There’s always a lot happening on-board Celebrity Edge. In fact, every square centimetre of the 306m-long 129,500-tonne ship is dedicated to packing it in, as the Celebrity Today daily digest illustrates. Chilling by the covered adults-only Solarium pool area is also perfectly acceptable. There are so many options on-board during my seven-day Rome to Barcelona cruise that the only sea day presents a challenge: how to maximise every moment.

The 2918-guest Celebrity Edge launched at the end of 2018, the first of four new Edge-class ships, which now include Celebrity Beyond, Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Ascent. The countdown is on for her arrival in Australia for an inaugural season of six- to 13-night itineraries from early December to April. Expectations are justifiably high of the first Star-rated cruise brand in Forbes Travel Guide’s Resort at Sea category.

Celebrity Edge has 14 decks, with its outward-facing design aimed at building a greater connection between guests and the sea. Spacious staterooms and suites were styled by award-winning British designer Kelly Hoppen in her signature soft colour palette. I’ve been upgraded to an Edge Stateroom with Infinite Veranda – touch a button and the top window retracts to create an outdoor space in the living room – and a welcome bottle of Champagne is waiting on arrival.

My 18-year-old, 1.9m-tall son and I comfortably shared the king size bed, dressed with Celebrity’s signature eXhale bedding. There’s plenty of bathroom storage for personal items, a supplied hair dryer and Celebrity Cruises’ custom C.O. Bigelow toiletries. The rooms are also accessible, with a roll-in shower and higher toilet. Air conditioning and lighting is automated and the control panel offers myriad settings to manipulate the mood, close the window’s shade panel at night and open it up for the big reveal when you arrive at your destination. Need a nana nap? Press a button to dim the lighting and draw the shades. Feeling peckish? Order hot chips and Champagne.

Each of the 29 food and beverage options on-board has a distinct ambience. Normandie’s simple French fare is testament to the company’s commitment to reflecting the destinations it cruises to. Let’s not forget the attention-grabbing Magic Carpet, a 90-tonne movable deck with bar and live music cantilevered over the sea. When it’s not being used as a platform to access the tender boats, the Magic Carpet is stationed on Deck 5, 14 or 15, to take in a variety of views.

The Eden, which spans three decks from the aft of the ship, is one of 11 bars and lounges. My son and I dressed up for a degustation dinner here, enjoying a parade of pretty dishes including a zingy ceviche, truffled risotto and lobster casserole. The whimsical space, bespoke cocktails, French wines, changing sea views and sparkling conversation amounted to our most memorable experience on-board.

SUITE 10/10

The Edge Stateroom with Infinite Veranda feels spacious thanks to the floor-to-ceiling glass doors and retractable top window. There is plenty of storage and the suite features signature eXhale bedding and C.O. Bigelow toiletries.

FOOD 9/10

There are 29 food and beverage options on-board, each with its own ambience. The low-key Oceanview cafe buffet is excellent, so too the flavours of France at Normandie, one of the four main dining rooms on-board.

ITINERARY 9/10

Grill the staff at guest relations about the shore excursions to try. Celebrity Edge stops at a port each morning and departs by late afternoon or early evening, leaving a lot of time for passengers to enjoy immersive shore excursions.

VERDICT 9.5/10

Celebrity Edge is an elegant ship that attracts committed cruisers, mostly from the US. The culinary offerings are excellent, the service is fantastic and the outward-facing design dissolves the boundaries between indoors and outdoors.

The writer was a guest of Celebrity Cruises. A 13-night roundtrip cruise from Sydney to New Zealand is on sale, priced from $2664 per person. 

Originally published as We Cruised On… Celebrity Edge