Third in the Edge class of ships (which includes Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Apex), Celebrity Cruises’ newest ship, Celebrity Beyond, goes further than being just a third sister ship.
Celebrity Beyond will emerge even larger and grander in design than its predecessors; altogether, the upcoming vessel will be about 65 feet longer and one deck taller, with both additional and expanded venues.
During a recent virtual media event, Richard Fain, chairman of parent company Royal Caribbean Group, said the expansion was not a mere stretching, but rather “targeted increases in space” to enhance the onboard guest experience.
All the favorite elements of Edge and Apex — such as the alfresco Magic Carpet movable deck — will carry over to Beyond. However, among the design enhancements to come will be a double-decker enhancement of The Retreat’s ship-within-a-ship (or “resort-within-a-resort” as Celebrity calls it) sundeck that will be exclusive to suite passengers. Also increasing in size will be the suite-only Luminae restaurant, which is relocating to the front of the ship.
The Retreat’s reimagining was overseen by designer Kelly Hoppen, who also worked on the shipboard suites, the Rooftop Garden and the main 25-yard lap pool area on the Resort Deck. The suite-exclusive space will further showcase an updated Retreat Lounge, isolated cabanas and extra water features.
Celebrity Beyond will have one more deck than its sister ship, as well as additional and expanded venues.
Credit: 2021 Celebrity CruisesAccessible to all guests will be an expanded Rooftop Garden (20% larger than on Edge and Apex) with a rooftop grill and float pools (cantilevered 6.5 feet over the side of the ship), an enhanced Resort Deck and a newly terraced Sunset Bar. The Moroccan-themed Sunset Bar, designed by Nate Berkus, a Series Design Ambassador for Edge, is described by Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, president and CEO of Celebrity, as not only “multilevel” but also “multidimensional.” It will now be directly connected to the Oceanview Cafe buffet below.
The Grand Plaza central atrium, which will include asymmetrical placement of the enlarged Martini Bar, will also be enhanced, and Le Voyage will join dining venues as an extra specialty restaurant. Executive chef Daniel Boulud’s first-ever fine-dining venue at sea will be intimately sized, with only 50 seats, and will uniquely highlight a separate entrance and exit, highlighting the ship’s overall focus on passenger flow.
What’s more, actress Gwyneth Paltrow, CEO and founder of wellness company Goop, is onboard as Celebrity’s new Well-Being Advisor, and her brand’s products and programing will be featured onboard Beyond.
Travel advisors will have an additional 179 staterooms and suites to sell on the vessel, including new AquaClass SkySuites.
The next Celebrity ship will launch first in the U.K. from Southampton, England, on April 27, 2022. After a season in the Mediterranean, Beyond will reposition to the Caribbean, departing from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., by next October.
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