A Week Onboard Celebrity Apex: Exploring the Atlantic

Known for its stunning contemporary style and clever design, Celebrity Apex is a much-loved favourite in the Celebrity Cruises fleet. The ship was the first in the Celebrity Cruises Edge-Class series, home to a wide range of innovative features from the Magic Carpet, a cantilevered platform that transforms from a floating lounge to a speciality restaurant or tender embarkation point, to the serene Rooftop Garden, perched at the very top of the ship.

In this article, we join Stephanie Warrender, Cruise.co.uk Customer Support Executive, as she takes on a week-long adventure aboard Celebrity Apex and provides detailed insights into what to expect onboard this modern yet homely Celebrity Cruises ship.

From Gran Canaria to the Open Sea

I started my adventure at Manchester Airport, where I flew to Gran Canaria and checked into my one-night pre-cruise stay at the Design Bex Hotel, which had a lovely rooftop terrace with views across the sea. The next morning, we headed to the cruise port to board Celebrity Apex, designed to be more connected to the ocean and destinations.

After boarding, we went to the Oceanview Café for lunch, a buffet-style eatery with a pizza station, before heading off on a ship tour to see what a beautiful vessel Celebrity Apex truly is.

After the tour, we made our way to the Magic Carpet for sailaway drinks. This was the perfect spot to enjoy incredible sea views as we left port.

The Magic Carpet on Celebrity Apex is a large, cantilevered floating platform on the side of the ship that moves up and down to serve different functions. It can transform into an open-air bar or lounge on Deck 14, a speciality restaurant (Dinner on the Edge) on Deck 5, or an embarkation platform for tenders on Deck 2.

Dinner that evening was at Cosmopolitan, one of four main dining rooms including Normandie, Cyprus and Tuscan. Each has a unique design and exclusive signature dishes, while all share a common menu of Celebrity favourites that changes daily.

The main dining rooms always offer a wide variety of dishes, including New York steak, chicken and salmon, with sides such as steamed vegetables, buttered potatoes, cauliflower cheese and even Yorkshire puddings.

Life at Sea and Culinary Experiences

The second day was a sea day, and we attended a workshop that included meeting the senior officers and learning more about their roles. It was lovely hearing first-hand experiences and seeing how genuinely happy the crew are. This enthusiasm shines throughout the ship, as every crew member is warm, welcoming and eager to help.

For dinner that evening, we were free to choose any restaurant. Two other agents and I visited Eden, a unique multi-level speciality restaurant featuring an open kitchen and a menu inspired by nature and global cuisines. The food here was incredible; I have never tasted anything quite so good. There is an additional charge of $102 per person, and I would recommend booking in advance.

Exploring Lisbon

On day three, we awoke to the beautiful Portuguese port of Lisbon, where we had a shore excursion booked called Lisbon by Tram.

The process was very easy. We met in the theatre, where a member of the shore excursion team assigned us a group number. The group was then led to the gangway to join the coach. From the theatre to the coach took less than five minutes and was completely stress-free. We then enjoyed a tour of Lisbon by tram.

Lisbon’s tram system, in operation since 1873, consists of six lines that navigate the city’s steep hills and narrow streets. The most popular tourist route, Tram 28, connects major districts such as Alfama and Baixa. This is a great way to see Lisbon in a short amount of time.

Dinner that evening was at Tuscan, an Italian-themed main dining room.

Discovering Porto

Day four took us to the beautiful city of Porto, and what a stunning place it is.

Porto is the second-largest city in Portugal, located on the Douro River estuary in the north of the country. Key attractions include the Dom Luís I Bridge, the lavish São Francisco Church and the port wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia.

At this port, you disembark as usual but must take a port shuttle bus to the gate due to docking in an industrial area. From there, it is around 40 minutes into Porto itself.

A group of six of us ordered an Uber to get into the city, although there is also a shuttle service operated by Celebrity Cruises at a cost of $16 per person.

Once we arrived, we embarked on a wonderful tuk-tuk tour of the city. We were even taken to a secret spot for an amazing photo opportunity at the Dom Luís I Bridge. This iconic double-decker iron bridge spans the Douro River and offers spectacular views.

Our tour ended at a rooftop bar overlooking the city, where we sampled the famous green wine, Vinho Verde. Green wine is a young wine from the northern region of Portugal. Initially exported from Póvoa de Varzim, it is now primarily exported from Porto. It is produced either in the coastal area near Porto or further north near the Galician border.

For sailaway drinks, the Sunset Bar was the perfect spot, located at the aft of the ship. The day concluded with dinner at Cyprus, a Greek-themed main dining room.

Behind the Scenes and Family Activities

Day five was our final day on board and another sea day. In the morning, we took part in a behind-the-scenes tour, which guests can also book. The tour includes visits to the galleys, provision rooms, engine control room, recycling centre, laundry and the bridge.

The afternoon was dedicated to Camp at Sea, the onboard children’s club for ages three and above, with a dedicated area for teenagers called The Basement. There are three daily sessions, all free of charge. An additional session called the Slumber Party runs from 10 pm to 1 am at a cost of $6 per hour per child. Parents can also leave children on board while going ashore, with a supervised lunch session from 12 pm to 2 pm for $6 per hour, and dinner cover available at the same rate.

A wide range of themed activities are offered daily and listed in the app. You can register for Celebrity Apex Camp at Sea for children aged 3–12 using the Celebrity Cruises mobile app during the online check-in process, available after final payment. On board, you can also enrol children in the programme during operating hours.

Our Final Night

On our final night, we dined at Fine Cut Steakhouse, one of the speciality restaurants awarded by Forbes Travel Guide for its excellence in service and culinary distinction. This high-end dining venue serves premium meats and fresh seafood with wine pairings and boasts an elegant atmosphere with views of the Grand Plaza.

We also had the chance to see some of the ship’s spectacular shows, including Rockumentary and Tree of Life in the main theatre, and a circus-style show called Caravan in The Club.

The Club is also the ship’s late-night music venue and the ideal place to dance the night away.

Did You Know?

• All cabins have bathrobes for use on board.

• Guests in The Retreat have access to complimentary sun lotion.

• The exterior profile of Apex was designed by architect Tom Wright, while interior designer Kelly Hoppen worked on the staterooms and other interior spaces.

• There is a dedicated temperature-controlled room solely for storing bananas, ensuring perfect ripeness.

• Over 3,000 eggs are used on board every day.

• Food waste is responsibly processed and fed to fish when out in the open ocean.

My Final Thoughts

I stayed in an Infinite Veranda stateroom. This cabin type replaces a traditional balcony with a floor-to-ceiling window that lowers at the push of a button, transforming the entire cabin into an open-air space and maximising usable room area. However, it differs from a true balcony as there is no outdoor space to step onto.

Overall, Apex is a stunning ship, and the service is exceptional. I had a fantastic week and feel very lucky to have been chosen for such an incredible opportunity.