High on the Apex

When a ship tries hard, it shows. It certainly showed on the Celebrity Apex. 

Especially in the service. On our recent cruise – our first on an Edge Class ship – we asked crew a number of times for directions. Each time, they walked us to where we wanted to go.

The captain and crew managers welcome us onboard.

At the buffet, a crew member volunteered to take our photo. Our room steward left us flowers. And we were met with smiles everywhere.

There were other highlights too:

Buffet – If it’s not your thing, this one will change your mind. Not only was the Oceanview Café’s selection vast, but always interesting. Comfort foods – think carved and grilled meats, burgers and fruits – made daily appearances. But for this foodie, it was the international dishes that excited. 

Themed meals, such as French, Mediterranean, Italian and Asian, featured robust, flavorful stews and other entrees. These displays included many premium items, including brie and blue cheese, Black Forest Ham, prosciutto, pate, smoked mackerel, crawfish, shrimp, pastry-wrapped baked salmon and even lobster roll. 

Bread was a buffet priority, with many choices, and even a crew member dedicated to slicing fresh loaves. The flaky croissants at breakfast were a real standout.

The buffet layout was also well designed; a large space with free-standing labeled food stations. There were never lines, and only once or twice did we struggle to find seats at breakfast. Dinner was peaceful, as the buffet is underutilized in the evening.

The Shows – There were several singers and a magician/comedian, as well as music throughout the ship, but the production shows were the real stars. “Crystallize” and “Rockumentary” were high energy events, combining singing, dancing and acrobatics, against a backdrop of eye-popping or nostalgic scenes on the large digital screens. Many of the songs were familiar, which is always welcome.

It was hard to take our eyes off "Crystallize," a wow-generating show. 

Rock through the ages was the theme of "Rockumentary."

The Loyalty Program – There are great perks for Captain’s Club Elite level or above, such as a daily free cocktail hour (actually, lasting two hours) with a limited menu, several cocktail parties, a wine tasting, a cocktail demo and behind-the-scenes theater tour. Important note: read the fine print at the bottom of the list of perks left in your stateroom because some events require reservations. We missed out on one because I noticed it too late.

We got a sneak peak of the "Rockumentary" costumes during the Captain's Club behind-the-scenes theater tour.

The Ship – The Apex is modern, and after so many cruises on the handsome wood-and-marble Princess’s Royal Class ships, it took some getting used to. But the furniture and artwork is fanciful, funky and fun, and the Grand Plaza pulsates in colored lights. In contrast, the Eden venue is an oasis, resplendent in greenery, glass and light. The ship’s layout overall is easy to navigate.

The Grand Plaza is a hub of activity, performance and lights.

Not highlights:

The Room – We love a balcony, so we put off sailing on Edge ships for years. What did we think when we finally took the plunge? We spent a lot of time wistfully and rather pathetically staring out of the not-always-clean windows. The misnamed “Infinite Verandah” is most decidedly not a balcony.

Would that stop us from sailing on an Edge ship again? No; but we will always be missing that balcony.

The MDR – Alas, this is standard main dining room fare; no better, no worse. Truly, the buffet was way better.

Musing’s Top Tips:

A quiet spot for sea gazers – Without a balcony, we went searching for a quiet outdoor spot to enjoy the view and on a tip from a Cruise Critic chat, found it behind the Oceanview Café. There are outdoor seats in the shade or sun, and after meal hours, it was not crowded.

Cookies – You’ll find desserts from puddings to cakes in the buffet, but you won’t find cookies. They’re hiding at Café al Bacio on deck 4, off the Grand Plaza, and they’re free.

ABBA fan? – Keep your eye out for the “ABBA Sing-Along Party,” where the lyrics are on the screen and exuberant Boomers take to the dance floor.

A word of thanks – Musing About Cruising was selected by FeedSpot as one of the Top 80 cruise blogs on the web. Thank you for your readership and support!