After decades of wooing us with a bold parade of “firsts” in everything from the first at-sea living lawn to the first female cruise captain, Celebrity Cruises is at it again with Celebrity Edge, the first new ship class for the modern luxury cruise line in 10 years.
Of course it also has to come with its own first: a Magic Carpet at sea.
The size of a tennis court, the Magic Carpet scales the side of the ship throughout the day with surprises at every stop: transforming into a luxury embarkation station on Deck 2, an open-air expansion of the main pool on Deck 14 and, the mother of all stops, Deck 16, where the cantilevered venue becomes the ultimate al fresco specialty restaurant “Dinner on the Edge” for up to 90 attendees. For those of you familiar with BYOB, it stands for “bring your own band” on this magic carpet ride; the bar is happily included.
The point, according to Celebrity’s President, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, is that in having the ability to position itself on different decks, the Magic Carpet opens the door for different attendee experiences with each crank up the starboard. You can book the floating venue if you’d like, and Lutoff-Perlo says they can customize just about any type of event across the ship.
“Group events and activities were a big consideration in designing the spaces and programs for Edge. [The Magic Carpet’s] comfortable seating, a full bar and space for live music performances, makes it an extraordinary venue high in the sky to host a mouthwatering dining experience for groups.”
OK. So in case you haven’t guessed by now, forward-thinking design is an obvious touch point of Celebrity Edge—whether eye-popping outdoor spaces or staterooms (most have king-size beds) with their own brand of sizzle. A colorful Dr. Seuss-like rooftop garden (also available for buyout), with its striking tree sculptures and giant chessboard, is sure to inspire plenty of creative brainstorming sessions on the Resort Deck. Celebrity’s signature “A Taste of Film” experience, which combines popular films with menus of curated drinks and bites that they inspire, also happens in this eclectic and cozy space. Groups will also find familiar Celebrity touches with a twist here, such as the adults-only solarium, now bursting with 3D art.
“Group events and activities were a big consideration in designing the spaces and programs for Edge. [The Magic Carpet’s] comfortable seating, a full bar and space for live music performances, makes it an extraordinary venue high in the sky to host a mouthwatering dining experience for groups.”
Elsewhere on the 2,918-passenger ship, The Retreat, its sundeck and lounge that offers a private pool and butler service, is just that—a sophisticated retreat for Suite Class groups to unwind and get pampered in between meetings. Celebrity Edge has two new suite categories: two 2,600-sf Iconic Suites positioned above the bridge with panoramic windows and six split-level Edge Villas, with two stories of windows and private plunge pools. A new stateroom category is also being introduced; the Edge Single Stateroom with Infinite Veranda will take attendees straight to the water’s edge via rooms that are close to 25 percent larger than those of the Solstice class. And, as if the beckoning of the wild blue yonder wasn’t enough, Lutoff-Perlo says expect modern creature comforts as well.
“Technology in our staterooms will allow attendees to precisely adjust nearly every comfort feature. They can even choose a setting that gently wakes them in the morning, or brings them their favorite cup of Joe. It’s world-class service at the touch of a button.”
All in all, you can thank design guru Nate Berkus for Celebrity Edge’s design-forward and downright “edgy” yet sophisticated look and feel. The ship is currently open for booking, and mark your calendars for the end of 2018 when Celebrity takes the new girl on the block out for a spin.
For more group experiential ideas with Celebrity Cruises, check out “4 New Cruise Experiences for Getting Down & Going Local.”
