Up next in our ‘5 reasons’ instalments is the Greek founded cruise line: Celebrity Cruises. Celebrity Cruises was our first ‘non-British’ cruise and we fell in love with them the moment we stepped onboard. Cruising on Beyond for back-to-back summers, we return to Celebrity this July to try out one of their ‘more mature’ ladies: Constellation.
There is so much to love about Celebrity Beyond but we’ve picked our highlights from the ship below.
1. Infinite Veranda Cabins
Some may consider this as a controversial choice as the Veranda Cabins have split options across the cruise community. Whilst we agree that it’s not the same as a traditional balcony, we do love the innovative approach to blending the indoors with the outdoors. There’s no heavy door to slide open and with the partition open, the cabin feels even bigger. You can open the window at the touch of a button (and even from the app on your phone!) to get that fresh-sea-air feel as you sail along. Aside from the Veranda, you can expect Celebrity eXhale luxury linen and a modern bathroom with a huge shower. We also had a Concierge Class cabin which entitled us to one bottle of fizz during our cruise and some edible treats each day.
2. Food
To many cruisers food is the most important thing to get right and is talked about before, during and after your stay (possibly following the expanded waistline!) The food served onboard Beyond is in our opinion, the best we’ve ever experienced at sea. Quite the statement you may think but the quality, variety and flavour really do set them apart from other lines. Ocean View Cafe is a buffet like no other: think extravaganza and foods from around the world, all served fresh for every mealtime, leaving you questioning are we really in the middle of the ocean?! Gone is the large dining room but instead replaced with four uniquely themed spaces, with different menus for you to choose from. The all inclusive food is ample and of such a high quality however if you’re looking for something even more special, there are plenty of speciality restaurants to choose from, including: Eden, Raw on 5, Fine Cut Steakhouse, to name but a few.
3. Theatre
Acruise ship would not be complete without an onboard theatre but like with many of the design features onboard Beyond, this theatre will blow you away! Their website claims ‘a perfect view from any seat’ and when you step inside, you will realise why. The stage is curved 110ft and boasts 20 ft tall LED screens which alongside the incredible performances, will fully immerse you into the live shows. After you’ve enjoyed a show here, it will be hard to miss out on the jam-packed line up for the duration of your cruise. The theatre shows include: shows developed at London’s Palladium and guest acts who will blow you away with their talents. Whilst onboard we saw Elements by the onboard show team which was a favourite of ours. Guest acts we enjoyed watching included Elton to the Max who’s an Elton John tribute playing all the classics and the escape artist and illusionist, Matt Johnson who wowed the crowd with his show. So be sure to check out your Celebrity Today as you will not want to miss out!
4. Magic Carpet
‘A new fantastic point of view’ to coin the phrase from a certain Disney song. Stepping onto the Magic Carpet takes you overboard but without the soggy landing, giving views of the ship you may never have seen before whilst out at sea. On sea days the venue acts as an additional bar and space to unwind as the sea rushes by. Of an evening the bar remains open and you can unwind and watch the sun go down with a cocktail. If you’re a fan of seafood then book onto the experience ‘Dinner on the Edge’ and enjoy fresh air as you sample Raw on 5 favourites. Something to consider when booking your cruise is if you prefer a mid-ship cabin, peace and quiet along with unobstructed views, book a cabin on the starboard side of the ship as the Magic Capet does move up and down. However if you would prefer to have this incredibly clever concept in your eyeline, then book a port side cabin – you’ll even be able to watch it turn into a floating platform during tender operations.
5. Interior Decor
With renowned interior designer: Kelly Hoppen at the helm, we knew that the interior of Celebrity Beyond would be a feast for the eye with its East meets West style, clean lines and a feel of modernity throughout the ship. Every inch of the ship has been thought about and finished to an extremely high standard. Even the word luxury isn’t luxurious enough; everything just shouts high end. From carefully chosen art work, to sculptures and installations, there is something to enjoy at every turn. Our favourite installation being ‘Odyssey’, where you are transported to infinity. There are so many different style chairs to sit on throughout the ship, you won’t be able to enjoy them all in one stay. There’s comfy chairs, sofas to share, swinging chairs, chairs with sea views, chairs with immersive sound effects – you really are spoilt for choice. Even the scent of the ship is unique – you will be left wanting to bottle it up and take it home with you!
Want to know more about Celebrity Beyond? Check out our A-Z here.
For The Love Of Cruise 