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Happy Birthday, Edge! You've Come A Long Way, Baby!

vtcruising

By vtcruising,
in Celebrity Cruises

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vtcruising

vtcruising

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One year ago today, the Edge was delivered to Celebrity in St Nazaire, France. She has had a mercurial year, with many fans and accolades, as well as being the ship that some love to hate. People on Cruise Critic often ask about the ship and she is hard to describe and old threads don't have the updates. I'm starting this thread to list in one place what features are successful, what issues have changed over the last year, what is left to be done (in our opinions) and what cannot be easily changed, but maybe will in future E Class ships (after Apex).

 

My thoughts:

 

Successes (there are many, but these come to mind for me):

Dining - 4 MDRs seem to be working well, Eden Cafe with indoor/outdoor seating is a great complimentary addition, OVC is the best, IMO, Le Grand Bistro (French bistro) is a wonderful addition to X specialties (brunch or lunch, to go deli).

 

Artwork - 4000 curated pieces that make you laugh out loud or make you sad, happy, amazed, excited, puzzled, proud, etc. The lighting, staircases, hallways, dividing screens are often pieces of art as well.

 

Eden - love the space and the aft view - peaceful place during the day (you will find some reading, some chatting, an art class, game playing, card games, trivia, live music or just gazing at the ocean).  At night there is often live music, dancing, the Eden show some nights and a nice bar and restaurant. Not perfect, but overall a great multi-purpose space.

 

 

Changes that have occurred:

Infinite Verandas - frosted glass bi-fold doors

Wind barriers on Rooftop Garden

Luminae menu additions (MDR everyday items and lately has been reported that they are offering something off menu each night)

Entertainment - shortened Edenist show only a few times/cruise (3-4?), more trivia (non-electronic), more dancing and live music

 

Changes that could be done:

Change the Eden Restaurant to a wine bar/tapas starting at 11AM-3PM and nice dinner venue at night with more choices than they have now and great wine pairing choices

Add a reading/device nook with places to charge devices, shelves for book exchange, comfy chairs with an ocean view window (outside of Eden would be perfect - it is now wasted space)

Add a free standing bar to the Retreat Lounge

Put some dividers in Luminae to help with noise and to make it feel more intimate

Make the Magic Carpet better able to be used in windy conditions

 

That which can't be easily changed:

The Infinite Verandas, though a nice idea (and I enjoyed being in one), would be so much better if the verandas were just a foot deeper and chairs smaller.

I also feel that, though the IVs make a nice option, there should be more traditional veranda choices (maybe cut 63% IV's down to 30%).

 

There is lots more, but enough from me.  Be kind - remember, it is her birthday! 😉

 

 

Edited by vtcruising
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suec12

suec12

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Thank you for starting this post - we are getting ready for our maiden voyage on The Edge on Nov. 15 - I think with you? Anyways, following the various posts thru out the year has made me a bit uneasy at times as to if we are going to like The Edge - we are long time X cruisers. I'm especially interested in where is a good place to play cards during the day and which bars are usually quick to walk up to and get a drink. I'm really looking forward to the 4 MDR's - we made our select dining reservations quite a few months ago. It sounds like reservations are being honored and each of the different dining rooms is a pleasant experience.

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vtcruising

vtcruising

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1 hour ago, suec12 said:

Thank you for starting this post - we are getting ready for our maiden voyage on The Edge on Nov. 15 - I think with you? Anyways, following the various posts thru out the year has made me a bit uneasy at times as to if we are going to like The Edge - we are long time X cruisers. I'm especially interested in where is a good place to play cards during the day and which bars are usually quick to walk up to and get a drink. I'm really looking forward to the 4 MDR's - we made our select dining reservations quite a few months ago. It sounds like reservations are being honored and each of the different dining rooms is a pleasant experience.

I noticed that on the present cruise they have card time in the Club (sea day), I think from 10-4.

 

For a quick drink Cafe al Bacio, Pool Bar or OVC Bar. Casino bar is on the main drag and would be quick.

 

it is different but that is what they were going for - we got into the swing of things pretty easily and ended up living it. Hope you have a great cruise - hcat is going this November 15 - I’m on the Apex next Nov. 🙂

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JBare

JBare

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38 minutes ago, vtcruising said:

They’ve been doing it in The Club. 

 

 Yes , we tried it once and left immediately, dark and miserable compared to the Sky Lounge, no outside light, very few people in there, others must have felt the same

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vtcruising

vtcruising

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3 minutes ago, JBare said:

 Yes , we tried it once and left immediately, dark and miserable compared to the Sky Lounge, no outside light, very few people in there, others must have felt the same

I wondered how that space would work. I know they had it in Eden early on.

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shofer

shofer

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12 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

Bring the Sky Lounge back and other quiet areas.

 

Replace the sophmoric skits in Eden restaurant with coherent mini shows.

Does anyone remember the Century series of ships and the Cirque du Soleil "characters" interacting with passengers in the Forward Lounge?  This Eden thing is just another iteration of that tired idea.  No one liked it then and from what I see online, not too keen this time around.  

We would like to try Edge and Apex but the traditional verandas are hideous and the IV's not to our taste.  DH saw a video of Symphony of the Seas and was hooked so we are trying it in February.  At least they still have regular balconies.

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hcat "Live from...." Rare

hcat

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Looking forward to a return to EDGE...Nov 15th ABC Island itin.

 

 Last January, we enjoyed our IV  cabin in AQ Class..It is an amazing ship, great thermal suite and spa, excellent dining, , shows, theater, art, music....Some places were a  bit noisy,  windy and too sunny but workable and hooefully improved.  Stores are very  expensive...too much jewelry..even for me!

 

We are booked in a Sunset Veranda, 4 mdr plan...looking forward to trying something new!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EDGE!

from one of your Edgie fans!

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vtcruising

vtcruising

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7 hours ago, RodPat said:

I too can't believe it is Edge's birthday.  A whole year we have been waiting to go on her.  We sail Nov. 15 and will see whether we like it enough to sail Apex.

 

Pat

If she's not a good match for you,  I hope you at least will enjoy the ride. Have a great cruise!  🙂

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suec12

suec12

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So I was looking over the deck plans in anticipation of my upcoming cruise - is there onlt one hot tub? I see one in the solarium - we usually like a soak several times during our sails. One does not seem enough for a ship this size.

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vtcruising

vtcruising

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17 minutes ago, suec12 said:

So I was looking over the deck plans in anticipation of my upcoming cruise - is there onlt one hot tub? I see one in the solarium - we usually like a soak several times during our sails. One does not seem enough for a ship this size.

She has the two martini glass hot tubs as well.

image.png.7151c0ad8dcc0e790d90e2255a2533ff.png

 

image.thumb.png.27aa1c438d4137f64e7a330e9eb38cc7.png

 

image.thumb.png.9b923f25b1e23be4836dd7c1a4be2166.png

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MJSailors

MJSailors

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vtcruising

     From your many previous posts concerning the Edge,you seem to be one of the 

passengers who enjoyed sailing on the ship. Your enthusiasm for the Edge does come through clearly in your posts.

However, your first post in this thread seems to be balanced.

      It was good to see that you included the changes made to the Edge during the first year of the ship’s cruising and a list of changes that could possibly be made to improve the cruise experience on the ship.

      I have been reading bimmmer09 ‘s posts about a Norwegian cruise on the Shilouette. That is one of his favorite ships. However, he has mentioned that if there is a great degree of “Edgification” done to the Shilouette, he will no longer be interested in choosing a cruise on that ship.

         I feel the same way about the Summit which has already had a refreshment. While it was necessary, some changes ie: cabin/balcony furniture and general decor has left me to question any future cruises for us on the Summit. 

        It seems that the new interior design model considers form over function,leaving sleek,uncomfortable furniture as replacement for comfortable,inviting pieces. IMHO, this is unfortunate.

        I have seen this design idea put into effect on the new Princess ship, Sky Princess where the Sanctuary area has been re-designed. Where there were once comfortable,plush loungers,there are now thin,stiff looking cushions on the chaises. Perhaps they are more comfortable than they look and I will be checking them out on a future Sky Princess Cruise, but I will try to be objective

 about the new designs created throughout the ship. While we have taken many cruise with Princess, I am not a cheerleader for that cruiseline. Just because something is new or innovative does not mean that it is always better.  Neither, something new or innovative does not necessarily mean that it is awful.

      

 

 

 

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vtcruising

vtcruising

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8 minutes ago, MJSailors said:

vtcruising

     From your many previous posts concerning the Edge,you seem to be one of the 

passengers who enjoyed sailing on the ship. Your enthusiasm for the Edge does come through clearly in your posts.

However, your first post in this thread seems to be balanced.

      It was good to see that you included the changes made to the Edge during the first year of the ship’s cruising and a list of changes that could possibly be made to improve the cruise experience on the ship.

      I have been reading bimmmer09 ‘s posts about a Norwegian cruise on the Shilouette. That is one of his favorite ships. However, he has mentioned that if there is a great degree of “Edgification” done to the Shilouette, he will no longer be interested in choosing a cruise on that ship.

         I feel the same way about the Summit which has already had a refreshment. While it was necessary, some changes ie: cabin/balcony furniture and general decor has left me to question any future cruises for us on the Summit. 

        It seems that the new interior design model considers form over function,leaving sleek,uncomfortable furniture as replacement for comfortable,inviting pieces. IMHO, this is unfortunate.

        I have seen this design idea put into effect on the new Princess ship, Sky Princess where the Sanctuary area has been re-designed. Where there were once comfortable,plush loungers,there are now thin,stiff looking cushions on the chaises. Perhaps they are more comfortable than they look and I will be checking them out on a future Sky Princess Cruise, but I will try to be objective

 about the new designs created throughout the ship. While we have taken many cruise with Princess, I am not a cheerleader for that cruiseline. Just because something is new or innovative does not mean that it is always better.  Neither, something new or innovative does not necessarily mean that it is awful.

      

 

 

 

Appreciate your comments. Though I really enjoy cruising on the Edge Class, I realize that there are flaws and hope things will change and evolve.

 

I don't really feel like the other ships are truly being Edgified - I think they are being Hoppenized. IMO, Edgifying might include adding some of the Edge restaurants like Le Grand Bistro, maybe changing the Tuscan into an Eden-type place on Edge Class, taking over part of the Sky Lounge and putting Luminae and The Retreat Lounge up there so they are all together like the Edge, adding quirky art like Mr Edge on a deck and spooky hallways, etc., etc. Even the Retreat Sundecks that have been added to other ships are totally different. When they Solsticized the M Class, they added AQ cabins and Blu, Qsine, etc., not just new interior design/furniture.  I feel like the furniture and excessive pillow and horrible knickknack thing came from Kelly Hoppen and was inevitable whether there was an Edge or not (I agree that design seems to be headed in that direction, not just on X, from the sound of things).  The Edge is a totally different design than the other Celebrity ships. I like having the choice of a very different experience when cruising, with the Celebrity standards and Elite Plus benefits. I also can't wait to sail on some of my other old favorites like the Silhouette and Reflection and enjoy their wonderful features. 🙂

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