APEX 02/26-03/05 2022 Retreat, Eastern Caribbean out of Ft Lauderdale

[Von & John]

@graphicguy

Any chance the automatic drapes are on a timer?

I need light to wake up & it's great if it happens gradually...

Like PTC Dawg - we leave our blinds/curtains/drapes open most of the time as well...

[graphicguy]

2 hours ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

 

It might be interesting to know if the speed is any better in the I Lounge.   The last time I was on the Equinox, I went down to the I Lounge to complain about the internet performance.  The I Lounge Rep. told me that she didn't understand the problem because it works well for her sitting in the I Lounge.  I told her that was great but that didn't help me very much.  Later that morning they sent someone to install a temporary router in my cabin that improved performance.  Hopefully that wouldn't be an issue on a new ship.

Went down to it iLounge just now.  The rep there was getting ready to go to dinner, so I told him I’d stop by later tonight when they open up, again (7:00).

[graphicguy]

1 hour ago, Von & John said:

@graphicguy

Any chance the automatic drapes are on a timer?

I need light to wake up & it's great if it happens gradually...

Like PTC Dawg - we leave our blinds/curtains/drapes open most of the time as well...

Looked at the app and the control on the wall.  As close as it comes is to select “morning”, 
“movies”, “evening”, “sleep”.  But, I didn’t see a way to have them open automatically…..just to adjust them based on the 4 basic parameters.  Now, that doesn’t mean it can’t be done.  Just that I can’t find a way to do it.  I have my phone next to the bed and just use the Celebrity app to open or close them.

[graphicguy]

1 hour ago, Ken the cruiser said:

FWIW when I had trouble using the Ookla speed test on some recent cruises, this Google one always seemed to work.

 

https://projectstream.google.com/speedtest

 

Just tried that one.  It says an error occurred and I couldn’t get a reading.  I think it’s too slow to even register

[verizon]

2 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Looked at the app and the control on the wall.  As close as it comes is to select “morning”, 
“movies”, “evening”, “sleep”.  But, I didn’t see a way to have them open automatically…..just to adjust them based on the 4 basic parameters.  Now, that doesn’t mean it can’t be done.  Just that I can’t find a way to do it.  I have my phone next to the bed and just use the Celebrity app to open or close them.

If you have VPN on the app won’t work.

you need to disable your VPN.

[mac_tlc]

4 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Streaming WIFi is included for us.  If I paid extra for Premium/Streaming, I’d ask for a refund.

I agree

 

[graphicguy]

On a more positive note, went down to the casino this afternoon after having lunch at the Retreat Pool Bar, and was looking to sign up for the Hold’Em Tournament.  It was sold out (3 sessions).  But, they said to be at the Cashier’s Cage tomorrow by 9:00 a.m. and I should be able to get into one or all 3 of them.  No cash games like they had on the EDGE so far.

 

I won $350 at BJ, though.  And, the GF won another $296 (yep, that exact amount) on the slots.

 

So far, the Casino gods are with us.

 

So far we’ve converted $200 of non refundable chips into nearly $1,500 cash.

 

That said, the machine two down from the one the GF was playing hit for $2,600.  C’est la vie!

Edited February 27, 2022 by graphicguy

[graphicguy]

5 minutes ago, verizon said:

If you have VPN on the app won’t work.

you need to disable your VPN.

VPN is disabled.

[Ken the cruiser]

2 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Just tried that one.  It says an error occurred and I couldn’t get a reading.  I think it’s too slow to even register

You're probably right. Afterall, there are almost 2,000 passengers onboard your cruise, which is probably the most there has ever been since the Apex started cruising out of Ft Lauderdale in Nov. I guess it's time for Celebrity to shell out some more $$$ and increase the satellite bandwidth. I can just imagine those that just have the Basic service on the ship. I do not envy the IT folks.

[graphicguy]

1 hour ago, Ken the cruiser said:

You're probably right. Afterall, there are almost 2,000 passengers onboard your cruise, which is probably the most there has ever been since the Apex started cruising out of Ft Lauderdale in Nov. I guess it's time for Celebrity to shell out some more $$$ and increase the satellite bandwidth. I can just imagine those that just have the Basic service on the ship. I do not envy the IT folks.

Ken…I think you hit the nail on the head.  Ships are beginning to sail with 1.5x-2x the passengers they sailed with back in July.  Probably some network maintenance need be done from the shutdown.  That said, service has been exemplary as expected.  Ship is stunning.  Weather has been mid-upper 70s and beautiful.

 

Who am I to complain about anything????

[graphicguy]

1 hour ago, Ken the cruiser said:

You're probably right. Afterall, there are almost 2,000 passengers onboard your cruise, which is probably the most there has ever been since the Apex started cruising out of Ft Lauderdale in Nov. I guess it's time for Celebrity to shell out some more $$$ and increase the satellite bandwidth. I can just imagine those that just have the Basic service on the ship. I do not envy the IT folks.

Ken…I think you hit the nail on the head.  Ships are beginning to sail with 1.5x-2x the passengers they sailed with back in July.  Probably some network maintenance need be done from the shutdown.  That said, service has been exemplary as expected.  Ship is stunning.  Weather has been mid-upper 70s and beautiful.

 

Who am I to complain about anything????

[graphicguy]

Chic night Retreat pre-dinner cocktails…

[mbddisney]

3 hours ago, Von & John said:

@graphicguy

Any chance the automatic drapes are on a timer?

I need light to wake up & it's great if it happens gradually...

Like PTC Dawg - we leave our blinds/curtains/drapes open most of the time as well...

Where on the app is the settings for the room. Does it not show till onboard?

[crusinthrough]

On 2/26/2022 at 6:53 AM, graphicguy said:

You’re up awfully early for a Saturday.  I’m here.  Everything’s on time!  TSA pre check is shorter than this….

I miss CVG.  The airport Delta abandoned.  

[Shadow9612]

@graphicguy enjoying the thread, thank you.  Congrats on the casino 💰 so far.  Keep it up!

[graphicguy]

14 hours ago, mbddisney said:

Where on the app is the settings for the room. Does it not show till onboard?

You have to be in the ship’s WiFi to have access to the cabin’s options.

[graphicguy]

11 hours ago, Shadow9612 said:

@graphicguy enjoying the thread, thank you.  Congrats on the casino 💰 so far.  Keep it up!

Thanks!  Eventually, the casino is going to try to get their money back.  We’ll see how successful they are.  We’re greedy.  We should just walk away with what we’ve won.  Where’s the fun in that.

 

Probably play some “cat and mouse” a little more in the casino today to see what we can do.  GF made a very good fiscal decision.  She put $1,000 in the safe from our winnings without telling me the combination.  

 

I have ways of making her talk. 😉

[raudacruise]

15 hours ago, graphicguy said:

On a more positive note, went down to the casino this afternoon after having lunch at the Retreat Pool Bar, and was looking to sign up for the Hold’Em Tournament.  It was sold out (3 sessions).  But, they said to be at the Cashier’s Cage tomorrow by 9:00 a.m. and I should be able to get into one or all 3 of them.  No cash games like they had on the EDGE so far.

 

I won $350 at BJ, though.  And, the GF won another $296 (yep, that exact amount) on the slots.

 

So far, the Casino gods are with us.

 

So far we’ve converted $200 of non refundable chips into nearly $1,500 cash.

 

That said, the machine two down from the one the GF was playing hit for $2,600.  C’est la vie!

On the last night of a Princess cruise DH hit $5000 on a slot just before the casino closed. He was so proud! He insisted I hold the big wad of cash. It was impressive! However, I thought the best part was that there was no way to keep playing and lose any of the winnings.😎

[graphicguy]

13 hours ago, crusinthrough said:

I miss CVG.  The airport Delta abandoned.  

Logged over a million miles out of that airport.  Remember when they had 3 big terminals, one could only be accessed by busses and underground trains.  Have a fondness for it myself.  

 

Airport board screwed the pooch in not demanding liquidation compensation from Delta for pulling out.  They also did a very poor job of not getting carriers like Jet Blue or Southwest to take over some of the gates.  Incompetence all the way around.

[graphicguy]

Plotting the day with a “foo-foo” coffee drink in al Bacio…..

[graphicguy]

Pretty good view….

[Ipeeinthepools]

3 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Pretty good view….

IMG_0448.MOV

 

It doesn't look like CC is allowing us to access your view 🙁

[graphicguy]

31 minutes ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

 

It doesn't look like CC is allowing us to access your view 🙁

Well…that ain’t right.  Posted on my end.  Sorry ‘bout that!

[bama4cruisin]

1 minute ago, graphicguy said:

Well…that ain’t right.  Posted on my end.  Sorry ‘bout that!

Loaded fine for me . . . Beautiful view of the ocean through the window at one of my favorite spots on any Celebrity ship!

[crusinthrough]

24 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

 

I agree.  I remember well and Comair was awesome.  The good ole days.  CVG definitely drew the losing hand.  It's better now but those few years when Delta operated most of the gates, it was a small fortune to fly from CVG.  

 

Enjoy your cruise.  Living vicariously through your pictures  until I can sail on the Apex.