Ships Are Getting Edgier | Travel Research Online

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Ships Are Getting Edgier

This week saw the reveal of Celebrity’s newest ship, Celebrity Edge, which will begin sailing the Eastern and Western Caribbean starting in December 2018.

What’s new about the Celebrity Edge?  It’s hard to decide where to start with the new innovations that Celebrity is rolling out with this ship.

Accommodations

Celebrity has added two new suite categories to the Celebrity Edge; Edge Villas and Iconic Suites.  The Edge Villas are the first split level suites in the Celebrity fleet.  Their sister company Royal Caribbean International introduced split level suites with their Oasis Class ships, but Celebrity Edge takes it one step further.  There will be six of these two story suites on the ship, with a total of 950 square feet of indoor and outdoor space.  The villas consist of one bedroom and two bathrooms, personal butler service and accommodate up to four guests.  Unique to the Edge Villas are the three foot deep plunge pools.

There will be two Iconic Suites on Celebrity Edge, located directly above the bridge, are the largest suites in the Celebrity fleet at 1,892 square feet.  The suite’s outdoor space adds another 689 square feet;  more than enough space for the six guests that can be accommodated in the suite.  The suites include two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a hot tub bathtub, an outdoor hot tub and personal butler service.

Never fear, the suites aren’t the only accommodations that have seen innovative changes.  The Celebrity Edge is introducing Infinite Veranda staterooms, taking the standard balcony stateroom to new heights.  With more room square footage, and 10% larger bathrooms that include a larger shower, passengers will be spoiled.  Infinite Verandas include folding doors that completely open up the room and veranda, making them one seamless space.  Additionally, the balconies are enclosed, with a window that can be lowered creating to an “edge” (glass railing).  These staterooms will probably defy claustrophobia.

New Suite Benefits

In addition to the new suite categories, there are new suite benefits.  There will be a new suite-only restaurant called Luminae, a suite-only lounge area, and suite-only sundeck with it’s own private pool and pool bar.

Good-bye Lawn Club

The Celebrity Edge will not have a lawn club as we have become accustomed on the Solstice class ships.  Instead the Resort Deck will host the pool area with martini glass shaped hot tubs, the solarium, and an all new roof top garden (sans any lawn).

Magic Carpet

When I first heard of the Magic Carpet, I thought it was a Rising Tide Bar (found on Royal Caribbean) on steroids.  However, after a bit of research, I don’t think it moves while guests are on the Magic Carpet.  Per materials released by Celebrity, it indicates that the Magic Carpet is operated without guests by the bridge officer.

In essence the Magic Carpet is an extension of the ship, located on the starboard side of the ship.  It includes seating, a full bar, and space for live music performances.  There are four decks (16, 14, 5 and 2) where the Magic Carpet can be “parked.”  When at deck two it will serve as an enhanced tender platform.  On deck 5 it will become an extension of a restaurant located on that deck, Raw on 5.  On deck 14 the Magic Carpet becomes an extension of the pool deck, and on deck 16 it becomes its own dining experience, Dining on the Edge.

All in all, Celebrity Edge is bringing exciting, cutting edge (no pun intended) innovations to cruising.  Even though the ship won’t sail until December 2018, sailings opened for booking this past Monday.

 


Susan SchaeferSusan Schaefer is the owner of Ships ‘N’ Trips Travel located in Tennessee, and specializes in leisure travel with a focus on group travel and charity fundraisers. Through their division Kick Butt Vacations, she focuses on travel for 18 to 23-year-olds. Susan can be reached by email at susan@shipsntripstravel.com or by phone at (888) 221-1209.

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