I just embarked on a 12-night cruise aboard Celebrity Edge with my husband for an epic journey across New Zealand. However, this trip looked very different when we first booked it.
Originally, we had planned to cruise to India aboard Celebrity Millennium, which is the oldest ship in Celebrity’s fleet.
However, we made the decision over the summer to pivot our plans and sail to New Zealand instead. Once our itinerary changed, we decided to splurge on our trip to make this vacation feel extra special.
Although we originally booked an interior cabin on Celebrity Millennium, we decided to upgrade to an Infinite Veranda stateroom on Celebrity Edge.
And after a lot of back-and-forth (and some convincing), we decided to spend about $1,200 to upgrade to Celebrity’s Aqua Class. This was a once-in-a-lifetime itinerary for us, so we wanted to make the most of this elevated experience.
Celebrity’s Aqua Class is designed for guests who prioritize wellness, relaxation, and a quieter onboard experience. The upgrade includes access to Blu, an exclusive restaurant for Aqua Class guests, along with unlimited use of the SEA Thermal Suite. You also receive priority spa access, yoga mats in the stateroom, plush robes, and upgraded bath amenities.
Here’s what a typical sea day looked like for us while sailing in a Celebrity Cruises Aqua Class cabin, including my honest thoughts about the elevated experience.
7:00 a.m. — Good Morning!
Our first day at sea was sunny with calm seas — a nice surprise from the infamously rocky Tasman Sea!
Our cabin was quiet and comfortable, and we started the morning with some fresh air flowing through the open veranda window. Sea days are extremely relaxing because there’s no where you need to be and nothing that needs to be done!
7:30 a.m. — Coffee at Café al Bacio
Our first stop of the day (as always) was ordering coffee at Café al Bacio. This is Celebrity’s onboard coffee house, and it’s one of the best coffee shops on any cruise ship!
The coffee here is consistently excellent, and it quickly became part of our morning routine, even during busy port-days with excursions. The cafe offers beautiful views of the sea, making it extra relaxing by the Grand Atrium’s massive Christmas tree!
8:00 a.m. — Breakfast at Blu
Breakfast at Blu was one of our favorite Aqua Class perks. Instead of fighting crowds at Oceanview Café or waiting in line for the other dining rooms, we enjoyed a calm, seated breakfast with attentive service. We ended up visiting Blu for breakfast almost every day of our cruise because we liked it so much!
I usually started with the Blu yogurt parfait, while my husband gravitated toward the smoked salmon omelet and a fresh bowl of yogurt with berries. I rotated between French toast or pancakes and lighter options depending on the day, such as an English muffin.
The menu stays the same each morning, but the staff is more than happy to customize dishes, which is something we took advantage of.
Service was quick and attentive, and breakfast here felt more like a boutique hotel experience than a cruise ship.
9:00–11:00 a.m. — Relaxing in the Cabin
After breakfast, we headed back to our Aqua Class stateroom to unwind. I spent some time offloading photos from my camera, while Luke caught up on a football game back home.
After busy travel days and long hours spent exploring Sydney, having this downtime was a much-needed moment of relaxation. Our cozy cabin felt like a true retreat rather than just a place to sleep.
I also packed some Christmas decorations from the dollar store to make our stateroom feel festive for the holiday season. With the balcony window open, it was a lovely way to start our cruise!
11:30 a.m. — Lunch at Oceanview Café
Blu isn’t open for lunch, so we usually headed to Oceanview Café for lunch each day. I kept things simple with a made-to-order turkey sandwich, pear, and mac and cheese.
Aqua Class guests can also opt for the main dining room at lunch, but Oceanview Cafe worked well for us on sea days. I also appreciated how expansive the buffet was, with so many options to try! The dessert selection is especially impressive.
Oceanview Cafe is one of the best buffets I’ve ever experienced at sea, and I’d argue Celebrity has some of the best cruise food because of it.
1:00 p.m. — Gym Time
After lunch, we headed to the gym in the early afternoon, which wasn’t very busy. This could have been due to the rockier seas in the afternoon, which made it a little more difficult to experience. I used the elliptical while Luke ran on the treadmill. Working out felt more motivating knowing the thermal spa was waiting afterward!
2:30 p.m. — Thermal Spa Bliss
This is where Aqua Class really shines! I’ve only purchased access to a thermal spa once while cruising with Norwegian, and I was eager to try Celebrity’s Edge class thermal spa. We brought our swimsuits to the gym so we could head straight to the SEA Thermal Suite after exercising.
We rotated between the waterfall therapy shower, steam rooms, and heated loungers overlooking the sea. Watching waves roll by from a warm lounger was easily one of my favorite ways to relax on the trip. We visited the thermal spa used almost daily thanks to unlimited access.
3:30 p.m. — Pool Deck Drinks
After using the Thermal Spa for about an hour, we grabbed a drink and spent some time on the pool deck soaking up sunshine and fresh air. Aqua Class doesn’t include a Celebrity drink package, but we upgraded our cruise fare with our travel agents’ exclusive group rate that included Celebrity’s Classic Drink Package.
Even on cooler days, it was nice to be outside and feel connected to the ocean. The weather was warmer than anticipated as we sailed across the Tasman Sea. As we sailed further south to New Zealand’s Fiordland, the weather become cooler!
4:00 p.m. — Cabin Downtime
In the late afternoon, we usually enjoyed some quiet downtime in the cabin before dinner. Luke took a nap while I watched a Christmas movie, applied a face mask, and enjoyed the spacious waterfall shower in our stateroom.
Slipping into the plush Aqua Class robes afterward felt indulgent in the best way. These are upgraded robes than the standard cabin you receive, and while I wasn’t convinced at first that it would be different, these were definitely more luxurious!
With beautiful weather, we kept the window open, letting in fresh sea air while the ship sailed toward New Zealand.
6:00 p.m. — Dinner at Blu
Dinner at Blu was excellent each night, and we couldn’t wait to eat here in the evenings. Celebrity Aqua Class guests can order Blu exclusives from the menu or select dishes from the main dining rooms.
For instance, I ordered appetizers and entrees from the French main dining room, Normandie, a few times. This was never an issue, and our fantastic servers were happy to oblige. You can also order from a classic menu available each night, with options like New York strip steak and grilled chicken.
The dining room is smaller and more intimate than the main restaurants, and it’s one of the best perks of booking Aqua Class. We found the intimate dining room made it easier to meet other guests and build relationships with the staff. We had the same servers every night, and at breakfast too, which added a personal touch we really appreciated.
8:00 p.m. — Sunset and an Early Night
Since we were still fighting jet lag at the beginning of our cruise, we decided to call it an early night after a big meal in the Blu restaurant. Most evenings, we attended the headliner shows in the theatre, but we didn’t mind skipping occasionally for an early bedtime.
Instead, we would watch the sunset from our balcony and enjoy the quiet ambiance of the waves rolling in the distance. We also enjoyed watching the sunsets from Eden, the aft-facing venue with floor-to-ceiling windows.
On a long itinerary like this, those slower evenings made the entire cruise feel more restorative, especially before our port-intensive segment in New Zealand!
Should you book Celebrity’s Aqua Class?
If you’re looking for a slightly more elevated experience without breaking the bank, I would absolutely recommend booking Celebrity’s Aqua Class.
On a 12-night sailing with long travel days, port-heavy itineraries, and significant jet lag, Aqua Class gave us the opportunity and flexibility to truly relax. With access to the Blu Restaurant and SEA thermal spa, the calm atmosphere made our New Zealand cruise feel extra special.
In addition, we were able to exclusively access an outer deck from the thermal spa. This gave us incredible views from the front of the ship during our scenic sailing through New Zealand’s Fiordland! That made the upgrade worth it!
For travelers who value wellness, and more elegant, intimate experiences during their cruise, then Celebrity Cruises’ Aqua Class can is absolutely worth it, especially on longer or bucket-list sailings.
