Is Celebrity's Retreat Worth It? My Honest Sky Suite Review
One of the biggest surprises on one of my recent Celebrity Cruise sailing on the Celebrity Ascent wasn’t a destination—it was my stateroom.
For this cruise, I decided to upgrade our room to The Retreat and stay in a Sky Suite. Since it was only a three-night sailing, the price difference wasn’t nearly as significant as it would be on a longer cruise, making it the perfect opportunity to finally experience Celebrity’s luxury suite class.
If you’ve ever wondered whether upgrading to The Retreat is worth the extra cost, here’s what stood out to me, what I loved, and who I think it’s best suited for.
What Is The Retreat?
The Retreat is Celebrity Cruises’ luxury “ship within a ship” experience. Guests staying in eligible suite categories receive exclusive amenities, private spaces, premium drinks and Wi-Fi, personalized service, priority embarkation, and access to exclusive dining and lounge areas.
While there are several suite categories included in The Retreat, I stayed in a Sky Suite, which is often considered the entry point into the experience.
My Favorite Part: The Sky Suite
Before this cruise, I expected to love the exclusive perks.
What surprised me most was just how much I loved the room itself.
The bed faces the balcony, so when you wake up each morning, your view is the ocean instead of a wall or television. Even better, you can control the curtains right from the Celebrity app on your phone. There was something incredibly relaxing about opening the curtains without even getting out of bed and watching the ocean appear in front of me.
Another feature I absolutely loved was the bathroom layout. The vanity sits behind the bed, but the mirror actually slides open to reveal a window looking toward the balcony. That meant I could do my makeup while looking out at the ocean instead of staring at a mirror the whole time. It’s a small design detail, but it made the room feel incredibly luxurious.
The Celebrity app also allows you to control the room’s lighting, adding another modern touch that made the suite feel even more upscale.
Overall, I thought the Sky Suite was one of the most beautiful and thoughtfully designed cruise cabins I’ve stayed in.
Priority Embarkation
One perk I didn’t fully appreciate until experiencing it was priority embarkation.
Retreat guests receive one of the earliest boarding times and wait in a dedicated lounge with complimentary drinks and light snacks before boarding begins.
Being among the first guests onboard meant we could drop our bags in our suite, enjoy a relaxing lunch at Luminae, and start exploring the ship long before most passengers had even boarded. It was a wonderful way to begin the vacation.
Luminae Restaurant
Luminae quickly became one of my favorite Retreat perks.
Because we were traveling with friends staying in standard cabins, we didn’t eat every meal there, but we made breakfast our daily tradition. The service was wonderful, the atmosphere was quiet, and the food was consistently excellent.
We also had lunch there on embarkation day, and it ended up being one of my favorite meals of the entire cruise.
Having an exclusive restaurant never felt stuffy—it simply felt more relaxed than the main dining room.
The Retreat Sundeck
The Retreat’s private sundeck was another highlight.
The pool itself is smaller than the main pools onboard, but because it’s reserved exclusively for Retreat guests, it never felt overwhelmingly crowded. On sea days when every other pool was packed, it was nice having a quieter place to relax.
I also spent time enjoying drinks from the Retreat bar throughout the cruise.
One afternoon we tried lunch by the pool. Unfortunately, this ended up being my one disappointing experience. There wasn’t much airflow in the dining area, so it felt extremely hot, and the service that afternoon was noticeably slower than anywhere else onboard.
After talking with other experienced Celebrity cruisers, several mentioned this wasn’t typical of their Retreat experiences, so I suspect we simply caught them on an off day.
One Small Touch I Really Appreciated
One of those little details that made The Retreat feel elevated was something I wasn’t expecting at all.
Near the pool, Celebrity had complimentary large bottles of sunscreen in multiple SPF levels along with aloe vera available for guests to use throughout the day.
It may seem like a small perk, but it came in handy! After getting a little too much sun one afternoon, I realized I had forgotten to bring aloe with me. Instead of having to head back to my room or buy some onboard, it was right there waiting for me.
It’s a simple touch, but it’s another example of how The Retreat focuses on making your vacation just a little more comfortable.
Butler Service
One of the exclusive Retreat perks is butler service.
I used our butler to help unpack when we arrived and pack everything back up at the end of the cruise, along with asking a few general questions during the week.
While I appreciated having the service available, I personally felt like our butler was still fairly new. Some of my requests seemed to cause a little confusion, so I didn’t get quite the seamless experience I’d heard others describe.
That said, our room steward was absolutely fantastic and took wonderful care of our suite throughout the cruise.
Premium Drinks & Wi-Fi
One perk I probably appreciated more than I expected was having the premium beverage package and premium Wi-Fi already included.
We were traveling with friends who had Celebrity’s standard “All Included” package, so we noticed the differences throughout the week.
For example, at the Martini Bar, nearly every specialty martini costs more than the amount included in the standard drink package. Our friends could still order them—they simply paid the difference. Since premium drinks were included with The Retreat, I never had to think about an upcharge.
It’s certainly not a reason alone to book a suite, but it’s one of those little conveniences that made the experience feel more carefree.
Other Retreat Perks
There were a couple of benefits I didn’t fully take advantage of simply because we were traveling with friends outside of The Retreat.
Suite guests receive reserved seating for many of the theater shows, but we chose to sit with our friends instead. Had we been cruising by ourselves, I think we would have used this benefit often.
Another unexpected thing I noticed was the silver Retreat key card. It may sound minor, but crew members recognize it immediately. Whether at the bars or around the ship, I often felt like someone came over to help just a little bit sooner because they knew I was a Retreat guest.
Was It Worth the Upgrade?
For this sailing? Absolutely.
Because this was only a three-night cruise, the price difference between our original room and the Sky Suite wasn’t nearly as significant as it would be on a longer itinerary.
Would I pay for The Retreat on every Celebrity cruise? No.
On a seven-night or longer cruise, the upgrade can become much more expensive, and I’d have to think a little harder about whether it fit my budget.
But for a milestone birthday, anniversary, couples getaway, or another special occasion? Absolutely.
Who I Think The Retreat Is Best For
After experiencing it myself, I’d especially recommend The Retreat for:
Couples celebrating a special occasion.
Adults looking for a quieter, more luxurious cruise.
Travelers who enjoy spending time onboard and taking advantage of premium dining and exclusive spaces.
Personally, I probably wouldn’t book The Retreat if I were traveling with young children. There weren’t many kids using the Retreat spaces during our sailing, and Celebrity as a whole feels much more geared toward adult vacations than family cruises.
I’d also think twice about booking it if I were sailing with a larger group staying in standard cabins. We naturally spent most of our time with our friends, which meant we didn’t fully take advantage of everything The Retreat had to offer.
Likewise, if your itinerary is very port-intensive, you may not get as much value from the exclusive spaces. We visited Nassau and spent the day at the Royal Beach Club, then stopped in Bimini, where I actually stayed onboard to enjoy The Retreat while the rest of our group explored because I’d already visited the island before.
If we’d had multiple sea days, I think I would have appreciated the Retreat experience even more.
Traditional Balcony vs. Infinite Veranda
One thing I especially appreciated about our Sky Suite was having a traditional balcony.
Celebrity’s newer Edge Series ships also feature many Infinite Veranda staterooms. Instead of stepping outside onto a separate balcony, the Infinite Veranda extends your living space by enclosing the balcony area with floor-to-ceiling windows. At the touch of a button, the upper portion of the window lowers, creating an open-air experience while still technically remaining part of your cabin.
Some travelers absolutely love this design because it gives you more usable interior space and lets you enjoy the view even when the veranda is closed.
Since we were already staying in a spacious Sky Suite, we had plenty of room inside the cabin. That made it especially nice to also have a true outdoor balcony where we could step outside, enjoy a cup of coffee, feel the ocean breeze, and take in the views. For me, it was the best of both worlds—the extra interior space of a suite without giving up the traditional balcony experience.
Neither option is right or wrong—it really comes down to what you value most. If maximizing cabin space is your priority, you may love the Infinite Veranda. If you’re someone who enjoys spending time outdoors while cruising, a traditional balcony may be worth considering when choosing your stateroom.
Final Thoughts
If I close my eyes and think back on this cruise, I don’t immediately think about the premium drinks or the exclusive restaurant.
I think about waking up each morning, opening the curtains from my phone without even getting out of bed, and seeing nothing but the ocean stretching out in front of me.
That’s what The Retreat felt like.
Less about luxury for the sake of luxury, and more about slowing down and enjoying every part of the vacation.
Will I book The Retreat on every Celebrity cruise?
No.
Will I happily budget for it again for the right sailing or special occasion?
Absolutely.
Jenny Even
As I grew up, my main bucket list item became to visit all 50 states (which I just completed in 2023 with an island-hopping trip in Hawaii)! When asked what my favorite type of vacation is I never have an answer – I love to do it all! And now being a mom of two young kids it has been fun getting more into the family vacations for our own family.I plan vacations because I love to help people have the best experience and make unforgettable memories.
