Celebrity Cruises tips for first timers
The short answer
Celebrity is modern and polished, with an adult-leaning crowd and strong food. Complete online check-in at least three days before sailing, pack smart-casual evening clothes, know that everyone of drinking age in a cabin must buy the same drinks package, and budget $19.50 per guest per day in gratuities in standard cabins.
What a Celebrity cruise feels like
Celebrity sits between the big family lines and luxury: sleek modern ships, good restaurants, a spa-and-sunset atmosphere and fewer children outside school breaks. The Edge-class ships have striking design and some cabins where the balcony becomes part of the room.
First-timer tips specific to Celebrity
- Do online check-in at least three days before you sail. Celebrity requires it.
- Decide the drinks package as a cabin. If one guest of drinking age buys a package, every guest of drinking age in that stateroom must buy the same one.
- Know the room service fee. Room service carries a fixed fee per order; continental breakfast is free in the morning.
- Pick the right WiFi tier. Basic doesn't support streaming or video calls; Premium does.
- Dress casual chic. Evenings are smart casual; no swimsuits, tank tops or baseball caps in the restaurants.
Celebrity is my go-to for couples who want a lovely week without the water slides.
Celebrity's rules, from its own pages
Celebrity Cruises: the rules, from Celebrity Cruises's own pages
- Daily gratuities
$19.50 per guest per day inside, ocean view and veranda
$20.50 in Concierge Class and AquaClass.
$24.50 in The Retreat.
Applied to your SeaPass account daily unless you prepay at booking.
Source: Celebrity Cruises, checked September 21, 2026
- Drink packages
Classic and Premium Drink Packages — everyone of drinking age in the cabin must buy the same one
The package works in the Main Restaurant, specialty restaurants, casual dining and all bars and lounges. Room service and the minibar are not included.
Classic covers beers, spirits, cocktails, liqueurs, frozen drinks and wines by the glass up to $12 per serving.
Premium adds bottled water from Evian, Perrier, San Pellegrino and Panna, specialty coffees, organic teas, Red Bull and frozen smoothies.
Source: Celebrity Cruises, checked September 21, 2026
- Dress code
Casual chic, with Smart Casual in the evening
Around the ship: resort wear, sundresses, shorts, polos, button-downs, sandals or loafers.
In main and specialty dining Celebrity asks you to leave out swimsuits, see-through coverups, robes, bare feet, tank tops, T-shirts and baseball caps.
Poolside: swimwear with a coverup is expected.
Source: Celebrity Cruises, checked September 21, 2026
- WiFi
Starlink Wi-Fi in two tiers: Basic and Premium
Premium Wi-Fi supports video calls, large files and streaming. On Celebrity Apex, Beyond, Ascent and Xcel it also streams to the stateroom TV.
Basic Wi-Fi is for light browsing only — no streaming or video calls.
Basic must be bought before the cruise or as part of the All Included plan.
Source: Celebrity Cruises, checked September 24, 2026
- Bringing alcohol
One sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne per guest of drinking age, on embarkation day only
All other alcohol brought aboard is prohibited unless security permits it.
Source: Celebrity Cruises, checked September 21, 2026
- Room service
24-hour room service with a $9.95 fee per order
The fee is fixed per order. It is the same whether you order one dish or ten items for four people.
Continental breakfast room service is free, from 6am to 11am every day except disembarkation day.
A gratuity is added automatically. Celebrity's page states 20% in one place and 18% in another, so check your own ship's menu.
Source: Celebrity Cruises, checked September 21, 2026
- Minimum age
No guest under 21 is booked in a stateroom unless an adult 21 or older is with them
Infants under 6 months old are not permitted to sail.
Exceptions for minors in adjacent staterooms with a parent or guardian, and for married couples with proof.
Drinking age is 21 from Asia, North America, the UAE and the private destinations; 18 from South America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Source: Celebrity Cruises, checked September 21, 2026
Packing for Celebrity
Resort wear by day and smart casual at night, a couple of dressier outfits, and a light layer for the dining room. The cruise packing list covers the rest.
First-timer questions
Questions, answered.
The questions people ask most. Tap one to open it, or open them all and read straight down.
2 questions on this page