Live from Apex - 6/19

[CalTexCruiser]

7 minutes ago, ocdb8r said:

Spoke with Giuseppe today. His contract was originally up in August, but yesterday they asked him to stay on until the naming ceremony in November, and he has agreed.  He did say he will take a short (2 week) holiday in September.

 

I'm going to take a wild guess here that his 2-week Sept vacation will be before 9-18 (since his CEO will be on the 9-18 sailing).

[Eloise4Ever]

52 minutes ago, ocdb8r said:

Spoke with Giuseppe today. His contract was originally up in August, but yesterday they asked him to stay on until the naming ceremony in November, and he has agreed.  He did say he will take a short (2 week) holiday in September.

 

Thank you very much for asking this question on my behalf 🙏.

[Eloise4Ever]

45 minutes ago, CalTexCruiser said:

 

I'm going to take a wild guess here that his 2-week Sept vacation will be before 9-18 (since his CEO will be on the 9-18 sailing).

 

As it seems now that only an early September cruise will work for our schedules, I really appreciate this insight. Having Giuseppe as CD was very high on our list of reasons for taking this cruise so we may have to rethink our plans 😢.

[drarill]

7 hours ago, Kreative03 said:

I would say mostly US, with a smattering of Europeans. I’ve seen several folks whose primary language is Russian and Spanish based on their interaction with crew but I wouldn’t guess at nationality by that alone.

 

There are are under 20 children onboard I believe. Teens aren’t required to provide vaccination status if under 16, but our two for example are.

 

And apologies to @drarillfor the crying child(ren) in Luminae. Occasionally things are out of our control and we do swiftly exit them if that happens. Might not have been ours but I’m the first to apologize on behalf of all parents. We also take feedback. It’s the first vacation in over a year for us and a lot of newness. They will be tamed by the 7/17 summit cruise, I promise! (I know someone else on here is doing the same 2 we are)

 

no worries, I traveled with my children a lot and I understand.  But after reading that the two positives on the Adventure were unvaccinated minors, the COVID paranoia kicks in.  We understand the science behind the vaccines but I really prefer to take my mask off in front of vaccinated people.

Hope you enjoyed the cruise as much as we did back when our children were the age of yours.  Mine were  three and four y/o when they started cruising with us. 

[Kreative03]

Hey all - the captain just announced that the ship cleared with 100% of pax and crew passing the antigen tests. Happy cruise and staff for sure with cheers echoing the atrium.

 

Edited June 25, 2021 by Kreative03

[little britain]

8 minutes ago, Kreative03 said:

Hey all - the captain just announced that the ship cleared with 100% of pax and crew passing the antigen tests. Happy cruise and staff for sure with cheers echoing the atrium.

 

I missed that? Did you have to do a test mid cruise? Was it the nose one?

 

 

And on another subject could someone post a photo of the drinks menu please. We only have the included package so not sure what limits there are on drinks!  Can I get a decent glass of white wine and an Aperol Spritz?! 

Edited June 25, 2021 by little britain

[kjb1466]

3 minutes ago, little britain said:

I missed that? Did you have to do a test mid cruise? Was it the nose one?

 

 

And on another subject could someone post a photo of the drinks menu please. We only have the included package so not sure what limits there are on drinks!  Can I get a decent glass of white wine and an Aperol Spritz?! 

Do you have the Celebrity app? If so, click the food category, then restaurants and bars to see their drink menus. I noticed very few are at or below the $9 classic price limit. 

Antigen testing has to be done before returning to port, so I'm assuming they just finished that today. 

I'll be on board tomorrow!

[little britain]

5 minutes ago, kjb1466 said:

Do you have the Celebrity app? If so, click the food category, then restaurants and bars to see their drink menus. I noticed very few are at or below the $9 classic price limit. 

Antigen testing has to be done before returning to port, so I'm assuming they just finished that today. 

I'll be on board tomorrow!

Thank you! I can see Prosecco, some PG and a french rose…. I’m happy!  Sadly can’t see an Aperol Spritz… perhaps some kind person could enquire at a bar as to the cost 💲..!?!

[hnm2234]

I got an email from Celebrity this week saying our port stop in Santorini on the 7/17 sailing was extended to 10pm. Did this change happen to all sailings? If so, does anyone have any recommendations for catching the sunset? Sadly I don't think we'll have enough time to watch from Oia but wondering what others are planning. TIA!

[excited balcony]

9 hours ago, Kreative03 said:

Touring updates:

Wednesday we did a celebrity tour - catamaran -  in Cyprus and then went straight back to the boat since it’s a shorter stop. There was a shorex person on our tour trying to help manage and perfect it. We all got fresh snorkel gear and were allowed to take it home which is a nice touch, though most folks left it. First stop was near a cave and a decent  snorkeling site. They called one of the swim stops a beach stop - but in reality the beach was something you could swim to only as a ridiculously strong swimmer in the time we had. The tour had 2 boats of folks and it seemed Iike everyone enjoyed the sail and the swims.

 

Did yesterday in Rhodes with a private guide. Went all the way around the island and they mentioned the outdoor mask mandate has been lifted and it was nice to be “free” fully outdoors like we are in the US. Not a ton of tourists in the area unlike prior stops. My last visit in Rhodes I explored on my own and would’ve preferred to do that again, as you can manage well in old town…but family desires.

 

 

 

 

 

Week booked the catamaran through Celebrity for the July 9th sailing.  A couple of days ago we received and email saying the snorkeling and kayaking will no longer be offered and that is will simply be a sail and swim adventure.  Would you recommend the excursion even without the snorkeling?

[irvington]

42 minutes ago, hnm2234 said:

I got an email from Celebrity this week saying our port stop in Santorini on the 7/17 sailing was extended to 10pm. Did this change happen to all sailings? If so, does anyone have any recommendations for catching the sunset? Sadly I don't think we'll have enough time to watch from Oia but wondering what others are planning. TIA!

we got this message and I know another cruise did, so probably most if not all. I too am curious about the options for a sunset sail or something like that.

[aswoff]

1 hour ago, hnm2234 said:

I got an email from Celebrity this week saying our port stop in Santorini on the 7/17 sailing was extended to 10pm. If so, does anyone have any recommendations for catching the sunset? 

Yes, we booked a dinner reservation at Argo restaurant (they only had 7pm) in Fira on July 14th.  I think sunset is around 8:30pm.  We have never been there, hope it is good.

Edited June 25, 2021 by aswoff

[PTCruizer]

14 minutes ago, irvington said:

we got this message and I know another cruise did, so probably most if not all. I too am curious about the options for a sunset sail or something like that.

We’re on the 6/26 sailing and also got the Santorini change. If we come up with a plan for the sunset I’ll let you know.  

[Gracie115]

3 hours ago, ocdb8r said:

Spoke with Giuseppe today. His contract was originally up in August, but yesterday they asked him to stay on until the naming ceremony in November, and he has agreed.  He did say he will take a short (2 week) holiday in September.

He did say he was coming back after his contract is up isn't he?  I mean after his couple months break?  I'd hate to see Celebrity lose him.

Edited June 25, 2021 by Gracie115

[Bruin Steve]

19 hours ago, Daleed77 said:

We are on the 6/3 Apex cruise so thanks for posting! 
 

We got the Move Up offer and I’m still trying to justify $600 per person to move from AQ1 to a Sky Suite. Is the Retreat and Luminae worth that? 
 

Thanks,

Dale

Dale,

It's a complicated question...

First thing to realize is that is likely a "minimum bid" and does not guaranty that you get it.  after that, a lot depends on the "perks".  With the Move-up, do you retain your current perks?  Or do you get the standard suite perks?

We upgraded to a Sky Suite on one of our upcoming Apex B2B (from Concierge, in order to snag the same cabin on both cruises after they initially wouldn't allow B2Bs).  Rather than doing it through the "Move-up" thing, it was just a direct conversation with Celebrity.  We DID pay a bit extra--more than that $600.  But we also jettisoned our prior perks deal and picked up the Sky Suite perks--PREMIUM drink package, STREAMING Wi-Fi, gratuities and A bunch of additional OBC.  When all was said and done, we actually came out to where we were almost even on the $$ side...and the upgrade on drinks, Wi-Fi and Luminae/Retreat really made the new deal worthwhile...let alone the bigger stateroom.

 

You may want to talk to someone at Celebrity and see if the "Move-up" gets you better perks...or if it's just the physical cabin...

[TowandaUK]

3 hours ago, Kreative03 said:

Hey all - the captain just announced that the ship cleared with 100% of pax and crew passing the antigen tests. Happy cruise and staff for sure with cheers echoing the atrium.

 

Good news - clearly the protocols are working. 
out of interest does anyone know what the plan would be is someone tested positive to the antigen test?  Presumably they could not re- enter Athens but the boat has a new intake due for the following cruise so what would the plan be?

[little britain]

2 hours ago, hnm2234 said:

I got an email from Celebrity this week saying our port stop in Santorini on the 7/17 sailing was extended to 10pm. Did this change happen to all sailings? If so, does anyone have any recommendations for catching the sunset? Sadly I don't think we'll have enough time to watch from Oia but wondering what others are planning. TIA!

Yes we did for 9/4.  We are hiring a car and hope to be in Oia or Imerovigli at sunset.

[ocdb8r]

5 hours ago, Gracie115 said:

He did say he was coming back after his contract is up isn't he?  I mean after his couple months break?  I'd hate to see Celebrity lose him.

We didn't discuss specifically, but he was quite clear he is thrilled to be back cruising and plans to continue.  I assumed with Celebrity, but I didn't specifically ask.

 

4 hours ago, TowandaUK said:

Good news - clearly the protocols are working. 
out of interest does anyone know what the plan would be is someone tested positive to the antigen test?  Presumably they could not re- enter Athens but the boat has a new intake due for the following cruise so what would the plan be?

They can re-enter, but must be sent to a quarantine location (I believe specific hotels) until they test negative.

[Mike45LC]

On 6/19/2021 at 11:56 AM, scrabble6 said:

I'd love to see photos of Grand Plaza/Martini Bar, Craft Social bar (formerly Casino Bar), the walkway on deck 5 between Blu and Eden--the one where you wind your way through all the interesting sculptures, and Sunset Bar.  

 

I would love to suggest the name for that walkway between Blu and Eden -- that dark hallway filled with weird sculptures that seem like tree trunks in a dark forest -- the "Vampires' Walk."  

[kwokpot]

32 minutes ago, Mike45LC said:

I would love to suggest the name for that walkway between Blu and Eden -- that dark hallway filled with weird sculptures that seem like tree trunks in a dark forest -- the "Vampires' Walk."  

That reminds me of the Anteroom to the Ensemble Lounge either on the Solstice or Equinox, I can't remember which ship, where the corridor/room is decorated with ant murals all over the wall.  

[WonderMan3]

1 hour ago, Mike45LC said:

I would love to suggest the name for that walkway between Blu and Eden -- that dark hallway filled with weird sculptures that seem like tree trunks in a dark forest -- the "Vampires' Walk."  

I was calling it The Haunted Forest 😄

[Cdresser]

On the MoveUp bid to go from AQ to SS on 7/3...it really depends on what you paid for the AQ and whether the suite amenities are important to you. If your bid is successful, you take the perks you paid for to the SS but you do not get the perks that come if you purchase the SS outright - the premium beverage, OBC, and streaming wifi. You will get Luminae, the Retreat area, bigger cabin and a butler. 

 

A good strategy for a bid if you decide to try it would be to bid $25-50 over the minimum so you will stand out from those who bid just the minimum. I was successful with this strategy in 2019 when I went from a SS3 to an Edge Villa. 

 

[Mike45LC]

1 hour ago, WonderMan3 said:

I was calling it The Haunted Forest 😄

Great name.  Our first walk through this hallway, there was some creepy guy lurking behind one of the tree trunks, and I told my wife he was a vampire lurking in wait.

[Kreative03]

2 hours ago, Mike45LC said:

Great name.  Our first walk through this hallway, there was some creepy guy lurking behind one of the tree trunks, and I told my wife he was a vampire lurking in wait.

The hallway on Apex is slightly different - silver squiggles (almost mirrored) with white sparkly rock sculptures. Definitely a different vibe.

[PTCruizer]

Getting ready to head to the port! Just a quick picture of the Parthenon from our hotel rooftop bar.