Celebrity Cruises is no stranger to bringing its passengers innovative new experiences. And yet, the fleet’s latest addition is set to redefine luxury even by Celebrity Cruises’ peerlessly high standards. The last word in premier-class seafaring, Celebrity Edge is the all-new liner set to make waves this November.
A 2,900-capacity passenger ship, and Celebrity Cruises’ first new vessel in 10 years, Edge represents a decade’s worth of meticulous planning, with ambitious design and pioneering tech at the forefront of the ship’s specification. This is not merely a cruise liner – this is a revolution, intended to capture the very essence of the Celebrity brand. This summer, Celebrity Edge passed its initial test journey with flying colours, and will make its maiden voyage from Fort Lauderdale to the Caribbean in November 2018. Let’s explore what discerning travellers across the globe have to look forward to…
Innovations and Wellbeing
Among the countless innovations you can expect to find aboard Celebrity Edge, the Magic Carpet has got to be one of its most unique. This cantilevered platform traverses the ship’s side, rising 13 floors up to offer panoramic ocean vistas as you dine ‘on the edge’. Indulging in the freshest local catch while you levitate above the sea? We’re not sure what could beat that, either.
If your idea of fun is a little more grounded, Celebrity Edge’s industry-leading spa is sure to be right up your street. In fact, to call this a spa would be to do it a disservice, because this is the ultimate relaxation centre.
Boasting 124 treatment options, 31 therapists, 23 treatment rooms and the latest in wellness technology, there are endless spa combinations to ensure you receive a completely tailored experience. At the heart, you will find a holistic philosophy influenced by the elements, with the SEA thermal suite alone having eight distinct zones to enliven different parts of your sensory cortex.
From rainfall, mist and salt rooms to a ‘crystalarium’, float space and infrared sauna, every inch of this space adds a new dimension to your wellbeing journey. And that’s only the beginning of the most advanced relaxation centre in the Celebrity Cruises fleet. You can also head to a hot yoga or pulse barre class, or explore the fully kitted-out gym area to pump some iron. Worked up an appetite? Not to worry, Celebrity has thought of that too, so why not grab a bite to eat at the Spa Café and Juice Bar?
Entertainment
Entertainment is a part of daily life on Celebrity Edge. It ebbs and flows through every aspect of the ship, and is as ingrained as the boundary-pushing tech that creates a programme sure to transport you to another place.
Introducing The Theatre: next generation at-sea performances in an arena the likes of which you’ve never seen before. This space has four stage areas, with rotating spiral staircases, three moving LED backdrops, 16 synchronised projectors and a rotating platform that echoes the feel of the Magic Carpet, elevating nearly seven feet above stage-level. In the players’ repertoire, you can enjoy A Hot Summer Night’s Dream, a whimsical take on the Shakespeare classic, as well as the visually arresting Kaleidoscope, and a daring production of The Jewellery Box.
Perhaps the most multifaceted entertainment experience aboard Celebrity Edge is hidden away in The Club, or what we like to think of as the chameleon of Celebrity Edge’s entertainment programme – transformative but under the radar. By day, you can take part in interactive game shows, drone hunting and art classes; by night it’s all about live music, DJ sets and talk shows.
Developed by acclaimed architect Tom Wright, Resort Deck combines lush garden paradise and oceanic vibes in a series of spaces that let you discover your inner child. From living playscapes sure to appeal to the young and young at heart, to oversized art installations and A Taste of Film, it’s interactive, surrealist and provocative work. Resort Deck is a must for anyone looking to find something outside the realms of typical cruise entertainment.
Culinary Experiences
One of the main strands in the Celebrity Cruises DNA is its almost transcendent culinary experiences. Celebrity Edge takes the celebrated dining one step further with 29 restaurants, cafes, bars and lounges spread across the ship. Four of these are main dining rooms (Tuscan Restaurant, Cyprus Restaurant, Cosmopolitan Restaurant and Normandie Restaurant), one of which will be your main assigned eatery, while the others are available to book as you wish.
Each has the same basic menu and a featured menu unique to that venue, adding up to dishes as intricate and flavoursome as any Michelin-starred restaurant. Indeed, a menu curated by Michelin-starred Cornelius Gallagher ensures even the most obscure dishes are brought to life aboard Celebrity Edge. Intimacy is the name of the game on board Edge, with deliberately smaller venues, and each table receiving its own dedicated wait staff including a head waiter, assistant waiter, and sommelier to ensure every need is met.
Make sure you book a table at Le Grand Bistro to witness the ‘Le Petit Chef’ experience – futuristic dining at its finest. Once you have ordered, an animated cartoon figure, created in collaboration with TableMation Studios, appears beside your plate to prepare your dish in true holographic splendour. The result of this exclusive partnership is as whimsical as it is extraordinary, so don’t miss out.
Another one for the diary is Dinner on the Edge – the Magic Carpet’s exclusive night menu that is sourced local to the ship’s destination at the time. Al fresco dining that takes you on a trip – literally – as you scale up 13 floors above sea level to witness panoramic ocean vistas while you eat.
Returning to the Celebrity cruise line are restaurants Luminae and Blu, exclusive and complimentary for guests staying in Suite and AquaClass accommodation. Designed for guests in Suite Class accommodation, Luminae at The Retreat is a private luxury space. Guests staying in AquaClass accommodation can frequent the oceanic Blu restaurant, where innovative dishes and fresh, crisp flavours unite in a menu of clean, lean cuisine.
Accommodation
Now on to the bit you’ve been waiting for – the accommodation. Celebrity Edge redefines the meaning of five-star living. Rooms are classified by Interior, Ocean View, Balcony, Concierge Class, AquaClass and SuiteClass, with every detail painstakingly crafted to ensure your complete comfort. Private plunge pools typify the Edge Villa experience: six two-storey cabins that boast 950-square feet of split-level indoor and outdoor living. Meanwhile, the new Edge Staterooms feature an infinite balcony. Simply touch a button and your entire living space becomes the balcony, letting you walk right out to the water’s edge. There are plenty of combinations available to ensure you have access to the best, whatever your budget.
The pinnacle of cruising excellence, Celebrity Edge sets sail in November 2018. The first itinerary will cover the Caribbean, while summer 2019 will see Celebrity Edge come to European shores. Experience Greece, Rome and Spain in a totally different setting when you set sail aboard Celebrity Edge.
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