Insider’s Guide to Celebrity Beyond

Celebrity Beyond is the newest and biggest member of the Celebrity Cruises family, making a dazzling debut in April at the British port of Southampton.

The new ship has taken what was already fabulous in sisters Edge and Apex, and made even further enhancements. Cool, stylish interiors meet expansive outdoor space dotted with greenery, secluded spaces, and bars with a South Beach vibe.

Celebrity Beyond is luxurious without seeming opulent, and chic without overloading on glitz. Everybody would find something to love here.

Step on board with us to explore this exciting new ship.

Why Visit

Celebrity Beyond brings contemporary luxury to the high seas—but makes it fun, rather than formal.

You won’t find white-gloved waiters standing to attention, or a requirement to wear black tie for dinner, or instructions to sit at the same table every night. If you haven’t cruised before, this is the ship that will challenge all your preconceptions.

There really is no land-based equivalent to Beyond. The closest you could imagine might be a beautiful boutique hotel with cutting-edge entertainment, world-class dining, a 4,500-piece art collection, and serene, stylish accommodation.

This sleek sanctuary would transport you effortlessly between some of the world’s most covetable destinations.

While any cruise should be about the places you visit, on Celebrity Beyond, the time on board will be as blissful as the days ashore, as there’s so much to see and do.

Spend a day in a private cabana by the pool under the Caribbean sunshine, join an F45 workout in the gym, or perch at the dreamy Sunset Bar, with echoes of Mexico, California, Greece, and Uruguay in its design, and gaze at the ship’s wake as you steam towards the next port.

History & Culture

Celebrity Beyond is the third ship in Celebrity’s Edge series, a sister to Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Apex.

Built in St. Nazaire, France, the ship is slightly larger than her predecessors, 65 feet longer and with an extra deck, which means there’s an even wider choice of dining and entertainment venues.

There’s more than a little star-quality sparkle thrown into the new ship (and her sisters), thanks to partnerships with Chef Daniel Boulud; and renowned British interior designer Kelly Hoppen CBE, who designed The Retreat spaces as well as the Rooftop Garden, Spa, Lumiere restaurant and Cafe Al Bacio.

Celebrity’s long-standing mission to embrace diversity shines through on the new ship, including in the crew. Popular Captain Kate McCue, for example, at the helm of Beyond, is the first American woman to captain a major cruise ship.

The culture on board is one of warmth and acceptance, whether you are traveling as a couple, a single, a group of friends, or a family.

Tips for Sailing on Celebrity Beyond

You’re on vacation, of course, but there’s a lot to see, including the unexpected, so plan your time accordingly.

Try all the restaurants and reserve ahead for the big-ticket venues: Chef Daniel Boulud’s Le Voyage, my favorite, and Dinner on the Edge on the Magic Carpet. Don’t miss the captivating animated dinner at Le Petit Chef, too, especially if you’re traveling as a family.

Make time to see the shows in the Theatre in the evenings; they really are cutting edge. After the show, head for The Club for DJ sets, karaoke, and dancing; or Eden, for a fusion of music, intriguing cocktails, and acrobatic dance displays.

The joy of being on a cruise ship is that everything is close by, nobody has to drive (apart from the captain), and your kids are safe.

Introduce your kids to Camp at Sea, featuring more than 500 activities, some with an entertaining but educational nod to science and technology.

While the kids are entertained, you can join a yoga class, spend a day in the spa, or enjoy a long, lazy lunch at the Rooftop Garden, a stylish al fresco lounge and grill on the upper deck, with two infinity pools cantilevered over the side of the ship. You can also play a leisurely game of pickleball on the Rooftop Garden.

If you’re conscious of fitness and wellbeing, book an AquaClass stateroom or Aqua Sky Suite and you’ll have access to the SEA Thermal Suite, a serene paradise of saunas, steam, healing salt crystals, and luxurious heated loungers.

You’ll be able to enjoy the healthy menus and clean cuisine of Blu, a restaurant exclusive to AquaClass guests.

Or elevate your experience to one of the most luxurious settings at sea, The Retreat. A resort-within-a-resort, The Retreat is a tranquil enclave of suite accommodation, an exclusive sundeck that spans two levels (check out the swinging cocoon chairs that hang over the pool here), a luxurious lounge, and its own fine dining restaurant, Luminae at the Retreat.

Explore exclusive menus that you won’t find anywhere else on board, including signature dishes designed by legendary chef Daniel Boulud, our Global Culinary Ambassador.

Book an Edge Villa for a special occasion. These light-filled duplexes come with their own private plunge pool, butler service, and lavish living space.

Things to Do & Attractions

See a Show

High flying acrobatics, dazzling visual effects, contemporary music, and intricate choreography are leaving audiences wowed on Beyond. The Theatre is technically far superior to anything you’d find on Broadway, with vast high-definition screens, 110 feet wide, forming a backdrop to the dancers.

In Elements, you’ll be blown away by an additional star of the show, Daniel Wurzel’s “air fountain”, a silky sheet that flies, twirls and dances in a jet of air, at one point extending out over the audience.

The show Arte uses a dramatic backdrop of famous paintings that come to life as you’re whisked through a century of fine art with breathtaking dance routines. Stage Door features musical theater classics “accompanied” by a symphony orchestra recorded at London’s Palladium theater.

“Fly” on the Magic Carpet

The Magic Carpet, a tangerine-colored platform, is cantilevered over the side of Celebrity Beyond. The platform moves up and down, with a different function at each of its resting places.

On Deck Five, it serves as an al-fresco extension to the superb Raw on 5 seafood restaurant, while on Deck 14, it becomes a lounge adjacent to the pool.

On a sunny day, there’s nothing better than sinking into one of the stylish gray-and-white sofas and breathing in the sea air; you’re surrounded on three sides by water and genuinely feel as though you’re flying.

Where conditions permit, for example, when the ship is in Santorini for sunset, the venue hosts Dinner on the Edge, in the most romantic setting imaginable, right at the top of the ship with uninterrupted sea views.

Lose Yourself in Eden

Eden is a beautiful, airy lounge, spanning three decks and encircled on three sides by the greatest expanse of glass ever to be fitted on a cruise ship.

Even arriving here is something of a transformative experience, as you wander through Odyssey, a shimmering hall of mirrors dotted with vast, smooth rock-like formations in gleaming bronze.

You’ll emerge into a space that’s flooded with light and filled with tropical plants, creating the feeling of a jungly conservatory.

Relax amid the greenery by day—or head up here at night, when acrobatic cabaret dancers bring a more sultry, whimsical vibe. On some nights, there’s a silent disco. Put on a pair of headphones, let the music flow through you, and dance till you drop.

Pedal on a Peloton Bike

Beyond has a fleet of Peloton bikes in the state-of-the-art gym. Put your headphones on and live-stream high-energy classes from Peloton HQ in New York, or choose from a wide range of pre-recorded sessions. Either will have you instantly motivated and powering through a whole-body workout.

Book one of the two Iconic Suites—the most lavish and spacious on the ship—and you’ll have your own Peloton bike, facing straight out to sea.

Take an Art Tour

You’ll be constantly in awe of Celebrity Beyond’s 4,500-piece art collection. Every piece is a talking point (or a selfie opportunity, depending on how you look at it).

French sculptor Fabien Merelle’s L’origine is a life-sized white elephant balanced on a man’s back, perches at one end of the pool.

Clarita Brinkerhoff’s Homage to Hera sculpture guards the entrance to the Cyprus restaurant; it’s a glittering peacock, studded with some 28,854 Swarovski crystals, all set by hand.

There’s photographic art, too, in more than 450 works by international fine art and travel photographers. Beautiful images of people, places, flora and fauna have been arranged so that each deck reflects a different continent.

Watch Juggling Mixologists

Every evening, the Grand Plaza becomes the social hub of the ship as day segues into night. A shimmering showstopper of an LED chandelier is suspended over the Martini Bar, rippling with light at the daily Chandelier Show.

Below, the mixologists, with astonishing skill, juggle cocktail shakers and bottles, and even balance martini glasses (full) on their heads, as a thrilling taste of the night’s excitement to come.

Get there early (the Chandelier Show is on the schedule in the daily program) and get a front-row seat to watch the performance.

Food & Drink

Beyond has no less than 18 places to dine, ranging from a steakhouse to a classic French bistro. Here are some you should love.

Le Petit Chef at Le Grand Bistro

An enchanting experience that everybody should try, Le Petit Chef is a technological marvel. Pioneered by Celebrity Cruises in conjunction with the artists’ collective Skullmapping, this 3D animation is mesmerizing.

Sit back and marvel as your table bursts into life. Tiny chef figures race around, chattering and chopping food, amid a riot of color. The completed dish “appears” on your plate—and waiters arrive, bearing the real thing.

The first course, for example, is the story of the humble tomato and its South American origins, the table a rippling vision of colorful scenes, agricultural fields, boats, and mountains of tomatoes. The dish, when it appears, is a dainty tomato tart, bursting with flavor.

Le Voyage

How often can you dine in a restaurant by one of the world’s most famous chefs without having to book months in advance? Le Voyage is Chef Daniel Boulud’s first signature restaurant at sea, inspired by the chef’s love of ethnic ingredients and his travels around the world—and it is exquisite.

A cocoon-like haven in soft golden tones, with only 50 covers, the restaurant serves a menu of eight starters and nine entrées which dazzle in their delicacy and explode with taste.

Tamarind and peanut-crusted prawns with a papaya slaw and a green Thai curry is one incredible dish, while the branzino in za’atar spice with a fennel confit and a citrus sauce deserves attention.

Book Le Voyage as soon as you can,  this is an experience to savor and should not be missed if you love food.

Luminae

Stylish Luminae is reserved for guests of The Retreat and offers fine dining in a bold, contemporary setting, with forward views from floor-to-ceiling windows.

Raw on 5

This seafood and sushi restaurant isn’t unique to Beyond, but guests love it for the location, facing out to all the buzz and activity of the Grand Plaza on one side and gazing out to sea on the other, unless the Magic Carpet is in situ, in which case you can sit outdoors.

The menu is both light and delicious, with mouthwatering displays of fresh seafood at the entrance. You can feast on platters of seafood, tuck into freshly made sushi, or try other, delicate dishes.

If you’re not a seafood lover, try the Chicken Ginger Gyoza, crisp little dumplings tangy with the flavor of yuzu.

When to Travel

Celebrity Beyond follows the sun, sailing the Mediterranean in summer, visiting the Italian Riviera, France, Malta, and Greece, among other classic destinations. In winter, she’ll explore the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Mexico.

If you love the idea of long, lazy days at sea, why not consider a transatlantic crossing as the ship moves between its different sailing areas? That way, you get to maximize time on board to enjoy all the facilities.

Tempted to learn more about this sleek, chic new ship? Browse itineraries here and plan your sunshine escape on Celebrity Beyond.