Celebrity Edge
Fodor’s Expert Review
Ship Overview
Car...nsatlantic
Celebrity Edge’s outward-facing design and stylish interiors shake up old notions of what a mainstream cruise ship should look and feel like. Built in 2018 to the tune of $1 billion, the expense is evident in the groundbreaking design, integrated technology, and quality finishings. The ship was the first of Celebrity’s newest Edge-class series of ships, a top-tier fleet positioning the company as the crème de la crème of premium cruise lines. Namesake Celebrity Edge was joined by Celebrity Apex in 2021 and Celebrity Beyond in 2022.Read More
Edge’s maiden voyage was in December 2018. It was out of service due to the pandemic from March 2020 until June 2021. The relatively short amount of time in active service means the ship still feels remarkably fresh and new.
Innovation, art, and sophisticated design distinguishes Celebrity Edge from others. A hive of notable architects and designers is responsible for this evolution. The interior was conceived by a team who had never done a cruise ship before; it shows, in a good way. They threw off the shackles of convention and brought the level of modern luxury you would find in a new city hotel or Las Vegas restaurant. Views are maximized and bring the outdoors in, allowing passengers to feel connected to the sea. Public spaces are spacious, especially the glamorous Grand Plaza, the atrium at the ship’s heart that spans three decks and features a dazzling LED chandelier rising above the Martini Bar. Of the 1,467 staterooms, 81% have verandas. Edge’s standard room, Stateroom with Infinite Veranda, feels like an urban condo and boasts floor-to-ceiling glass windows that can be opened.
Art is an integral part of the Edge experience. The ship is a floating gallery with a collection of over 4,000 artworks, everything from fine art photographs in corridors and every stateroom, to playful sculptures and large-scale installations. The art brings visual interest and whimsy without being messy or distracting.
Designed by Tom Wright, the British architect behind the iconic Burj Al Arab, the Magic Carpet is a glass-walled cantilever platform on the starboard side that can be moved up and down. When at deck 2, it’s a tendering platform. At deck 5, it becomes outdoor dining for Raw on 5 restaurant. All the way up, 13-stories above sea level, it’s a top-of-the-world bar/lounge. Wright also collaborated on the main pool deck, once again upending conventions with an outward-facing design affording magnificent views.
Edge is a state-of-the-art experience, complimented by the attentive service and fine food that Celebrity is known for. The premium price shows up in the details, big and small: a cold towel and refreshment at the gangway when returning from a shore excursion, Riedel glassware, and the option of anytime evening dining.
Celebrity Edge is for a more sophisticated traveler, one who appreciates the finer things in life, the quiet comfort of a well-designed stateroom and full-service culinary experiences, as well as the liveliness, social atmosphere, and stacked entertainment of a 2,918 passenger ship. It’s also a ship for world travelers. Celebrity Edge covers a lot of ocean sailing Europe, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Transatlantic. Most itineraries range from 8 to 15 days.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
What to expect on board
Staterooms & Cabins
Celebrity Edge has a total of 1,467 staterooms, and they are some of the largest found on a mainstream ship. All staterooms are 200 sq ft or larger, except for the 17 Inside and 16 Single cabins. A whopping 99% have a king-sized bed; 81% have verandas. There are 178 options for connecting staterooms.
British interior designer Kelly Hoppen used clean lines and light neutral tones such as soft gray, birch, and white to create restful, elegant staterooms. Returning to your room feels like coming into a modern urban condo. The design succeeds where many city hotels fail: The lighting is perfect, and the space feels chic yet residential–easy, casual, and comfortable. The user-friendly control panel has four lighting presets: morning, evening, sleep, and movie. The temperature, window, blinds, and TV can also be controlled on this panel, or from your phone via the app. Raising the blinds from bed in the morning to find yourself at a new port is one of the greatest pleasures.
All rooms have an oversized flatscreen TV, luxurious bedding, and Celebrity Edge-series’ signature Cashmere Mattress, which are a dream. The closet space is adequate. Bathrooms are as elegant and streamlined as the rooms. Water pressure is excellent, and hot water comes within seconds. Most single-use plastic has been eliminated. Infinite Veranda category and below get basic Celebrity products in the dispensers. Concierge Class to Celebrity Suite have C.O. Bigelow brand bath amenities. Top-tier suites and villas are stocked with Le Labo.
Staterooms
Celebrity Edge has the widest range of staterooms in the cruise line’s entire fleet. Distinguishing the categories can be confusing.
Celebrity Edge’s standard stateroom is the Infinite Veranda, forming the bulk of their inventory with 512 staterooms (202 sq ft) and 16 single occupancy (131 sq ft). The clever design really shines. There’s a retractable writing desk/vanity, a stool/side table that doubles as storage, and a divan sofa that can be used as a single bed and has space underneath for shoes. Gone are the sliding glass doors of yore. Bi-fold doors separate the “infinite veranda”, an indoor sitting area that converts to a balcony. When the doors are collapsed to the side, the veranda becomes an outward extension of the room, granting a full view through a floor-to-ceiling window. The window can be lowered half-way with a press of a button; when open, the a/c automatically switches off. Keep in mind that the captain can shut and disable them from central command due to rough seas or weather.
Concierge Class and AquaClass use the same rooms. What distinguishes these categories are the extras. The 284 Concierge Class staterooms include an exclusive welcome aboard lunch, priority tender and a dedicated concierge. The 106 AquaClass staterooms are for wellness-minded guests. It includes a pillow menu, complimentary access to fitness classes and the SEA Thermal Suite (the spa’s sauna and steam room), yoga mat by request and private restaurant Blu, focused on clean cuisine.
The standard room is impressive, so it’s no surprise that the higher categories are equally so. Edge has 176 suites: 146 sky suites (302-313 square feet); 16 celebrity suites (460 square feet); four royal suites (687 square feet); six edge villas (739 square feet) two-story residences with private plunge pool; two penthouse suites (1,378 square feet); and the largest, two iconic suites (1,892 square feet), sporting its own terrace, hot tub and jaw dropping views from above the captain’s bridge.
Suites are part of “The Retreat,” a kind of private club and all-inclusive experience within the ship. The concept is available on Edge-series and select refurbished ships. Retreat guests have access to an exclusive pool, sundeck, jacuzzi, and 24-hour lounge. Located at the bow of the highest deck, the Retreat pool/sundeck feels like a chic private beach club. However, on an at-sea day, the limitation of its intimate size quickly becomes obvious. There are simply not enough beds, tables, and chairs to accommodate the numbers. To make up for this drawback, Retreat’s biggest perk is private restaurant Luminae. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the restaurant showcases signature dishes by Daniel Boulud. Retreat class also includes butler, concierge, gratuities, onboard credit, unlimited premium drinks and premium Wi-Fi.
Most non-suite staterooms can accommodate three guests (the divan sofa being the third bed). Some have pull out sofa beds to fit four. However, fitting three or four would feel tight in rooms without verandas, which afford an extra 40-45 feet of breathing space.
Edge has 25 wheelchair accessible staterooms. The smallest is 231 square feet, the largest is 418 square feet. Those who cannot use stairs should not book the six Edge Villa 2-bedroom suites, which are two-story residences.
As a new, modern ship, hallways are wide and designed for ease of passage.
With sufficient notice, Celebrity Cruises can accommodate requests for accessible transportation for transfers, extra assistance, ASL services and for equipment such as teletypewriters. You can find more details here.
Celebrity offers autism-friendly services for kids, including priority boarding, sensory-friendly films, and toys.
Dialysis at Sea partners with Celebrity Cruise Line on select ships and sailings.
Food & Drink
Celebrity has earned a reputation in the cruise industry for its culinary offering, and the company continues to push the envelope through their Edge-series. Celebrity Edge passengers are spoiled for choice. There are 29 food and beverage experiences. This includes nine complimentary dining options (one buffet, four main restaurants, three café/grills, and room service), six specialty restaurants, and two private restaurants. Gourmands who want to try as many of gastronomic experiences as possible need strategic planning. The main buffet is plenteous, but the full-service restaurants are where guests can really feel the warmth, charm, and professional hospitality that Celebrity is known for. It’s these interactions that make the trip memorable.
The food caters to the main demographic of Edge-series ships, American and British, with a heavy emphasis on European cuisine. Each outlet has its own signature cocktails, a sommelier, and bar service. Reservations are strongly recommended and if there’s no availability showing on the app, which is often the case, you can contact the guest services desk to book.
Oceanview Café, the complimentary breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet, is a generous spread. For lunch on an at-sea day, there are around 14 hot stations and seven cold stations, with part of the daily menu highlighting the current country. Some global flair comes in the form of a small Indian/Asian station. If you’re looking for spice and chili, though, it’ll be coming from a condiment bottle. Vegetarians I spoke to were happy with the plant-based dishes. Located at the stern on the 14th floor, Oceanview Café’s dining room boasts the best view of all the outlets. Indoor and outdoor seating line the floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows for spectacular unobstructed vistas, balancing the buffet bustle with a light, airy seaside café feel.
The four complimentary restaurants, Tuscan (Italian), Cyprus (Mediterranean), Normandie (French), and Cosmopolitan (new American), have dishes exclusive to the restaurant, as well as dishes that are available across all four: a classic menu that is always available and a menu of the day.
There are six specialty restaurants: Rooftop Garden Grill, Le Grand Bistro, Le Petit Chef, Fine Cut Steakhouse, Eden, and Raw on 5. Specialty restaurants are available for a cover charge ($30–$65 per person, plus service charge) or through a dining package where guests can choose how many times and when. The larger the package, the greater the savings. Fine Cut, a classic steakhouse, is popular. Seafood lovers should head to Raw of 5 for oysters, seafood towers, ceviches, and sushi; on select days, Raw of 5 diners can opt for seating on the Magic Carpet, the ship’s unique cantilever open-air platform that can be moved up or down the starboard side. Dinner comes to life with the Le Petit Chef, an imaginative, albeit twee show that would appeal to kids. A projection onto your table and plate has a little animated chef prepare each course before it is served.
Eden is Edge’s fine dining, chef-driven showcase. The gourmet restaurant is breathtaking. Ivy and ferns cascade down the tessellated walls of this tropical oasis at the stern. Glass windows soar two stories high to a ceiling covered in floating geometric panels. The dining room is airy yet manages to feel intimate with leather banquets, soft lighting, and a fully open kitchen. Only fresh ingredients are used in the rich, mainly European-inspired dishes, available a la carte menu or as a tasting menu with wine pairing.
For Edge’s ship-within-a-ship concept, top stateroom categories have their own exclusive restaurants serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The result is a beautiful presentation, and you’ll be spoiled with intimate, personalized service. Blu is a private sit-down restaurant emphasizing clean cuisine, lighter meals, and biodynamic wines for the wellness-minded AquaClass guests. Luminae is an upper-crust experience for The Retreat guests. The menu is different every day and has signature dishes by Chef Daniel Boulud.
Celebrity Edge isn’t a spring break-type party boat, but that doesn’t mean the drinks don’t flow. There are four straightforward beverage packages to choose from: Classic non-alcoholic; premium non-alcoholic; classic including alcoholic beverages up to $9; and premium including alcoholic beverages up to $15. The wines and spirits offered in the classic alcohol package are good quality. Every restaurant has its own sommelier and bar service.
After drinks at the Pool Bar or Sunset Bar at the rear of the ship, the Martini Bar at the heart of the Grand Plaza is where the action starts before things move to The Club, where dancers and acrobats ignite the party. Live music and DJs are a huge part of the Edge experience. At any given time around the ship, there are singers or musicians, everything from intimate one-person acoustic sets to five-piece bands. For a low-key experience, escape the crowds in calm, loungey mixology-driven Eden Bar.
The only thing missing from Edge is a pub-type venue, a casual, cozy place to sit at a bar, chat, and have a good pint. Celebrity also recognized this gap and have added Craft Social, a craft beer bar, to new ships Celebrity Apex and Beyond.
View menus, book, and keep track of reservations on the app. Feeling peckish? At a glance the app shows you what outlets are currently open.
Entertainment
Celebrity Edge is geared towards mid-30s and up, and the featured entertainment reflects that. Don’t expect rowdy drinking games. Edge heavily invests in live music and quality talent. From late afternoon onwards, the Grand Plaza has back-to-back sets of singers and bands, energetically ramping up to late night DJs. By day, The Club is the venue for tame games, pub quizzes, and singalongs until 10 p.m., at which time dancers and acrobats get the adults-only party going. Eden Bar showcases acoustic talent for a mellow lounge vibe.
In the daytime, games led by the Cruise Director keep things light and lively poolside. Meetups and cocktail hours facilitate socialization for solo travelers, veterans, Gen Z, LBGTQIA+, and teens, just to name a few. There is also a daily Friends of Bill W. meeting.
Instead of just rows of seats facing a stage, The Theatre was designed to be an immersive, sensory experience. The seating wraps around the circular stage, affording good sightlines from any seat. Celebrity put all the latest technological bells and whistles into this venue, and the elaborate productions don’t hold back in showing it off. The backdrop is projected onto giant moving screens, stage platforms and staircases rotate, the stage is rigged for acrobatics. Theater lovers will be impressed by the production quality. No expense was spared in the lighting, sound, and size of the cast. For example, one show included a musician ensemble, singers, dancers, aerialist, acrobats, and trampolinists. Other nights, comedians and magicians take center stage.
While Edge doesn’t have waterslides, go-karting, and other amusement-park-type diversions, kids 3-17 are kept sufficiently busy with age-specific activities. Camp at Sea, the kids’ club on deck 3, has activities throughout the day. Teen (age 13-17) oriented activities are hosted in the basement rec room, which is equipped with sofas, Xbox, and games such as table tennis. Movies are shown on the Rooftop Garden’s big screen.
When it comes to shopping, Edge is reaching for the stars. The retail is predominantly luxury brands and jewelry: Cartier, Bulgari, Tiffany & Co., along with a luxury watch shop, upscale handbags, jewelry, large artwork, and duty-free perfume and spirits. Those looking for affordable resort wear, items for under $100 or sundries will be disappointed, the selection is very small.
The iLounge is both an internet lounge and an Authorized Apple Reseller stocked with a small selection of accessories, such as chargers and headphones. Being trapped on a boat with loved ones is the perfect opportunity to finally get professional family photos done at The Studio.
The smoke-free Casino is not a prominent feature of the ship, however, it should satisfy those who love to play. The casino bar is open late and there are nightly slot and card tournaments.
Spa & Fitness
Occupying the entire bow of deck 15, the Fitness Center has an amazing vantage over the sea that may make getting on the treadmill a little easier. Equipment is plentiful, albeit tightly packed in, and it’s everything expected of a modern gym.
Given the small size of their two fitness studios, Edge is aiming for private sessions rather than group classes. The generic daily class (yoga, HIIT, spin) cost a reasonable fee, and every day there is usually one free gym class and short health/wellness seminar. The studio is equipped for LIT Bungee Fit, barre, and cardio boxing. A 365-meter outdoor jogging track spans decks 15 and 16; enjoy the stellar pool and ocean scenery as you chug along.
Since the ship is designed to wow, there are high expectations for the Spa, especially since Celebrity’s spa facilities are considered some of the finest at sea. Expectations also run high due to the price point—a 75-minute deep-tissue massage is $209, a 50-minute facial starts at $149, plus service charge. The spa has the challenges of any large ship: high demand, limited capacity.
The treatments themselves are expertly done, the massage beds are comfortable, but the end-to-end experience could benefit from some ambiance and signature soft touches. The Spa reception is a high-traffic area adjacent to the elevators. People flow through constantly to access the gym, fitness rooms, and sauna; at times it can feel like a clinic waiting room.
The spa is tasked with moving guests in and out on a tightly packed appointment schedule. The experience is more about getting your allotted time, less about immersion in a relaxing environment. Soft touches and attention to detail would easily rectify this feeling. For example, serving a special drink in a teacup rather than water in a paper cup, and there should be no upselling during the actual treatment.
On the upside, the spa has impressive range. There is a Kérastase Institute salon, barber services, acupuncture, teeth whitening, and Ideal Image Ocean treatment center for cosmetic procedures such as Botox and CoolSculpting.
The SEA Thermal Suite is a trademark of Celebrity’s Edge series ships. The sanctuary is designed to be a quiet zone to unwind and detox through eight stations, including wet and dry sauna, hammam, rain showers, salt room, crystalarium, and ocean view loungers. The self-directed pampering is restful when the quiet rules are respected by other patrons. A day pass is US$69, and a single week pass is US$219. The SEA Thermal Suite is included for AquaClass guests.
Key cruising tips
Health & Safety
Celebrity Cruises dropped its vaccination requirement in September 2022 for sailings departing from the U.S. and Europe. For transatlantic cruises and cruises in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Bermuda, select Caribbean cruises and select Central and South American cruises, including the Galapagos Islands, passengers must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of a negative PCR test.
See here for the current status.
For Celebrity guests, wearing of face masks is optional onboard the ship and tender boats. Staff continue to wear K95/FFP2 masks, and there are measures in place for crew to limit spread and exposure. The welcome letter informs passengers they are sailing with all eligible crew fully vaccinated and regularly tested. It also helpfully prepares guests by listing Covid guidelines of every port-of-call, as per the local Health Authority of each country.
As a newer ship, Celebrity Edge’s modern design and use of technology is conducive for minimizing crowding. For example, the mandatory Muster safety drill, which traditionally is done in-person in large groups, is completed either by viewing it on your mobile device via the app or on the TV in your stateroom. Checking in through the app also alleviates congestion during embarkation. Arrivals and departures are staggered; passengers can choose their time slot.
Aside from embarkation and disembarkation day, the spacious hallways generally do not feel crowded. Room service is free (there is a small fee for late-night delivery). Hand sanitizer is available at high-traffic areas. The entrance to Oceanview Café, the main buffet, has a large handwash station, though handwashing and sanitizer use is not enforced.
Dress Code
Celebrity Edge’s upmarket price tag mean guests generally respect the ship’s “smart casual” dress code. Fellow passengers are usually dressed neat and appropriately. For the restaurants, the dress code states no bare feet, sports caps, tank tops, robes or swimwear allowed; no flip-flops, sandals or shorts allowed during the evening dining hours. The dress code isn’t strictly enforced in the main buffet, but is adhered to for the full-service restaurants.
Evolving with the times, formal nights on Celebrity have been rebranded “Evening Chic,” a less stuffy approach than jacket and tie. Guests are encouraged to instead get “glamorous, chic and sophisticated.” For men, blazers or sport coats are optional; most choose dress pants and dress shirt, button-down shirts or dress sweater. Women can opt for formal or cocktail dresses, but it is acceptable to wear skirt, pants, or designer jeans with an elegant top. There is one Evening Chic night for a cruise six-nights or shorter, two for any seven-nights or longer.
Junior Cruisers
Edge isn’t specifically targeting families with small children–there are no water slides, kid pool, go-kart track, amusement-park-type diversions, or characters in costumes. The ship aims to please the grandparents and parents, who can enjoy their shore excursion while the children are in the kids club.
Celebrity’s Camp at Sea program has enough activities throughout the day to keep ages 3-17 busy, especially on at-sea days. Activities are broken down by age: Shipmates (age 3-5), Cadets (age 6-9), Captains (age 10-12), and Teens (13-17). Archery, capture the flag, scavenger hunts, and tournaments are a sample of what families can expect. The kid’s club located on deck 3 is small, but sufficient. Teens have a rec room in the basement stocked with sofas, Xbox and table tennis.
Service
Of mainstream cruises, Celebrity is known for its above-average service and attentive, polite staff. A stylish ship with a 2.21:1 passenger-crew ratio helps elevate this level even higher. The elegant specialty restaurants are befitting of the professional, poised and personable team of Assistant Maitre D’, waiters, and sommeliers who have a generous pour. Warm, yet unobtrusive room attendants pick up on preferences and try to go above and beyond. For example, my room attendant worked overtime to ensure a guest whose baggage was delayed got rush laundry service.
Post-pandemic, the cruise industry is straining to meet the meteoric spike in demand. There was clearly a glut of brand new staff on my 2022 trip, but they were buoyed by a team of Celebrity veterans and some dynamic superstars, true hospitality professionals that make a guest feel special. Of course, you do have to have realistic expectations for a 2,918-passenger ship, and if a problem arises, seek out the experienced staff.
Celebrity Edge itineraries are 8 to 15 days, giving passengers ample time to get to know crew. Travelers who really appreciate having dedicated service for the entire trip should opt for top accommodation categories that include a butler and concierge.
Tipping
Celebrity’s automatic gratuity program takes the hassle out of tipping and distribution. In line with other upscale and luxury cruise lines such as Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, and Seabourn, gratuities are automatically added, per person, per day, depending on the stateroom category (US$15.50-$19.00). As of 2022, gratuities are built into Retreat and AquaClass stateroom categories; it does not appear as an additional charge.
For food and beverage, beverage packages, and mini bar, a 20% gratuity is added.
Directly tipping staff for good, personalized service is always welcome. Be prepared to tip tour guides and drivers on shore excursions.