Nov 6 Apex B2B East-West Caribbean Cruise

[Ken the cruiser]

Went to the last production show of the cruise this evening, Crystallize, and it was another great show. I have to admit for the most part they have put on some great evening shows this cruise!

 

[like2cruise]

12 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Just past our antigen tests, so we’re good for the next leg! It took 17 minutes from the time the sample was collected to when we got the notification email. Yay!!!

I bet that is such a huge relief for you and your DW.  Congrats!  As you get ready to enjoy your next week on the Apex, you asked that I remind you to please post the dailies for me if possible.  I would greatly appreciate it!  

[MarKay525]

On 11/11/2021 at 7:49 AM, Ken the cruiser said:

It comes with 2 stalls, 23 hangers and 3 drawers plus the 3 long drawers across from the sofa next to the fridge. Not a lot of space, but enough for us. But then we have also used the laundry services twice.

Thank you for the details!!!! Sounds workable.

Enjoy your next week. Kay

[little britain]

The Wi-Fi was terrible when I was on her in September. Didn’t find the little white box… we are back in the same SV cabin in January so will look harder!!

Thought the Rock show on Apex one of the best I’ve seen at sea: also the circus show they did in the Club but we felt the Club was very under-utilised 

Looking forward to next weeks report as that is our January itinerary. 

[terrydtx]

21 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Just past our antigen tests, so we’re good for the next leg! It took 17 minutes from the time the sample was collected to when we got the notification email. Yay!!!

With all the people your reported around you that were coughing and sneezing, this is really good news.

[Ken the cruiser]

45 minutes ago, little britain said:

The Wi-Fi was terrible when I was on her in September. Didn’t find the little white box… we are back in the same SV cabin in January so will look harder!!

Thought the Rock show on Apex one of the best I’ve seen at sea: also the circus show they did in the Club but we felt the Club was very under-utilised 

Looking forward to next weeks report as that is our January itinerary. 

Were you just logged on with the AI basic as it was only at 0.45 mbps and if you had upgraded to streaming it was a whopping 2.0 mbps plus you could access many of the more multifaceted ones you couldn’t access while on basic. 
 

As far as the router location in the SV, here’s a hint. You walk by it every time you leave the bathroom towards the main part of the cabin. 😎

 

We missed the circus show this past cruise in The Club because we were dealing with the new antigen test appointment app, but definitely plan on seeing it this leg

[Ken the cruiser]

9 hours ago, like2cruise said:

I bet that is such a huge relief for you and your DW.  Congrats!  As you get ready to enjoy your next week on the Apex, you asked that I remind you to please post the dailies for me if possible.  I would greatly appreciate it!  

As the Dailies are quite lengthy, if it’s all right, I’m only going to post just one so you can see how they flow. Which day would you like to see, today’s which is the transition day, or the one receive this evening for tomorrow’s sea day preview?

[Ken the cruiser]

We’re back onboard after a visit to CBP in the terminal where they use facial recognition versus looking at your passport. 
 

We also completed the DW’s checklist of (1) upgrading to streaming plus getting the 10% pre-cruise discount that we coordinated on the last cruise through the CC POC onboard, (2) upgraded to the premium beverage package at Customer Service, (3) and made the 6 pm Eden reservation for tonight. Yay! After all that work it’s now time to go eat lunch and check in at the Muster station! 😎
 

Edited November 13, 2021 by Ken the cruiser

[Ken the cruiser]

Enjoyed a nice B2B perk today as we were allowed to go to the Concierge Lunch in the Tuscan restaurant rather than having to eat up in the buffet which can get quite crowded on transition day. Also found out it was good my DW got in line early to book a table in the Eden for 6 pm as they sold out quick! 

[misslab]

Hi Ken,

 

We are booked on a B2B in January.  We have the same room on both legs...will we be able to leave our things in the room on changeover day?  Our TA didn't know the answer to that.  Were you invited to the Concierge lunch simply because you were doing B2B, or because of your status?  This is our first Celebrity cruise.

Thanks!

[ecslady]

Can you please post the menu in Eden?  Are they offering any discounts on board for specialty dining?

[Saab4444]

Is Captain Dimitrios Kafetzis still on bord? Thanks!

[Ken the cruiser]

1 hour ago, misslab said:

Hi Ken,

 

We are booked on a B2B in January.  We have the same room on both legs...will we be able to leave our things in the room on changeover day?  Our TA didn't know the answer to that.  Were you invited to the Concierge lunch simply because you were doing B2B, or because of your status?  This is our first Celebrity cruise.

Thanks!

Yes, you can leave everything in your cabin on transition day if you’re not changing cabins. Staying in the same cabin is always a prerequisite for us if we’re doing a B2B. And, yes, you get invited to the Concierge Lunch because you are on a B2B. 
 

You are going to have a great time on you Celebrity cruise!!

[Ken the cruiser]

3 minutes ago, Saab4444 said:

Is Captain Dimitrios Kafetzis still on bord? Thanks!

As far as I know he is.

[Ken the cruiser]

11 minutes ago, ecslady said:

Can you please post the menu in Eden?  Are they offering any discounts on board for specialty dining?

What would be better is if you pull up the cruise you’re currently booked on in your Celebrity app and then go to Dining -> Restaurants-> Eden Restaurant, you can see the entire Eden evening menu. 

[Ken the cruiser]

1 hour ago, ecslady said:

Are they offering any discounts on board for specialty dining?

In answer to your second question, we haven’t heard of any discounts as of yet. 

[toddmanka]

26 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

In answer to your second question, we haven’t heard of any discounts as of yet. 

Who is the cruise director ?   If you get a passenger count on the next cruise give a shout out  

Thanks  Enjoy your week  Will be watching as you leave 

[WomanRN]

Just curious if you know why you are delayed in leaving??

 

Also, would you mind posting the dailies from this leg of your B2B after you get home, when you're not having to pay to do it? 🙂

[Jim_Iain]

19 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Good info! I guess the bottom line would be if either of the applications don’t work on basic once they get onboard, they can always go down to the iLounge and upgrade their applicable AI internet account to streaming. 

I don't believe you have to go down to the iLounge.    I think there is an option on the signup screen to upgrade and it has the CC discount built into the price.    I'm sure others will correct me if I am wrong. 

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, misslab said:

Hi Ken,

 

We are booked on a B2B in January.  We have the same room on both legs...will we be able to leave our things in the room on changeover day?  Our TA didn't know the answer to that.  Were you invited to the Concierge lunch simply because you were doing B2B, or because of your status?  This is our first Celebrity cruise.

Thanks!

If you have the same room you don't need to do anything.   You will get the B2B memo and also an invited to a meeting.   Good to go as they often have a raffle.     Last cruise we won a bottle of nice wine and some Jewelry from one of the shops.

 

The basic drill is your get a B2B packet the night before the end.  In the envelope is a In-Transit Pass as well as instructions.    You have two choices -

 

1.   If you want to leave the ship to shop or tour you have to leave the ship prior to final call and can't come back until around Noon.   When you leave the ship Security will take your room key from you.   When you return you walk are directed to an in-transit desk and don't need to wait with others joining the ship.   The desk will give you your new room key and your good to go aboard.

 

2.  If you choose to stay aboard you will be directed to a lounge where all the B2B's will meet at around 9:00.   In most ports they will take you ashore as a group and you will clear immigration and customs.   Recently in terminal 25 they use a Camera for Immigration and you just walk up to in and it flashes a green check mark.    They will either give you your new card and pick up your last one in the lounge or in the terminal.   You then are offered a seat and wait until they have zeroed out the ship and then they escort you back aboard  (total time about 30 minutes).   After that you have your own private yacht for about 2 hours before general boarding begins.  

 

Edited November 13, 2021 by Jim_Iain

[Ken the cruiser]

56 minutes ago, toddmanka said:

Who is the cruise director ?   If you get a passenger count on the next cruise give a shout out  

Thanks  Enjoy your week  Will be watching as you leave 

Lauren and she’s great! She’s from Scotland and FWIW she was our CD on the Equinox on the last sailing in March 2020 before cruising was shutdown, then on our Edge cruise in August. I think she had a 3 week break before jumping over to the Apex. 

 

If I hear an estimated count for the next cruise later in the week, maybe around Friday, I’ll let you know. 

[Ken the cruiser]

And we’re off! Today there were 7 cruise ships docked in Port Everglades - 2 RCCL, 2 Celebrity, 2 HAL and 1 Princess. I guess cruising is definitely starting back up! 😎
 

[misslab]

12 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

If you have the same room you don't need to do anything.   You will get the B2B memo and also an invited to a meeting.   Good to go as they often have a raffle.     Last cruise we won a bottle of nice wine and some Jewelry from one of the shops.

 

The basic drill is your get a B2B packet the night before the end.  In the envelope is a In-Transit Pass as well as instructions.    You have two choices -

 

1.   If you want to leave the ship to shop or tour you have to leave the ship prior to final call and can't come back until around Noon.   When you leave the ship Security will take your room key from you.   When you return you walk are directed to an in-transit desk and don't need to wait with others joining the ship.   The desk will give you your new room key and your good to go aboard.

 

2.  If you choose to stay aboard you will be directed to a lounge where all the B2B's will meet at around 9:00.   In most ports they will take you ashore as a group and you will clear immigration and customs.   Recently in terminal 25 they use a Camera for Immigration and you just walk up to in and it flashes a green check mark.    They will either give you your new card and pick up your last one in the lounge or in the terminal.   You then are offered a seat and wait until they have zeroed out the ship and then they escort you back aboard  (total time about 30 minutes).   After that you have your own private yacht for about 2 hours before general boarding begins.  

 

Great information, thanks!  We have been wondering how this would all play out.

[Ken the cruiser]

30 minutes ago, WomanRN said:

Just curious if you know why you are delayed in leaving??

 

Also, would you mind posting the dailies from this leg of your B2B after you get home, when you're not having to pay to do it? 🙂

There was a person who for some reason got on the ship without anyone documenting her paperwork, and we couldn’t leave until the person brought it to Customer Service. 

[Ken the cruiser]

24 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

If you have the same room you don't need to do anything.   You will get the B2B memo and also an invited to a meeting.   Good to go as they often have a raffle.     Last cruise we won a bottle of nice wine and some Jewelry from one of the shops.

We had the meeting two days before arriving at Ft Lauderdale to tell us about registering for the antigen test appointment time the next day and where we were to meet on transition day. But, unfortunately, there was no raffle. 

Edited November 13, 2021 by Ken the cruiser