Would Lori and I sail Celebrity Beyond again? Absolutely. Our cabin was a major disappointment, but it was not the whole cruise. We loved much of the ship, enjoyed the food and entertainment, and thought the wider crew delivered outstanding service.
The Judson Score: 19.5 out of 25
These are my ratings from this sailing, not a promise that every passenger will have the same experience. The cabin score reflects what happened in our particular room; I have deliberately separated that from the service we received around the rest of the ship.
The ship: elegant without feeling pretentious
Beyond is stunning. If this is your first Edge-class ship, I think the design will make an impression. It also felt easy to navigate: we could learn the layout without constantly going up a deck just to get somewhere else.
Eden was a favorite. Its aft-facing glass, wake views, bar, dining and entertainment make it somewhere we wanted to spend time, not simply pass through. We particularly enjoyed relaxing there with a drink and looking out to sea.
The Magic Carpet was another highlight, especially around sunrise when it was quiet. Having that platform outside the ship gives it a different feel from an ordinary indoor bar. The Solarium gave us a tranquil, temperature-controlled place to sit, swim or simply doze off.
My main design wish is a forward-facing observation lounge. The gym has wonderful views, and while I enjoyed using it, I would love to see a lounge and bar in a space like that. That is my design preference—not an announced change to the ship.
Entertainment: live music was a standout
I have mixed feelings about Celebrity’s main-theater productions. For my taste, technology and effects sometimes overshadow the substance of the show. Other guests may love them, and I encourage you to watch and decide for yourself.
Eden’s Dreams, with its Alice in Wonderland inspiration, was a show we particularly wanted to see again. The catch was seating. On our sailing, we arrived roughly an hour and a half early and were still several rows back. The Club could also involve a long wait for good seats.
My advice is to pick the show that matters most to you and plan around it, rather than spend every evening waiting for seats. Check the daily schedule onboard: the times and number of performances I mention in the video describe our cruise, not a fixed timetable for future sailings.
If production shows are not your thing, we found excellent live music in Eden, the Grand Plaza and other venues, including the Sunset Bar in the evenings. That variety helped earn entertainment a 4.5.
Food: we did not miss AquaClass dining as much as expected
We usually eat in Blu when sailing AquaClass, so I wondered how the main dining rooms would compare. This was our first time using them on an Edge-class ship. We ate in Tuscan for five nights and Cyprus for two.
Overall, the food and service were very good. I did not feel we had taken a significant step down from Blu, although there were a couple of dishes we missed. That was a useful lesson for me: a standard cabin does not automatically mean an inferior dining experience.
The buffet also impressed us. I appreciated the salad choices, carved meats and freshly prepared options, and regularly chose a Caesar salad. There was plenty for different tastes, including a pizza and calzone area that smelled wonderful—even though I did not try the pizza myself.
Food is subjective, but I would give the main dining rooms and buffet together a 4.5 out of 5.
Cabin 7106: the part we would not repeat
We booked a forward, starboard-side porthole veranda on Deck 7 because we wanted a real outdoor balcony rather than an Infinite Veranda. I liked the concept, but our experience in 7106 was poor.
We encountered an unexpected obstruction, serious cleanliness problems, theater bass we could hear and feel, and cigarette smoke reaching the balcony from the forward crew area. We spent around two hours cleaning after arriving. The cabin service during the week also disappointed us.
I would not book this particular cabin again. Its 1 out of 5 is an experience score—not a claim that all Beyond cabins are like this.
Read our Celebrity Beyond cabin 7106 review
Service: five stars for the wider crew
I do not think it would be fair to let the cabin experience erase the work of everyone else. Around the ship, the crew were smiling, attentive and eager to help. Even in the buffet, clearing plates was remarkably quick.
Our dining-room teams and Eden bar team were highlights. A happy crew makes a difference, and we felt that throughout much of the cruise. That is why service and crew receive 5 out of 5 here, with the cabin-related issues counted separately.
What we paid—and sailing from Miami
We paid $1,788 for two people for the week and received $150 in onboard credit. That is the amount reported in my video, not a current fare quote or a claim that every extra was included. Onboard credit is a spending allowance, not a cash refund.
For that price, I thought the overall cruise represented excellent value despite our room problems.
Miami is not normally my favorite departure port, but this embarkation pleasantly surprised me. Dropping luggage, parking and getting through the process felt straightforward; I described it as taking around 20 minutes. There were only a few ships in port, so I would not assume the same experience on a much busier day.
Who I think Beyond suits
I would consider Beyond if you enjoy stylish spaces, good dining, live music and quieter places to relax, alongside evening entertainment. My own priorities were rest, relaxation and a traditional balcony. Cabin selection matters, particularly if theater noise or a balcony obstruction would bother you.
Our answer remains yes: we would sail Beyond again, but not in cabin 7106. In the original video I mention a future Norway booking; that reflects our plans at the time of recording, not a current sailing announcement.
About this review: Adapted from my full video and our firsthand 2026 sailing. Opinions, prices paid, staffing and schedules describe that trip. This is a full ship review, separate from our detailed cabin report.
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