Rocking The Boat

Forget the adage that cruising is for newlyweds and nearly deads. Kirstie Clements boards the billion-dollar floating resort that’s making waves

Cruising is an increasingly popular holiday option, but raise the concept of enormous, multistoreyed cruise ships with some (especially those aged under 65), and it will often elicit a set of prejudices. I was one of those people. Tell me I’m going to be traversing the high seas with 2900 guests and 1300 crew, and down I go into a rabbit hole of everything that could possibly go wrong: terrorism, norovirus outbreaks, unwanted orgies, undetected icebergs and sudden performance art by crew members dressed as woodl and nymphs.

When my editor asks me if I would like to experience the European premiere voyage of Celebrity Cruises’ newest ship, Celebrity Edge, sailing out of Southampton in the UK, I decide to tackle my bias. I take with me my friend Anthony, a gregarious sophisticate from London who will likely call for a helicopter rescue if the wine selection is iffy.

One of the great bonuses of a cruise is, of course, the ease of embarking. After presenting our passports at the terminal, we are whisked to our sun-drenched stateroom. Interior designer Kelly Hoppen has done a superb job choosing the chic textiles and finishes that define the Celebrity Edge’s ‘modern luxury’ brief: the suites, penthouses and villas feel like a boutique hotel on the sea. There is also a collection of 400 artworks decorating the ship. Anthony instantly approves of our suite, pops on his Valentino espadrilles, installs himself on our balcony and opens a bottle of champagne.