On board Celebrity Beyond, the third ship in Celebrity Cruises’ Edge series, we called the all-suite The Retreat home, a ship-within-a-ship experience that’s a wonderful option for clients with deep pockets. A stay in The Retreat means personalized, elevated and exclusive services and amenities, with the rest of Celebrity Beyond’s myriad offerings only steps away.
While offered on all Edge-class ships, on board Celebrity Beyond The Retreat has been expanded and now features a 2-story sundeck, a larger lounge area with floor-to-ceiling windows on both sides, and the Luminae restaurant, available exclusively to The Retreat guests. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the elegant Luminae serves elevated cuisine with special items from Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud.
Those staying within The Retreat have access to all-inclusive premium drinks, complimentary WiFi, butler service, priority check-in at the port and priority tender and boarding at the different ports of call.
There is a total of 198 suites to choose from on Celebrity Beyond and with seven categories—from the 1,892-sf Iconic Suite to the 319-sf Sky Suite—there’s something for everyone. On our sailing, we luxuriated in a Celebrity Suite, which ranges from 294 to 498 sq. ft., and features a living room with L-shaped couch as well as floor-to-ceiling windows opening onto a large terrace (51 to 100 sq. ft.). The design is a soothing neutral palette with sophisticated textures and patterns.
Celebrity Beyond Differences
Celebrity Beyond is a bit longer, taller (17 decks vs. 16) and sleeker than her Edge-class sisters, and overall offers your clients 179 more suites and staterooms, for a total of 1,646 cabins. There’s also more resort deck as well as open-air spaces, restaurants, lounges and bars, including the new intimate World Class Bar, with exclusive spirits. The Sunset Bar, for instance, is 180 percent larger, and the Martini Bar, which serves over 30 different martinis, is now in the center of the atrium, able to accommodate more people around its bar.
Culinary Excellence
While suite guests have access to the aforementioned private restaurant Luminae, passengers should not miss the specialty dining venues aboard Celebrity Beyond. We dined at Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud; it’s the famous chef’s first signature restaurant at sea. The food, service and champagne and wine pairing are divine—simply one of the top dining experiences to date in my 40-year travel career. On another evening, we ate at Raw on 5, an amazing culinary treat that offers an Asian-inspired fare. Here, we ordered a seafood tower spilling over with fresh lobster, oysters, crab and more. There are six other specialty restaurants to choose from as well as four main dining venues. In total, there are 32 F&B experiences. 
More Public Spaces
There are so many stellar public spaces, including, the Rooftop Garden and the Magic Carpet. Other onboard experiences include immersive shows such as “Arte,” as well as shows inspired by Broadway and West End musicals, and the Eden lounge, with its ever-evolving entertainment experiences.
Celebrity’s wellness offerings are also top-notch. On board Celebrity Beyond your clients will find everything from specialty classes to detox smoothies. The spa itself has an array of massages and body therapies on the menu; the onboard F45 Fitness Program features high-intensity group workouts; and the fitness room features, among other amenities, Peloton equipment. The brand is so committed to wellness, it aligns itself with highly respected female leaders in the wellness industry.
And don’t forget—Celebrity’s fourth Edge-class ship, Celebrity Ascent, will debut at the end of this year.
For more information, visit celebritycruises.com.
