Celebrity Edge Cruise Ship: Overview and Things to Do

After much anticipation, Celebrity Edge unveiled Celebrity Cruises’ Edge-class to the world. Today, there have been many more impressive cruise ships to launch since Celebrity Edge debuted in 2018. However, it still remains one of the best cruise ships to sail on. Here’s everything you need to know.

Celebrity Edge Stats

Here’s how Celebrity Edge measures up.

• Gross Tonnage: 129,500
• Length: 1,004 feet
• Decks: 16 (for passengers)
• Staterooms: 1,467 (inclusive of suites)
• Passenger capacity: 2,918 9double occupancy)
• Crew: 1,320 members 

Construction and History

The Celebrity Edge cruise ship took nearly five years of planning and construction, but the wait was well worth it. This ship not only completely changed the standard for Celebrity’s fleet and future ships to come, but also changed a lot of the industry. It introduced tons of industry firsts and new features that cruisers loved.

The ship was built by STX France in Saint-Nazaire, France, starting in 2014 and for a cost of approximately $1 billion. The ship was launched on Jan. 23, 2018, then delivered in October 2018. The ship was christened in December 2018, by Malala Yousafzai.

Since then, the ship has served cruise routes throughout the Caribbean and Mediterranean, though in 2022 it was rerouted to offer Alaskan cruises and, in 2023 and 2024, it will offer Australian cruises for the first time.

Special features that first appeared on the Celebrity Edge include the Magic Carpet, a cantilevered platform that sticks out over the ship’s side and provides easier embarkation and disembarkation, but also acts as a unique venue space during sea days. 

Another special feature to debut was the Infinite Veranda, which takes a balcony stateroom to an entirely new level, allowing cruisers to basically bring the outside in. With walls that move out of the way completely, these staterooms allow an indoor-outdoor living experience that you won’t find with any other cruise line.

The ship also introduced the cruise line’s first staterooms designed specifically for solo travelers. Single staterooms are few on the ship (there are just over a dozen), but they allow those solo travelers to enjoy a luxurious space created just for them.

Staterooms were also designed to be more tech-friendly on this ship, with lots of automations and the ability to control room features with just a button, from the window shades to the lights. 

While this ship is hardly old, it is currently in dry dock. The ship arrived at Chantier Naval de Marseille in mid-October, where it’s undergoing routine maintenance until early November. It’s the first Edge-class ship to be dry docked, and the plan is simply to complete some basic maintenance. No major changes are planned for this ship at the current moment.

Celebrity Edge Staterooms

As mentioned, the staterooms aboard Celebrity Edge are really something special. In addition to offering tech-savvy features and new stateroom categories as a whole — such as the singles-dedicated staterooms and the Infinite Veranda staterooms — each is also outfitted luxuriously and in a modern aesthetic that just makes the entire cruising experience more enjoyable.

With 1,467 total staterooms, the ship offers more than 80% with a veranda, 10% with an ocean view (no veranda), and only 9% with no ocean view or veranda. There are nearly 200 suites and nearly 200 connecting staterooms available. Nearly 100% of the staterooms include king-sized begs, an industry first.

Interior staterooms come in right under 200 square feet and offer a sleek, minimalistic design with neutral color palettes, with pops of purple or orange. While compact, these staterooms still manage to give you ample space if you’re a single traveler or a couple. Some even have nice sitting areas.

Ocean view staterooms are between 200 and 242 square feet each and offer a similar design, but more overall floorspace and rectangular windows on one wall, overlooking the sea. In some cases, upgraded ocean view staterooms feature large, floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall windows, for even better views.

Veranda staterooms offer much of the same, at a similar size, but with the addition of a veranda that can be as little as 40 square feet or as much as 89 square feet. Verandas are accessed via wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors. 

The Infinite Veranda, though, was a star player on this ship when it debuted. Just press a button and the exterior wall of your stateroom disappears, leaving you with indoor-outdoor space that truly feels vacation-worthy. Infinite Veranda staterooms are available in a smaller size for single guests, but also in a normal size for multiple travelers.

Other stateroom options include those in Concierge Class, where guests enjoy extra concierge, VIP service, as well as those in AquaClass, which come with specialized amenities inspired by the ship’s spa.

Celebrity Edge Suites and The Retreat

The Celebrity Retreat first made its appearance on Celebrity Edge and now it’s become a staple on the cruise line’s ships, rolling out on older ships as they’re refitted. 

The Retreat isn’t necessarily a brand-new concept in the cruising industry at this point, though. A VIP area with private social spaces and venues for guests staying in more luxurious accommodations, the all-suite Retreat is similar to upgraded areas you’ll find across multiple cruise lines.

Guests who book an award-winning Retreat suite enjoy access to a private sundeck, pool, restaurant, and lounge. Suite options include…

• The Iconic Suite, with more than 2,500 square feet of combined space and panoramic views
• The Penthouse Suites, with loads of space, a guest bedroom, private hot tub and more
• The Edge Villa, with two stories of luxury 
• The Royal Suite, with extra amenities such as a large soaking tub and double vanity
• The Celebrity Suite, with a big wall of windows and spacious veranda
• The Aqua Sky Suite, the AquaClass suite offering
• Sky Suites, for a smaller and more intimate suite experience

Free Dining

All in all, Celebrity Edge offers nearly 30 dining and drinking options — so you certainly aren’t left wanting for choice on this cruise ship. However, if you specifically don’t want to splurge on specialty restaurants, here’s where you can chow down for free.

• Cosmopolitan Restaurant, a main dining room with updated, elegant flair
• Normandie Restaurant, another main dining room serving contemporary French cuisine
• Cyprus Restaurant, a third main dining room serving Greek-inspired eats
• Tuscan Restaurant, the fourth and final main dining room, with a Tuscan feel
• Oceanview Café Buffet, which upgrades the traditional cruise ship buffet experience 
• Eden Café, which offers a gorgeous, indoor-outdoor setting and casual eats
• The Spa Café, which allows you to grab a quick bite as you head to or out of a treatment
• The Mast Grill, where you can enjoy a relaxed bite by the pool

If you tire of the four main dining rooms, and you’re a suite passenger staying in The Retreat, you’ll also get access to the Retreat-set Luminae restaurant. Likewise, there’s a health-focused restaurant, Blu, that’s only open to AquaClass passengers. 

Specialty Restaurants

While Celebrity Edge certainly offers more complimentary dining options as compared to many other ships you could cruise on, if you do decide you want to broaden your options even further, you’ll have a few specialty restaurants to try out. You’ll find…

• Fine Cut Steakhouse, which offers a classic steakhouse experience in a luxurious setting
• Le Grand Bistro, which brings a sidewalk French café to the high seas
• Le Petit Chef, which combines culinary wonders with tech, for an at-your-table high-tech experience
• Raw on 5, which offers all your favorite seafood
• Rooftop Garden Grill, for outdoor dining under the stars
• Eden Restaurant, for three levels of fine dining in a spectacular setting
• Café al Bacio, for specialty coffees and sweet treats

You can also sometimes grab dinner on the ship’s Magic Carpet, which hangs over the ship’s edge.

Bars and Lounges

There are just as many places to drink on Celebrity Edge as there are to eat. Your options will include…

• Destination Getaway, a bar specifically for those who are waiting to disembark the ship
• The Martini Bar, focused on — what else? — martinis
• The Casino Bar, for drinks while you gamble
• Eden Bar, for people watching in a beautiful setting
• Prism Bar, located by the pool
• Il Secondo Bacio, a bar near the buffet, but also serving café and juices 
• Sunset Bar, situated near the ship’s edge
• The Club, a disco venue 

There’s also a bar within The Retreat and a bar serving on the Magic Carpet at select times. 

Activities and Entertainment

So how does Celebrity Edge keep you entertained? Your activity and entertainment options are just as luxurious, state-of-the-art and tech-savvy as everything else you’ll find on this ship. We recommend you do the following during your Celebrity Edge cruise:

Onboard Spa 

No Celebrity Edge cruise is complete without a trip to the spa. This state-of-the-art spa is truly one of a kind. You won’t find anything else like it at sea.

The spa is set on 22,000 square feet and features designs that are true to the brand’s luxury and sophistication. Different from some of the other Celebrity spas you might’ve seen in the past, this one boasts a new neutral palette and a calm design inspired by healing crystals.

The entire concept is called “SEA” or Sea, Earth and Air. Blended essences fill the air, creating a soothing environment as soon as you arrive.

The welcome ritual prepares you for the experiences to come, so that you can truly enjoy each and every moment. A new spa menu features more than 120 treatments, including massages, wraps and more.

When Celebrity Edge debuted, Celebrity was the first cruise line to offer a thermal suite, with a hammam, salt room, steam room, rainfall water therapy room, float room, heated tile loungers and crystalarium, among others. If you’re in AquaClass, you automatically get access to all these.

Other firsts at sea include ELEMIS BIOTEC facials, an amphibia table with water-filled cushions to adapt to guests’ individual anatomy; a WellMassage4D table; and MLX quartz table.

In addition to the wellness treatments, you can also get some beauty treatments at the spa, including hot shaves and fresh cuts for men.

Enjoy a Unique Workout

We know what you’re thinking: But I’m on vacation! I don’t want to work out! Well, once you see the Celebrity Edge fitness center, we think you’ll change your mind.

Never before has working out been so enjoyable. This modern fitness center includes all the cool equipment you need, like Peloton bikes. You can also join classes and group activities, like hot yoga, group cycles and cardio boxing.

Enjoy the Theater

Entertainment is a real treat during a Celebrity Edge cruise. One of the primary places to enjoy a show is The Theatre. There are four stage areas, three moving projection screens, and more, to make sure you have a fully immersive experience.

The main stage extends into the audience and a duo-directional rotating platform rises above the stage. There are additionally two rotating spiral staircases, 10 synchronized panoramic projection screens, 16 video mapping laser projectors and aerial performance rigging. If you want to see a totally modern, totally tricked-out, totally futuristic show, this is the place to do it.

The Grand Plaza 

The Grand Plaza is the heart of a Celebrity Edge cruise. Designed with the extravagant transatlantic steamers of old in mind, the Grand Plaza spans three decks and a multitude of social and public spaces. If you come here to hang out, you can do something different each time you arrive.

The Martini Bar sits underneath a striking light feature and art installation, The Chandelier, composed of nearly 800 blades of LED strips and weighing in at a magnificent seven tons.

Read Also: Celebrity Beyond Cruise Ship: Overview and Things to Do

You can access lots of different restaurants from the Grand Plaza, including Raw on 5, Fine Cut Steakhouse, Le Grand Bistro and the Grand Plaza’s own cafe. It’s the place to come to enjoy some live music, socialize with other cruisers or grab just a small bite or a drink.

Eden Venue

The Celebrity Edge gives you the chance to visit paradise and we’re not talking about the beautiful islands and destinations you’ll see on your trip. We’re talking about Eden, the unique onboard venue.

What is it? Well, Eden is a three-deck, humongous, gigantic space with more outward-facing glass than any other room at sea.

Eden is larger than both the Hayden Planetarium in New York City and the Van Gogh Museum atrium in Amsterdam. It’s really an architectural site to see. But what can you do there?

Well, in the morning, you can head to Eden for a peaceful respite and enjoy some yoga, some quiet time or a cup of coffee, all with a spectacular view.

Then, in the afternoon, maybe you head there for a fun activity, like a seminar or cooking demonstration. You might also watch an acrobatic or musical performance. At night, the space transforms into Eden Restaurant. There’s also Eden Bar with its creative Library of Plants, an 18-foot living wall of ingredients and garnishes that go right into your drink.

Rooftop Garden

Head to the ship’s Rooftop Garden, where you can enjoy the views and daily tended greenery during the daylight hours, along with carefully curated games and activities, and then enjoy some live music and outdoor film showings at night.

Onboard Shopping

The Celebrity Shops are unmatched. You can find all your favorite luxury brands, plus unique items that you might not discover anywhere else. 

From Bulgari to Cartier to Tiffany, all your favorites are here. You can also find exclusive Edge-branded items, fashion trunk show collections, premium liqueurs and spirits, fragrances, souvenirs and more.

Kids Venues

While, if you’re looking for a cruise line that caters to families and children specifically, you could probably pick a better line than Celebrity, that doesn’t mean that Celebrity Edge is totally devoid of children’s offerings.

Kids venues on the ship include Camp at Sea, which is split into different age groups, from 3 all the way up to 12. Depending on their group, kids can head to various venues to enjoy activities such as scavenger hunts, gaming, STEM activities, movie nights, campouts and more. 

A Teen Club is open to older kids and offers less structured programming, but still games, competitions, parties and more. 

Celebrity Edge Itineraries

In 2023 and 2024, Celebrity Edge will offer Australian cruises for the first time. Don’t plan on being down under in the near future? See what other itineraries await, later into next year.

Final Thoughts

Celebrity Edge was a ground-breaking ship when it debuted in 2018, and it remains a favorite, excellent choice of a ship today. With modern, tech-savvy, luxurious amenities and spaces, plus all the dining, drinks and entertainment a cruiser could need, this ship is a great option for your upcoming cruise.