Taking an inauguaral cruise aboard the Celebrity Edge

Some people say they are not cruise people. I say you just have to find the right cruise for your personality.  I had the opportunity to sail aboard the Celebrity Edge on its inaugural outing on the Caribbean. Let’s just say this cruise definitely fit my personality.

For the longest time I avoided the idea of taking a cruise. I think it’s because I saw the Poseidon Adventure as a kid and getting aboard a ship scared the crap out of me. Then my family did a family reunion on a cruise. I don’t remember the ship. All I remember is that ship seemed small. I couldn’t get away from family, I felt claustrophobic in my room and was constantly seasick. So sailing was not an ideal vacation getaway in my book.

 

Fast forward a few years and the Celebrity Edge is now my third cruise as an adult. My first was Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas. At that time it was the largest cruise ship on the sea. Soon after I was on the Symphony of the Sea, an even bigger ship. These ships were essentially floating cities on the sea and soon my fear of a cruise was gone.

When the opportunity to sail on the Edge popped up, I jumped at the chance. I had never been on a Celebrity cruise line but had heard some great things. The cruise line has several awards under its belt including being named Best Premium Cruise Line by Travel Weekly, Best Onboard Dining by TravelAge West Magazine and Best Onboard Spa Facilities by MeetMeOnboard.com. The amazing thing is that Celebrity has been given these honors over multiple years. Who wouldn’t want to try out a ship on a cruise line that has such an impressive reputation?

 

Impressions

 

In the today’s age of photo opportunities, the Celebrity Edge is a content creator’s dream! There are so many places throughout the ship to get that perfect selfie or the ideal instagram worthy moment. Trust me. I took several!

 

But while these spots where fantastic places to get a great shot, they were also excellent places to hang out. One of my favorite places was the private cabanas. I loved how standing among them looked like you were in the mouth of a great whale. Once inside, the cabannas were intimate settings that you can just sit and entertain a few friends.

 

Another cool feature was the Magic Carpet. At its core, it is essentially a bar that sits on the side of the boat. The neat thing is that it could be moved to different decks on the ship offering unique views from wherever it’s perched.

 

This was a short cruise so my objective was to just enjoy the ship. No excursions, no plans and no commitments. I just wanted to relax and found that that it was a pretty easy thing to do. My days were mostly spent on the Resort Deck lounging by the pool typically with my lounge chair in the water but I also hit the Solarium, the adults only indoor pool and also spent time at the Rooftop Garden. Each of these areas offered great places to relax and unwind.

 

Stateroom

 

I was pleasantly surprised when I walked into my stateroom. Being a pretty tall guy (6’2”) I found my room pretty spacious and comfortable. The room featured a comfy king-sized bed, cozy sofa and a nice sized desk should I have wanted to do any work. (I didn’t!) The bathroom was pretty big as well. I didn’t have to duck to fit in the shower. However, it did take me a minute to figure out how to make the water hotter.

 

Unlike previous cabins on other ships, my accommodations featured the new Infinite Veranda. Instead of a balcony. I had a floor to ceiling window. The window opened up but it was designed to give the stateroom more space as well as let you feel like that you’re right at the water’s edge.

For those of us who value staying connected, the technology was superb. I could operate the entire room through a few pushes of the downloadable app on my phone. Not to mention there was ample plugs and places to stay charged and be ready for that next instagramable moment.

 

Dining and Entertainment

 

I told you this was a relaxing cruise. As a result, high on my itinerary was food and drink. Fortunately, finding a place to find a good meal or tasty cocktail was never a problem. The ship had 29 restaurants, bars, cafes and lounges to choose from. So you know there was no shortage of great dining during through out my entire cruise.

One of my favorites was the Le Petit Chef and Friends. It was interactive show right at my table where 3D animated chefs create your meal right on the table. When they finish, your actual meal is presented for your enjoyment. It was a fun way to enjoy a great meal.

 

For drinks, I spent most of my time at the Martini Bar. A vodka gimlet is tastier in an amazing setting. I’m not always one to take on a show aboard a ship so I did skip the organized performances offered. But there’s also something to be said about venturing into Eden. It’s like an interactive Cirque du Soleil performance that serves cocktails! Even if you only go once, it’s something you cannot skip while aboard the ship.

 

Extras

 

Okay with all the eating and drinking which definitely led to my ever expanding waistline, I did find time for fitness. The Edge’s fitness center could rival many gyms that you find here on land. I got a great workout while I was onboard the ship. Although I didn’t partake, I did peak in on a couple of fitness classes and even a spinning class. The spinning class made me wish I was still teaching. There were even the Pelaton bikes so you could master your own class. (The bilkes must be scheduled and truthfully I wasn’t that organized to sign up for one.)

The fitness center was located in the spa area. Normally I would indulge in a massage or facial but for this trip I didn’t just because of timing. I always think one of the things you should do on a relaxing vacation is to utilize the spa resources. The ships offers pretty much everything you’d want in a world class spa. I’m heading back out to sea in August so I think a “little refresh” may be on my to do list when I set sail again.

Lastly was the shopping, I’m not normally one to shop while on a cruise and this trip was no different. However for those that want to drop a buck or two, head to Bulgari, Cartier or Tiffany’s. They’ve all set up boutique shops right on board the ship.

 

Final Thoughts

 

I was really pleasantly surprised aboard the Celebrity Edge. My plan was to spend  a lot of me time, eat and drink. I found that this was the perfect chance to unwind and get away from the grind in a beautiful setting.

The Celebrity Edge currently has trips scheduled to tour the Caribbean, Mexico and Europe so there’s a variety of upcoming options to pick from. Give the opportunity, I’d go again. This time how about a European cruise?

Discover the Celebrity Edge