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August 31, 2021

Celebrity Apex is the second Edge-class ship produced for Celebrity Cruises, following its sister ship Celebrity Edge, and has been in operation since July 2021.

The feeling you get when you stand in front of Celebrity Apex for the first time is one of pure amazement. It’s not so much the size, because there are plenty of ships like it nowadays. It’s the style that is so striking, with its asymmetrical stern, its unusual bow and, above all, that movable orange deck on one side that makes it so different from other cruise ships: the “Magic Carpet”.

The expectations created by seeing the ship from the outside are largely repaid once on board. The spaces inside are spacious, and each place has its own unique style, such that you never get tired of exploring all the Apex has to offer its guests.

Deck 2 is dedicated to the entrance gateway and medical centre. It is between decks 3 and 5 that are host to the main attractions inside. The centrepiece of the ship is undoubtedly the ‘Grand Plaza’, a salon occupying all three decks. It is a place to pass through, but if you are not in a hurry you will be easily captivated by the incessant live music or by the two bars: the ‘Martini Bar’, with barmen who produce endless variations of Martini cocktails between one acrobatic act to the next, and the ‘Cafè al Bacio’, an Italian bar that offers the best coffee on the ship.

The expectations created by seeing the ship from the outside are largely repaid once on board. The spaces inside are spacious, and each place has its own unique style, such that you never get tired of exploring all the Apex has to offer its guests.

Deck 2 is dedicated to the entrance gateway and medical centre. It is between decks 3 and 5 that are host to the main attractions inside. The centrepiece of the ship is undoubtedly the ‘Grand Plaza’, a salon occupying all three decks. It is a place to pass through, but if you are not in a hurry you will be easily captivated by the incessant live music or by the two bars: the ‘Martini Bar’, with barmen who produce endless variations of Martini cocktails between one acrobatic act to the next, and the ‘Cafè al Bacio’, an Italian bar that offers the best coffee on the ship.

There are 29 bars and restaurants. What is most surprising is the variety of cocktails on offer: in addition to the great classics found everywhere, each bar and restaurant has original drinks that set it apart. And it’s easy to try them because Celebrity Cruises offers very simple drinks packages.

Basically on board you have the “Classic” package, which includes everything under $9. If you ask for a premium cocktail, you pay for the rest with the $9. For a small daily fee you can opt for the ‘Premium’ package, which allows you to enjoy all the drinks on board without any additional worries. The service is also top-notch, especially the poolside service and during shows in the theatre: all you have to do is sit down and in a few minutes you’ll be served by one of the many friendly crew members.

The four main restaurants are towards the stern, on decks 3 and 4. Each has its own style, both in the décor and the cuisine: “Normandie” takes us to France, “Tuscan” to Italy, “Cyprus” to the Mediterranean islands and “Cosmopolitan” to the United States. Each restaurant has three starters and three main dishes, which are set. The rest of the menu is the same for all restaurants, but changes every day. You can dine with wine or choose one of the cocktails on the menu.

Continuing further aft we finally find ‘Eden’, the place that perhaps best represents the Edge class. Decorated with many real plants, and surrounded by a ramp that leads to the upper deck, it is not only a bar, not only a speciality restaurant and not only an alternative buffer for lunch: it is also a theatre, a place for dance classes, but also a space to relax during the day while observing the outside through the huge glass window that overlooks the trail left by the ship in the sea.

Moving towards the bow, through an art gallery that changes daily, you’ll reach the other distinctive feature of the new Edge class: ‘The Theatre’, a two-level, high-tech theatre featuring a huge curved screen that encompasses the stalls to create all kinds of settings. Be prepared for the twists and turns – it might even snow during the shows!

In the evenings, after the main show at ‘The Theatre’, you can find a late night show at Eden, or try ‘The Club’, a versatile space on two decks that doubles as both a theatre and a disco. Entertainment is of a high standard and for all ages: in the early evening there is usually a musical or cabaret show, mainly targeting an American audience. In the second evening, the offer ranges from silent disco to acrobatic shows and cabaret for adults. And then every night there is music until late at night at ‘The Club’.

Celebrity Apex is certainly not a ship designed to entertain children: the passengers are generally adults travelling in couples or with teenage children. However, there is an excellent ‘Camp at Sea’ entertainment service for children, with special areas, events and staff.

The central decks numbered from 6 to 12 are dedicated to large, beautiful guest rooms. Room service is excellent and many details are taken care of to make you appreciate the little time you will generally spend in your cabin during the cruise.

 

On deck 14 is the Ocean View Café, which is the ship’s main buffet restaurant. It is practically always open and offers international cuisine with occasional theme days. One of our favourite things about the buffet was the excellent ice cream parlour!

Also inside, at the bow, there’s the ‘Solarium’, with a swimming pool and two Jacuzzis, and the spa. Deck 15 houses a wonderful gym with a 270-degree sea view.

Finally, on the decks between decks 14 and 16 there is a large open-air area with a large, calm swimming pool surrounded by a beautiful setting. There’s a bar by the pool, but if you don’t want to go to the bar, that’s no problem: just lie down on a sunbed above the water where you can relax to live music and wait for a waiter to come and serve you. The service on board is really excellent.

At the ‘Rooftop Garden’ on deck 15, a garden with real plants that becomes a dance floor, cinema, and grill speciality restaurant. During the day you’ll find the fixed “Magic Carpet” on deck 14, in full bar mode with breathtaking views of the sea. Occasionally, in the evening “Magic Carpet” transforms into a speciality restaurant, going down to the water’s edge for an unforgettable dinner.

At sunset, having a drink is a must at the ‘Sunset Bar’ on deck 15, which offers excellent cocktails with a view of the ship’s trail.

The ship does not offer outdoor sports facilities. Guests looking for sporting activities, apart from the gymnasium, will find the jogging track, which runs along two decks in a figure 8 pattern, around the swimming pool and through the Rooftop Garden  in a pleasant way. There is also a table tennis table on deck 15, which is a little hidden away.

There is also ‘The Retreat’, an area of the ship with a bar, restaurant and swimming pool reserved for guests of the ship’s most exclusive suites.

In conclusion, Celebrity Apex is a ship that offers cruises that appeal primarily to an adult audience looking for quality and tranquillity, who appreciate innovative designs and a high level of service.

Don’t miss the Celebrity Apex Reviews, recommendations, opinions and information on Cruising Journal, with photos, videos and cruises on offer.

Giovanni Cerretani

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