Celebrity cruise ship classes encompass a unique and diverse array of vessels, each offering a distinctive experience for travelers. Only 16 ships are designated among 4 classes within the Celebrity Cruises fleet.
Each class is distinguished by unique design aspects that set them apart from each other, yet all share the same commitment to excellence and luxury.
Beyond its traditional cruise line operations, Celebrity extends its reach to the Galapagos Islands, where it operates expedition voyages that emphasize conservation efforts and the preservation of nature.
With a fleet of specialized vessels and a deep respect for wildlife and the environment, Celebrity provides guests with a rare opportunity to explore these islands in accordance with strict regulations and permission, ensuring both a memorable and responsible experience.
Before you make a reservation with Celebrity Cruises, it’s important to research the class that suits your travel style and budget. This article will describe the unique features of each Celebrity class and what to expect when cruising on a ship within each class.
4 Celebrity Cruise Ship Classes
1: Celebrity Cruise Xpedition
Ships in class:
- Celebrity Flora
- Celebrity Xploration
- Celebrity Xpedition
While larger vessels can carry up to 2,000 or even 3,000 passengers, Celebrity’s three ships dedicated to this region host a much smaller crowd, offering a different type of adventure.
If you appreciate the onboard attractions of the Celebrity Solstice or Celebrity Edge, keep in mind that the Galápagos cruises will not provide the same variety of bars, restaurants, and entertainment options. These ships navigate the Galápagos region, a place famed for its unique wildlife and pivotal role in Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection.
To achieve this, you must disembark from the ship. All three of Celebrity’s Galápagos vessels are expedition ships equipped with landing craft for exploring remote areas. They sail with experienced guides who are certified naturalists by the Galápagos National Park.
The main attractions each day are the guided landings with these experts to observe the famous tortoises, blue-footed boobies, land iguanas, and Darwin’s finches of the region.
Celebrity Flora features luxurious accommodations for approximately 100 guests, including elegant suites, cabanas, and penthouse suites. Onboard, guests can enjoy gourmet restaurants, a unique glamping experience, and educational science lessons in a laboratory.
The ship also offers lounges, a plunge pool, and a platform for water access, ensuring both relaxation and adventure. Celebrity Flora’s design emphasizes stability and comfort, making it one of the most luxurious vessels in the Galápagos.
2: Celebrity Millennium Class Ships
Ships in class:
- Celebrity Constellation
- Celebrity Summit
- Celebrity Infinity
- Celebrity Millennium
The Millennium Class is the oldest among Celebrity’s three main classes of vessels, having launched in 2000. Despite being around 20 years old, these four ships have been extensively renovated to keep them looking current and up-to-date.
Celebrity offers two classes of ships: the traditional Millennium Class and the modern Solstice Class. The differences between them are evident in the design and layout of the ships, as well as in the variety and style of venues available on board.
The primary distinction between the two classes of ships lies in the size of the vessels. The Millennium Class ships are approximately 30% smaller than those of the Solstice Class.
The more intimate size of the Millennium Class vessels can be a draw for cruisers who prefer a cozier experience. However, this smaller scale also translates to fewer overall venues compared to the Solstice Class or Edge Class ships.
While all the restaurants on the Millennium Class ships are also present on Solstice Class ships, the opposite is not true. For instance, the restaurant Murano, a favorite among many, is not included in the Millennium Class ships.
3: Celebrity Edge Class Ships
Ships in class:
- Celebrity Ascent
- Celebrity Beyond
- Celebrity Apex
- Celebrity Edge
In 2018, Celebrity introduced the Edge Class to its cruise fleet, marking the debut of this innovative series of vessels. This class comprises four ships that set new standards in modern luxury cruising, offering passengers a unique and immersive experience.
The four ships in Celebrity’s Edge Class, Celebrity Ascent, Celebrity Beyond, Celebrity Apex, and Celebrity Edge are designed to carry between 2,908 and 3,260 passengers at double occupancy. These vessels feature innovative elements like “Infinite Veranda” cabins, where the outward-facing walls are entirely made of glass, offering passengers breathtaking views.
The Edge Class cruise ships from Celebrity are at the forefront of the industry’s innovation, rethinking how the load-bearing walls of cruise ships are constructed.
One standout feature is the “Infinite Veranda” cabins, where bifold doors can be opened to seamlessly switch the cabin into an open-air area with breathtaking views. These cabins feature glass walls that flick to let in the outside world and offer all sorts of functions.
The ships also boast a top-deck area with a rooftop garden, a court for sports like tennis, and 90-ton platforms the size of a tennis court that rest on the side of the vessel, all redefining the cruise experience.
Known as Magic Carpets, these platforms, each found on every ship in the class, have multiple uses, including serving as boarding areas for tender boats and accommodating 90-seat alternative restaurants.
The Edge Class ships from Celebrity feature a Rooftop Garden that reimagines childhood playgrounds with modern features and playscapes. This area includes the Rooftop Garden Grill, a popular eatery with stunning views, appealing to the inner-child in everyone.
The ships also include distinctive lounge, dining, and entertainment spaces with glass walls, like Eden, which was designed in partnership with renowned designer Patricia Urquiola. Additionally, they offer covered, adults-only solariums developed in collaboration with the acclaimed British architect Tom Wright.
In addition to being Celebrity’s newest and most innovative ships, the Edge Class vessels are also the largest in the fleet, though they are only slightly bigger than the line’s Solstice Class ships. This larger size allows for a few more onboard venues than can be found on the line’s older vessels.
The fourth vessel in the Edge Class series, Celebrity Ascent, is slightly larger than its two predecessors, which allows for a few new and expanded features like additional solo cabins and a private room that groups can rent for karaoke, movie screenings, and virtual games.
Meanwhile, slightly older sister ship Celebrity Beyond was the first to introduce an expanded “resort-within-a-resort” area for suite passengers called The Retreat. It offers a new two-story sun deck with hot tubs, lounge chairs, and private cabanas that are open exclusively to passengers staying in suites.
The two newest vessels also include a greatly expanded Sunset Bar at the back of the vessel with a Morocco-inspired design imagined by celebrity interior designer Nate Berkus and a new restaurant created by star chef Daniel Boulud.
Celebrity has plans for five Edge Class ships. Another ship is currently being built and is scheduled for delivery in 2024.
4: Celebrity Solstice Class Ships
Ships in class:
- Celebrity Reflection
- Celebrity Silhouette
- Celebrity Eclipse
- Celebrity Equinox
- Celebrity Solstice
In 2008, Celebrity introduced its groundbreaking Solstice Class ships, a brand-new addition to the cruise world. These ships redefined the cruising experience with their innovative design and features, setting a new standard for the industry.
With a capacity to accommodate over 2,800 passengers, these vessels became the most popular choice for cruising everywhere, from the Caribbean to Alaska, Europe, Asia, and Australia. They offered a wide range of features and amenities, ensuring that passengers experienced the most out of their cruise vacations.
“Slightly smaller than the Edge Class ships, the Solstice Class vessels are known for their innovative half-acre Lawn Club areas on the top decks, featuring real grass.”
The Lawn Club offers a home-like respite at sea, marveling at the intersection of art and cruise ship engineering. Passengers can enjoy various activities and areas, including bocce, croquet, hammocks, and lawn games.
The Lawn Club is shipshape, with greenskeepers maintaining the grass and a sophisticated irrigation system ensuring everything stays green.
Solstice Class ships include a glass-making pavilion near the Lawn Club, where passengers can participate in glass-making classes offered in partnership with Hollywood Hot Glass, filtering their creativity into beautiful glass creations.
The outdoor pool decks on the Solstice Class ships are known for their stylish design, setting them apart from others at sea. They also have indoor, adult-only pool areas with glass panels embedded with solar panels that contribute to the ship’s power supply, similar to the Edge Class vessels.
The Solstice Class ships feature the Lawn Club with the Lawn Club Grill and a variety of restaurants, including Murano and Le Petit Chef with its augmented reality dining experience and tabletop projections. These vessels also offer casinos, spas, and showrooms for entertainment and relaxation. These French-inspired venues add to the luxurious atmosphere of the ships within the line.
One of the ships in the Solstice Class, Celebrity Reflection, features one of the most impressive suites in the cruising world the 1,646-square-foot Reflection Suite. It is notable for being the first two-bedroom suite on a Celebrity Cruises vessel.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Are Celebrity Cruise Ships Ranked?
Celebrity Cruise ships are ranked based on factors like passenger capacity, amenities, dining, entertainment, and overall guest experience. The fleet includes classes like Solstice, Millennium, and Edge, each offering unique experiences. Rankings also consider ship age, with newer vessels often rated higher for modern feature.
What Does Aqua Class Get You On Celebrity Cruises?
Celebrity cruise ship aqua class Amenities:
- Two bottled waters provided daily in-room
- Two yoga mats available
- In-room fitness amenities menu
- Eco-friendly shower amenities made from natural ingredients
- 100% Cotton bathrobes, slippers, and towels
- Welcome bottle of sparkling wine available upon request
- Complimentary use of umbrella and binoculars
- Shoeshine service provided at no extra cost
What Is The Passenger Capacity Of Celebrity Cruise Ships?
The ship has a gross tonnage of 140,600 tons and can accommodate up to 3,260 passengers. It offers luxurious amenities like a multi-level atrium, a rooftop garden, and a solarium.