Staff stories: 48 hours on Celebrity Beyond

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to spend 48 hours aboard the newest ship in the Celebrity Cruises fleet, Celebrity Beyond. As someone new to Celebrity Cruises, I had high expectations of the third Edge Series vessel. But did she go beyond? Here’s what I crammed into my short, but very sweet, time on board:

As this was my first cruise post-pandemic, things had changed slightly. Namely, the need to provide a negative PCR test upon embarkation. But, no problem! I ordered my PCR test online and it arrived the very next day. Embarkation was super speedy, all my documents were handily housed on the Celebrity Cruises app and I was welcomed on board before I knew it. And what a welcome it was! It was evident how excited staff were to witness guests step aboard Celebrity Beyond for the very first time.

After embarkation, I headed straight to my cabin, eager to see what awaited me. As I opened the door to my Edge Stateroom with Infinite Veranda (#8304), I was taken aback by the space. The 243 square foot stateroom benefits from an additional 42 square foot veranda that transforms the space with the touch of a button, giving you luxurious open-air access to the sea. What’s more, the layout allows for total relaxation with an incredibly comfortable king-size bed, a sofa, a dressing table, huge television and a dreamy bathroom. 

While I was on board, several staterooms were open for self-tours so I had a nosey around the Iconic Suite, Penthouse Suite, Edge Villa, Royal Suite, Celebrity Suite, Sky Suite and Aqua Suite. One thing that was evident with each was just how much thought went into every single detail. Larger spaces, more amenities and improved luxuries make for truly transformed accommodations. 

A day of exploration can make a girl hungry! When checking out the Solarium (which was glorious, by the way), I stumbled upon the Spa Café where I decided to stop for a spot of lunch. Located on Deck 14, the café serves up refreshing, spa-inspired delights and I imagine it would be a lovely stop-off between relaxing treatments. 

Both evenings, I dined in Cyprus Restaurant on Deck 4. One of Celebrity Beyond’s four main dining restaurants, Cyprus represents the cruise line’s Greek heritage with its impressive Mediterranean menu. On the first night, I enjoyed the hot melted cheese saganaki, homemade Kordelia pasta and galaktoboureko and on the second night, I had a salad followed by beef wellington and a New York cheesecake with caramel sauce. It’s illegal not to have three courses on a cruise, by the way.  

During my time on board, I also ate at the Oceanview Café on Deck 14 which is a market-style café with dishes inspired by the destinations visited. I thoroughly enjoyed eating breakfast here with a takeaway coffee from Il Secondo Bacio. I must also give a special mention to Scoops (which is located just outside of the Oceanview Café), the strawberry ice cream recommended to me by the staff member was the most delicious strawberry ice cream I’ve ever had. 

I’m sad I didn’t get to try Raw on 5 or experience Le Petit Chef but next time I’m on board, they will be my first port of call! 

The entertainment on Celebrity Beyond is among the most impressive entertainment I’ve ever experienced. Now, hear me out. Celebrity Cruises claim Celebrity Edge changed the future of entertainment at sea, while Celebrity Beyond takes things even further. And they’re not wrong. Taking artistry to a new level through the use of extraordinary technology, Beyond’s state-of-the-art theatre mesmerises every single audience member. Here, I watched Arte, which uses art to create art and Stage Door, which incorporates some of the most-loved songs in entertainment history and is a real serotonin-boosting singalong. 

But it’s not just the theatre that wows. Celebrity Beyond has a plethora of entertainment venues dotted around. I adored Eden, an area that spans three decks and boasts a bar, a café and a restaurant. Eden’s atmosphere is unlike anything I’ve experienced on a cruise ship before. During the day, it has a nice, chilled vibe with live music and at night, it transforms into an immersive, multi-sensory venue with wow factor at the core. Decadence, one of Eden’s tantalizing nightly events, fuses music, libations and interaction. I also enjoyed The Club which, during the day, is a fabulous place to gather and at night, becomes a place of wild discovery. I caught the tail end of a show here which was then followed by karaoke with a live band - perhaps if I’d had one more gin and tonic I would have been brave enough to put my name down! Nonetheless, I’d rather not talk about what time I went to bed. 

It’s fair to say the Grand Plaza is the hub of Celebrity Beyond. Here, I enjoyed several drinks at The Martini Bar (the Espresso Martini’s are a must!), watched the world go by at Café al Bacio and enjoyed live music as I strolled from one destination to another. Elsewhere, I quenched my thirst at Oceanview Bar and Eden Bar. 

I wish I had something bad to say about my experience on Celebrity Beyond but she really did exceed my expectations. Before I’d even disembarked, the thought of going home made me sad. If she made that much of an impact in just 48 hours, imagine what a 7-night voyage could do? I can’t wait to get back on board!