ETHTrader

Two main draft selections @ Craft Social this week on the Apex are Heineken and Newcastle. Everything else offered in a bottle.

Cool thing about the draft beers on the ship are not the beer itself but the keg system they use. They have these glasses with holes in the bottom and the beer is filled from the bottom of the glass to the top (and as result, no foam). And then the bottom is closed out with a round magnet that sticks to the cup. Cool thing to watch every time they serve it to a customer.

2 minutes ago, jolieinc said:

Excellent! Hope you are enjoying your cruise so far!!! 

Noticed on the app under bar menus that the Martini Bar has $15/$18 next to each of the martinis. Checked with Celebrity first but they don't know why. Have you seen this pricing and know what it means? 

I was thinking maybe a larger version of the martini but then I assume it would not be covered in the premium drink package? 

I see that in the booklet version of the menu on the ship as well. But those drinks are covered under your Premium Package. I have been to the Martini bar and I was never charged extra for ordering drinks with $15/$18 pricing

Currently in a Sky Suite on Apex.

My Retreat Host offered to stock the mini fridge with anything I want as long as the beverages are normally covered by your Premium Drink package. (As others have mentioned, this might be YMMV. If you have an experienced host, they will offer to stock the fridge without additional charges) So no need to really buy extra Drink package for the mini bar unless you end up with a host who sticks to the rules.

44 minutes ago, jolieinc said:

Anyone know or more importantly have had first hand experience on arriving for the Apex if the times are being adhered to for the Retreat suites? 

Our time is after 2:00pm - Retreat notes early boarding. We are used to arriving early as possible and getting on board. I know things have changed. 


Thank you in advance! 

Just boarded Apex on Saturday. I had 1pm check in but arrived close to noon.

As you as you arrive at the Terminal, you can drop your bags and head towards the far left area of where the lines are. You will see a sign called The Retreat. They will ask for your documentation and then escort you to the lounge area. They never check your time if you are in a Suite. They only care that you have booked a Suite

18 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

I would have thought the Retreat Host could have fixed you internet problem.  I had a similar problem and she just went into her system typed a couple keys and I could get my free internet.

Good to know that for the next time 😀

Long line at the iLounge today on embarkation day.

Many people had trouble connecting to the internet. (Myself included) For example, when I tried to set up my WiFi, it showed that I had to pay $34~ per day to upgrade to Streaming package. However, I already had that benefit as a Suite guest. So I had to go down to the iLounge and have them fix it from their end. Apparently, I wasn't the only one with this issue because the line was really long.

Additionally, all the reservations for the specialty restaurants sold out. My Retreat Host (Dino) had some Suite guest who purchased Specialty Dining packages in advance but they could not reserve any specialty restaurants because there weren't any availability. Poor Dino had to call restaurants directly and assign his Suite guests to waitlists. 

Currently on Apex. Here are the things that our Retreat Host offered to do without us even asking:

1) Deliver breakfast every morning

2) Book excursions or specialty restaurants reservations (even when they are showing as fully booked)

3) Re-arrange or refill the mini bar based on the beverages of your liking

4) Address issues we had with our WiFi set up

5) Any other small ask that would make our sailing more enjoyable.

1 hour ago, phabric said:

I will be on Apex in March with the WIFI included in the package.  I am cruising with a 12 yr that likes to talk with our mom at home on What’s Up app and Face Time daily and play games on her phone/tablet.

 

Will she be able to use the WiFi of what she wants?

Text messages and Whatsapp (just messaging) might be do-able. Face Time and any other games that require online connection will be a stretch. You will likely need to upgrade the package to Stream package

45 minutes ago, grest said:

Sorry, I have been trying to find the answer, and cannot.   Are the tips for the AI drink package included?   Thanks

Yes. However, if you order a drink that exceeds the limits of the drink package (i.e. up to $9 for Classic, up to $15 for Premium), you will have to pay for the difference in price of the drink + 20% tip on that difference.

33 minutes ago, K2play said:

I'm cruising Dec. 12th on the Edge and have submitted my vaccine info through the app for them to verify.  How long is it taking them to verify it lately?  Thanks!

 

Once you upload your proof of vaccination thru the app, there is no "verification" per se. (I think this process replaced their employees calling you on the phone prior to the sailing to check whether you are vaccinated)

When you arrive at the Terminal for embarkation, you will have to provide a copy of your vaccination card as well as a copy of negative COVID testing.

2 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

We have arrived at Castries, Saint Lucia. It was raining this morning, but hopefully it clears up and will be a nice day as we are taking a 6 hour excursion around Saint Lucia. But we’ll also be stopping at a waterfall and an Estate where we’ll have a tasty lunch I’m sure. So some sunshine would be good, at least later on. 😎

 

Great pictures Ken.

I don't know if you have been to St. Lucia before, but if you have not, I recommend that you find a bottle of Coke (that was bottled locally in St Lucia) if you get a chance. It's an odd suggestion but apparently, the local Coke uses cane sugar that is produced locally and it has a very distinct taste (that is different from any other Coca Cola). To this day, I still think about Coca Cola from St. Lucia. 

Or maybe, I am just weird 🤔

45 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

As of this morning the estimated count to board on Nov 13 was 1900 with around 900 of them being travel agents.

 Thanks Ken. That's about 800 more passengers than my last Apex sailing. I also have never sailed with that many travel agents before. It's gonna be an interesting one on Saturday......

7 hours ago, CruisinNole said:

We thought since we were in a Sky suite, we could check in at any time but we were told that priority boarding only applied to Celebrity suite and up, Aqua, Concierge, Zenith. 

Hmm, that's not my experience. I usually book Sky Suite and they allowed me to check in whenever in the past. Sometimes later than my check in time, sometimes earlier than my check in time. Certainly, they wouldn't give priority to Aqua/Concierge Class over Sky Suite.

Ken, any news on how many passengers they are expecting on Saturday for the second leg?

49 minutes ago, actuarian said:

  My question for anyone who has been on suites in multiple classes of ships is, is the crew able to give the same quality of service to the 12% of the cruisers in suites in Edge class that they give to the 4.5% of cruisers in Millennium class?  

Service was outstanding, regardless of the ship, for Suite guests

22 hours ago, aztraveler50 said:

 

I see that Blu says "AquaClass Exclusive".  Are Suite/Retreat guests allowed in Blu?

 

They are AquaClass exclusive. But if you are in a suite, you can ask your Retreat host to make a reservation at Blu. Otherwise, your main dining room is Luminae.

13 hours ago, john2003 said:

Our biggest disappointment with Celebrity has been anytime dining or what it is called on Celebrity. Very hit and miss, time unavailable, seated at a table with lots of empty chairs, seated when others have already started their meals. I think we just don't understand how it works. Never these issues on other ships. Should we be booking ahead if so how much ahead. We generally try to eat around 7pm. Is that the problem?

We had Anytime Dining last time and you can either choose to book a reservation every night in different MDR (using the app) or just show up without reservation. 

6 hours ago, tunaman2011 said:

Greetings

 

They had the food menu on the 24 Oct sailing.  The items are not free, everything was an upcharge.

 

Good Sailing

Tom

Great to hear. I would have spent far more time at Craft Social if food was served but they didn't back in Sept. I will be back on the ship next week so it looks like I will be spending some quality time at Craft Social. 😎

Do they serve snacks yet at Craft Social on Apex?

Last time I was on the ship, they told me no snacks but on the app, there was a snack menu like kobe sliders, glazed wings, truffle fries, etc

I will be on the second leg as well. Look forward to your reporting!

This is what it should look like

5 minutes ago, Dr. Cocktail said:

Coming from Toronto where it's all still pretty strict, it's going to take a bit of work to "let go"!

 

Definitely can relate to this. As American who recently went on a Celebrity sailing abroad, I was very concerned about the pre-embarkation testing AND the pre-debarkation testing so I can fly back home. But if you continue to do what is necessary and take reasonable caution, you will have a great time and stay safe as well.

If my memory serves me correct, I think on Edge class ships, S3 faces the wall but S1/S2 faces the balcony.

4 hours ago, Miaminice said:

🤔 We sailed on Apex in September and did not require reservations… we walked in when we felt like it. When we got the locker keys we were never asked to make appointments. Around 1000 pax on board on our cruise.

That being said… to the OP: I would never ever pay $800 for a week pass. For that kind of money you can think about booking Aqua Class right away and get the real perk - Blu.

Hmm, maybe policy is different for SEA Thermal Suite on Edge class ships and Persian Garden on smaller ships. 🤔

4 hours ago, Guppy99 said:

 

Then Celebrity needs to update their website, because that is still listed as bein the cse under Aqua benefits.

It is still a benefit. The difference is that now you have to make an appointment to limit the number of people in the Persian Gardens. 

I think you mean to say that Celebrity has to disclose that somewhere in the website and that's a fair point.