A cruise vacation is unlike any other type of vacation. You’ll step foot onto a floating hotel that will take you to a new destination each day, and the level of service is hard to find on land. But there are a lot of brands from which to choose.
If you’ve been considering a cruise vacation but you’re not sure where to start, check out my article The Hardest Part of Picking your First Cruise.
Each week, I talk to new travelers who are considering a cruise. We’ll talk about the different options, and at some point, they all ask why I speak so highly of Celebrity Cruises.
Celebrity is my favorite cruise line, which as an elder Millennial, may come as a surprise as Celebrity ships lack a lot of the “fun” extras that many brands have added to their ships. When I vacation, I’m not looking for a constant party or a wide variety of physical activities.
I love Celebrity above all the others because the brand offers classic cruising with a modern twist.
On a Celebrity ship, you won’t find water slides, high diving aqua shows, go-cart tracks, or any other activity that you’d expect to find at a carnival or amusement park. What you will find are expertly designed ships that offer a wide variety of bars, dining options, comfortable spaces to relax, and of course, beautifully appointed cabins.
Even without the extra things added to Celebrity Ships, I find plenty to do with Activity Crew putting on archery, dance parties, adult coloring, aquatic aerobics, and everything else that you’d expect to find on a ship. With so many activities going on each day, you can keep yourself as busy as you’d like with the party going on until the wee hours of the morning in the nightclub.
One of my favorite places to spend time is the Martini Bar. Each Celebrity ship has a Martini bar with bartenders who know how to make the classics and can even surprise you with something unique based on your tastes.
You’ll find at least two general use pools on each Celebrity ship. One is on the Resort Deck, where all the activities happen, and the other is in the adults-only Solarium. Suite guests will also have access to their water, with a pool in the Retreat on the newest ships and hot tubs on the older ones.
The newest Edge Class ships are cutting edge (yes, they intended the pun) with a new dining concept, and the ships are designed for the next generation of affluent cruisers. Instead of a single massive main dining room, four smaller dining rooms are included in the cost of the cruise fare. Each of the four dining rooms has its specialty items and includes the classic Celebrity dishes we all expect.
Outside of the main dining options, the specialty dining onboard Celebrity ships includes some of the best food I’ve eaten. Be sure to check out Le Petit, a tablemation dinner show that will take you on a culinary adventure. Onboard the EDGE class ships, don’t skip Eden, with an open concept kitchen and locally sourced ingredients to bring a dining experience like no other onboard a ship.
Beyond the ships and activities, Celebrity Cruises is one of the most LGBTQ welcoming cruise lines.
Celebrity Cruises embodies diversity throughout its organization and always asks what more it can do to make everyone feel included. Onboard a Celebrity ship, I always see more LGBTQ couples than any other place (besides Disney).
Celebrity offered LGBTQ meet-ups well before they were expected, quaintly known as “Friends of Dorothy.” Today, you’ll see the meet-ups scheduled much more overtly with “LGBTQ Cocktail Hour” proudly printed in the daily schedule.
Not only will you see a large number of LGBTQ couples, but you’ll also find multiple LGBTQ groups that choose to hold their events on a Celebrity ship. Rainbow Getaways is no exception, with our Annual Cruise for Charity taking place each January onboard Celebrity.
Beyond the inclusiveness of Celebrity, our groups are well taken care of from the moment the first booking is placed until we’re home. The cruise line offers space to do meetings, cocktail parties, and even fully chartered sailings.
The next time you’re considering a cruise, be sure to look at what Celebrity has to offer. I’ve barely scratched the surface in this article and would love the opportunity to share more with you. Grab some time on my calendar when you’re free, and let’s chat about where you want to go next!
Rainbow Getaways proudly help travelers of the LGBTQ community (and our allies) research, plan, and book incredible vacations where you feel confident and comfortable enjoying and exploring your destination. We plan each vacation to meet your specific needs, so you’ll have an experience just as unique as you.
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