Celebrity Cruise Line Review Ships, Destinations, Dining 2023

Table Of Content

• Are drinks free on Celebrity Cruises?
• Who sails Celebrity Cruises?
• Featured Cruises
• Con: Kid-Friendly Activities
• The Celebrity Cruises fleet
• What is the Magic Carpet feature on the Celebrity Apex and how does it enhance the cruise experience?
• Night Greenland & Iceland CruiseDetails
• I took an expedition cruise to the Galapagos on Celebrity Cruises. Here's what a Sky Suite looks like

It will only hold 5,600 passengers at double occupancy because the ship will feature more cabins and suites that accommodate four or more passengers than found on any other Royal Caribbean ship. With a passenger capacity of just 16, the Xploration is Celebrity’s smallest ship. When not out and about exploring the Galapagos, guests can hang in the lounge, relax in their suite (some with private balconies), and soak up some rays — or stargaze — on the hot tub-equipped sundeck. Celebrity’s cruise ship Millennium is an excellent pick for an Alaska itinerary. It offers plenty of indoor activities for passengers of all ages, from an adult-only indoor pool at the Solarium to a kids’ clubs with an extensive program for toddlers, tweens and teens.

Are drinks free on Celebrity Cruises?

The ship’s design is modern and sleek, with elegant décor and plenty of natural light flooding in through the expansive windows. One of the standout features of the Celebrity Reflection is its range of dining options, from the main restaurant to specialty venues like the Tuscan Grille and Qsine. The Expedition ships from Celebrity Cruises are designed to explore remote regions of the world and are highly recommended by past guests. These ships offer a unique and immersive Galapagos exploration experience, with itineraries that showcase the natural beauty of the islands and their diverse wildlife. No Solstice-class ships are packed with daytime entertainment, but there’s a great pool area and several quiet indoor spaces to unwind.

Who sails Celebrity Cruises?

Le Petit Chef is well worth the added fee thanks to a combination of gourmet eats and exhilarating entertainment complete with tabletop animations. We'd be remiss if we didn't mention the suite experience, The Retreat, which is excellent on the Celebrity Millennium cruise ship. Suite passengers have access to an exclusive restaurant, lounge (drinks included) and sun deck, and an always-on-demand concierge who can help with any requests, among many other perks. Once on board a Celebrity ship, you'll pay extra for some things — but not as many things as you might think.

Featured Cruises

Complimentary restaurants are a cut above those found on other lines, meaning there is little need to spend extra on specialty dining, unless passengers feel like a treat. Also, unlike many other mainstream cruise lines, room service remains free of charge. A diverse program of activities ensures there is plenty to keep passengers entertained without spending additional cash. The challenge for many Australians will be the onboard currency, with everything on Celebrity Cruises ships charged in US dollars.

Con: Kid-Friendly Activities

There is also a Standard Package (US$36 per day) which is similar but also includes soft drinks and bottled water. Spend a little extra and the Premium Package (US$52 per day) gives you access to top-shelf spirits, US$13 glasses of wine, soft drinks, juice and bottled water, plus a 20 percent discount on bottles of wine. The compulsory 18 percent gratuity is included in the cost of drinks packages. Pools are located on the outdoor pool deck and all passengers are welcome, including kids. An interactive water feature provides another fun way for children to cool down.

The Celebrity Cruises fleet

On board our luxury cruise ships, dine on world-class cuisine in elegant restaurants. Marvel at the breathtaking views of the ocean from every corner of the ship. During your time at sea, embrace the opportunity to relax, recharge, and relish a luxury cruise vacation like no other. Both cruise lines offer many global options, but neither has itineraries longer than 18 nights. For a summer cruise in the Caribbean, Royal Caribbean has far more options, while Celebrity is the better choice for a summer sailing in Europe. Either line is a good choice for Alaska in summer or the Caribbean in winter, depending on whether you're traveling as a couple or a family and the ship class you book.

Expert Review of Celebrity Silhouette Cruise Ship - Cruise Critic

Expert Review of Celebrity Silhouette Cruise Ship.

Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 16:14:12 GMT [source]

What is the Magic Carpet feature on the Celebrity Apex and how does it enhance the cruise experience?

She also has a choice of two restaurants, and glamping pods where you can relax on cosy beds and soak up the sunrise and sunset. If you're looking for the most venues and amenities, or if you're the type of cruiser who only wants to be on the very newest ships, you'll gravitate toward Celebrity's Edge Class vessels. Just a tad smaller than the Edge Class ships, the Solstice Class vessels are perhaps best known for the innovative, half-acre Lawn Club areas on their top decks, which feature real grass.

Onboard Celebrity Cruise ships, this is available from Cafe al Bacio which has comfy seats, large picture windows and friendly table service. Teens have the XClub with activities including theme parties, scavenger hunts, pool Olympics, sports tournaments, team trivia, karaoke, gaming and fitness activities. Don't be surprised if you see aspiring teen film makers shooting footage around the ship using GoPros. It's part of iTake, an XClub video project which gives them a chance to plot, shoot and edit their own movie. Celebrity Solstice doesn't have the waterslides, climbing walls, roller skating rinks or ropes courses other lines have, but that doesn't mean families won't enjoy the ship.

I took an expedition cruise to the Galapagos on Celebrity Cruises. Here's what a Sky Suite looks like

We put Celebrity Solstice to the test on a recent South Pacific cruise to see if the cruise line offers good value for money. Other extra-charge venues found on at least some Celebrity ships include Raw on Five, which serves sushi and sashimi, and The Porch, which offers a raw bar with oysters and lobster rolls. Some ships feature a Parisian patisserie-like venue called Le Grand Bistro that offers light fare such as ham-and-cheese baguettes during the day and gourmet charcuterie and cheese boards with carafes of wine in the evening. Every Celebrity vessel has one and sometimes up to four main restaurants where meals are included in the fare, and these dining rooms are at the heart of the dining experience on Celebrity ships. Many passengers have all or most of their dinners in one of these main restaurants.

Solstice Class ships offer single inside cabins, while Edge-series ships include some Infinite Veranda Staterooms designed for solo travelers. However, Royal Caribbean's largest, most expensive suites come with exclusive perks, such as Royal Genie butler service and complimentary specialty dining and beverage packages. Royal Caribbean offers a dizzying array of cabin and suite options, especially on its newest and largest ships. Celebrity features fewer overall cabin categories but offers non-suite rooms with extra perks. Royal Caribbean's fleet of more than two dozen ships includes some of the largest vessels at sea and features groundbreaking innovations and family-friendly attractions. Celebrity's 15 not-quite-as-large vessels are more upscale, adult-focused and design-centric.

Foodies can try signature dishes by Daniel Boulud, our Global Culinary Brand Ambassador, at The Retreat’s private restaurant, Luminae, or enjoy a five-course meal at the Chef’s Table by Daniel Boulud. Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. Despite its small size, the Celebrity Xploration provides a luxurious cruise experience with its elegant and comfortable accommodations. Each suite is decorated in a contemporary style and equipped with modern amenities, including a private bathroom, air conditioning, and a flat-screen TV.

Therefore, we opted to upgrade to the Concierge Class, for even more perks. In addition, we purchased the All Included package that includes the Classic Beverage package, gratuities, and the basic Wi-Fi package. It was nice to have almost all of our expenses covered once we were on board. It offers luxurious accommodation options including spa-inspired Aqua Class rooms and Concierge Class rooms that come with a personal concierge.

The second most popular ship in the Celebrity Cruises fleet is also the newest of the Expedition-class ships. The Expedition Class aren’t really sisters as the three ships are distinct, with Celebrity Flora being the largest of the three, although her maximum capacity is still just 100 guests. There are three main classes of vessels — the Edge, Solstice and Millennium classes.

It's a line that is all about high-end design, innovative features (just wait until you read about the "magic carpet") and on-trend restaurants that are aimed at sophisticates, not a party crowd. Celebrity Cruises offers an all-ages cruising experience to destinations large and small. Of particular note is Celebrity's Edge series, which invites you to "put the world front and center" while traveling in "relaxed luxury" . On Edge-series ships, experience the magic of an Infinite Veranda® stateroom, where the push of a button gives you open-air access to the sea, taking your room right to the water’s edge. With dazzling spaces and avant-garde design that bring the outdoors in, these ships will forever change the way you think about cruising. Dine at any of the 29 restaurants, bars, and lounges on board, including Eden, a lush green oasis that will tantalize all of your senses.

Captain Kate McCue, the cruise ship captain who made history as the first female captain of a “Mega” cruise ship, is currently the captain of Celebrity Beyond. Despite that, the ship is popular, with a calm atmosphere and some pleasant places to unwind during the day. Celebrity Solstice is another where some reviews mention the tired elements of the ship – she is overdue for a renovation. If the cruise line decides to refurbish the ship she may climb higher in the list. I think, reading reviews, Celebrity sets such high standards that when they miss them it can disappoint guests even if the food is ‘fine’, which is a shame in how it reflects (pun intended) on the ship overall.

Celebrity Millennium is not one of those glitzy mega-ships with rock climbing walls, trampolines and craft breweries. Yet, despite its age (the ship launched in 2000), "Millie" as fans call it shines, thanks in part to its “Revolution” (as Celebrity Cruises calls its ship refurbishments) in early 2019. This refit added a new deep-blue livery, refreshed public rooms, cabins, and some features and decor inspired by the line's trendsetting Celebrity Edge. While there are plenty of complimentary inclusions in a standard Celebrity Cruises fare, the attractive extras on offer make it tempting for passengers to part with some extra cash.