Welcome our guest writer, Jenn Greene! Greene is a travel agent, mom, and writer with bylines on MSN, Royal Caribbean Blog, and more.
I recently sailed on Celebrity Beyond for the President’s Cruise, and while I am a loyal Royal Caribbean cruiser, I will certainly return to Celebrity without hesitation. Celebrity Cruises is a hidden gem among the Royal Caribbean brand.
Celebrity Cruises provides a more modern and elevated cruise experience. You won’t find a FlowRider or zip-line onboard their ships, but you will find amazing cuisine, stunning entertainment, and a world-class crew.
Even before I stepped onto the Celebrity Beyond, it was an elevated experience
I was told in the terminal I could go to my stateroom once onboard to drop my bag and get my key. That may seem like a small detail, but not carrying around your personal items while you enjoy lunch is quite nice. It also keeps the “stateroom rush” down once they announce they are open.
Embarkation with Celebrity is very fast and not at all hectic or crowded. When you board you are in the Grand Plaza, which is the hub of the ship. The Martini Bar is the centerpiece of this area. This space plays host to fun shows and performances by the talented flair bartenders. It is also where many restaurants and Café al Bacio are located.
Read more: 7 things I liked better about Celebrity than Royal Caribbean, after my first Celebrity cruise
Concierge Class Infinite Verandah
The stateroom was spacious and offered modern touches and amenities.
A concierge class stateroom includes access to the onboard concierge, as well as a Welcome Aboard luncheon, pillow menu, upgraded bath amenities, daily canapés, and a bottle of sparkling wine. The staterooms are very modern and calming, and the Art Deco theme throughout the ship flows into the staterooms.
I was very impressed by the amount of storage in my stateroom. I tend to be an over-packer, and I was able to find a place for everything for the week and leave my luggage under the bed. The bathroom was also large, offering more space in the shower as well as the sink area.
As for the Infinite Verandah, I really like it. It opens up the stateroom and gives you more space. You can close the screen door if you want to partition it off, or just put down the shades for privacy at night.
The floor-to-ceiling view was nice on mornings when we ordered room service. No need to rush out when you can sit in your robe and watch the sea go by!
One downside is when you put down the verandah window, the air conditioning shuts off. In cooler destinations (not the Caribbean in June), this feature would be amazing.
Read more: I spent $5,000 for an infinite veranda cabin on Celebrity's newest ship
There is ample dining on this ship
I tried everything from the Main Dining Room to specialty restaurants. I was not disappointed at all, as each venue offered something completely different. The Main Dining Room on Celebrity is a step up from Royal Caribbean—I said what I said!
While you will find Royal Caribbean favorites such as French Onion Soup and Escargot, you will also find Salmon Tartare and Seared Duck on Celebrity menus. It’s certainly a more elevated menu offering.
My group decided to try the Rooftop Garden Grill one evening, and we were all shockingly surprised. What we thought would be an al fresco barbecue spot turned out to be one of our favorites. We dined on smoked chicken wings, pulled pork sliders, BBQ ribs, grilled chicken, and tons of sides. We all wished we had a chance to go back again—we enjoyed it that much!
Read more: I ate my way through a luxury cruise ship. These are the 6 dishes I'm still thinking about
If you are looking for a whimsical dining experience, you will want to dine at Le Petit Chef. This magical and spellbinding meal brings the Chef to the table where he concocts your meal; it is brought to life in front of you! The experience is paired with an exquisite menu. We had so much fun during this meal, as we never knew what to expect during each of the four courses.
When I sail Royal Caribbean, I usually dine at Chops Grille during my cruise, so I thought I would try Fine Cut Steakhouse while onboard. This was an excellent experience. I actually felt they had much more to offer in regards to the appetizers versus Chops Grille.
The dining and bar experience onboard Celebrity was, at times, more elevated than Royal Caribbean. Not to take anything away from Royal, as it is a family brand, but I could see a distinct difference.
Read more: 17 things I wish I knew before setting foot on a Celebrity ship
Entertainment is where I noticed the biggest differences
If you want late-night parties and discos, then Celebrity is not the brand for you. I found the ship to be pretty quiet after 11 p.m., and I think we may have actually had a little more entertainment than usual due to it being a President’s Cruise.
That said, the shows on Beyond were impeccable. They were both creative and visually stunning. If you are sailing do not miss any of the main theater or Eden shows!
One big standout is that the Casino is smoke-free! Can we just bring that onboard all ships, please?
The resort deck on Beyond is just as artful and elegant as the inside of the ship
Here, you can find endless ways to enjoy the outdoors and connect with the sea, including the Rooftop
Garden, the adults-only Solarium pool, and the Main Pool—an asymmetrical space surrounded by an outward-facing, terraced pool deck.
You will also find The Magic Carpet out there as well. This floating platform reaches heights of 13 stories above sea level on the Starboard side. Designed with comfortable seating, a full bar, and space for live music performances, it truly is a destination itself. We enjoyed after-dinner drinks, and it was a great place to relax. The Magic Carpet also serves as the tender dock at some ports of call.
Overall, I really enjoyed my cruise on Celebrity Beyond and would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for an elevated experience without the price tag of a luxury cruise line!
Read more: Celebrity Cruises ships by age from newest to oldest (2024)
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
