Celebrity Edge cruise ship to make inaugural voyage to Australia

Celebrity Cruises is bringing its award-winning, billion-dollar cruise ship to Australia for the first time in December. See inside the incredible vessel and what’s on its menu.

The Americans like more beer and burgers. While Australians, well, we like to drink more wine and of course, have Vegemite at the ready.

That’s what you learn when an international cruise ship plans it’s upcoming Australian season.

Celebrity Cruises is bringing its award-winning, billion dollar cruise ship Celebrity Edge, to Australia for the first time in December. And with it, the 2908 passengers on board get to discover this isn’t an ordinary cruise ship.

Celebrity Edge was designed by a team who had never designed a cruise ship before, meaning, all the usual cruising rules were thrown out their floor to ceiling windows and replaced with a new approach to cruising.

Celebrity Edge makes its inaugural voyage into Sydney in December. Picture: Supplied

It also means when it comes to the food on-board, it too is a new experience. Gone are the days where guests must eat at the same restaurant, at the same time, during their stay. Instead, guests can choose from 29 different food and beverage experiences, with four complimentary main restaurants.

Among the stand out dining experiences include the oasis-like Eden, at the stern of the ship which offers incredible views of the ocean. The menu itself is inspired by nature and include dishes like sheep’s milk gnocchi, dijon herb crusted lamb loin and a filet mignon and mini short rib wellington are created in an open kitchen.

The succulent wall at Eden. Picture: Supplied

Or there is the cantilevered Magic Carpet, which suspends over the ship in mid air and is a bar and restaurant.

It was designed by the same architect responsible for the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai and dishes during the day are an open-air extension of Raw on 5, while on special evenings the whole platform ascends to the top of the ship for Dinner on the Edge.

While those staying in the exclusive “the retreat” have access to luminae, which is a private restaurant with a menu by Michelin-starred chef Cornelius Gallagher and includes dishes from Celebrity’s Global Culinary Ambassador, Chef Daniel Boulud of New York’s two-Michelin-starred Daniel.

Celebrity Edge’s Magic Carpet bar. Picture: Supplied

Director of Culinary Operations on Edge, chef Sidney Semodo, said menus on-board are tailored specifically to ports to ensure guests get a culinary experience that rivals the top restaurants in the world.

“Celebrity cruises partners with various suppliers and Distributors in Australia, across all categories of food and beverages such as meat, seafood, wines. These are long standing partners who understand our unique needs and are committed to delivery on time and the best quality,” he said.

Semodo adds local delicacies like kangaroo, meat pies, a crocodile burger and of course vegemite will be incorporated into the menu.

While Australian distillery Four Pillars, which was recently named International Gin Producer of the Year for the third time at the 2023 International Wine & Spirits Competition, have a partnership with Celebrity and have created a host of speciality cocktails and gin tasting experiences on board the ship.

All bread, from the baguettes to the bread rolls, are baked on board daily.

Celebrity Edge will make its maiden voyage into Sydney Harbour on December 9.

This journalist was a guest on Celebrity Edge earlier in the year.