New Celebrity Cruises ship Celebrity Beyond completes sea trials

Celebrity Cruises‘ new Edge-class cruise ship Celebrity Beyond has completed her sea trials in the Bay of Biscay ahead of her April debut.

Celebrity Beyond was put through her paces during the first week of February after departing the Chantiers de l’ Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France.

The ship has now returned to the shipyard for final fit and finish before she is delivered later this year, with her first cruise scheduled for April 27th, 2022.

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Celebrity Cruises’ new ship will sail her maiden voyage with passengers from Southampton in the UK, captained by Kate McCue.

The 10-night Western Europe itinerary visits Bordeaux, France; Lisbon, Portugal; and Seville, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona, Spain.

She will then offer a variety of Mediterranean cruises, including nine-night Italian Riviera and France itineraries and 10-night Greek Isles itineraries through early October, when she then heads to the Caribbean.

Captain Kate McCue said that the successful completion of the sea trials was a “thrill of a lifetime for me.”

“Her smooth sailing and maneuverability is a testament to her innovative design and I can’t wait to take the helm of this awe-inspiring ship and take our guests to equally beautiful destinations,” she said.

Some 50 crew members, including engineers, marine engineers and other experts were onboard to test all the ship’s systems and equipment.

“I can’t tell you how excited I am to have completed this important milestone as it brings us that much closer to welcoming our guests onboard to enjoy their own ‘Journey WonderFULL,’ on the Celebrity Beyond,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President & CEO, Celebrity Cruises.

“The Beyond showed why there is so much more to her than just her looks. Like her sister ships – the Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Edge – she went beyond what was needed to demonstrate she’s ready,” Lutoff-Perlo added.

Celebrity Beyond will be the largest cruise ship in the Celebrity fleet, as well as the most luxurious, according to the cruise line.

She will feature 17 passenger decks like her sister ships Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Apex, but is 21 metres longer, and will debut a number of design changes.

The ship has been enhanced with newly imagined spaces and expanded versions of the brand’s signature spaces. The Retreat, an exclusive area for suite guests, now featuring a two-story sundeck, and the Rooftop Garden and resort deck now features cantilevered float pools.

There’s also a new multi-level, multi-terraced Sunset Bar on the ship’s aft from American designer Nate Berkus, as well as the signature Magic Carpet Restaurant suspended on the side of the ship.

Celebrity Beyond’s accommodations have also been re-imagined, with two-story villas complete with plunge pools on the balcony and the Edge-class’ famous Infinite Veranda cabins, “blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living”.

The ship also features the first-ever Daniel Boulud restaurant at sea called Le Voyage, a redesigned Grand Plaza spanning three decks and flanked by the new World Class Barand Le Voyage.