Celebrity Cruises has revealed new details about its newest ship, Celebrity Beyond, the third in the Edge class, through a virtual online event. It is larger than its sister ships and the largest ever built for Celebrity Cruises. A team of modern lifestyle icons is enhancing and reimagining some of the iconic spaces of the Edge class, including award-winning British designer Kelly Hoppen CBE, celebrated American designer Nate Berkus, Paris-based design firm Jouin Manku, British architect Tom Wright, and Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud.
“With Celebrity Beyond, we saw an opportunity to take the extraordinary features of Celebrity Edge—such as its focus on connecting with the ocean and its expansive spaces—and expand upon them even further,” said Richard Fain, president of Royal Caribbean Group, the parent company of Celebrity Cruises. “We’ve focused on providing more openness, height, and spaciousness in the ship’s most popular areas. The end result is a next-generation ship that embodies the intersection of architecture and design.”
Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, president and CEO of the company, said: “Celebrity Cruises has always been an innovator at sea, and now we are introducing a ship that goes beyond expectations, beyond imagination. The Celebrity Beyond shatters every preconceived notion of the cruise experience. This exquisite ship offers a journey at the intersection of elegance and accessibility, containing what is important to our guests: forward-thinking design, culinary excellence, unparalleled well-being, and unmatched service.”
Kelly Hoppen, who also worked on the interior design of Celebrity Edge and Apex, has reimagined aspects of the design for The Retreat on Celebrity Beyond. This exclusive space for suite guests will include a new two-story Retreat Sundeck, offering new seating areas, more water features, and the signature Retreat Bar. The inviting Retreat Lounge is a stylish new space to relax, and the adjacent restaurant, Luminae, has been relocated to the front of the ship and also reimagined. Hoppen’s design contributions also include the redesigned two-story Edge Villas with outdoor plunge pools and Celebrity’s renowned Iconic Suites, which are the largest in the fleet.
The open main deck will be 40% larger than those on Edge and Apex, and will feature a huge rooftop garden designed by Hoppen. It will include more seating with private conversation nooks and areas for watching movies, enjoying live music, or dining at the expanded Rooftop Grill. The area will also feature two new pools that jut out from the side of the ship.
Architect Tom Wright has expanded the outdoor spaces of the Celebrity Beyond, transforming them into outward-facing sanctuaries with breathtaking ocean views. His design lengthened the ship by 20 meters and raised it to 17 decks. Wright also designed the Edge-class signature Magic Carpet, an engineering marvel that cantilevers out over the water.
Nate Berkus has designed one of Celebrity's most popular spots: the Sunset Bar, with almost twice the space of previous versions and Moroccan-inspired design elements, in addition to cascading terraces.
The heart of Celebrity Beyond will be the Grand Plaza, designed by Jouin Manku, the team responsible for the Jules Verne restaurant at the Eiffel Tower. Inspired by Italian piazzas, the Grand Plaza will span three decks and will be larger than the Grand Plazas on Celebrity Edge and the Apex. Connected to the Grand Plaza will be a new, intimate restaurant by renowned chef Daniel Boulud, called Le Voyage. Chef Boulud's menu will be complemented by Jouin Manku's design expertise.
“Le Voyage will be a culinary journey like no other, reflecting the flavors of the destinations the ship visits. The menu will be rooted in my French heritage, but at the same time, it will be very adventurous. My goal is to create a wonderfully comfortable environment where the food takes center stage. I want this to be the most special restaurant at sea,” said Boulud.
Celebrity Beyond will embark on its maiden voyage on April 27, 2022, from Southampton, England. The 10-night itinerary will visit Bordeaux, France; Lisbon, Portugal; and Seville, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, and Barcelona, Spain. Beyond will then cruise the Mediterranean until early October, when it will depart for Fort Lauderdale to offer Caribbean cruises.
