3 Cruises with Celebrity (“No Fly Cruise”) (summer 2022)

The spa, the swimming pools

Access to the thermal suite is included with Aqua Class cabins. For all other cabins, it is possible to buy a pass for one day or for the entire cruise. Hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. You can go there as many times as you want. The Edge class greatly improved this part of the ships, which in previous versions were really very small. The space is larger, the equipment more varied and more numerous. An exterior part overlooks the front of the ship. Lots of treatments are offered, at fairly high prices, as most of the time in this kind of context.

For more details about the Thermal Suite, see here, in my article on Celebrity Beyond, in the Aqua Class cabin.

A remarkable point about the Edge class is its main swimming pool. While on most cruise ships, it is more of a water hole, too small to do more than 2 fathoms, this one is almost 20 meters long and allows you to do real lengths.

Not far away, another swimming pool, indoor this time, slightly smaller, also allows you to swim when the temperatures are less favourable.

The Retreat lounge and the Retreat Sundeck

Benefit linked to the suites, the Retreat is composed of an interior (lounge) and exterior (sundeck) part. The Beyond’s sundeck now spans 2 decks. In the lounge, snacks are offered at different times of the day, as well as a sophisticated self-service coffee machine, in addition to the bar. Outside, also with a bar, a light catering service is available most of the time.

A very small swimming pool as well as several Jacuzzis are surrounded by numerous deckchairs and cabanas. The place is generally relatively calm and relaxing, except during the summer holidays when parents let their turbulent children do anything, under the overly benevolent gaze of Celebrity.

Theater and shows

The theater is quite advanced technically speaking, in particular with a huge curved high-resolution screen at the back of the stage, which can be separated into 3 parts, which independently of each other can move, retract…

The shows exploit these capabilities perfectly and some are impressive enough to immerse viewers in complex scenes. The show called “Elements”, featuring air, water, earth and fire, is a perfect example.

Itineraries, excursions

One of the strengths of the Edge class is to have provided a real area for embarkation and disembarkation. Called Destination Getaway, the venue is large enough to easily handle the flow of passengers. Better still, it is extended when it is necessary to use tenders to go ashore, by the Magic Carpet, which is positioned at water level and transformed into a pier, an artificial quay, to which the shuttles come to moor. This brilliant idea makes operation much more pleasant, compared to many other ships.

Mediterranean Sea

A rather classic itinerary for the month of July: Barcelona, Marseille, Villefranche (Nice), Santa Margherita, La Spezia (Florence), Ajaccio, Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples, Barcelona.