Cruising the Celebrity Beyond Review: The Retreat Experience

Our Celebrity Beyond review of our Retreat experience is our own. We will share what we loved and didn’t love about Celebrity Beyond’s The Retreat. Let’s start immediately with what everyone is wondering: Is the Retreat worth it?

While this is our review, we encourage you to share your questions and experiences in the comments!

Please note: When we sailed on Celebrity Beyond, some amenities, including butler service, were temporarily removed from Sky Suites for a limited time, including butler service. These were reinstated several months later after guest feedback, and Celebrity has since added even more perks, such as including the mini bar in Retreat cabins. We want to experience The Retreat again in the future to see how it has evolved since our last visit.

Is The Retreat on Celebrity Cruises Worth It?

Based on our experience at the time we sailed, with several key amenities removed from the lower-level suites, we must say that it was not worth it — especially not for suites costing over $ 10,000. The value wasn’t there for what we received.

We are not usually suite dwellers. While we appreciate the extra perks, our budget typically doesn’t stretch to suites costing $ 10,000 or more. To clarify, these trips are not sponsored in any way. We pay out of pocket, which is why we feel it’s essential to be upfront and honest when something doesn’t meet our standards.

To give some perspective, years ago, we won a move-up bid from a balcony to The Haven on the Norwegian Getaway for $500 per person. That suite experience felt like true luxury, and we still talk about it to this day. I would pay $10,000 for that experience again without hesitation.

I don’t want to go too far comparing cruise lines, but it’s part of the context when sharing how our Retreat experience on Celebrity Beyond fell short.

Since our sailing, Celebrity has reinstated many of the amenities that were previously missing and even added more, such as including the mini bar in Retreat cabins. So the value today may feel different than what we experienced.

The Retreat on Celebrity Beyond Review

You might think we should just feel lucky to have taken a cruise like this — and we do. Overall, we had a wonderful time on our cruise. We just expected more from The Retreat.

Celebrity calls it “the ultimate luxury vacation experience.”

It’s a solid product with considerable potential, but during our sailing experience, it failed to impress us. The lack of personalized service stood out the most, and several amenities had been temporarily removed from Sky Suites at the time, which made the experience feel even less complete. Other cruise lines offer comparable suite perks for less — or about the exact cost — with more attention to detail.

On paper, The Retreat looks fantastic, and for many guests it probably is. However, in our experience, the missing personal touches fell short of the luxury label. The little things really do make a big difference, and at the time we cruised, The Retreat didn’t deliver on that front.

Since our sailing, many of those amenities have been reinstated and even expanded, so the experience today may feel different than what we describe here.

Priority Embarkation

Priority Embarkation at Civitavecchia Cruise Port was a breeze. It was nice to arrive at the terminal, go through security, and be escorted into a nice lounge area to check in and have coffee, drink, or snacks before embarking.

However, I was surprised we weren’t escorted onto the ship or to our cabin. We may have left through a separate exit towards the gangway, but soon merged with everyone else. It felt almost like the rest of the embarkations I had with Celebrity.

There was no separate embarkation at ports throughout the rest of the cruise. When you got back, you stood in line with everyone else. Once, we saw the sign for Retreat guests, and it didn’t matter; they shuffled everyone into it.

Sky Suite Cabin

We loved our Sky Suite cabin on Celebrity Beyond, and it was one of the best cabins we’ve ever stayed in. The layout was fantastic with the bed facing the balcony, and we loved waking up in the mornings to that view.

Our Sky Suite was cabin 10211. It felt spacious and modern with plenty of closet space. The bathroom was a highlight with a rain shower, an enclosed tub, double sinks, and a separate toilet.

The balcony was spacious, and although a narrow column created a slight obstruction, it didn’t bother us at all. From inside the cabin, you couldn’t even see it because of how it was positioned.

We would stay in a Sky Suite again without the Retreat benefits.

The downsides were small but noticeable. There was no in-room coffee machine, which is only available in the higher-level suites. Everything in the mini-fridge was charged, even in a Sky Suite. A good tip is to ask your Retreat Host to clear it out so you can stock it with the included bottled waters and canned drinks from the Lounge. Our host was kind enough to bring us water daily, but premium bottled water and canned sodas were not included.

Update: As of 2024, mini-bars are now included in Retreat cabins, so current guests won’t have the same issue we experienced

Retreat Host and Team

Update Spring 2024: Butlers have returned to Sky Suite cabins on Celebrity Beyond. When we cruised in October 2023, butlers were removed as a benefit. What follows is based on our experience at that time.

The Retreat Host was essentially the cabin attendant. They keep your cabin clean, handle laundry, and assist with basic requests. On our cruise, they were sometimes also assigned to nearby non-suite cabins.

They are not butlers. When we requested anything beyond typical cabin attendant duties, we were instructed to either call room service or visit The Retreat Lounge. Our host was excellent within his role and quick to help with anything that fell under his responsibilities, but it wasn’t the same level of service that a dedicated butler provides.

A member of the Retreat Team who introduced himself as the “butler” stopped by on the first day. He explained he was responsible for suites across several decks, but we never saw him again. Another guest told us they had called him for something, and he replied that he now mainly did office work.

We only found out butlers were no longer part of the Sky Suite experience after we had already upgraded, thanks to a Facebook group. Nothing was said on the phone when we upgraded, and the website still listed “Dedicated Butler” at the time of booking. A few days later, it quietly changed to “Retreat Team and Host.” The whole thing felt a little misleading.

At first, we didn’t think it mattered much. We’d never had a butler before and didn’t know what to expect. But once onboard, it became clear what we were missing — like having lattes delivered in the morning, snacks brought throughout the day, or small personalized touches that make a suite feel more luxurious. Specialty coffee isn’t part of room service, so having a butler would have made that possible.

It’s not about being lazy. I’m perfectly fine getting my own coffee, and most mornings I do. But when you pay $10,000 or more for The Retreat, you expect the extras to be included. Being told to get things yourself instead of enjoying those personalized touches is another reason the value felt off during our cruise.

Celebrity Beyond’s The Luminae

The Luminae on Celebrity Beyond is open for breakfast and dinner every night, as well as for lunch on embarkation day and sea days. We liked that the dinner menu changed daily.

If you want to feel cared for during your Retreat stay, head to Luminae. The staff were excellent. Our head waiter, Gary, and his team looked after us every day, going above and beyond without us even needing to ask. The sommelier always had mocktails ready for my husband at dinner, which was such a thoughtful touch.

We made a point to eat at Luminae often since it’s considered some of the best food on the ship. The reality didn’t always match that reputation. The food was hit or miss. Sometimes dishes took a long time to arrive, and when they did, they were rarely hot — more often lukewarm. Many meals were just fine, a few stood out, but we were expecting more consistency. Even Chef Daniel Boulud’s signature dishes didn’t impress.

One thing we appreciated is that if you didn’t like something, they had no problem replacing it. We don’t send things back unless it’s really off, but it was nice to know the option was there.

Breakfast at Luminae was usually a win, with great pastries and some signature plates. Once, they even made my husband a breakfast sandwich he had been craving. The Luminae burger was delicious at lunch, the sashimi was always a highlight, and the filet mignon never disappointed.

Overall, however, Luminae didn’t deliver the elevated dining experience we had hoped for. The food wasn’t much different from what we’ve had in Celebrity’s main dining rooms, and sometimes it felt like they were trying too hard. The service, however, was flawless.

Our best dinner on Celebrity Beyond wasn’t here — it was at Eden, one of the specialty restaurants.

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The Retreat Lounge

We spent the least amount of time in The Retreat Lounge on Celebrity Beyond. When we did stop by, it was usually to speak with the Concierge, grab drinks from the mini-fridges, or use the bathroom.

The lounge itself is a lovely, quiet space where you can relax with a drink or chat with other cruisers. We preferred exploring the ship and hanging out at spots like the Martini Bar, but if you’re traveling with friends, it’s a nice place to meet for pre-dinner drinks or escape the noise.

Our favorite feature was the mini-fridges stocked with sodas and bottled water. You could take as many as you needed back to your cabin, which was incredibly convenient. It would have been even better if the drinks in the in-room mini-fridge were included.

Light bites are available throughout the day, so you can always find a snack.

Overall, we wished all parts of The Retreat felt more connected and carried more of that “hotel within a ship” experience.

The Retreat Concierge

We only spoke with the Retreat Concierge a few times on Celebrity Beyond, but they were always available in the Lounge when we needed them. They answered questions and even resolved a billing issue for us on the last night of the cruise.

Having a dedicated concierge is a real benefit. It’s much more convenient than standing in line at Guest Services, and they can also help with dinner reservations at specialty restaurants or book shore excursions.

One evening, for one of the big production shows, the Concierge arranged reserved seats in the theater for Retreat guests. It was a nice perk, though it’s not something they do for every show. Honestly, it should be a regular feature for the most popular performances.

The only downside is that the Concierge is tucked away in the Retreat Lounge. If you don’t make the effort to seek them out, you could easily miss that they’re there. That said, they did reach out to us several times during the cruise with updates about Retreat events.

The Retreat Sundeck on Celebrity Beyond

Not all Celebrity ships have a Retreat Sundeck. You’ll only find them on Edge-class ships and on Revolutionized ships, with the Edge class offering extra water features like pools and hot tubs.

On Celebrity Beyond, the Retreat Sundeck has a small pool — just big enough for a dip — along with two hot tubs.

It’s a relaxing escape from the busier parts of the ship, with plenty of seating spread across two decks. Most of the time, it was quiet. Some days at sea were windy and chilly, which probably kept people away, but even on the sunniest day, it never felt crowded.

There were always fresh towels and blankets available, plus drink service from the pool bar. A small lunch menu was offered so you could order food without leaving your chair, and sometimes they even brought around fruit skewers as a refreshing treat.

All-Inclusive Amenities

We booked before October 4, 2023, so our Sky Suite included the full all-inclusive package: Premium Drinks, Premium Wi-Fi, prepaid gratuities, and $1,000 in onboard credit. (*Prepaid gratuities and onboard credit are no longer offered with new bookings.)

With all of that bundled in, the cost of the Sky Suite didn’t feel quite as steep. After doing the math, it made sense — you’re getting those inclusions along with the Retreat benefits.

We used the onboard credit for a spa visit, laundry service during our 10-night cruise (which was especially useful since we had five more days in Rome afterward), and two Celebrity shore excursions.

Those extras helped the trip feel more like an actual all-inclusive vacation. Having prepaid gratuities included (although we still tipped extra), unlimited drinks, and Premium Wi-Fi included meant fewer things to worry about onboard.

The only downside was the $17 per drink cap on the Celebrity’s Premium Drink Package. If you’re paying for something called “Premium”, it should simply cover all drinks without nickel-and-diming.

Update: Since late 2023, Retreat guests have Premium Drinks and Premium Wi-Fi included in the price of their suite. Prepaid gratuities and onboard credit are no longer part of the package.

Would We Book The Retreat Again?

Never say never. We enjoy certain conveniences and would pay for them if the price felt right — maybe through a Move-Up Bid. Now that Celebrity has reinstated many of the perks and even added more, we’d like to experience The Retreat again with its full amenities. For us, it’s just a matter of finding the right itinerary at the right price.

When we sailed, the cost was already around 30% higher than it used to be, and rates continue to climb. On top of that, several amenities had been removed at the time, which made the value feel even less.

What did we think of the Celebrity Beyond cruise ship?

The Celebrity Beyond is one of the most beautiful ships we’ve sailed on. For a mega-ship of its size, its maximum capacity is about 3,500 passengers. On our sailing, there were only around 3,300 on board, and it never felt crowded.

Beyond is a modern, stylish ship with numerous inviting spaces, both indoors and outdoors. From quiet corners to open decks, there was always somewhere comfortable to sit and enjoy the atmosphere.

Even though our Retreat experience didn’t quite meet expectations, the ship itself left a great impression. We’d happily sail on Celebrity Beyond again for the ship alone, especially if the right itinerary came along.

BEFORE YOU SET SAIL, HERE ARE SOME RELATED ARTICLES YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS:

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