Celebrity Beyond

The 2022-built Celebrity Beyond cruise ship is the third in a series of five EDGE-class passenger liners, alongside sisterships Celebrity Edge (2018), Celebrity Apex (2021), Celebrity Ascent (2023), and Celebrity Xcel (2025).

Interestingly, Celebrity Apex was originally to be named "Celebrity Beyond," but the name was changed during construction.

The vessel (IMO number 9838395) is currently Malta-flagged (MMSI 215808000) and registered in Valletta.

History - Construction and Ownership

Celebrity Cruises was established in 1988 as the Greece-based Chandris Line (operating cruise ships from 1974 to 1996). In 1997, Royal Caribbean International (RCI) merged with Celebrity Cruises Ltd to form Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL). The “X” on the ship funnels is the Greek letter chi, representing "Chandris."

Signature features of Celebrity Cruises ships include aft-facing glass-walled dining rooms, specialty dining venues, elegant bars and lounges, spacious atrium lobbies, a high percentage of balcony cabins, expansive sundecks with swimming pools, The Retreat (an adults-only sundeck with pool, Jacuzzi, cabanas, and full bar service), Rooftop Terrace (outdoor lounge, restaurant, and cinema), large spas with Thermal Suites, and premium retail shops offering luxury-brand merchandise.

The 3,300-passenger Celebrity Beyond is the third newbuild under “Project Edge.” These ships are larger than Millennium-class but smaller than Solstice-class, designed to deliver “small-ship itineraries with large-ship amenities,” destination-rich voyages, and cutting-edge maritime architecture.

New Features (Edge-Class Ship Design Changes)

Compared to her Edge-class sisters Apex and Edge, Celebrity Beyond is 20 m (66 ft) longer, one deck taller, with 179 more staterooms, and approximately 12% larger (GT 140,600 tons). She also introduces major design enhancements with new venues and expanded public spaces.

New and redesigned venues include "Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud" (a 50-seat specialty restaurant), a reimagined Luminae (Suite-only restaurant designed by Kelly Elaine Hoppen), a redesigned Pool Deck, an expanded Rooftop Garden (Deck 15, with larger shaded areas, two infinity pools, and a larger Rooftop Grill Bar), a Sunset Bar (aft on Deck 15) that is twice the size, and a larger Retreat (Suite-only lounge located forward on Deck 15).

• The Resort Deck (Deck 14) was redesigned to feature a 23-m / 75-ft lap pool surrounded by a terraced sundeck. The area includes two-deck-high martini glass-shaped Jacuzzis, sunken lounge spaces, and a full-sized elephant sculpture.
• Sunset Bar (Decks 15–16) is a two-level Casablanca, Morocco-inspired outdoor lounge designed by Nate Berkus and Tom Wright/WKK, with a pergola-covered entrance, cascading terraces, cozy enclaves, and conversation nooks.
• The Retreat is a three-deck exclusive complex for Suite guests, with The Retreat Lounge (Deck 15), the Lower Sundeck (Deck 16, with a glass roof over The Solarium pool on Deck 14), and The Retreat Sundeck (Deck 17), offering private cabanas (available for rent), premium lounge furniture, a round pool, two cantilevered plunge pools, outdoor showers, and restrooms. The Retreat's Edge Villas (two-level suites) were also redesigned.
• Le Voyage Restaurant, in partnership with Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud (owner of seven NYC restaurants and six in other cities), features a curated menu, premium wines, sommelier service, and an intimate atmosphere designed by Jouin Manku with cocoon-style seating and custom lighting.
• The World Class Bar, a fleet-first venue, is a premium wine and cocktail bar developed with Diageo plc (a leading London-based spirits producer), staffed by expert mixologists.

WKK Architects’ Tom Wright also redesigned and expanded most of the ship’s outdoor spaces, including the Resort Deck, The Retreat, and Rooftop Garden. The Resort Deck is approximately 40% larger than on Celebrity Apex and Edge.

The three-deck-high Grand Plaza, an open-concept midship venue, was enlarged, allowing the Martini Bar to be moved to the venue’s center (Lobby level/Deck 2) as a full-circle bar. Its chandelier now has a new shape and is illuminated by hundreds of dynamic LED lights.

New to Celebrity Beyond are the AquaClass SkySuites, offering floor-to-ceiling views, spacious private terraces, premium bedding, and wellness-focused amenities. The ship also introduced a partnership with Gwyneth Kate Paltrow (American actress, model, entrepreneur) as Celebrity Cruises’ “Well-Being Advisor.” Since 2022, AquaClass guests (fleetwide, except Galapagos vessels) enjoy complimentary wellness perks including goop-branded fitness kits and access to custom wellness programs under the "Women in Wellness" initiative.

Decks and Cabins

Most Celebrity Beyond staterooms are Balcony cabins. Of the 1,646 total staterooms, 918 are Edge Staterooms with Infinite Verandas, and 176 are Suites. All cabins feature keyless entry using smartphone digital keys, in addition to standard keycards and RFID bands.

The ship has 16 decks, including 15 passenger-accessible decks and 10 with cabins.

Shipboard Dining Options - Food and Drinks

Celebrity Beyond offers 32 food and beverage venues, including 4 main dining rooms and 6 specialty restaurants new to the Celebrity brand. The ship features a total of 15 restaurants, 5 cafes, and 12 bars and lounges.

Passengers in AquaClass staterooms or Suites dine at Blu Restaurant, which offers lighter, "spa-inspired" cuisine. The Luminae Restaurant, named "Luminae at The Retreat," along with Blu, is part of the private, exclusive Suite Class complex called "The Retreat." Suite guests also have the option to dine in the Main Dining Rooms (MDRs): Normandie, Tuscan, Cosmopolitan, and Cyprus Restaurants. These four complimentary venues serve menus inspired by the destinations visited, featuring regional wines, themed cocktails, locally-sourced ingredients, a rotating dinner menu of Signature dishes (changing nightly), and a Classic dinner menu. Each table in the main restaurants is served by a dedicated wait staff team, including a sommelier, assistant waiter, and head waiter. Guests are assigned to one of the MDRs but may request to dine in any of the other three.

Celebrity Beyond offers the line’s traditional "Celebrity Select Dining" (your-time dining for dinners), now rebranded as "Celebrity Select Dining Plus." Guests can make reservations at any of the four MDRs in advance or simply arrive at their preferred time and restaurant.

In addition to the MDRs, there are several complimentary dining venues, including Oceanview Cafe (with live cooking stations and a bakery), Mast Grill (poolside), Spa Cafe & Juice Bar (healthy food and drinks), and Eden Cafe (offering a wide variety of breakfast and lunch items). The ship also features two outdoor alfresco dining venues.

There are 11 bars and lounges onboard, including Eden, Cafe al Bacio, The Club, Sunset Bar, Theatre Bar, Casino Bar, Martini Bar (at Grand Plaza), Pool Bar, Il Secondo Bacio, The Retreat Bar, and The Retreat Lounge.

For-fee specialty restaurants include Qsine (USD 45 pp), Tuscan Grill (Italian steakhouse, USD 45 pp), Murano (French, USD 45 pp), Lawn Club Grill (DIY steaks, USD 40 pp), Bistro on 5 (creperie, USD 10 pp), and The Porch (USD 5 pp, serving paninis for breakfast and lunch). At Qsine, guests place orders via iPads, and waiters serve the food in the selected order.

Craft Social Bar (introduced on Celebrity Apex) offers an extensive selection of premium wines (by the glass), craft cocktails, and over 50 craft beer brands, including some of the world’s rarest. It is staffed by certified beer sommeliers.

Shipboard Entertainment Options - Fun and Sport

The Lawn Deck features real grass and more deck chairs than other ships, providing a relaxing atmosphere. The Celebrity iLounge offers computer tutorials and serves as an Apple-authorized reseller with duty-free Mac products. AquaSpa Cafe is ideal for a light lunch post-spa visit.

Sky Observation Lounge hosts live music at sunset. Fortune's Casino provides gaming options, ensuring there's always something to enjoy onboard.

The Virtual Concierge app allows guests to book dining and spa appointments, order drinks, request room service, and more. Smartphone sensors track guests’ locations to enhance onboard service.

Edge-Class ships feature Celebrity’s most technologically advanced Theater Lounge, spanning three decks and hosting the fleet’s largest number of production shows with the most extensive performance crew among premium cruise lines.

The Theater has seven stage areas (three large, four smaller), a main stage that extends into the audience, two rotating platforms that rise over 2 meters, rotating spiral staircases, 10 synchronized projection screens, 16 laser projectors for video mapping, and aerial performance rigging. The venue features seven new full-scale productions, including “A Hot Summer Night’s Dream” (Shakespeare-inspired with acrobatics), “The Jewelry Box” (tech-focused), “Kaleidoscope” (high-energy music and dance), “Arte” (acrobatics), “Elements” (based on the five natural elements), “Stage Door” (recorded at The London Palladium), and two Headline Residency shows: “Get Up” (pop concert by Black Skull Creative) and “The Purpose” (a celebration of the inner self).

"The Club" is a multifunctional venue featuring a large dance floor, performance stage, LED screen, and two bars. Daytime activities include the Funovation Laser Maze Challenge, Drone Hunting, laser obstacle courses, dance classes, and trivia games. At night, it transforms into “The Jazz Joint at The Club” and later into the 1920s-themed nightclub “Undercover at The Club,” offering Prohibition-era cocktails and aerial saxophone performances. Features include the Andromeda body scanner and Hypno Cam Experience (a dance party with shared Ultra HD photos).

The Kids Club offers over 500 complimentary activities under the “Camp at Sea” program, with two newly designed areas for children and teens called “The Basement.”

The Rooftop Garden (top-deck bar/lounge) offers expanded dining and entertainment programming, including the Rooftop Concert Series, Garden Cinema Series, and the Taste of Film experience, featuring five new live musical performances.

In 2023, Celebrity introduced fleetwide pickleball courts. Complimentary equipment is provided, and playing times are scheduled for adults and families (children 6+). On Edge-Class ships, pickleball is played at the Rooftop Garden.

Grand Plaza

Located midship and spanning three decks, the Grand Plaza is inspired by the golden era of Transatlantic ocean liners. Designed by Jouin Manku Studio, the open-floor venue blends modern elegance with timeless charm.

A standout feature is The Chandelier—a five-level installation with 765 LED-illuminated blades that shift colors throughout the day. Weighing 7 tons, it rises above the Martini Bar on the Lobby level.

Grand Plaza houses specialty restaurants like Fine Cut Steakhouse and Raw on 5 (Deck 5), Le Grand Bistro and Cafe al Bacio (Deck 4), and Grand Plaza Cafe (Deck 3). Deck 3 also features the Martini Bar. Decorative mesh screens on the plaza’s perimeter incorporate over 13,500 art elements made of leather, fabric, and metal.

Grand Plaza’s cafes are ideal for coffee, tea, and pre-dinner cocktails, accompanied by live entertainment. In the evening, the venue becomes the ship’s social center.

During the day, Le Grand Bistro (Atrium on Deck 4) serves as a patisserie and French cafeteria. In the evening, it transforms into “Le Petite Chef,” an immersive dining experience using animated 3D characters projected on the table. This concept is a collaboration with TableMation Studios and Skullmapping. Dining costs are USD 25 pp (Le Grand Bistro) and USD 55 pp (Le Petite Chef).

Eden Lounge

Eden is a three-deck aft lounge-bar-restaurant venue located on decks 4, 5, and 6, featuring live music and evolving show programming. It spans 10,439 m³ (368,640 ft³) and 1,175 m² (12,650 ft²).

With outward-facing design and alfresco dining, Eden offers a unique experience combining light lunches, five-course dinners, wine tastings, live performances, daily lectures, and promotional events. In the evening, it becomes “Eve at Eden”—a provocative blend of performance art, dining, and nightlife.

The Eden Restaurant and Eden Bar serve food and handcrafted drinks. A 90-m (295-ft) ramp encircles the lounge, offering panoramic views. Interior design by Patricia Urquiola includes the "Library of Plants" and hanging plant pillars. The venue was designed by Scott Butler (Wilson Butler Architects, Boston MA), and programming is by Variety Worldwide (New York City).

"The Meeting Place" is the ship’s 183 m² (1,970 ft²) Conference Center, offering AV equipment, versatile seating, a private office, mobile bars, and a fully equipped pantry. Designed by Wilson Butler Architects.

Magic Carpet ("Outdoor Elevator Lounge")

One of the ship’s signature features is the "Magic Carpet"—a glass-roofed, cantilevered platform the size of a tennis court that moves vertically along the starboard side between Decks 2 and 16.

Offering ocean views, lounge seating, a full bar, and a performance stage, the Magic Carpet transforms based on its deck position. Guests can only board once the platform is locked in place.

• Deck 16: becomes a specialty restaurant for “Dinner on the Edge” (al fresco dining).
• Deck 14 (Resort Deck): functions as a pool deck extension with live music.
• Deck 5: becomes an alfresco dining extension of the main dining room.
• Deck 2: connects to the Destination Gateway for tendering operations, serving the luxurious "Edge Launches" for seamless embarkation/disembarkation. This space includes LCD displays, air-conditioning, and 130 seats.

When at Deck 2, Magic Carpet serves the dedicated "Destination Gateway" embarkation point.

The repositioning schedule for the Magic Carpet is published daily.

Itineraries

Celebrity Beyond's inaugural season began in Europe (2022), followed by a Caribbean deployment for winter 2022-2023.

The Maiden Voyage departed from Southampton (England, UK) on April 27, 2022. The 10-night "Western Europe" repositioning cruise visited ports in France, Portugal, and Spain, concluding in Barcelona. Prices started at USD 2,450 per person (double occupancy).

The inaugural Mediterranean season (May 7 to Oct 12, 2022) featured 9-night (Italy and France; France, Italy, and Spain) and 10-night (Italy and Greek Isles; Greek Isles and Malta) roundtrips from Barcelona and Civitavecchia-Rome.

On October 12, 2022, the ship repositioned to the Caribbean with a transatlantic voyage themed “Spain, France and Canaries,” followed by winter homeporting in Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades, Florida).

The Caribbean season began on October 26, 2022, with a 9-night “Southern Caribbean” inaugural cruise.

Caribbean itineraries included:

• 5-night “Western Caribbean”
• 7-night “Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten”
• 7-night “Bahamas, Mexico, and Grand Cayman”
• 8-night “Eastern Caribbean Holiday”
• 8-night “Western Caribbean Holiday”

Bookings for Celebrity Beyond’s 2022-2023 cruises opened on April 28, 2021.

The vessel (Chantiers de l’Atlantique yard/hull number L34) has a volume of 140,600 GT, DWT of 12,000 tons, and a maximum draught of 8.3 m. The powerplant features Wartsila marine diesel engines (models 8L46F, 12V46F, 12V32E) with a combined output of 55 MW. The registered shipowner is CELEBRITY BEYOND INC, and the management company is CELEBRITY CRUISES INC.

EDGE-Class ships were designed through an exclusive partnership with Nate Berkus, a U.S. interior designer who founded his own firm at age 24.

On January 29, 2020, construction of the vessel began with the steel-cutting ceremony at STX France (Chantiers de l'Atlantique Shipyard) in St Nazaire, France. The ceremony was attended by Lisa Lutoff-Perlo (Celebrity’s President and CEO) and Laurent Castaing (the shipyard’s General Manager).

On April 11, 2019, the shipowner RCCL (Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd) signed an MoU with Chantiers de l'Atlantique for a fifth EDGE-class unit, the Celebrity Xcel, scheduled for delivery in Q4 of 2025.

The ship’s physical construction (yard number/hull L34) officially began with the keel-laying ceremony on November 19, 2020, at Chantiers de l'Atlantique. Attendees included Richard Fain (Royal Caribbean Group’s Chairman), Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Tobias King (Celebrity’s Project Manager), Laurent Castaing, and Sebastien Le Boulluec (Project Manager Edge Series).

The vessel was launched (floated out of drydock) on March 31, 2021. Sea trials in the Bay of Biscay (Atlantic Ocean) were successfully conducted on February 5–6, 2022, overseen by more than 50 shipyard technicians and crew led by Captain Kate McCue.

On October 14, 2021, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo announced that Captain Kate McCue would serve as the ship’s Master. In 2015, she became the first American woman to captain a cruise ship (Celebrity Summit) and later captained Celebrity Equinox and Celebrity Edge (2019–2020).

Celebrity Beyond was officially delivered on April 5, 2022. The handover ceremony was attended by Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Laurent Castaing, and Jason Liberty (Royal Caribbean Group’s new President and CEO).

On May 12, 2022, the ship’s godmother was announced as Simone Biles Owens (born Simone Arianne Biles, 1997), an American artistic gymnast from Spring, Texas. As of 2022, she holds 32 Championship medals (including 7 Olympic and 19 World titles), making her one of the most decorated and greatest gymnasts in history.

The christening ceremony was held on November 4, 2022, at Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale. The event was led by Simone Biles and attended by Captain Kate McCue, Jason Liberty, and Lisa Lutoff-Perlo.

Inaugural Cruise Itineraries 2022

Bookings for Celebrity Beyond's 2022–2023 cruises opened on April 28, 2021.

The following tables show the ship's inaugural itineraries by homeport and destination, with prices in USD per person (based on Inside cabin, double occupancy).

(MAIDEN VOYAGE / first cruise 2022) 10-day repositioning from the UK to the Mediterranean (Southampton to Barcelona), starting at USD 2,780 / EUR 2,270 per person.

(inaugural Mediterranean cruise) 9-day Barcelona to Civitavecchia - $2510 pp

(inaugural Eastern Mediterranean cruise) 10-day Greek Isles from Rome ($ 2720 pp)

(inaugural Transatlantic crossing) 12-day from Barcelona to NYC-Cape Liberty ($2255 pp)

(East Coast USA repositioning) 9-day from New York to Florida ($2035 pp)

(inaugural Caribbean cruise) 5-day to Mexico ($1400 pp)

(inaugural itinerary) 7-day Eastern Caribbean - from $1990 pp

(inaugural itinerary) 7-day Western Caribbean - from $2250 pp

Godspeed!