A Caribbean anniversary cruise filled with beautiful spaces, memorable meals, craft cocktails, and plenty of time with good friends.

In April 2023, my husband and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary aboard Celebrity Beyond, traveling with three other couples for a Caribbean escape to St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Puerto Plata.

I had been looking forward to trying Celebrity's newer Edge Series, but I wasn't prepared for just how much I would love this ship.

Celebrity Beyond is simply gorgeous.

It felt sophisticated without being stuffy, lively without being overwhelming, and—perhaps most importantly for us—there seemed to be a beautiful place to sit, relax, have a drink, or catch up with friends around every corner.

For couples in their 50s looking for a relaxing cruise with great food, beautiful surroundings, and an adult atmosphere, this ship checked so many boxes for me.

Starting Vacation a Day Early

Whenever possible, I love arriving at least one day before a cruise. Besides taking away the stress of flying in on embarkation day, it makes the vacation feel as though it starts just a little bit sooner.

We flew from chilly Massachusetts to Fort Lauderdale and spent the night at the Hyatt Centric.

And that's where I discovered something I had never seen before—a champagne vending machine!

Could there possibly be a better way to announce that vacation has officially begun?

Champagne in hand, warm Florida weather, good friends and a cruise waiting for us the next morning. We were definitely in vacation mode.

First Impressions of Celebrity Beyond

From the moment we boarded, I loved the design of Beyond.

There are so many different spaces throughout the ship that you can really create the kind of cruise you want. As a couple, you can find a quiet corner and relax together. When you're traveling with friends, there are plenty of comfortable places to gather for drinks and conversation.

That balance was one of my favorite things about the ship.

We sailed during Massachusetts April school vacation week, yet we saw surprisingly few children. Children are certainly welcome aboard Celebrity, but our particular sailing had a noticeably quieter, more adult atmosphere than many cruises we had taken.

For where we were in life—in our mid-50s, celebrating our anniversary and traveling with friends—it was exactly what we wanted.

Yes, We Loved the Infinite Veranda

Before the cruise, I had read plenty of opinions about Celebrity's Infinite Veranda staterooms. People seem to either love them or wish they had a traditional balcony.

Put us in the minority because we loved ours.

When we cruise with friends, we simply don't spend a lot of time sitting in our cabin. We're usually there early in the morning and again late at night.

For us, the Infinite Veranda worked beautifully. It brought so much natural light into the room, and with the window lowered, we could enjoy the fresh air and ocean views without needing a completely separate outdoor balcony.

One of my favorite little pleasures was having my morning coffee while looking out at the sea.

Would everyone prefer it? Probably not. But it suited the way we cruise perfectly.

Dining Was a Highlight

The food throughout the cruise was excellent, but Eden was the standout for our entire group.

Eden is one of Celebrity Beyond's signature specialty dining experiences, set in a striking three-story venue at the aft of the ship. The restaurant features an open kitchen and globally inspired dishes designed to make dinner feel more like an experience than simply another meal.

And our group agreed—it delivered.

Everyone raved about their meal. There is something about combining beautiful food, excellent service and that incredible setting that makes Eden feel like a special night out. If I sailed Beyond again, Eden would be one of the first dinner reservations I would make.

We also thoroughly enjoyed Fine Cut Steakhouse, Celebrity's upscale steakhouse, where the menu goes beyond steaks to include dishes such as lamb and lobster.  It was another wonderful evening for a group of friends who enjoy lingering over a good dinner.

And then there was Rooftop Garden Grill. Dining outdoors under the sky with ocean views is one of those experiences that reminds you that you're not simply going out for dinner—you're having dinner at sea. Celebrity describes it as an outdoor restaurant tucked into the Rooftop Garden with grilled favorites and expansive ocean views.

We tried our best to experience as many of the restaurants as we could. It was a tough job, but someone had to do it!

Finding Our Favorite Bars

Apparently, we approached the bars with the same philosophy as the restaurants: try them all!

The Sunset Bar was gorgeous. Located at the aft of the ship, it has wonderful views over the wake and a two-story design created for Beyond.  We enjoyed it during the day as well as around sunset, and even though it was such an appealing spot, we were usually able to find somewhere to sit.

The Martini Bar brought a completely different energy. Located in the Grand Plaza, it's one of the social hubs of the ship, and the bartenders turn drink-making into entertainment with their flair shows.  It was just plain fun.

But our favorite was probably the World Class Bar.

The cocktails felt truly handcrafted. The bartenders took such pride in making and presenting each drink, and they always seemed happy to talk about what they were creating. It became one of our favorite places to meet before dinner. Celebrity describes the concept as treating cocktail making as an art, with mixologists using fresh ingredients and premium spirits—which captures our experience perfectly.

And of course, we had to have drinks on the famous bright-orange Magic Carpet, Celebrity's cantilevered platform suspended over the side of the ship. The views from out there were spectacular.

Sea Days: Pool, Solarium and Doing Absolutely Nothing

We were blessed with fabulous weather, which made our sea days particularly enjoyable.

Sometimes we wanted sunshine and activity, so we'd spend time around the outdoor pool. Other times, I wanted nothing more than a book and a peaceful place to read.

That's when the Solarium was perfect.

Having both choices meant we could change the pace of the day depending on our mood. And that really became the theme of this cruise: there was always somewhere to go, but there was never any pressure to be anywhere.

St. Maarten: My Kind of Beach Day

I have always loved St. Maarten. There is something about having both the Dutch and French sides of one island that makes it especially interesting to me.

And I admit that the French side gets a little extra love from me. Give me even a hint of Europe in the Caribbean and I'm happy!

For this visit, we grabbed a taxi and headed to Kontiki Beach.

It turned into one of those uncomplicated Caribbean days that I love: beautiful water, a great beach, sunshine and friends.

Sometimes you don't need an elaborate excursion. You just need the right beach.

St. Thomas to St. John—with a Literary Detour

I had another reason for being particularly excited about our stop in St. Thomas.

I had recently finished Elin Hilderbrand's Paradise Trilogy—Winter in Paradise, What Happens in Paradise, and Troubles in Paradise—which takes readers to St. John.

After spending so much time reading about the island, I had to see it for myself.

We took the ferry over to St. John, explored for a bit, and then continued to Lovango.

For someone who had just immersed herself in the books, actually being there was such fun. And Lovango did not disappoint.

We had lunch, played cornhole, relaxed and simply enjoyed the afternoon. Even the transportation was part of the experience—a beautiful catamaran ride through those gorgeous Caribbean waters.

It was one of those days where the journey was every bit as enjoyable as the destination.

Puerto Plata: Sometimes the Ship Is the Destination

When we arrived in Puerto Plata, we made a decision that I think more cruisers should give themselves permission to make:

We stayed on the ship.

There can be a feeling that because the ship has arrived somewhere, you have to get off.

You don't.

Celebrity Beyond was such a beautiful ship that having much of it to ourselves for the day felt like its own excursion. We enjoyed the quiet, relaxed, wandered around, and appreciated spaces that were usually busier.

It was heavenly.

And I didn't feel as though we had missed anything. Quite the opposite—it gave us another way to enjoy the vacation we had chosen.

Why Celebrity Beyond Became a Favorite

By the end of the week, Celebrity Beyond had earned a place among my favorite ships.

It wasn't one single thing.

It was morning coffee with an ocean view. Quiet time with a book in the Solarium. An incredible dinner at Eden. Meeting friends for cocktails at World Class Bar. Watching the sunset from the back of the ship. A beach day in St. Maarten. Following the trail of a favorite book to St. John. And celebrating 30 years of marriage with my husband and good friends.

For couples looking for a cruise that feels sophisticated, relaxing and decidedly more adult while still offering plenty to do, Celebrity Beyond really hit the sweet spot for us.

I boarded curious about the ship.

I left a Celebrity fan.

And I absolutely cannot wait to sail with them again.

Thinking about a Celebrity cruise? I'd love to help you choose the right ship, stateroom, dining experiences and Caribbean itinerary to create the kind of vacation that fits the way you like to travel.

Your journey. Thoughtfully planned.

Travel Well ⚓