Last month, my husband and I sailed aboard the beautiful Celebrity Edge across New Zealand in Celerity’s AquaClass for the first time. We embarked on a 12-night journey from Sydney, Australia with stops across the New Zealand. Honestly, I was blown away by the entire experience!
One of the biggest highlights of our cruise was being able to experience AquaClass, which is a wellness-focused experience available on Celebrity’s cruise ships. It truly elevated our Celebrity cruise from start to finish.
AquaClass is often marketed as a spa-inspired stateroom category with exclusive benefits for cruisers to take advantage of. But, after sailing aboard Celebrity Edge, I quickly realized that not all of those benefits are created equal.
In fact, I didn’t even use every AquaClass benefit that we paid for. In my opinion, some of the inclusions felt a little gimmicky, while others I didn’t even consider using.
However, the AquaClass benefits we did love were impressive enough to make the experience feel worthwhile. From the upscale dining in Blu to the unlimited access in Celebrity’s stunning and state-of-the-art thermal spa, I was sold on the AquaClass experience.
Here’s every AquaClass benefit ranked from best to worst, based on what actually elevated our cruise to New Zealand.
Celebrity’s AquaClass Benefits Available Onboard
Before diving into the rankings, here’s the full list of AquaClass benefits and amenities that you receive with this stateroom category. Our full list of AquaClass benefits was provided on a specific amenity list for our Celebrity Edge cruise, but this should be consistent regardless of which ship you sail on.
AquaClass Benefits:
- Exclusive dining access to Blu restaurant
- Direct access to the SEA Thermal Suite
- Six complimentary fitness classes
- Two bottled waters in the stateroom, replenished daily
- Preferential rates on AquaClass spa packages
- Expanded room service menu with healthy options
- Two yoga mats for onboard use
- In-room fitness amenities menu (upon request)
- Luxurious bathrobes, slippers, and towels
- Welcome bottle of sparkling wine (upon request)
- Complimentary use of umbrella and binoculars
- Shoeshine service
- Pillow selection upon request
Best AquaClass Benefits That We Loved
During our cruise, we absolutely took advantage of many of the spa-focused and wellness-inspired benefits available to us. Here’s a breakdown of the best AquaClass benefits that we actually used and loved.
Best AquaClass Benefit: Blu Restaurant
Even without the other perks, access to the exclusive Blu Restaurant made AquaClass completely worthwhile for us.
The service in Blu was consistently attentive at both breakfast and dinner, and having the same waitstaff each night made the experience feel personal and familiar. We loved connecting with our servers, which is something that’s harder to do in the busy main dining room.
The menu at Blu was special and sophisticated, with more elevated entrees and thoughtful options compared to standard dining venues on Celebrity Edge. There were exclusive “Blu” entrees available each night on the menu that you couldn’t find elsewhere, such as lobster and filet mignon.
We also loved that we could still order from the main dining room menu if something else caught our eye. Because Blu is smaller than a main dining room, it was intimate, quiet, and relaxing each evening.
If you’re considering AquaClass, I’d argue that Blu is the single biggest reason to do it!
SEA Thermal Suite Access
Edge-class ships have some of the best thermal spas at sea, and easily the best in Celebrity’s fleet.
We loved having unlimited access to the thermal suite and trying out all of the facilities during our cruise. My husband gravitated toward the saunas and steam rooms. In fact, he used the sauna almost every day of our cruise!
We found the thermal spa to be very quiet, and we enjoyed how the adults-only space felt exclusive and luxurious. I loved being able to use this space as often we wanted during the cruise, unlike a massage or spa treatment that only lasts an hour.
The heated stone loungers were my personal favorite, especially while sailing through New Zealand’s scenic sounds with the chilly wind.
Finally, one of the biggest AquaClass benefits that I hadn’t considered was having access to the private forward-facing deck. This became one of the best spots on the entire ship while sailing through the scenic sounds. I hadn’t seen others mention this perk, but it’s definitely something to consider if your cruise has scenic sailing days!
Luxury Bathrobes
I love using a bathrobe while cruising, as it makes the stateroom experience feel a little more luxurious. AquaClass cabins receive higher quality bathrobes to use, and I noticed the difference almost immediately!
These robes were noticeably more plush and comfortable than standard ones. They felt more luxurious rather than functional, and I used mine far more than I normally would. It’s a small benefit, but it reinforced the elevated feel of my AquaClass experience.
Daily Bottled Water
Guests staying in AquaClass cabins receive two bottles of water each day of their cruise. Even with a drink package, this was a surprisingly convenient perk that we appreciated each night.
Having bottled water delivered directly to our stateroom each day meant we didn’t have to remember to stop by a bar every night. I liked not having to stash away extra bottles of water knowing we would receive water each night. It was especially nice for excursions!
This is a simple AquaClass perk that could be overlooked, but a practical one that we utilized each day!
Upgraded Bathroom Products and Shower Experience
AquaClass staterooms receive higher-quality bathroom products to use, which I really appreciated. I almost always bring my own shampoo and condition for a cruise, but it was nice not having to waste suitcase space.
I didn’t feel the need to pack my own toiletries, and the products felt noticeably nicer than standard cruise products.
I also loved the rainfall shower in our bathroom. Moreover, the shower itself was huge! When you pair the elevated products with the luxurious waterfall, it added to the spa-like vibe of the cabin.
Pillow Selection
AquaClass staterooms include a customizable pillow selection for guests to select. This includes a traditional feather-and-down body pillow, a hypoallergenic pillow designed for added support, and a Swedish Isotonic pillow that adapts to body temperature and sleeping position.
I requested a memory foam pillow and was honestly thrilled they had one available! This is what I use at home, so sleeping on a familiar pillow made a big difference for me each night.
I slept incredibly well throughout the cruise, which is especially important on a longer cruise with many long days ashore. This perk won’t matter to everyone, but if you’re particular about sleep, it’s a big plus!
Mid-Tier AquaClass Benefits
AquaClass comes with an extensive list of perks, but realistically, most cruisers won’t use every inclusion on a single sailing. Here’s the list of mid-tier AquaClass perks that we considered using but didn’t find the opportunity.
Complimentary Fitness Classes
AquaClass guests receive up to six complimentary fitness classes per sailing, which may include yoga, stretching, or other wellness-focused sessions. We didn’t end up using this perk, mainly because the classes filled up quickly.
My husband considered signing up for yoga, but availability was limited for the popular time slots. I would have considered a stretching or yoga class if it worked with our schedule, but we didn’t consider this until halfway through the cruise when classes were full.
If this perk matters to you, booking on the first day is essential because it’s a popular perk!
Expanded Room Service Menu
AquaClass staterooms include an expanded room service menu with additional health-conscious options, such as fresh juices. While there are a few additional options to order, the list is pretty much identical to the regular room service menu.
I’ll be honest that we were a little disappointed here, and it didn’t feel like an actual upgrade. The AquaClass expanded menu wasn’t really comprehensive or exciting enough to change how we used room service.
It could be nice to have for some, but it was underwhelming for us without any protein or warm entrees on the menu.
Welcome Sparkling Wine
Guests can request a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine upon arrival. This perk is optional and can be delivered to the stateroom during the cruise. However, because we had a drink package, this perk didn’t really matter to us.
It would feel more special if you don’t have a drink package, and it could be a great way to start your cruise!
Least Valuable AquaClass Benefits
While AquaClass includes a long list of perks, not all of them delivered the same level of value. Some of the inclusions felt more gimmicky, especially when compared to the higher-tier benefits we used daily.
Spa Concierge and Preferential Spa Pricing
AquaClass includes access to a spa concierge, who can assist with booking treatments, answering questions about spa services, and navigating available packages. In addition, AquaClass guests receive preferential pricing on select spa treatments and packages.
However, when we booked a couples’ massage, we didn’t receive any additional assistance or added value from having a spa concierge. There also wasn’t any mention of the preferential pricing for the spa.
Ultimately, there was nothing noticeably different about the experience compared to booking spa services without AquaClass.
Yoga Mat in the Stateroom
Each AquaClass stateroom is equipped with two yoga mats intended for in-cabin stretching or use in the fitness center. The mats can be carried to wellness classes or used independently. But, there isn’t much space in the cabin to actually use a yoga mat.
It seems intended for guests who want to carry it to and from the gym, but for us, it mostly took up closet space. We didn’t use the yoga mats at all, and probably could have asked our stateroom attendant to remove them.
Worst Perk: Shoeshine Service
Complimentary shoeshine service is available for AquaClass guests. The service is designed for formal evenings or business-style footwear. However, we didn’t use this at all.
This is one of those perks that sounds elegant, but doesn’t align with how most people actually cruise. For us, it added no value whatsoever.
Why I think AquaClass can be worth it
In the end, I think AquaClass can definitely be worthwhile if you use enough of the perks. Because the pricing can vary, you’ll need to consider which perks you’ll actually use and how much you are willing to pay for them.
Most AquaClass fans would agree that access to Blu is the biggest perk that makes the upgrade worthwhile. We paid about $300 each for upgrading to AquaClass, and it was definitely worth it!
Some inclusions felt gimmicky, but the combination of Blu and unlimited thermal suite access made the experience feel elevated. When AquaClass is priced reasonably above a standard balcony, those two perks alone can justify the upgrade.
Would I pay a huge premium for AquaClass? No, probably not. But, I have already booked another AquaClass cabin for later this year because we enjoyed the experience so much!
