebrity is now offering - regular staterooms, Aqua class staterooms, and Retreat suites? The ship within a ship concept has been used by Norwegian, MSC, and Cunard with mixed success. Second, will the fine dining restaurants, butler service, exclusive pools, and improved spa facilities of The Retreat meet the luxury expectations of premium customers who are being asked to pay $600 to $700 per day per person to travel on Celebrity? Third, can Celebrity develop enough exotic itineraries to satisfy experienced cruisers and premium customers? Celebrity’s large vessels often dock in industrial ports and cannot access the more remote locales explored by smaller luxury ships that carry 300 to 1250 passengers. It will be interested to see what the future brings for this company and we hope to take a voyage on one of the EPIC class ships soon.

Average Daily Price Per Person excluding airfare for Basic Veranda Stateroom and Meals:

Over $500   _ __     $350 to $500 ____       $200 to $350 _X___    Under $200 ____

SERVICES PROVIDED WITHOUT ADDITIONAL CHARGE

• Gratuities to staff

• Internet Use

• Entertainment

• Coffees, Teas, and water

• Lectures and Destination Talks

EDITOR’S OVERALL REPORT OF CRUISE LINE QUALITY AND VALUE-   4.30

4.5 to 5.0 is Outstanding / 4.0 to 4.5 is Very Good / 3.5 to 4.0 is Acceptable / 2.5 to 3.5 is Fair / Less than 2.5 is Poor

This profile is based on information published by the cruise line or gathered from other published sources. Other information listed in the profile as the Editor’s Personal Observations and Overall Report reflects the personal experience and opinion of the Editor which may or may not be applicable to other guests traveling on the ship.