The new billion-dollar Celebrity Edge, the ship set to shake-up the cruise scene with its amazing 'Magic Carpet', stunning decor and suites with hot tubs (14 Pics)

The most hotly anticipated cruise ship of the year has set sail on its pre-inaugural tour – but before it departed MailOnline Travel was given exclusive access.

MailOnline travel writer Samantha Lewis was allowed on Celebrity Cruises' new billion-dollar vessel, Celebrity Edge, before it got under way from Fort Lauderdale in Florida on Sunday.

Here are her first impressions of the revolutionary liner that is likely to shake-up the cruise scene.

MailOnline travel writer Samantha Lewis was the first journalist from a European publication to be allowed on Celebrity Cruises' new billion-dollar vessel, Celebrity Edge, which left Fort Lauderdale in Florida on Sunday. The ship is pictured here in Fort Lauderdale at the weekend

There are several parts of the 3,000-passenger ship that blew Samantha away, including Eden, pictured. It’s a stunning garden-themed restaurant, which offers an action-packed dining experience

The Grand Plaza on decks three and four. It features a white grand piano and dazzling decor

The amazing Rooftop Garden on deck 15, which promises to be a special place to relax

The Rooftop Garden Grill will mean guests can dine under starlight as Celebrity Edge chugs along

Kelly Hoppen has designed the accommodation. Samantha reveals that the suites have natural woods, cashmere in the mattresses and nifty storage solutions