10 Reasons We're Fans Of Celebrity Cruises' Ship-within-a-ship Concept

When my husband and I decided to reenact our first-ever cruise — we cruised to Alaska with Celebrity Cruises — we decided to upgrade the experience and book The Retreat, Celebrity Cruises' answer to the "hotels within hotels" concept. Offering exclusive accommodations and VIP perks, Celebrity Cruises' ship-within-a-ship concept transforms a massive ocean liner into an intimate experience. Out of a capacity sailing of 2,218 passengers, only about 100 are guests of The Retreat.

This concept didn’t exist when my husband and I cruised on the Celebrity Millennium 20 years ago. Celebrity Cruises first introduced The Retreat in 2018 with the launch of Celebrity Edge. The experience is now available on all of the cruise line's ships. Here are 10 features we loved about The Retreat — all of which are included in the price.

All suites

The Retreat consists of 50 suites, starting at a roomy 254 square feet and going up to a whopping 1,432 square feet. We opted for a Sky Suite, which was so well-appointed, featuring a king-sized bed topped with a luxurious Cashmere Mattress, plenty of storage space, top bath products, and comfy robes and slippers. The suite even had a high-quality pair of binoculars we used to focus in on glaciers calving and bald eagles hiding in trees.

As grand as these interior spaces are, it’s the outdoor spaces that make the suites even more coveted. With verandas ranging from a generous 57 square feet to a jaw-dropping 1,098 square feet, you can "ooh" and "ah" over the scenery while having breakfast delivered right to your table.

Also, guests staying in Royal Suites and above have access to:

• complimentary extended stay (the flexibility of staying onboard longer on disembarkation day in selected ports)
• complimentary access to the SEA Thermal Suite on Edge Series ships and the Persian Garden on Millennium and Solstice Series ships
• complimentary unlimited specialty dining, including lunch and dinner
• ability to customize your in-suite minibar before sailing
• two complimentary bottles of wine or spirits throughout your sailing
• complimentary sleepwear

The Retreat Sundeck

Located one level above the pool, The Retreat Sundeck is the ideal place to get away from the crowd and relax. Here, you'll find cushy daybeds, cabanas, couches, and loungers, as well as a host of amenities, like sunscreen, lip balm, even sunglasses!

Dedicated staff will ensure you’re never without water, cocktails, or anything else you need. There’s also a hot tub and outdoor shower for warming up or cooling down. Best of all, because the sundeck boasts prime real estate at the front of the ship, you’re guaranteed stunning views as you sail to incredible destinations.

The Retreat Lounge

Guests of The Retreat are given access to a private lounge, where they can stop by for drinks, small bites, and even afternoon tea. We often dropped in for snacks and made ourselves at home when we passed by on our way to somewhere else. The lounge is also where you’ll find The Retreat concierges. Whether you want to make reservations onboard or off, plan a special occasion or a private excursion, consider it done.

As a guest of The Retreat, you also have access to a dedicated shore excursions expert. These experts can assist with planning activities at each destination and arranging all transfers so your shore excursions are stress-free. Speaking of which, the lounge is a great place to relax prior to excursions.

This private restaurant, just for guests of The Retreat, is intimate and lovely — and the food is superb, thanks to an eclectic, ever-changing menu that includes signature dishes and desserts by Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud, a Celebrity Cruises’ global culinary brand ambassador. Luminae is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner — and, trust me, you'll enjoy every meal.

Can’t decide between the filet mignon and the salmon? Be like my husband and order both. Don’t skip the juicy Signature Burger with its adorable little basket of fries. It’s on the lunch menu every day because it’s so beloved the guests would probably revolt if it weren’t.

Personal service

Because Celebrity Cruises understands that the real foundation of luxury is service, guests of The Retreat have a team of dedicated attendants, concierges, and your Personal Retreat Host ready to fulfill any request. Although standard gratuities are included as part of The Retreat, you’ll probably want to hand each one an additional tip at the end of the cruise for taking such good care of you.

To ensure guests don't have to lift a finger, all suites at The Retreat come with a dedicated butler, who's only a message away with Butler Chat, allowing easy communication from anywhere on board or onshore.

The mini fridge in our suite was always stocked with our favorite beverages. Because these pros don’t miss a thing (including my husband’s sweet tooth and our penchant for afternoon snacks), we always came back to fresh appetizers and desserts waiting for us at various times of the day.

Special invitations and gifts

The unexpected goodies that show up in your suite throughout your cruise are a delightful perk of being a guest of The Retreat. Every night, we received a little box of chocolates along with a small gift, to include a tote bag, Alaska baseball caps, and a keepsake photo of the breathtaking Dawes Glacier.

We also received invitations to exclusive events, such as a Balinese jewelry-making demonstration and — a highlight of the cruise — front-row seats for a special Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier viewing on the ship’s helipad. Warmed by woolen blankets and steaming hot chocolate, we had the best seats in the house when we pulled into this beautiful part of Alaska — nothing but spectacular, head-on views one can't experience from any of the ship's public areas.

Onboard credit

Every guest of The Retreat gets a credit, and you’ll definitely want to apply it to the amazing specialty restaurants and the spa aboard the ship. Whether you treat yourself to a massage or facial, the spa is a perfect place to spend a day at sea. If you reserve a treatment, you get access to the good-for-what-ails-you Persian Garden, featuring a variety of aqua therapy environments, from aromatic steam to tropical rain showers.

The specialty restaurants are all worth trying. Sushi on Five serves up authentic, made-to-order Japanese rolls and nigiri, along with wontons, ramen, and so much more. Tuscan Grille is Italian food at its best, and when your server says they’ll bring you a little of each item that looks good to you (which is dangerous because everything will look good to you), don’t be fooled. The portions are generous, and you would be wise to wear stretchy pants. Le Petit Chef is a must-experience, combining innovative animation with an equally innovative menu for a truly one-of-a-kind dinner.

Although the Premium Beverage Package is available to all guests for an extra cost, it’s an included perk for guests of The Retreat. That means you can enjoy unlimited specialty coffees and teas, craft and artisan beers, spirits, cocktails, frozen drinks, Coca-Cola products, premium bottled water, and wines by the glass up to $15 per serving. You’ll also get 20% off bottles of wine.

Ship Wi-Fi can be expensive, but guests of The Retreat get unlimited Wi-Fi, making it easy to post photos from your vacation and invite friends and family to join you on your next cruise. Because we didn’t have to worry about using data, I was able to work from our veranda, surrounded by stunning scenery and occasionally joined by a humpback whale or a pod of dolphins swimming alongside the ship.

Priority embarkation and disembarkation

When you’re eager to get on board, being a guest of The Retreat will ensure you're whisked in and settled on a lounge chair in no time. And when it’s time to disembark, you'll be personally escorted to the gangway, where you'll be shown to the special section cordoned off for The Retreat guests to pick up your luggage. This saves time and makes you feel like you’ve been visiting with people who really care about you.

Celebrity Edge also now sails from Alaska, offering guests all of these benefits, plus the option to book an Edge Villa. With its signature outward-facing design, Celebrity Edge brings guests even closer to Alaska's jaw-dropping landscapes. Check Celebrity Cruises' website to explore available cruises.