When it comes to cruising, families have lots of options these days, from giant ships with rollercoasters at sea to smaller, more intimate options focused on destinations and learning. If you’re looking for something in the middle, Celebrity Cruises is probably the best choice of the major family cruise lines in the United States.
While the brand and its ships don’t have large water parks at sea (the ship I sailed recently 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 state-of-the-art ships primarily cater to adults of all ages who want to spend a few days exploring new destinations and enjoying high-end amenities.
In fact, I just sailed for seven nights on Celebrity Beyond, one of the brand’s unique Edge Class ships, and let’s just say it felt like a high-end cruise without the expensive luxury price tag. And with so many early bird deals and plenty of offers throughout the year, Celebrity Cruises may be one of the best vacation deals.
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, due in 2028. The line has four classes, the largest being the Celebrity Edge Series, currently with five ships, and Xcite coming soon. These ships primarily sail in the Caribbean and Europe.
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Then there’s the Celebrity Solstice Series, also with five ships crisscrossing the world, from the Caribbean to South America and Antarctica. The Celebrity Millennium Series features four ships, based in Europe, the Caribbean and Asia. Lastly, the Celebrity Expedition Series features one ship, the Celebrity Flora, sailing the Galapagos Islands.
Guests looking for a ship with all the bells and whistles will want to book one of the Edge Class ships, while those looking for a more intimate experience and perhaps visiting more interesting places will want to book something in the Millennium Class.
Who sails on Celebrity Cruises?
The experience on board is aimed at adults, although on Beyond, it’s not just older adults who sail. I saw larger groups of friends in their 20s and 30s, older adults cruising with their grown children, adults alone (including one woman who sold her house to live on a yacht!), and couples.
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What I rarely see are children, which, depending on your family and vacation style, can be a good or bad thing. Although children are allowed aboard Celebrity, there isn’t much for young cruisers to do. Plus, the kids’ clubs aren’t even open every hour of the day like on other big family lines, like Carnival Cruise Line or Disney Cruise Line.
What’s the cabin like?
Each Celebrity Cruise ship offers a variety of cabin styles, from en suite cabins to large suites. Of course, the suites are beautiful, with ocean views and extra amenities, but most people will stay in a more standard balcony or ocean view room, which is spacious and has enough storage for a week’s cruise.
On my Beyond cruise, I stayed in the Infinite Veranda cabin, which can be found on all Edge Class ships. The cabin starts at 202 square feet with a 40 square foot “veranda” inside the cabin. Yes, I said inside, because technically there is no real door separating the inside and outside space. Instead, your veranda is inside your room, with two bi-fold doors that can be closed to create two separate spaces. And to feel the sea breeze on your face, you just press the button to roll down the window.
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I’m not a big fan of the Infinite Veranda’s cabin. Although it looks nice in photos, especially since almost the entire wall facing the sea is made of glass, its actual function as a veranda is lost on me. This was probably because I was sailing in early June in the Caribbean, and the weather was very warm, so having the windows down, even though the bi-fold doors were blocking the rest of the cabin, made the entire cabin get 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 large windows as the Infinite Verandas, but they don’t open.
Dining on Celebrity Cruises
There are many dining options on all Celebrity Cruises ships. Each ship offers one to four main dining rooms, where guests can set a time and table to enjoy dinner or can choose to dine at any time. Breakfast is also served in the main dining room. I love the traditional French omelet filled with melted Gruyère cheese. Lunch is served on select afternoons.
Another option included is the Oceanview Cafe (buffet), where you can enjoy a rotating menu of dishes. I love stopping by at lunch, where each day at Beyond offers a different theme from Latin and Italian to contemporary and French.
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Outside of these two main options, there are several restaurants with additional fees. 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 an Edge Class ship is the Eden Restaurant, which offers both a traditional à la carte menu and a tasting menu. I chose the tasting menu, which was seven courses. You can choose one dish from two options for each of your meals. Some of the standout dishes are the Aegean Sea Ceviche made with sea bass and topped with coriander sorbet, truffle risotto and branzino in crispy bread (a fun take on the classic potato-crusted fish). Best of all, if you don’t want to sample the menu, all the dishes come straight from the à la carte menu, so you can still try all the highlights.
Entertainment on Celebrity Cruises
There is an endless variety of entertainment on every Celebrity Cruises ship. Of course, you’ll find plenty of live music, games, and trivia all 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 theater productions are not scheduled, the theater hosts a rotating variety of acts ranging from singers to comedians to magicians.
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In addition, there are many lounges and clubs where small shows are held. On Edge Class ships, Eden is the place to go at night. The space turns into a spectacle full of music and dancing. One show that should not be missed is the Alice in Wonderland themed show which is truly extraordinary. There’s also The Club, where you can’t miss The Jazz Joint, a fun cabaret-style show that combines classic jazz tunes, acrobatics and some adult jokes that have the whole place laughing.
The outdoor venue is worth checking out
Think of Celebrity’s upper deck as a kind of resort with lots of lounge chairs, a few pools, and not a water slide in sight. My favorite area is the Solarium, an enclosed lounge space with its own pool and glass ceiling. On Edge Class ships, there is also a Rooftop Garden, where seating is available, and a large TV showing live sports. During my cruise, families gathered here to watch the NBA Finals and the FIFA World Cup.
A FamilyVacationist Cruise Editor’s View of Celebrity Cruises
On my recent cruise on Celebrity Beyond, I heard a guest say, “If you want a theme park, book Royal Caribbean, but if you want a vacation, book Celebrity Cruises.” That’s my sentiment too. While I love both cruise lines, Celebrity feels like Royal Caribbean’s cool older sister.
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I love how beautiful Celebrity Beyond is. The chilled atmosphere makes this a relaxing trip with lots of fun sprinkled throughout the journey. I also enjoyed how attentive the staff were, especially in the hangout area in the middle of decks three to five, where there is plenty of seating for those who want to enjoy watching, reading a book, or just want to chat with family and friends.
Overall, I would sail with Celebrity Cruises again. From the dining and entertainment to the ship’s atmosphere, this is an ideal cruise line for those traveling without kids who may be on a budget but want a better cruise from a family-friendly cruise line.
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