Celebrity Beyond: 10 Things We Loved and Hated
The Celebrity Beyond is one of the industry’s most talked-about cruise ships. It’s the third ship in Celebrity’s Edge Class series and is classy and beautiful.
When we sailed, the first female American captain was at the helm with her hairless cat, Bug (RIP). It’s one of those cruise ships that you want to experience first-hand and see what all the fuss is about.
We sailed on the Celebrity Beyond for ten nights in the Mediterranean, which was our selling point. It was a wonderful cruise with a great itinerary.
On every cruise we sail, there are pros and cons, and there are things we loved and didn’t love so much on Celebrity Beyond. If you have sailed on this ship, tell us in the comments what you loved and hated about the Celebrity Beyond.
We Loved the Decor and How Spacious the Ship Felt
Even though we had access to The Retreat, we spent much time exploring and enjoying the ship outside the suite areas. The decor on the ship is so classy, unique, and fun. We loved walking around and finding random and distinctive artwork and sculptures throughout the ship.
We were pleasantly surprised by how spacious the ship felt throughout our cruise. The busiest time was peak hour at the Buffet, and even then, it wasn’t so bad.
At one point, we spoke with an officer, who confirmed that there were approximately 3,300 passengers on our sailing. Their maximum was 3600 passengers. We were shocked by those numbers, as we expected the maximum to be 1-2k more.
The ship features a variety of stylish, cozy indoor and outdoor seating options. Everything is so beautifully done that you want to grab a drink and find a corner to relax and enjoy.
We Loved The Buffet Layout
We loved what Celebrity did with the buffet layout on this ship. They organized it to flow smoothly, keeping people moving and preventing traffic jams.
- There were multiple sinks available to wash your hands before entering the buffet
- Across the way was the ice cream station, so you didn’t have to enter the buffet for ice cream. This allowed you to avoid everyone trying to get lunch or dinner
- Cafe al Bacio and the bar were next. You can stop to get your specialty coffee first thing.
- The pizzeria was relocated to the back, providing it with its own space and seating area, situated near a bar and additional outdoor seating.
- The buffet was enormous, featuring multiple stations that served a wide variety of foods. Even a bakery is showcasing rising croissants and other baked goods.
- It was bright, airy, and open.
We Loved that The Pizza Station Was Open Until 1 am
Celebrity ships pizza is one of our favorite things to eat and snack on, especially when everything else is closed. I would rather have a slice of pizza while enjoying the ship than return to my cabin to order room service. This station, located in the back of the buffet, was open until 1 am, which is nice since there are no other late-night venues with food on the ship.
We Loved Captain Kate and How Accessible She Was to Passengers
If you’re worried about never seeing Captain Kate, don’t. As long as you’re not hiding out in your cabin, you will probably run into her at some point. We saw her several times throughout the cruise and even ran into her outside the port with Bug.
Unless she’s on vacation (three months on and three months off), she usually hangs out near Le Grand Bistro and Cafe del Bacio.
My husband brought her a gift from work; she was gracious and kind. Later on the cruise, we ran into her at Cafe del Bacio, and she even remembered his name. We all took a photo together, but sorry, I won’t be sharing.
What truly impressed me about Captain Kate is how genuinely open and happy she is to meet fellow passengers.
We Loved Eden
Eden is a café, bar, and specialty restaurant that feels almost hidden on Celebrity Beyond. You might miss it if you don’t take the time to really explore the ship or book a reservation to dine there.
We loved this space because it’s so unique and beautifully designed, and it ended up being where we had our best meal and drinks on the ship. We also enjoyed Le Voyage, but Eden topped it for us.
During the day, it’s an easy place to find a quiet corner, and the café serves a quick lunch. At night, the energy shifts with special shows and live entertainment — and it’s worth getting there early to grab a good spot.
We Loved the Theater’s Size and Impressive Screens
The space makes it feel almost like an IMAX. I didn’t get to as many shows as I would have liked, thanks to jet lag, but the ones I did see were amazing. The setup creates an immersive experience, and there isn’t a bad seat in the house.
If you’re sailing on Beyond, I recommend making time for as many shows as you can.
We Loved Destination Gateway On The Ship
It may sound odd to single this out, but the Destination Gateway on Celebrity Beyond is actually the gangway for getting on and off at ports. You can tell Celebrity put some thought into this space, which is usually an afterthought on most ships.
What makes it even cooler is that this is also where you tender. The Magic Carpet lowers and connects directly to the Destination Gateway on Deck 2, making the whole process feel seamless.
We Loved Our Sky Suite Cabin
Many cruisers aren’t fans of the Infinite Veranda on Celebrity Beyond and prefer a traditional balcony. We can’t speak to those cabins since we stayed in a Sky Suite, but I can say without hesitation that it was our favorite part of the trip.
The layout was fantastic, with the bed facing the balcony view — exactly how every cruise cabin should be designed. It felt spacious, with a beautiful bathroom, generous closet space, and a large balcony where we spent a lot of time sitting, relaxing, and reading.
Café al Bacio Is a Favorite, But the Coffee Quality Slips
On this Celebrity cruise, Café al Bacio felt more like a land-based Starbucks running on a conveyor belt. Shots of espresso were poured, milk was steamed, the two were combined in a hurry, and then they moved on to the next order. Most of the time, the espresso flavor was so faint you could barely taste it. When the café was empty, though, you could get a drink that felt more thoughtfully crafted.
Part of the difference is how busy this Café al Bacio was compared to what we’ve experienced on the Solstice-class ships. There, the baristas usually have more time to give each drink a little extra care. On Beyond, the pace was so fast that the drinks lacked that same touch.
We still enjoy Café al Bacio for its atmosphere, and I liked that this ship has a second Café al Bacio near the buffet, which gave us another option. But as coffee lovers, we felt the quality wasn’t what it used to be. By the end of the cruise, I stuck to macchiatos — a double shot of espresso with just a touch of steamed milk — to make sure I actually got a decent caffeine fix.
Tip: Always ask for extra espresso shots if you like to taste your coffee.
We Were Slightly Disappointed with The Retreat
The Retreat offers some nice perks, including a sun deck, pool, and restaurant, but it wasn’t all we had hoped for or expected. The food was hit or miss, and the personalized service outside the restaurant fell short of expectations.
Part of this may have been timing. We cruised during a stretch when Celebrity had made temporary changes to The Retreat, including removing butlers from the Sky Suites, so we didn’t get the full Retreat experience that’s usually promised. On top of that, the space never really gave us that “hotel within a ship” feeling, the way The Haven on NCL does.
That said, the restaurant staff delivered the best service we had on the ship, and dining there was one of the highlights. We also loved our cabin, and the Retreat sun deck is actually very spacious, which made it a nice spot to relax away from the main pool crowds.
If you’ve read our review of The Retreat on Celebrity Beyond, you know we didn’t feel the value was there for what we paid and what we actually received during our cruise. It’s a shame because it has potential, and from what I’ve heard from longtime Retreat cruisers, it used to be exceptional. Cruising is becoming increasingly expensive, and amenities are being reduced or eliminated. So while you may be paying for luxury, you’re not always guaranteed that luxury experience.
Since we sailed and shared this experience, many of those lost amenities have already been restored, and Celebrity has even added more, such as including the mini bar in Retreat cabins.
What is an infinite veranda on Celebrity Beyond?
The infinite veranda cabins on Celebrity Beyond are crafted to maximize your interior living space. Instead of a traditional door or sliding door leading to a balcony, these cabins feature a floor-to-ceiling window that offers the sensation of a built-in sunroom or extension within your living quarters. With the simple push of a button, you can transform the top part of the window, providing open-air access to the sea, effectively creating a balcony experience at your discretion.
Where is Celebrity Beyond sailing in 2026–2027?
Celebrity Beyond will continue sailing the Caribbean through 2026, offering itineraries that include ports such as St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Grand Cayman, and Perfect Day at CocoCay. Looking ahead to 2027, the ship is scheduled to return to Europe for Mediterranean cruises during the summer season, before resuming its Caribbean route later in the year.
BEFORE YOU SET SAIL, HERE ARE SOME RELATED ARTICLES YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS:
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Kathy Ava
Meet Kathy Ava, a food, travel, and cruise writer based in Los Angeles/Pasadena, and the owner and main writer of Tasty Itinerary. With over 20 years of experience planning trips and logistics at her full-time job and for herself, she's become a pro at crafting unforgettable tasty itineraries. She's always on the hunt for delicious, fun travel destinations and cruise itineraries. She firmly believes that life is short and we must make the most of it, so always say yes to dessert.