Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises has announced the sale of two of its ships, leading to the cancellation of all 2025 voyages scheduled on these vessels.

The cruise line is to sell two of its Galapagos Expedition Series ships, Celebrity Xpedition and Celebrity Xploration. Lindblad Expeditions has agreed to buy them, with the transaction due to complete in January 2025.

The cruise line is not closing down its Expedition arm, with Celebrity Flora still continuing to sale for the cruise line.

On the heels of this news, Celebrity Cruises has announced options for guests who are booked on either of the sold ships for a 2025 sailing.

The first option is for guests to rebook a cruise on the ships for a sailing departing before the end of 2024. Guests will have their booking transferred to an equivalent or better stateroom category, with their fare protected.

If the new fare is lower, the guest will be asked to pay the lower rate. Any guests who’ve also booked airfare through the cruise line will have their flight bookings automatically moved, and guests can receive up to $400 towards non-refundable charges for rental cars, trains or parking.

The second option allows guests to move their booking onto a 2025 cruise onboard Celebrity Flora. Again, their fare will be protected, but holiday sailings are excluded from this option – guests wishing to move to a holiday cruise will have to pay the higher fare.

Again, flights booked through Celebrity will automatically be transferred and guests can request up to $400 towards non-refundable travel arrangements.

While the cruise line has not detailed any specific alternatives to these two options, standard cancellation options will apply for any guests who just prefer to cancel their cruise.

Once Celebrity Xploration and Celebrity Xpedition are transferred to Lindblad, they’ll be renovated and renamed. Bookings are expected to open for the two ships during summer 2024.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

Celebrity Cruises has 16 cruise ships. These range from large cruise ships that can accommodate over 3,000 guests, to small expedition yachts with a guest capacity of just 16.

In this article, we’ll look at the different Celebrity Cruises ships, to help you narrow down your options for your next cruise. You’ll find lists of the Celebrity ships by age and size, as well as explanations of the different classes of vessels in the fleet.

Whether you’re a regular cruiser or are considering your first cruise with Celebrity, I hope that you find this guide to Celebrity Cruises ships ranked by age and size to be useful!

All the Celebrity ships by age – newest to oldest

The following table shows all of Celebrity Cruises ships ordered by year of launch, including which is the newest Celebrity ship…

Celebrity Ascent is the newest ship

The newest Celebrity Cruises ship is Celebrity Ascent. This ship made her maiden voyage in December 2023 in the Eastern Caribbean.

Before Celebrity Ascent, Celebrity Beyond (2022), Celebrity Apex (2021) and Celebrity Edge (2018) were the newest mainstream cruise ships in the Celebrity Cruises fleet. Two small Galapagos expedition ships, Celebrity Flora (2019) and Celebrity Xploration (2017) are also relatively new.

There’s then a five-year gap in the construction of new ships, with Celebrity Reflection being built in 2012.

Read more: The Newest Celebrity Cruise Ships (In Order)

Ships that have sailed on

There are several ships that Celebrity Cruises used to operate that have been sold on. Meridian was the oldest, which also sailed as Sun Cruises once sold. She sank in 1999.

Horizon was sold in 2005, and Zenith in 2007. Both ships have since been scrapped.

But there are three older ships that are still sailing on. Celebrity Galaxy, Celebrity Mercury and Celebrity Century have all have several names since leaving the Celebrity fleet, and now operate for Marella Cruises as Marella Explorer, Marella Voyager, and Marella Explorer 2 respectively.

From big to small – Celebrity ships in order of size

When it comes to comparing the size of cruise ships, the best way is to consider the Gross Tonnage. This is a measurement of the internal volume of a ship. Length, guest capacity and the number of decks that are accessible to passengers may also be considered.

The following table shows the Celebrity Cruises ships ordered from largest to smallest…

The occupancy refers to how many passengers each ship can accommodate based on having two guests in each room. As some staterooms have extra beds for third and fourth passengers, the maximum occupancy will be higher.

Celebrity Ascent and Celebrity Beyond are the biggest in the fleet

The largest Celebrity Cruises ship is Celebrity Ascent, along with her twin sister Celebrity Beyond. These cruise ships have a volume of 140,600 GT and a length of 327 m, making the ships 12% larger than the next biggest ships in the Celebrity Cruises fleet.

The biggest Celebrity Cruises ships at sea previously were sister ships Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Apex which have a volume of 129,500 GT and 16 passenger decks. However, Celebrity Reflection is 13 meters longer at 319m in length and can accommodate around 100 more guests despite having three fewer decks.

Why are some ships so small?

Celebrity Xploration, Celebrity Xpedition and Celebrity Flora are small ships, accommodating 16, 48 and 100 guests, respectively. In fact, Celebrity Xploration is the smallest cruise ship in the world!

These ships cruise to the remote Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador and so they need to be small to access the ports, sometimes via Zodiac boat.

The four Celebrity classes explained

Celebrity Cruises has four classes of ships, which are referred to as ‘series’. Each class of ships has something different to offer, whilst the ships within each class will be relatively similar.

Celebrity Edge Class Ships

Celebrity Edge class ships are the newest in the Celebrity Cruises fleet. Designed to bring you closer to the ocean, they feature the Magic Carpet, an outdoor levitating bar, and Eden, a beautiful indoor area with 7,000 square feet of windows.

The ships in Celebrity Edge Class are:

• Celebrity Ascent
• Celebrity Beyond
• Celebrity Edge
• Celebrity Apex

Celebrity Solstice Class Ships

Celebrity Solstice-class ships are large cruise ships that were built between 2008 and 2012. They each feature a half-acre real grass lawn and ice-topped Martini bars.

The ships in Celebrity Solstice Class are:

• Celebrity Solstice
• Celebrity Equinox
• Celebrity Eclipse
• Celebrity Silhouette
• Celebrity Reflection

Celebrity Millennium Class Ships

Celebrity Millennium-class ships were built between 2000 and 2002 and accommodate around 2,000 passengers. Ideal for destination-focussed cruise itineraries, they’re able to access the smaller ports that larger cruise ships can’t reach.

The ships in Celebrity Millennium Class are:

• Celebrity Millennium
• Celebrity Infinity
• Celebrity Summit
• Celebrity Constellation

Celebrity Galapagos Class Ships

Celebrity Cruises Galapagos ships are designed specifically for cruises around the Galapagos Islands. They feature groundbreaking technology and offer a yacht-like experience for 16 to 100 guests.

The Celebrity Galapagos ships are:

• Celebrity Xpedition
• Celebrity Xploration
• Celebrity Flora

Read more: Celebrity Cruise Ships By Class

Don’t confuse ship classes with stateroom classes

Celebrity Cruises also has two classes of accommodation that offer special services and amenities: the Aqua Class and the Concierge Class.

Aqua Class staterooms – In premium locations close to the spa, these come with unlimited access to spa areas and a range of perks, including welcome drinks, daily canapes, a pillow menu, bathrobes, yoga mats and priority check-in.

Concierge Class staterooms – Located on upper decks in midship locations, these come with perks such as an exclusive lunch on embarkation day, daily canapes, a pillow menu, priority check-in and access to a personalised concierge service.

The best Celebrity ships for families

All of the Celebrity Cruises ships are good for kids, so it wouldn’t be possible to say that one particular ship is the best. While you won’t find waterslides and ziplines, Celebrity Cruises kids’ clubs are great, with soft play and lots of organised activities.

They also have special resources available to help autistic guests, including children. Families can get priority boarding, and there are sensory toys to hire. Some film screenings are also low-volume and low-lighting, and autistic children can attend a kids club outside of their age range if it means they are more comfortable with a sibling.

When choosing a Celebrity cruise with children, the itinerary is probably more important than the ship. Older kids will love the Galapagos expeditions, warm weather cruises are loved by all, while parents with pre-school kids may like to look out for no-fly cruises from their nearest port.

Suggested read: The Best Cruise Ships for Kids

To conclude

There’s a Celebrity Cruises ship for everyone. The newest ships, especially Celebrity Beyond, are modern and luxurious with stunning new design concepts and the latest technology.

The older ships have all been modernised as part of a $500-million makeover. So it’s fair to say that there are no bad ships when it comes to Celebrity Cruises.

But if you’d like to see which ships cruisers rate the highest, then check out this list of the best and worst Celebrity ships according to reviews for more info.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

Celebrity Cruises offers a number of different options when it comes to picking your stateroom – it’s not just as simple as deciding on whether you want an ocean view or a balcony.

As well as the different room types, there are various sub-classes with additional benefits. One of these is the AquaClass, a variant of the Balcony Staterooms.

So, what do you get if you upgrade to the Celebrity Cruise Aqua Class rooms, and is it worth it?

AquaClass – a luxury upgrade on a Veranda Stateroom

AquaClass is an accommodation option on Celebrity Cruises that consists of a Veranda Stateroom and a number of extra perks. The size of the staterooms are similar to regular balcony room, but they’re usually furnished in lighter colours to accentuate that refreshing spa feel.

AquaClass is considered to be two steps up from a regular Veranda Stateroom, and one step up from Concierge Class. They’re essentially a premium sub-class of Veranda, rather than being considered a completely different type of cabin.

If you did want more space than a regular Veranda Stateroom, then you’ll instead need to look at the Suites that are available. These are much roomier and come with a lot of additional benefits. But they’re also more expensive again. 

If you’re happy with the space offered by a Veranda Stateroom but want something a little more special, that’s where Aqua Class could be ideal.

The perks of choosing AquaClass

AquaClass guests on a Celebrity Cruise enjoy an overall wellness experience, including extra perks in the stateroom, access to the onboard spa areas, a complimentary wellness consultation, and exclusive access to the Blu restaurant, among other perks. 

There’s a lot that you get, so let’s take a closer look at all of the Aqua Class Celebrity benefits…

1. Spa access

One of the main reasons to choose an AquaClass stateroom is to enjoy the benefits of the onboard spa areas. Each of the AquaClass staterooms is situated closer to the spa because, while they’re all about healthy living, that doesn’t mean the inconvenience of walking a long distance to get there!

If you’re on an Edge-Class ship, you’ll enjoy access to the SEA Thermal Suite. On Millennium and Solstice Class ships, you can instead get into the Persian Garden, with Solstice Class ships also having the Relaxation Room.

To be clear, your treatments aren’t included – just access to the spas and relaxation areas in these areas of the ship.

But you will also get a wellness consultation with a spa concierge who can recommend treatments for you. You also get priority reservations at the spa, so you can secure your favourite treatments before those slots book up.

2. Blu Restaurant

The Blu restaurant on a Celebrity ship is for the exclusive use of AquaClass guests. Suite guests can use the restaurant, but only if there is space available – AquaClass guests get priority. Suite guests do have their own restaurant anyway.

The restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner. It offers a more intimate setting with ‘cleaner’ cuisine.

You don’t have to make reservations to dine at Blu, but you can arrange them if you’re planning on dining with a group of six or more people, just to ensure there’s a suitable table available for you.

Here’s a look at an example menu that you can enjoy at Blu when you’re an AquaClass guest:

3. Stateroom extras

There are a few extra touches that help to differentiate the AquaClass staterooms and make them feel like they are designed for cleaner, healthier living.

For a start, your shower has an extra panel with massaging water jets. And the entire stateroom comes with an enhanced air filtration system so that you’re breathing the freshest, cleanest air on the ship!

It’s not like unclean air is a problem anywhere else on the ship, but it sounds good, at least.

But if you want to make that air a little less pure, you also get an aromatherapy diffuser included in your room. Fancy!

4. Canapes and sparkling wine on request

A perk that is available for Concierge Class guests and above – therefore including AquaClass guests – is the option to request canapes in your stateroom every afternoon. They’re a great luxury snack if you can’t quite wait until dinner.

Need a drink to wash them down? Sparkling wine is also available as a complimentary option on request.

5. Pillow menu

As part of getting the healthiest, best night’s sleep possible, all guests in AquaClass staterooms are able to choose from a menu of pillows.

If you have a particular need, or you just want to try out other pillow choices to find the one that feels most comfortable, it may be worth consulting the menu to see which one fits you best.

The options include:

• Goose down pillow
• Body pillow (feather and down blend)
• Conformance pillow (designed to be firmer and offer additional support)
• Isotonic pillow (made using synthetic down)
• Hypoallergenic pillows (suitable for those sensitive to allergies – no feather or down used)

Tried a pillow and found that it wasn’t that comfortable? Just ask for it to be swapped. It’s no problem.

6. Fitness amenities

While you’re staying in an AquaClass stateroom, you’re able to make use of a number of extra fitness amenities in your stateroom. You get two yoga mats as standard, but then you can also ask for any of the following to be provided:

• Inflatable boxing bag and gloves
• Meditation kit with a weighted blanket
• Yoga kit with blocks and bolster
• Strength and conditioning kit, including medicine ball, dumbbells, resistance bands and more
• Recovery kit, including acupressure mat, deep tissue roller and other massage tools

8. Small added extras

There are a host of small extras that you also get when booking an AquaClass stateroom that don’t justify an entire solo entry on this list, so I’ve grouped them together here;

• Complimentary pair of slippers to use in your stateroom
• Use of an umbrella and binoculars during the cruise (but the binoculars must remain on the ship at all times, they can’t be used for excursions)
• Complimentary shoe-shining service
• Extra hairdryer in the stateroom (two instead of the usual one)
• Upgraded Hansgrohe rainfall showerhead
• Embossed keyholder and tote bag

Is it really worth paying extra for AquaClass?

Deciding on whether AquaClass is worth paying for on a Celebrity cruise is very much a personal decision, based on how much you’ll benefit from the extra perks. For people who care deeply about fitness and wellness, these rooms offer a special and unique experience.

Typically, you should expect to pay in the region of $400 to $800 more per person for an AquaClass stateroom over the cruise-only fare for a Veranda Stateroom.

You get a host of additional benefits, so think about how important those are to you. Are you going to make use of them, or would you be better served saving the extra money to put towards something you would be more interested in?

However, no other stateroom at sea offers the same kind of health and wellness experience – from your own consultation to having so much fitness equipment available to use in your stateroom.

Anyone passionate about this sort of lifestyle will struggle to find a cruise accommodation option that is better suited to them.

Aqua Class Vs Concierge Class

Concierge Class is considered to be one step below AquaClass. They share many of the same perks, but AquaClass is tailored more to people who enjoy the spa.

Despite being considered a step below, there are a couple of perks that Concierge Class guests enjoy that AquaClass guests don’t, including:

• An exclusive welcome aboard lunch
• Concierge service for help booking dining reservations and entertainment
• Priority dining times

Of course, Concierge Class guests don’t get access to Blu, or the spas on the ships. Nor do they have access to a spa concierge.

Shared perks that guests of both categories enjoy include:

• Pillow menu
• Complimentary canapes and sparkling wine
• Little extras in the room*

*To be clear, you don’t get the slippers in your room if you’re a Concierge Class guest – hopefully, that’s not a major issue!

Read more: Celebrity Cruises Concierge Class Benefits

Aqua Class Vs Retreat

The Retreat is Celebrity’s Suite class, and it’s a ship-within-a-ship concept – the chance for guests to enjoy a number of areas of the ship that are exclusive to them.

Retreat guests enjoy a number of extra perks above and beyond what AquaClass guests can benefit from, including:

• Access to the Luminae Restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Exclusive lounge access on-board
• Exclusive sundeck areas
• Dedicated butler service
• Shore excursion credit
• Full in-suite dining options
• Premium Drinks Package
• Premium WiFi Package
• Welcome bottle of Champagne or sparkling wine

And because this is the suite class, the rooms are much more spacious too. But the fare difference is substantial – on a typical 7-night cruise, you may pay an extra $1,500 to $2,000 more per person for a Retreat suite than you would for an AquaClass stateroom.

Read more: Is Celebrity’s Retreat Package Worth It?

The bottom line

If you’re someone who intends to spend most of your time poolside or exploring the ports on your cruise, then an AquaClass Stateroom might not be worth the upgrade cost. 

Sure, there are a couple of extra perks that you may enjoy, but if you want to enjoy all that the ship has to offer, then the added cost may not be worthwhile.

But if you like the sound of dining in Blu, or especially if you’re someone who cares about fitness and wellness and would love to relax in the SEA Thermal Suite, or workout in the comfort of your own stateroom, then the AquaClass is brilliant.

It’s not going to be for everyone, but I’d definitely recommend you consider it as an upgrade – especially on those sailings where it’s only a couple of hundred dollars more than a Veranda Stateroom.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

Many cruise lines have a separate area of the ship reserved exclusively for suite guests… 

Often called a “ship-within-a-ship”, it’s an area that typically has not just the accommodation but also a restaurant, a lounge and a sun deck. VIP guests can happily spend the whole day in this area without getting caught up in the crowds around the rest of the ship.

Celebrity Cruises has this – it’s called The Retreat.

The Retreat proved so popular when it was added to the newer Edge-class ships that it has been retroactively added to the rest of the ocean-sailing fleet for the cruise line.

But, is it worth paying extra to stay in a Retreat suite, or should you look at booking something cheaper? Let’s take a look at the Celebrity Retreat benefits…

Here’s what you get when you book The Retreat…

1. Suite Accommodations

One of the obvious perks of choosing to stay in The Retreat is the suite accommodations that you can choose from. 

Each ship has a range of suites available, including the entry-level Sky Suites and the more spacious and opulent Penthouse Suites, Signature Suites, Iconic Suites and more.

You’ll enjoy much more spacious rooms and balconies, including separate living and dining areas in the biggest suites onboard.

2. Private Restaurant – Luminae

Luminae is an exclusive restaurant for guests of The Retreat, offering a more premium dining experience than in the Main Dining Room.

Expect elegant and modern design and beautiful dining options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Retreat guests are still welcome to enjoy the Main Dining Room and other speciality restaurants onboard too, of course.

3. The Retreat Lounge

The Retreat Lounge is a modern and inviting space that’s exclusive to suite guests.

Here, you can just soak up the view and enjoy a quiet spot to read a book, or you can sample some of the complimentary drinks and light bites served throughout the day. This is also where you’ll find the Concierge service.

4. The Retreat Sundeck

The Retreat has its own sundeck, a peaceful haven of tranquillity when you want to relax on a lounger without the busy crowds.

The Edge-class ships all have a pool on the deck here, while older ships will have either a hot tub or water feature. There’s an attendant here too, who can provide drinks, snacks and towels for you to use.

5. Retreat Butler

Retreat guests will be able to enjoy the services of a butler team, who go above and beyond to make your stay more comfortable.

Whether it’s sorting out a laundry request or changing your pillows to something else from the menu to help you sleep better, nothing is too much trouble.

6. Retreat Concierge

There’s also a dedicated Retreat Concierge that guests can use to help organise their cruise.

The Concierge is available pre-cruise via telephone or in-person on the ship in the Retreat Lounge. They can handle all kinds of tasks including booking spa treatments, speciality dining and more.

7. Premium Drink Package

Guests staying in The Retreat will enjoy a Premium Drink Package included in their fare, allowing them to enjoy almost any drink on the ship without paying extra. This also entitles you to 20% off any bottle of wine you buy onboard too.

8. Premium WiFi

Premium WiFi is also included for guests in The Retreat, meaning everyone in the suite can stay connected with friends and family back home or even stream their favourite movies and TV shows.

9. Priority Check-in and Departure

Guests in The Retreat are granted priority for boarding the ship on embarkation day, and for leaving the ship on the last day of the cruise.

This helps you maximise your first cruise day, whilst also beating the crowds and the rush to leave the port when your cruise is over.

10. Priority Tender

If your cruise visits any tender ports (where the ship is too big to dock and must ferry guests ashore using tender boats), The Retreat guests will get priority to board those boats.

You won’t get priority for the return journey back to the ship though, so you’ll need to queue with everyone else.

11. Complimentary In-Suite Dining

One of the best perks of The Retreat is the complimentary in-suite dining.

This is more than just room service – this is a full-service meal brought to your suite whenever you like, whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner.

If you want to skip the busier atmosphere of the restaurants and just enjoy your food in the comfort of your own room, the butler team will be happy to serve it for you. It does include lighter room service meals and snacks too, if you prefer.

12. Reserved Theatre Seating on Evening Chic Nights

Celebrity’s formal nights are called ‘Evening Chic’ and they’re some of the busier nights on the ship, as everyone likes to get dressed up and enjoy the atmosphere.

If you’re staying in The Retreat, you can request reserved seating in the theatre on these nights, so that you don’t miss a show and you get a great view.

13. Welcome Drinks

A nice little touch is that you’ll be given a welcome bottle of Champagne or sparkling wine in your suite when you arrive onboard.

You’ll also be given a selection of speciality coffees that you can enjoy in your suite throughout your cruise.

14. In-Suite Amenities

There are various other smaller touches that Retreat guests will enjoy in their suite, such as the cruise line’s premium eXhale bedding, a pillow menu, and luxury bathroom toiletries.

Guests can also request fresh fruit to be delivered to the suite, and there are slippers and a bathrobe provided for each guest to use during the cruise.

The Cost Vs Regular Staterooms

Staying in The Retreat is a significant price jump from staying in other accommodations on the ship.

All suites in the main Celebrity Cruises fleet are now part of The Retreat, so you can’t enjoy the suite perks without paying Retreat prices.

Remember that The Retreat is not just one suite type either, so there isn’t one fixed price. Staying in the entry-level suites in The Retreat can often cost just 20% of staying in the very best suites on the ship!

Here are a couple of example cruise fares, to show you the difference in price.

Celebrity Equinox 6-night Caribbean cruise

Celebrity Ascent 7-night Mediterranean Cruise

As you can see, prices for The Retreat jump up considerably. Remember you do get the Premium WiFi and Premium Drinks included, along with all the other perks – but they aren’t cheap if you’re on a tighter budget.

Is It Worth It?

There’s no simple answer on whether The Retreat is worth it. You get a lot of perks for booking a suite, but a lot of them you can’t really put a price on – things like the exclusive sundeck and lounge area, or having a more premium restaurant, don’t have a price tag.

The best way to work out whether it’s worth it is to look at all of the perks and work out whether you would find most of them useful and enjoyable. If you would, then booking a suite in The Retreat will likely be worth it for you, provided you are looking for a cruise in that price bracket.

But if only half of the perks appeal, and you’re someone who doesn’t tend to stay in their room much and spends more time exploring the ship or the destinations you’re cruising to, consider whether booking a smaller room and paying for things like your drinks package and WiFi separately would make more sense.

Maybe you should consider the Aqua Class instead…?

Celebrity Retreat vs Aqua Class

Aqua Class on a Celebrity Cruises ship is not quite suite level – instead, it’s a class designed for guests who value the spa and relaxation and who want to make the most of that part of the cruise ship.

The Retreat has a lot more perks than AquaClass, but there are some features of AquaClass that suite guests won’t benefit from.

These include:

• Yoga mats in the stateroom
• Exclusive discounts on spa treatments
• Unlimited access to the Spa Thermal Suite or Persian Garden (depending on the ship)
• Complimentary fitness classes
• Access to the Blu restaurant*
• An enhanced air filtration system in the room

On the Blu restaurant – guests staying in The Retreat are permitted to use it, but only when space is available. Priority is always given to those in an Aqua Class Stateroom, since Retreat guests can use Luminae as their own exclusive venue.

The Aqua Sky Suites on the Edge-class ships offer the best of both worlds – they are the only suites considered part of both Aqua Class and The Retreat, and guests will get all the perks of each. 

Read more about Celebrity’s Aqua Class

Celebrity Retreat vs NCL Haven

The Haven is Norwegian Cruise Line’s own exclusive suite area for guests. It’s very popular with NCL guests and offers many of the same services and perks you’d find in The Retreat, including a lounge, a private Haven restaurant and a sun deck.

Guests will also benefit from concierge services, luxury amenities, and a Premium Drinks Package included too – the packages are very similar.

The perks you get with The Haven on NCL that aren’t included with The Retreat on Celebrity:

• A personal escort on and off the ship
• Use of a mobile phone on the ship (weird, right?)
• A cocktail party with the ship’s officers

And the perks you get with The Retreat that aren’t included with The Haven are:

• Complimentary in-suite dining (The Haven does have free room service)
• Reserved theatre seating

Celebrity Retreat FAQs

Final Word

Celebrity’s ships are already beautiful and modern, but choosing a suite in The Retreat really does take things to another level.

Not only do you get some of the best-looking and most spacious accommodations at sea, but you have the whole exclusive area of The Retreat to enjoy, as well as a host of additional perks and benefits.

Whether or not it’s worth it depends entirely on your budget – if you don’t often spend much on a cruise, you might prefer to book a room that’s half the price (or less) on the same ship, and be able to book a second cruise with the same money.

But for guests who want the finest experiences, and who love the idea of a peaceful and exclusive area of the ship away from the bigger crowds, then The Retreat is certainly worth considering.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

If you want the very best accommodation and service on a cruise, you’ll want to book a suite. That’s true across all cruise lines, and Celebrity Cruises is no different.

Celebrity Cruises’ suites are beautiful, and the Celebrity suite benefits are excellent too. Of course, they don’t come cheap, but if you’re looking for a truly upmarket cruise experience then they certainly are worthy of your attention.

In this guide, I’ll explain everything you need to know about the different options for a suite on Celebrity Cruises, and what you get with each.

Celebrity Cruises Suite Types

There are a lot of different options for suites on a Celebrity cruise, but not all feature on every ship.

In total, there are 10 different suite types in the main Celebrity Cruises fleet. Here’s a look at what they are, and which ships they feature on:

Celebrity Cruises Suite Benefits

All of the suites in the main Celebrity Cruises fleet are part of the Retreat, and with that comes a number of perks and benefits.

These are the Celebrity Suite Perks that you’ll enjoy across all of the suites:

1. Dine at Luminae

The Celebrity ships have some fantastic restaurants onboard, but one of the most revered is Luminae, a luxury fine dining venue open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with menus crafted by renowned chef Daniel Boulud.

The restaurant is exclusively for the use of suite guests, and many feel that it is worth the upgrade alone. The menu options here won’t be found in any other restaurants on the ship.

Suite guests can still choose to dine in the Main Dining Room if they prefer, and they’re also permitted to book at Blu, a restaurant normally reserved for Aqua Class guests, provided space is available.

2. Access to The Retreat Lounge & Retreat Sundeck

Suite guests get to enjoy the quieter exclusive areas of the ship, including the Retreat Lounge and Retreat Sundeck.

The Retreat Lounge is a modern space that services snacks and complimentary drinks, and is perfect for reading a book, having a pre-dinner get-together with other suite guests, or just winding down in peace.

It’s also where you’ll find the Concierge Desk for suite guests.

The Retreat Sundeck is a private sundeck area with upgraded sun loungers and a towel attendant who will provide towels and other amenities. Snacks and drinks are available here too.

The Retreat Sundeck on the Edge-class ships has a pool, while other ships have a water feature or hot tub.

3. Premium Drinks Package

All suite guests automatically get the Premium Drinks Package, normally worth over $100 per person, per day.

This entitles you to enjoy drinks up to the value of $17, as often as you would like, as well as a 20% discount on bottles of wine.

Of course, you can enjoy wine by the glass for free, so that discount perk is only for the serious connoisseurs who have their eye on a specific bottle.

4. Premium Wi-Fi Package

All guests in The Retreat get a Premium Wi-Fi package included with their fare too, normally worth at least $26.99 per day, depending on your ship and itinerary.

The Premium Wi-Fi is the best internet package available on the ship, and offers pretty impressive speeds, as all ships have Starlink satellite internet.

You’ll be able to video call, share photos and videos, and stream content as much as you want. If you’re on an Edge-class ship you can also stream content from your device to your suite TV.

5. Butler and Concierge Services

Guests staying in a suite get to enjoy the services of a butler team along with concierge services.

Your butler handles all requests to do with your suite. They’ll be able to serve you dinner from the restaurants onboard, shine your shoes, or arrange for your laundry to be collected and cleaned, as well as restock your minibar when needed.

The concierge team handles any requests for the rest of the ship, such as booking you a table at a speciality restaurant or arranging your shore excursions.

Suite guests can also use the concierge before they cruise – there’s a dedicated phone number to call to make bookings in advance or make other special requests.

6. Priority Check-in, Departure & Tenders

Suite guests can enjoy priority perks on the first and last day of their cruise, as well as at any tender ports.

On embarkation day, suite guests get priority check-in, meaning you aren’t queuing for long in the terminal and will be on the ship quickly.

When the cruise is over, you can disembark as a priority too, which can be highly advantageous if you’re trying to beat the rush to drive out of the terminal or find a cab to take you to the airport.

If your cruise has any tender ports – where the ship anchors out at sea and uses tender boats to ferry guests back and forth to shore – suite guests can get priority for boarding a tender to the port.

You won’t get priority for the return journey, though.

7. Reserved Theatre Seating

Celebrity Cruises’ formal nights are called Evening Chic Nights, and it’s when guests like to put on their best outfits and enjoy all the features of the ship. It’s a fun atmosphere, and very elegant. 

It’s also where many of the facilities on the ship tend to get busier, as everyone onboard likes to join in.

So on these Evening Chic nights, suite guests can enjoy reserved theatre seating, so that they don’t miss out on a great view for the night’s entertainment.

8. Complimentary In-Suite Dining

Suite guests can enjoy complimentary dining in their suite 24 hours a day.

This isn’t just a snack-based room service menu though – they can enjoy a full dining service, with meals delivered from their favourite restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

If you don’t feel like joining the rest of your shipmates, you can choose whatever meals you like and they’ll be served to you in the relaxing surroundings of your suite.

9. Welcome Champagne or Sparkling Wine

Suite guests will enjoy a welcome bottle of either Champagne or sparkling wine when they board their cruise.

10. Complimentary In-Suite Coffees

Coffee-lovers can rejoice, as suite guests will have a range of coffee options available to make in their suite, including some speciality drinks.

You can have coffee delivered if you prefer, but if you want a disturbance-free morning, then you aren’t limited to standard coffee sachets.

11. Fresh Fruit Deliveries On Request

Any time you’re in the mood for some fresh fruit, just let your butler team know and they will bring it to your suite to enjoy.

12. Luxury Suite Amenities

Each suite is home to a host of luxurious amenities, elevating your experience to new heights. Some of these are grander than others, and will depend on the specific suite you book. You might enjoy full marble bathrooms, or whirlpool baths.

You’ll definitely get to enjoy Celebrity’s most premium eXhale bedding, including luxurious plush duvets, fine cotton sheets and a pillow menu to help you get the best night’s sleep. Good luck getting out of bed to enjoy all the other suite perks!

Suite guests will also enjoy plush slippers, bathrobes to use during the cruise, and a range of premium bathroom toiletries.

13. Use of Umbrella & Binoculars

Guests in all suites are able to request a golf umbrella and a set of binoculars to use during the cruise.

Hopefully, the umbrella isn’t needed, but the binoculars are a quality set that you can use to really enjoy the view – great for Alaska cruises.

You can’t keep them, though you can purchase them (or a set like them) if you really can’t part with them.

Premium Celebrity Suite Benefits

1. Unlimited Speciality Dining with Preferred Seating

Speciality dining restaurants on a Celebrity cruise ship normally have an additional fee – a cover charge that guests have to pay to dine there.

But in these suites, you can enjoy these restaurants at no extra cost, as many times as you want. You can even have the food delivered to your suite, if you prefer.

However, if you do dine in the restaurants, you’ll also get to take advantage of preferred seating, getting not just the best food on the ship but also the best seats in each venue.

The only restaurant where you won’t get priority seating is Blu, since Aqua Class guests always get first priority here.

2. VIP Canapes

On request, you’ll be able to enjoy a selection of delectable canapes delivered to your suite by your butler.

The range of canapes will vary by ship and sailing, but they are all premium options to suit a range of tastes – perfect whether you are just relaxing in your own suite before heading out to dinner, or if you want to host a little in-suite party for the evening.

3. Complimentary Drinks In-Suite

You’ll already enjoy the complimentary Premium Drinks package as part of your cruise, but you don’t even need to leave your suite to enjoy free drinks when you’re a guest in one of these top-tier suites.

Your in-suite fridge will be stocked up with complimentary bottles of water, sodas and beers, and will be topped up daily to make sure you never run out. Not only that, but at the start of your cruise you’ll be given two bottles of premium spirits that you can enjoy during the cruise as well.

With the spirit bottles and the in-fridge sodas acting as mixers, along with those VIP canapes, you have everything you need for your party – or just for you to enjoy as you soak up the view each night.

4. Complimentary Laundry Service

Guests staying in these top-tier suites can enjoy free laundry services twice per cruise.

If you want to pack light, you can just ask your butler to arrange your laundry to be completed, and you won’t need to pay the usual fee. It’ll be delivered back to your room the following day, cleaned and pressed for you.

5. Priority Luggage Delivery

Guests staying in a suite get the benefit of priority luggage delivery, so you won’t be waiting long for your cases to arrive on embarkation day.

You can even ask your butler to unpack for you when the cases do arrive, if you don’t mind them handling your delicates.

Celebrity Aqua Sky Suite Benefits

The Aqua Sky Suites have a couple of unique benefits that you won’t get with any other suite. That’s because they are part of both The Retreat and the Aqua Class.

As well as the regular suite perks you’d already get, you can also enjoy:

• Unlimited access to the SEA Thermal Suite (Edge-class ships) or Persian Garden (Millennium and Solstice-class ships)
• In-room fitness amenities including yoga mats
• Discounts on spa treatments and exercise classes
• Priority booking for Blu, the Aqua Class restaurant

Celebrity Move Up Suite Benefits

Anyone who books a suite via the Celebrity Cruises Move Up upgrade programme will get most of the in-suite benefits, but extra perks will remain as they were with the original booking.

Celebrity’s Move Up programme lets you bid for an upgrade once you’ve booked a cruise. You can often secure a suite for much less than you would’ve otherwise paid, if they have availability.

But while you’ll enjoy all the perks tied to the room, you won’t get things like Premium Drinks Packages or Premium Wi-Fi for free. You’ll need to pay for those separately, or you won’t get them.

You don’t have to pay for them – if you don’t plan on drinking much and don’t care about the WiFi then you can just enjoy all the other suite benefits as normal.

Celebrity Galapagos Expedition Suite Perks

The perks you get are a little different on the Expedition ships, though they bear a lot of similarities with the main fleet.

On Celebrity Xploration, suite guests enjoy:

• A stocked mini bar
• Use of wet suits and snorkeling equipment
• Fine Egyptian linens

The perks on Celebrity Xpedition and Celebrity Flora include:

• A free refillable water bottle
• Stocked minibar
• Daily treats delivered to your suite including locally sourced chocolates
• Champagne or sparkling wine on arrival
• Complimentary backpack and poncho
• Laundry services twice per sailing
• Full in-suite dinner service

While these lists of perks aren’t as extensive as those in the main fleet, remember that these ships are designed more for the adventurous, and you’ll be spending more time ashore exploring.

They still bring that premium Celebrity Cruises feel to the suites, but the priority is very much on enjoying the destination rather than the suite accommodations.

Which Suite to Choose?

The best suite depends on so many factors, including what kind of budget you’re working with and how often you plan on cruising. The better suites do have some amazing features and are truly stunning, but if booking one of them would limit your ability to cruise again for a long time, it might be better to choose an entry-level suite and cruise twice instead.

The Iconic Suites and Penthouse Suites are particularly pricey. If you want the premium suite experience, but don’t have an uncapped budget, then it may be better to look at the Edge Villas or Royal Suites (or the Reflection or Signature Suites, if cruising on Celebrity Reflection).

Then you’ll get all the best perks, but at a lower cost. Royal Suites are often less than half the price of Iconic Suites, and around 60% the price of a Penthouse Suite.

Suite Types Explained

Iconic Suites

The best suites in the fleet, Iconic Suites sit above the ship’s bridge and offer amazing panoramic views. With two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a huge amount of space, you’ll love the luxury feel that they offer. 

Highlights of Iconic Suites include an expansive terrace with hot tub and a double daybed, a second whirlpool inside the main bathroom, and even a private butler’s pantry for any treats you wish to enjoy during the cruise.

Edge Villas

Edge Villas are two-storey suites with a private tiered terrace that includes its own three-foot-deep plunge pool, along with a marble bathroom that has a whirlpool tub and a separate walk-in shower. The villas offer direct access to The Retreat Sundeck too, making them a great choice for relaxing either in-suite or on the more spacious deck.

Penthouse Suites

The Penthouse Suites are stunning suite options, offering a huge amount of space including multiple bathrooms and an expansive terrace area. Penthouse Suites are the best suites you can book on Millennium-class and Solstice-class ships. They have a dining area that seats 8, and a separate lounge – ample space for hosting a small party.

Reflection Suites

The Reflection Suites are all about light and space – situated in the corner of the ship, they have higher ceilings than regular suites and full-height glass doors and windows, making for a beautifully bright space. The bathroom even has a cantilevered glass shower that juts out over the sea, making for quite the wake-up.

Signature Suites

The Signature Suites don’t offer a particular theme, but offer some fantastic amenities for guests including high ceilings and a spacious veranda, which includes lounge seating along with an outdoor tub with a rain shower over. 

Royal Suites

The Royal Suites are bright, modern and beautifully appointed. They have one bedroom and one bathroom, along with a separate living space. While not as expansive as some of the bigger suites on the ships, they do come with a host of perks, including a whirlpool bath and dual sinks on select ships.

Horizon Suites

Available exclusively on Celebrity Silhouette, the Horizon Suites are spacious and comfortable, including a veranda with lounge seating. You’ll get a separate living space and an impressive king-size bed in the bedroom, as well as a huge TV to enjoy.

Celebrity Suites

Larger than the Sky Suites, the Celebrity Suites offer floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows and a cosy, contemporary living space separated from the bedroom by sliding doors. The sleek bathrooms feature marble-style accents, while plants help to add a bright and colourful touch to the room.

Aqua Sky Suites

The Aqua Sky Suites are quite unique in that they combine the suite experience with Aqua Class perks. These suites are aimed at those who enjoy the spa or fitness facilities onboard, with appropriate theming and extra little touches for the health-conscious.

Sky Suites

The entry-level suite options, Sky Suites are still a fantastic upgrade on a regular stateroom. You get a lot more space including room for a king-size bed, a comfortable sitting area with sofa, and a well-appointed bathroom with bathtub and some luxury touches.

Expedition Suites

The expedition ships for Celebrity are more individual. While some types of suite are shared with the main fleet, they aren’t as spacious, and they don’t come with the same perks.

Celebrity Xpedition has the following suites:

• Penthouse Suites
• Royal Suites
• Xpedition Suites
• Junior Suites

Celebrity Xploration has only one suite option:

Celebrity Flora has:

• Penthouse Suites
• Royal Suites
• Ultimate Sky Suites with Infinite Veranda
• Premium Sky Suites with Infinite Veranda
• Sky Suites with Infinite Veranda
• Sky Suites

Final Word

No matter which Celebrity suite you settle on, you’re going to enjoy an incredible time with some fantastic benefits. But not all suites are equal – the Celebrity Sky Suite perks are not the same as the Celebrity Royal Suite benefits, and you’ll get more if you choose a higher class of suite.

Also, many of the perks are something you could pay for anyway. Only a handful are truly exclusive to suite guests, so bear that in mind if you’re torn between booking a regular stateroom or upgrading to a suite.

But then also remember that the suites are more spacious and have luxury amenities. Nobody said it was an easy choice!

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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