Celebrity's newest Edge-class ship, the Celebrity Beyond, was officially delivered at the Chantier de L'Atlantique shipyard in a ceremony attended by 1,400 crew members from over 60 countries, along with senior company executives. This 3,200-passenger cruise ship is 20 meters longer than its sister ship, the Celebrity Apex, and boasts 179 more suites and cabins than other ships in its class.
By Virginia López Valiente
Managing Director of Cruises News Media Group and Editor of CruisesNews magazine
Beyond also boasts 40% more deck space in the Retrait area and several significant improvements and expansions. These include the specialty restaurant Le Voyage, the redesigned Luminae, and the expanded Grand Plaza and relocated Martini Bar, a vibrant hub of activity.
Read: Celebrity Cruises celebrates the delivery of the innovative Celebrity Beyond cruise ship…
This area is the heart of the ship and always draws guests together. By relocating the circular Martini Bar to the center, complete with its distinctive and spectacular chandelier above it, more guests can enjoy the always entertaining bartenders.
It is also essential to mention the delicate decor of the Cosmopolitan restaurant or the Italian restaurant Toscano; the French restaurant Normandie; and the Cyprus restaurant.
The length isn't the only thing that's grown on this ship; it's also added a deck. The private outdoor area, The Retrait, for suite guests, now spans two levels, incorporating Jacuzzis, a larger relaxation area and solarium, as well as an expanded bar and restaurant area. The Sunset Bar is 180% larger than on its predecessors, and it's one of my favorite spots.
The theater is another of the spaces that have been "retouched." Already a spectacle in itself, its circular stage is now integrated into the set design, using the same lights and pixels as the rear screen.
At the ceremony, Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty, and Beyond's Captain Kate McCue, to whom they symbolically handed over "the keys," officially took ownership of the new ship at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.
“This incredible ship, on this long-awaited day, represents our commitment to investing in the future of the travel industry, as well as the shipbuilding industry in Europe,” said Liberty. “We are very grateful to the team at Chantiers de l'Atlantique, our own newbuild team, our customers and business partners, and everyone who has contributed their time, resources, creativity, and loyalty.”.
Always impeccable hosts, we toured the ship with Brian Abel, Senior VP of Hotel Operations for the company, and were perfectly accompanied by Lisa Lutoff Perlo, Jason Liberty, and Jo Rzymowska, VP and Managing Director of Celebrity Cruises in the UK, Ireland, and EMEA. Explaining every innovative or noteworthy detail in detail, we could sense their enthusiasm for having been so involved in the selection of each material, the colors, and the creation of the ambiance.
It's a beautiful and very elegant ship, yet comfortable and relaxing. A new, very premium addition to the current Celebrity fleet and the global cruise fleet. Celebrity Cruises is committed to Europe and Spain, with a wide variety of ships, cruise lengths, and itineraries.
Celebrity Beyond will be officially unveiled to travel agents and international press in Southampton on April 25 and 26, before moving on to Barcelona where it will spend the summer season on 10-day Mediterranean cruises.
More information about Celebrity Beyond…
PHOTO GALLERY:
