Apex Live — December 4, 2021

[3bamboo]

I posted this elsewhere but since there is a good chance someone reading this is actually on the Apex I wonder if you can do me a favor. Can you check the casino to see if there is a coin pusher / quarter pusher machine in the casino? It is oddly important to me when picking my next cruise haha...

 

A million thanks! 

[terrydtx]

13 hours ago, msteries said:

Really delighted to read your running comments as I board the Apex on Jan. 29.  Sky Suite.  I got to sail on the Edge during her inaugural year, and will be interested to see what, if anything, has changed.  I always have my butler bring breakfast, but not sure if a SS cabin entitles one to ask for a mimosa along with it??  Adore the Celebrity suite perks but a little shy about being too demanding.

One very special thing about traveling solo in a suite is that the butler has always kept an eye out for me, and never seems to resent that tips from a single would be less.

We were in a Sky Suite and since they come with the Premium Drinks, it was no problem having a mimosa and bloody Mary brought with breakfast. 

[jimbri]

Great review and photos.

[rollie]

17 hours ago, What A Market said:

How many of you remember the good old days of cruising when the Mexican Buffet basically end up being various ground meats seasoned with Curry? (Actually I think that may have happened on a very recent cruise, so not the “good old day.” Ha!)

 

Now the 2021 version:

Lunch in Luminae included a Greek Turkey Gyro. I was intrigued, and went for it.  Ended up being cold curried turkey salad. LOL And maybe that’s pita.... or not.

 

When I noted to server, suddenly I was surrounded by three people in total dismay that I might be unhappy.

 

Back to the Luminae Burger. 😋 

Manager told staff to put in order as “Red Bull.”  Otherwise known as “on the fly.” (Red Bull has Wings......) Too funny.

 

We're really loving your post's.  We'll be in a Sky Suite on Apex for a B2B next month, and your thread is really setting the mood.

 

Rollie

[mrsgoggins]

Loving your review and your comments, so thank you.  I especially liked to read about your DD and her positive attitude to life despite everything she's gone through. She does sound amazing.

 

Regulations allowing (we're from the UK), will be sailing on Apex next month and are very much looking forward to it.  We have taken 4 cruises this year - 3 around the UK and 1 Spain and the Canaries and especially enjoy the Captain's Club breakfast, which on Silhouette is taken in the Tuscan Grille with great ocean views.  Do you know if this is still held on Apex, and if so, where?

 

I hope your cruise continues to be really good.

[What A Market]

Ok, falling behind on posting. Typical with my attempts to post “live.”

 

Let’s talk about dinners.  We dined our first two nights in Luminae. Last night we dined in Fine Cut Steakhouse.  I’ll work backwards here starting with Fine Cut. (Mainly because that’s the freshest thing in my mind.) So highlights:

 

Number One: A bottle of 2010 Alta Vista Alto (Malbec blend) recommended by our young Sommelier. Amazing wine. Great choice for steaks. Equally amazing was the price. It may have only been marked up less than $30.00 over what I could find as a retail price.  I noted that a number of bottles seemed to be equally well priced. (High end steakhouses in the States will typically mark up bottles two to three times over retail. I can tolerate two times, but anything over that drives me crazy.) Our Somm was great. Young man from Mexico. His name, which I’m going to mess up, was maybe Alvarazo. (Definitely began with an A and had a Z in it somewhere. I hate that I suck at names.)  

 

Number two: The Steaks!  And if I hadn’t geeked out on the wine so much, I would have ranked the steaks at Number One.  I had read some Cruise Critic postings about people’s disappointment with the steaks in Fine Cut. I can only report that both of ours were excellent.  DW had the prime aged New York. I had the prime aged boneless ribeye. Both done medium rare. Both came out at perfectly medium rare. (I was mildly shocked at this as I’m used to seeing steaks over done while cruising.)

 

Number three: The Sides. We had sautéed spinach. Broiled asparagus. Roasted mushrooms. The tater tots. (Not really a tater tot, but decadent.) All way better than average/typical.

 

Number four, but really way way in last place:  The Crab Cake.  An offense to crabs everywhere.  The absolute worse ground mushy form of crab cake you will ever run across. One bite, and (in my best impression of Anton Ego from Ratatouille) waived away this offensive blight on humanity. 

 

Another highlight of the evening was enjoying a great conversation with the couple at the adjoining two top. Made me realize why I have missed cruising so much. (I’ll try to remember to post later on my obsessive/anal approach to sitting at two tops versus four tops.)

 

Uploading this now. More later. We have St. Kitts today, and as noted previously, we are doing a beach excursion. Ciao for now.

 

[What A Market]

Here’s some random photos of nothing particularly interesting. First up: Engineers working on the A/C in our room. Three hours of effort. I want to note that, as with all crew members on this ship, these guys were kind and courteous. 

[What A Market]

Yesterday was San Juan, Puerto Rico. That’s the Regent Explorer in the background. She left shortly after we arrived. And in the foreground, it’s the Connie coming in right after us.  Drank rum drinks from one end of Old Town to the other. DW got in some Christmas shopping. Our last bar stop was La Casita de Rones. Tiny place right where we docked. This was my favorite stop. Of course that’s on my fifth cocktail, so that may be influencing my judgment. Sat at the bar (my favorite spot in most every bar/restaurant). Female bartender. Great mixologist, as they’re called now. La Casita was also trying to get into the holiday spirit.  Hysterical.

[countess5]

We Love La Casita, the location is outstanding.

 

You can watch the ships come and go. Just outside in the plaza they have an open air market. So close to the ships. We will be there twice this winter! Can’t wait!! 

 

Cheers! 

[Ipeeinthepools]

3 hours ago, 3bamboo said:

I posted this elsewhere but since there is a good chance someone reading this is actually on the Apex I wonder if you can do me a favor. Can you check the casino to see if there is a coin pusher / quarter pusher machine in the casino? It is oddly important to me when picking my next cruise haha...

 

A million thanks! 

 

It seems like the quarter push machines disappear when the ships get "Revolutionized", have you found any ships that still have these machines?

[What A Market]

Once again, can't use an Apple product to post to this thread.  Argh!

 

Getting ready to head out for excursion. Both the Equinox and the Constellation are here in St. Kitts with us.

[Ipeeinthepools]

2 minutes ago, What A Market said:

Once again, can't use an Apple product to post to this thread.  Argh!

 

Getting ready to head out for excursion. Both the Equinox and the Constellation are here in St. Kitts with us.

 

Sounds like a trip to the I-lounge would fix this problem.

[vickykay]

Can you please find out if government approved private excursions are allowed in St. Kitts?  Thanks.

[Jim_Iain]

14 hours ago, BennyBrun said:

I found that they are very free with the creative license with their menu descriptions… I have to mentally prepare my taste buds so I don’t get scared!

LOL -  I wish they had pictures on the menu.    They definitely take creative license in Luminae with Deserts.     Wait until you order the "Cheese Cake".    It is 3 little balls set on a gram cracker crumble with berries.

[Jim_Iain]

2 hours ago, What A Market said:

Once again, can't use an Apple product to post to this thread.  Argh!

 

Getting ready to head out for excursion. Both the Equinox and the Constellation are here in St. Kitts with us.

 

I've had the same problem and found that if you go in and clear the cache it will fix the problem. 

 

To Clear All Cache / Data

Settings / Safari / Advanced / Clear History and Website Data (in Blue) /

 

To Clear just Cache for Cruise Critics

Settings / Safari / Advanced / Website Data / Show All Sites /Cruise Critics   Click Edit top Right and delete just Cruise Critics's

 

[What A Market]

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

I've had the same problem and found that if you go in and clear the cache it will fix the problem. 

 

To Clear All Cache / Data

Settings / Safari / Advanced / Clear History and Website Data (in Blue) /

 

To Clear just Cache for Cruise Critics

Settings / Safari / Advanced / Website Data / Show All Sites /Cruise Critics   Click Edit top Right and delete just Cruise Critics's

 

You da man!  That worked.

 

[What A Market]

4 hours ago, vickykay said:

Can you please find out if government approved private excursions are allowed in St. Kitts?  Thanks.

Yes, only ship or government approved private excursions for St Kitts

 

[What A Market]

Here’s the photo I wanted to post this morning but couldn’t. At least not until Jim_Iain set me straight. Lol

 

This is how I start breakfast every day. Plain yogurt, cantaloupe, sour dough roll (still missing the crusty baguette), and butter.  This morning this little starter was followed by our first “fuller” breakfast in Luminae. Waffle with strawberry compote, chicken sausage, and a cappuccino. Really nice. Going back tomorrow!

[vickykay]

Thanks!  

[What A Market]

Drinks in Eden. The venue is very unique. Never seen anything like this design on a ship. 
 

DW is having an Eden specialty cocktail called a Planter. Interesting take on a margarita made with mezcal and cardamom. I’m having my go to cocktail — a Negroni. Served as it should be on a piece of block ice. Not an extensive Gin selection. Went with Hendricks. Tasty tasty. 

[BennyBrun]

21 minutes ago, What A Market said:

Drinks in Eden. The venue is very unique. Never seen anything like this design on a ship. 
 

DW is having an Eden specialty cocktail called a Planter. Interesting take on a margarita made with mezcal and cardamom. I’m having my go to cocktail — a Negroni. Served as it should be on a piece of block ice. Not an extensive Gin selection. Went with Hendricks. Tasty tasty. 

Can’t wait to see your review on Eden…thinking about trying it in January

[Ipeeinthepools]

1 hour ago, What A Market said:

Yes, only ship or government approved private excursions for St Kitts

 

 

Can you provide some additional description about what is a government  approved excursion?  Are these only taxi rides around the island?  Are there beach excursions or snorkeling trips?  Are there lines at the exit for these government approved excursions?

[terrydtx]

37 minutes ago, What A Market said:

Drinks in Eden. The venue is very unique. Never seen anything like this design on a ship. 
 

DW is having an Eden specialty cocktail called a Planter. Interesting take on a margarita made with mezcal and cardamom. I’m having my go to cocktail — a Negroni. Served as it should be on a piece of block ice. Not an extensive Gin selection. Went with Hendricks. Tasty tasty. 

The bartender in the Retreat Lounge on the Equinox made the best Negroni on our cruise in August. He also made an awesome old fashion and Manhattan. 

[Straughn]

First suite experience on an E class ship is an S2, on Apex, in April. I have been on Edge,mbut was in a Sunset Veranda.
 

i dined in Eden one evening. Loved every mouthful of food. I found it to be just quirky enough without seeming weird. I plan to go again when I am on Apex. 

 

I will be following your posts closely to learn all I can about Apex. Thank you for doing this.

[What A Market]

St. Thomas today. Partly cloudy, and at the moment very light winds. Fast Cat snorkeling tour booked thru ship. Have to check in for tour at 8:30, so it’s messing with my casual/slow approach to the morning. Eating some fruit and yogurt in Luminae. Very civilized. 🙂
 

I’ll report back more today when I get back from tour.