Celebrity Beyond Cruise Ship: Overview and Things to Do

Celebrity fans love this cruise line for a few good reasons. Celebrity is known for its adult-first experiences, lots of inclusions, and high-end luxury, from the staterooms and suites to the restaurants and other venues. This is what you’ll find — plus more — during a cruise on the new Celebrity Beyond cruise ship.

If you’re considering taking a Celebrity Beyond cruise, whether this is your first Celebrity cruise or you’ve been a stalwart fan of the cruise line for years, here’s what you need to know.

Celebrity Beyond Stats

Here’s how the ship measures in.

• Gross Tonnage: 140,600
• Length: 1,073 feet
• Decks: 17
• Cabins: 1,646
• Passenger Capacity: 3,260 (double occupancy)
• Passenger Capacity: 3,731 (maximum capacity)
• Crew: 1,400-plus members 

Do note that Celebrity Beyond does measure in at a little bit bigger than some of the ships that came before it in the Edge class. Celebrity Beyond has been given several significant upgrades. The ship is longer and sleeker, adding 20 meters to its length. There’s a whole extra deck added on top.

There are nearly 200 more suites and staterooms, as well as more dining and drinking venues. Plus, several spots throughout the ship are larger than they might be on past Edge-class ships (such as the class’s Sunset Bar and The Retreat). 

Construction and History

Celebrity Beyond was announced in 2016, to be built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique in France. However, while that construction did commence in 2020, it did so right before the Covid-19 pandemic began, which halted the cruising industry as a whole. As such, Celebrity Beyond’s construction and delivery were delayed.

As mentioned above, Celebrity Beyond was built to be slightly larger than prior Edge-class ships, including Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Apex. (Celebrity Ascent will follow in December 2023 as the fourth Edge-class ship.) As such, Celebrity Beyond is about 10,000 gross tons larger than its older siblings. It also features an extra deck along with being 20 meters longer than prior Edge-class ships. 

That said, Celebrity Beyond does not boast that much more in terms of guest capacity and crew size, when comparing it to other Edge-class ships (just a few hundred more). Still, that just means more overall space for you, and a greater cruiser-to-cruise-ship-space ratio.

Additionally, overall, while these ships offer plenty and are technically “mega” ships, they’re not among the largest in the world. If you’re looking to cruise on the biggest in the bunch, look to the latest offerings from Royal Caribbean.

Celebrity Beyond offers Edge-class features such as the Eden observation lounge, and a magic carpet tender dock. It also is the very first Celebrity cruise ship to offer SpaceX Starlink internet service. 

The Celebrity cruise ship was delivered from the shipyard in April 2022, with a christening ceremony held in Florida with the ship’s godmother, U.S. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles months later in November 2022. However, Biles is not the only famous woman associated with this ship.

Kate McCue was announced as the ship’s captain at the time. McCue found her fame as the first American woman mega cruise ship captain. Prior to captaining Celebrity Beyond, McCue was the captain of Celebrity Summit. 

Staterooms

Celebrity Beyond offers 3,731 staterooms and suites combined, which is just about 200 more than you’ll find on other Edge-class ships. Staterooms can be broken down as such:

• Inside
• Ocean view
• Veranda
• Single Staterooms
• Infinite Veranda
• Concierge-class
• AquaClass

Inside staterooms measure in at between 181 and 202 square feet, and each inside stateroom is sleek and modern, for an upscale, hip hotel feel (the same as you’ll find throughout all the staterooms). Cruisers enjoy more living space than they might in interior cabins on other cruise ships. Features include a desk, separate sitting area, and large bathrooms with showers. 

Ocean view staterooms are just slightly larger, at between 200 and 242 square feet. Do note, though, that the ocean views aren’t as spectacular as you might be hoping. These cabins merely offer a small, rectangular window on one side of the cabin, near the sitting area. Otherwise, they’re nearly identical to the inside staterooms.

Veranda staterooms are Celebrity’s version of a balcony stateroom. Interior space measures in at between 202 and 228 square feet, while each veranda measures in at between 40 and 89 square feet (so, depending on which cabin you book, you may find that you get double the exterior space!). Seating areas are configured differently in these staterooms, to allow for large, glass sliding patio doors to take up the cabin’s far wall, so you can enjoy views both inside and outside your cabin.

Single staterooms are for those solo cruisers out there. Celebrity Beyond features double the number of single staterooms as you might’ve found on past ships, for more opportunities to book one of these coveted cabins.

Single staterooms feature Celebrity’s Edge-class Infinite Verandas. This feature takes the far cabin wall and replaces it with a movable wall of windows, which you can raise and lower with a button (or push aside, depending on the cabin), allowing you to bring the outdoors in and enjoy the open sea breeze from bed, if you want to, without needing to go out onto the balcony.

Read Also: What Are the Best Rooms on a Cruise Ship?

Beyond single staterooms with Infinite Verandas, you can also book just regular staterooms with Infinite Verandas. Each of these cabins measures in at 243 square feet of interior space and 42 square feet on the veranda. 

The Concierge Class of staterooms also offer Infinite Verandas, but additionally adds VIP services that you won’t get in other classes of cabins. 

Lastly, AquaClass staterooms, which also feature Infinite Verandas, are basically Celebrity’s spa-class of staterooms, which means you’ll get more VIP services here, but all will be related to the spa. Think a pillow menu, exclusive bedding, better showers, yoga mats, etc.

(It’s worth noting that some reviewers say that the Infinite Veranda feature doesn’t feel as airy as you might think, and that it feels more enclosed as compared to just a regular verandah stateroom. Take this into consideration before booking.)

Suites and The Retreat

Celebrity Beyond’s suites can be found within The Retreat, the ship’s all-suite area that features far more than just suites. As so many other cruise lines have done, Celebrity has crafted The Retreat into a space upon its newer ships that’s like … well, a retreat! It’s for cruisers who want dining, pool areas and other venues away from the main cruising crowds.

The Retreat on Celebrity Beyond has been expanded to include a two-story sundeck, which includes a bar, pool and two hot tubs. In addition to the sundeck, cruisers traveling in The Retreat also enjoy access to a private restaurant, Luminae, which features exclusive menus designed by a Michelin-starred chef. There’s also The Retreat Lounge, where guests will find complimentary food and drinks throughout the day.

There are seven suite options within The Retreat:

• Sky Suites
• Aqua Sky Suites
• Celebrity Suites
• Royal Suites
• Edge Villas
• Penthouse Suites
• Iconic Suites

Sky Suites measure 319 square feet and are your least luxurious of the seven options. Special features include king-sized mattresses, verandas and split bathrooms with soaking tubs.

Aqua Sky Suites are the same size, but come with all of the amenities and services you’d get with the AquaClass in general, including special bedding, eco-friendly bathroom products and more.

The Celebrity Suite is where things get a bit bigger and more extravagant. The Celebrity Suites feature more than 400 square feet of interior space, as well as 100 square feet on the verandah. Wall-to-wall windows overlook said verandah. Inside, you get plenty of seating space and the seating area is separated from the bedroom.

Worth Reading: Incredible Cruise Ships With Family Suites

The Royal Suite features a small verandah but much more space inside, with 687 square feet. There’s a separate bedroom, a huge bathroom with a soaking tub and big vanity, bar area, powder room and other features that make this suite feel like a luxury loft in the city.

The Edge Villa is even bigger, with 739 square feet inside and 211 square feet outside. There are only six of these two-story villas on the ship, so you’ll want to be sure you snatch this one up fast. There’s one bedroom, two bathrooms and space for four cruisers to live, sleep and play comfortably, plus a private plunge pool and direct access to The Retreat’s sundeck.

Penthouse Suites have smaller verandahs, but nearly double the space inside, at 1,378 square feet. There’s a primary bedroom, guest bedroom, two bathrooms, a dressing room, dining area and private hot tub.

Lastly, the ship’s Iconic Suites are known for their 2,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, and panoramic views everywhere you look. The suites are positioned over the ship’s bridge and provide an experience you’ll be hard-pressed to find on other cruise lines’ ships. Every single space is ultra-elegant and luxurious. 

Free Dining

In total, Celebrity Beyond offers more than 30 different food and beverage options, including 14 beverage options, eight specialty restaurants, four main dining rooms, four additional complimentary restaurants and two private restaurants.

If you’re specifically hoping to spend your cruising budget on upgrading to a suite rather than at the specialty dining venues, your complimentary options will include: 

• Eden Café, for casual, café-style bites and al fresco dining
• The Spa Café and Juice Bar, located inside the adults-only solarium and offering healthier fare
• The Oceanview Café, the ship’s version of a buffet
• Mast Grill, for burgers by the pool
• Cyprus Restaurant, a main dining room with a Greek flair
• Tuscan Restaurant, a main dining room with a taste of Italy
• Normandie Restaurant, a main dining room with a French feel
• Cosmopolitan Restaurant, a modern main dining room that reflects the vibes of the rest of the ship

As mentioned, there are also two private restaurants that are complimentary for certain cruise guests only. These include one restaurant only for AquaClass cruisers and one restaurant only for The Retreat cruisers. 

Specialty Restaurants

If you do decide to splurge and try out the specialty restaurants aboard Celebrity Beyond, your options will include…

• Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud, a first for the fleet, as the chef’s first signature restaurant at sea
• Fine Cut Restaurant, a steakhouse
• Le Grand Bistro, a French-inspired spot
• Le Petit Chef, where, thanks to unique tech features, dining is more of an experience than merely a meal
• Raw on 5, for fresh seafood
• The Magic Carpet, for dining with unbeatable views, 13 decks above sea level
• The Rooftop Garden Grill, for more outdoor dining 
• Eden Restaurant, for elegant eats, including a tasting menus, in a lush garden setting
• Blu, an exclusive restaurant for AquaClass guests

Even if you normally don’t consider yourself much of a foodie, it’s worth springing for dining at one (or all!) of these specialty restaurants aboard a Celebrity Beyond cruise. Regardless if you do, though, you’ll find plenty of dining options aboard this ship, and plenty of menu options at every spot. 

Bars and Lounges

So where do you go to get a drink? Cafes, bars and lounges on Celebrity Beyond include…

• World Class Bar, for cocktails in a fine art-inspired setting
• The Sunset Bar, for two stories of views
• Café al Bacio, for coffee and a sweet treat
• Craft Social Bar, for craft beers and cocktails
• The Martini Bar, for a lively atmosphere, people watching and — what else? — martinis
• The Mast Bar, in the pool area
• The Retreat Lounge, open to Retreat cruisers only
• Eden Bar, for a vibrant garden-inspired setting
• The Pool Bar, for more poolside libations
• Il Secondo Bacio, for specialty coffees
• The Club, for live music at night and special activities and programming during the day

With such a broad selection of bars, lounges and cafes on this ship, make sure to visit a few, in order to find the one that best fits your preferences.

While you might not find a lot of venues here that offer strictly a party or clubbing vibe, like you might find on some other ships, you will still find plenty of places to get a well-made drink and enjoy a carefully crafted ambiance.

Activities and Entertainment

As the Celebrity cruise line as a whole is more geared toward adults than families or kids, the entertainment trends this way as well.

While you can still find things for the kiddos to do, note that most activities are upscale activities for parents and couples, as well as focus on general relaxation. Here’s how to play on Celebrity Beyond.

Check out the Wellness Offerings

Celebrity Beyond’s wellness offerings are truly spectacular and go beyond just a standard spa and fitness center. Thanks to wellness partnerships with brands like Goop, cruisers will enjoy world-class spa treatments, state-of-the-art training facilities and a range of resources to help you meet all your wellness needs.

Soak up the Sun at the Pool

There’s a main pool area that’s extra big, for plenty of space. The Resort Deck provides a great spot to take in all the action, especially if you can snag a spot in one of the deck’s hot tubs.

Cabanas are available for rent around the pool area; though they’re pricey (around $500), they do come with lots of amenities, like free-flowing drinks and food.

If you’re not into the poolside crowds, head to the adults-only solarium, which boasts its own pool and hot tub. There are also two plunge pools at the ship’s Rooftop Garden. 

Catch a Show

Edge-class ships within the Celebrity fleet truly go all out with the entertainment, providing tech-heavy, state-of-the-art, theatrical performances. Element is a show that focuses on the five elements and blends tech with acrobatics and choreography. Arte is another acrobat-heavy show. Stage Door provides all your favorite Broadway and similar hits.

Beyond shows in the theater, you’ll find entertainment throughout the ship’s broader spaces, like live music and light shows.

Try Your Luck in the Casino

The ship’s smoke-free casino provides all your favorite games, and Celebrity offers its guests a casino rewards program, wherein you can earn points and rewards the more you play. Find slots, table games and more.

Kids Venues

Kids may find that they need to retreat to the various kids venues on Celebrity Beyond if they really want to find activities catered to their needs. 

Camp at Sea provides programming tucked away in the bottom of the ship, for ages 4 and up to 12 (an area for the under-3 crew is also provided, but parents can’t leave their children unattended).

There’s also The Basement, for kids over 12, nearby. Both offer age-appropriate programming, activities and amenities like video game systems and games. 

Celebrity Beyond Itineraries

For the foreseeable future, Celebrity Beyond splits its time between the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Climb aboard one of these upcoming itineraries for an island-hopping adventure you won’t soon forget.

Celebrity Beyond Final Thoughts

Celebrity Beyond offers all that the Celebrity brand does so well — an adults-focused, luxurious experience with all the latest and greatest in cruising (if not the biggest). While this cruise ship might not be a perfect fit for everyone, it’s an excellent option for those seeking a high-end opportunity to relax, recharge and indulge at sea.