The Beyond: Smooth Sailing

After two years of navigating relentlessly choppy seas, the cruise industry which was one of the sectors of tourism hardest hit by the pandemic is forecasting significantly smoother sailing ahead. Facing persistent pandemic pressures and increasingly urgent demands around climate action, industry innovation and adaptation has been the name of the game.

Cruise lines have implemented stringent health and safety measures in response to the pandemic, which the President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises Lisa Lutoff-Perlo says are “some of the highest levels of Covid 19 mitigation compared to virtually any other commercial setting.”

Those measures include vaccination mandates, pre-cruise testing, advanced ventilation systems, deep-cleaning protocols, and the elimination of hightouch surfaces (for instance, buffets are now manned by crew rather than self-served).

The Beyond, which Celebrity touts as its largest and most luxurious ship to date, set sail on a Western Europe cruise from Southampton, England on April 27 for 10 nights with Kate McCue at the helm. Celebrity Cruises president and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said that McCue mirrors “the exceptional design and imagination” of the ship by constantly going the extra mile. We had the opportunity to experience the ship two days before it set sail with the first guests onboard from Southampton, England.

The 1,073-foot-long vessel, which will be able to host 3,260 passengers in 1,646 staterooms is the third ship in the Royal Caribbean Group subsidiary’s Edge Series.

With award winning designer Kelly Hoppen CBE, The Beyond also boasts a rooftop garden and resort deck with pools that project for swimming suspended above the sea; a multi level bar dubbed the “Sunset Bar;” a Daniel Boulud restaurant; a redesigned “Grand Plaza” to span multiple decks; and the “Magic Carpet,” an open-air moving venue that hovers above the sea and shifts position, much like an elevator, changing purpose based on which of the 13 levels it visits.

The Celebrity Cruises app with its intuitive features like early check-in, time-saving safety drills, and comprehensive pre-cruise planning, is designed to make your vacation smarter and more luxurious before you even step on board.

Accommodation

Nothing is more important on a vacation than the place you relax and recharge in between all the exciting experiences you’ll have each day. The Beyond sets a new standard in world-class accommodations. From the Edge Single Staterooms with Infinite Verandas® designed for the solo traveler to the unparalleled luxury of The Retreat®, featuring expanded and redesigned exclusive spaces, the accommodations on Celebrity Beyond are designed to make you feel even more at home while you travel the world. No matter which of Celebrity Beyond’s luxurious staterooms you choose, your drinks, Wi-Fi, and tips are always included..

Ideal for the Middle East guests, “The Retreat,” a space that will be available only to suite guests with a lounge and a two-story deck. And onboard accommodations have special features, too. For example, passengers can book two-story villas with private plunge pools or staterooms with decks overlooking the water providing exclusivity and privacy to the clients.

Dining

Whether you’re an adventurous eater or have a picky child in tow, a cruise, with so many options on the menu, is the perfect way to cater to all tastes. You’ll find elegant main dining rooms with special kids’ menus featuring all the favorites, from pizza to pasta, as well as a wide range of international cuisine.

Magic Carpet: Moving up and down the side of the ship, when on Deck 5, Magic Carpetsm is an open-air extension of Raw on 5. Here you’ll find an airy, casual seafood restaurant offering select Raw on 5 favorites as well its own unique menu. When these two restaurants meet, it’s the perfect pairing for an unforgettable al fresco dining experience as you glide over the glistening water below. As the Magic Carpet makes its way up the side of the ship, it reaches the very top level (there isn’t even a deck here, which makes it even more thrilling), where it becomes an extraordinary sky-high spot. Get ready for a unique, al fresco culinary journey that satisfies your taste buds, your eyes, and your sense of wonder all at the same time.

Le Petit Chef offered on Celebrity Cruises is simply one of the most unique dining events in the world.

The world-renown artists of Skullmapping, presented by TableMation have reached a true pinnacle of their custom 3D table animation art form. This dining experience is beautifully choreographed with an elegant menu created by the Michelin Star Chef.

Relax and Rejuvenate

The Spa on a Celebrity Beyond ship is a serene haven. Your holistic journey begins the minute you enter; you’ll sense the restfulness as you inhale in a gentle infusion of soothing aromatherapy oils. Come here to treat yourself; to ease into your vacation with blissfully indulgent treatments and therapies that will leave you feeling completely renewed. Guests can indulge in 120 therapies including facials and wraps, coconut melt massages, Elemis facials to name a few.

Spa aficionados will be instantly at home in this heavenly environment. But it’s not unusual to discover the spa for the first time on a cruise. After all, we don’t all have time for spa treatments in our busy lives back home.

 

Entertainment

There is no dearth of entertainment option onboard this ship. The theatre has three new shows include technology spectaculars, dance and acrobatics showcases and big stage Broadway-style productions, while the ship will also feature five late-night entertainment venues, including a speakeasy-style Jazz Club. These new shows in the ship’s theatre, will be the largest in the Celebrity Cruises fleet, as well as one of the most technologically advanced.

A 110-foot curved 4K LED screen wraps around the stage, which is complete with five moving panels that open and move for an immersive visual experiences and dramatic talent entrances and exits.

Beyond the theatre, the ship also features a number of late night entertainment hubs, such as The Club, which has live music nights.

At the heart of the ship, guests will find the Grand Plaza lobby, complete with a Martini bar and a chandelier that comes alive at night with eight new light shows choreographed to music over the central bar area.

Art at Sea

With stunning pieces of Art all over the ship, The Beyond is at forefront of a digital revolution driving us into the Metaverse. The first NFT At Sea collection is the next step in connecting people around the world through immersive experiences.

It is the first ship to display world-renowned artist Rubem Robierb’s “Peacemakers Blue Sky”, the stunning NFT digital artwork inspired by worldwide protest for social justice.