Now, yes—they cost more. But we’re here to help you decide if those dollars translate into value that feels like you just made the smartest splurge of your life. (Spoiler: they often do.)
AquaClass: Spa-Inspired Serenity at Sea
AquaClass is Celebrity’s wellness-focused stateroom category, designed for those who want a little more zen and a little less buffet chaos. All AquaClass cabins have a balcony, but what you get beyond a standard balcony cabin is exciting:
- Exclusive access to Blu: Blu is Celebrity’s clean, modern restaurant just for AquaClass guests, with “clean cuisine” options. Think more grilled sea bass and less midnight nacho bar.
- Complimentary access to the SEA Thermal Suite (on Edge-series ships) or Persian Garden (on other ships): The Thermal Suite includes heated loungers, aromatherapy steam rooms, rainfall showers—cue the spa soundtrack.
- Upgraded bathroom amenities and in-room wellness perks like yoga mats and infused water (your liver will thank you).
- Priority boarding & disembarkation: With this added perk, you’ll be sipping a mimosa while the rest of the ship is still herding through security.
- In-room spa menu and wellness concierge access. Think of this as a personal concierge service to arrange any spa treatments.
Who it’s for: You like plush robes, eucalyptus steam rooms, and the idea of a restaurant where no one will shout “extra bacon!” from three tables over.
What’s the Cost Difference?: There is a large price fluctuation between a standard balcony cabin and an AquaClass cabin, largely depending on the number of nights and the itinerary. We have seen an increase as little as $25 per person per day, upwards of $100 per person per day.
When it might be worth it:
- Price difference is small: If the extra cost is only $200-$300 per person for a week-long cruise (less than $50 per person per day), it’s probably well worth it, especially if you plan to use the spa and like the idea of dining at the exclusive Blu restaurant.
When it might not be worth it
- Price difference is large: If the extra cost is $750 or more per person for a week-long cruise (in excess of $100 per person per day), you could potentially use that money for specialty dining and spa treatments a la carte, and still come out ahead.
The Retreat: Suites That Redefine Luxury
Booking a Suite with Celebrity isn’t just an upgrade—it’s an entirely separate world, called The Retreat. And let us just say: once you’ve Retreat-ed, it’s hard to go back.
What You Get in The Retreat:
- Access to Luminae: Luminae is an exclusive restaurant that is only available to suite guests. Think filet mignon, lobster, and personal service so polished they remember your favorite wines and any specialty requests by Day 2.
- The Retreat Lounge: A private lounge with complimentary drinks, gourmet bites, concierge service, and fancy furniture you’ll pretend you have at home.
- The Retreat Sundeck: Private cabanas, plush loungers, and way fewer people doing cannonballs in the pool.
- Premium Drinks + Wi-Fi + Gratuities: When you book a Retreat Suite, all of these perks are automatically included.
- Priority everything: Boarding, tendering, dining reservations, theater seating, and more.
- Personal Retreat Host (aka a Butler): Not a tuxedoed Downton Abbey type, but someone who will unpack your bags, bring you champagne, and make your entire vacation smoother than a piña colada.
(See our Retreat Suite experience below.)
Who it’s for: While some may think the Retreat is only for those who want luxury without lifting a finger, or who expects caviar service before sail-away, that’s a bit far-fetched. While of course you will always find those people somewhere on the ship, we found more Retreat people that were just wanting to enjoy the experience, especially if they were able to get the upgrade at a reasonable price.
What’s the Cost Difference?: There is even a greater fluctuation in price between a standard balcony cabin and any of the Retreat Suites, largely depending on the ship, which suite you want, the number of nights and the itinerary. On average, you can expect to pay about $3,000 per person more than a balcony cabin for a week-long cruise, and that’s for the “entry level” Retreat Suites.
When it might be worth it:
- Price difference is small(ish): If the extra cost is under $1,250 per person for a week-long cruise (less than $150 per person per day), it’s probably well worth it! Let’s just take a minute and do the math. For a week long cruise, it would cost you:
- $35 per person per day for an unlimited wi-fi package ($245 pp for the week)$109 per person per day for their Premium Drink package ($763 pp for the week)$ and 23 per day in pre-paid service gratuities. ($161 pp for the week)
- That’s $167 per person per day, or $1,169 pp, that is ALREADY included for Retreat Suite guests.
So if I can get the upgrade to a Retreat Suite for less than $1,169 per person for a week-long cruise, that would be a no-brainer! In this case, you would probably still be getting a great deal even if you were paying a $1,500 per person increase.
When it might not be worth it
- Price difference is large: If the extra cost is more than $1,800 per person for a week-long cruise (in excess of $250 per person per day), you could potentially use that money to purchase those “perks” on your own and still have some money left over for specialty dining.
AquaClass vs Retreat Suites: So What’s the Difference?
Feature | Aqua Class | The Retreat |
| Private Restaurant | Blu | Luminae |
| Spa Access | Yes | Optional (paid) |
| Butler Service | No | Yes |
| Premium Drinks Incl | No | Yes |
| Wi-Fi & Gratuities Incl | No | Yes |
| Private Lounge/Sundeck | No | Yes |
| Price | $$ | $$$ |
Upgrade Like a Pro: Bidding for AquaClass or Retreat Suites
Here’s a little-known perk that savvy cruisers have discovered: you can often bid on an upgrade after booking your standard cabin. That’s right—Celebrity Cruises offers a “MoveUp” program that lets you place a bid for a higher-category stateroom, including AquaClass and Retreat Suites.
Our Real-Life Example
When my wife and I sailed the Celebrity Solstice to the Mexican Riviera, we were originally booked in a standard veranda cabin. But when the upgrade offer came through, we put in a bid: $800 per person for a Celebrity Suite. This was their second-tier Suite. We won the bid.
And let me tell you—it was worth every penny! From the moment we stepped into the suite (and promptly spent 5 minutes just spinning around whispering “is this all for us?”), we knew we’d crossed into a whole new level of cruising. You can find a walkthrough video of that suite here. Click the Celebrity tab and then Celebrity Solstice.
Our butler: OK, so we have never stayed anywhere that included a butler, so we had no idea what to expect. He was quite friendly, as you would expect, and he said to let him know if there is anything that we would like — anything. He specifically asked about what we like to drink in the mornings, and said he would make sure to have our coffee and pastries ready for us at 6 am. That was perfect, but we were still curious what level of service “anything” really included.
During that first night, while lounging on our sectional in the living room we were hankering for some popcorn. Hmm, we have never seen popcorn on board a ship. We laughed and thought this would be a good test. We didn’t want to be THOSE people, that called their butler late into the evening to demand he find us some popcorn, so we agreed we would just mention it to him in the morning. So during our 6 am coffee and pastry delivery, we asked him if he would be able to find us some popcorn for that evening. While he shook his head and said he doesn’t even know if they have popcorn on the ship, he assured us he would look into it.
That evening, after taking in dinner at Luminae and seeing the show, we got back to our suite and found a cloche covering a large plate on the coffee table. Lo and behold, it was a plate piled high with popcorn. No note, just a bottle of wine and a pile of popcorn. From that night forward, each evening when we would get back to our cabin, we would find a plate of popcorn and his beverage of choice.
Beyond our butler, dining at Luminae truly made every meal feel like a five-star escape. Now normally, we’ll graze the buffet from time to time or try a specialty restaurant, but with Luminae, we didn’t eat anywhere else the entire cruise.
Add on top of that our priority everything—boarding, shore excursions, tendering, and more, and what is still today the most comfortable cabin we have ever had on a ship, the upgrade to the suite was well worth it for us, and something we would do time and time again….if the price is right that is.
Pro Tip: If you get an email invitation to bid—do it! You can adjust your bid price up or down at any time, and you’ll only pay if your bid is accepted.
NOTE: If you place a bid and it is accepted, you DO NOT have the option to back out of the deal. You will be assigned a new cabin number, which may or may not be in the location you want. So if you MUST be on a specific deck, maybe traveling with others that you want to be close to, or where you want to be in a specific part of the ship (forward or aft, port or starboard side), do not place a bid for an upgrade. Your upgraded cabin is assigned randomly.
So… Is It Worth the Extra Money?
If you’re eyeing the AquaClass or Retreat Suite categories and wondering if they’re worth the splurge, consider this:
- Do you like peaceful mornings with fresh-pressed juice and spa access over buffet line battles?
- Do you want dining that feels like a boutique hotel, not a floating cafeteria?
- Do you love the idea of skipping lines, sipping Veuve, and feeling just a little bit fancy?
If yes, the value often outweighs the added cost, especially when factoring in what’s already included (like drinks, tips, and Wi-Fi for Retreat guests).
And while we love a good balcony room, sometimes it’s worth skipping the “Balcony Bingo Special” and treating yourself to that next tier of comfort.
Your cruise. Your call. But trust us: once you Suite…it will be hard to retreat.
Please visit our Blog: https://www.maknwaves.com/celebrity-aquaclass-and-retreat-suites-is-it-worth-it/