Celebrity Beyond Review

Celebrity Beyond is Celebrity Cruises' third Edge-class ship, and, normally, you wouldn’t expect a lot of change from one ship to the next. But so many improvements have been made to the 3,260-passenger vessel, including adding length as well as an extra deck, that the Celebrity Beyond experience does, in fact, surpass its predecessors.

The most popular areas have been redesigned. More and different types of suites have been added, with enlarged and improved amenities. Bars and theaters have been added and upgraded. The ship features more stylized design from names such as Kelly Hoppen and Nate Berkus; a new menu and better entertainment in the unusual Eden space and a restaurant from Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud, his first at sea.

It all adds up to an onboard experience that is sophisticated, chic and adult-focused with a bit of flash; while Celebrity does allow children onboard, the vibe is not family forward. Think chic and urbane, with a raft of inclusions -- drinks, tips and Wi-Fi -- meant to make an upscale vacation at sea a no brainer.

The Celebrity Beyond Deck Plan Includes More Outdoor Areas, More Bars

With an additional 65 feet of space, Celebrity Beyond's deck plan has more room in exactly the right areas. The ship's buffet, the Oceanview Cafe, has an enlarged bakery and a bar convenient to the pizza, as well as two additional food stations.  Seating areas created by British designer Kelly Hoppen have been added at the ship's main pool, the Resort Deck, and the for-fee cabanas there now face the right direction: the pool where the action is.

Other outdoor areas where you'll notice more space than on Beyond's sister ships include the Rooftop Garden, which has become more usable, with more arty coverings to protect loungers from the elements. You'll find two plunge pools in this area, although be warned that these are not hot tubs and also give people walking by a distorted full body view of those swimming, not unlike a fun house mirror.

The Sunset Bar at the back of the ship is the most notable renovation on Celebrity Beyond. American designer Nate Berkus has transformed the space into a terraced, two-deck area heavy on Moroccan and Mediterranean influences. It's a fabulous place to linger, not just at sunset but even during the heat of the day, as there is plenty of shaded seating.

Inside the ship, the deck plan around the central Grand Plaza has been altered slightly to make room for a new bar, World Class, which features craft cocktails. The Martini Bar and the large chandelier that flashes and plays music has also been centered within the Grand Plaza, allowing more people to enjoy the "flair" of the talented bartenders. Fine Cut steakhouse no longer has an outdoor area; instead the specialty restaurant has more seating, including in "wine barrels" that overlook the Grand Plaza action, as well as supersized window seats for romantic sea views at dinner.

Celebrity Beyond Rooms Include New Suites with Expanded Retreat, Watch for Overhang

If you're looking for the suite life, Celebrity Beyond has more choices than before, and the amenities are also upsized. Highlights include the 1,892-square-foot Iconic Suite, where you're treated the same views as the bridge with a ton of private outdoor space. There's also a two-story Edge Villa that has fantastic design by Hoppen, as well as its own cute plunge pool.

That said, be careful with where you book your suite, or room, particularly if you're a sun lover. Because the top deck on Celebrity Beyond stretches a bit over the ship itself, many of the rooms on the higher deck don't get any sun on their balconies (infinite or otherwise). If you like to sit outside on your own deck for sun, you'll want to avoid these, as well as the rooms that sit underneath the Magic Carpet.

And to be honest, sun in your room might not matter, as the Retreat area for suite guests has an extra deck and more space, as well as a larger lounge. Luminae, the suite restaurant, is also nicer and larger, with better views.

AquaClass lovers also have a new choice in rooms, with Sky Suites that combine the spa amenities of the category with Retreat access and personal concierge service. Still, we were surprised that the AquaClass upgrade didn't come with any changes to Blu, the dedicated restaurant. It's still walled off, without windows and a lot of natural light.

The Infinite Verandas that debuted on Celebrity Edge remains a staple of Celebrity Beyond. We're still fans, although we don't love the layout that puts the bed so close to the closet. Check your cabin against the ship's deck plan carefully, and choose the layout that puts the beds closer to the balcony, if possible.

If you are a light sleeper, do not book any of the aft-facing cabins on decks 7 or 8. These are above Eden, and you absolutely will hear and feel the music while you are in your cabin.

Food on Celebrity Beyond: Lots of Choices, Daniel Boulud's Le Voyage is a Winner

Like other Edge-class ships, Celebrity Beyond has four smaller main dining rooms that are included in the fare, as opposed to a large, traditional main dining room. This set up means that eating out always feels intimate and less "banquet-hall" than on some other cruise lines.

The Oceanview Cafe buffet also has plenty of choices, at all hours of the day; the new bar at the pizza area, plus the proximity to the Sunset Bar makes it a nice choice if you want to stay casual. The Sunset Bar also has a new menu of $8 eats, such as hummus and flatbreads, for afternoon noshes. You have to search to find some venues; the Mast Grill is particularly hard to find on the Resort Deck, and many people forget about that healthy choices are available at both the Solarium and the Eden Cafe.

Specialty restaurants on Celebrity Beyond abound, from sushi at Raw on 5 to upscale outdoor at the Rooftop Grill. While the Fine Cut steakhouse has served as a traditional date night splurge, we prefer Eden, which has a new menu from Celebrity's own Cornelius Gallagher centered around seafood and fresh ingredients. The dishes here appear as works of arts, and the cocktails are no slouch either.

The star of Celebrity Beyond's dining is Le Voyage, the first restaurant at sea from Daniel Boulud (who has his own Michelin stars). It's a stunning space, with dishes inspired by Boulud's international travels; the French menu has Thai, Brazilian and other global touches. You'll feel like you're in a fancy land restaurant -- our meal lived up to the $75 price tag.