We are repeat cruisers on Celebrity and, after a bad experience last cruise arranging our own flights, we booked Celebrity’s own flights and transfers – which went well, along with the check in process at the Civitavecchia terminal which was excellent - on the ship in time for a drink and lunch.

We have cruised on Edge a couple of times but this was our first time on Beyond. As previously, our basic Retreat suite was fine, a bed facing the window is a plus, as is the traditional balcony, and the itinerary was great; Athens and the traditional Greek Islands but also a couple of new destinations, Nafplion and Kephalonia, followed by Naples. We had three tender ports and the Magic Carpet and the adjacent waiting area worked well – and we do like the new comfortable seats on the tender/life boats.

Beyond is bigger than Edge and it shows in the internal areas where the Martini Lounge is now in the centre of the Grand Plaza and there are two other bars adjacent, the Craft Social and the World Class Bar. The Sunset Bar at the rear of the ship is also at least twice the size of Edge. The Retreat area is better planned, though the open deck outside the lounge has been lost, and the outside area is larger, with more shade and two hot tubs rather than one. Read more