Celebrity Beyond Is Coming Back to Southampton, and the Itinerary Is Worth the Wait
Celebrity Cruises has unveiled its 2028 and 2029 deployment, and Europe is where most of the news is. 4 Edge Series ships will sail the region, the most Celebrity has ever put in Europe at once, and among them is Celebrity Beyond, which is returning to Southampton for the first time since 2023 following a full renovation.
Celebrity Beyond is coming home to Southampton
Celebrity Beyond hasn’t sailed from the UK since 2023, and its return comes with some real upgrades. Following a 2026 renewal, the ship will debut two new spaces: the Mediterranean restaurant Bora and the Celebrity Pool Club, an upgraded poolside area with two new spots to eat and drink, Orange Peel Bar & Grille and Tacos del Sol. Both of those debut on Celebrity Beyond this November, so guests sailing before the ship even reaches Southampton will get a preview of what’s coming.
Once it’s based in Southampton, Celebrity Beyond will run seven- to 14-night sailings, and the longer itineraries look genuinely special. The 14-night sailings start in Iceland, hitting Reykjavik, Isafjordur, Akureyri, and Seydisfjordur, before heading into Norway’s fjords for stops in Geiranger, Alesund, Flam, Nordfjordeid, and Bergen. That’s a lot of dramatic scenery packed into two weeks, and it’s all reachable without a flight.
Four Edge Series ships in Europe, and the most extensive Northern Europe program yet
Celebrity Beyond isn’t sailing alone. Celebrity Xcel, Celebrity Ascent, and Celebrity Apex round out the Edge Series lineup in Europe, and together they make up what Celebrity is calling its most extensive Northern Europe program to date.
Celebrity Apex has two itineraries worth flagging, and one of them is especially good news if you’re staying closer to home. There’s a new 12-night British Isles itinerary covering Scotland, Ireland, and England, including Celebrity’s first-ever call to Galway, Ireland, which is a nice addition for anyone who’s already done the usual Dublin-Edinburgh circuit. Apex also has a 12-night Scandinavia sailing that stops in Oslo, Skagen, Stockholm, Tallinn, Helsinki, and Copenhagen.
For guests chasing sun instead of fjords, Celebrity Xcel, Celebrity Ascent, and Celebrity Eclipse will sail seven- to 11-night Mediterranean itineraries to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, Portugal, Greece, and Turkey. Celebrity Constellation will focus on Italy and Croatia, and its itinerary marks the line’s first visit to Bari, Italy since 2014, so that’s more than a decade between stops.
Celebrity Infinity stays busy year-round in Europe, and it’s bringing back something guests haven’t seen since 2023: overnight visits to Alexandria, Egypt. The ship will also run shoulder-season sailings from Athens to Santorini, Kavala, Rhodes, Mykonos, and Ephesus, plus off-season sailings from Barcelona to the Canary Islands, Portugal, and Morocco for guests who want winter sun without crossing an ocean.
Alaska and Hawaii get some new options too
Three ships will cover Alaska in 2028. Celebrity Edge is back for a fifth season, Celebrity Millennium will run round-trip sailings from Vancouver, and Celebrity Equinox is sailing Alaska for the very first time with seven-night open-jaw sailings between Vancouver and Seward. Guests on Celebrity Equinox can also add a land-based Cruisetour with stops in Anchorage, Talkeetna, and Denali.
If you’d rather trade glaciers for beaches, Celebrity Equinox will also offer new round-trip Hawaii sailings out of Los Angeles.
Australia, Asia, and a full Japan season
Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Solstice return to Australia and New Zealand with 23 sailings ranging from quick four-night getaways to full 14-night journeys.
The bigger story in the region is Japan. The renewed Celebrity Solstice will sail a full Japan season for the first time, running from April to October 2028 and giving guests a shot at Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, overnight stays in Kyoto and Aomori, and festivals like Golden Week and Gion Matsuri. Celebrity Millennium will add its own spring and fall Japan sailings for cherry blossom and koyo (autumn leaf) season. Winter brings both ships south into Southeast Asia, with stops in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, China, and Malaysia, including a New Year’s Eve overnight in Hong Kong on Celebrity Millennium to watch the fireworks.
South America and a return to Antarctica
Celebrity Equinox will run 12- to 16-night South America itineraries across five countries, including a return to Antarctica after time away. Guests can expect Patagonian penguin colonies, whale watching, overnights in Valparaiso and Buenos Aires, and a pass by Cape Horn along the edge of Tierra del Fuego National Park. There’s also a 16-night holiday sailing that rings in the new year in Antarctica itself, which is about as memorable a way to spend New Year’s Eve as cruising gets.
New England and Bermuda round things out
Closer to home, Celebrity Summit will offer seven-night Bermuda sailings from Cape Liberty starting in May 2028, with two overnight stays for diving, golf, and beach time. In the fall, 12-night sailings from Boston will cover Canada and New England’s fall foliage, lighthouses, and fishing villages, with an overnight in Quebec City thrown in.
“We’re delighted to give our guests more ways than ever to experience the world’s most extraordinary destinations in 2028 and 2029,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises. “From the breathtaking fjords of Norway to the untouched beauty of Antarctica, these itineraries offer endless opportunities to explore.”
When can you book?
Here’s how the on-sale dates break down:
- Summer 2028 Japan: on sale now
- Europe, Bermuda, Canada, and New England: August 25, 2026
- Alaska, Hawaii, and South America: September 1, 2026
- Australia and Winter 2028/29 Asia: September 29, 2026
- Caribbean and 2029 Galapagos: coming soon