Celebrity Cruises review: is Celebrity a good cruise line?

Our Celebrity Cruises scorecard

This is our editorial verdict on Celebrity (the line with the X in its logo, which is why some people search for “Celebrity X Cruises”), graded on the seven criteria we use for every line. It is based on Celebrity’s published fleet, fare and itinerary information and our Celebrity Cruises guide, not on passenger ratings.

These grades are why Celebrity is first in our cruise line rankings. It doesn’t win many categories outright: Oceania has better food and Royal Caribbean has more to do. But it comes second or third in most of them, and no other line we rank does that.

Strengths

• Food for the fare. Dinner in the main dining room is a step up from Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Carnival, and the buffet and grill are included on every fare. Celebrity is the runner-up for food in our rankings.
• The Edge-class ships. Celebrity Edge, Apex, Beyond, Ascent and Xcel are modern, carry about 2,900 to 3,260 guests, and have the Magic Carpet, a moving platform on the side of the ship that works as a bar or restaurant. The next one, Celebrity Xcite, is due in 2028.
• A clear bundled fare. All Included fares add a Classic drinks package (with its gratuities) and Basic Wi-Fi, so you can compare the real cost with other lines without building packages yourself. Suites in The Retreat get the Premium drinks package and Premium Wi-Fi.
• Range. Alaska from Seattle and Vancouver, Canada and New England from Boston and New York, the Mediterranean and Northern Europe in summer, the Caribbean in winter, and the 100-guest Celebrity Flora in the Galapagos. See our Seattle and Boston port guides.
• The older ships were updated. The Millennium-class ships went through Celebrity’s refit program; Celebrity Summit, for example, was fully refurbished in 2019.

Weaknesses

• Crew tips are always extra, even on All Included fares. Budget for them per person per day.
• Not built for young children. Camp at Sea and the teen club are included, but there are no water slides or water parks. Families with small kids do better on Disney or Royal Caribbean.
• Specialty dining costs extra. Fine Cut Steakhouse and the other specialty restaurants are not in the fare; AquaClass guests get Blu, and Retreat guests get Luminae.
• The Infinite Veranda. On Edge-class ships the standard balcony is an Infinite Veranda: the top of the glass wall lowers at the touch of a button and the balcony space becomes part of the room. Some cruisers love it; if you want a separate outdoor balcony, book another ship or cabin type.
• The fare is higher than the mainstream lines. If you only compare headline prices, Carnival, MSC and Norwegian will usually look cheaper.

Who Celebrity suits

• Couples and friends who want a lively bar scene without a party crowd. See our best cruises for adults.
• First-time cruisers who want a safe choice that most adults will like.
• Families with teens or grown-up children who care more about food and pools than rides. For younger kids, see our family cruise picks.
• Alaska travelers who put food first: Celebrity Edge, Solstice and Summit sail there in 2026 and 2027, and Celebrity is our pick for the best food on an Alaska cruise. Princess and Holland America still lead our Alaska rankings overall, partly because Celebrity doesn’t go into Glacier Bay.

Is AquaClass worth it on Celebrity?

AquaClass is a cabin category with spa perks. It includes dinner at Blu, a restaurant reserved for AquaClass guests, unlimited access to the SEA Thermal Suite (on Edge-class ships) or the Persian Garden (on Solstice and Millennium ships), a spa concierge, complimentary fitness classes and daily bottled water.

It is worth it if you’d use the thermal suite and would otherwise pay for specialty dinners: Blu replaces the busy main dining room every night. It is not worth it if you plan to spend most of the day ashore or only want a balcony; a standard veranda gives you that for less. The Retreat, Celebrity’s suite area, is the bigger step up, with its own restaurant, lounge and sundeck.

Celebrity cruise ships ranked, best to worst

Our order is mostly about ship age and design. Any of them delivers Celebrity’s food and service.

1. Celebrity Xcel, Ascent and Celebrity Beyond: the three newest Edge-class ships and the most restaurants.
2. Celebrity Edge and Apex: slightly smaller Edge ships, often at a lower fare.
3. Celebrity Reflection: the largest Solstice ship, getting 13 new venues in a March 2027 dry dock.
4. Celebrity Silhouette, Eclipse, Equinox and Solstice: the Solstice layout with a real lawn on the top deck, and the value pick.
5. Celebrity Summit, Constellation, Infinity and Millennium: smaller, older and refitted. Pick them for the route, such as Summit’s 7-night Alaska round trips from Vancouver in 2027.

Celebrity Flora, the Galapagos ship, sits outside this list: it’s a 100-guest expedition ship and a different kind of trip.

How Celebrity compares

• Celebrity vs Royal Caribbean: its sister line has more thrills and more for kids; Celebrity has better food and a calmer ship. See Royal Caribbean.
• Celebrity vs Princess: Princess is cheaper and stronger in Alaska; Celebrity feels more contemporary. See Princess and our Princess review.
• Celebrity vs Virgin Voyages: Virgin is adults-only and includes all restaurants. See Celebrity vs Virgin Voyages.

Celebrity Cruises review FAQ

Is Celebrity a good cruise line?

Yes. It’s our top-ranked line for most adults because it does food, ships and itineraries well at a fare well below luxury. It’s a weaker choice for young children and for travelers shopping on price alone.

Is Celebrity cruise good for kids?

For teens and older kids, it’s fine: Camp at Sea and the teen club are included in the fare. For young children who want water slides, no. Celebrity’s ships have none, and Disney or Royal Caribbean suit them far better.

Is AquaClass worth it on Celebrity Cruises?

If you’d use the spa’s thermal suite and like the idea of a quieter restaurant, Blu, every night, yes. If you’ll be ashore most days or just want a balcony, a standard veranda cabin is better value.

What is the best Celebrity cruise ship?

An Edge-class ship: Celebrity Xcel, Ascent or Beyond for the newest venues. Among the older ships, Celebrity Reflection is the pick for sailings after its March 2027 dry dock.

Are Celebrity cruises all-inclusive?

Not fully. All Included fares cover a Classic drinks package and Basic Wi-Fi on top of meals and entertainment, but crew tips, specialty restaurants, excursions and the spa are extra.