LIVE Apex Suite Review 2/25-3/4: Love in the Time of Relaxed Luxury

[Jim_Iain]

Your Gown is beautiful as usual.  

 

I may have to give Fine Cut a second try.   Our last visit wasn't memorable and we really aren't big beef eaters.    I just wish they had Murano on the Edge Class ships.

[George C]

18 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Your Gown is beautiful as usual.  

 

I may have to give Fine Cut a second try.   Our last visit wasn't memorable and we really aren't big beef eaters.    I just wish they had Murano on the Edge Class ships.

I miss Tuscan grill , no Italian restaurant on E class.

[LaCal]

Great review and photos.  thx 

 

When you have a port where you dont get in till 2pm do they open the casino in the morning?   And if so do you know the hours?  Thx 

[Norwaylady]

Looks like your off to a brilliant start🤩 

My cruise fewer is killing me...... (so we booked a color line cruises from Oslo-Kiel on Thursday😅)

[GenerationX]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

Your Gown is beautiful as usual.  

 

I may have to give Fine Cut a second try.   Our last visit wasn't memorable and we really aren't big beef eaters.    I just wish they had Murano on the Edge Class ships.

I agree on missing Murano!  That’s my favorite specialty restaurant and something I look forward to every time we book S class.

 

Remind me, have you and Iain sailed Beyond yet?  
 

Le Voyage reminded a little of a more contemporary version of Murano.  Not a replacement for me, but it was my favorite E class specialty dining experience thus far.

[GenerationX]

43 minutes ago, LaCal said:

Great review and photos.  thx 

 

When you have a port where you dont get in till 2pm do they open the casino in the morning?   And if so do you know the hours?  Thx 

Yes the casino was open this morning, I’m not sure how early they opened but they closed about an hour before our scheduled arrival time in port. Jeremy said he was there right before they closed and they were doing announcements on the PA saying that they would be reopening the casino at midnight tonight (we leave PR at 9:30).  Interesting considering tomorrow is a port day too. 

[CruisingGatorGirl]

Loving this!! My aunt and uncle are on this cruise with you also in a suite/retreat so I keep hoping I'll spy the in the background haha. We sail in November. Cant wait! 

[mchell810]

On 2/25/2023 at 1:09 PM, GenerationX said:

O…M…G that is totally the Beyond April sailing that I’m on!!!

 

I also got alerted to the deal through CC and couldn’t resist the pricing. 
 

It’s going to be a fun sailing!

I think it’s safe to say it’s always a fun sailing if Charla is on board 😉 🥂

 

I have to seek out that Penner-Ash Pinot. It seems to be your “go to” so I’m sure it’s tasty. 

[dianedebuda]

On 2/25/2023 at 11:19 AM, islabahia said:

Hey Charla!  I loved your map dress so much that I bought one and it arrived Thursday! Thanks so much…..if not for your posts, I would never have thought that a map dress actually existed!

I have a future vision of Charla and 40 other ladies all in map dresses happily meeting for a sail-away.

 

---------

 

Love the red skirt and elegant top worn for chic night.

[DaKahuna]

Deleted -- wrong ship !  

 

Edited February 27, 2023 by DaKahuna

[RichYak]

53 minutes ago, dianedebuda said:

I have a future vision of Charla and 40 other ladies all in map dresses happily meeting for a sail-away.

Just ladies?

 

[garyl62]

33 minutes ago, RichYak said:

Just ladies?

 

Sure would be easy to find everyone for a sail away party 🤣

[Stem to Stern]

1 hour ago, RichYak said:

Just ladies?

 

Nice suit.  The black shoes are a miss tho.

[lola2013]

12 minutes ago, Stem to Stern said:

Nice suit.  The black shoes are a miss tho.

I’m going to want to see that on Silhouette 🤪

[RichYak]

16 minutes ago, Stem to Stern said:

Nice suit.  The black shoes are a miss tho.

Agreed. I have a pair of blue suede bit loafers that I think will go perfectly.

[peanut head]

You never disappoint.  Your photos, quips and trip summaries are the absolute best.  Thank you again for taking all of us along.  You are beautiful inside and out!

[sbt518]

On 2/24/2023 at 1:00 PM, GenerationX said:

A $50 Uber ride delivered us to downtown Fort Lauderdale to our hotel, the Hyatt Centric Las Olas.

 

After a much needed nap, we decided to get the circulation in our legs going and took a 20 minute walk down Las Olas Boulevard to have lunch at Casa Sensei.

 

The Las Olas area has tons of great restaurant options all in easy walking distance.  I’ve passed this Asian-Latin Fusion restaurant on my morning runs a few times and always wanted to try eating on its nice looking riverfront patio.

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Charla, I'm late to the party following along with this review but I needed to jump in and let you know that because of you my husband and I are spending 2 nights pre-cruise at the Hyatt Centric Las Olas (you had me at champagne vending machine!) before our March ABC cruise AND I've been thinking about Casa Sensei for dinner on St Patricks day in the hopes it won't be too crazy.

 

So, not to say I'm copying you but imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...

 

[GenerationX]

Hola from Puerto Rico and a special hello to Apex’s older sister Connie in port with us!

 

Our day so far:

 

This morning after my workout we had a little breakfast at Luminae. I feel like I remember the charcuterie and cheese plate on Beyond having much more exciting meats on it, albeit in Blu for aqua class, but the Gouda cheese was yummy at least.  
 

After breakfast we headed up to the retreat pool deck for swimming and relaxing.

 

I had a wine event at 12:30 so we had a light early lunch of shrimp cocktail and Caesar salads on the pool deck before I headed to the Blendtique event. 

 

I’ve never done this one before but it was a lot of fun. We were seated at tables of 4 and each group was tasked with tasting 4 different wine types and mixing them in certain percentages  (with some help from suggested recipes) to create a red blend wine that the ship’s sommeliers would taste and judge. The table with the best blend won a couple of bottles of bubbly.  

 

Unfortunately my table’s blend didn’t win, but I still thought we produced a decent product.  I took note of our blend so that I can go on the blendtique website when I get home and order bottles of it with my own custom made label.  Everybody on my list gets wine by Charla for Christmas this year!

 

After wine antics I was on my way back through the grand plaza to the forward elevators and spotted Kadek starting his day at the martini bar and he waived me over for an espresso pick me up.

 

Jeremy joined me after the casino closed and we had another round together before heading up to our veranda to read for a while.

 

We went to the Retreat lounge for afternoon tea and really enjoyed the mini empanadas and salmon salad sandwiches.

 

Tonight is the ship’s pride party at 11pm, but we have an early excursion meeting time in St. Thomas tomorrow, so after our 8pm dinner at rooftop grill we may just stop by Eden for a cocktail and the art showcase then head to bed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

6 hours ago, GenerationX said:

I agree on missing Murano!  That’s my favorite specialty restaurant and something I look forward to every time we book S class.

 

Remind me, have you and Iain sailed Beyond yet?  
 

Le Voyage reminded a little of a more contemporary version of Murano.  Not a replacement for me, but it was my favorite E class specialty dining experience thus far.

We have only sailed Edge so far.   Apex will be our second e-Class.

 

Year back when Murano was Olympic on Millennium we ate in Murano every night on a 14 night cruise.   After the first night the Maitr 'd told us we would no longer give us menus and the chef would prepare something off menu each night.   Even the wait staff didn't know what was coming out so had to scramble to get the correct table where.  

 

On a couple nights other guests would ask what we were having and he would say.... oh they have special dietary requirements.   I think we were having Shrimp Scampi that night.

 

One night he prepared a Raspberry Souffle for desert.   It was incredible.

 

Only downside was I put on 10 pounds  ... ugh.  

[Azulann]

18 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

We have only sailed Edge so far.   Apex will be our second e-Class.

 

Year back when Murano was Olympic on Millennium we ate in Murano every night on a 14 night cruise.   After the first night the Maitr 'd told us we would no longer give us menus and the chef would prepare something off menu each night.   Even the wait staff didn't know what was coming out so had to scramble to get the correct table where.  

 

On a couple nights other guests would ask what we were having and he would say.... oh they have special dietary requirements.   I think we were having Shrimp Scampi that night.

 

One night he prepared a Raspberry Souffle for desert.   It was incredible.

 

Only downside was I put on 10 pounds  ... ugh.  

Thanks for sharing that wonderful memory of Celebrity service above and beyond. 

[Stem to Stern]

35 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Raspberry Souffle

O.  Em.  Gee.  🤩

[Texed]

45 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Year back when Murano was Olympic on Millennium we ate in Murano every night on a 14 night cruise.   After the first night the Maitr 'd told us we would no longer give us menus and the chef would prepare something off menu each night.  

Did they serve the Peppercorn Steak and/or Beef Stroganoff?  Both were absolutely wonderful.  😋

[Sox Fan Cruiser]

How crowded is the retreat sun deck?  Not as interested in the loungers in the sun but more thinking about the couch areas?  What about the pool?

[LouChamp]

9 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

We have only sailed Edge so far.   Apex will be our second e-Class.

 

Year back when Murano was Olympic on Millennium we ate in Murano every night on a 14 night cruise.   After the first night the Maitr 'd told us we would no longer give us menus and the chef would prepare something off menu each night.   Even the wait staff didn't know what was coming out so had to scramble to get the correct table where.  

 

On a couple nights other guests would ask what we were having and he would say.... oh they have special dietary requirements.   I think we were having Shrimp Scampi that night.

 

One night he prepared a Raspberry Souffle for desert.   It was incredible.

 

Only downside was I put on 10 pounds  ... ugh.  

Aloha.  Yes…miss Murano. 

[GenerationX]

10 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

We have only sailed Edge so far.   Apex will be our second e-Class.

 

Year back when Murano was Olympic on Millennium we ate in Murano every night on a 14 night cruise.   After the first night the Maitr 'd told us we would no longer give us menus and the chef would prepare something off menu each night.   Even the wait staff didn't know what was coming out so had to scramble to get the correct table where.  

 

On a couple nights other guests would ask what we were having and he would say.... oh they have special dietary requirements.   I think we were having Shrimp Scampi that night.

 

One night he prepared a Raspberry Souffle for desert.   It was incredible.

 

Only downside was I put on 10 pounds  ... ugh.  

This sounds amazing! First thing when I get home I’m going on a Pinterest quest for a recipe for raspberry soufflé.
 

My very first Celebrity cruise almost a decade ago was on Constellation when she still had the French restaurant. I think it was called Oceanliners?  
 

We also ended up eating there 3 of the 4 nights because it was so good and service was so outstanding. I particularly remember an outstanding roast duck that was rolled out on a cart and carved table side.  

 

Our next couple of cruises after that were on Royal Caribbean or S class ships and I remember being so sad when we sailed again a few years later and that restaurant was gone.