Sox Fan Cruiser

Only the Mardi Gras 2025 cruise so far!

You are the cruise before ours. I’ve been trolling your roll call since ours is so quiet. We miss each other again!

Yes! I have scheduled some “free time” as well. 🤪 Definitely have not over planned the cruise itself. I have a loose schedule for where to eat lunch and which bar for cocktail hour but it’s just an informal guide. Something to help me hit every venue but it’s not a fixed schedule.

I’ve only sailed Princess and Celebrity but here is why I’m switching: You ask some for something as simple as a glass of water… Princess - “Yes” Celebrity - “Of course” A very simple difference but means everything in the service level.

You think the country is going to explode. I can still plan vacations

I’m going to be herding the cats for 7 days. Hopefully the retreat hosts will help me.

There you go! I like it!😝 and I think I’ve watched every Apex on the internet!! I think I need some professional help!

Just trying to have some fun on here. I can’t read another post about the limited dinner buffet!

They wouldn’t change it two months before sailing, would they?!? Those are usually planned a lot farther in advance. And an Atlantis cruise would give me TONS to do! There are so many themed parties, I would be shopping for outfits for days!! And you must be referring to pre 2004 Red Sox Fans. We’ve won 4 World Series and had 20 years of Tom Brady. We are Title-Town baby!! Check out the Bruins and Celtics right now! 🤪

Planning hubby’s 60th for March and I’ve run out of things to do. We are taking 7 of our friends with us. Everything is planned including hotels and even our dinner reservation the night before the cruise. Car service (for 9!) to Port Everglades is booked. Specialty restaurant for his actual birthday reserved. All port events all planned. I have even booked all our private tours for our June Baltic cruise. I’m going stir crazy with nothing cruise related to do!! I even started looking at private tours for our April 2024 cruise until I realized that’s absurd. Cant check in for another week. How do I satisfy my cruise obsession?!? 😍🤪😚

Exactly why we booked this ship! And sail on Celebrity.

The only time you ever need your cruise card is when you are getting off or on the ship. Then they scan it. Otherwise, you don't need it. Oh, and to open your cabin door. Keeping it your pocket is perfectly fine.

No truer statement has ever been said! 🤪

We are a group of 9 all in suites on Celebrity Apex. We eat pretty late usually not entering the restaurant until after 8. Will they have seating for 9 of us? I assume there are no round tables that seat 9 but I was thinking that they can put a bunch of square tables in one long row. Is there space for that? Of course I’ll talk the matre’d ahead of time and mention it to the retreat hosts as well. Just was asking if the space could even accommodate.

They are not. We showed our vaccination card and never heard anything more about it. The crew was masked most of the time but we were not at all.

We got our docs two weeks and a day before we sailed. They said they do that because things are still changing day by day. Not sure if that was their process pre-covid. The biggest thing we found out from the docs is that we didn't board the ship until 4pm which is guess is standard for Star Clippers. Super late for those of us who sail the big ships. So we just say around the resort for the day.

We had everything we needed in the room. Shampoo, conditioner, body cream and bars of soap. The rest is stuff we would normally bring that is part of our specific regime. BUT, a nightlight is a great idea!! The light switch for the bathroom is on the outside so if you go in the middle of the night, you need to first turn on the light then open the door causing the entire room to light up. I think I mentioned this before but a light jacket may be beneficial. It rains often in the caribbean (passing showers) and these boats can't really sail around them like the big ships can. So a light rain coat to keep you dry and warm might help. Also bring a water bottle if you drink water all day as they charge for bottled water. There is filling station in the Tropical Bar for you to fill up your own container. Some of the excursions don't provide snorkeling gear so we brought our own. We also used our own flippers when swimming off the back as the current was very strong. If I think of other things, I'll come back. It really was a low-key vacation and I can't think of things I was without.

We did not need them at all and we were rocking and rolling!! Never felt even been the least bit queasy. But if you think you might then you should bring something. Better to have it and not use it….

One thing I forgot to mention that we never want to talk about is disembarkation. SO much more relaxed than on the "big ships". With so few passengers you don't need to put your luggage out until 4am. This allows you to enjoy the night and then pack up those clothes to send with your luggage. Heck, TheTwinsMom, might wake up and pack in the morning. 🙂 Then you can enjoy the breakfast buffet and not have to be of the boat until 10am depending on your flight info. Customs is done on the ship and very easy. They also have a couple of tours for things to do if you have a late(r) flight. The most relaxed disembarkation ever.

They DID have a "pirate night" and some people dressed up. People might wear an eye patch or bandana but you didn't have to dress up to participate. A few people went all out and bought costumes specifically for this party. To be honest, I didn't want to attend so we avoided the party at the Tropical Bar that night. We ended up just going up on deck and watching the moon and the stars and then headed to bed. After talking to people the next day, I am very glad we did. They did a bunch of relay races involving things like hula hoops and did other silly games. Even the people that participated felt pretty silly. Not sure what that really had to do with pirates but I guess it's something fun to do. To be honest, I felt that it diminished their brand. There was no "white party" on our cruise. They do have a "Passenger and Crew Talent Night" where people could sing or tell jokes or play the guitar or whatever. I also found it silly and not what I look for in a cruise. The 'big ships" have them too and I never go to them. Now ABBA Night was a lot of fun because it was just them playing music and everyone dancing and singing. We had some Swedes on board and they were loving it! Who doesn't love ABBA!?! 🙂 After any themed event, they DJ would then start playing music and people would dance. I would rather just have that every night. Oh, and I don't think I even mentioned the midnight snack every night from Midnight to 1am. They would put out something like chicken fingers, or egg rolls or other bit size snack for people to help soak up that alcohol before going to bed. We don't eat that late so we can't comment on the quality but it was a nice touch late at night. (Again, don't mean to sound so negative. You might have a wonderful time at these themed get togethers. These type of activities just aren't for us.)

And I hope that my comments weren’t too negative. We had a wonderful time. We met a lot of interesting people and when the ship was under sails, it was magical. Truly, it brought tears to my eyes. The crew was very friendly and attentive. And I really appreciate the very patient Austrians who allowed me to practice my rudimentary German with them!

The folks we met on the ship and had dinner with the rest of the cruise wore jeans to dinner every night. It would be fine.

Food is really subjective. I’m glad you found it to your liking.

A little of both. I do think more people go ashore than I let on but yes a lot of people hang out on the loungers. You really can’t stay at the marina deck for too long as the current is usually pretty strong (where we were). In fact I swam with my flippers to make sure I was okay. And you do NOT need to bring your own beach towels. They are provided in your room, up on deck and at the marina platform.

We always stay at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort. We love it! 9 of us will be staying there March 24the before getting on the Apex. I splurged and booked the penthouse suite since it’s my hubby’s 60th. 🤪