As another sign that travel is making a comeback, Celebrity Cruises recently launched its newest ship, Celebrity Beyond. The ship is the third in the company’s new luxury Edge Series. Wanting to raise the luxury bar on the cruise industry, Celebrity Cruises CEO and president Lisa Lutoff-Perlo brought together a dream team of talented icons in their respected fields to bring the experience at sea to life.
Wellness at Sea
With wellness being a key part of the overall experience, Goop founder and CEO Gwyneth Paltrow will serve as the brand’s new wellbeing advisor. “At Goop, our curiosity leads us to explore different approaches to wellbeing and sends us around the world, reporting on the best places to eat, drink, engage, and unwind,” says Paltrow. “Near the nexus of these interests, we came across Celebrity’s mission to disrupt the traditional notion of being well-traveled. As Celebrity’s new wellbeing advisor, I’ll be working with my team at Goop to bring onboard some of our favorite practices and tools for deepening wellbeing and joy.”
The ship puts wellness front and center with its new AquaClass Sky Suites, which provide an immersive living experience. Featuring floor-to-ceiling ocean views, private verandas, luxe bedding, and various wellness amenities, wellness-minded passengers will find much to nourish their minds, bodies, and spirits.
The Sky Suites are located near The Spa, and guests enjoy a host of benefits, such as complimentary access to the SEA Thermal Suite, a dedicated spa concierge, priority spa reservations, complimentary fitness classes, and a spa credit to use toward treatments and full access to The Retreat. All AquaClass guests across the entire Celebrity Cruises fleet will also be treated to fitness kits from Goop. Paltrow and her team will also curate onboard wellness programming and participate in the line’s new Women in Wellness initiative.
On Board Design
Celebrity Beyond showcases the design visions of celebrated American designer Nate Berkus; multi-award-winning British designer Kelly Hoppen, CBE; and popular Paris-based design firm Jouin Manku. A highlight of the new ship is The Retreat, an exclusive resort space for suite guests. Designed by Hoppen, the space features the two-story Retreat Sundeck, with private cabanas, new seating areas, additional water features, and the exclusive Retreat Bar.
“With Celebrity Beyond, we saw an opportunity to take the extraordinary features of Celebrity Edge—like the focus on the connection with the ocean and the grand spaces—and really amplify them.” Says Richard Fain, chairman of Royal Caribbean Group, parent company of Celebrity Cruises. “We focused on providing more openness, height, and spaciousness throughout the ship’s most popular spaces. The end result is a next-generation ship that embodies the intersection of architecture and design.”
Berkus, Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Series design ambassador, put his talents to the test by designing the Sunset Bar, one of the most anticipated venues on board. The chic, Moroccan-inspired escape is reminiscent of a modern-day Casablanca.
Passengers will also be awed by the ship’s Grand Plaza, designed by Jouin Manku, the team that designed the Jules Verne restaurant in the Eiffel Tower. It was inspired by the piazzas of Italy and span three decks at the heart of the ship.
Dining at Sea
Chef Daniel Boulud is also part of the dream team, lending his talents to the aptly named Le Voyage, where travel is the inspiration for the globally inspired flavors of the dishes to be served. The restaurant features intimate seating cocoons surrounded by luminous portals highlighting the themes of journey and travel. “Celebrity Cruises has always been an innovator at sea, and now we have challenged the status quo with a vessel that goes beyond expectations, beyond imagination,” says Lutoff-Perlo. “Celebrity Beyond shatters any and every preconceived notion of the cruising experience. This exquisite ship offers a journey at the intersection of elegance and approachability filled with what’s important to our guests today: forward-thinking design, culinary excellence, unparalleled wellbeing, and incomparable service.”
