Expert review of Celebrity Cruises
Best for
Couples, families, and groups who want an elegant cruise experience without paying luxury-line fares.
Not for
People who prefer, say, hairy chest contests to iPad tours of the line’s art collection.
We love
- Celebrity's upscale innovations include an acre of real gras at the Lawn Club, and watch risque Sin City productions that combine burlesque with comedy.
- The wide scope of daytime activities includes the educational (think Chinese herbal medicine courses and Apple classes) and the playful, such as water volleyball matches with ship officers.
- Specialty restaurants on Celebrity, including small-plate-style Qsine (which serves sushi “lollipops” and hot crab served on steaming lava rocks) and the Lawn Club Grill (where you can sear your own meat) are truly creative.
- The fabulous bars include the Brat Pack-style Martini Bar to Michael’s Club, which serves dozens of craft beers and an extensive bourbon menu.
- The AquaSpa services include some of the best steam rooms at sea, complete with heated, tiled lounge chairs.
- Celebrity's Concierge-class cabins fill the gap between standards and suites, with perks such as pillow menus and priority restaurant bookings; spa cabins offer fancy showers, nicer bath products, and complimentary access to those fancy steam rooms (which otherwise incur a charge).
- Parents of small children will appreciate the in-cabin babysitting ($19 an hour for up to three kids), which few lines offer.
We could live without
- There are lots of extra charges, from specialty restaurants ($5 to $45 per person) to the Lawn Club cabanas and some classes.
- Celebrity’s stage shows pale in comparison to competitors’ productions.
