A couple of weeks ago, I took my fifth cruise—and my first with Celebrity Cruises—aboard Celebrity Beyond. I’ve sailed with Norwegian, Carnival, and Margaritaville, and I’ve enjoyed them all. But Celebrity had a different feel. So far, Beyond is my favorite ship.

The food was excellent. I didn’t have a bad meal, and the dinners in the main dining rooms were especially good. You could skip the specialty restaurants, eat in the four main dining rooms, and still have a wonderful cruise. I also learned that if something on another dining room’s menu catches your eye, you can ask your waiter about it. Mine was able to bring it over.

That said, Carnival still wins my personal awards for pizza and Guy’s Burgers. Sorry, Celebrity!

Embarkation Day: An Easy Start

I flew to Miami on Saturday and stayed overnight before the cruise left on Sunday. I always like arriving the day before, but this was my first Sunday departure, and the travel and traffic felt easier than I expected.

Embarkation was the fastest I’ve experienced, even though I arrived early. I had purchased the Premium Access package, which included early boarding, upgraded Wi-Fi, and room service without the usual delivery charge. I enjoy having breakfast in my cabin, so I got good use out of that perk.

Once aboard, I explored the ship and checked out the casino. Dinner was at Cosmopolitan, one of the main dining rooms. I had French onion soup, pasta with a spicy sausage sauce, and a chocolate dessert. Afterward, I saw a comedy show. The theater was one of the best I’ve seen on a ship, with very few seats that seemed to have a poor view. It was a great first day.

Day Two: A Cabana, the Thermal Suite, and My Favorite Steak

This was our first sea day, and I started a routine that I would keep for much of the trip: a visit to the thermal suite. I have back issues, so the heated loungers, sauna, and aromatherapy rooms felt wonderful. I went most mornings and sometimes returned after a port excursion before dinner.

I also splurged on a cabana for the day. It was much more space than one person needed, but I loved having somewhere to spread out and relax. The staff brought fruit skewers, a charcuterie board, a chicken sandwich, and even chocolate treats.

Drink service was good in the morning, though a couple of afternoon orders were forgotten. I would book a cabana again if I found a good price, especially with a group. If you’re deciding whether to get one, though, I did find available loungers on another sea day, even if they weren’t right beside the pool.

That evening was Chic Night, so I put on my gold metallic dress and had professional photos taken. Dinner was at Eden, where I had what may honestly be the best steak of my life. Eden became one of my favorite spots on the ship. I went back to listen to live music, have a cocktail, or simply sit and watch the water.

If dressing up isn’t your thing, the atmosphere felt flexible to me. Some guests went all out for Chic Night, while others kept it simpler.

Day Three: Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

In Puerto Plata, I took a ship excursion to Mount Isabel de Torres. The views of the city and ocean were beautiful, and I could even see our ship from above. We also saw the Christ statue and botanical gardens.

Back in the city, we tasted mamajuana, a Dominican drink that reminded me of a strong mulled wine. We walked past a church and visited the colorful Umbrella Street before heading back.

I enjoyed the excursion, and the group wasn’t too large. If I visit again, I might hire a private driver so I can explore at my own pace. Back aboard, I spent time in the thermal suite, had dinner at Cypress, gambled a little, and turned in. Another port was waiting the next morning!

Day Four: Rum and Rain in Tortola

Our Tortola excursion took us to Callwood Rum Distillery and then to the beach. We rode in an open-air safari-style truck. I had expected a bus, but I ended up liking the open truck because I could see so much more of the island. The mountain drive was gorgeous.

At the distillery, we had a tasting and learned about its history. Then it was beach time. We had assigned loungers and umbrellas, and the water was calm, shallow, and easy for me to enjoy. I’m not a strong swimmer, so that was perfect.

Service at the beach was slow, and I was glad I’d eaten a big breakfast. I eventually went to the bar myself for rum punch. There was fruit in it, so that counts as lunch, right?

We climbed back into the truck just as the rain started. I had rum punch in hand, and the light rain felt refreshing during the ride down the mountain.

Back on the ship, I visited the thermal suite and then went to Tuscan for dinner. The chicken Asiago pasta and cannoli were delicious. Later, I saw a 1950s and ’60s music show in the theater, spent some time in the casino, and stayed up later than I’d planned.

Day Five: A Different Kind of Day in St. Kitts

St. Kitts was the port I had looked forward to most. My original excursion—a rainforest visit, farm tour, and farm-to-table lunch—was canceled, so I booked a train ride around the island instead.

Unfortunately, I woke up feeling awful: achy, tired, and dealing with stomach issues. There was no way I was going to enjoy the train, so I stayed aboard.

I ordered breakfast in my cabin and rested. Our spot in port gave me beautiful views from my infinity balcony, which felt a bit like a sunroom. Later, I had chicken noodle soup and a salad, drank plenty of water, and used some electrolyte packets I’d packed. When I felt up to it, I wandered through the rooftop garden, read in the Solarium, and made another visit to the thermal suite.

I missed seeing the island, but I was glad I listened to my body. A quiet day with an ocean view was exactly what I needed.

Day Six: Music, Sunset Bar, and Another Chic Night

By the next sea day, I was ready to enjoy the ship again. I started with room service breakfast and the thermal suite, then had a little casino time with my morning coffee. I listened to live music at Eden and tried its bistro for lunch. It cost extra, but I thought it was worth it.

I also spent more time at the Sunset Bar, which became another favorite spot. Earlier in the trip, a bartender had suggested a frozen drink called a Caribbean Kiss. I don’t usually order frozen cocktails, but it was delicious and just right for cooling off. I found a shady lounger, put on an audiobook, and watched the water.

That night was another Chic Night, so I dressed up for dinner at the Rooftop Garden Grill. The food and service were fantastic, but it was too hot for me to feel comfortable eating outside, even with the fans. After dinner, I caught live entertainment at the Martini Bar and Eden, visited the casino, and finished the night with an excellent jazz show.

Day Seven: One Last Sea Day

The morning began hazy, so it didn’t look like much of a pool day. After breakfast and my thermal suite visit, I explored some more and found a quieter seat on the Magic Carpet. I ordered the drink named for it and enjoyed the view as the weather improved.

I had planned to try the buffet for lunch, but it was crowded, so I went back to Cosmopolitan instead. Later, I returned to the Sunset Bar for one more Caribbean Kiss and some time watching the ocean.

Because it was our last night, I packed early so I wouldn’t feel rushed. Then I went back to Tuscan and ordered the chicken Asiago pasta again. I liked it that much! I also asked for a Brie appetizer I’d noticed on another dining room’s menu. I was too full for dessert.

My final show was Elements, and it was wonderful—the best show I’ve seen on a cruise so far. What a way to end the week.

Disembarkation and the Trip Home

I was sad to leave, but I was also ready to see my husband and the dogs. Disembarkation was smooth. With Premium Access, I got off early, and my luggage was ready for pickup.

My flight wasn’t until around 5 p.m., so I had booked a day-use hotel room to have somewhere to shower and relax. I’d done that after a previous cruise and liked the idea. This time, getting there turned into an adventure: the cab dropped me at the wrong hotel, and I ended up walking about half a mile with my luggage in the Miami heat. I finally stopped at Starbucks, called an Uber, and made it to the right place.

A storm delayed my flight by about an hour and a half, but the rest of the trip home went smoothly. I was very happy to get home.

Unfortunately, I woke up with a sore throat on Monday and felt much worse by the end of the day. It took about a week to recover, and my suitcase sat half-unpacked for a while. Even so, I would take this trip again.

Would I Sail on Celebrity Beyond Again?

Absolutely. I loved the food, the shows, the many places to sit and watch the water, and especially my mornings in the thermal suite. Eden and the Sunset Bar were my favorite places to spend time. I also appreciated how easy embarkation and disembarkation felt.

If I were planning the trip again, I’d still arrive the day before, pack electrolyte packets, and leave myself room to rest when I needed it. I’d think about sharing a cabana with friends, and I might choose an indoor dinner over the Rooftop Garden Grill in hot weather.

Five cruises in, I can say that every cruise line I’ve tried has had something I loved. Celebrity Beyond gave me a beautiful week at sea—and plenty of ideas for the next one.

Have you sailed on Beyond or another Celebrity ship? Tell me your favorite place on board—or the cruise destination I should try next!