Born under the coronavirus pandemic, it has not yet had a single royal guest, but that does not stop it from being one of the most innovative and aesthetically striking ships in the industry.
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 52 – June 2020
On March 30, Celebrity Cruises remotely took possession of the Celebrity Apex, due to the inability of the shipping company's executives to travel to France from the US in the midst of the pandemic.
However, most of the crew had already been on board for weeks and had to be repatriated. The ship is still moored at the Saint Nazaire dock where its outfitting was completed, instead of making its scheduled Barcelona-Civitavecchia cruises. However, its European season doesn't end until October 22, the date on which its Barcelona-Fort Lauderdale cruise is scheduled to begin its fall/winter Caribbean season. So, it could still make its debut in the Mediterranean in August or September if the pandemic allows. And if not, from May to October 2021 there will be a second opportunity to sail the Mediterranean on this spectacular 129,500-gross-ton cruise ship.
Its exterior is striking, both for its indigo hull and its straight bow and funnel forming the X that defines the brand, but above all, for a mobile orange platform suspended on the starboard side that can be positioned vertically at various points on the ship. It's called Magic Carpet and serves multiple purposes: from acting as a revolutionary tender boarding platform when at sea level, to a panoramic terrace for dining under the stars at mid-height, or as a privileged vantage point for enjoying a drink when it's at its highest point.
It's important to remember that Celebrity Cruises is a premium company, and the Celebrity Apex has a capacity for 2,900 passengers served by nearly 1,400 crew members. A similarly sized ship from a standard cruise line typically carries 10% more passengers and 10% fewer crew members, resulting in a significant difference in service and space.
Boarding tenders via the Magic Carpet is just one part of the enhanced experience Celebrity Cruises is focusing on. The other two are improvements to the tenders themselves and a dedicated waiting area. Celebrity Apex tenders feature comfortable foam seats instead of simple plastic benches, air conditioning, and televisions displaying information about the destination. Inside the Celebrity Apex, before boarding via the Magic Carpet, there's a large waiting area called the Destination Gateway with a video wall showing images and information about the destination you're about to visit. This eliminates the need to have one of the main lounges as the meeting point for excursions and avoids having to walk halfway across the ship to board the tender.
The orange Magic Carpet mobile platform serves several functions: boarding platform, restaurant terrace and panoramic lounge.
The three upper decks can be divided into the usual three parts: the spa and indoor pool at the bow, the main pool in the center, and the buffet at the stern, above which is the innovative Rooftop Garden, a landscaped area with an open-air restaurant and a small stage with a video wall for live performances.
The central pool is unusually long for a cruise ship, and its surroundings are asymmetrical. While archways on the starboard side separate private cabanas, two large, cup-shaped structures stand out on the port side, each housing a jacuzzi at its summit. These two cup-shaped jacuzzis, along with the ship's artwork and meticulous architecture, make the Celebrity Apex a perfect backdrop for taking photos to show off on social media—something that will undoubtedly boost the cruise line's sales.
The Oceanview Café aft buffet is very similar to that of the Solstice class, undoubtedly because its brightness, comfort, and variety are among the best in the industry. Meanwhile, the Solarium, the covered forward pool, is very elegant and tranquil, as children are not permitted, and it features one more Jacuzzi than the Celebrity Edge. Inside the forward section, we find the spa, a modern and luxurious space designed by Kelly Hoppen, where neutral colors and straight lines predominate, broken only by the curved staircase and the bowl-shaped reception desk. The thermal area, with its stoneware and mosaic floors, is a bright and inviting space that exudes positive energy, encouraging relaxation on its heated ceramic beds, chromotherapy showers, sauna, and more.
Celebrity Cruises couldn't ignore the trend of offering private spaces to suite guests, and under this concept, The Retreat was created, first implemented on the Edge class, but soon to be extended to other ships. It's an outdoor space furnished with luxurious sun loungers and Balinese beds, a private pool, and swing seats. In addition, there's an indoor lounge, The Retreat Lounge, where you can enjoy the views while having a bite to eat, and the spectacular Luminae restaurant, with its artichoke-shaped lamps and a menu designed by renowned chef Daniel Boulud.
Inside,
across the three interior decks with public spaces, there are nine restaurants and several more casual dining options, in addition to the theater at the bow and the grand Eden lounge at the stern. But without a doubt, the ship's epicenter is The Grand Plaza, a three-story open space with a round bar that floods the entire area with light. Surrounding it are restaurants like Raw on 5, serving seafood and sushi, where the Magic Carpet can be extended to create a privileged terrace overlooking the sea. On the other side is Fine Cut Steakhouse, perfect for indulging in a steak or fish feast in a luxurious and sophisticated setting.
Celebrity Cruises could not ignore the trend of offering private spaces to suite passengers, and under that concept The Retreat was created, a private suite complex with a terrace, restaurant and lounge.
One deck higher is Le Grand Bistro, a Parisian-style restaurant where you can enjoy an afternoon coffee and pastries, or experience the Le Petit Chef dinner. This unique dining experience uses technology that projects animated images onto the tablecloth and white plates, so that various characters prepare the dishes right before your eyes. Once they've finished, the waiter replaces the virtual plate with the real one. Fun and different.
The Celebrity Apex has four main restaurants, each with its own design and ambiance, but they share a common menu. In the evenings, in addition to the regular menu, each offers special dishes related to the culinary region it represents: Tuscan to Italy, Cosmopolitan to American and international cuisine, Cyprus to Greece and the Mediterranean, and Normandie to French cuisine.
Another highlight of the Edge series is Eden, a grand panoramic lounge aft that spans three decks and features enormous windows flooded with light. Designed by Patricia Urquiola, it combines geometric elements with greenery, conveying peace and serenity and becoming an ideal place to relax during the day. At night, it comes alive with live performances and entertainment while diners enjoy their meals in the restaurant on the lower deck, where the open kitchen is also an integral part of the experience.
Innovation is equally present in the theater, with a circular stage that extends into the auditorium and features mobile screens, laser mapping, elevating and rotating platforms, and more. These technologies undoubtedly contribute to the spectacular nature of the shows.
Finally, it is also worth highlighting the children's and youth facilities, located at the bow of deck 3, which, following the ship's aesthetic, have been tastefully decorated, avoiding the simple and garish colors that usually dominate this type of space.
Cabins:
Undoubtedly, the Celebrity Edge revolutionized cabin space utilization, a trend that continues on the Celebrity Apex and will likely spread to other brands. These are the Infinity Veranda cabins, where the balcony is enclosed by a double-leaf window, with the upper leaf opening electrically. The balcony area can be separated from the rest of the cabin by a sliding partition, but with the balcony closed and the partition open, the cabin gains a significant amount of square footage.
Among the other accommodation categories, we highlight the Edge Villas, of which the Celebrity Apex only has six. These are 88 m2 duplex apartments with a jacuzzi on the terrace and direct access to The Retreat, the exclusive private facilities for suite guests.
The epicenter of the ship is The Grand Plaza, an open space of three levels with a round bar that radiates light throughout the room.
Finally, there are two Iconic Suites above the bridge, two spectacular apartments of more than 230 m2 with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a huge terrace with jacuzzi and Balinese bed, and a luxurious living room, all bearing the signature of designer Kelly Hoppen and the impressive panoramic views over the bow.
A cutting-edge, trendsetting ship.
The Celebrity Apex, like its predecessor, the Celebrity Edge, is a ship that stands out for its aesthetics, achieved through the collaboration of five of the world's most prestigious architecture and design studios. Furthermore, it incorporates technological solutions that enhance the cruise experience, such as the glass-enclosed Infinity Veranda cabins and the impressive Magic Carpet moving platform. Add to this the variety and quality of its culinary offerings and the high-quality entertainment, and you have a product that truly lives up to its premium status and is at the forefront of the industry.
