ONLY 3 stops in 7 days (if you skip the Bahamas, it takes about 2 sailing days to get down to the Caribbean), it was - by our standards - a short cruise. But we took full advantage of it. It is interesting to contrast this one with last year's 10-day cruise. |
| Eden - Celebrity Apex -2024 |
THAT CRUISE was on one of Celebrity's slightly older class ships (Solstice Class), the Equinox, and though it was warm weather relaxing, it was also much more stop-intensive. The Apex is among the newest, and most modern of Celebrity ships. Both are fun, but there is more to do onboard on the Apex. This cruise was really planned around "no-plans" and just enjoying the warm, Caribbean sunshine, a little island experience, and primarily it was about the ship. The Edge Class ships are the perfect landing for that kind of a vacation.
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| Celebrity Edge - Tortola, BVI |
OUR THIRD sailing on the Apex (along with 2 cruises on the sister: Edge), we had a pretty good feel for this ship by now. It was a first for Paul and Linda and they really liked it, as we expected. There is a lot there.
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| Each ship in the Edge Class has different, unique sculpture around the ship - this is by the pool - Celebrity Apex 2024 |
THE EDGE class ships have shifted their main dining room experience from the traditional "grand ballroom" concept to 4 smaller, more intimate dining rooms, which cruisers may choose from as part of the standard fare. Although these dining rooms are able to accommodate larger groups, they are set up more like a modern restaurant. We have found seating, at least at the times we like to dine, to be very easy. We have rarely waited, and when we have, never more than about 10 minutes. Each restaurant has its own "theme:" French ("Normandie"), to Italian ("Tuscan"), to Greek ("Cyprus"), to the aptly-named "Cosmopolitan."
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| St. Kitts - 2024 |
THERE IS also a selection of "specialty" (upcharge) restaurants, including the elegant and avant garde, "Eden," the "Fine Cut" steakhouse, and "Raw on 5" (featuring sushi and other Japanese styled cuisine, the Bistro and a grill up on the "garden" deck. We have eaten in several of them and they are generally a fun - if more expensive - experience. They tend to fill up early (as in many weeks before the cruise), but we have actually had very good luck walking up and making a reservation during the cruise, which seems to work as long as you are flexible with day and time.
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| Old San Juan - New Year's Day - 2024 |
CELEBRITY HAS a "luxury" component to its cruises, and they have devoted more space for this than on the past, smaller ships. Among other "extra" amenities, it includes suites and an exclusive restaurant, along with semi-private pool, deck and spa areas, called "The Retreat." We have never experienced it, as we really have been happy with the general cruise and the ability to mix with the many, interesting, "regular folks" on the ship.
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| Old San Juan - New Year's Day - 2024 |
BEING ON board during NFL season-ending games, and college bowl games (especially the BCS championship semi-final games), we were delighted to find them carried on board on ESPN and ESPN2. There were NFL games on the big screen on the "garden deck" (top deck aft), but surprisingly the bowl games were only on the very small, "Craft Social" Bar. No seats available. We were able to watch in our staterooms, but of course it would have been more fun in a larger group. Oh well. First world problems. 😐
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| Old San Juan - New Year's Day - 2024 |
THE TWO of us had been to 2 of the 3 stops multiple times. Because of the sail time down, and because we had to make an unscheduled stop for a passenger health emergency on Grand Turk (Turks and Caicos), we didn't arrive in San Juan until late afternoon. Even though the all-aboard time was later than usual (11:00 p.m.), it was mostly dark on shore and as it was New Year's Day, much of what might be the normal sights (notably the U.S. National Park operated Castillo San Cristobal) were closed. That was o.k. We knew this in advance and really didn't have any plans. We just wanted to put feet on the ground and walk around Old San Juan a bit. We stopped for a local beer (I know, right? Puerto Rico and no rum?) and walked around a bit. Besides, we all wanted to watch the Rose Bowl game and cheer Michigan on.
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| San Juan Harbor - Puerto Rico |
THE SECOND stop, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, was the one place none of us had seen before. When we went ashore, we decided to hire a "taxi" to give us a tour of the island. We were able to find an open-air taxi for just the 4 of us. Our locally based driver was knowledgeable and drove a loop around the island. Tortola is the largest of the BVI chain. Interestingly, while English-owned and English-speaking, they use the U.S. dollar for their currency. According to the driver, this is primarily because of the proximity to the U.S. Virgin Islands and the trade and tourism among them. At the west end of the island, you could very clearly see both St. Thomas, and St. John's (USVI). By water, it is just under 2 miles across to St. John's and about 5 miles to St. Thomas. There are, of course, regular ferries that run back and forth between the islands.
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| Nevis - From Celebrity Apex in St. Kitts Harbor |
WE STOPPED at a bar called "Pussers" (famous for its "Pusser's Rum), and had a "pain killer," and though I don't do it as much these days, I had to buy a shirt. 😁
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| Celebrity Apex leaving St. Kitts |
I HAVE been to St. Kitt's at least 4 times. As I noted above, this cruise was really more about the warm weather and the ship, and we didn't plan any true excursions for the week. As a tourist cruise stop, St. Kitts is one of the most "developed" (meaning about a 4 x 4 block area packed with t-shirt shops, trinket shops, nicer clothing, "duty-free" liquor stores, and of course - every jewelry store). Linda wanted to get some gifts for her family, and so we "shopped," but didn't really do anything else. Mostly, Paul and I sat at the bar in the central square, had a drink, and "people watched."
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| Celebrity Apex - Caribbean - 2024 |
BACK ON the ship, we could look forward to 3 more nights, and two full "at-sea" days ahead. The weather proved to be as we hoped for. Sunny and warm. We had a nice chance to relax and enjoy ourselves. And then, as always happens for most of us, our cruise came to an end. But fortunately for us, we have another big one scheduled in April (14 days on Holland America's Westerdam, circling the entire country of Japan). To follow that up, we are currently making plans to go back to Europe in the fall, which will likely include a Mediterranean Cruise. So we will be o.k. 😉
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| Celebrity Apex - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - 2024 |
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