Apex Live — December 4, 2021

[What A Market]

Hi everyone 

Starting my thread for our cruise on the Apex leaving Port Everglades on Saturday, December 4th.  Like many of you that have ventured forth into the “world” of cruising recently, this is my first cruise since well before the beginning of the Pandemic times. (I’m not sure what else to call it.) I am mostly a frequent cruiser on Oceania, but my last cruise was actually on the Celebrity Solstice in September 2019.  It’s crazy now thinking how long ago that was.  Since then, I’ve booked and cancelled two cruises. One Oceania. The other on Regent (which would have been my first with Regent.)

 

I have a number of Celebrity cruises under my belt.  In fact, my tenure with Celebrity goes back to 1976 and 1977 when I sailed with the Chandris line in the Greek islands while working as a tour guide. My God, if only I could get those days back......

 

But here I am. Cruising out of Florida as an old fart pushing well into my 60s.  LOL

 

I am joined on this cruise by the DW.  A serious cruiser having grown up with a father who spent ten years in the Merchant Marines as a radio officer, and who spent every vacation with his wife and daughter (my DW) cruising with the Royal Viking line throughout the 60s and 70s.

 

I am missing my daughter and her her SO on this trip (married right before COVID in February 2020). Along with the DW, they have been my faithful cruising companions while traveling by cruise line throughout Europe with a sprinkling of land tours.

 

But onto this cruise. At the moment, lying in bed at the Kimpton Goodland in Fort Lauderdale.  Uneventful afternoon/evening flight from Phoenix to Miami.  Mostly Uneventful ride with private transportation from airport to hotel. Late dinner (Florida time) at Lona Cocina. Easy walking distance from the Kimpton. Great light meal and drinks. Awesome waiter — Richard.

 

Doing the whole upper suite thing for this cruise. So we have early check in and what not at the port. I’m interested to see how that goes.

 

I am looking forward to posting live.  I’ve done a bit of this in the past. Sometimes I stay engaged. Sometimes I peter out. Hoping to stay engaged for this cruise.  “See” you all tomorrow!

[TennesseeNationVol]

5 hours ago, What A Market said:

Hi everyone 

Starting my thread for our cruise on the Apex leaving Port Everglades on Saturday, December 4th.  Like many of you that have ventured forth into the “world” of cruising recently, this is my first cruise since well before the beginning of the Pandemic times. (I’m not sure what else to call it.) I am mostly a frequent cruiser on Oceania, but my last cruise was actually on the Celebrity Solstice in September 2019.  It’s crazy now thinking how long ago that was.  Since then, I’ve booked and cancelled two cruises. One Oceania. The other on Regent (which would have been my first with Regent.)

 

I have a number of Celebrity cruises under my belt.  In fact, my tenure with Celebrity goes back to 1976 and 1977 when I sailed with the Chandris line in the Greek islands while working as a tour guide. My God, if only I could get those days back......

 

But here I am. Cruising out of Florida as an old fart pushing well into my 60s.  LOL

 

I am joined on this cruise by the DW.  A serious cruiser having grown up with a father who spent ten years in the Merchant Marines as a radio officer, and who spent every vacation with his wife and daughter (my DW) cruising with the Royal Viking line throughout the 60s and 70s.

 

I am missing my daughter and her her SO on this trip (married right before COVID in February 2020). Along with the DW, they have been my faithful cruising companions while traveling by cruise line throughout Europe with a sprinkling of land tours.

 

But onto this cruise. At the moment, lying in bed at the Kimpton Goodland in Fort Lauderdale.  Uneventful afternoon/evening flight from Phoenix to Miami.  Mostly Uneventful ride with private transportation from airport to hotel. Late dinner (Florida time) at Lona Cocina. Easy walking distance from the Kimpton. Great light meal and drinks. Awesome waiter — Richard.

 

Doing the whole upper suite thing for this cruise. So we have early check in and what not at the port. I’m interested to see how that goes.

 

I am looking forward to posting live.  I’ve done a bit of this in the past. Sometimes I stay engaged. Sometimes I peter out. Hoping to stay engaged for this cruise.  “See” you all tomorrow!

 

[TennesseeNationVol]

Bon voyage - I hope to follow along on your cruise!

[GMoney]

Thanks for doing this. Im sailing Apex on an Edge Villa for Christmas, so I'll be interested in your comments.

[Maggie North]

Thanks for the report...we are on Apex soon! We have sailed on the Edge, so will be familiar to us. 

 

We were on the Millie last month; check in was a little different but very efficient and speedy. We were on the ship within the hour of arriving for our 11:30 am check in time (although we did get there a little earlier than that).

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[parrothead33]

Bon voyage!

[What A Market]

Good morning Fort Lauderdale!

 

A little after 8:00AM Florida time. Having breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant. And waiting for DW to get moving. Restless night. Typical for me on my first couple of nights while traveling.

 

I don’t really want to venture too much into COVID life, but hard to avoid. I don’t mind sharing my views, and I certainly don’t mind others sharing theirs.  This is just an observation of Florida versus California. (We were in Los Angeles for Thanksgiving to see DD, who had just relocated there from Washington DC.)  And yes, there is definitely a wide gap between the two states and their approach to COVID protocols. Not sure I need to define. I think plenty has been written as well as discussed (ad naseum) by the talking heads on TV. Arizona seems to fall somewhere between the two.  
 

Anyways, drinking some coffee and a pressed juice. (How LA....... Ha!)  Can’t wait to get to port!

Edited December 4, 2021 by What A Market

[mac_tlc]

Following along… have done the Edge twice since the restart and have Apex in January 2022. I’ll be watching you on the webcam this afternoon!

 

Hope you enjoy the Retreat experience….. we sure did.

 

mac_tlc

Edited December 4, 2021 by mac_tlc

[Valentin53]

I wish you a cruise full of many positive emotions and experiences. I will follow each of your posts with great interest because we will be on Apex in March, on a cruise to the Western Caribbean. Bon voyage!

[What A Market]

Let’s talk cruise planning for this trip — There was none!  I usually obsess over cruise planning.  I’m sure as with many of you, this is one of my favorite parts of taking a cruise. Joining the Roll Call, planning private excursions, thinking about and making specialty dining reservations, and on and on. 

 

For this cruise, I did nothing. Well, almost nothing. I did connect with Celebrity’s shoreside concierge. Or rather, he connected with me. We only connected by email, which he initiated.  He gave me a very comprehensive list of things he could help with, including “What size pajamas can I arrange for you.”  Pajamas — too crazy.  Oh, and monogrammed. Even crazier!

 

I did make a liquor request with him, swapping out the two bottles of alcohol for two bottles of wine.  I also asked him to make reservations at Eden and Fine Cut.  But that’s all the planning I did. I literally did nothing else. DW had to remind me of what ports we are doing. (Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, and St. Thomas.)  Maybe it’s COVID or maybe just being exhausted by work (probably both), but I just wanted to get away from normal life and do nothing.  Can’t wait to get going with that!

[Guindalf]

We'll be on this same ship and itinerary on January 15th, so following along. We'll be in a Sky Suite, so the Retreat is of interest!

 

 

[Sam.Seattle]

Safe Travels! 

Edited December 4, 2021 by Sam.Seattle

[Susanb10567]

Bon Voyage…have a wonderful cruise

[countess5]

Following along!

 

Sailed Edge in September in a Sky Suite, the retreat is great. Only issue we had was not enough shade up on deck in the Retreat. Maybe Apex addressed that since many have commented.

 

Sailing Apex on a B2B in February!

 

Cheers! 

[What A Market]

Photos of Retreat waiting area. Took about five minutes to get here. 

[danceswithphones]

Bon Voyage! Very interested in the boarding process at Terminal 25. We are in an Edge Villa Suite in November. I'm wondering if they escort you to the Retreat Lounge. We've been in the PH on the Constellation twice and were escorted to Michael's. 

[Want2Cruise 701]

Following along. We’re doing the same itinerary on Apex in a couple weeks. Have a wonderful cruise. 

[Denny01]

We just finished the Apex Thanksgiving cruise and Loved It!! Did a B2B Edge cruise prior to Pandemic and this one was our first this season. Hope you enjoy Her as much as we did. Love the E-Class. 

 

And Eden restaurant is fantastic. I usually don’t suggest specific meals since it is so subjective, but had the Crab Cakes and they are pure crab except for a yogurt binding. And ordered the Lobster Casserole, a bit worried it was going to be bready, but it was a pile of Canadian lobster topped with a huge claw.

 

to Die for!

 

enjoy. And love to see your posts so we an relive it all again.

 

Den 

[MarKay525]

13 hours ago, What A Market said:

Hi everyone 

Starting my thread for our cruise on the Apex leaving Port Everglades on Saturday, December 4th.  

I am joined on this cruise by the DW.  A serious cruiser having grown up with a father who spent ten years in the Merchant Marines as a radio officer, and who spent every vacation with his wife and daughter (my DW) cruising with the Royal Viking line throughout the 60s and 70s.

Hi - will be following with interest as we are on a similar Apex itinerary, although ours is not till next December. 🙁

 

I want to give a shout out to your DW. My father was also a radio officer in the Merchant Marines in the 60s and 70s, so perhaps our dads were, literally, on ships passing in the night!

Edited December 4, 2021 by MarKay525

[maryland]

Bon Voyage - I'll be following along as I'll be doing the same cruise but not until this coming March. Last cruise was on the Equinox in July 2019. First time in a SS, so really looking forward to that!! Enjoy:-)

[What A Market]

To danceswithphones 

Not a specific escort to the Retreat lounge before actually  boarding. I think literally we were handed off to four or five different people before arriving at door. First person outside. Second person just inside door. Third person at elevator. Fourth person elevator to security. Fifth person after security to Retreat desk. Pretty cute. Everyone very kind. 
 

After being shown some seating in the lounge (and more checking of everything), one of the Retreat hosts (Catherine) introduced herself and ask if we were ready to board. Answer (at least in my head): hell yes, before I jump out of my skin with excitement!  Catherine intended to take us to The Retreat lounge on the ship, but after some back and forth on her walkie talkie, TADA — we’re escorted directly to our room. The awesomeness has begun! (Obligatory photo walking up gangway with Catherine.)

[What A Market]

Awesomeness 

and

More awesomeness 

[Want2Cruise 701]

Do they have a Retreat luggage drop area or just a general for all?  Thanks. 

[What A Market]

Luggage drop off seemed just general. It was so quiet when we arrived it didn’t seem to matter. The porter walked right up to us as soon as we exited our Uber. Really awesome guy named Peter. (Sorry for all the “awesomes.”)

[kwokpot]

14 hours ago, What A Market said:

Kimpton Goodland in Fort Lauderdale.

Hopefully I'll be on the cruise following yours so I'll be watching for all your updates. What's your opinion of the Goodland? I know it's a new hotel and I have IHG points and was thinking about staying there.