Quick getaways are so yesterday. These days, many of us crave a slower pace when it comes to detoxing from our busy daily lives. No surprise then, that cruises have been all the rage in the recent couple of years. After all, you just board a ship and enjoy a leisurely sail to several destinations without having to worry about food, activities, and R&R options.
For those who enjoy the finer things in life and yearn to set sail away from Singapore, you may have heard of Celebrity Cruises. For the first time ever, one of their swankiest ships, Celebrity Edge docked in Singapore, and we got to take a look at this 5-star nautical “resort” for ourselves.
The first thing you’ll notice about Celebrity Edge is that it is much more posh than your regular cruise ship.
The spacious Grand Paza sits in the centre of the ship.
The Grand Plaza, which houses a bar and 2 cafes, is a testament to that. It resembles a lobby of a luxury hotel, complete with a live band playing chill versions of pop tunes. With glossy trimmings and art sculptures at nearly every corner, you’re in for an aesthetic treat no matter where you are on the ship.
There’s also a gallery where guests can bid for the artworks displayed.
Truth be told, we didn’t expect to stumble upon so much artwork on the ship, but that’s exactly what happened. Be it on walls, corners, or as centrepieces – it was fascinating to spot these modern art pieces; it felt like were discovering little Easter eggs around the ship. There’s even a rather random but Instagrammable room with bronze tree trunks surrounded by mirrors.
Eden lounge area.
That said, you’ll probably want to spend a good chunk of your day hanging out at Eden. This lounge-bar-cafe-restaurant combo feels like a glasshouse with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sea. With pillars that resemble tree trunks and greenery dotted all over, it screams zen – something you definitely need while on a holiday.
Eden restaurant, which is one of the ship’s speciality dining options. It features an open kitchen, too.
If it’s the sea breeze you need, though, then you’ll want to head up to the Rooftop Garden. Just like the rest of the ship, art sculptures are aplenty up here. There’s also a jogging track that weaves around the garden, so you’ll have a dose of oxygen while getting in your cardio on the ship. There’s also a speciality restaurant located at the garden that serves BBQ grilled food.
We were told that the ship even has 2 horticulturalists onboard to tend to all the plants on the ship. It’s pretty cool to know that these shrubs have been through both wintery and tropical destinations – a little embarrassing for those of us who have trouble keeping our houseplants alive.
Of course, the highlight of the ship for many guests would be the outdoor swimming pool where you can work on your tan. It lights up in neon colours at night, but in the daytime, it’s got more than enough space for lounging on one of the many deck chairs and cooling off in the water.
A popular feature here is the butterfly wing sculpture that’s perfect for whimsical IG pics.
One of the main restaurants onboard the ship, Normandie Restaurant, which features a French menu.
You read that right. You’re never going to go hungry on the ship with a whopping 29 F&B options onboard. There are 4 main restaurants and 4 cafes that are included in guests’ complimentary dining options. The remaining are a mix of bars and speciality restaurants that may incur additional charges, depending on the package you’re on.
Another main dining option, Cosmopolitan Restaurant, which serves American and international cuisine.
That said, guests aren’t being packed into communal dining halls. It was rather refreshing to see that these restaurants and bars are tucked away in private spaces – all of which are decorated to the nines. You’ll get to wine and dine different cuisines, too, from American and French, to Greek and Italian.
You can also get premium steak at Fine Cut Steakhouse.
Now, onto yet another highlight of Celebrity Edge: The Magic Carpet. You might see this floating bar before you even board the ship, identifiable by its bright orange “frame” and the fact that it hangs off the side of the ship.
The entire bar can move vertically between several floors of the ship.
The Magic Carpet will give you the best views, especially as you port in new cities.
Needless to say, the views are unrivalled from the bar, and you can expect an evening here to be fueled by live music, cocktails, and hearty seafood dishes from Raw on 5, another speciality restaurant onboard.
Fun fact: There’s also a Le Petit Chef dining experience onboard, where light projections of 3D animations “play” around with curated dishes.
The private sundeck at The Retreat.
Those with a more expandable budget to spare, life’s about to get even better for you on this ship. We’re talking about The Retreat, which essentially means exclusive access given to guests who stay in one of the ship’s top-tier accommodation options: namely the suites and villas.
The Edge Villa.
Image credit: Celebrity Cruises
Yup, the ship has 2-storey Edge Villas onboard, complete with private plunge pools, 2 bathrooms, and VIP treatments such as unlimited access to all the speciality restaurants onboard for lunch and dinner. Of course, all other guests who are staying in one of The Retreat suites get to enjoy other premium offerings, from priority check-in to complimentary welcome champagne.
Wake up to sea views when you stay in the spacious Sky Suite.
Luminae restaurant, only accessible to The Retreat guests.
Think of The Retreat as a private enclave – or a club, even. The Retreat guests have their own sundeck with a swimming pool and bar, away from the main pool deck. It also comes with a private lounge and restaurant, and the SEA Thermal Suite which has heated loungers and warm rain showers for some self-care.
These heated loungers are perfect for easing any sore muscles and joints.
The neon-lit rain showers at the SEA Thermal Suite.
The spa.
Besides these premium offerings, you’ll find plenty to do on the Celebrity Edge. Over at the Spa, you can wind down with an array of treatments. There’s even a nail spa and barber onboard to keep you looking on point through long voyages.
The fitness centre where you can do some cardio with a view.
The onboard casino.
Entertainment options onboard are aplenty too. Daily shows are scheduled at the Theater, and you can socialise with fellow seafarers late into the night at The Club. If you happen to be travelling with kids, they can also find plenty of activities at Camp At Sea. There’s also an adults-only pool and a shopping gallery onboard.
The Club.
Image credit: Celebrity Cruises
The adults-only pool.
Image credit: Celebrity Cruises
Image credit: Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Edge may have docked in Singapore for the first time, but it’ll continue to sail from Australia, New Zealand, and North America in 2024 and 2025. You can find short 3-4 day itineraries departing from Sydney, Australia from USD340/person (S$452.14) which is pretty worth it considering the ship’s premium offerings.
You can live in luxury and revel in the garden-like spaces all over the ship, and leave with bragging rights that you spent time chilling on a floating bar.
In the meantime, if you’re looking to sail from Singapore itself, Celebrity Cruises has options that voyage to Thailand, Vietnam, India, Australia, and even Japan. These are on the Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Millennium, both of which are also mighty comfortable. Prices start at USD668 (~S$888.32) for a 12-night cruise from Singapore to Thailand and Vietnam.
Read more on cruises you can take:
This post was done in collaboration with Celebrity Cruises. However, all opinions are ours.
Photography by Huiwen Chan.
Cover image adapted from: Celebrity Cruises.
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