When it comes to cruising, families have plenty of options these days, from giant mega-ships with rollercoasters at sea to smaller, more intimate options that focus on destinations and learning. If you’re looking for something in the middle, Celebrity Cruises may be the best option of the major family cruise lines in the United States.
While the brand and its ships don’t have massive water parks at sea (the ship I recently sailed didn’t even have a water slide), what Celebrity Cruises does have is a focus on food, entertainment, and creating relaxing spaces at sea for adults. The brand’s sophisticated ships primarily cater to adults of all ages who want to spend a few days exploring new destinations and enjoying upscale amenities.
In fact, I just got off a seven-night sailing on Celebrity Beyond, one of the brand’s unique Edge Class ships, and let’s just say it felt like an upscale cruise without the hefty luxury price tag. And with so much included to begin with and plenty of deals running through the year, Celebrity Cruises may be one of the best vacation deals to boot.
How many ships does Celebrity Cruises have in its fleet?
Currently, 15 ships are sailing in the Celebrity Cruises fleet, with another ship, Celebrity Xcite, on the way in 2028. The line has four classes, the biggest being the Celebrity Edge Series, currently with five ships, and Xcite coming soon. These ships mainly sail in the Caribbean and Europe.
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Then there’s the Celebrity Solstice Series, also with five ships that traverse the world, from the Caribbean to South America and Antarctica. The Celebrity Millennium Series features four ships, based in Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia. Finally, the Celebrity Expedition Series features one ship, the Celebrity Flora, which sails the Galapagos Islands.
Guests looking for a ship with all of the bells and whistles will want to book one of the Edge Class ships, while those looking for a more intimate experience and possibly visit more interesting places will want to book something on the Millennium Class.
Who sails on Celebrity Cruises?
The onboard experience is aimed at adults, though on Beyond, it wasn’t just older adults sailing. I saw larger friend groups of 20 and 30-somethings, older adults sailing with their adult children, solo adults (including a woman who sold her house to live on cruise ships!), and couples.
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What I didn’t see a lot of was kids, which, depending on your family and vacation style, can be a good thing or a bad thing. While kids are allowed onboard the Celebrity ships, there’s really not much for young cruisers to do. Additionally, the kids’ clubs aren’t even open every hour of the day like they are on other major family lines, like Carnival Cruise Line or Disney Cruise Line.
What are the cabins like?
Each Celebrity Cruise ship offers a wide range of cabin styles, from inside cabins to massive suites. Of course, the suites are beautiful, with ocean views and added amenities, but most folks will be staying in more standard balcony or ocean-view rooms, which are spacious and have ample storage for a week-long cruise.
On my Beyond sailing, I stayed in an Infinite Veranda cabin, which can be found on all of the Edge Class ships. The cabins start at 202 square feet with a 40 square foot “verandah” inside the cabin. Yes, I said inside, because there’s technically no real door dividing the indoor space from the outdoor space. Instead, your verandah is inside your room, with two bi-fold doors that can be closed to make two separate spaces. And to feel the ocean breeze across your face, you press a button to roll down a window.
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I’m not the biggest fan of the Infinite Veranda cabins. While they look great in photos, especially since nearly the entire wall facing the ocean is glass, the actual functionality of being a verandah isn’t there for me. This could be because I sailed in early June in the Caribbean, and the weather was very warm, so rolling the window down, even if the bi-fold doors were blocking off the rest of the cabin, made the entire cabin very hot very quickly.
Next time, I’d like to try the Panoramic Ocean View Staterooms, which are 212 square feet, and have the same massive window as the Infinite Verandas, but the window cannot open.
Dining on Celebrity Cruises
There are plenty of dining options on all of the Celebrity Cruises ships. Each ship offers one to four main dining rooms, where guests either have a set time and table to enjoy dinner or can choose anytime dining. Breakfast is also served in the main dining room. I love the traditional French omelet stuffed with melty Gruyère cheese. Lunch is served on select afternoons.
Another included option is the Oceanview Cafe (the buffet), where you can indulge in a rotating menu of dishes. I love stopping by at lunch, where each day on Beyond offered a different theme from Latin and Italian to contemporary and French.
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Outside of those two main options, there’s a handful of extra-charge restaurants. These include a classic steakhouse called Fine Cut, a sushi and raw bar called Raw on 5, and a Parisian-inspired cafe called Le Grand Bistro.
My favorite on the Edge Class ships is Eden Restaurant, which offers a traditional à la carte menu and a tasting menu. I opted for the tasting menu, which was seven courses. You do get to choose one dish from two options for each course of your meal. Some of the highlight dishes were the Aegean Sea Ceviche made with sea bass and topped with a coriander sorbet, truffle risotto, and branzino in crispy bread (a fun take on a classic potato-crusted fish). And even better, if you don’t want to do the tasting menu, all of the dishes come right from the à la carte menu, so you can still try all of the highlights.
Entertainment on Celebrity Cruises
There’s an endless array of entertainment on each of the Celebrity Cruises ships. Of course, you’ll find plenty of live music, games, and trivia around the ship. In the main theater, the shows are flashy and fun, with a mix of high-energy performances, acrobatics, and stunts. On nights when the theater productions aren’t scheduled, the theater hosts a rotating mix of variety acts from singers and comedians to magicians.
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Additionally, there are plenty of lounges and clubs where smaller shows take place. On the Edge Class ships, Eden is the spot to be in the evening. The space transforms into a full spectacle with music and dancing. One show not to miss is the Alice in Wonderland-themed performance, which is truly exceptional. There’s also The Club, where you cannot miss The Jazz Joint, a fun cabaret-style show mixing classic jazz songs, acrobatics, and a few adult jokes that got the whole place laughing.
Outdoor venues worth checking out
Think of Celebrity’s top decks as a sort of resort with plenty of lounge chairs, a handful of pools, and not a waterslide in sight. My favorite area is the Solarium, a covered lounge space with its own pool and glass ceiling. On the Edge Class ships, there’s also the Rooftop Garden, where seating is readily available, and a massive TV shows live sports. During my cruise, families gathered here to watch the NBA Finals and the FIFA World Cup.
FamilyVacationist’s Cruise Editor’s take on Celebrity Cruises
On my recent sailing on Celebrity Beyond, I overheard a guest say, “If you want a theme park, book Royal Caribbean, but if you want a vacation, book Celebrity Cruises.” That was my sentiment, too. Even though I love both cruise lines, Celebrity feels like Royal Caribbean’s cool older sister.
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I loved how beautiful Celebrity Beyond was. The chill vibe made this a relaxing trip with plenty of fun sprinkled in along the way. I also enjoyed how attentive the staff was, particularly in hangout spots in the middle of decks three through five, where there is a ton of seating for those looking to enjoy some people watching, reading a book, or simply looking to chat with family and friends.
Overall, I would sail with Celebrity Cruises again. From dining and entertainment to the ship’s atmosphere, it’s the ideal cruise line for those traveling without kids who may be on a budget but want a cruise that’s a step up from the major family-friendly lines.
