Back from Beyond

[VMI72]

4 hours ago, Cruisellama said:

S-class is a definite improvement.  While we've enjoyed M-class in the past, the IMO, the Revolution upgrades were not comprehensive enough across the dining venues.  Still a lot of "vintage" furniture / carpets so a mixed bag.

The pandemic kinda threw a monkey wrench into the whole "Revolution" thing. All the refurbishments and "Edgeifying" were thrown off schedule and scaled back because of financial issues. Even the very largest cruise lines struggled with cash flow and capital resources. And of course several small cruise lines went belly up. So it was a very rough 2.5 years for the cruise industry. The big 3 cruise line groups are just now crawling out of the hole. Future bookings are strong, so by around 2025 they should be totally back on their feet absent some other world changing event. Anyway, we very much enjoy the E-Class ships, but Edge is our favorite - Beyond not as much despite the superior sunset bar. We are booked on the Apex, Edge and the Inaugural of the Ascent next Dec.  We are going to try the Eclipse in 2024. 

[kwokpot]

57 minutes ago, VMI72 said:

Anyway, we very much enjoy the E-Class ships, but Edge is our favorite - Beyond not as much despite the superior sunset bar.

Are you able to articulate why Beyond isn't your favorite? I've been on all three and for me the Beyond is the best of the trio. 

[VMI72]

14 hours ago, kwokpot said:

Are you able to articulate why Beyond isn't your favorite? I've been on all three and for me the Beyond is the best of the trio. 

In my experience, which ships people like or dislike is mainly subjective. As example, many people have a fondness for the first ship on which they sailed (if it was a great experience), or their first cruise line and ship. It also has alot to do with their personal experiences while on board, when and where they sailed, their personal expectations and their experience as cruisers.

 

We were on the Inaugural sailing of the Beyond and have been on her twice since. She is a beautiful ship, and in some of her design features superior to the Edge and Apex - such as the Sunset Bar, the multi-deck Retreat, the windows in The Club and the World Class Bar. On the other hand, we believe the Edge has a better designed Grand Plaza. The Edge chandelier is aesthetically more beautiful and blends into the scheme of the Grand Plaza more seamlessly. We like the martini bar on the Edge better because it is cozier and I think better designed for service (yes, it is smaller, but warmer). We like the little outdoor patio off of the Edge Retreat lounge better than the closed in viewing area in the Retreat on the Beyond. And, in our experience, the overall service has been a better on the Edge than the Beyond.

It is not that we dislike the Beyond, we enjoy the ship and we have booked her for future cruises, we just miss some of the nice touches on the Edge. The Edge is a warmer ship overall in our opinion. I do believe the Apex did some minor improvements over the Edge. The Apex is a wonderful ship as well. 

Overall we enjoy the Edge class ships. For us, the cabins are a cut above the S-Class and M-Class ships. They are more tech savvy and up to date (we sail in Sky Suites which are a bit larger and better designed than the sky suites on the other class ships). Anyway, just personal opinion when it gets right down to it. 🙂 They are all great ships and are wonderful for adult cruisers.    

[kwokpot]

3 hours ago, VMI72 said:

. On the other hand, we believe the Edge has a better designed Grand Plaza. The Edge chandelier is aesthetically more beautiful and blends into the scheme of the Grand Plaza more seamlessly.

My husband & I thought the same thing regarding the chandelier on the Beyond. 

[Kelownadon]

On 11/10/2022 at 6:21 AM, Cruise_Ship_Vacations said:

I found the large dog on the ship to be “out there”.  Shaking in the buffet garnered looks from everyone. When the woman who had the small dog put it up on the couch’s at the casino bar, that was it for me.  
 

I have a dog and would love to bring it with me.  I’m not judging, however you can get a support animal harness off Amazon for $30. Go to the doctor, get the note that you have ptsd or are depressed and you are allowed to bring a dog on the ship.  Really….   When does it stop?  At one point Celebrity has to say enough, no dogs, cats, birds, etc allowed .   Why accommodate that.   Now I was on a cruise where a guy was 100% blind, had a helper with him as well as his dog. His helper was explaining what he could not see.  I can see allowing that fellow his eye dog, but the emotional support excuse, I’m sorry I don’t buy that.  Thoughts ?

I have been reading these posts about dogs with great interest although I have to admit I have never seen one on any of our cruises.  Then today I was thinking does anybody know where these dogs are taken for walks to go to the bathroom? I can only hope it’s where people smoke their cigars (joke haha). 

[Cruisellama]

On 12/14/2022 at 1:02 PM, VMI72 said:

The pandemic kinda threw a monkey wrench into the whole "Revolution" thing. All the refurbishments and "Edgeifying" were thrown off schedule and scaled back because of financial issues. Even the very largest cruise lines struggled with cash flow and capital resources. And of course several small cruise lines went belly up. So it was a very rough 2.5 years for the cruise industry. The big 3 cruise line groups are just now crawling out of the hole. Future bookings are strong, so by around 2025 they should be totally back on their feet absent some other world changing event. Anyway, we very much enjoy the E-Class ships, but Edge is our favorite - Beyond not as much despite the superior sunset bar. We are booked on the Apex, Edge and the Inaugural of the Ascent next Dec.  We are going to try the Eclipse in 2024. 

We're really looking forward to sailing Beyond.    We do like E-class the best.  We really enjoy the martini bar and think it was an error on the first 2 E-class ships to position in at the end of the atrium.   It's in the center on Beyond and we're looking to see if that scratches the itch.

 

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

5 hours ago, Kelownadon said:

I have been reading these posts about dogs with great interest although I have to admit I have never seen one on any of our cruises.  Then today I was thinking does anybody know where these dogs are taken for walks to go to the bathroom? I can only hope it’s where people smoke their cigars (joke haha). 

 

There is generally an area with special artificial turf for them to use. And one on the balcony if they are in a cabin with one.

[rcplanefan]

Thank you for this review. We will be on the ship for NYE. I have been trying to figure out how to book shows/entertainment in the evenings. Is it first come, first served? Or is there only the option to get tickets once you board?

 

Thanks for any help you can give.

 

Ken

 

[George C]

38 minutes ago, rcplanefan said:

Thank you for this review. We will be on the ship for NYE. I have been trying to figure out how to book shows/entertainment in the evenings. Is it first come, first served? Or is there only the option to get tickets once you board?

 

Thanks for any help you can give.

 

Ken

 

First come , show on the second night was fantastic best show I have seen on a celebrity ship , suites have a special area on just 2 and 6 night . 

[LGW59]

1 hour ago, rcplanefan said:

Thank you for this review. We will be on the ship for NYE. I have been trying to figure out how to book shows/entertainment in the evenings. Is it first come, first served? Or is there only the option to get tickets once you board?

 

Thanks for any help you can give.

 

Ken

 

No tickets/bookings for any shows, just show up at the theatre and find a seat.  My recent cruise was at 50% capacity so there was never a seating issue, I'd imagine on a fuller ship there may be though.

[florida23]

Are reservations required or available in Luminae?

[kwokpot]

5 minutes ago, florida23 said:

Are reservations required or available in Luminae?

No, and no. Both Luminae and Blu don't have a reservations system. 

[florida23]

1 hour ago, kwokpot said:

No, and no. Both Luminae and Blu don't have a reservations system. 

Thank you 

[Gromit4]

On 11/5/2022 at 10:40 PM, VMI72 said:

My wife belongs to a Cape Liberty Beyond Facebook group. Several in the group are reporting that they have tested positive for COVID the day they got home or the day after. Any in this group testing positive? Just curious since I know of two passengers that were quarantined while we were on the cruise.  

I was in quarantine on this sailing for 2 days for Covid. Probably got it on an excursion in Bermuda as the timeline fit perfectly! Going back on Beyond Jan 29th and a tad apprehensive. Even before I tested + I was keenly aware of issues I wish I could have ignored. Met up w/a few other solo passengers who were just as disappointed as I was about service issues. This next cruise will hopefully be better. If not, I have an Oceania one booked for December on their new ship. The average age on this sailing was soooo much like Oceania but the service was not! 

[Gromit4]

On 12/6/2022 at 12:14 PM, George C said:

On our beyond cruise last week there were two tiny dogs always kept in a baby carriage, they were in the retreat area and Luminae also, one lady who followed them into Luminae told hostess not to sit them anywhere close to the dogs . 

I am pretty sure I was on Edge with these people. They mentioned their beyond trip on another forum. They called them their “service” dogs. Two Yorkies I believe under 5lbs each. Hard to determine what service they perform zipped into a stroller! 

[MamaFej]

58 minutes ago, Gromit4 said:

I am pretty sure I was on Edge with these people. They mentioned their beyond trip on another forum. They called them their “service” dogs. Two Yorkies I believe under 5lbs each. Hard to determine what service they perform zipped into a stroller! 

The service of saving them the cost of hiring a caregiver for or boarding the dogs for their trip? 

[Gromit4]

1 minute ago, MamaFej said:

The service of saving them the cost of hiring a caregiver for or boarding the dogs for their trip? 

Maybe! I know in my profession I get asked a lot to write these letters for “emotional support animals”. I will NOT ever write one of these. If someone really needs an animal for health reasons they should get a service animal which by law is only a dog or a small horse. Majority of people asking me for these letters just want their dog near them because it makes them feel better (I know most humans are comforted by their animals! It’s been proven by lots of research!). Lots and lots of people don’t want to pay $ for pet rent or airline fees. I just feel an ESA is unethical and I won’t contribute to it. If someone needs it that badly they can definitely go through the trouble to get a service animal! It’s also a tax deduction at that point as it’s considered a medical expense. Ok-rant over! 

[MamaFej]

2 minutes ago, Gromit4 said:

Maybe! I know in my profession I get asked a lot to write these letters for “emotional support animals”. I will NOT ever write one of these. If someone really needs an animal for health reasons they should get a service animal which by law is only a dog or a small horse. Majority of people asking me for these letters just want their dog near them because it makes them feel better (I know most humans are comforted by their animals! It’s been proven by lots of research!). Lots and lots of people don’t want to pay $ for pet rent or airline fees. I just feel an ESA is unethical and I won’t contribute to it. If someone needs it that badly they can definitely go through the trouble to get a service animal! It’s also a tax deduction at that point as it’s considered a medical expense. Ok-rant over! 

True service animals are amazingly well-trained and vital to those who need them. For my Special Ed project when working on my teaching crdential in grad school, I visited Canine Companions for Independence and learned a great deal about service dogs. I was amazed at what they can do. I appreciate you not encouraging abuse. If my mom weren't so darn lazy, she'd likely try to get a fradulent certification for her dog. I'm glad folks like you would stop her (I love both her and her dog, I don't love abuse).