My top reasons why you should consider cruising on Celebrity Edge.
Celebrity Edge will debut at the end of November 2018. The first in her class, she’s already making waves, with a striking design inside and out. Here’s my top reasons why you should consider a cruise on her.
Magic carpet
The Magic Carpet already divides opinions due to its striking appearance. Cantilevered over the side of the ship, this is a multi-purpose venue that literally moves between decks for a variety of purposes and activities. It will assist in the tendering process as well as acting as a bar and speciality restaurant at different times of day. It sounds like a fun experience!
Be playful and sinful at Eden
This new venue, situated overlooking the wake of the ship, will invite passengers to chill during the morning, where they can relax, enjoy a coffee and take in the world from the many nooks and crannies of the room. In the afternoon it becomes more playful, with cocktail and culinary seminars and tastings. Whilst in the evenings the venue tempts you to be sinful, with Eve at Eden. The experience will mix performance art, culinary exploration and nightlife to indulge guests at the Eden Restaurant.
The night will end with passengers being tempted up stairs past the Tree of Life – inspired by the living tree installations found on Solstice Class ship Atriums – to the Eden Bar. A library wall of plants will tower 18-feet above the bar, perfect for garnishing the artisanal cocktails that will be on offer.
Food reimagined
Speaking of food, Edge will have a variety of new eateries on board, with 29 restaurants and 11 bars and lounges.
Celebrity Edge will have four main dining venues – Cosmopolitan, Cyprus, Normandie and Tuscan-all embracing Celebrity’s legacy. Cosmopolitan is a nod to the exciting main dining rooms found on the Solstice Class ships, featuring a chic environment. The Normandie, featuring wooden panels from the famous liner, is a nod to the lines Murano French restaurant, while Tuscan is another nod to Tuscan Grille Italian venue found on the rest of the fleet. Finally, Cyprus pays homage to the line’s Greek heritage and will feature a variety of Mediterranean food. I’m very excited to try all of these.
The ship will also offer a whole range of new speciality dining venues. This includes an upscale dining experience at the Fine Cut Steakhouse. Enjoy Barbeque food at the Rooftop Garden Grill or get sinful at the Eden Restaurant. Raw on 5 is described as offering a blend of St Tropez and New England seafood, and will be able to take advantage of the Magic Carpet when it is ‘docked’ on deck 5. Finally, Dinner on the Edge, will be provided on the Magic Carpet when it is positioned at the very top of the ship. This experience will draw upon the various ports of call the ship is visiting, producing a varied and exciting, locally crafted menu.
Design
The ethos around the design of Edge is simplicity and modernity. At the heart of this, the Grand Plaza takes inspiration from the glamourous days of transatlantic travel. At a time when cruise ships were at the heart of chic society, the center of these ships were traditionally spectacular ballrooms, accented with dramatic staircases and ornate chandeliers. They were social places to meet, greet, dine, drink and dance. The Grand Plaza pays homage to these powerful historic spaces and reinterprets them for the 21st century.
Across the whole ship you’ll find inquisitive and Playful spaces, from the martini glass shaped jacuzzis, to the sleek and organic spa spaces, or the urban rooftop garden.
Redesigned staterooms
Celebrity have looked to reinvent the stateroom. Dubbed the Edge Stateroom with Infinite Veranda, the superstructure of the ship has been changed, allowing for rooms to have 23 per cent more space than current Solstice class ships. Central to this is a wintergarden style balcony that becomes part of the room, which can be opened or closed to the elements.
The suiter life
Suite guests will not be disappointed with double the number of available suites on board, showcasing a newly updated contemporary design. The suites will form part of The Retreat, a suite only area which features an exclusive sun deck, their own lounge and an updated Luminae restaurant.
Entertainment with an edge
The Theatre on Celebrity Edge throws away the curtain altogether, blurring the line between audience and performance and immersing guests in an entertainment experience like no other. With four stage areas and three gigantic, moving projection screens, The Theatre offers an ever-changing canvas for the productions that live here.
The Club on Celebrity Edge is a progressive space that changes its persona from morning to… well, early the next morning. With a variety of activities and games during the day, turning into a chic club during the evening.
So what do you think? Will you be sailing on Celebrity Edge?
Edge sailings start from December 2018. Initially she will homeport in Port Everglades, Florida until April 2019 where she will reposition for her maiden season cruising Europe. I cannot wait to see more of Celebrity Edge in the coming months. She certainly looks to redefine what we think of as Modern Luxury.
I’ll be joining her in early January 2019, so watch this space for live blogs and posts exploring this fabulous ship.
For more information about Celebrity Edge and where she sails, go here. To read about my coverage of Edge visit here.