Live - suite life on the Apex (Baltics)

[cavaaller]

 

 

Struggeling with the photos will post those later.. 🙂

 

In the past 2.5 years I lived vicariously through your live reports (shout out to @groryjm @Jim_Iain@What A Market @GenerationX and many others - thank you very much !)

So now that I am finally ready to board another cruise, I too would like to contribute, if you will read me. 

 

To give you a little background: 

I am (obviously) not a native speaker so I apologize for grammar and/or spelling and am cruising with my family.

A long time ago we have sailed on Eclipse and on the Summit (my favourite ship) but since then have done mostly MSC  and TUI cruises.

We did experience a decline in quality in the MSC Yacht club mainly due to overcrowding, decline in quality in the food etc. -that is why we wanted to try Celebrity again.

 

We were supposed to be on the March 20 cruise out of FLL on the Silhouette and on the March 21 cruise out of Tampa on the Constellation and on the July 21 cruise out of AMS on the reflection. Those three cruises did not happen for obvious reasons. 

But we made the best out of it: took the FCCs an put them to good use:

We will be celebrating our and my anniversary on the Apex. It is the very first time in the retreat for us, and of course the first time in an “upper suite”.

 

So hear goes nothing:

Thursday we drove ourselves to Amsterdam and stayed one night in the Movenpick hotel right next to the cruise terminal.

 

 

 

 

(This picture ist from sailaway)

Our room was quite nice and you could easily walk to the centre. 

 

Amsterdam was incredibly crowded – I am not used to so many people anymore.

We did not really enjoy our promenade – between the bikes racing like crazy, the millions of people rushing through the streets, no social distancing at all – not our type of thing.

 

So we cut the sightseeing short. We live only about 3 hours from Amsterdam by car so it will be easy to redo this kind of trip when we are not as scared of catching “something”.

 

On the big day we took our breakfast in the hotel’s executive lounge that has only recently reopened. You get your food in the main restaurant and sit in the less crowded space.

Food was great – lots of fresh options.

 

We saw the Apex come in early in the morning and could even watch her from our window:

 

 

It was very hard to wait patiently for boarding – I knew that it would not start before 11 o clock – and so we checked out at the hotel at 10:50 already … 

 

In the terminal (PTA) retreat guests leave their luggage on the left hand side.

The Porters identify upper-suite luggage and tag it as “priority”. Then you follow the main flow up to the waiting area, where you are directed to a “retreat” row. We were not the only impatient people – about 20 other retreat guests were already sitting in the area.

At 11.10 checkin commenced. There were 4 officers (?) checking in retreat guests. 

When an upper Suite guest was identified, they called an escort who took over from there.

We had to show our boarding passes about 6 times (wish I had known because every time I thought this was going to be the last time so I put it away again )

 

The Escort-person (I really do not know if he was a butler) told us some fun facts about the ship all of which I instantly forgot because I was so incredibly nervous and anxious to get to our suite. The Ship was totally empty, we were among the first to board.

 

 

 

 

Our suite was ready so we could enter tout de suite.

 

It is an incredible, huge, beautiful, amazing space that made me litterally jump with joy.

 

 

The pictures do not do the Suite justice (even if they were posted correctly they would not)

but there are many great videos online on yt so I will not even bother to post my amateur-video here.

 

When I was done jumping up and down we were ready to have lunch. We went to an empty Luminae and enjoyed a terrific first meal on board (no pics, sorry). I had the kale salad (never have I eaten raw kale – but it was delicious) the rest of my family had the pea soup. Then I had the fish and my men had the steak. Both excellent.

 

The afternoon was spent with the usual dreaded unpacking, after which I went to the spa because I chipped a nail: I had a manipedi. Although the price is quite high you just cannot beat the view.

 

We had contact to the shoreside concierge Eric (he did not reach out to us but a fellow cruiser forwarded me the contact so I reached out to him). We had asked for some specialty dining reservations and for a Peloton to be present in our suite. I knew that asking for the Peloton was a long shot because as of late it is only being granted in the Iconic Suite but our butler was very nice to secure us one. 

 

So we had a reservation for fine cut for the evening.

I must admit, that I was much to overwhelmed and tired to enjoy a meal but we went anyway. I shared a tomahawk steak with my DH which was good. Then we called it a night without desert and went to bed very early.

 

Today the sea is really choppy. DH is prone to seasickness so he suffers.

But I was so looking forward to this:

We had roomservice breakfast –  eggs benedict – On every cruise this is my favourite breakfast item. You cannot order that from roomservice on MSC - not even in YC, so I was so happy to see it is on the retreat RS-Menu. I used the little RoomService hanger:

 

Our butler called ahead and set it up very nicely at our huge table.

But: The eggs benedict were really disappointing ...😒

 

Everything else was fine. And it was heavenly sitting there, hearing the ocean and knowing there is nothing, I HAVE to do today.

 

So I did what I wanted to do:

After breakfast I took a peloton class, a shower and a series of naps in different places of the suite. 

 

The captain announced that the ship’s occupance is around 40 %, about 1500 people. It does seem empty indeed. Even today, at a seaday you can move around freely without too much effort to avoid coming too close. We enjoyed a café at café al bacio, a burger @ mast grille and most of all we enjoyed, that we are on vacation.

There is nothing better than this, is there?

 

A propos too close: Almost nobody is wearing masks – a nonchalance am not used to – maybe later in the cruise I will be able to relax a bit and maybe then I will also dare to lose mine. Right now I am much too afraid to catch it to go unmasked…

 

So...

We have not decided on dinner for tonight. I am leaning towards luminae (it being chic night) but I am not sure if it will be too crowded for my taste… Any opinions?

IMG_1236.HEIC IMG_1239.HEIC IMG_1240.HEIC IMG_1242.HEIC IMG_1243.HEIC IMG_1245.HEIC

Edited July 9, 2022 by cavaaller

[12cruise2]

Thank you so much for your post; I so enjoy reading about others' experiences, especially in Europe.  I, too, am leary and mask everywhere.  I say don't let your guard down near the end of the cruise as that's when you are most vulnerable!  We are in Fort Lauderdale ready to board the Infinity this morning for B2B cruises in the Caribbean. 

[jagoffee]

Enjoy your cruise.  
 

If you have not already done so, make a reservation for each speciality restaurant.  I recommend you check the Luminae menus on the Celebrity AP to pick out the days that the Luminae menus are particularly interesting to you.  
Do not miss the Bistro for lunch.  I also suggest you visit early in the cruise, because you may wish to repeat it.  This was our favorite place for lunch.  be sure to check out the cafe in Eden’s for a light breakfast one day. (Or a lunch)

[cavaaller]

I will try to add the photos one by one

 

Our Hotel in Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

Edited July 9, 2022 by cavaaller

[cavaaller]

 

[Coarsegold_Mom]

Wow - what a beautiful suite! One day maybe we will get there. We are leaving in the Apex in 3 weeks so your info about Amsterdam is helpful. If you have the chance, can you you see what the going rate for a spa pass is? I would like to purchase for my husband. I can’t believe the low capacity on the ship. I was expecting close to full for ours in 3 weeks. Enjoy the suite life. & the cruise!

[cavaaller]

So this afternoon I wanted to try the Hot Tub. I put the water in and - nothing.

Error: Pump Stuck.

 

It took our Butler and 3 technicians to find out that the water I used was too hot 😞

 

well. we are still working on it...

 

[George C]

We were in penthouse on Edge almost exactly a year ago, hard not to have a great cruise sailing in that.

[cavaaller]

So what can you do until the tub is working - drink and eat  🙂 ?

 

We got this delicious charcuterie board accompanied by a "Strong Cider" - very good!

 

[cavaaller]

We decided to have dinner from luminae tonight.

 

Gene - our retreat host - has graciously agreed to deliver us the main course to our suite.

tonights menu is

 

Apps: Chilled Lobster Salad/Tradiotonal Beef Tartare/Jerusalem artichoke Soup / Roasted Squab

 

Entrées: Potato Mezzaluna Pasta / Grilled Halibut / Grilled Ribeye Steak / Cauliflower Steak / Fennel Crusted Lamb Loin.

 

Will update with pictures later

[wrk2cruise]

The Chilled Lobster Salad is one of my favorite apps.

[Scottishclover]

Thanks for doing this review - we are on the next Baltic Cruise out of Amsterdam so excited to hear what you think of the ship and ports. Our cruise looks like it will have the same low  occupancy judging by the number of available rooms. With things being so quiet is there enough atmosphere on the ship? Enjoy the rest of the cruise 😀

[cavaaller]

52 minutes ago, Scottishclover said:

Thanks for doing this review - we are on the next Baltic Cruise out of Amsterdam so excited to hear what you think of the ship and ports. Our cruise looks like it will have the same low  occupancy judging by the number of available rooms. With things being so quiet is there enough atmosphere on the ship? Enjoy the rest of the cruise 😀

Thank you for following and participating.

Actually, we love the atmosphere on board. It is calm, sophisticated, relaxed and very positive.

[cavaaller]

Dinner was wonderful. I forgot to take pictures again, so here is just our tray of petits fours

 

 

those were lovely. 

[chemmo]

If you get the chance could you please post some pictures and comments about the balcony space…In particular how much sun does it get and can you stargaze?

[What A Market]

Hi Cavaaller 

Following your live posts!  I think I recognize your suite..... 😉

[George C]

25 minutes ago, chemmo said:

If you get the chance could you please post some pictures and comments about the balcony space…In particular how much sun does it get and can you stargaze?

On Edge there was no sunlight in penthouse balcony, only thing I didn’t like about penthouse.

[chemmo]

2 minutes ago, George C said:

On Edge there was no sunlight in penthouse balcony, only thing I didn’t like about penthouse.

Thanks, could you look up and see the stars at night or was the overhang too big?

[Dave Judy]

We are also on the Apex, leaving on July 20th.  Your information is very helpful.

 

Big Thanks!

[What A Market]

Here’s a couple of photos from the balcony of a Penthouse Suite on Apex

[cavaaller]

It is true, during the day there is very little sunlight on the balcony.

in the morning and in the evening though it is wonderful:

 

The balcony is divided in three parts.

The first section is accessed through the guest bedroom and consists of two love seats with a "table (?)" 

 

This part is sheltered from the wind and a lovely spot for an early breakfast on the balcony.

 

The second section is two loungers (pic taken with loveseats right behind me):

there is a door from the living room.

 

the third section has another door from the living room and has two extremely comfy rocking chairs:

 

 

The view out of these chairs:

 

 

you see a little bit of sky but it is certainly less ideal for stargazing than say the Edge Villas.

 

I also love the little Wintergarten:

 

 

[sunpsyche]

We’re on the Apex August 1st and 13th cruises and eager to follow along with you. 

[cavaaller]

we just took a stroll through the ocean view buffet (for research purpose only).

 

There were hardly any people. We sampled some desserts - apple crumble, fruit, pastel de nata (sp?), very very tasty. We will definitely try that again!

[suzyluvs2cruise]

5 minutes ago, cavaaller said:

we just took a stroll through the ocean view buffet (for research purpose only).

 

There were hardly any people. We sampled some desserts - apple crumble, fruit, pastel de nata (sp?), very very tasty. We will definitely try that again!

 

Thanks for doing a "live from" thread. We were on the Apex TA and loved the ship, Retreat and Luminae! Then I quarantined on the following British Isles cruise. 

[cavaaller]

So tomorrow we will arrive in Warnemünde at 7°°. First excursions seem to have a meeting point of 8°° and will be leaving at 8:30. Those are excursions to Berlin or Rostock or Schwerin. We were supposed to leave at 23°° but this has been changed to 22°° without further notice. It is a long day, so you could easily take the S-Bahn to Berlin or Rostock. 

Even a trip to the castle of Schwerin would be nice and doable:

The distance cruise terminal → train station is 1 km. Write me a comment if you are interested in individual transport to Berlin or Rostock, then I will write more details.

 

We have been to Berlin and surroundings many many times so we will stay in Warnemünde, which we have not yet seen. There is a beautiful quaint old city and a very nice sandy beach.

It is a great spot for trecking also. We are looking forward to our diy excursion there.