Cruise Tips

Celebrity Concierge Class is worth it if you can get it for a modest premium over a standard Veranda, usually around 10 to 20%, and you value convenience and a better-placed cabin. It is not a suite and the cabin is barely bigger, so if you mainly want space or a drinks package, the extra money is better spent elsewhere.

The perks changed in September 2026, when Celebrity dropped the afternoon canapés and added free room service. Here is what you get now and how it compares with Veranda and AquaClass.

What is included in Celebrity Concierge Class?

Concierge Class is an upgraded balcony stateroom that adds service and small comforts to the standard Veranda. According to Celebrity’s current Concierge Class page, you get:

• A dedicated concierge team for dining, shore excursion and spa bookings
• An exclusive Welcome Aboard lunch in the main dining room on embarkation day
• Complimentary room service with the delivery fee waived
• One bottle of sparkling wine per cruise, on request
• Two bottles of water on embarkation day
• A pillow selection, on request
• Preferred seating times at main and specialty restaurants, subject to availability
• An exclusive destination seminar
• Priority debarkation and a shoeshine service
• A Celebrity embossed key holder

Two common assumptions need checking. Travel agents often list priority check-in or boarding, but Celebrity’s Concierge Class page does not mention it, so treat it as something to confirm rather than count on. The mini-fridge and laundry both carry extra charges too.

The canapés are gone: free room service replaces them

Afternoon canapés were one of the best-known Concierge Class perks. Trade press reports that Celebrity removed them for sailings from around September 21, 2026, and the current benefits page now lists free room service delivery and two bottles of water instead. Celebrity reportedly made the change without a public announcement.

Celebrity normally charges $9.95 per room service order, so the waiver has real value if you use it. A 20% gratuity may still apply, however. You can read more in our news story on how Celebrity swapped Concierge Class canapés for free room service. Continental breakfast delivered before 11 a.m. is already included for all guests, so the waiver matters most for lunch, dinner and late-night orders.

Older guides still mention daily treats or canapés, so be wary of any article that has not been updated since late 2026.

Celebrity Concierge Class vs Veranda

On most ships the room itself is close to identical, with the same layout, eXhale bedding and sofa. What you are paying for is service and position.

Size varies by ship class. Celebrity lists total living space of about 243 square feet on Edge Series ships, including a 42-square-foot veranda. Solstice Series is about 192 square feet with a 54-square-foot veranda, and Millennium Series is about 209 square feet with a 42-square-foot veranda.

The category codes you may see, such as C1, C2 and C3, broadly reflect location, with lower numbers usually better placed and priced higher. Compare the deck plan before paying extra for a code alone, and avoid assuming every Concierge cabin is well positioned. Our list of Celebrity Cruises cabins to avoid flags the locations worth skipping.

Is Concierge Class worth it? The numbers

Few guides put a figure on the perks, so here is a simple check. Assume a seven-night sailing and a Veranda at $1,500 per person, which is an illustrative price. A 10 to 20% premium is $150 to $300 per person, or $300 to $600 per cabin.

Now compare what you can actually measure. Ordering room service once a day for seven days saves about $70 per cabin in delivery fees, before any gratuity. The sparkling wine adds a little more. Everything else, including the lunch, the concierge and the seminar, is about convenience rather than cash.

That leads to a clear conclusion: on perks alone, Concierge Class rarely pays for itself. It pays off when you value a better location, want help with bookings and like a calmer first day. Those are real benefits, but they are personal ones.

Concierge Class is usually worth it if:

• The price difference is small, particularly under about 10%
• You want a higher, midship cabin and can see that on the deck plan
• You often use room service, especially for dinner
• You are celebrating and would like a smoother start to the trip

You can probably skip it if:

• You can pick a well-placed Veranda yourself for less
• You are comfortable booking dining and excursions in the app
• You expected more space or included drinks, which it does not offer
• You would spend the difference on a specialty dinner or a tour instead

Also check Celebrity’s upgrade offers after booking. A bid or discounted move up to Concierge Class can make the sums much easier than paying full price at the outset.

Celebrity Concierge Class vs AquaClass

These two are often priced close together, but they suit different people. AquaClass has been reported at around 30% above a standard Veranda, compared with 10 to 20% for Concierge Class, though prices vary by sailing.

For someone who would use the thermal suite most days or eat regularly at Blu, AquaClass tends to offer more for the money, and our guide to whether AquaClass is worth it goes further. If you would rarely go near the spa, Concierge Class is the more practical upgrade.

If you are tempted by both, it may be worth pricing a suite as well. The Retreat brings a much bigger jump in benefits, including 24-hour room service and premium drinks.

How to decide on Celebrity Concierge Class

1. Price the same sailing in Veranda, Concierge Class and AquaClass on the same day.
2. Work out the difference per cabin rather than per person.
3. Check the actual cabin location on the deck plan, not just the category name.
4. Add the cost of any drinks package, since it is not included in either upgrade.
5. Reread Celebrity’s current benefits page before paying, because perks can change without notice.

Concierge Class is a comfortable, sensible upgrade when the numbers are close. Now that room service replaces canapés, it is particularly useful for people who like to eat on their balcony, but it should still be judged on price rather than on the list of perks.

If Concierge Class is still out of budget, these ways to get a cruise suite for less may help you get more for your money.

FAQs

What are the perks of Concierge Class on Celebrity?

Celebrity lists a dedicated concierge, a Welcome Aboard lunch, free room service delivery, one bottle of sparkling wine on request, a pillow selection, preferred dining times, a destination seminar and priority debarkation.

Is Concierge Class worth it on Celebrity?

It is worth it when the premium is small, usually around 10 to 20% over a Veranda, and you value a better location and easier planning. If the gap is wider, a well-chosen standard Veranda is usually better value.

What is the difference between Concierge Class and Veranda on Celebrity?

The cabin is largely the same on most ships. Concierge Class adds service, an embarkation lunch, free room service delivery and often a better location.

Which is better, Celebrity Concierge Class or AquaClass?

AquaClass is better for spa users and anyone who wants the Blu restaurant. Concierge Class is better for travelers who value location and planning help and would not use the thermal suite.

Does Celebrity Concierge Class include drinks?

No. You get one bottle of sparkling wine on request and two bottles of water on embarkation day, but the drinks package is a separate purchase. The minibar is charged as well.

The Celebrity Apex cabins to avoid are mainly the deck 3 ocean views tucked under the dining rooms and casino, wake-facing rooms on deck 7 directly above Eden, deck 12 rooms beneath the Oceanview Cafe and pool on deck 14, and the partial-view rooms on deck 6 that look onto lifeboats. The best-value picks are midship Infinite Verandas on decks 8 to 10, which have cabins above and below them. If you want a real step-out balcony, look at aft Sunset Verandas on decks 8 to 11.

Celebrity Apex is the second ship in Celebrity’s Edge class. She entered service in 2020 (her first passenger sailings were in 2021) and her layout closely matches her sisters. What makes the choice different on Apex is where she sails: Caribbean and Bahamas weeks from Port Canaveral in winter, and Norway, Arctic Circle and Northern Europe sailings from Southampton in summer. Here is how that changes which room you should book.

Celebrity Apex cabins to avoid at a glance

Always check the current deck plan before booking, since the cruise line can reassign venues or reconfigure spaces during dry docks.

Noisy Celebrity Apex rooms to avoid

Deck 3: the lowest guest cabins

Deck 3 holds a small run of ocean-view staterooms on the same deck as the Tuscan Grille and Normandie restaurants and the base of the three-level theatre. Directly above, deck 4 holds the Cosmopolitan and Cyprus dining rooms, shops and the casino. You get a window at a lower price, but also service traffic and the clatter of a busy dining deck. Deck 2 below is the Destination Gateway, where you board the ship and catch tenders, so port mornings can start early. If you will mostly be ashore, these rooms are fine. If you value quiet afternoons, move up to deck 6 or higher.

Deck 7 aft above Eden

Eden spans the back of decks 4 to 6 and stays busy late into the evening with performances and music. The wake-view rooms on deck 7 sit right on top of it. Some blog guides name specific aft balcony and Sky Suite numbers in the 7110 to 7115 and 7300 ranges. Treat those lists as a starting point, not a rule. The same aft layouts on decks 8, 9 and 10 have cabins above and below them, which is the simple fix.

Deck 12 under the pool deck

Because Apex has no deck 13, the cabins on deck 12 sit directly under the pool deck on deck 14, including the Oceanview Cafe buffet. Crews set up the buffet and arrange loungers early, and guests on owner groups regularly report scraping noise in the aft 12200s. This matters most on Caribbean sea days out of Port Canaveral, when the pool deck is full from breakfast onward. Forward deck 12 is a different story, since that is where most of the Retreat suites sit.

Lifts, stairs and service doors

A cabin two or three doors from the elevator lobby is convenient but busier. Watch for unmarked crew doors and pantries on the deck plan, which can bring trolley noise at odd hours.

Infinite Veranda vs a true veranda on Celebrity Apex

Most Apex rooms are Edge Staterooms with Infinite Veranda. Instead of a separate balcony, the outdoor space is part of the room: bifold doors close off the sitting area, and you press a button to lower the top half of the floor-to-ceiling window. Celebrity’s sizing for the standard version is roughly 200 sq ft of living space plus about 40 sq ft of veranda area. Most Concierge Class and AquaClass rooms on this ship use the same design.

• The good: you get more usable floor space, and the window seat feels comfortable on cool days. On a Norwegian fjords or Arctic Circle sailing from Southampton, you can sit and watch the scenery in shirt sleeves.
• The catch: if you open the window with the bifold doors open, the air conditioning switches off. On a humid Caribbean week, the room warms up quickly, and you cannot step outside into fresh air the way you can on a traditional balcony.

If outdoor time matters to you, the alternatives with a true step-out balcony are the aft Sunset Verandas (about 89 sq ft of outdoor space), the forward Deluxe Porthole View with Veranda rooms (check the view, as the porthole frame can block part of it), and Sky Suites and above. Cruisers who have switched from Infinite Verandas to Sunset Verandas mostly say the aft position, not the price, is the bigger trade-off. That is why it pays to avoid deck 7 aft and choose decks 8 to 11 instead.

Obstructed views and the Magic Carpet

Deck plan specialists list every outward-facing balcony on deck 6 as looking down on either deck 5 or the lifeboats. They also flag partially obstructed verandas on deck 6 (6128, 6129, 6180, 6182, 6196, 6198) and on deck 11 (including 11122, 11125, 11156, 11158, 11176 and 11182). Celebrity prices some of these as partial-view categories, such as E5 Infinite Verandas and C5 Concierge rooms. They can be good value if you mainly use your cabin to sleep. They are a poor choice for a fjords cruise, where the view is the whole point.

The Magic Carpet is the tennis-court-sized platform that moves up and down the starboard side, serving as a tender gateway on deck 2, a dining extension at Raw on 5, and part of the pool deck on 14. Celebrity has a separate Magic Carpet Sky Suite category for the suites nearest its track. Their side views can be affected depending on where the platform is parked, so ask your agent about the exact sightline before paying suite prices.

Small cabins, connecting rooms and seasickness

• Inside cabins: standard and deluxe insides run from roughly 180 to 200 sq ft. That is decent by industry standards, but tight for three or four people with luggage. Single Infinite Veranda rooms are much smaller, at around 130 to 140 sq ft.
• Connecting rooms: the class has about 178 connecting cabins. They are ideal for families, but the connecting door carries sound more than a solid wall, so couples may want to filter them out.
• Seasickness: choose midship on decks 6 to 8, where most Infinite Verandas sit. Avoid high forward rooms if you are crossing the Bay of Biscay or the North Sea, or taking the spring and autumn transatlantics between Florida and Southampton.

Best cabins on Celebrity Apex by budget

Concierge Class

Concierge rooms are mostly on decks 9 to 12 and add priority embarkation, a welcome lunch, preferred dining times and a concierge desk. From sailings departing after 21 September 2026, Celebrity replaced Concierge Class canapés with free room service. The usual delivery fee is waived, though a 20% gratuity may still apply, and two welcome waters arrive on embarkation day. Avoid Concierge rooms in the aft part of deck 12 if you want quiet mornings, and check whether a cheap fare is actually a C5 partial view.

AquaClass

About 100 AquaClass rooms sit on decks 9 and 10 and include dining at Blu plus spa relaxation access. They are worth it if you will use both; otherwise the premium goes on perks you skip.

The Retreat suites

From Sky Suites upward, guests get The Retreat lounge and sundeck plus Luminae restaurant. The 146 Sky Suites are spread over decks 6 to 12. Aft Sunset Sky Suites have the best wake views, but again, skip the ones on deck 7. Forward on deck 12 sit the Celebrity, Royal and Penthouse Suites and the two Iconic Suites above the bridge, at about 1,890 sq ft with a huge veranda. The six two-level Edge Villas (decks 15 and 16) have plunge pools and open straight onto the Retreat sundeck. They are lovely, but they are not the place for guests who want total seclusion.

Best value overall

A midship Infinite Veranda on decks 8, 9 or 10 is hard to beat: steady motion, cabins above and below, and an easy walk to the lifts. Compare current fares on our 2027 cruise deals roundup before you lock in a category.

How Apex compares with her sisters

Apex shares her hardware with the first ship of the class, so most of the same rules apply on board. Celebrity’s own changes for Apex focused on entertainment, dining and the spa rather than the staterooms. If you are weighing ships, our guides to Celebrity Edge cabins to avoid and Celebrity Xcel cabins to avoid cover the differences that do exist, and the very different itineraries each ship sails.

To see how Apex compares with the rest of the fleet, read every Celebrity cruise ship ranked.

If you are thinking about a suite, see our guide to whether the Celebrity Retreat is worth it.

FAQs

Which cabin on Celebrity Apex is considered the best?

For most couples, a midship Infinite Veranda on decks 8 to 10 is the best balance of price, quiet and stability. For a real balcony, choose an aft Sunset Veranda or Sky Suite on decks 8 to 11. At the top end, the Iconic Suites and Edge Villas are the standouts.

What are the Celebrity Apex rooms to avoid for noise?

Deck 3 ocean views below the dining and casino level, deck 7 aft rooms above Eden, and deck 12 midship and aft rooms under the pool deck and buffet on deck 14.

Are Infinite Verandas a bad choice on Apex?

Not necessarily. They work well on cooler Northern Europe sailings from Southampton. On Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, the air conditioning cutting out when the window is open can make the room humid.

What is the best deck on Celebrity Apex for seasickness?

Low to middle decks midship, roughly decks 6 to 8, where motion is gentlest. Avoid forward and high cabins on rougher routes such as transatlantic crossings.

Is Concierge Class worth it on Celebrity Apex?

It can be if you value priority boarding and the extra service. Since September 2026, free room service delivery replaced the old daily canapés, which many guests see as a better perk.