Search
Log-in
Photos Courtesy of Celebrity

Luxury at Sea Alters Course With New Celebrity Edge

Mar. 28th, 2017

Cruising has altered course as Celebrity Cruises has moved forward in luxury travel with their new Edge class ships. With over 5.4 million guests sailing on 12 Celebrity Cruise ships, the newest Edge ship is being built in France, and is one of four ships to sail the open seas soon. According to Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “The new features and refined design will establish a new baseline for ships from here on out." The Edge design adds 23 percent more square footage and 10 percent larger bathrooms than Celebrity’s popular Solstice Class.
 

 

Celebrity Edge

The A-list global architects and designers dream team from around the globe includes internationally renowned interior designer Kelly Hoppen MBE of Kelly Hoppen Interiors. She provides the finest Egyptian bed linens on King size beds and cotton towels in beautifully appointed bathrooms in the expanded staterooms. All suites and double occupancy Edge Staterooms are fitted with exclusively designed plush king-size cashmere mattresses—an industry first.

Celebrity Edge

Visionary architect Tom Wright of WKK and Celebrity's Design Ambassador Nate Berkus led a group of writers on a recent video tour of the new concept of modern luxury while cruising the world. Each stateroom looks like a luxury designed home instead of a cruise cabin. With the touch of a button, lighting, temperature, service and Infinite Verandas are controlled. The veranda creates a closer connection to the ocean from the stateroom door all the way to the water’s edge. Touching a button gives guests open-air access to the sea, bringing the outside in. “Our guests don't want to just skim the world like a magazine—they want to feel a human connection with it," said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises.

Celebrity Edge

What makes this ship unique from any other cruise ship, is the Edge climbing Magic Carpet platform. Cantilevered from the side of the ship, the Magic Carpet is the size of a tennis court, and is a platform that scales the 16-deck ship throughout the day and evening. It stops at four of the ship’s levels starting at Deck 2 as a Destination Getaway, offering an elegant reception embarkation station with chairs and tables to wait for the next tender to whisk passengers to port. When the Magic Carpet stops at Deck 5, they can dine al fresco outside the main body of the ship. Moving up to Deck 14 is an expanded open-air deck to the main pool onboard. The summit of the ship is Deck 16 where up to 90 guests can enjoy a special “Dinner on the Edge” culinary experience. 

Celebrity Edge

The ultimate staterooms are located at The Retreat, featuring a private Retreat lounge offering around-the-clock personal butler service and private pool on The Retreat Sundeck. There are 146 large, outward-facing Sky Suites with personal butler services and access to The Retreat to dine in the exclusive Suite Class restaurant Luminae.  The Edge class ships have doubled the number of available suites, adding two new categories. At the ship's Bridge are two new 2,600-square-foot Iconic Suites featuring two-bedrooms and two-bathrooms. Families will enjoy the two two-bedroom, two-bathroom Penthouse Suites with large soaking tubs on the veranda, large dual walk-through showers, and expansive walk-in closets. The 700-square-foot veranda in this suite offers a 270-degree view of the ocean.

Celebrity Edge

There are also six split-level Edge Villas offering ocean views from two stories of windows. These opulent staterooms offer a private plunge pools and direct walk-out access to The Retreat Sundeck.

For play time, architect Tom Wright designed the Rooftop Garden, tended daily by a resident horticulturist. This area will offer greenery on the open sea, games and activities throughout the day. At night, passengers can enjoy live music and an outdoor movie-and-meal pairings.

Celebrity Edge

Celebrity Edge is a medium size ship accomodating up to 2,918 discerning global travelers. Her first sailing is scheduled from homeport Fort Lauderdale on December 16, 2018. Sailings will be two 7-night itineraries with an eastern Caribbean cruise visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten. The western Caribbean calls on Key West, Florida; Costa Maya, Mexico; Cozumel, Mexico; and George Town, Grand Cayman. Travelers will also have the option to book back-to-back sailings for a 14-night journey. Celebrity Edge will be joined by three sister ships in 2020, 2021 and 2022. 

Jill Weinlein

Los Angeles based Jill Weinlein covers travel, food and lifestyle destinations for multiple newspapers, magazines and websites. Her areas of expertise include, luxury travel, culinary reviews, cruising and family travel destinations. Born in Los Angeles, Jill studied Communications and Theatre Arts at UCLA. She has a a Dine and Travel blog - www.dineandtravel.me and she writes a weekly restaurant column in the Los Angeles based Beverly Press and Park LaBrea newspapers. Jill also writes a monthly cruise column for Not Born Yesterday. Her articles also appear in Independent Traveler and Will Travel With Children. Some of Jill’s most memorable travel experiences include riding in a hot air balloon over Napa Valley, Zip-lining across a canyon on Catalina Island, climbing the steps at The Great Wall in China, riding an elephant in Chiang Mai, Thailand and staying for one week at ...(Read More)