Recently, I was fortunate enough to climb on board Celebrity Cruises’ iconic Celebrity Apex; whilst she was docked in Southampton. I was astonished by how incredible the ship looked from the outside, but it was nothing compared to what it was like onboard! The embarkation process was seamless and I was impressed by the high standards of service that the Celebrity staff provided, even before I stepped on board.
One of the first places we were shown was the Eden venue located on deck 4 - my favourite part of the ship. It is one of the most unique spaces that I have known a cruise ship to have and it really connects you to the sea with its panoramic views. Eden would be perfect for those days at sea. Eden is renowned for awakening every sense - taste, sight, sound, smell and touch and I completely understand why.
Another thing that I was stunned by was the spacious main pool area. The sculpture of the hand making a heart shape added a welcoming touch. The main pool area is part of the resort deck where you see the Rooftop Garden and the indoor adults-only Solarium Pool. This deck to me is the ultimate gathering spot for a sunny day at sea. After looking at the main pool area, we headed to the Rooftop Garden which is an open area full of greenery. It also has a massive screen. This would be the perfect place at night if you like to look at the stars or even catch a movie on the big screen. There is also Rooftop Garden Grill that serves a variety of food to satisfy your taste buds.
The real showstopper of this cruise ship has to be the "Magic Carpet". This is a floating platform that can move between decks and reaches heights of 13 stories above sea level and it accommodates up to 100 guests. This Magic Carpet offers so many things but one thing I found super cool was that it can be lowered to deck 2 to help guests get onto a tender boat if needed. This allows a smooth start to exploring your destination. Aside from this cool feature, the Magic Carpet is designed with a bar and plenty of comfortable seating around. When the Magic Carpet is at the top of the ship, it becomes this incredible venue that offers experiences like their Dinner on the Edge. The cost for this is approximately 100 US Dollars per person for a delicious 7-course dinner with the most continual, beautiful views of the sea or the port you're in. The Magic Carpet can also be lowered to Deck 14 to become an extension of the main pool area or to Deck 5 where it becomes a full open-air dining experience. How cool?
One thing that particularly stood out to me was the art onboard. If you are a fan of diverse works of art, then Celebrity Cruises is for you. The ship is filled with all kinds of art and fantastic sculptures to give you that luxury feel.
Next stop was the theatre, which did not disappoint. The screen offers the most immersive experience with the 3D backdrop and secret doorways allowing the performers to go in and out. I was impressed by the tiered seating and the comfiness of the seats. Two performances are offered each night with no prebooking so you don't have to worry about missing out. There is also an upper seating level offered to the suite guests. I never thought that I would be one of the first to rush to a theatre onboard a ship but seeing this theatre completely changed my mind.
Afterwards, we had a tour of some of the cabins which all had a luxurious feel. I was pleased to learn that all suite guests get access to the Retreat Concierge service with so many benefits. Such as the premium drinks package, premium WiFi, access to the retreat lounge, sun deck with additional pool, 24-hour bar, exclusive access to the Luminae Restaurant and so much more. Celebrity also offers Aqua Class guests access to the spa with six different zones with heated ceramic beds overlooking the sea and private access to the Blu restaurant which has ‘Clean Cut Cuisine’ and is all cooked in a healthier way.
We were fortunate enough to have a tour of the Iconic Suite. The Iconic Suites are the largest in the whole of Celebrity's fleet. It is situated at the bridge so you are getting the same views as the captain. The suite has a private terrace with a hot tub and it has floor-to-ceiling windows so that you can enjoy the most uninterrupted views from your own cabin. Iconic Suite guests have their own exclusive services and amenities such as Butler Chat so that you can contact your butler at any time, complimentary access to SEA Thermal Suite and Persian Garden and personalisation of your mini bar. You could even ask the staff to set up a cocktail party in your suite! No wonder why it is called the Iconic Suite.
I am a massive foodie, so our next few stops were mind-blowing to me. Firstly, we had a look at the buffet restaurant which offered more than I could've ever have thought of. I saw the freshest fruits, veggies and meats as well as the most mouthwatering main meals like curry. The range of sweet treats was excellent so if you're a foodie like me, this would be the first place to go.
Aside from the buffet, there are 4 main restaurants: Cosmopolitan; Normandie; Cyprus and Tuscan. For lunch, I ate at the Normandie restaurant and I was very pleased with the food and service. My favourite part was the main. The salmon and mashed potatoes were so flavourful. The 4 restaurants' menus change each night. However, there is a section of the menu that stays the same and another section that is available in each restaurant. There are also 7 speciality restaurants and 2 exclusive restaurants, one for Retreat Guests and one for Aqua Class guests.
After food, 6 other Miles Morgan Travel Specialists and I were given free time to look around Apex. I can confidently say that I could not recommend Celebrity Cruises enough. If you would to find out more, please don't hesitate to contact me or pop into the Gloucester shop, the kettle is always on.
