Celebrity Cruises Classes Explained: AquaClass vs The Retreat vs Concierge

Choosing a Celebrity Cruises sailing is the fun part—figuring out which class to book can feel a bit overwhelming. We’ve sailed in multiple categories ourselves, from standard staterooms to suite-level experiences, and each one comes with its own perks and personality. Celebrity offers several premium options beyond the classic cabin, including AquaClass, Concierge Class, Aqua Sky Suites, and the exclusive world of The Retreat.

But which upgrades actually make a difference during your cruise? And which ones are truly worth the splurge? In this guide, we break down every class in easy “this vs. that” comparisons, highlight the benefits that matter most, and even have a download for you to see a side-by-side comparison at a glance so you can quickly see what fits your travel style and budget.

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How We Rank Celebrity Cruises' Classes From Least to Most Perks

Wondering which class has the most perks and which has the fewest? Here’s the order from least to most: 

• Concierge
• AquaClass
• The Retreat

All three options are available on all Celebrity Cruise ships, even though the look and feel of The Retreat Sundeck may vary from ship to ship, and the spas vary as well, depending on the ship class. (Celebrity currently has three ship classes: Edge, Solstice, and Millennium.)

For example, we enjoyed yellow as the accent color in The Retreat on Celebrity Apex and burnt orange on Xcel and Beyond.

Important Distinction: What is an Aqua Sky Suite with Celebrity Cruises? 

We mentioned three suite-class options above. However, there’s a “fourth” class you can book that gets you the perks of AquaClass while also allowing you to be a guest of The Retreat. 

Being in an Aqua Sky Suite will reward you with this dual-perk situation.

You’ll be able to enjoy dining at Luminae and Blu (The Retreat’s private restaurant and AquaClass’s private dining), have workout gear in your room, and special spa access. 

Guests of one or the other (The Retreat or AquaClass, not both) only enjoy some of these benefits. Guests in Aqua Sky Suites enjoy the best of both worlds and all of the perks of both class types.

In summation, if you want to enjoy two classes during your Celebrity Cruises vacation—AquaClass and The Retreat—book an “Aqua Sky Suite.” 

Helpful Spreadsheet Comparing all the Celebrity Suite Class Types

If visual charts help explain things (they do for us!), we created a spreadsheet for you. In addition to nicely laying out the information in this article, we've included a bonus comparison of the bedrooms, bathrooms, and square footage (indoors and outside) of each suite. It's very easy to compare AquaClass vs The Retreat vs Concierge at a glance this way.

AquaClass vs. The Retreat vs. Concierge: Suite Perks and Amenities

How many different suite/cabin options are in each class? 

The Retreat has a whopping 10 different options of suites. On the other hand, AquaClass and Concierge simply have one option. That makes booking a suite in AquaClass and Concierge simple!

A Concierge suite is essentially the same type of cabin as an infinite veranda room, it's just called “Concierge” when you upgrade to the class to get the perks. The suite looks the same, you just have added benefits. 

All AquaClass suites are the same suite (just one option), and all Concierge suites are the same. 

The Retreat Suites 

Here are some of the suites you can book that are part of The Retreat (in order from least square footage to the most): 

• Sky Suite: this is an entry-level suite and the most affordable way to be in The Retreat (319 sq. ft.)
• Aqua Sky Suite (319 sq. ft.) – same square footage as the Sky Suite, just different perks
• Celebrity Suite (401 sq. ft.) 
• Royal Suite (687 sq. ft.) 
• Edge Villa (739 sq. ft.) 
• Penthouse (1,378 sq. ft.) 
• Iconic Suite (1,892 sq. ft.) 

Celebrity, Royal, Edge, Penthouse, and Iconic are considered upper suites of the suites listed above. 

Priority Location of Suites

All three classes enjoy desirable locations of suites on the ship. (You’re on a Celebrity Cruise – is there a bad stateroom location? We think not!) 

You will never get an inside stateroom with any of these upgraded classes. You can even request a specific room upon booking, based on availability. 

Premium Bedding

All three classes, Aquaclass, The Retreat, and Concierge, have upgraded premium bedding. 

Pillow Menu

Yes, you read that correctly! When you sail with Celebrity Cruises in a Concierge, AquaClass, or The Retreat suite, you get a pillow menu to order your preferred pillow type! 

In-Room Workout Gear

Many people who sign up for AquaClass are wellness-focused. As such, Celebrity accommodates their fitness-forward lifestyle by providing a menu of workout gear that they can have in their room. 

This was delivered to our stateroom on our first day aboard the ship. You can choose from things like a kettlebell, a yoga mat, a yoga block, strengthening equipment, and a meditation pack. 

Guests of AquaClass and Aqua Sky Suites can take advantage of this perk.

Beach Towels

All three classes take beach towels provided in the suite to offshore excursions for use during the cruise. 

They are delivered to your suite in a lovely Nate Burkus tote bag, which you keep after the cruise. 

Binoculars

In-room binoculars are provided for all three classes: The Retreat, Concierge, and AquaClass. 

You don’t need them while you’re at sea in a place like the Caribbean, but they are useful during sea days on an Alaskan cruise. Additionally, they're helpful during select excursions; just don’t forget to return them to your suite closet (where they're stored) when you’re done!

Personally, we always bring our binoculars because there's never been a time when the cruise line-provided binoculars have been as solid or as high-quality as our own.

Daily Canapés

All three classes enjoy canapés delivered to their suite throughout the cruise. It’s a nice little in-room snack if you’re hungry. If you find they're not being delivered, simply request them.

Suite Water Service

With AquaClass and Concierge, only, you will receive a complimentary bottle of water upon arrival. 

That said, we also saw bottles of water that guests could take to go in the disembarkation area when leaving the ship for excursions or to explore a port. (We appreciated that the bottles were aluminum, in line with Celebrity’s commitment to sustainability.) 

Additionally, AquaClass and Aqua Sky Suite guests have daily bottled water service in the room.

Suite Welcome Gifts/Drinks

If you are a guest of any of the three classes, AquaClass and Concierge included, you can get one bottle of sparkling wine in your suite during the cruise upon request. We had this in our room and couldn’t wait to toast to a great cruise, which we promptly did after getting situated. 

AquaClass vs. The Retreat vs. Concierge: Relaxation & Wellness Areas on the Ship 

Dedicated Pool 

There is a special top-deck lounge and pool area for guests of The Retreat, called The Retreat Sundeck. While the environment of the Sundeck has an adults-only vibe, The Retreat pool and Sundeck areas are not adults-only. It's open to all ages as long as the guest is part of The Retreat.

It was very nice to enjoy this area on Celebrity Apex. It’s much more intimate than the “public” pool areas. Retreat guests access the area with their key cards, which open the Sundeck door. Here, guests find various lounge chairs and couches, a small pool area, and a dedicated bar. 

There was also poolside food available to order for a few hours for lunch and assorted treats served by surprise other times. For example, we were offered ice cream cups one afternoon, while another afternoon, we were served colorful, refreshing fruit skewers.  

AquaClass and Concierge guests do not have a dedicated Sundeck. 

We also want to note that The Retreat Sundeck is a perk on Edge-class ships and Revolutionized ships. It’s unavailable on the following Celebrity Cruises ships: Solstice, Eclipse, Reflection, Infinity, and Constellation.  

Special Spa Access

AquaClass and Aqua Sky Suites guests enjoy passes to the SEA Thermal Spa on Edge class ships for the duration of their cruise. This includes a steam room, sauna, Crystallarium, salt room, float room, and more. AquaClass guests have complimentary access to the Persian Garden/Spa on non-Edge ships. 

Spa Concierge helps take care of any spa requests AquaClass guests have.

Concierge guests and Retreat guests do not have special spa access. An additional fee applies for all non-AquaClass guests. 

Anyone on the ship can book a spa appointment; we recommend doing so before your cruise to secure a preferred appointment spot. 

AquaClass vs. The Retreat vs. Concierge: Drinks/Beverages and Restaurants (Beyond your Suite)

Exclusive Restaurants

Two of the three classes get you access to exclusive restaurants with Celebrity Cruises. The Retreat has Luminae for its guests, while Blu is exclusive to AquaClass and Aqua Sky Suite guests.

Luminae is focused on elevated food, flavors from around the globe, and a superior dining experience. Blu is focused on healthier dining options and sustainability. (Even though we want to reiterate that Celebrity Cruises, as a whole, keeps sustainability at the forefront of its brand, ship-wide.) 

Though it’s not particularly a “restaurant,” The Retreat Sundeck offers light lunch, like wraps, a small, simple Caesar salad, French fries, and the like. 

We compare Luminae and Blu here.

You do not have to dine at these restaurants if you're in AquaClass or The Retreat; it's simply an option if you are in these Celebrity suite classes. But if you are not staying in these suites, then it's definitely not an option for you.

Specialty Restaurants are Included

The only level that includes specialty restaurants for guests (in other words, you don't have to pay an additional fee to eat at restaurants on the ship like Raw on 5, Fine Cut Steakhouse, and Bora) is Royal Suites and above. These suite guests enjoy complimentary specialty dining, including lunch.

Exclusive Lounge Area

The Retreat Lounge is special for Retreat guests. On non-revolutionized Celebrity ships, it’s called “Michael’s Club.” AquaClass and Concierge guests do not have access to a comparable.

The Retreat Lounge is a beautiful area to have a continental breakfast if you want another option besides the ship’s many restaurants and dedicated Luminae restaurant. 

The lounge is open all day for beverages, including coffee drinks, tea, cocktails, mocktails, and soft drinks. They also have self-serve mini-fridges where you can grab a drink like sparkling or still water.

The Retreat Lounge offers guests some lite bites if you want to have yourself a little cocktail hour and collect a cheese plate and some charcuterie before dinner. They host afternoon tea some days, complete with scones and pastries. 

You can also ask a dedicated concierge team if there are any questions about the ship or excursions. 

The lounge is open 24/7; service times vary, but we have generally found someone from the crew/concierge team there from early morning to late at night. It's simply a lovely place to relax.

Premium Drinks 

Premium beverages, including cafe drinks like lattes and espressos, cocktails, and wine, are included with The Retreat at The Retreat Lounge and all over the ship. AquaClass and Concierge classes do not have a space like this with premium beverages, and it's not automatically added to the class type reservation. 

However, you can inquire about drinks packages or All-Included rates (which include a Classic Drink Package) when you book your cruise, giving you the luxury of not having to pay per drink. 

Dining Invitations

You may have heard about things like a Chef’s Table for a special dinner on some cruise ships. For example, river cruises usually have a “Captain’s Dinner” evening, and barge cruises do too. Princess Cruises has a version of this on steroids with its Chef’s Table experience. 

Celebrity Cruises doesn’t have that. However, they invite Concierge guests to join a welcome lunch. The Retreat and AquaClass do not have this (but they do have their exclusive restaurants, Luminae and Blu.) 

AquaClass vs. The Retreat vs. Concierge: Getting On and Off the Ship

Priority Boarding on Embarkation Day

The embarkation hours of big ocean cruise ships (and the thousands of people trying to board the ship) are rarely someone’s favorite activity, minus the excitement of getting on the ship at the end of the process. 

This is why you may appreciate that being part of The Retreat will get you an additional perk: early boarding! Just like in Celebrity River Cruises, you'll find that embarkation with access to The Retreat is easy.

AquaClass and Concierge do not enjoy this benefit; only The Retreat does.

Priority Disembarkation and Tendering in Ports During the Cruise 

None of the classes will get you this perk. However, we did have our suite Host escort us to the front of the line one day when we were disembarking at Grand Cayman. 

Priority Disembarkation (at the End of the Cruise)

The same rule applies for disembarkation as embarkation: The Retreat guests get priority disembarkation. 

This means you get your first choice of time to leave the ship on the last day. In many cases, because people want to prolong their cruise, you can choose to be one of the last to disembark. 

Extend Your Stay Program

If you're in a Royal Suite or above, in select ports on debarkation day, you can stay on board to relax until mid-afternoon and enjoy lunch at Luminae before you depart. Royal Suites and above include the Penthouse Suite, Edge Villa, and the Iconic Suite. The Reflection Suite on Celebrity Reflection is included in this as well.

AquaClass vs. The Retreat vs. Concierge: Dedicated Service and Crew Members

Butler/Host

All three classes enjoy some butler or host service: 

• Concierge Class has concierge team members at its assistance
• The Retreat has a dedicated Personal Retreat Host per suite (same for Aqua Sky Suites)
• AquaClass has a dedicated Spa Concierge and stateroom attendant

Guests of The Retreat can also direct their questions to a dedicated concierge team in The Retreat Lounge. Another cool thing about being in The Retreat and having a butler is Celebrity Cruises' “Butler Chat.” When you get to your room, you'll see a QR code on a card for Butler Chat. If you scan it on your phone, it will connect to WhatsApp, where you can chat with your butler. This proved very handy for us one day when we wanted a cocktail but had to get ready for dinner. We used Butler Chat to see if our butler, Liam, could help us out, and he did!

Pre-Cruise Concierge

Only The Retreat guests can take advantage of a pre-cruise concierge service to assist with booking onboard experiences, activities, and port excursions before they board. 

AquaClass vs. The Retreat vs. Concierge: Additional Perks 

Anyone who books a cruise with Celebrity needs to choose whether they want to purchase the Cruise-Only or Always Included rate. 

As expected, the Cruise-Only rate does not include Wi-Fi or drinks. 

In contrast, the Always-Included rate includes internet (Unlimited Basic WiFi Package), gratuities, and a Classic Drinks package for the entirety of your cruise.

The exception is for The Retreat guests because all perks—like WiFi and premium drinks—are already included. Retreat guests enjoy a Premium Package for drinks, tips included, On Board Credit (OBC), and the Unlimited Premium WiFi Package. 

Included WiFi

WiFi is included with The Retreat. It is not included with AquaClass or Concierge, though any guest can either add on wifi or take advantage of a promotion to include Wi-Fi when booking. (Such as if AquaClass/Concierge guests are booking an “All Included” rate.) 

Shoe Shine

Shoe shining is included for all three classes upon request. 

Special Theater Seating During Shows

Celebrity Cruises has premium evening entertainment. The Retreat guests can sit in a special, premium reserved area of the theater during performances on Evening Chic nights. 

(“Evening Chic” is Celebrity Cruises’ term for formal nights, which are less formal than gowns and tuxedos like Cunard Cruises have. Evening Chic calls for elevated, elegant evening attire, whichever way you interpret it, in what you wear. They are fun evenings designated to be a little fancier than others if you want to get dressed up.) 

We never used this reserved seating perk because we always found available seating. However, we imagine it’s a nice option for times when the theater is packed. 

Guests of AquaClass and Concierge do not have reserved seating. 

AquaClass vs. The Retreat vs. Concierge: Cost

It may not be the answer you’re looking for, but we recommend looking up the current cost of the Celebrity Cruises vacation you’re considering to understand the price. This is to ensure you’re getting the most accurate numbers. 

Perhaps it’s hyperbole, but you can find hundreds of combinations of packages and rates for cruises. You may look up cruise rates today and then look next month and find different options.

Factors that affect cost include: 

• Cruise location/ports
• Time of year 
• Availability 
• What class you’re looking to book 
• Current promotions

If you are lucky, prices may be such that it's a no-brainer to book AquaClass with an All-Included rate or to be in The Retreat in a suite you didn’t think you could afford. 

It all depends on when you look and when you book. If you find a great rate, grab it!

Is Upgrading to One of These Classes Worth It on a Celebrity Cruise? 

Overall, we think it is. However, it depends on what’s important to you during your cruise vacation.

For example, we really like small, exclusive experiences. This is especially true on board a huge cruise ship. Small experiences and venues (dining and pool areas included) make a huge ship feel cozier to us. 

And sure, we’ll say it: we like feeling a little more special when we travel. It helps us unwind and relax more to know we’re in the hands of a select team.  

However, if you don’t need more than the main dining and specialty dining options on the ship and the main pool area that everyone can use is a-okay with you (heck, maybe you don’t even care about the pool at all and you prefer spending time in the casino) then booking a regular stateroom and getting the already included amenities may work for you. 

An additional example is if wellness is paramount to you. If so, AquaClass could be just the cruise experience you’ve been searching for, with special spa access, in-room fitness equipment, a dedicated restaurant focused on lower-calorie ingredients and sustainability.

Another thing to consider, especially with The Retreat, with premium drinks included, is whether “free” cocktails, smoothies, and coffee drinks are even important to you. If they are, The Retreat has great perks. But you won't find value in included drinks if it’s unimportant to you. 

Understandably, most guests will not want to pay for perks they won’t use.

To answer the question of “Is it worth the upgrade?” you first need to lay out your cruise priorities, then review this post again to see if your priorities align with the offerings in one of the upgraded classes. 

Is AquaClass Worth It? 

AquaClass is suitable for guests who want wellness to be a vacation focus, or it's simply a lifestyle value they wish to emphasize during vacation. The in-room workout gear, including fitness classes, access to the SEA Thermal Suite, and overall attention to health in AquaClass, are certainly special offerings from Celebrity Cruises. 

If you’re not that into wellness or fitness, but you love the idea of a dedicated restaurant and some extra special attention, spring for The Retreat instead.

Is The Retreat on Celebrity Cruise Ships Worth It?

Having sailed onboard Celebrity Apex in The Retreat class, we cannot imagine sailing with Celebrity again and not being in The Retreat. 

We felt special, loved that we could go to Luminae as our home base/default dining experience, and really enjoyed The Retreat Lounge for pre-dinner cocktails every day. The Sundeck was great for avoiding crowds at the main pool. 

We recommend The Retreat!

Is Concierge with Celebrity Cruises Worth It? 

Concierge certainly doesn’t have all the perks of The Retreat, and it does not have as many bonuses as those enjoyed in AquaClass. Still, it’s a nice entry-level way to get a taste of what a higher level of service will be like with Celebrity Cruises if you’ve never experienced it.

While you won’t have a dedicated restaurant like Luminae or Blu, you will enjoy a special welcome lunch, an in-room welcome treat, daily canapés, premium bedding, shoe-shining, binoculars, and a dedicated concierge.

➜ Check Cruise Prices on Celebrity Cruises

Helpful Chart Comparing all the Class Types on Celebrity Cruises

If visual charts help explain things (they do for us!), we created the chart below so you can see the Celebrity Cruises class types. It's very easy to compare AquaClass vs The Retreat vs Concierge at a glance this way.

Conclusion of Celebrity Cruises Class Types

The Retreat may be the ultimate way to enjoy all the perks Celebrity Cruises has to offer, while AquaClass is ideal for wellness-focused cruisers. If you want to dip a toe into upgraded class waters to try it out, a Concierge-level suite could be the perfect fit.