Celebrity Edge Review
Luxury cruiser's first cruise on X, on the Edge, solo
Rating by category
Additional details
This was my first Celebrity (X) Cruise. I usually travel on misc. luxury lines, either with DH, solo, or with friends. But I had heard good things about the suite/Retreat option on X, and also that masks are not required on board for pax (other than unvaccinated children), which appealed to me. So to explore options, I booked a short solo scouting recon cruise in a Sky Suite on the Edge on a non-holiday week in November.
The cruise originated in Ft. Lauderdale and went to San Juan, Philipsburg/ St. Martine,and Tortola/BVI, then back to FLL. There were also three sea days on this 7- day cruise, plenty of time to test out the ship ambience and logistics.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by some things on the Edge, and a bit disappointed in others.
Cabin Review
Sky Suite
Excellent suite, view of sea from bed and bath, good AC, quiet
Port Reviews
Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades)
Many restaurants, beaches, and a post-cruise land and sea tour included a mini-cruise past beautiful homes in "Venice" area
San Juan
"Old and New San Juan" late afternoon/early evening bus tour was awful, mostly sat on bus in the dark or near a road far from the fort. Poor lighting on the streets, trash and some marginal ares, be careful at night. In hindsight, would be better to independently explore the fort during the day, and if it is night, just head straight to a nice restaurant or bar.
St. Maarten
There is a rich side ( Philipsburg) and a poorer, borderline side ( Margot area and associated villages). Hostile port agents, long waits to get off for a ship excursion. A bus drivearound showed a bit of each, some pretty views you may or not see depending on where you sit on a bus, a lot of rundown homes and junk in yards. Pullouts had trash and broken glass, so wear closed shoes. Would be fine for a beach activities focus or an independent, targeted excursion.
Tortola
Many pretty views and beaches if you drive around , but do it independently. The ship excursion "town and country" stopped 90 minutes at a marginally cleaned beach bar where there was neither sanitizer nor soap in the toilet area.