Is Celebrity Cruises’ “The Retreat” worth it? We see this question asked often online and hear it when we’re aboard Celebrity Cruises ships. The Retreat is ship-within-a-ship concept offering specialized, upgraded amenities and services for those who book suites. All suite categories (Sky Suite and above) have access to The Retreat.
Regular readers of this blog know that we adore cruising – especially with Celebrity Cruises. We’ve purchased 25 Celebrity Cruises since 2013 and 22 of them have been in The Retreat. We enjoy cruising so much that we’re even hosting a Postcard Jar Friends Cruise aboard the Celebrity Reflection in January of 2025. You should consider joining us!
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What’s included in The Retreat on Celebrity Cruises?
The first thing you’ll notice that makes The Retreat worth it is the priority boarding. Suite guests have access to their own, typically quickly-moving line. In Celebrity’s Terminal 25 in Fort Lauderdale, there is even a private boarding lounge for Retreat guests. With comfortable seating, fresh-baked pastries, and drinks, you’ll wait in style for your turn to check in.
The check-in process is super-easy, as well. You just sit in one of the comfy chairs until a staff member comes by with an iPad. They scan your documents, review your medical information, and check your passport. The next thing you know, you are scanning your boarding pass and are on board. On the last cruise we took out of Fort Lauderdale on the Celebrity Beyond, it took a total of about 12 minutes to get from curbside at the port to the martini bar on the ship.
The lack of lines doesn’t stop there. When it’s time to tender ashore, suite guests have priority boarding, just as they do on the morning of disembarkation. After sailing a 38-night cruise including several stops that required visas and special procedures, moving to the front of the line was a big benefit of being a Retreat guest. It’s just one of the little details that makes life in The Retreat so, um, suite sweet.
Luminae is a private restaurant for suite guests
The first time we booked a suite we knew that we had access to the special suites-only restaurant, Luminae. We stopped by just after boarding to see where it was before heading to the buffet. The maitre’ d saw us and invited us inside for lunch. How could we turn that down?
We were barely in our chairs when a team of servers descended on our table, made sure we were comfortable, had water, multiple choices of bread, and a diverse menu.
Soon, they returned to answer any questions we had and to take our orders. Talk about rock star treatment! Never before had we been so pampered in a restaurant at sea or on land. That said, we’ve recently noticed that the menu has not changed much over the last few years.
Prior to Celebrity’s 2023 “optimization” we wrote here that Luminae might be our favorite restaurant at sea. While the service remains absolutely spectacular, the food and wine pairings of late have been less inspired. That said, we know Celebrity has been updating its wine list a bit and the website says the menu has been updated. We look forward to trying it on our next cruise.
As you can see, the presentation in Luminae is spectacular.
Finally, as a guest of the Retreat, you may also dine in Blu, a spa-themed restaurant normally reserved for AquaClass guests, on a space-available basis. Of course, all the main dining rooms and the buffet are open to suite guests, as well. In short, you have a plethora of dining options.
The Retreat Lounge and concierge
Something else that can make booking in The Retreat worth the extra cost it is the exclusive Retreat Lounge and the dedicated concierge you’ll find there. The lounge is a wonderful, usually quiet place to relax and unwind.
In the Retreat Lounge, you’ll find complimentary water, sodas, tea, coffee, beer, wine, cocktails, and snacks – all day long. You’ll also find cheerful servers who are happy to help you get what you want so you can enjoy your vacation.
Every day the Retreat also offers a continental breakfast, afternoon tea, and a cocktail hour with hours d’overs.
Also in the lounge are dedicated hosts and concierges who can help with anything you need to make your vacation better. Whether you want to make a reservation at a specialty dining restaurant, book a private shore excursion, or ask a question about your on-board account, the concierge is happy to help.
In fact, they’ll even have someone from Shore Excursions, Future Cruise, or the Spa come and meet with you in person (and at a time convenient to you) so you won’t have to stand in a line anywhere.
It’s one more way you get to spend less time waiting and more time enjoying your vacation. We especially enjoy relaxing on a comfy chair with a view in the Retreat Lounge (above) or outside on this covered balcony (below) reserved for guests of The Retreat. (Thes photos taken aboard the Celebrity Edge. Retreat Lounges vary among ships and classes of ship.)
Larger staterooms for guests of The Retreat
Suites come in a variety of sizes from the smaller sky suites to suites with multiple bedrooms, bathrooms, as well as private hot tubs and plunge pools.
No matter which suite, we have found the service and amenities offered to be exquisite. We appreciate that even the smallest suite is about 50% larger than a regular stateroom, and has a larger bathroom with a tub, as well.
Each suite also has a private veranda which is a perfect place to sit, relax, and watch the waves go by. It’s also the best venue ever for a room service breakfast. Can you beat these views? Note that on the Edge Class ships we’ve been on, sky suites do not include a full sized table on the Verdana for dining.
Depending on the suite you book, your accommodations may include an in-room bar setup, as well as unlimited complimentary laundry and specialty dining.
For a full video tour of our Sky Suite on the Celebrity Apex, click HERE. And to tour our Royal Suite on the Celebrity Reflection, click HERE.
Upgraded amenities for The Retreat guests
Celebrity welcomes guests of The Retreat to their staterooms with a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine. Guests will find premium toiletries in the bathroom and will sleep on Celebrity’s signature eXhale® bedding. This includes plush duvets, 100% pure cotton sheets, and even a pillow menu to help them find that perfect night’s sleep.
In the morning, they may don their plush robe, bedroom slippers and order an in-room specialty coffee. Suite guests can call (or text!) their butler to bring fresh fruit, pastries, or a full breakfast to the room if desired.
High class service follows suite guests everywhere they go on board. With a premium drink package included in the fare, Retreat guests can enjoy a favorite beverage (alcoholic OR non-alcoholic) most places on the ship.
In November 2023, the room had a private bar with pricing. According to the website, however, as of July 2024, suite guests again enjoy a complimentary minibar setup.
Additionally, suite guests enjoy premium WiFi. Finally, Retreat guests may also receive some on-board credit to spend on anything from shore excursions and jewerly to appointments at the luxurious on-board spa.
The Retreat Sundeck is totally worth it
A newer feature on Celebrity ships is The Retreat Sundeck. First introduced on the Edge and all Edge-class ships, The Retreat Sundeck is being retrofitted onto some of the other existing ships in the fleet, and is one of the features that truly makes booking The Retreat worth it. We call it our “happy place.”
The Retreat Sundeck is a private area reserved for suite guests to enjoy time outside. It offers a number of amenities not necessarily found on the main pool deck. We love that the loungers aren’t just made of tight vinyl mesh. Instead, they’re padded and offer a perfect seat where you’ll be happy to spend a day. You’ll even get extra pillows!
In addition, the Retreat Sundeck has a dedicated staff who get to know you and are happy to provide personalized service. They’ll bring you a cocktail if you’d like, or even a light lunch of shrimp cocktail, a turkey wrap or even a hamburger and fries. And they keep you on your toes, too. You never know when someone will swing by to offer a treat like a fruit-kabob or a scoop of gelato. They always seem to have the perfect snacks to cool you off on a warm, tropical day.
Some ships even have a dedicated Retreat Sundeck Bar with bartenders who work hard all day to take care of their guests and make sure there’s a fun, relaxing atmosphere for everyone.
Ships with a Retreat Sundeck
Not every Celebrity Cruise ship has a pool and bar designated for The Retreat guests. Here’s what’s available as of July 2024:
Edge – pool, hot tub, sundeck bar, upgraded lounge seating, cabanas
Apex – pool, hot tub, sundeck bar, upgraded lounge seating, cabanas, umbrellas
Beyond – pool, hot tub, sundeck bar, upgraded lounge seating, cabanas, umbrellas
Ascent – pool, hot tub, sundeck bar, upgraded lounge seating, cabanas, umbrellas
Millennium – hot tub, upgraded lounge seating, cabanas
Summit – hot tub, upgraded lounge seating, cabanas
Silhouette – hot tub, sundeck bar, upgraded lounge seating, cabanas
Equinox – upgraded lounge seating, cabanas
And just to pamper sunbathers a little more, we’ve often found a bowl of iced towels on the The Retreat Sundeck. Talk about refreshing! There truly is nothing better when you’re under the hot sun.
For a complete video tour of the Retreat Sundeck on the Celebrity Beyond click HERE.
Butler service in the top suites is top notch
Another perk that has made The Retreat worth it is every suite guest has had a dedicated butler. However, in 2023, Celebrity Cruises “optimized” and eliminated most of the butlers–specifically those serving Sky Suites. After listening to guest comments, we’re happy to report the cruise line brought the butlers back in the spring of 2024 and all suite guests again have a dedicated butler.
Butlers can be contacted by phone or text via the app to assist you with about anything you might want or need. Like the concierge in The Retreat Lounge, the butler can help with dinner reservations (at specialty restaurants like Eden), setting up shore excursions, and the like.
Your butler can also help with tasks like getting items to and from the laundry, and will even reserve prime seat in the theater for you on evening chic nights.
Extra experiences make The Retreat worth it
When you’re in The Retreat, you’re sometimes invited to take part in extra ship experiences. We’ve been invited on bridge tours, to the helipad at the bow of the ship for sail away, and have even had lunch with the captain.
You’d still have a wonderful vacation without these extra experiences, but having them can take the trip to the next level of special.
It’s easy to meet people (if you want to)
Being in The Retreat makes it easy to meet people. After all, you see some of the same folks over and over whether that’s in the lounge, in Luminae, or up on the Retreat Sundeck. We’ve met some wonderful people in The Retreat and we’re now glad to call them friends and continue to keep in touch and even sail together.
When you’re in The Retreat you’re part of a sort of family. If you’d like, it’s easy to sit, chat, and get to know new people. Indeed, it’s one of our favorite things to do on board.
What’s not included in The Retreat?
While Retreat guests do have access to the Blu Restaurant as space is available, Retreat guests do not get access to the Spa’s Thermal Suite unless they are in an Aqua Class Suite, or Royal Suite or above. This can be confusing for some. Bottom line is that unless you’re in Aqua Class or an Aqua Sky Suite, you’ll likely have to pay extra.
The Retreat: Is it worth it? Cost vs. benefit
Does The Retreat cost more? Yes. It can be much more expensive. But based on the overall experience, we think The Retreat is worth it, especially on Edge Class ships or itineraries with lots of tendering (the Retreat is your fast pass). That said, The Retreat may not fit in every budget. If it doesn’t match yours, that’s fine. We know from experience that you’ll have a wonderful cruise regardless because Celebrity Cruises’ service and accommodations are great, no matter where you are on board.
One word of caution though: if you upgrade to The Retreat, you may never be able to go back to a regular balcony stateroom, again. It’s sort of like trying to go back to holding hands after being married for 10 years. Not likely.
This is not a sponsored post. We paid for all of our cruises and upgrades to The Retreat. Want to try cruising? Let us know and maybe we can help. You can contact us at Postcardjar@gmail.com.
Hello and thank you for the great article packed with such specific information! Question: we will be booking a retreat suite for our upcoming Mediterranean cruise. Our adult son is traveling with us. What are the sleeping arrangements available for a third person? We do not want him to sleep on a pull out couch or other such bedding. Thank you!
Hi Kim,
Great question. If you want your son to be behind the same door as you, there are a few options for suites that have two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Alternatively, you could get two suites side-by-side and each have your own space (and real bed) but still be close to each other. The balconies may even open up so you can share them. Is this something we could help you research and book? We are travel advisors with Dream Vacations and have extensive experience with Celebrity Cruises. Note there is no additional cost to you for our services. Please just let us know if we can be of assistance. You can reach us by phone at 402-575-9624 or a.teget@dreamvacations.com.
Hi Steve, I just started following you. Thank you for all your great suggestions/comments. My wife and I have been sailing with Celebrity for almost 10 years now. We typically get a veranda of concierge veranda. We just booked a transatlantic cruise in the retreat for spring of 2025 on the Equinox. We want to take advantage of what being in the retreat offers. We are looking forward to our sky suite, dining in the Luminae as well as having access to more personalized service. Would the spa amenities be included as well? Any suggestions from a pro such as yourself would be appreciated!
Hi Richard,
Sorry it took so long to reply…my wife just had her knee replaced and so I’ve been offline for a bit. The Thermal Suite is NOT included with a suite unless you’re in an Aqua Sky Suite (which is not the same as AquaClass) or in a Royal Suite or above. Otherwise you’d have to pay for a day/cruise pass for the Thermal Suite.
Insofar as hints: Now that you booked a suite, you’ll likely never want to go back. Celebrity offers great service everywhere, but somehow in The Retreat it is even more over the top. Enjoy the Retreat Lounge at cocktail hour or for breakfast. Heck, enjoy it anytime as it is a lovely space offering a great personalized experience. If you like coffee in the morning, let your butler know how you like it. You may pick a time for it to be delivered each day or simply have the butler “on call” with it and they’ll bring it when you give the go-ahead.
Enjoy your cruise! If you love Celebrity, know that we actually have a group cruise planned on the Reflection in January, 2025 with some great pricing. Let me know if you’d like more information. You can contact us at admin@postcardjar.com
Enjoy reading your write ups!
How do you access the Retreat spaces? Is it on your key card? Thanks!
Yes, if you’re in The Retreat, you just scan your card at a reader next to the doors to the Lounge or Sundeck and they will open for you. There are even entrances on the open deck that require a key card to enter.
First of all, what an adorable couple the two of you are. We are tiptoeing into our empty nesting years and I’m actively tempting my husband to join my retirement plan of extended cruise travel. We’ve cruised a few lines over the years, at this point for the most part it has been quick weekend travel with two instances of 7 day travel to the Caribbean. Last year I was successful in enticing him with Alaska and what a pleasure it was. I’m knee deep in research searching for an 11-12 day Panama Canal journey sailing out of Fort Lauderdale with Celebrity. Having never cruised this line previously I’m doing my best to navigate the choices. I’m hoping you can answer what might be a simple question to some seasoned Celebrity fans. How does one “Move Up”? I’ve searched high and low for availability on Royal Suite level cabins and this cabin seems to never show up on the cabin search within Suite Class for The Celebrity Ascent. Can you provide any insight? I’ve delighted in your shared articles, photos, and suggestions and will be eagerly anticipating my first B2B if I can get the hubs on board. 😉 Thank you for any suggestions you can offer. ~ a new big fan
Thanks for the nice comment, Raquel, and we’re so happy to have you along with us on the journey! A “Move-up” bid is something that you can place about 3-4 weeks before your sailing. If space is available, and you win the bid, you’ll be moved into a new cabin category.
As long as you’re looking at Caribbean cruises, you should know that we just announced our next Postcard Jar Friends group cruise. It will be in January, 2025, on the Celebrity Reflection–we’d love to have you and your husband join us! You can find more information here: https://postcardjar.com/postcard-jar-friends-cruise-western-caribbean/
This has been so helpful. I have just been notified that my MoveUp request has been filled and we are now in the Sky Suites. If I am reading everything correctly, I can cancel my Premium Drink package and the WiFi package I reserved, but I need to keep my specialty dining package, correct? We sail on the Beyond in 11 days!
Keep your premium drink package. With a move-up, you get to dine in Luminae, but without a drink package you’ll only have included drinks in the Retreat Lounge (and maybe the Sundeck.) With a move-up, they don’t add the drinks package–you get what you had before the move-up was made. And you’re correct…in a Sky Suite, the best value for eating in multiple specialty restaurants is the dining package. (If you moved-up to a Royal Suite or above, you would get unlimited complimentary dining….but not the drinks unless you already had them or bought them. You get the food of your new suite, but not beverages–or Captain’s Club points.) I hope this makes sense. I’m not sure about WiFi–so I’d say ask on board. If it’s included, I’m sure the Retreat Concierge would be happy to help you cancel it–after all, that’s what they’re there for.
I think you’ll love the Beyond and the Suite Life. Enjoy your cruise!
Thank you for your post it is very informative. We have cruised several times but are about to do our 2nd with Celebrity to Alaska. On our last cruise we did Spain and Portugal on the Infinity last May In Aqua Class. My question is …this evening I found a deal where the aqua sky suite is available to us as an $1139 upgrade per room, we are taking my mom & her husband with us so there are 2 rooms involved. They have never cruised before. The cruise is only 7 days with 3 days at sea….is it worth it? oh and I should add we are booked in concierge class this time.
If you’re in Concierge Class right now, the AquaSuite could well be worth it at that price. You’ll get priority seating in Blu (as well as access to Luminae), access to the Thermal Suite, as well as The Retreat. But beware, you can get pretty spoiled pretty fast! 🙂
Hi there. I enjoyed this review a while back. We just returned from a 7-day Caribbean cruise on the Apex Retreat Class. I agree with a lot of your comments and criticisms. We were disappointed in the quality of some of the food. We were really disappointed in the wine selection. I actually looked up some of their by-the-glass wines and, as I suspected, they were inexpensive, grocery store wines that retail for $12-$15. Considering we were paying for the Premium Beverage package, ,I expected better. I should also add that we are seasoned (27 and counting) cruisers and we have seen a lot of “nickel and diming” on the ships, especially on this last cruise. However, all in all, we enjoyed the ship and are doing a European Celebrity cruise in May. This time we are going back to Aqua Class which in our opinion is a better value and makes more sense since one spends so much less time on the ship in Europe.
Thanks for your comments, Pat. We agree that the wine selection hasn’t been what we’d like, recently. Indeed, after getting off the ship in late December, we explored our local Walmart and found many of the same wines available onboard there for $15-18/bottle. In a recent webinar, the President of Celebrity said that they are working on the wine selection and are getting new suppliers. She said they will be adding new wines without taking anything off the menu. Hopefully, things on the wine front improve.
And you make a good point about AquaClass, especially on an itinerary that’s port intensive. I will say, though, that the benefit of priority going ashore given with the Retreat can be of value on a port-intensive itinerary depending on the excursions you have booked.
Hello. I just discovered your site and really enjoyed this article on the Retreat. We are booked for a 13-day transatlantic cruise out of Barcelona on the Silhouette departing November 16th of this year. It will be our first transatlantic cruise and we have booked a Sunset Sky Suite, so this will also be our first experience with The Retreat (although we have booked suites in years past before the Retreat was created, and are familiar with Luminae, for example). We usually book an Alcove when we sail on the Silhouette — our favorite ship — for the sea days. And we have done so every time we are on that ship. It is just a very special experience! But we have two questions. First, given the Retreat’s sun deck and cabanas, is an Alcove still worth it? I know that the outdoor experience of an Alcove is hard to replicate, and the Retreat’s outdoor space in not at all comparable. But at $249 a day for the sea days, would we be smart to perhaps reduce our Alcove bookings and just enjoy the Retreat’s cabanas? (BTW, are the Retreat’s cabanas an added cost? If not, can you reserve them in advance?) Our second question has to do with the Atlantic in November. Do you — or any of your readers — think that being outdoors in an Alcove is going to be that pleasant an experience to begin with? Thanks for any guidance you may be able to offer.
Hi Leigh,
Thanks for your nice comment! Sadly, Silhouette is one of the few ships in the fleet we have not yet tried. I know the ship was “revolutionized” before the Pandemic, but we have not been on Silhouette or other S-class ship that has had those upgrades. So, keep that in mind for this reply.
That said, the Retreat Sundeck does have cabanas, and they have no charge. Service on the Retreat Sundeck is typically elevated above what you’d experience on the regular pool deck. That said, the cabanas on the sundeck are first-come, first-served. If you want to guarantee your experience, book the Alcove. We have never tried an Alcove but hear it’s nice. If you like the Alcoves, you might still want to book one for at least a day or two so that you don’t totally miss that experience. Still, you might want to let yourself try the sundeck, as well, so that you can figure out whether the Alcove is worth it if you have the sundeck.
Please let us know what you think.
Thank you for your helpful information. Let me see if I understand. We are in the Retreat leaving next week. There will be a refrigerator in there but if we dare take a coke or a beer out of it, we will be charged. We have an “unlimited” drink package but cannot get a bottle of booze in our room without being charged? Sounds like Celebrity is figuring out ways to double dip and nickel and dime us to death. If we want to have happy hour on our balcony, we must keep our butler running back and forth from bar to our room or run back and forth ourselves? And our “premium” drink package is really no longer truly premium. That just sounds so ridiculous and inefficient and not a luxury experience you expect when you upgrade to have the luxury experience. Our gratuities are supposed to be paid, right? So we don’t have to pay 20% every time we order a drink from a bar or from our room, I hope? And no steak and lobster, (one of the things one looks forward to on a cruise), unless, wait for it…we pay extra? I also notice that on the Classic menus, the filet has been changed to Sirloin and those not in the Retreat now have to pay 10.00 for room service. Can you explain what you mean when you say Celebrity “optimized”? It sounds like they are in dire financial trouble and pulling out all the stops in thinking of ways to get more money from their guests. Did I also read correctly that with all those bars on that big ol beautiful ship, not a single one is a piano bar? Thank you for all your great information.
We found that if we asked our stateroom attendant (now called “Retreat Host”) to remove the paid articles from the fridge, he’d then put items (beer, wine, pop, water) we’d like in there and we could use those at no charge. It does seem rather inefficient, yes. There are wines and other drinks included in the Premium Package, but some of the ones we prefer have been priced per glass out of the package and come with an up-charge. They do charge a 20% gratuity on the amount above the package…so a $23 glass of wine would be $3.60 with tip (if you have the Premium Package).
The “optimization” was creating the position of Head Butler for the Sky Suites. You call that person, but someone else will bring what you need. You no longer have just one butler who brings things like breakfast or coffee to you. Instead, it’s delivered by room service.
The Edge does not have a piano bar, but it does have the Club, Martini Bar, and other indoor and outdoor venues.
Wonderful news about being able to ask for paid items to be removed. Bad news about not having a piano bar. Is my favorite part of being on a ship. Celebrity must be one of only a few cruise lines, (if not the only one), not to have a piano bar. Every other line we have sailed (and there have been many), had one. I wonder what their reason is for that decision. I’ll have to ask when we get on ship. Maybe Celebrity does not want to cater to my age group (mid 60s). Steve, thank you for your prompt response and very helpful information.
Hi Cyndi-
In Eden (at the back of the ship), they do have a very nice acoustic music scene nightly. Some of the music is piano, but other music might be piano and guitar, violin, etc. It’s very nice music.
And there is steak available, as well as lobster depending on the night. It’s the surf n’ turf that was especially surprising. That said, the minibar charges are not our favorite–at least we found a way around them.
This was incredibly helpful!! Thank you!!
We’re so happy this was of use to you! 🙂
This was a great article that provided lots of insight into the Retreat Program. I have never sailed on Celebrity but was considering doing so for a honeymoon cruise to Italy. However, I am wondering if a cruise on a premium line would be a better fit versus getting the Retreat benefits. We can sail on the new Explora (MSC owned) in a balcony room, 1.25:1 passenger to staff ratio, great personalized service on a much smaller trip and their rooms start at around $4500 pp. I am also not to keen on being around a lot of kids. Both cruises allow kids but most premium lines don;t necessarily cater to kids. What would your opinion be on traveling on a premium line versus utiliizing the Retreat benefits on Celebrity?
Celebrity calls itself, “Modern Luxury” and would say it’s a premium cruise line. With 13 ships (and another under construction) along with a fleet dedicated to the Galápagos Islands, it seems to fit the bill of premium line. While kids are allowed and there is children’s programming, the line does not specifically cater to them (no waterslides, not a lot of family activities, etc.).
I have not cruised on MSC so can’t really give guidance there. Sorry.
I have sailed on MSC and they have the MSC Yacht Club which is their equivalent to the Retreat. MSC’s yacht club is awesome. Butlers west tuxedos and are easy to spot. We received top notch service. The food was not as good as Luminae but now I am reading Luminaes food is not as good as it use to be. They do have things for kids to do on MSC and their own private island.
We have heard good things about the Yacht Club but have not tried it, yet. Glad to hear you had a good experience!
Thanks for the informative article. We were with you on the Rome to Sydney repositioning cruise — but on the other side of the fence. We’ve previously done Retreat but this time we could not book the same suite for all three legs of the cruise. Could you address the tricky question about Retreat passengers who want to bring non-Retreat passengers into the Retreat as their guests? Also, the issue of Retreat parents who have booked their children into non-Retreat cabins but who want their children to have full Retreat privileges?
I am pretty sure that Retreat guests can not bring non-Retreat in to any of the suites-only areas. Luminae is the exception–you may, (it’s best to talk to the restaurant, first), but it carries an uncharge. The last I knew it was $10 for breakfast, $20 for lunch, and $30 for dinner.
As far as kids go, I believe that children under 12 may accompany their parents. (This is for sure the case for parents booked in a MC suite with the kids in the adjoining inside cabin per the Future Cruise manager on Edge.) Older children would require permission from the Retreat manager.
Hi, guys!
Thanks for the great read. You have pretty much nailed it. We have met many wonderful people over the years on cruises both in The Retreat and not. That’s one of our favorite things about cruising.
We are currently in an AQUA Sky Suite. We did a “Move Up Bid” from a Prime AQUA cabin and find ourselves eating in BLU or NORMANDIE more often than LUMINAE. We prefer the selection and service there.
Our only real disappointment is that they have still not put the wonderful AQUA shower in the Aqua Sky Suites on EDGE or, we suspect, APEX. We have no knowledge about BEYOND or, well, beyond!
Frank and Norm
You know, I don’t know if those showers are there, either. Perhaps, as they built Beyond (and Ascent) with Aqua Suites in mind. They simply designated some Sky Suites as Aqua Suites on Edge and Apex.
We agree on Luminae. The menu there really hasn’t changed in the past 5 years or so…and we thing it needs some updating.
It was great meeting you on the cruise and we hope to stay in touch. Who knows–maybe we’ll find ourselves together on a ship again, one day!
We are currently on the Ascent for two weeks in the Retreat. They have made some great improvements since the Edge. The Retreat Deck is much larger and has a lot more shade options. We have been very pleased with everything except the food in Luminae. It is a beautiful dining room, but the food is not good. The other thing that was disappointing, effective with the Inaugural cruise was the increase in wine and specialty drinks. The Premium drink package allows for drinks up to $17. Now drinks are up to $22 and limited wines for $17. These prices are outrageous. Why have a premium drink package, if there are up-charges, plus a 20% gratuity added to the up-charge.
We agree that the space afforded on the Sundeck of the Beyond is terrific (and we assume the Ascent is the same). And you’re right, the food in Luminae, while good, is the same menu as has been there for awhile and it needs to be updated. Also, the ingredients they use are of lower quality than they used to be. Surf ‘n turf is now pork belly with scallops instead of Filet Mignon with lobster; they serve cod instead of halibut, and there is pasta on the menu almost every night with some kind of sausage or three shrimp.
And you are 110% correct that the new beverage pricing (we experienced it on the Edge effective at the beginning of the third leg of our recent B2B2B) is ridiculous. Why have a beverage package at all? Just eliminate the package and lower the cost of drinks to a reasonable level. Charging $23 for a glass of Decoy wine (one that we found just five days ago in our local grocery store for $17.99/bottle) is akin to robbery.
Very nice article. Thanks. We have sailed on Celebrity three times previously (always Veranda cabins). Today, I booked Beyond for May 5th out of Fort Lauderdale. I chose to book a “guarantee” suite cabin. I suppose we could get upgraded from a Sky Suite. Thanks again for the information.
We are glad you found it helpful and wish you all the best on your cruise!
Thank you so much for this! We’re booking a Panama Canal trip for Feb. of ’25 and were on the fence about upgrading to the Retreat on the Celebrity Beyond — but now we’re all-in on the Retreat! Cheers!
We’re so glad this post helped you make up your mind. Enjoy your cruise–I think you’ll really enjoy it. Welcome to the suite life!
Hello…..we were upgraded (via MOVE UP) to a Royal suite (we originally just had a verandah cabin) will we receive amenities such as *specialty dining *wifi *drink package??? Appreciate your help with this!!!
So happy you found this post helpful! Happy cruising.
Thanks so much such helpful advice we are on Beyond in March in an aqua sky suite
We’re glad this was helpful to you, Ally. Enjoy your cruise! 🙂
Hello Ann and Steve,
My husband and I have booked a Celebrity cruise to the Norwegian fjords this summer. This will be the first time in the Retreat, and I would like to ask if the premium wifi and the premium drinks apply to both of us? Might be a silly question, but I would like to be sure so I can get an extra wifi package before boarding in Rotterdam. Thanks! Annica Lindahl, Sweden
Hi Annica,
Not a silly question, at all! You will both have the premium drink package as well as the premium wifi for one device. This means that you both get a login and can each have one device on wifi at a time. So, if your phone is connected and you want to use your laptop, you’ll need to disconnect your phone and login on your laptop. If you want for more devices, that can easily be added on board. Hope this helps, and have a great cruise!
We are considering the same cruise to the Fjords in the Retreat. Was it worth it considering the cooler temperatures?
One of the benefits of The Retreat on the Edge Class is getting to go on the top deck to the forward part of the ship and take in the magnificent views from the pool deck there. That said, there is tall glass all around (to block the wind) so that can interfere with photos. Something on our last cruise that we really appreciated was skipping to the front of the line. At virtually every port there was a line to get off the ship. Being in The Retreat put us at the front of the line–which gave us more time in port and was very worth it.
As you pointed out, the weather will be cool, so I don’t know that you’d want to book The Retreat for the pool area. If it’s cool/rainy, then I’d go to the solarium–which is open to everyone.
Planning on a first cruise experience. Can you help me understand whether you pay anything out of pocket in addition to the package paid?
If I buy Aqua Class or the Retreat, which says all included, does that mean all the meals are included as well???
What are the additional costs to budget on board when booking Aqua or Retreat?
Hi James,
No matter which class of room you book, all meals on your cruise will be included as will your snacks. There are some restaurants, called “specialty restaurants” which have an extra fee, but you don’t have to eat in them if you don’t want to–you will have other dining options (both formal and casual) without paying extra. Drinks other than water, basic coffee, tea, and juices have an extra cost, though there is some nuance to that (more below).
In AquaClass and in The Retreat, you have included access to a special restaurant pertaining to that class of room AquaClass offers Blu, a restaurant that features clean cuisine–lighter fare for people who might want fewer calories. The Retreat offers Luminae, a very nice restaurant offering some incredible, creative dishes.
There are some things on the ship that will have a fee but you don’t have to purchase them. Spa products/treatments, shore excursions, art pieces auctioned off, items in the shops, and the casino will cost extra.
With a room in The Retreat, “all included” means that you get the premium beverage package so that all drinks up to $17/serving are included. This means that almost every cocktail on board as well as specialty coffees, bottled water, smoothies, and many wines by the glass are a part of your fare and are included. You just show your room key and they serve you and you don’t pay any extra. You may, of course, purchase a bottle of wine or something like that, but you don’t have to. Suites also include premium internet, gratuities (though you may give extra if you’d like) and they’ll even give you some on board credit which you can use to buy anything on board that has a fee (like specialty dining, a bottle of wine, items from the shops, shore excursions, spa treatments, etc.).
In regular rooms, Concierge Class, and AquaClass, “All included” means you get a Classic beverage package (all drinks up to $12/serving), as well as basic internet (good for email), and gratuities.
Hope this helps. It’s confusing at first, but remember the cruise line wants it to be easy. Once you’re on board you’ll see how easy it is and why cruising is a GREAT way to travel!
Hello, do I have to share the table with other retreat guests during dinner time? Are these special restaurants for the retreat guests are open during the breakfast and lunch time? Thank you.
Great question, Paul. The suites only restaurant is called Luminae. In Luminae, you don’t have to share your table with anyone–they will seat privately. If you meet others in the Retreat and want to share your table with them, you may, of course, do that for any/all meals you’d like. You also don’t have to make reservations for Luminae; you may just come whenever you’d like during the hours the restaurant is open. That said, during busy times you may have a short wait. Luminae is open for breakfast daily and for lunch on embarkation day and on sea days. On port days, Luminae is closed.
Hope this helps!
Just found this post – great, helpful information. We are headed out with the Celebrity Millennium on March 11th for a 7-day Caribbean cruise. I’m beyond excited as I splurged on a Royal Suite for us. It will be our first time with Celebrity, and I know it would be tough to go back once you’ve been in the Retreat class. It may not fit the budget every time, but at least we can do it this time! Yay. Thank you for your posts.
Thanks for your kind words–we’re so glad you found our post helpful! And a RS on the Millennium class is a real treat! Enjoy every minute of the pampering and spoiling you’ll receive! 🙂 Thanks for reading and we’d love to have you stick with us…find us on FB and Insta @postcardjar if you’d like.
Hello
We are on a B2B from Auckland to Sydney in February next year on the Edge.
Our package includes drinks package, tips, Wi-Fi etc. We have a balcony stateroom
Oz has always been a dream but this will definitely our last long haul flight. My husband now 70. This cruise has been expensive and didn’t quite stretch to The Retreat although that has always been a dream too.
My question is can we upgrade just to use Retreat Sundeck and restaurant and only for the second leg of the cruise. There are ports everyday on first leg would not be able to use it fully
Thank you
If you have two separate cruises with two embarkation days, then yes, in theory, you could upgrade the second cruise to The Retreat to use those amenities (if there is space available). You’d also have to move rooms into a suite. If it’s one cruise and you want to upgrade mid-cruise, (for the return from NZ to Australia), then you would likely not be able to make the switch, though you could always ask on board.
I’m looking forward to my upcoming trip with Celebrity Cruises in the Retreat. In my opinion Luminae is worth the price of admission alone! But the expanded amenities of the sundeck/lounge and everything else makes this a truly amazing vacation experience. This will be my 10th Celebrity Cruise and fourth time in the Retreat. I’ll be on Summit next and the Edge class Beyond in 2024. This was an excellent article and I also enjoyed the accompanying videos on YouTube. Cheers
So glad you enjoyed this post! We agree, The Retreat is totally worth it if a person can afford it for all the reasons you said. Thanks for the kind words!
Your description was perfect
Couldn’t believe how consistently wonderful the food was in every specialty restaurant. Luminae made me feel like I was family
Worth every cent
Edge Royal suite 3rd sailing Jan 2019
Great review!
We are interested in a future Retreat Suite and you answered my question about booking a steak speciality restaurant. Thank you.
We are so glad you found this post helpful! Just let us know if you have any additional questions.
It’s very interesting reading all your comments and recommendations. We had a similar thing on the MSC which is the Yatch club and we were treated like celebrities.we are actually going on Reflection in October and have booked a sky suite for that reason. We are looking for an upgrade and hope we get one. Really looking forward to being pampered.
We think you’ll love the Reflection! We also wrote a blog post about that specific ship. https://postcardjar.com/celebrity-reflection-review-cruise-ship/
I have been informed by Celebrity, regardless of the Retreat cabins, specialty restaurants (excluding Luminare) are not included in the price. I have sailed on Regent with airfare, shore excursions and all specialty restaurants are included so I want to make sure this information is correct before I book Beyond.
We can’t guarantee anything as we are not Celebrity and they may have changed their policy. When we sailed on board the Reflection in April of 2022, we were in a Royal Suite. In that class of suite, specialty dining was included. This may have changed. The last we knew, however, Sky Suites did not include specialty dining…not sure of Celebrity Suites. But Royal Suites and above did include it.
Do you use a travel agent? They might be able to reach out and clarify on this point as it comes down to just a few of the suites on the ship that have included specialty dining.
Article was on point. Once you try the Suite, it’s hard to go back.
Our last cruise was the Mediterranean on Silhouette, Celebrity suite which did not include specialty dining. We paid extra for this package.
Planning on a new cruise by April 2023 and from what’s noted on the celebrity cruises website, specialty dining is still not included in the price. Even without the specialty dining package. Luminae is amazing and did not disappoint!
Specialty dining is included in suites Royal Suite and above–so Celebrity and Sky Suites don’t include it. But you’re right: Luminae is as good as any of the specialty restaurants on board…and with advanced notice they can make you about anything you want.
What do you mean by retreat…If you are on a veranda or a concierge suite can you join the retreat…?
The Retreat is an area reserved only for passengers who have booked in a suite category stateroom, so a Sky Suite or above. Aqua or Concierge verandas do not have access to The Retreat.
Thank you for this amazing post and all the wonderful information regarding the Retreat experience.
I recently cruised with Celebrity with my mother without the Retreat experience and swore I would splurge on my next vacation. I kept debating whether or not if it it was worth the price difference. This article helped settle my dilemma. We are sailing out of Seaward Alaska to Vancouver on June 16th with my husband’s family. My husband and I booked a Celebrity Suite. I am so excited to have access to the Retreat lounge. That alone makes the expense worth it. Plus the size of the suite is also roomier. It is like the old saying “You get what you pay for” and this trip we have being waiting a lifetime to take.
We’re so glad our article helped you make up your mind! We absolutely LOVE The Retreat and think you will, too. On what ship will you be sailing? Please let us know what you think.
In Sept- we’ve got a aft corner sky suite booked on the Eclipse- for a back to back – Vancouver to Sydney- can’t wait. We love Celebrity. Have waited 2 years for this cruise. We know it’s not revolutionized yet- but we love the Celebrity Suite life.
We sailed on the Reflection in April–which has also not been revolutionized–and had a wonderful time. The ship was still beautiful and the service top notch! We loved it. Enjoy your cruise…it sounds wonderful!
I enjoyed this comprehensive article-nicely done!
Thank you so much, Elizabeth! We’re glad you liked it and hope you found it useful.
I full heartedly agree with everything stated in this article. Once you go Retreat it’s hard to go back to anything lesser, especially Luminae.
We feel the same way, Earl. We love The Retreat and the experience we have there.
We are looking forward to our first time on Celebrity Edge in September enjoying the Retreat! It sounds like it will be similar to the Haven on Norwegian (I can’t go back to regular state rooms on that line)
We have not sailed in the Haven, yet, but our understanding is they are comparable. We do like that on Celebrity in The Retreat all the bottled water, coffee, etc. all over the ship are included in the cost.
We’re taking a transatlantic cruise next month. We usually stay in aqua class but decided to treat ourselves on this trip. We’re sailing on a silhouette class ship-what perks are there for the spa? We love the tile chaises and are used to access being included. Is spa access included with the retreat?
We’ve never done a transatlantic but would love to do that someday! You are going to love The Retreat! While spa access is not included with The Retreat, you can purchase a day or full cruise pass. You can also still eat in Blu as there is availability. We are hosting a Facebook LIVE tonight (Sunday, Aug. 7) to answer questions about cruising. If you have additional questions, we’d love to have you join our live event tonight @postcardjar on Facebook at 7 p.m. CDT.
Have a wonderful time on your transatlantic and let us know what you think of The Retreat.