Apex Live — December 4, 2021

[What A Market]

17 hours ago, TheTruth79 said:

I've enjoyed your live posts! Thanks the doing it. I'm on the in the Apex in March. Can you tell me if in Puerto Rico, do they have the vendors at the port selling all the goods? Handbags etc? This is my mother's favorite port and we always buy stuff there.  Thanks! @What A Market

Yes, we did see some vendor stalls immediately off of the ship.  Can’t recall if I specifically saw handbags.

 

[What A Market]

Here’s a couple of random photos that DW started to forward to me.

 

First, the Theatre during the daytime.  Somehow we’re landing on the surface of Mars.

 

Second, DJ playing in front of The Martini Bar. All decked out in holiday spirit.

[RedneckBob]

Unfortunately I was unable to follow this thread because was I having another wonderful time on the Apex., b2b starting 11/27/2021. It was an incredible cruise; great food, entertainment and service. There were only 1700 passengers. 

I ate the first 12 nites for dinner including 3 nites at Fine Cut, Beef! Every cut of beef was excellent including filets, prime rib, beef Wellington, beef tournadoes! The filets in Fine Cuts was one of best cuts I ever had! And twice on day 6 of cruise for lunch at the Oceanview Cafe, B2b Celebrity grilled filets and had shrimp. You may ask what happen at Day 13 & 14 for dinner. I hit the wall with all that beef and settled for a salad and gyro at Oceanview Cafe. Only disappointment; no grits!

 

Entertainment was the best with my favorite group named Uptown, a Motown group.

[micmacmissy]

Great review, thanks for taking us along.

 

Just booked a Retreat suite for spring break.  Curious as to whether there is a fight to get loungers in the Retreat on sea days?

 

We toyed with the idea of booking Crystal so we wouldn't have to deal with chair hogs and crowds, but decided to try the Retreat first.  Thoughts?

 

Also - I'm shocked they don't offer any hard seltzers!  How's the bourbon selection onboard?

[SNJCruisers]

On 12/5/2021 at 11:12 AM, volk904 said:

Did they make and design changes from the Edge to the Apex?

The casino bar from the Edge is gone and replaced with the Craft Social Bar on the Apex.  They have some drinks on tap as well as two different beers on tap that are poured in a unique way...from the bottom of the glass.  A specialized glass that has I believe a magnetic closure after the beer is poured.

The main showroom also has new state of the art LED screens that are used in some of the shows.  

Finally, in Eden, the menu has changed to a more normal offering instead of A or B choices and the shows back there are no longer in your face and intrusive.

[SNJCruisers]

On 12/6/2021 at 10:26 AM, What A Market said:

Photo art in the living room of our suite. I told DW that I found it “inspiring.”  My arm still hurts. Ouch! 

You're lucky that be your DW's aim wasn't about two feet lower.

[Sam.Seattle]

On 12/10/2021 at 3:03 PM, What A Market said:

And a first time thing for me:  booked a future cruise at the future cruise desk (or whatever it’s called).  Booked again on the Apex out in 2023. This time a Norwegian fjords cruise.  I doubt I’ll be able to wait until 2023 to be “welcomed home” on the Apex.

Welcome home,

 

What type of cabin / suite did you book for 2023?  And, I am curious if the Penthouse would be high priority again.

 

Did you ever get a chance to ask the butler / host about being able to dine on the balcony?

 

Thanks for taking us along with you on your Apex sailing.

[taylortime05]

On 12/6/2021 at 10:50 AM, What A Market said:

Jacuzzi in main bath. Yep, inside. Not on balcony.

But in the vernacular of today’s youth, it’s SICK.

 

 

Very nice!  What type of suite is this?  We'll be on the Apex Jan 15 in a Sky Suite.  I'm enjoying your trip report.

[Guindalf]

46 minutes ago, taylortime05 said:

 

Very nice!  What type of suite is this?  We'll be on the Apex Jan 15 in a Sky Suite.  I'm enjoying your trip report.

So will we!

 

Join our Facebook group if you want. 

[AZDivers]

On 12/4/2021 at 2:29 PM, What A Market said:

Awesomeness 

and

More awesomeness 

 This is in the retreat area or something you brought on?

[AZDivers]

On 12/4/2021 at 5:13 PM, What A Market said:

Some stunning features and awesome amenities on the Apex. There’s a full 25 meter pool!  Got in some laps. Amazing for a ship. Also floating jacuzzis over the pool. Wow!

 

Are these hot tubs for retreat only or for anyone?

[t18c97]

19 hours ago, taylortime05 said:

 

Very nice!  What type of suite is this?  We'll be on the Apex Jan 15 in a Sky Suite.  I'm enjoying your trip report.

Another that will be on that voyage also in a Sky Suite.

[Guindalf]

23 minutes ago, t18c97 said:

Another that will be on that voyage also in a Sky Suite.

There’s a few of us!

[cruzer0007]

On 12/10/2021 at 8:15 PM, danceswithphones said:

Sure looks like she's headed in. Port schedule still shows 06:15 tomorrow. Now I'm curious.

we were on that cruise, and we had already left our last port (St Thomas) when the captain made the request for blood donors.  The only other thing we heard from official channels was that there was a passenger in urgent need of medical care, so we would be heading at full speed back to Ft Lauderdale to arrive as quickly as possible and immediately dropping them off.  We only sat at the pier long enough to off load the passenger, then went back out probably a mile or two, and just sat in the "waiting area" off the coast of Ft Lauderdale.  I am sure privacy concerns limit what they could say, we probably won't ever know, but we just hope the best for the impacted folks.  Also quite reassuring to know that the cruise line would go to that effort on behalf of a person in need.

[NCHPcruiser]

On 12/11/2021 at 7:33 PM, micmacmissy said:

Great review, thanks for taking us along.

 

Just booked a Retreat suite for spring break.  Curious as to whether there is a fight to get loungers in the Retreat on sea days?

 

We toyed with the idea of booking Crystal so we wouldn't have to deal with chair hogs and crowds, but decided to try the Retreat first.  Thoughts?

 

Also - I'm shocked they don't offer any hard seltzers!  How's the bourbon selection onboard?

Unfortunately I believe there are chair hogs on Crystal as well.   We just returned Saturday from our first Crystal Cruise after many Celebrity cruises (all good!) the most recent ones in The Retreat.   While I didn’t experience a problem getting a lounger (or sofa) around the pool on The Symphony (less than 50% occupancy) I did notice several prime spots obviously being held for long periods of time with perfect, undisturbed towel placement and a book.   With higher occupancy no doubt it could be a problem on Crystal as well as Celebrity!  As an aside, the food was superb (better than I imagined could be possible on a cruise ship) and service over the top.  Internet was terrible, dial-up speed and the only reason we will not sail with them again until that is remedied to some degree.  

[Reel Love]

8 hours ago, AZDivers said:

 

Are these hot tubs for retreat only or for anyone?

These hot tubs are for anyone and are located above the main pool/pool deck.  Pretty cool views from up in there 😊