The Retreat offers exclusive areas and services on Celebrity Edge, and Edge class ships, for suite guests.
The exclusive areas offer an escape from the crowds. These include a dedicated pool, spa, lounge and restaurant.
You will also have access to a dedicated bulter. Plus other perks and services. One of my favourite perks, while staying in the Magic Carpet Suite, was priority boarding of tenders for shore excursions.
This article is part of a series reviewing my Celebrity Edge 11 night Great Barrier Reef cruise in October 2025.
Sara xxx
What's in this post
The Retreat Lounge
If you have ever visited an airline lounge or hotel club lounge, The Retreat is the same concept, except you are floating on the high seas.
The lounge is exclusively for Retreat guests. Complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and snacks are available. You can grab a coffee or soda to go. The water dispensers with flavoured fruit are a refreshing touch.
For those wanting to grab some fresh air, there are tables and chairs on a deck area accessible from the lounge. Large screen TVs are on the walls for sporting events. Stairs from here also lead up to the Sundeck. If it is cold, there are plenty of blankets on hand.
In the evening, before heading to dinner, cocktails, drinks and bites are served in the lounge. It is a quiet oasis compared to the main Celebrity Edge bars. We loved going to the Martini Bar for a pre-dinner drink, but it was often hard to find a seat.
We did feel that the food being offered became quite boring after a couple of nights, as the items did not change, variety was lacking.
The Retreat Lounge has a condensed cocktail and wine list to choose from.
A bonus for The Retreat guests is a concierge on hand in the lounge to assist you. They can assist in booking dinner reservations, spa treatments, and tours. We found it very handy for quick general questions.
Special events are held for guests in the lounge. During our cruise there were a Captain meet and greet, a special afternoon tea, and a silent disco.
The Retreat lounge is open 24 hours and is staffed from 7am to midnight.
Located on Deck 15, Forward.
The Retreat Sundeck
The Sundeck is open 24 hours a day, but is not staffed after 8pm.
The Sundeck is a private area exclusive to Retreat guests. It is a spacious outdoor lounge area with sun lounges, tables, chairs, sofas, and private cabanas. There is a pool and a hot tub.
Dedicated pool butlers roam the area to make sure you are looked after with poolside cocktails, fresh towels and refreshing treats.
Located on Deck 16, Forward
The Retreat Pool Bar
Also located within the Sundeck area is the Retreat Pool Bar. A space to grab a drink or lunch at one of the few tables. Of course, they will happily deliver lunch to your deck chair by the pool.
The Pool Bar is open from 8.00am - 8.00pm and for lunch 11.30am - 2.30pm.
Located on Deck 16, Forward.
Pool Bar Beverage and Food Menu
The Pool Bar menu is small and does not change, but offers something for everyone. The Luminae burger (above) was okay, nothing special. The Caesar salad (above) was basic but nice.
Cocktails
The Retreat: Patron Blanco tequila, rosé wine, lemon juice, Organic Prairie gin, tonic.
Don't Speak: Ketel One vodka, dry vermouth, passionfruit liqueur, lemon juice, honey syrup.
Rosemary Pimm's: Organic Prairie gin, Pimm's, lemon juice, tonic.
Hugo Spritz: St. Germain liqueur, prosecco, mint, soda.
Sparkling & Rosé
Cattier, Icone, Champagne, France
Torresella, Prosecco, Italy
Whispering Angel, France
Beringer, White Zinfandel, California
White Wine
Pinot Grigio, Santa Margherita, Italy
Sauvignon Blanc, Wairau River, California
Albarino, Torre Penelas, Spain
Gruner Veltliner, Laurenz V, Austria
Riesling, J & H Selbach, Germany
Moscato Castello del Poggio, Italy
Chardonnay, la Crema, California
Red Wine
Cabernet Sauvignon, Silver Ghost, Nappa Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon, Chateau Clarke, France
Malbec Vive, Alta Vista, Argentina
Shiraz, Penfold's, MAX's, South Australia
Tempranillo, Cune, Crianza Rioja, Sprain
Pinot Noir, Montinore Estate, Oregon
Beers
Modelo, Bud Light, Heineken, Lagunitas, Peroni, Asahi, Stella Artois, Authentic Brewing Run Wild IPA
Soft Drinks
Bottled Water, Sodas, Coco Love Coconut Water, Red Bull
Beverage list at time of sailing, November 2025
Luminae Restaurant
Luminae Restaurant is the main dining room for Retreat guests. The restaurant is smaller than the four main dining rooms, Cosmopolitan, Normandie, Cyprus, and Tuscan. Tables have more room between them, it is quieter, and a lot more lux.
The food is a higher quality to the main restaurants, you would put it in the specialty dining class. In addition to the menu on offer, they will source dishes from Blu or any of the other four main dining restaurants if you would like.
If you craving something inparticular, with notice, they will arrange it for you. The service is faultless.
The breakfast menu does not change, but the lunch and dinner menus change daily.
Luminae is open daily for breakfast and dinner. On sea days the restaurant opens for lunch.
Located on Deck 12, Forward
Who has access to The Retreat?
All suite guests have access to The Retreat. Though what services, food and drink, and amenities you receive will depend on your suite class.
What is included in a Retreat package
Services
- A dedicated butler to assist with everything you need, including packing and unpacking, making spa appointments, and dining and shore excursion reservations
They can also be contacted via Butler Chat on your smart device from anywhere on the ship - Destination Experience Specialist: Dedicated expert to help you make the most of your time ashore, from planning activities to ensuring smooth transfers to your excursions
- Escort by your butler from your suite to the car for Private Journeys excursions.
- Premium bath and body products crafted exclusively for The Retreat
- Reserved theater seating on evening chic nights
- Dedicated spa concierge and personal consultant (Aqua Suites only)
- Complimentary fitness classes (Aqua Suites only)
- Complimentary laundry service and unlimited pressing service (Royal Suites and above)
- Extend Your Stay: on debarkation day, stay on board to relax until mid-afternoon and enjoy lunch at Luminae, before you depart (available in select ports of call - Royal Suites and above)
Food and Drink
- Unlimited Premium Drink Package: Featuring award-winning portfolio of red, white, and bubbly wines representing vineyards from around the world**
- Complimentary minibar stocked with soda and beer on embarkation day and water restocked daily
- Full in-suite breakfast, lunch, dinner service, and daily delights
- Afternoon tea event hosted in The Retreat Lounge or Michael's Club
- Option to dine in Blu restaurant (Aqua Suites)
- Unlimited Specialty Dining Package. Includes dinner each night and lunch on sea days (Royal Suites and above) **
- Two complimentary bottles of premium spirits or wine (Royal Suites and above)
- Personalized minibar stocked daily with water, soda, and beer (Royal Suites and above)
- Premium in-suite coffee set-up (Royal Suites and above)
Amenities
- Welcome bottle of bubbles
- Premium Wi-Fi package**
- Premium Celebrity king size Cashmere Mattress™ with exclusive Retreat bedding
- Premium 100% cotton bath towels and bathrobes
- Pillow menu
- Exclusive complimentary sleepwear (Royal Suites and above)
- Access to The Spa's SEA Thermal Suite or Persian Garden.(Aqua Suites, Royal Suites and above)
**Not included with special fares or Moveup upgrades from a non-suite stateroom to cabins below Signature Suite.
Is the Retreat worth the added expense?
Is the retreat worth the extra expense of a suite class cabin?
I personally think it was, though it is a very subjective question. It comes down to what type of cruiser you are.
For me there are a few key factors that make the retreat worth it.
- I like being spoilt and treated like a silkworm when I can be.
- I am not a fan of crowds and you really notice how many people are on the cruise ship when you leave the Retreat areas. Having that little bit of extra space to escape when you felt like it was amazing.
- Luminae is a quieter and less crowded space than the main dinning rooms. You feel like you are at a specialty restaurant at every meal. The food is also superior.
- The service is faultless.
- Quick and easy access to assistance when needed. We had trouble with the TV in our suite and issues connecting to the Celebrity Ap. Both times, within minutes, somebody was at our suite to assist us.
- Premium drinks package and Wi-Fi package are included.
- Priority embarking tenders from the ship, as well as from shore (some ports). Not having to join a very long queue to get back to the ship after a day ashore was briliant. Plus the offer of ice cold towels and water.
- A less crowded pool experience and being able to aquire a sun lounger.
- A stocked mini bar at all times and endless bottles of water.
- Treats in our cabin when returning from shore excursions.
- Room service menu is different to the standard.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Retreat experience. You can enjoy everything that Celebrity Edge has to offer and then escape to quieter private areas and be treated like a silk worm.
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