It's time to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure aboard the Celebrity Edge. On this dream cruise, I will journey around Spain, Italy, and France on a ship that marked a turning point for the industry's design standards.
With the ship departing from Barcelona, Spain, I had to fly in from the United States of America, which was no trouble. I presented my vaccination records, a negative Covid test, and the SPTH health control form. From there, I spent one day exploring Barcelona before it was time to board the ship.
After an incredible night exploring Barcelona, I grabbed a taxi the following morning and headed directly to the port. From my hotel to the cruise port was about 15 minutes. Check-in at the terminal was straightforward and took no more than three minutes. For the sailing that I was on, the requirements were that all guests 18+ must be fully vaccinated, and if you didn't have a booster vaccine, you needed to present a negative Covid antigen test within one day before sailing. While my cruise has these set requirements, it is essential to stay up-to-date on your sailing requirements by checking the cruise line's website.
Boarding the Celebrity Edge could be compared to boarding a large luxurious yacht. From the moment I stepped on, it was apparent how attentive and caring the crew was set to be. When walking into the ship, your first glimpse of the design and décor is of the Grand Plaza. The Grand Plaza is home to the Martini Bar, Café al Bacio, and various other restaurants and bars.
From there, I ventured to my cabin. I had an infinite veranda unique to the EDGE Class of ships on this cruise. These staterooms are some of the most innovative at sea, allowing you to control the lights, curtains, and air conditioning from your phone. But, of course, one of the unique aspects of the room must be the balcony. With the touch of a button, your floor-to-ceiling windows transform into a balcony. These cabins are 23% larger than Celebrity's previous Solstice Class of ships.
At this point, sail away was set to occur. Gliding away from Barcelona while enjoying the Ocean View Café was quite the experience. The Ocean View Café is Celebrity's buffet that has a wide variety of foods with the ability to cater to any dietary restrictions. While this is not the only dining option on board, I chose to sit here while the sun set over Spain. Some other dining options onboard the Celebrity Edge would be one of the four Main Dining Rooms, Raw on 5, Le Petit Chef, and much more. Without a doubt, there is something that will satisfy everyone's cravings.
To end the night, I sat through a comedy show featuring Basile, who is set to have his own steaming TV special, and Celebrity Rox, a performance put on by the production cast that ends with the commencement of an epic party in the club.
Overall, the sweat and stress over whether embarkation day would be simple were put to rest. The crew of Celebrity Edge and the port of Barcelona made for a seamless process creating one of the quickest and easiest embarkations I have ever experienced. It is also a great day to get to know the ship and explore as you start your long-awaited vacation.
Have you cruised out of Barcelona? Have you sailed on the Edge? What would you look forward to the most?
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