Celebrity Edge – cruise ship

Having returned from a few weeks of cruising in mid December, including 26 days on Celebrity Edge, I decided to take the liberty of using her to kick off the 2024 selection of ships.

After being laid down in November 2016, Celebrity Edge was delivered at the end of October 2018 and began her maiden voyage in December 2018.

Built by STX Chantiers de l’Atlantique, France

Owned by Royal Caribbean Group

Operated by Celebrity Cruises

LOA 306m

Beam 39m

GRT 130,818 tons

Propulsion 2 x ABB Azipod

Speed 21.8 knots

Passengers 2918, crew 1377

Construction cost USD 1 billion

Sister ships: Celebrity Apex, Beyond, Ascent, Xcel (2025 delivery)

 

One of the most striking features of the Edge is the Parabolic Ultra Bow design designed in conjunction with the vessel’s builders. Along with other innovations, the bow design is said to reduce fuel consumption and therefore emissions by 25% compared to the predecessor Solstice class of vessels.

The Edge was also the first cruise ship to feature the “Magic Carpet,” a high visibility glass-sheltered platform that extends over the starboard side of the vessel. This is used as a bar and dining area at sea but can be lowered for use as a docking platform during tender operations in those ports where the vessel is unable to berth.

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Magic Carpet extends over the starboard side of the vessel (seen during Suez Canal transit)

In use as a docking platform

In addition, most (918) staterooms incorporate the infinite verandah, an outward patio of the balcony, into the stateroom by moving the steel superstructure of the ship inward. An individually controlled main window can be lowered for access.

Being five years old, the vessel undertook her first regular drydock prior to repositioning to Sydney, Australia as her new home port for the 2024 summer season in that part of the world. We stayed for first two of three voyage legs, Rome to Dubai and Dubai to Singapore. She subsequently sailed Singapore to Sydney.