What’s in a name? Well, when it comes to Celebrity Cruises’ first new ship in six years – and the first in a decade to represent a new class of ships that shatter traditional expectations and make a statement about the future of ocean travel – the answer is everything!
Celebrity Edge lives up to its aspirational moniker. The first cruise ship completely designed with 3D virtual reality technology, its visionaries were able to roam through the vessel and refine the onboard experience before construction began. That process fostered the kind of fine-tuning perfectionist architects and interior designers could only crave in the past. And, yes, it allowed Celebrity to rip up the rule book, reimagine possibilities and push boundaries to the leading edge.
Take one glimpse at Celebrity Edge and you’ll see the difference. It strikes a provocatively futuristic silhouette. From the parabolic ultra bow, built to slice through seas efficiently and with greater stability than traditional raked bows, to the wall of windows wrapped around the stern, this ship commands attention. Tangerine-colored tracks adorn the starboard side, from the waterline to the top deck, adding another eye-popping aspect to its profile.
They support the aptly named Magic Carpet, a multi-functional platform the size of a tennis court that rides up and down the tracks and ranks as the world’s first cantilevered venue at sea. Complete with cushy seating, a bandstand, a full bar and unrivaled views, Magic Carpet provides a prized extension whether facilitating seamless tendering on the lowest deck or serving as an alfresco restaurant hovering between the stars and the sea on the highest deck.
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Sail BeyondTom Wright, the renowned architect of Dubai’s sail-shaped Burj Al Arab, devised Magic Carpet as well as other inspiring outdoor spaces. Stroll around the breezy Resort Deck on a unique, sloped jogging path and duck into signature haunts, such as the whimsical Rooftop Garden that boasts artsy faux foliage along with the real stuff. It unfolds like a cosmopolitan playground, where garden concerts, movies, games and gourmet barbecue bites beckon. Plus, at the entrance you’ll spy a life-size, 1-ton bronze sculpture of a horse, affectionately dubbed “Mr. Edge” and representative of the engaging art installations throughout the ship.
An adults-only solarium pool provides another diversion, but the best revelation is Celebrity Edge’s main pool. This asymmetrical terraced area, fitted with martini-shaped hot tubs and sleek cabanas, succeeds in forgoing the conventional pool-centric vibe, focusing attention outward instead.
From grand gathering spaces to private staterooms, the interior sanctuaries aboard Celebrity Edge also prioritize connecting passengers to the sea and the sites visited. At every turn you’ll find glass inviting the outside in.
Eden – think an ethereal greenhouse great room – occupies a three-story swath of aft real estate and sports more windows than any room at sea. During the day, it’s a canvas showcasing the ship’s lacey wake and whatever seascape Mother Nature has in mind.
Sip cocktails garnished with ingredients plucked from a library of plants that towers above Eden Bar and dine on cool dishes at Eden Restaurant: “raindrops” (technicolor tomatoes on green basil sorbet), “tidal pool” (carabinero shrimp with aloe, dulse and oyster leaf floating in oceanic broth) and “orchids in blossom” (white chocolate orbs that crack open when drizzled with dark chocolate). Or simply wander the ramp that coils around Eden, sink into a funky swing chair and watch the place gradually transform.
Most accommodations feature Infinite Verandas: basically a cabin-wide, floor-to-ceiling window that with the touch of a button turns the entire stateroom into a veranda as the top half of the window disappears. Bi-fold doors can close off a sitting area in front of the window, creating a separate space if desired. When open, a seamless stretch from the cabin door to the water’s edge exists. To support this new layout, engineers shifted the ship’s framework from an exoskeleton to an endoskeleton, but on-demand balconies weren’t the only benefit.
Staterooms are nearly 25% larger than those on the line’s lauded Solstice-class ships, with coveted bathroom space boosted 10%. Plus, these havens are tech-savvy. You can control everything, even window shades, from a simple touch screen or your own phone. An ode to form and function, the decor favors clean lines, calm tones and thoughtful contemporary touches, such as jewel-box charging stations. And did I mention the king-size beds? They’re topped with cashmere mattresses.
Celebrity Edge has more suites than other Celebrity ships and enviable new options. Iconic Suites, positioned above the bridge, deliver soul-stretching panoramic views along with perks such as outdoor daybeds and hot tubs. Mod, bi-level Edge Villas, with loft bedrooms and private plunge pools, make it feel as if you’re living in a glass cube. All suite guests have access to The Retreat, a private utopia (envision a dedicated pool deck with butlers, comfy 24-hour lounge, upscale restaurant and more) that amounts to a boutique hotel within Celebrity Edge’s already chic resort.
The spa sprawls two decks, making AquaClass Staterooms a smart choice. Along with health-inspired amenities, including an exclusive restaurant, AquaClass guests enjoy free rein at the new SEA Thermal Suite. In this playground for the senses eight therapeutic chambers await, among them a Crystalarium and a Float Room. The spa also touts a standout collection of treatment tables. Picture a massage atop body-contouring, water-filled cushions on the first Amphibia Table at sea or maybe one where you’re lying inside a sophisticated sandbox filled with warm crushed quartz, because both are on tap. Kudos to the fitness center as well. It’s the first afloat outfitted with high-end Peloton bikes, and the activities roster promises hot yoga, cardio boxing and other trendy classes.
Celebrity does dining right, and after feasting aboard Celebrity Edge a bike ride might be in order. Dispensing with the traditional main dining room, this ship proposes four distinct venues featuring Italian, French, Mediterranean and American cuisines. Buffet bliss defines the Oceanview Cafe, another glass palace, and throughout the ship you can nosh freely on treats ranging from decadent pastries to nutritious spa smoothies. Specialty restaurants up the culinary ante with indulgences including Raw on 5’s seafood towers and Le Grand Bistro’s Le Petit Chef and Friends experience, a fanciful affair where the table comes alive with animated chefs from around the world.
For a memorable nightcap, the line’s beloved Martini Bar calls. On Celebrity Edge it occupies a prestigious post in the Grand Plaza, a dynamic social hub, where The Chandelier – a 7-ton, three-deck fixture with dancing LED lights – crowns the circular bar. At The Theater more tech-wizardry and a thrust stage create an immersive experience for original productions, while The Club hosts parties with the latest tech toys like neon headphones for silent discos and Hypno Cams. The ship even has a smoke-free casino, a real rarity, and eschews single-use plastic bottles in favor of eco-conscious aluminum.
It’s all so fresh, fashionable and forward-thinking. Or, dare I say … edgy.
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