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11/28/2018
On The Edge! This last week I had the opportunity to sail on Celebrity's newest ship, the Edge. Over the last 12 months I attended a number of webinars to learn more about what the ship had to offer, and hands down, she is impressive. The build up to the inaugural was exciting, but seeing everything in person is an unmatched experience. Being one of the first to see this ship with everything brand spanking new was especially sweet! From beautiful neutral colors and jewel tones to innovative staterooms and distinctive venues and experiences, the Edge is quite the ship. What makes this ship different? Following are my top reasons.  The Magic Carpet The Magic Carpet is a unique venue that "hangs" off the side of the ship. Sounds a little crazy or scary, but it's really quite nice. The floating platform can move up and down, from deck 2 up to 14, and the venue changes based on what deck you are. On 14 it becomes a bar area and an extension of the pool and casitas. On deck 5 it becomes an extension of the Raw on 5 dining venue and on deck 3 is where guests get on/off the tenders. Very cool!  Innovative Staterooms This ship has a wide range of stateroom options available for just about every budget. New are the single cabins (very nicely laid out and lots of space), additional suite categories, including the Iconic Suite, 1800 square feet of pure bliss (and better views than what the captain has!) and the 2 story Edge Villas. I especially loved the Edge Stateroom with Infinite Veranda, the first of its kind on an ocean cruise ship. The veranda becomes part of the cabin, adding 20% more living space. This was the cabin I had and was thoroughly impressed. The suite classes have a large number of exclusive amenities, including the Retreat. Guests can enjoy dining at the private Luminae and take in some deck time at the private sundeck, pool and pool bar.  Dining Venues The Edge does not have one main dining venue, but four different complimentary venues along with five complimentary cafe style venues. The main dining venues include the Cosmopolitan, Cyprus, Normandie and Tuscan restaurants. Each have the same classic meal options as well as signature dishes unique to the venue. Guests have the option for the traditional early or late sitting as well as open seating. The Edge also has seven new specialty restaurants and two exclusive suite and Aqua class restaurants. Quite intriguing and unique are two venues found only on the Edge - Eden Restaurant and the Le Petit Chef experience. I'll talk more about Eden below. The Le Petit Chef experience is very entertaining with animated characters (chefs) appearing on your plate, preparing your next course. It's amazing technology, and this particular experience was developed exclusively for the Edge. You'll have to check it out.  Distinctive Entertainment The Edge has its share of unique and distinctive venues, some smaller and intimate, others larger, like the Theatre, to accommodate approximately half of the total guests. A number of venues used for meetings and receptions during the day transform into special venues in the evenings. The Theatre was designed with a floor to ceiling movie style screen behind the stage, bringing ever changing scenery. This technology, along with a stage that can change as well, allows for a wide variety of performances. The most unique and distinctive venue is Eden, defined as "chillful" in the morning, "playful" in the afternoon and "sinful" at night. Enjoy a casual breakfast and a wide variety of morning beverages early in the day. Step up the Eden Bar, join a cooking class, brush up on your wine knowledge or simply enjoy an unexpected musical performance in the afternoon. The space reminded a bit of serene greenhouse, with the large windows, many plants and intimate seating areas. The true sensory journey begins when the sun goes down. As Celebrity describes it, it's an indulgently sinful fusion of performance art, culinary treats and nightlife. Guests are an integral part of the experience, interacting with the Edenist performers while enjoying mouthwatering specialties inspired by nature. I didn't partake in the dining, however did see the performers and interactions with the guests. I would describe it as ethereal. Truly a unique space found nowhere else.  Technology Aside from the innovative technology displayed in the Theatre and the Le Petit Chef experience, a pleasant surprise was how fast the internet was. Though I normally suggest unplugging while at sea, sometimes internet access is a must and there is nothing more frustrating than a sluggish connection. I found no such thing. I connected quickly, and worked through my emails as fast as I do in my office. I was very excited to check out this new ship, and I was not disappointed. The overall experience was fantastic. Would I recommend this ship to everyone? No. I personally loved the decor, the neutral gray color with pops of jewel colors, the dining venues, the crew, the stateroom options. Truly amazing. The vibe, though, is most definitely geared to a younger or young at heart, active clientele. No pun intended - I would describe it as "edgy", especially the entertainment. It's a bit "out there". It's all a matter of personal taste. AN OCEAN CRUISE IS WAITING FOR YOU!
I'M HERE TO HELP YOU DISCOVER IT. Call me at 602.540.7338 to start the discovery process or complete this simple form . Comments are closed.
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Laurie Marschall - Owner and Founder
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