Celebrity’s New Beyond Offers Luxury, Wellness Options And Lots Of Choices For Cruise Lovers

It might have been the dolphins cavorting just outside the window where I was savoring one of the most tantalizing meals I’ve ever eaten.

But no, it had to be a volcano coming into view framed by my freshly pedicured toes as I reclined atop a heated chaise lounge in the spa as the ship moved slowly toward Naples.

But wait, listening to musicians jam on guitar and harmonica at the open-air Sunset Bar, a gin and tonic in hand, as we departed Athens and watched the sky explode in colors, that had to be it.

It seems nearly impossible to pick the best moment from a 10-day cruise through Italy and Greece aboard Celebrity Cruises’ Beyond, the newest of the line’s Edge-class vessels.

I had taken this cruise to focus on wellness, a highlight of the Beyond’s Aqua class staterooms. And while these experiences may not be your typical wellness activities, they certainly boosted my spirit. And, it seems to me, that’s the real beginning of any wellness efforts.

FOCUS ON WELLNESS

Two actual celebrities with a wellness connection are linked to Celebrity Beyond. Olympic gold medalist and world-champion gymnast Simone Biles was named godmother of the ship, and actress/lifestyle influencer Gwyneth Paltrow and her goop product line play a role in curating wellness offerings with goop products, including a signature smoothie.

For those interested in wellness, there are many options; exercise classes, a fitness center, and early-morning yoga, tai chi and stretching sessions. But I started my wellness experience at The Spa with the 100-minute Thousand Flower Detox Wrap.

First, oil and serums derived from marine plants were rubbed into my skin, followed by a full-body mask made from more than a thousand flowers. Then, I was wrapped like a cocoon while the mask set and the therapist massaged my scalp and feet. Next, it was into a warm shower to remove the mask, and then a full body massage. Bliss.

I can’t tell if toxins were actually cleared from my body, but I can say that after the treatment my skin was very soft, my muscles were pain-free and relaxed, and I moved with a sense of well-being for the rest of the day.

Aqua Class Stateroom, Amenities

Our stateroom on Deck 9 was spacious at 243 square feet, with a large bathroom and incredibly comfortable king-sized bed. But the highlight was the infinite veranda with doors and a window that open to the sea, making the room feel like an indoor-outdoor oasis.

There’s nothing more relaxing than falling asleep with the doors open, feeling the gentle movements and soft sounds of the water as the ship glides across the sea. There’s also a spacious and comfortable seating area and well designed storage space.

Aqua class stateroom guests have free access to the Spa’s Thermal Suite, which includes a steam room, sauna, a salt room, rainfall shower path and the aforementioned lounge chairs with panoramic views, perfect for relaxing and watching the destination ahead from a cozy distance.

Aqua class staterooms guests also have a dedicated restaurant, Blu, which features “clean, crisp flavors,” that, while not exactly health food, offers more healthy choices. But you can still get dessert and cocktails there. Vegetarians and carnivores alike would enjoy the menu. Morel mushroom risotto, grilled rainbow trout and ribeye steak are all on the menu. I particularly enjoyed the lump crab appetizer, and my guilty pleasure, crème brulee. More disciplined diners might have chosen the green apple sorbet or low-fat frozen yogurt for dessert.

As with my difficulty of picking the best moments from the cruise, it’s notable that guests on Beyond are spoiled for choices, in just about everything. Five days into the cruise, I realized I still had so much more to discover aboard the ship. I think that speaks well to what will make this vessel a huge draw for cruisers.

It seems like a great choice for multi-generational family trips with enough to keep the younger adults going into the evening while those seeking out wellness options can enjoy something like morning tai chi in the garden. There were few children on my cruise in May, but Celebrity has options for them as well.

 

 

My one disappointment was the lack of a library onboard. Even a few paperbacks for exchange would have been welcome when I finished the book I had brought with me. But, I’m a voracious reader and can’t abide electronic reading devices, so I’m a bit of an outlier.

Generally, I prefer smaller cruise ships to large, but the Beyond has a design with enough separate spaces so that it doesn’t feel crowded. The Beyond carries about 3,200 passengers when full, but the cruise I was on had about 1,800. I don’t know if it was because of lower numbers or just the typical experience, but rarely did we wait in line for anything, even leaving the ship for excursions, or at the Oceanview Café buffet restaurant.

There are also many dining choices aboard the Beyond. Even without paying an extra fee for specialty restaurants, passengers have many options. For me, the Spa Café and Juice Bar was a delightful surprise.

As its name implies, adjacent to the spa is this tiny café, where I was impressed with a salmon salad—the fish mixed with lemon, olive oil and Greek yogurt. I added a detox smoothie by goop—kale, coconut water, celery, mango, mint, parsley, chia and spirulina—and was ready for a busy afternoon.

For no extra charge, passengers can choose among four main dining rooms as well as the Oceanview Café buffet, spa café and pool grill.

One of my favorite dinner entrées came from the main Tuscan Restaurant, strozzapreti carbonara. It’s a hearty carbonara with the thicker strozzapreti pasta mixed with the expected parmesan. But what made this dish stand out was the addition of small chunks of guanciale—cured pork jowl—that are more flavorful than the typical pancetta, and a fried egg with soft yolk atop the whole thing.

But our favorite dining experience had to be at Eden Restaurant, where the food matched the exquisite ocean scenery outside the floor to ceiling windows.

That’s where we saw the dolphins playing. And it’s where Spanish chef Nicolas Bejarano helmed the kitchen that delivered exciting, whimsical and memorable dishes.

The bouquet of garden greens was tender lettuce and vegetables wrapped in a stand-up bouquet dashed with Vidalia onion dressing.

The jumbo crab cake with creamy chipotle, piquillo, cucumber and dill was outstanding, perhaps even better than the lobster casserole, which wasn’t at all like a casserole, and was a delight.

We ended the meal with a photo-worthy Meyer lemon tart, dollops of white and yellow atop a graham cracker circle, a brilliant mix of sweet, sour, tart and crunchy flavors. It’s as pleasing to the eyes as to the taste buds.

EXCURSIONS

Myriad choices extend, too, to the excursions. With my wellness focus, I opted for two outings that promised visits to water with purported healthy benefits.

During our time in Rhodes, I visited Kallithea Springs, a seaside spa area long favored by locals. The water was brackish—a mix of sea and fresh water from underground springs, but cool and a pleasant place to take a dip on a sunny day.

My second water excursion was more of an adventure. A group of about 20 of us traveled from the Naples port to the island of Ischia, noted for its thermal pools originally enjoyed by the ancient Romans. Nowadays, places like Poseidon Thermal Gardens are a draw for locals and visitors alike.

Poseidon has 22 pools, maintained at varying temperatures, waterfalls, beautiful gardens and private beach. Some of the pools are saltwater, others are the natural hot spring waters. There are areas where you can switch quickly from icy cold to very hot baths. Or you can just relax on the private beach overlooking the Bay of Citara. Nearly all of the pools and lounging areas are situated to afford the beautiful views. Our group spent four hours there and I’m anxious to return.

The Beyond also offers choices in water features. The main pool is a busy spot with nearby bar, a grill for burgers and many seating options. Two separate hot tubs are at either end and above the main pool. The hot tubs are inside what look like giant martini glasses hovering above the pool.

There’s also an indoor pool and hot tubs near the spa entrance, that is much quieter. The main pool is where there are water aerobics classes and crew-guest volleyball games.

There are also two plunge pools near the Sunset Bar and rooftop gardens that provide a quieter place for a quick dip.

That’s another reason that I think this ship will satisfy family groups. There are activities for kids, but there are even more options for adults. From quiet corners and fine dining to live musical performances, wine tasting experiences and spa treatments, all sorts will find something to occupy them.

One of my favorite places aboard the Beyond is the Magic Carpet, an engineering marvel that is used in part to help passengers get on and off the ship as it rises and lowers like an elevator to allow easier access to tender boats or piers. But when the ship is sailing, the Magic Carpet becomes an open air bar, sometimes perched 14 levels above the sea, jutting out over the side.

It’s an open air experience worth your time. There’s even a specialty drink called the Magic Carpet, Tito’s vodka, vermouth, allspice, grenadine and fresh grapefruit.

Across, 2,259 nautical miles aboard Beyond, I found there was nothing quite like sipping that drink in a high-backed wicker chair surrounded by sea breezes and endless sky.

Good choice.

For information visit celebritycruises.com..