Our Website Content Assistant, Lily, visited the incredible Celebrity Apex for a ship visit. With this being the first time she had ever been on a cruise ship, we asked for her first impressions.
On 15th June, I had the pleasure of going onto Celebrity Apex for my first ever ship visit. Not only was this my first time onboard a Celebrity Cruises ship, it was my first time ever onboard a cruise ship.
First Impressions
After 9 months of working within the cruise industry, I was so excited to get onboard and see for myself what all the hype is about. All I can say is, WOW! Celebrity Apex definitely lived up to all my expectations and it was so interesting having a walking tour around the whole of the ship. I did 5,000 steps just from the guided tour!
Even approaching a cruise ship for the first time, at the Liverpool Cruise Terminal, is a sight to behold. From a distance I could see Celebrity Apex and couldn’t wait to explore.
First stop was a drink at Eden, a specialty bar & restaurant. This was possibly my favourite spot on the ship. The decor was incredible and the big open space seemed the perfect place to relax. With all the greenery and floor to ceiling windows, it felt like you were sat outside.
As a book lover, I was so excited about the Apex Book Swap. This seems like a great way to make friends onboard, whether you bump into them at the book swap or see them around the ship reading one of your favourites. Plus, some great choices on that shelf!
I was lucky enough to be shown around The Retreat, an exclusive, all-inclusive space for specific Retreat guests. The space is beautiful, the lounge in the Retreat is perfect for relaxing with a private bar, snacks and a 24 hour mini bar. The best part, in my opinion, was the pool area. There were luxurious sun beds, a hot tub, a private pool and swinging chairs above the pool area. Not to mention, the incredible view. The perfect place to spend the day.
I was pleasantly surprised by all the staterooms I saw during the tour. The inside cabin surprised me the most. Despite there being no window, the cabin was really spacious and airy. Of course, my favourite was the Sunset Veranda stateroom at the back of the ship. I can imagine myself relaxing on the balcony whilst admiring the views of the sea or vistas of each port. I really liked the Infinite Balcony stateroom too. This concept was really cool, it was a floor to ceiling window then you could retract half way to create an open balcony.
Food lovers are in for a treat with the wide range of dining options onboard Celebrity Apex. From elegant dining rooms and specialty restaurants to casual buffets and lounges, there’s so much to choose from. We explored Blu, a specialty restaurant exclusively for AquaClass guests, Cosmopolitan, an American restaurant with global influences, and finally, we had lunch at the Tuscan restaurant. The food was amazing, I had Caesar salad, roasted salmon and chocolate cake.
There was also the Magic Carpet. This was a floating platform raised 13 stories above sea level. Here, you can witness some of the best views on comfortable seats. Because this venue is cantilevered, the Magic Carpet can shift into different styles of venue. At Deck 14, it is an incredible extension to the pool area, on Deck 5, it makes a great, open-air dining experience and then on Deck 2, it is a great add-on to the Destination Gateway when embarking on shore excursions.
There was so much exceptional entertainment onboard. You could play pickleball in the Rooftop Garden, spend all night in the grand Casino, or catch the latest sports games in the Sports Bar. The entertainment venue that took my breath away was the Theatre. I didn’t expect it to be so huge and awe-inspiring. Watching a show or production there would be incredible.
The pools onboard Celebrity Apex were great too. After hearing so much about shore excursions, I didn’t expect the onboard relaxation areas to be so incredible. The indoor pool was a great space to relax and with the nice weather on the day, it was really warm in there. The outdoor pool space was definitely my favourite. With loads of sun loungers, a good sized pool and the light show display on a night was great.
Another outdoor space was the Rooftop Garden and Sunset Bar. Located towards the back of the ship, these looked perfect space to grab a cocktail whilst you sail away from port.
The spa area was so relaxing and peaceful. This does come at an extra cost but it definitely seems worth it. There are multiple rooms to relax, heated sun beds with amazing views, a barbershop and a nail technician.
Final Thoughts
Lastly, as we were walking around the ship, the crew were so friendly and professional. Whether it be a chef, the tour guide or a cleaner, they all greeted us with warm hospitality and were happy to help with anything.
After visiting Celebrity Apex for the day, I definitely understand why so many people love cruising. There’s so much to do onboard, let alone in all the incredible ports. It is perfect for families, couples and even solo travellers. My first impressions were definitely exceeded and I can’t wait to visit more ships and go on my first cruise holiday!
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