I’ll just come out and say it – it’s not very often I write a review post. Thing is, I find them incredibly dull to read and even more so to write.
There are a few exceptions to this rule and that typically is when the ‘subject’ in question defies expectations. Like biting into a chocolate cake and tasting oranges instead (and I don’t mean chocolate oranges – I mean straight up oranges).
Okay, that food metaphor isn’t necessarily the best explanation for what I mean here but my point is, when an experience stands out for all the right reasons, one of the first thoughts that goes through my mind is “I can’t wait to share this with you!“… and so I’m doing just that. 😁
See a couple of months ago, we went on our first cruise (to Alaska) and I figured I had cruise life sussed.
Then we were invited on the inaugural sailing of the new Celebrity Edge Cruise ship and it totally changed our perception (to say the least) of what to expect on a cruise. Case in point – have a look at these rooms below and even the bar here – soooooo not what I was expecting on a cruise ship!
If you’ve ever been on a cruise ship before, you’ll totally get what I mean once you see the photos below. If you haven’t, you’ll want to pay attention as this might just be the temptation you need to hop aboard your first cruise. (Bold claim, I know! 😀 )
Anyway, to make this easier to read/skim through, I’ll just go through the different aspects of it in very clear sections so you can see why this is something I really wanted to share with you.
What is the Celebrity Edge Cruise Ship really like?
The Staterooms
Let’s start with the obvious one really! After all – this is gonna be your ‘home’ the entire time you’re on the Celebrity Edge Cruise ship (unless, of course – you go with one of the suites below)!
Well, for starters, even when you’re in the ‘regular’ staterooms you have 25% more space per cabin – thanks in no small part to their retractable windows/balconies.
Essentially you balcony becomes part of your room and that extra space makes a whole lot of difference. I mean just look at your current, actual home and imagine if someone said they could add 1/4 of the space as extra to it – it’s not a small addition, is it?
Rather than try to explain all of this – let me show you what I mean!
Oh, and just check out the design – it’s so not what I expected from a cruise ship.
In a lot of ways, it looks (and it certainly feels, in person) like a fantastic hotel room.
For me, I guess the most important thing is just being able to feel right at home as soon as you step in (a lot of the other ‘stuff’ doesn’t matter, really – your comfort is paramount) and the room on the Celebrity Edge Cruise ship feels very comfy and far too easy to settle into. 😀
The Suites
Oh, this is the stuff that totally surprised me – and I imagine it will a lot of people who’ve never been on a cruise before.
The suites here are absolutely gorgeous and would very much be the kinda stuff you’d expect in a lovely hotel in London or New York.
I think it’s the sheer amount of space that surprises me.
Again, coming from London, some of the suites have more space than an entire apartment in London.
To then think that a place like this could be your ‘home’ while exploring some of the most beautiful places in the world makes this something that totally changes the way I’ve ever seen cruise shops and cruising in general.
I’ll just leave you with more photos again so you can see what I mean.
The Bars
My favourite was hands-down the Martini bar!
Even from afar, I knew this was a spot I’d have to spend more time in and then when you taste what’s on offer and you know this is easily gonna be one of your favourite spots on the entire Celebrity Edge Cruise ship.
Of course, there are other bars as well, like this one outdoors in the garden area…
…or this one indoors where there are performers all night! (Like literally one minute you’re sipping on a margarita, post a pretty amazing dinner and the next there’s some aerial acrobat spinning above you – it’s absolutely brilliant!)
To be totally honest, there are a fair few more bars around too – more than we even got to explore, so even if you’re by the pool – or just off to catch a movie in the afternoon, it’s safe to say you won’t be left thirsty. 😉
The Restaurants
I’ve got to start with the most important one of them all – Eden!
This is the one you need to make sure you have a reservation in.
It’s essentially an immersive experience while you dine but, and I know this might just be me (seriously doubt it though) but when I go to a restaurant, the most important thing to me is the food!
That’s what I’m there for and that’s what I pay attention to the most and this one definitely hits the mark brilliantly!
Once the food starts, then I really notice everything else around me and this restaurant hits the mark on this too.
It’s actually really fun and such an added bonus while you’re working your way through course after course of deliciousness prepared right before you at the open kitchen.
Sometimes, when a restaurant pays attention the extra stuff (pyrotechnics, design, entertainment…etc) it can be to make up for the food but this is so not the case here. The food is absolutely amazing here and absolutely worth making the extra effort to get a table here.
By the way, don’t think you’re gonna be the only one with the same idea here. Other people will wanna book a table here too so I recommend calling up in advance to check on availability as soon as you get in. Leave it too late and you’d probably struggle to get a spot here.
Actually, that’s probably sound advice all round when it comes to cruises – if there’s something you really wanna do, just lock it down sooner rather than later. (Even with the other restaurants).
You’re not the only one looking to have an amazing experience on your travels so generally, I’d recommend having an idea what you’re really passionate about (like we really wanted to see the whales when we visited Alaska and booked that first) before you visit.
There are other restaurants, of course, on board and even down to the regular buffet, the food is not (and really hasn’t been thus far) anything to ever worry about (if anything, it’s something to really look forward to) on the Celebrity Edge.
The Spa
The spa is every bit as fantastic as you’d expect. I mean, there’s some stuff you’d expect from every spa (steam room, saunas, rain showers…etc) but this stuff here is absolutely gorgeous.
Anyone who’s ever visited spas on their travels knows not all spas are equal and the spa on here is another spot that’s one of my favourites here.
Didn’t have a massage on here so can’t really speak to that side of things (will keep ya posted if I do) but the actual rooms you have them in are pretty sweet.
(Random sidebar: Had a massage once in a hotel – on land and a lot closer to home – that played background music as loud as I would have it if I had friends over before a night out – didn’t realise how much it would bother me having little details out of whack when I had a massage but it really does. It was so loud that I ended up leaving the massage more worked up than I was when I came in. I think this is in large part why I now realise that even the little stuff really matter when it comes to places like this).
The Magic Carpet
So the Magic Carpet on the Celebrity Edge Cruise ship is the world’s first floating platform on any cruise ship.
Initially, the Magic Carpet was meant to just be a way to embark and disembark the ship at certain ports, but over time it’s found another use too!
As the Magic Carpet can rise the whole length of the Celebrity Edge Cruise ship, it stops off at different floors on different days where they host dinners, performances and cocktail bars. All whilst floating over the side of the ship.
It’s best to head here around sunset, especially if the Magic Carpet is facing west when sailing (ask someone on board – they’ll let you know if it is) as on it, you’ll get some of the best sunsets over the ocean!
And that’s about it. I think we’ve covered most of it but if you do have any questions whatsoever – feel free to drop us a message and we’ll be more than happy to answer or help out!
Other Stuff
Let’s see – what else have I missed out?
Pools! You’ve got two on the Celebrity Edge Cruise ship – one inside and one outside.
I never went in the inside one but at temperatures of over 30C (86F), relaxing outside, in the sunshine, made way more sense. (On a trip like the one to Alaska, and indoors sesh would definitely have come in handy.)
There are also some pretty amazing hot tubs here so if that’s more your style, you’ll do pretty great here.
Actually, come to think of it, there are more – there’s another private bit for the suite class passengers (which, like the name suggests, are those in a suite).
Can’t really think of much else – I guess the rest is really up to you to discover when you step on board but here are a few more photos from the Celebrity Edge Cruise ship that I guess can help you see why this really isn’t your average cruise ship!
Oh! And we saw Malala on board soon!
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