The best part of cruising is being able to forget the details – packing your bags and letting the masters of hospitality wine, dine and entertain en route to exciting new destinations. And few cruise lines do that quite like Celebrity Cruises, a consistently top-ranking company on the Cruisers’ Choice “Cruise Critic” Awards. Their newest ship, the ultra-modern Celebrity Edge, takes luxury on the high seas to a whole new level.
This is Celebrity’s first new ship in 10 years and they’ve taken the motto “go big or go home” to heart, enlisting internationally-renowned architects and interior designers to complete the layout and programming of the 2 918-passenger ship. And they’re just getting started: Celebrity Edge will be joined by three sister ships in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
One of its signature new spaces is the Rooftop Garden and an indoor living space called Eden – these lush green spaces are tended by a resident horticulturalist, and at night the botanical heavens transform into a live music venue and outdoor movie-and-meal cinema.
There are also 29 restaurants serving up fresh-baked bread and dishes made from scratch with locally-sourced ingredients. From luxurious to casual, there are dining options for everyone.
Seriously – this ship is cool: watch the video.
One of the classic complaints about cruising is the size of staterooms. Thankfully, Celebrity took this into account when designing the Celebrity Edge: the new design adds about 23% more square footage and 10% more space to bathrooms than Celebrity’s Solstice Class. Each of the spaces is designed as if it were a luxury home; almost all the rooms have a king-sized bed, complete with cashmere bedding and mattresses handcrafted in Italy.
Here's another wow factor: staterooms with an “infinite veranda” no longer have a clear separation between room and balcony – the touch of a button provides seamless open-air access to the sea. These flexible spaces make it possible to connect staterooms, so if you’re travelling with friends or family, you can combine two adjoining staterooms with infinite verandas to become one giant space. Other controls allow passengers to personalise their surroundings, including lighting, shades, temperature and service – one setting will even tuck you into bed or gently wake you up!
Talk about a personal sanctuary (with 24/7 butler service, we might add)! Celebrity Edge adds a whole new class of suites to chose from. Iconic Suites are more than 241 sq.m. (with two bedrooms and two bathrooms) and are located above the ship’s bridge. They’ve got panoramic windows off the dining room, living room and bedrooms – and with a veranda with 270-degree views of the ocean, you’ll never miss a sunset!
Another new suite class offers two-storey Edge Villas with private plunge pools and direct walk-out access to the exclusive The Retreat Sundeck, an exclusive pool and lounge area. Meanwhile, Penthouse Suites have large soaking tubs on the veranda, dual walk-through showers, and impressive walk-in closets. All Suites offer personal butler services and access to The Retreat.
"Every element of Celebrity Edge is meant to make that connection intense and unforgettable,” says Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises. “Our guests don't want to just skim the world like a magazine – they want to feel a human connection…Our new class of ship will allow guests to experience their journeys with the uniqueness and sophistication that marks the rest of their lives.”
Cantilevered from the side of the ship, Celebrity Edge’s “Magic Carpet” is a feat of engineering. It’s a tennis court-sized floating platform that reaches heights of 13 storeys above sea level. The moving platform scales the ship throughout the day and evening, stopping at four of the ship’s decks; depending on its positioning, mood and function, it provides new dining, meeting and venue spaces – as well as incredible views.
Book a Caribbean sailing, just in time for the December holidays! There’s limited availability, so contact your nearest Sure Travel Agency to enquire or book soon, or call 0861 47 48 49.
