The New Celebrity Ship Combines Elegance, Gourmet Dining, and Wellness at Sea

What connects interior designer and TV star Nate Berkus, Gwyneth Paltrow’s wellness brand Goop, Michelin-starred French chef Daniel Boulud, Olympic champion Simone Biles, and Peloton? These prominent figures and brands are all part of the latest offering from Celebrity Cruises, the 3,260-passenger Celebrity Beyond.

Starting with Berkus, who acts as Celebrity’s travel ambassador, he has crafted some of the stunning interior designs for Celebrity Beyond. Gwyneth Paltrow, as the CEO of Goop, serves as the cruise line’s wellness advisor, with Goop products available on board. Chef Boulud, who runs the Michelin two-star restaurant Daniel in New York, has launched his first at-sea dining venue, Le Voyage, aboard the ship, serving as Celebrity’s global culinary ambassador. Simone Biles, an Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics, is the godmother of Celebrity Beyond and recently presided over its christening in Fort Lauderdale. Meanwhile, Peloton allows guests to engage in live workouts in the gym.

Celebrity Cruises is clearly signaling its intention to ensure its newest ship stays on trend. According to Celebrity CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, the goal is to reshape skeptics' views of cruising by offering exceptional culinary experiences and wellness features that cannot be found elsewhere at sea.

What Makes “Celebrity Beyond” Stand Out Among Other Celebrity Ships

Celebrity Beyond is the third addition to the brand’s Edge class, joining its sister ships, Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Apex. The debut of Celebrity Edge in 2018 marked a significant shift from conventional mega-ships, earning a spot on Time magazine’s World’s Greatest Places list in 2019. A fourth sister ship, Celebrity Ascent, is set to launch next year.

With each new ship, the cruise line makes continuous improvements, as noted by Lutoff-Perlo. Consequently, Celebrity Beyond is slightly larger, longer, and taller than its predecessors, boasting a sleeker design and new enhancements.

The ship retains eye-catching features from its earlier siblings, including the vibrant orange Magic Carpet platform that travels along the side of the vessel, stopping on various decks to offer a unique space for drinks and dining. Additionally, striking hot tubs resemble martini glasses atop structures at the main pool on Celebrity Beyond’s expanded resort deck.

High-end guests enjoy additional space for relaxation. The Retreat, a private resort area exclusively for suite guests, boasts an area 40 percent larger than similar offerings on other ships, featuring an exclusive restaurant, sun decks, cabanas, and a pool. For those seeking ultimate privacy, the 1,900-square-foot Iconic Suites include their own outdoor hot tubs, while two-story Edge Villas come with private plunge pools.

For all other guests, a delightful new feature is the deep glass-enclosed soaking pools that extend from the ship near the lush Rooftop Garden. This area also hosts tai chi classes, outdoor movie screenings, and starlit dance sessions.

One redesigned spot that truly captivated this writer is the newly expanded Sunset Bar, a multi-leveled venue situated high at the back of the ship. Here, Berkus has crafted a Greek beach club ambiance, emphasizing what he describes as "unobstructed views of the world." The essence is barefoot luxury—grab a drink, relax on a plush couch with pillows, and enjoy the sunset over the ocean.

Overview of Dining and Beverage Options on “Celebrity Beyond”

Celebrity has built a strong reputation for exceptional food and wine. Years ago, the line’s former French chef consultant, Michel Roux, boldly declared, “No stinking rotten frozen pastry comes aboard these ships.”

Celebrity Beyond continues this tradition with 32 dining and beverage options on board, including eight specialty restaurants. During my overnight visit last month, Boulud expressed his excitement to see his restaurant, Le Voyage, for the first time. His partnership with Celebrity Cruises stemmed from a past connection with Cornelius Gallagher, now Celebrity’s vice president of food and beverage operations, who once worked for Boulud as a young sous chef. (Gallagher later achieved a Michelin star at one of his own establishments.) Initially hesitant about the cruise dining experience, Boulud's perspective shifted after cruising on Celebrity Edge, where he explored the world of cooking on such a large ship.

At Celebrity Beyond, Le Voyage features pristine white walls and lighting, with tables—many arranged for a cozy dining experience for two—stylishly partitioned by white netting. The aim is to envelop diners in an environment that allows the food to take center stage.

Boulud's goal with the menu was to present global cuisine while showcasing his skills beyond French cooking. Two standout dishes during a multi-course tasting included tamarind-peanut crusted carabineros (large deep-sea prawns) paired with papaya slaw and green Thai curry, alongside a classic French chicken with porcini mushrooms and madeira cream, complemented by Marie de Beauregard vouvray from the Loire Valley and Goldeneye pinot noir from California. The warm lemon-scented madeleines that concluded the meal are still a delightful memory.

Tasting menus begin at $75 per person for three courses, reaching up to $239 for a complete Chef’s Table experience with wine pairings. Before Boulud joined, Celebrity Cruises was already the sole cruise line honored with a wine cellar recognized by Wine Spectator magazine.

At Le Grand Bistro, diners can enjoy a unique experience as 3D animated chefs appear on their plates to narrate the story behind their meal. Other highlights include cold seafood towers priced at $70 at Raw on Five, and a kebab stand featured within the expansive buffet.

The heart of the culinary excitement on Celebrity Beyond is the vibrant three-deck Grand Plaza, centered around a Martini Bar beneath a massive, dynamic light sculpture and chandelier. This is not a serene spot for a drink—the bartenders deliver performances that could rival Tom Cruise in Cocktail. Ask them to craft a kale martini with Grey Goose, kale, celery, lime, ginger, and apple, or opt for the pickle juice vodka martini (drinks are priced between $15 and $18).

The wellness offerings on “Celebrity Beyond”

Another area where Celebrity Beyond excels is wellness. For those looking for a comprehensive wellness retreat, AquaClass staterooms or AquaClass Sky Suites are ideal, offering guests a destination spa experience right in their rooms. These accommodations come with spa amenities, such as yoga mats, and access to the health-focused restaurant, Blue. Guests can enjoy custom detox smoothies through room service before using their complimentary fitness pass at the spa, which grants access to the SEA Thermal Suite. This suite features eight unique spaces, including a hammam, a Crystalarium for energy healing, an infrared sauna, and a relaxing “Float Zen Zone” with hanging basket chairs that promote meditation. Alternatively, you can unwind on a heated lounger while gazing out at the ocean.

For other passengers on board, there’s a wealth of fitness and spa options available for a fee. You can work out in the spacious F Training studio or try exciting classes like “bungee fit,” “cardio boxing,” and “pulse barre,” along with your Peloton sessions. The spa offers unique treatments, including a Zero Gravity Wellness Massage (starting at $229), where you’re suspended on a treatment table for a choreographed massage that targets major muscles and stress zones. Additionally, the Ocean Spa Wave Massage features a seaweed and algae wrap while you relax on a waterbed to alleviate stress (starting at $249).

Celebrity Beyond is currently sailing in the Caribbean, with alternating itineraries to the eastern and western Caribbean. A seven-night cruise to the Bahamas, Mexico, and Grand Cayman starts at $699 per person, while Retreat suites begin at $5,215 per person. Celebrity Cruises has adopted a pricing model where eligible fares encompass drinks, Wi-Fi, and gratuities.