On board Apex now. Bullet point synopsis and observations!

[Steelydad2021]

most helpful & tre nice pics, if all goes right we are in an Apex SS next week.  Now for a random question but may impact packing decisions 🤔 a tad -- does one have to wear a mask whilst walking/jogging on the track? 

[Silkroad]

Thank you so much for posting your impressions and lovely photos! We were meant to sail aboard Apex last November, so your review makes us anticipate our future b2b even more. 

[ian441672]

3 hours ago, CanuckCruizer said:

Thanks, Ian.  We are in 11268.  We are used to Solstice Class aft Sky Suites (I think that is what you are referring to) and their balconies definitely seem wider (or longer as you said) but less deep & we like seeing around the corner too, like you said.  Royal is better for being able to see around the corner than Celebrity.  Going by various pictures, it "seems" like the Solstice class ones are much bigger in the actual cabin size but I am only guessing.  Edge Class cabins seem much smaller to me, but I am only going by the pictures.  All I know is that the closet is NOT acceptable for 34 days of clothes! ha  Wish it were bigger.  Hubby says I will have to "scale down" which really is not in my vocabulary! lol

 

Thanks again - enjoying your review!

Canuck

Hey, thanks. Yes, you are right, the balcony and room slightly smaller and we have missed that round the corner view. Brighter and more exciting perhaps and you get used to it. Real table, small and for breakfast will be fun. Smaller still on the balcony and we have a tea booked after Rhodes, so will be interesting. Slightly disappointed in the wardrobe space available and for 34 days…. Good luck! Start scaling……

[ian441672]

3 hours ago, Bruin Steve said:

Ian,

Thanks for the report...It makes me look forward to this thing even more...

We leave tonight and fly out VERY early tomorrow morning for Athens...and will join you Saturday for the first leg of our B2B!!

I think our sky suite is laid out a little different than yours as we are on the port side right at the bump-out (#10191)...

Can't wait to find out about surprise suite perks...

See you next week!

Thanks Steve. Hope you get them, it may depend on your butler perhaps? Safe journey and hope you enjoy the ship. You cannot really! 

[ian441672]

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Thanks for sharing.   She really looks beautiful.  In the initial photos she looks identical to Edge.   Are there any differences?

Haven’t been on Edge so couldn’t really say. I think they are similar with slight enhancements here and there. Others may be able to comment. 

[ian441672]

3 hours ago, hopeless holiday booker said:

I see you're  from the UK.  Where did the ship leave from and will you have to quarantine on return?  I know you've only just started your cruise and I'm already talking about coming home! 

From Athens. Flew a day earlier and had a lovely evening in the intercontinental. Hopefully not, depends if Greece goes on the amber plus list! After these couple of days, it would be worth it. Begrudgingly……

[CanuckCruizer]

3 minutes ago, ian441672 said:

Hey, thanks. Yes, you are right, the balcony and room slightly smaller and we have missed that round the corner view. Brighter and more exciting perhaps and you get used to it. Real table, small and for breakfast will be fun. Smaller still on the balcony and we have a tea booked after Rhodes, so will be interesting. Slightly disappointed in the wardrobe space available and for 34 days…. Good luck! Start scaling……

Ian - thanks for taking the time to reply.  Ok - so it is a "real" table - ha - yes it is small but still higher (easier to eat from) than the ones I saw on the Edge.  I wish they would put a proper table outside on the deck as we enjoy breakfast on the balcony each morning.  I have seen previous pics on the Edge, where a butler brought "tv trays" for the guests which looked fine, so maybe that could be a solution for having your afternoon tea on the balcony.😀

 

I really feel that the closet space on Celebrity is much less than on Royal Caribbean.  I am an "over packer" and we will have 4 suitcases as we will be doing the Odyssey after our B3B on the Apex & staying in both Amsterdam & Rome, so I guess I will have to rethink the wardrobe and get some drycleaning done on the ship.

 

How was the bar in the Retreat area?  I have only seen one fleeting glance in a video, but very pleased that there IS a bar, as opposed to the Edge.

 

Well, enjoy yourselves and thanks again for filling us in!

 

Cheers,

Canuck

[ian441672]

2 minutes ago, CanuckCruizer said:

Ian - thanks for taking the time to reply.  Ok - so it is a "real" table - ha - yes it is small but still higher (easier to eat from) than the ones I saw on the Edge.  I wish they would put a proper table outside on the deck as we enjoy breakfast on the balcony each morning.  I have seen previous pics on the Edge, where a butler brought "tv trays" for the guests which looked fine, so maybe that could be a solution for having your afternoon tea on the balcony.😀

 

I really feel that the closet space on Celebrity is much less than on Royal Caribbean.  I am an "over packer" and we will have 4 suitcases as we will be doing the Odyssey after our B3B on the Apex & staying in both Amsterdam & Rome, so I guess I will have to rethink the wardrobe and get some drycleaning done on the ship.

 

How was the bar in the Retreat area?  I have only seen one fleeting glance in a video, but very pleased that there IS a bar, as opposed to the Edge.

 

Well, enjoy yourselves and thanks again for filling us in!

 

Cheers,

Canuck

Bar is good, decent selection of spirits and wines. Very spacious lounge and very good service. Bar stools not really used but not many of us around!

 

Someone said about masks on the running track. People weren’t using them and don’t blame them! 

[CanuckCruizer]

Thanks Ian.  Hope you have a nice evening.  Don't know where you are tomorrow (Rhodes?) but have a great time!

 

Canuck

[ian441672]

Just came back from a production show “Synchronise”. I don’t say it lightly but it’s one of the best shows I have seen at sea and I would pay to see that in the west end! Usually they are hit and miss with the odd dodgy vocal and amateur production but this had strong vocals, great music, very good acrobatics and some pretty good SFX. I would see it again without hesitation. The captain was the warm up act and he could be a stand up. The audience were in the  palm of his hand and he was laugh out loud funny. Superb night, just catching the end of a light show above the new larger Martini bar. Music, lights and some very clever cocktail bartenders doing some very clever things. Casino still broken. 

[ian441672]

1 minute ago, CanuckCruizer said:

Thanks Ian.  Hope you have a nice evening.  Don't know where you are tomorrow (Rhodes?) but have a great time!

 

Canuck

Dubrovnik. Yayyy. New port for us, and again next week so looking forward to that. Then day at sea, and then Rhodes. That’s also tea on balcony day and Magic carpet dinner day. Oh-Ho, that’s too much food day, just reading that! We will cope I’m sure. Saving our champagne on boarding day for that afternoon. Very indulgent. 

[CanuckCruizer]

2 minutes ago, ian441672 said:

Just came back from a production show “Synchronise”. I don’t say it lightly but it’s one of the best shows I have seen at sea and I would pay to see that in the west end! Usually they are hit and miss with the odd dodgy vocal and amateur production but this had strong vocals, great music, very good acrobatics and some pretty good SFX. I would see it again without hesitation. The captain was the warm up act and he could be a stand up. The audience were in the  palm of his hand and he was laugh out loud funny. Superb night, just catching the end of a light show above the new larger Martini bar. Music, lights and some very clever cocktail bartenders doing some very clever things. Casino still broken. 

I am taking notes now....very good info!  Love the Martini Bar & can hardly wait till next year.

 

Cheers!🍸

[CanuckCruizer]

Just now, ian441672 said:

Dubrovnik. Yayyy. New port for us, and again next week so looking forward to that. Then day at sea, and then Rhodes. That’s also tea on balcony day and Magic carpet dinner day. Oh-Ho, that’s too much food day, just reading that! We will cope I’m sure. Saving our champagne on boarding day for that afternoon. Very indulgent. 

You will love Dubrovnik - we did.  Just enjoyed walking around and had a nice cocktail & appie at a place right on the waterfront - it's been years so cannot remember the name, but wonderful.

Oh - you must report back about Dinner on the Magic Carpet please!  Been looking forward to that.  For now, we can live vicariously through you - lol.

Canuck

[ian441672]

1 minute ago, CanuckCruizer said:

You will love Dubrovnik - we did.  Just enjoyed walking around and had a nice cocktail & appie at a place right on the waterfront - it's been years so cannot remember the name, but wonderful.

Oh - you must report back about Dinner on the Magic Carpet please!  Been looking forward to that.  For now, we can live vicariously through you - lol.

Canuck

Thanks for that, and will do! Haha. 

[ian441672]

[Steelydad2021]

All mucho helpful & to the point.  Please continue w/ photos, captions, etc for the excursions.  Another random query which may affect packing 🤔 ---- what % of men wear jackets at dinner, i.e. can one get away w/o one for the duration? 

[CanuckCruizer]

Ian - you must go up the Cable Car - great views!  We went on a ship excursion up there & then we continued on our own, shopping in town.  The name of the waterfront restaurant we ate at was Komarda - that was in 2011, so hopefully it is still there - great views.  I don't think I have ever attached pics here so trying to figure it out so you can see.  Anyways - you might want to google it first in case it has closed.  Hubby to the rescue - below is the view from the Cable Car, a shot in town and the rest are from Komarda Restaurant.  Hope you have a great day!

[drarill]

5 hours ago, Bruin Steve said:

Ian,

Thanks for the report...It makes me look forward to this thing even more...

We leave tonight and fly out VERY early tomorrow morning for Athens...and will join you Saturday for the first leg of our B2B!!

I think our sky suite is laid out a little different than yours as we are on the port side right at the bump-out (#10191)...

Can't wait to find out about surprise suite perks...

See you next week!

Safe travels Steve!! looking forward to your reports!

[CalTexCruiser]

Thanks for sharing

[mollie jo]

Ian, thank you so much for all the info and pics!  Boarding July 31st!

[dreams_of_travel]

4 hours ago, ian441672 said:

Just came back from a production show “Synchronise”. I don’t say it lightly but it’s one of the best shows I have seen at sea and I would pay to see that in the west end! Usually they are hit and miss with the odd dodgy vocal and amateur production but this had strong vocals, great music, very good acrobatics and some pretty good SFX. I would see it again without hesitation. The captain was the warm up act and he could be a stand up. The audience were in the  palm of his hand and he was laugh out loud funny. Superb night, just catching the end of a light show above the new larger Martini bar. Music, lights and some very clever cocktail bartenders doing some very clever things. Casino still broken. 

 

I think you meant Crystalize as the show name. 

 

My favorite show was Rockumentary performed on the last night of the cruise for us.  They really did an amazing job with it.  Crystalize was very good, but the last one was a bit better.  YMMV.  

[Shadow9612]

10 hours ago, JRG said:

Outstanding photography work too,   let others know your smartphone brand and version but you really selected the nice spots on the ship to give people an idea.

 

(this could save some cruisers from lugging their nikon gear around).

I was thinking exactly the same thing. The photos are amazing.

[Hlitner]

5 hours ago, ian441672 said:

Just came back from a production show “Synchronise”. I don’t say it lightly but it’s one of the best shows I have seen at sea and I would pay to see that in the west end! Usually they are hit and miss with the odd dodgy vocal and amateur production but this had strong vocals, great music, very good acrobatics and some pretty good SFX. I would see it again without hesitation. The captain was the warm up act and he could be a stand up. The audience were in the  palm of his hand and he was laugh out loud funny. Superb night, just catching the end of a light show above the new larger Martini bar. Music, lights and some very clever cocktail bartenders doing some very clever things. Casino still broken. 

Glad to hear that Captain "Demetrius" still has his comedic touch.  I once told him that if he lost his Captain job he could likely get a gig as a late night comedy show host.  His quick answer was "I know" which got another laugh from all who heard. 

 

Hank

[ian441672]

7 hours ago, Steelydad2021 said:

All mucho helpful & to the point.  Please continue w/ photos, captions, etc for the excursions.  Another random query which may affect packing 🤔 ---- what % of men wear jackets at dinner, i.e. can one get away w/o one for the duration? 

I would say 1%! But of a very small crowd of course. Most were smart and casual smart, but certainly no jacket required ☺️  

[ian441672]

7 hours ago, CanuckCruizer said:

Ian - you must go up the Cable Car - great views!  We went on a ship excursion up there & then we continued on our own, shopping in town.  The name of the waterfront restaurant we ate at was Komarda - that was in 2011, so hopefully it is still there - great views.  I don't think I have ever attached pics here so trying to figure it out so you can see.  Anyways - you might want to google it first in case it has closed.  Hubby to the rescue - below is the view from the Cable Car, a shot in town and the rest are from Komarda Restaurant.  Hope you have a great day!

Thanks Canuck. That’s we’re doing today, looks great. Booked it on board as they had only been released the day before. Riviera highlights tour next week, and town / cable car tour today. Just docked. Shame we have a MSC ship blocking the view!