Michelle Gaudet CTC

I had the pleasure of being a guest of Celebrity Cruises for the naming ceremony of their newest ship the Beyond.

Ceremonially naming a ship is a tradition that dates back thousands of years. According to maritime tradition, a ship's name brings good fortune and safety to its passengers and crew members.

Kicking off the festivities of Beyond’s maiden North American voyage was the naming ceremony.  The crowd enjoyed a performance from Grammy award-winning singer Leona Lewis. The naming ceremony was led by Godmother and seven-time Olympic Medalist, Simone Biles. Simone’s naming as godmother of Beyond follows a tradition of Celebrity Cruises naming world-changing women as their ship’s godmothers like Celebrity Edge’s Godmother Malala Yousafzai and Celebrity Apexx’s Godmother Reshma Saujani, the founder of Girls Who Code.

During the next 2 days aboard, we were treated to many memorable experiences like dining under the stars at the restaurant on the top deck of the ship, enjoying a cocktail in an infinity plunge pool overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, and watching the fantastic shows in the theatre, one of which surprised us all with a special performance from Broadway performer Marisha Wallace from Dream Girls.  With Captain Kate McCue at the helm (the first female captain of a mega ship), The Celebrity Beyond will be departing from Celebrity’s Fort Lauderdale Terminal this coming winter season. 

The Beyond lives up to her name and went beyond my imagination of what a cruise ship could be. She is stunning with beautiful and luxurious touches everywhere.  In the day the outside decks with multiple pools, Magic Carpet and many wonderful areas to relax are where everyone is but at night, The Grand Plaza at the centre of the ship, with a large martini bar, and flair bartenders is the heart of the ship with live music and entertainment to enjoy.

There are 32 distinct food and beverage experiences on the ship, each one with unique offerings. The modern cabins are spacious with large bathrooms, lots of storage and extra little touches like mood lighting at your fingertips and comfortable beds.  Cruising can be a great alternative to a resort vacation this winter.  Modern cruise ships like the Celebrity Beyond offer many, if not more, of the amenities offered at a resort with roadway shows and performances, gourmet dining and the excitement of waking up in a new place to visit each day without needing to repack.