Entertainment Sports And Relaxation
It does not matter if you prefer a quiet and relaxed vacation or would like amusement Celebrity Cruises offers a wide range of entertainment on board. Buying art at frequent auctions, playing bingo or listen to an interesting lecture on your upcoming travel destination various entertainments are provided day and night during your stay on board. Different Beauty and Wellness treatments are also offered at the Spa in conjunction with additional cost. The upper dock offers several exercise possibilities. Guests have the probability to jog, enjoy generous pool and whirlpool area or savor the seaview in a private atmosphere.
Overall Celebrity Edge Cruise Ship Scorecard
While Celebrity Edge is over two years old now, the ship looks and feels brand new. We love the ships trendy, sleek design and newly added features. For a mega ship, the vessel is easy to navigate and thoughtfully designed to provide intimacy and privacy even on a vessel that can hold close to 3,000 passengers.
All the Celebrity favorites can be found on Celebrity Edge with a slight twist, including Cafe al Bacio and the Martini Bar.
For the first cruise back in the United States, Celebrity Edge offered cruisers a typical Celebrity Cruises experience. While we didnt know what to expect with the new health and safety protocols, this cruise felt just like any other sailing with the brand.
With an amazing staff, plenty of space , and all of the cruise staples, we feel like this Celebrity Cruises cruise restart was a smashing success.
With impeccable service, outstanding food, cutting edge entertainment, and sleek staterooms, Celebrity Edge was the ideal ship to usher in the returning of cruising to the United States. Now, we cant wait to test out her sister ship, Celebrity Apex, when she debuts in Florida.
Cruising Back In Us As Celebrity Edge Sails From Port Everglades
The Celebrity Edge departed Port Everglades on Saturday at 6 p.m. for Royal Caribbean Group with 1,105 guests aboard, marking the first revenue sailing for a large cruise ship from a U.S. port in 15 months.
While a number of smaller U.S.-flagged ships have been in operation since earlier this year, the Edge was the first large ship above the 250-person mark to sail, having received the green light from government authorities.
With 1,195 guests aboard, the vessel is sailing its one-week cruise at 41.2 percent occupancy.
All guests are reported to be vaccinated except for two adults and 24 children, while 100 percent of crew onboard have been vaccinated, most; having been inoculated shoreside at Port Everglades over the course of the last month.;
“This is a momentous sailing and one that we have been preparing for a long time. It’s not only a huge honor to be the first ship back in the water, leading the industry in the long-awaited return to U.S.-based cruising, it’s also an incredible achievement and testament to the tireless efforts of our shoreside team and onboard crew,” said Richard Fain, Chairman of the Royal Caribbean Group, the parent company of Celebrity Cruises. “Travel is a powerful catalyst for positive change in our world. There’s nothing more enriching in life than exposing yourself to new cultures, sights, and experiences and nothing more luxurious than doing it on board a Celebrity cruise ship,” he added. “All that’s left to say is welcome aboard.”
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Inaugural Cruise Itineraries 2018
On March 13, 2017, were opened bookings for Celebrity Edge’s “Inaugural cruise” . The ship’s itinerary program started in December 2018 with Caribbean cruises leaving roundtrip from home-port Fort Lauderdale Florida . General cruise prices started from USD 1,000 pp for 7-days long voyages .
Back-to-back cruise itineraries were also available for booking . In Port Everglades, the cruise ship docks at Terminal 25.
In January 2018, the company announced that ship’s inaugural season will start earlier as vessel’s construction will be completed ahead of schedule. The company added 5 new inaugural itineraries, including a second maiden voyage.
Four Inaugural 3-night Bahamas mini-cruises from Fort Lauderdale were scheduled for November 21 and 24, and December 1 and 6. The two Inaugural cruise itineraries were both 7-night, and between Eastern and Western Caribbean. A 14-night B2B combined itinerary was also available for booking.
The Western Caribbean inaugural cruise from Fort Lauderdale was scheduled for December 9, 2018, with call ports Key West, Costa Maya, Cozumel, and Grand Cayman . The Eastern Caribbean inaugural cruise from Fort Lauderdale was scheduled for December 16, with call ports San Juan , Tortola and St Maarten .
The following tables show ship’s inaugural itineraries as call port sequences and times . Prices are in USD and per person .
3-day “Edge Preview Cruise” – from $670 pp
| Date / Time |
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Whats New On Celebrity Apex
Edge Class ships share the same design and style, a smart but unstuffy look created by a team of top interior designers who were new to cruise ship design, including Kelly Hoppen CBE, Tom Wright, Nate Berkus and Parisian duo Jouin Manku. Think muted colours, luxurious fabrics, and eye-catching art and sculptures throughout the ship.
Its not your standard cruise ship there are new spaces and features, and the outward-facing design focuses on bringing the ocean closer to you. Each Edge Class ship has a few different features so theyre not identical partly based on guest feedback Apex has a new craft beer bar and theres a 110-foot wraparound LED screen in the theatre.
Smart technology is integrated throughout the ship, right from check in. A new Celebrity Cruises app means you can add your information and upload a photo before boarding to make check in much quicker. It also tells you whats on, gives you the days menus and you can easily check your account balance. You can even use it to open your stateroom door.
And the Always Included package makes it easier to work out what youre going to spend, with tips, unlimited wifi and a standard drinks package included for all guests. You can also upgrade to two other packages Elevate and Indulge .
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Vi Welcomes First Cruise Ship In 15 Months
The Celebrity Edge prepares to leave Port Everglades on June 26 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Celebrity Edge will call on St. Thomas today.
The Celebrity Edge cruise ship is docked at Port Everglades, Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The Celebrity Edge is set to sail on Saturday from Fort Lauderdale. It will be the first cruise ship to leave a U.S. port with ticketed passengers since the onset of the pandemic, which halted sailing.
- Lynne Sladky
The Celebrity Edge is moored at Port Everglades, Saturday, June 26, 2021, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Celebrity Edge is the first cruise ship to leave a U.S. port since the coronavirus pandemic brought the industry to a 15-month standstill. The seven-night cruise will have 40 percent capacity and with virtually all passengers vaccinated against COVID-19.
The Celebrity Edge is moored at Port Everglades, Saturday, June 26, 2021, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Celebrity Edge is the first cruise ship to leave a U.S. port since the coronavirus pandemic brought the industry to a 15-month standstill. The seven-night cruise will have 40 percent capacity and with virtually all passengers vaccinated against COVID-19.
ST. THOMAS Today, the Celebrity Edge will be the first cruise ship to return to St. Thomas since March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic brought the cruise industry to a standstill.
Cruise passengers coming to St. Thomas can expect a warm welcome.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
Vaccinated Passengers And Crew
All crew is vaccinated, along with at least 95% of passengers.
Thats in line with CDC rules that say a cruise ship can either sail with nearly fully vaccinated passengers and crew, 95% in both cases, or conduct a trial cruise before sailing with paying passengers to test safety protocols.
While Celebrity Edge is in compliance with the rules, a federal court recently sided with the state of Florida, issuing a preliminary injunction barring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from enforcing its conditional sailing order in the state.
A ban on businesses requiring proof of vaccination in Florida has also called cruise lines policies into question. Celebrity says asking about vaccination status is still permitted under the ban it just cant be required.
Celebrity passengers who opt out of providing vaccination information are considered unvaccinated and 5% of cabins have been set aside for those guests, according to Lomax. Unvaccinated passengers over 16 years old will be subject to additional COVID-19 testing at their own expense.
Parts of the ship will be designated for those who are unvaccinated, Lomax said, and unvaccinated guests will be required to wear masks or face coverings.
The CDC recently;lowered its cruise travel warning;for vaccinated passengers. The agency still advises that all unvaccinated travelers avoid travel on cruise ships.
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Cruise & Maritime Voyages
The British-based cruise line has extended its hold on cruises through August 25, 2020. This is due to the lockdown still being in place in many countries along with port closures. Read the details here.
Update 1: The cruise line has gone unto administration and will likely no longer continue its business. As of now, all cruises are canceled permanently. More details about this are here.
- Cruises Resume: Never
- Official Advisory:
Relax By The Pool Or Treat Yourself At The Spa
Nearby, the Resort Deck boasts a large main pool and luxurious cabanas. The butterfly sculpture at the pools edge is becoming Edges most Instagramable feature. The idea is that you stand between the wings and wish for your dreams.
Next door, the Solarium is an adult area for poolside relaxation, whatever the weather outside.
For further pampering, Edge has a luxurious Spa where you can steam and sauna and take treatments ranging from massage to Botox.
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The Restart Is Underway
The restart of cruise operations is underway by multiple cruise lines already and more will begin resuming through the remainder of 2021. The two largest cruise lines for Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean have already restarted with a limited number of ships from the US as the situation theres is moving forward quickly.
The Celebrity Edge cruise ship owned by Royal Caribbean group became the first to restart operations with regular passengers from the US which departed on June 26 out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Freedom of the Seas, operated by Royal Caribbean International, was the first cruise ship to be approved for a test sailing at the end of June. That was then followed by the vessel resuming out of Miami, Florida on July 2, 2021.
When it comes to Carnival Cruise Line, as of July 21, a total of three ships have already restarted sailings. Carnival Vista was the first to resume in the fleet when she departed Galveston, Texas on July 3, 2021. Carnival Horizon was then the second in the fleet to resume when the ship departed out of Miami, Florida on July 4, 2021. Carnival Breeze was then the third in the fleet and resume from the Port of Galveston on July 15.
In Canada, the situation has just recently made a major step forward towards reopening for cruise ships. On July 15, the government announced that from that have a capacity of over 100. As long as cruise lines follow the health protocols, then they will be able to resume from that date.
Us Oceangoing Cruising Returns With Celebrity Edge
Anne Kalosh | Jun 26, 2021
It’s been a long-awaited moment for the world’s largest;cruise market.;
‘Today marks the rebirth of our company and our industry, as our beautiful Celebrity Edge sets sail on a new-luxury experience that will once again feed peoples love of travel,’ Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo tweeted.
Kate McCue in command
The ship is commanded by Capt. Kate McCue ;a fitting choice since she was at the helm for the history-making first all-female bridge and officer team sailing in March 2020 and the last Celebrity cruise before the pause.
#HopeFloats
‘The week after our entire industry was grounded, last March, I started a #HopeFloats tradition of blowing the ships horn every evening to let the world know that not only were we safe, but we were thinking of those at home and hoping the same for them,’ McCue said. ‘Now, the sound of a ships horn symbolizes rising above from any hardship. The entire crew is so happy to be back and we cant wait to welcome our guests aboard.’
At least 95% vaccinated travelers
It is the third Celebrity ship to resume service, following Celebrity Millennium on June 5 from St. Maarten and Celebrity Apex on June 19 from Piraeus. Eight of the fleet’s 14 ships are planned to carry passengers in 2021.
‘Momentous sailing’
‘All thats left to say is welcome aboard.’
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Celebrity Edge Cruise Ship Overview
Celebrity Edge debuted in late 2018 to much fanfare. The newest build for Celebrity Cruises in nearly a decade, this 130K gross ton ship set sail with many new features and amenities not found on any other cruise ship.
Among the stand-out features is the multi-purpose Magic Carpet. This cantilevered deck serves as a bar, restaurant, and a disembarkation gateway for tender ports of call.
Celebrity Edge is also home to the dynamic space Eden. With a bar, a casual quick service cafe, an upscale experiential restaurant, and a performance stage, not to mention some great aft views, this venue takes on many forms throughout the cruise.
The ship also features four unique main dining rooms, each with an Exclusive section on the menu.
Other innovative spaces include a state-of-the-art main theater, a reimagined pool deck, and the tranquil Rooftop Garden.
This premium cruise ship offers the elegance, style, and service that you would expect to find on a luxury cruise line along with a variety of activities and events found on mainstream mega-ships.
Even better, Celebrity Cruises now offers Always Included pricing.
We sailed on Celebrity Edge during her inaugural season in January 2019. Happily, we can report that the ship and the cruise experience remain relatively unchanged.
Being the first cruise ship back in the United States, the crew and passengers were equally excited for this momentous voyage. With Captain Kate at the helm, someday is finally here for Celebrity Cruises.
Passengers Test Covid Positive On Adventure Of The Seas
Fain acknowledged that there will be incidents where passengers test positive for COVID, but believes Royal Caribbean has the ability to manage those cases and avoid a greater outbreak aboard the ship. He pointed to the;recent incidents with the Celebrity Millennium and Adventure of the Seas, saying “those cases were handled.”
Two passengers from the United States who shared a room;on the;Celebrity Millennium;tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month.
And Wednesday evening, two guests under 16 and unvaccinated aboard;Adventure of the Seas;tested positive for COVID after routine testing. They were “immediately quarantined,” and only one experienced mild symptoms, according to a statement from Royal Caribbean;spokesperson;Lyan Sierra Caro.;;
The Adventure of the Seas passengers’ close contacts were vaccinated;and tested negative. The passengers and their travel party;disembarked Thursday in Freeport on Grand;Bahama Island.
“Nobody else on board was inconvenienced in any way,” Fain told CNBC. “Those people were isolated. everybody else carried on with their vacation uninterrupted.”
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Who Is Ready For A Jeep Adventure
A last minute change to the cruise lines protocols meant all cruisers needed a Celebrity Cruises shore excursion if they wanted to head ashore in Cozumel, Mexico. Luckily, we did book a tour with the cruise line a few weeks prior to the sailing.
Similar to our tour in Costa Maya, we met on the ship prior to going ashore. We were up and ready with our bags packed for our meeting time of 8:15 am in the main theater.
Within 10 minutes of arriving to the meeting point, our tour was called and we were led off the ship by a Celebrity Cruises shore excursion staff member.
Today, Adventure of the Seas was also visiting the island. So, there were two cruise ships in port for the first time in over a year. Actually, it felt a bit odd to see another cruise ship at our port of call. Of course, in normal times, it would have been filled with ships.
Dining On Board Celebrity Apex
Celebrity Cruises have always been justifiably well-known for their fantastic food, and Apex has even more options than ever, with 29 bars and restaurants on board. Theyre split between those which are included in your fare, those which are open to certain categories of guests, and speciality restaurants where you pay an extra fee.
At the top of the ship, the Oceanview Café buffet is larger and lighter than ever, with a double-height space which helps it feel extra spacious. Food stations serve food from around the world from morning until night though due to current restrictions staff serve you rather than you helping yourself, so things can be a little slower.
One of the best innovations on board Edge Class ships is splitting the main dining room into four separate spaces each with a different theme. Normandie , Tuscan , Cyprus and Cosmopolitan serve the same daily menu but also have their own speciality dishes. So you get a choice of places to eat included .
Also included are the Eden Café , healthy dishes and juices from the Spa Caf´é and burgers at the Mast Grill. Plus theres Blu restaurant for Aqua Class passengers and Luminae for Suite Class. So youre never going to go hungry. But if you do want to splash out there are lots of options for a special meal.
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