Inside Abu Dhabi’s newest luxury ship Celebrity Constellation

Delores Johnson / The National

Delores Johnson / The National

Delores Johnson / The National

Delores Johnson / The National

Courtesy Celebrity Cruises

Jessica Hill takes a look inside the Royal Caribbean Lines luxury cruise ship which is currently on its maiden voyage from Abu Dhabi.

Instead of simply flying to and from Abu Dhabi, holidaymakers now have the option of cruising in and out on a 13-deck Royal Caribbean Lines cruise liner.

The 295-metre-long Celebrity Constellation is the first cruise ship to make the capital a departure point. On Monday, the 14-year-old ship set sail on its maiden Gulf voyage from Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal. It will call at Dubai and Muscat before heading to India, with stops in Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa and Cochin during a 12-night voyage, before returning passengers to the capital.

It will depart Abu Dhabi for several more 12-, 14- and 15-night cruises in the months ahead, starting with a two-week cruise, beginning on December 19, that includes a stop to enjoy the New Year’s Eve fireworks in Dubai.

The ship will move on to host tours in South East Asia at the end of January, then return to Abu Dhabi in March. We were given a tour of the ship while it was in Abu Dhabi to see what delights it offers passengers.

• Prices for a 14-night cruise start from Dh5,875 per person. Visit www.celebritycruises.co.uk

On deck

The “seaside pool” is surrounded by four whirlpools, and there is also an adults-only thalassotherapy pool – which has bubbles to massage your back while you relax – with its own accompanying whirlpool.

Fitness fans can take advantage of sea views while jogging around the oval track on deck 11, or try out the multi-use court, with basketball hoops, on deck 12.

When the ship is docked in Abu Dhabi, passengers can get eye-catching views from the ship’s helipad of the soon-to-open Louvre on Saadiyat Island, as well as the Corniche skyline.

Relax, indulge, get fit

If the bubbles from the ship’s pools are not enough to ease the tension in your muscles, a massage (Dh462) or acupuncture session at the ship’s Canyon Ranch SpaClub might do the trick.

The 25,000-square-foot spa complex features 13 rooms for treatments including body waxing, facials (Dh448), scrubs, wraps, hairdressing, manicures and pedicures.

The spa is open every day and if you don’t feel like going ashore when the ship docks, you can indulge in a port-day spa discount. You can also purchase a Dh367-a-week pass to the spa’s Persian Garden thermal suite, which offers a herbal steamer, Turkish bath, tiled loungers and rain shower.

The gym features a variety of Life Fitness treadmills, exercise balls, bikes and weight machines. Yoga, Zumba and Pilates classes and personal training are available for a fee, but stretch and group cardio classes are free.

The food

Of the ship’s six restaurants, the two-deck, 1,170-seat San Marco is the largest. Upstairs is for walk-in diners, while the deck below is reservation-only. The menus offer a wide range of traditional international dishes.

For a more casual dining affair, guests can head to the Oceanview Café on deck 10 for a buffet.

“We try to have a different theme every night,” says Fernando Bellantani, the ship’s cruise vacations manager.

For lunch, the Poolside Grill serves burgers, bratwurst and grilled chicken.

The most upscale dining venue is Ocean Liners, Constellation’s speciality fine-dining restaurant on deck 3, where the emphasis is on seafood with a French twist. But you pay for the privilege – US$45 (Dh165) per person.

Constellation’s other upscale paid restaurant is modern Italian steakhouse The Tuscan Grille. Blu, which was added two years ago, is an upmarket “clean cuisine” restaurant that is complimentary for AquaClass suite passengers (and $50 for those who are not).

For health-conscious cruisers, the AquaSpa Cafe offers low-­calorie options, and Sushi on Five is the ship’s Japanese restaurant. There’s also a Gelato Café and a Starbucks-style Café Al Bacio.

The entertainment

The swish 1,500-seat, two-tiered theatre on deck 5 hosts free shows twice a day, before and after dinner. This might be an acrobatics or dance performance, or a musical extravaganza such as Mamma Mia! or a Freddie Mercury tribute act.

Living up to the Celebrity Cruises name, former X Factor finalists also perform on board sometimes. You can also catch live bands in the Rendezvous Lounge on deck 4, while you sit at a stone-encrusted glowing table. Guests can also enjoy traditional local-themed performances at the ports-of-call. Passengers can also participate in craft-making, lively games, trivia contests or dancing ­competitions. The kids can be dropped off at the "fun factory" to play board games and table tennis, or attend slumber parties. Babysitting is available on request.

The cabins

At the upper end of the price scale, two palatial 1,432-square-foot penthouse suites come with 1,098-square-foot balconies and a baby grand piano.

The 538-square-foot Royal Suites (with 195-square-foot balconies) feature whirlpool tubs on the verandas.

The 467-square-foot Celebrity Suites feature a bedroom separate from the main living area, while the 251-square-foot Sky Suites and 191-square-foot Concierge Class cabins include 42-square-foot balconies.

All suite passengers get the services of a butler, who can help pack and unpack bags, and access to an exclusive lounge with free coffee, pastries and juices.

The 271-square-foot Family Veranda cabins have a partition separating the master bedroom from the lounge and kids’ sleeping area, as well as a 242-square-foot veranda with loungers, ­tables and chairs.

The spa-inspired AquaClass cabins boast a personal spa concierge to arrange treatments. Standard cabins average 170 square feet, with 38-square-foot balconies. In all, the ship can accommodate up 2,170 guests.