Celebrity Cruises Retreat Review: Is The Retreat Worth the Money on Celebrity Beyond?
Picture this. I'm sitting on a rooftop garden eating dinner at sea. The sun is setting. Live music is playing. An island that looks like a Disney short film coming out of the sea passes by. A cocktail is in my hand. And I'm thinking, "This doesn't feel anything like the cruises people think they know."
I spent the last week doing what I call extremely important travel research aboard a Celebrity cruise, and I may have ruined regular cruising for myself.
I sailed in The Retreat.
So, The Retreat is almost like a ship within a ship. I wouldn't necessarily call it that, but that's what they kind of like to call it. The Retreat is the suites, the elevated experience on Celebrity.
I've actually only sailed Celebrity once before. Last week I was on Celebrity Beyond. Previously I was on Celebrity Reflection. Two totally different ships.
One of the reasons I wanted to sail Celebrity was because they have a great reputation. People absolutely love them. I also wanted to compare the experience because I've sailed on over 52 Virgin Voyages sailings.
I have a lot of clients who come to me and say, "Hey, we're looking at Celebrity and Virgin. What do you think?"
Well, I obviously will always choose Virgin, but I wanted to understand why people compare those experiences and why they choose one over the other.
Celebrity Retreat Check-In and Boarding Experience
Prior to sailing, I felt like there was a lack of information about what was included in The Retreat and how it worked.
When you sign up for The Retreat and you're paying for this elevated suite experience, I expected to receive more information. There was nothing on my app that indicated I was sailing in The Retreat. There was nothing explaining what to do or where to go.
So when we arrived at the port, there were Retreat check-in areas, but we didn't use them. We dropped off our luggage and kept walking.
Little did I know there was a whole Retreat check-in area right there.
Once we finally found it, they brought us through a separate area, straight up an elevator, and into a lounge. Someone greeted us with an iPad and sat us down. There was no standing in line.
I honestly thought they were going to hand me a cold washcloth and a glass of champagne at that point.
They checked us in while we sat comfortably in the lounge, which had drinks and light snacks available.
As soon as we finished, we headed straight onto the ship.
Finding Our Celebrity Beyond Sky Suite
Once onboard, there really wasn't much instruction about where to go next.
Eventually we completed muster and were told we could go directly to our cabin and drop off our bags.
That was a huge perk.
Nobody wants to drag around a heavy bag while trying to figure out where to eat, grab their first drink, and start enjoying vacation.
We were staying in a Magic Carpet Sky Suite.
When we arrived, we found that our suite was behind an additional entry door that opened into a small hallway shared with another cabin. It reminded me a lot of how some rooms connect at Four Seasons Orlando.
Walking into the cabin, I was impressed immediately.
The suite was spacious, clean, well-appointed, and comfortable. The bathroom was huge. We had a massive tub, dual sinks, a glamour station, and plenty of storage.
The balcony was fantastic with two chaise lounges, two chairs, and a table.
My biggest concern before sailing was the Magic Carpet itself. Since our cabin was located near it, I was worried we'd hear it constantly moving.
We didn't.
You couldn't hear it at all.
Not only that, but when the Magic Carpet moves, it does so without guests onboard, which was another pleasant surprise.
Who Cruises on Celebrity Cruises?
I was sailing with my 16-year-old daughter and my friend, who brought two 15-year-olds.
One thing we noticed right away was how few children were onboard.
I heard there were roughly 150 children on a ship carrying around 3,000 guests.
That helped me understand why people compare Celebrity and Virgin Voyages so often.
Celebrity definitely attracts a more adult audience. I'd say the demographic is roughly ages 35 to 80. There aren't many multi-generational family groups like you'll often see on Royal Caribbean.
It's definitely a more relaxed, chill vibe.
What Is Included in The Retreat on Celebrity Cruises?
The Retreat includes:
Private Retreat Lounge
The lounge is available almost all the time. There is food available throughout the day, although not constantly.
Retreat Sun Deck
The Retreat Sun Deck includes an exclusive pool, bar, lounges, and seating areas reserved only for Retreat guests.
Luminae Restaurant
Luminae is the exclusive restaurant for Retreat guests.
One of the best parts is that you don't need dinner reservations. You can simply show up and dine.
Premium Beverage Package
The unlimited premium drink package is included, which is a huge value considering how expensive drink packages can be.
Complimentary Mini Bar
Your suite includes a stocked mini bar with soda and beer.
Butler Service
You receive a dedicated butler who can assist with requests throughout the sailing.
Premium Wi-Fi
The premium Wi-Fi package is included and worked very well throughout the voyage.
Reserved Theater Seating
This was one of my favorite perks.
You could arrive 15 minutes before showtime and still have reserved seating waiting for you.
What Celebrity Cruises Got Right
The Cabin
The cabin absolutely blew me away.
Even though we booked one of the entry-level Retreat suites, the space felt luxurious, comfortable, and incredibly functional.
The lighting controls worked through both the app and wall controls, which was a nice touch.
The Crew
The crew was phenomenal.
Everyone was friendly, kind, helpful, and genuinely seemed happy to interact with guests.
One moment that stood out was meeting the captain.
He had an incredible personality during his onboard presentation. The next day, I saw him while getting off the ship in port, and he greeted me with a cheerful "Hello, have a good day."
That level of friendliness really stood out.
Even in The Retreat Lounge, staff members remembered my name after only speaking with them once.
The Food
The food was outstanding.
We ate in Luminae, specialty restaurants, and regular dining venues.
One of my favorite experiences was Le Petit Chef.
The restaurant uses table projections to create a show where a tiny animated chef appears to prepare your meal right on your plate.
We enjoyed it so much that we did it twice.
And I have to mention what may have been one of the best chocolate chip cookies I've ever had on a cruise ship.
I found it at the French café onboard and happily paid extra for it.
It was worth every penny.
What Wasn't Perfect About The Retreat
Butler Service
The butler experience started strong.
She came in and explained the basics, and I requested daily snacks delivered to the room at 3:00 PM.
For the first part of the cruise, we received charcuterie boards and other treats.
Then, halfway through the sailing, the snacks simply stopped showing up.
No explanation.
No follow-up.
Just no more snacks.
Private Journeys Excursions
This was probably my biggest disappointment.
Before sailing, I contacted Celebrity about arranging a Private Journey excursion in St. Kitts.
I was told everything would be arranged once I got onboard.
Nobody contacted me.
After waiting two days, I finally followed up myself and was told I was asking too late.
The problem was that I wasn't asking late. I had started the process weeks earlier.
Eventually they presented an option, but by the time it was offered, it was too late to secure.
That entire process felt like a major miss.
Is Celebrity Retreat Worth the Money?
So would I book The Retreat again?
Yes.
I know that's a wishy-washy answer, but yes.
I would absolutely sail Celebrity again.
I loved the ship. I loved the cabin. I loved the food. I loved the crew.
While the butler experience and Private Journeys process were disappointing, I now know how the system works and would approach things differently next time.
Do I think The Retreat is worth the money?
Yes.
It's expensive. There's no way around that.
But I do think it's worth it.
Who Should Book The Retreat?
I think The Retreat is ideal for:
Couples
Empty nesters
Luxury travelers
Travelers celebrating milestones
It's probably less worthwhile for:
Budget-conscious travelers
Families
Travelers who spend very little time in their cabin
Final Thoughts on Celebrity Beyond and The Retreat
My final verdict is simple.
I would absolutely sail Celebrity again, and I would absolutely book The Retreat again.
The cabin was perfect. The crew was exceptional. The food was excellent.
Was it flawless?
No.
But overall, the experience delivered enough value and comfort that I would happily do it again.
And next time, I'll know exactly how to make the most of everything The Retreat has to offer.
