Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises Inc (celebritycruises.com) is the second-largest subsidiary (by fleet size) and travel brand within the RCG/Royal Caribbean Group of companies (formerly RCCL/Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd). The "Celebrity" cruise brand was established in 1990 and joined RCCL in 1997.

Celebrity is recognized as one of the top "luxury ship travel" companies for adults. She is a signature operator of regularly scheduled Panama Canal transition itineraries and ranks among the top three Alaskan cruise lines. In May 2020, the company celebrated its 30th anniversary.

Company history and changes

Celebrity is a mid-priced luxury cruise company, known for offering travel packages that combine top-hotel amenities, premium services, sophisticated design, elegant atmosphere, and cutting-edge technology. Her ships provide exceptional service and fine dining, appealing primarily to moderately affluent, well-educated adults in their 40s. Celebrity also offers "Family Cruises" during holiday seasons (especially on voyages from the USA to the Caribbean and Bermuda) and "Seniors Cruises" (on European and South American itineraries).

The "X" on the ships' funnels represents the name "Chandris" (in Greek, "Xandris").

The company was founded in 1988 as part of the Chandris Group (Athens, Greece-based marine corporation, now Chandris Hellas Inc), specializing in ship ownership and vessel management. Before launching Celebrity, the Chandris Group operated the cruise brands "Chandris Line" (1960–1974, passenger service between Greece and Australia), "Chandris Cruises" (1974–1996, Mediterranean itineraries from Greece), and "Chandris Fantasy Cruises" (1985–1996, North American itineraries). Initially offering budget voyages on second-hand ships, the "Celebrity Cruises" brand evolved into one of the industry's leading premium "affordable luxury" cruise lines.

Celebrity's current President and CEO is Laura Hodges Bethge (formerly Executive VP), who succeeded Lisa Lutoff-Perlo in May 2023. Lutoff-Perlo now serves as Vice Chair and External Affairs Officer for RCG. Michael Scheiner is the company's Senior VP and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), and Tim Jones is the VP and Managing Director for Australia, New Zealand, and the Asia Pacific region.

Celebrity entered the luxury cruising market with roundtrip itineraries from the USA to Bermuda and expanded her fleet with newer ships.

IMPORTANT: In January 2025, RCG launched a new brand, "Celebrity River Cruises," managed under the Celebrity umbrella. The division plans to introduce 10 new riverboats, with at least two scheduled to begin operations in Europe in 2027.

As part of RCG, Celebrity's sister brands include RCI-Royal Caribbean International, Marella (UK), TUI (Germany), and Silversea. RCG previously owned Pullmantur (Spain).

The company’s headquarters are located at: "Celebrity Cruises, 1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, FL 33132-2096, USA".

Celebrity attracts a diverse clientele, including baby boomers and their families, honeymooners, and seniors. In addition to North American passengers (from the USA and Canada), she also appeals to travelers from Europe, and Central and South America. Longer cruises tend to attract older guests.

Week-long roundtrips to Alaska and the Caribbean are popular with families. To better serve multi-generational travelers, Celebrity has expanded her family programs to include trained staff for onboard kids’ and teen centers that offer enrichment and educational activities.

On October 4, 2018, the company launched "Celebrity Central"—a dedicated website for travel agents. It features six sections (news, marketing, sales, learning, and training), accessible via personalized logins. The platform integrates AirWaves, CruisingPower, the company's sales and marketing toolkit (Rewards, Digital Library), and Celebrity Passport (an e-learning portal). Celebrity Central also includes a search function and tags for trending topics.

In December 2020, the Galapagos-based Celebrity Xperience was sold to Emerald Blue Cruises Panama. The ship was previously named Celebrity Xperience (Jan 2016–Mar 2020), "MS Xperience" (Apr–Nov 2020), and has operated as "Emerald Dream" since December 2020.

Since 2022, Celebrity's well-being advisor has been Gwyneth Paltrow (born 1972), an American actress and businesswoman, and founder of the lifestyle brand Goop Inc. The first "Goop at Sea" event debuted aboard Celebrity Beyond during a 9-night "Italian Riviera and France Cruise" (Barcelona roundtrip, departing Sept 24, 2022). Each "Celebrity Goop Cruise" is curated by Goop and features a live interview and Q&A session with a wellness expert, themed experiences (food tastings, product trials, promotional sales, massages), interactive workshops (led by practitioners), surprise gifts, on-demand wellness classes (in public restrooms), detox smoothies, fitness tools (for AquaClass cabins), and an ultra-luxury wellness program (for Aqua Sky Suites). Fares for Goop-themed voyages start at US$750 per person (double occupancy).

By March 2023, Celebrity introduced pickleball courts fleetwide. These sports facilities are complimentary and include equipment (net, paddles, balls). Court locations vary by ship class: EDGE ships (Rooftop Garden, Deck 15), SOLSTICE ships (Sports Deck, Deck 15), and MILLENNIUM ships (Multi-Sports Court, Deck 12).

Starting in April 2024, Celebrity ships (Beyond and Reflection) began visiting RCG’s private island, CocoCay Bahamas, for the first time.

In June 2024, RCG launched the Loyalty Status Match program, allowing loyalty members from each brand—RCI’s Crown & Anchor Society, Celebrity’s Captain’s Club, and Silversea’s Venetian Society—to enjoy reciprocal tier status across all brands.

Also in June 2024, Celebrity sold two Galapagos-based ships (Celebrity Xpedition and Celebrity Xploration) to Lindblad Expeditions, with operations under the new owner starting in January 2025. Both vessels were acquired in March 2016 from the two-ship company Ocean Adventures. The acquisition of the 16-passenger catamaran Athala II (Celebrity Xploration) and the 48-passenger yacht Eclipse (Celebrity Xperience) increased Celebrity’s Galapagos capacity by 65%. Xploration and Xperience joined the fleet in spring 2016 and began regular service in January 2017 after undergoing extensive refurbishments.

New ships

The following YouTube video (official release) showcases the company's newest Edge-Class vessels and their standout features. The EDGE series includes five ships: Celebrity Edge (2018), Celebrity Apex (2020), Celebrity Beyond (2022), Celebrity Ascent (2023), and Celebrity Xcel (2025).

On April 11, 2019, the shipowner RCCL signed an MoU agreement with Chantiers de l'Atlantique Shipyard (St Nazaire, France) to order a 5th Edge-Class vessel, with delivery scheduled for Q3 2024.

In February 2014, Celebrity Cruises announced the fleetwide introduction of "The Suite Class." Suite Class passengers enjoy access to a private restaurant and VIP lounge. Key features on Solstice Class ships include the Lawn Club—a freshly manicured lawn on the top deck where guests can engage in casual outdoor activities in a relaxed, country-club atmosphere, even feeling real grass beneath their feet. Passengers can also enjoy glass-blowing demonstrations aboard Equinox, Eclipse, and Solstice, or dine at the Lawn Club Grill. Celebrity ships also feature Cellar Masters, inspired by Napa Valley vineyards, offering a global wine tour experience with opportunities to learn about and taste premium wines from around the world.

Since March 2018, RCCL/RCG has offered a unified login for RCI and Celebrity websites and mobile apps. This policy enables guests to use a single account for bookings, reservations, and loyalty program benefits across both brands. Account security has also been simplified and enhanced to better protect customers' personal data.

Celebrity's loyalty program "Captain's Club"

In June 2021, Celebrity updated its "Captain's Club" loyalty program for returning guests.

The updated offerings include:

• Onboard events such as the "Captain's Club Sneak Peek Series" (ship tour with cocktail sampling), "Create and Pour" (wine tasting), Welcome Parties (outdoor events at the Lawn Club and Rooftop Garden), and "Captain's Club Cocktail Hour" (complimentary drinks daily between 5-7 PM at all bars and lounges).
• Spa discounts: 10% off for Select and Elite members, and 15–20% off for Elite Plus and Zenith members. Discounts exclude MedSpa and Spa Retail items. Elite and higher-tier members also receive complimentary Persian Garden access on a port day of their choice.
• Photo discounts: 25–50% off all photo packages (up to US$300 off Studio Packages). New offerings include green screen photo sessions (with changing background scenery), as well as aerial and 360-degree photography.
• Laundry packages (on select voyages only), including the "Evening Chic" dry cleaning service (US$35 for up to 8 items), with an optional unlimited pressing add-on for US$20 (valid for the entire cruise).
• Internet discounts: 10–35% off all Internet packages, plus bonus minutes for Elite and Elite Plus members. An extra 10% discount (combinable) is offered with pre-cruise booking. Zenith members receive the Stream package (for one mobile device) complimentary.
• Beverage package discounts: 5–10% off when upgrading from "Classic" to "Premium" (if purchased pre-cruise). Zenith members receive the "Premium Beverage Package" complimentary.
• Wine discounts: 20% off per bottle on all wine brands sold onboard. Zenith members also receive one complimentary dinner per voyage at a specialty restaurant, including complimentary wine and flowers.

Celebrity brand's cruising experience

• Accommodations: Some of the largest cruise suites at sea, all served by butlers. Luxurious "ConciergeClass" staterooms, with highly personalized and attentive service. Guests enjoy preferred seating, priority check-in, and a 2:1 guest-to-staff ratio.
• Dining: Award-winning cuisine with a variety of specialty dining venues. "Gourmet Bites" served each afternoon, themed lunch buffets, and culinary demonstrations. Celebrity has partnered with "Elizabeth Blau and Associates" for enhanced menus, wine selections, and dining standards.
• Facilities: The largest spa and gym facilities at sea, branded as "AquaSpa by Elemis," offering world-class salon services, spa treatments, and fitness programs. Entertainment includes the "Celebrity Theatre" with Broadway-style shows, large European-style casinos, themed bars and lounges (including a discotheque), pools, poolside yoga and massages, and boutique shopping.
• Enrichment: The "Celebrity Lecture Series," curated contemporary art collections, art auctions, and a specialized golf program.
• "Celebrity Escape" is an adults-only (21+) concept featuring complimentary classes, workshops, themed events, fashion shows, deck parties, and more.
• Family Cruising Program: Complimentary games, parties, educational activities, and sea life exploration for kids and teens. Dedicated pools and discos are available for teens on all voyages.

Through a partnership with CG Technology (formerly Cantor Gaming), Celebrity Cruises introduced the industry's first mobile casino gaming app. Guests can download the free Cantor Mobile Casino app via the ship’s WiFi to their Android or Apple devices. The app allows them to play slots, video poker, and table games from anywhere on the ship. At the onboard casino lounge, passengers can also play live games like roulette, poker (including Texas Hold 'Em), and blackjack. Some ships offer Let It Ride and baccarat upon request. All ships have at least one poker table and host tournaments throughout the cruise.

Since 2013, Celebrity has partnered with "Top Chef" (the US reality TV series). In late 2014, they launched the exclusive "Top Chef at Sea" cruising experience. This culinary program allows fans and foodies to sail with celebrity chefs on annual food-themed "Top Chef Signature Sailings." Additionally, interactive "Quickfire Challenges" and "Top Chef"-inspired menus are offered fleetwide on cruises of five nights or longer (excluding Galapagos itineraries).

In 2017, Celebrity partnered with Bravo Media for the cooking video series "Isaac Takes On." The digital show follows Top Chef’s Isaac Toups as he cruises the Caribbean aboard the Celebrity Reflection, competing with guests in a series of culinary challenges. The ship features its own Michelin-starred chef, Cornelius Gallagher, who also appears throughout the series.

In February 2019, Celebrity Cruises announced two exclusive new partnerships—with Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud and the American Ballet Theatre (NYC-based, founded in 1939). Both collaborations introduced unique culinary and entertainment experiences across the fleet.

• The Celebrity-ABT partnership allows passengers (on select ships) to enjoy ballet performances by guest dancers and participate in seminars and ballet classes with them.
• Chef Daniel Boulud, founder of a global restaurant group with seven NYC locations and six more internationally, serves as Celebrity’s Global Culinary Brand Ambassador. He creates signature dishes for Luminae (the exclusive Suite-class restaurant). Celebrity also introduced the "Chef’s Table by Daniel Boulud"—a private galley tour and a 5-course VIP dining experience.

These new experiences were introduced in 2019, starting with Celebrity Summit, Equinox, and Millennium.

In December 2019, the company signed an exclusive partnership with OneSpaWorld Holdings Ltd (a Bahamas-based global provider of health and wellness services and products to cruise ships and land-based resorts). The partnership begins in May 2020 and covers the entire fleet, including newbuilds under construction.

All-inclusive deals

Since November 17, 2020, all Celebrity Cruises packages include unlimited beverages (Classic Drink Package—cocktails, beers, wines by the glass, sodas, juices, bottled water, specialty coffees and teas), Basic Wi-Fi, and onboard gratuities. However, since October 2023, the brand’s "All Included" packages no longer cover prepaid gratuities.

Optional package upgrades available for all bookings include:

• ELEVATE Package (unlimited premium drinks and shore excursions valued up to USD 200 per person)
• INDULGE Package (includes everything in the ELEVATE Package plus unlimited streaming Wi-Fi and up to USD 400 per person in onboard credit)

In August 2022, shipowner RCG signed an agreement with SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corp., founded in 2002 by Elon Musk) to provide Starlink satellite Internet across its entire fleet—Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity, and Silversea. Fleetwide installation was scheduled to be completed in Q1 of 2023.

"Celebrity Revolution" fleetwide refurbishments

In July 2018, Celebrity announced a USD 500 million fleet modernization (drydock refurbishment) program dubbed "Celebrity Revolution," scheduled from February 2019 through February 2023.

The renovations cover all staterooms and public spaces on nine ships, aligning onboard experiences with EDGE-class standards. Stateroom redesigns were led by HBA (Hirsch Bedner Associates, US-based) and Kelly Hoppen (UK-based interior designer).

Staterooms were upgraded with eXhale bedding (premium cashmere mattresses) and high-tech features such as RFID door locks, Bluetooth capabilities, and Xcelerate Wi-Fi Internet.

Refurbished Celebrity ships feature "The Retreat"—an adults-only sundeck with a full-size pool, Jacuzzi, private cabanas, padded loungers, and poolside bar service. Retreat suite guests receive exclusive access and inclusive amenities like Premium Wi-Fi and Premium Drink Packages.

Luminae Restaurant (Suites-only) was redesigned and introduced custom menus by Chef Cornelius Gallagher.

Qsine Restaurant was added fleetwide, offering the "Le Petit Chef" experience—a virtual dining show created by Skullmapping artists and presented by TableMation Studios exclusively for Celebrity.

Main Dining Rooms, Oceanview Café, and Sunset Bar were redesigned, along with most public venues. The SEA Thermal Suite in the spa was expanded. Retail offerings were enhanced with luxury brands including Hublot (Swiss watches) and Shinola (watches, jewelry, leather goods).

The four-year refurbishment program began in February 2019. The Celebrity ships scheduled for drydock under the "Celebrity Revolution" project are:

• Celebrity Millennium – Feb 9, 2019
• Celebrity Summit – Mar 23, 2019
• Celebrity Equinox – May 25, 2019
• Celebrity Silhouette – Jan 24, 2020
• Celebrity Eclipse – Apr 1, 2021
• Celebrity Constellation – May 1, 2020
• Celebrity Infinity – Nov 14, 2020
• Celebrity Solstice – Oct 1, 2021
• Celebrity Reflection – Feb 2, 2023

(NEW) Celebrity cruise gratuities 2023

Since July 2023, Celebrity increased its daily gratuity rates (per person, charged to both adults and children). The new rates compared to 2022 are:

• Standard staterooms (inside, oceanview, veranda): from USD 17.50 to USD 18 per day
• ConciergeClass and AquaClass: from USD 18 to USD 18.50 per day
• Suites: from USD 21 to USD 23 per day

Gratuities are automatically added to each guest’s onboard account daily and can be prepaid. These tips are distributed among dining, housekeeping, and cabin staff.

Historical daily gratuities per person:

In 2018 – USD 13.50 (standard), USD 14 (Aqua/Concierge), USD 17 (Suites)

In 2020 – USD 15.50 (standard), USD 16 (Aqua/Concierge), USD 19 (Suites)

In October 2022 – USD 17.50 (standard), USD 18 (Aqua/Concierge), USD 21 (Suites/The Retreat)

Celebrity cruise ship Room Service

Celebrity Cruises charges a USD 4.95 fee for items ordered from the ship's room service menu.

• Room service is available on all Celebrity ships between 11 pm and 6 am.
• Before September 2015, basic room service delivery was complimentary, with the exception of select premium items (e.g., cheese platter, filet mignon, Caprese salad).

New shipboard Wellness classes

In 2018, Celebrity and Canyon Ranch enhanced the fleetwide fitness program, increasing the number of wellness seminars and fitness classes to 20. These include six categories:

• Acupuncture (Pain Relief)
• Conditioning (Pilates)
• Longevity
• Mindfulness (Spiritual Cycling)
• Nutrition (Detox 101)
• Sweat (Tabata)

Highlighted wellness offerings include:

• "Acupuncture for Pain Relief" – boosts energy, relieves pain and digestive issues, reduces stress, and improves sleep
• "Pilates to the Beat" – mat class synchronized with upbeat music
• "Age-Defying Technology" – explores wellness tech and products for anti-aging
• "Spiritual Cycling" – combines mindful energy awareness with music-driven cycling
• "Detox 101: Weight Loss and More" – covers effective detox foods that support weight loss
• "Tabata Impact" – high-intensity full-body workout based on Japanese training methods

(Coronavirus crisis) passenger shipping pause 2020-2021

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Royal Caribbean Group (RCG), the parent company of Celebrity, suspended all passenger operations across its brands (RCI, Celebrity, Silversea, Azamara) from March 13, 2020, through June 30, 2021.

First scheduled departures post-suspension for Celebrity ships: APEX (June 19, 2021 / Mediterranean from Piraeus-Athens), BEYOND (April 27, 2022 / Maiden Voyage / Europe), CONSTELLATION (Nov 7, 2021 / Caribbean from Tampa), ECLIPSE (April 23, 2022 / Hawaii-Australia repositioning from Vancouver to Honolulu), EDGE (June 26, 2021 / Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale), EQUINOX (July 25, 2021 / Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale), INFINITY (June 25, 2022 / Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale), MILLENNIUM (July 23, 2021 / Alaska from Seattle), REFLECTION (Nov 6, 2021 / Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale), SILHOUETTE (July 3, 2021 / UK from Southampton), SOLSTICE (May 6, 2022 / Alaska from Seattle), SUMMIT (Sept 14, 2021 / Caribbean from Miami).

Celebrity’s Galapagos ships restart dates: Flora (July 4, 2021 / Maiden Voyage), Xpedition (July 31, 2021), Xploration (January 1, 2022).

• Australia and New Zealand 2021-2022 sailings (Celebrity Eclipse) were canceled.
• All 2021 repositioning cruises (Alaska, Panama Canal, Transatlantic) were canceled.
• Most 2021 European itineraries (Constellation, Edge, Infinity, Reflection) were canceled, except APEX (Mediterranean) and SILHOUETTE (UK).
• South America 2021-2022 (Infinity from Rio de Janeiro) was canceled.
• Japan 2021-2022 (Solstice from Yokohama) was canceled.

All affected bookings received 100% refunds, including pre-purchased Celebrity Cruises packages and services. For sailings after April 30, 2022, refunds were issued as FCC (Future Cruise Credit), which had to be redeemed by December 31, 2021. Guests could request a full monetary refund through December 31, 2020. The cancellation policy was extended to allow penalty-free cancellations up to 48 hours before departure for all cruises departing through September 1, 2020 (initially July 31).