After 18 months of staycations, I was recently lucky enough to experience Celebrity Cruises brand new ship Celebrity Apex. With the resumption of international cruising and easing of travel restrictions, I couldn’t wait to get back to life on board. And what a return it was! I sailed in one of Celebrity Apex’s Sky Suites and thoroughly enjoyed all the extra benefits of doing so.
Every guest that opts for a suite enjoys exclusive access to The Retreat, which includes a private restaurant, sundeck with pool, lounge, dedicated attendants, concierge and a personal retreat host. A truly VIP experience! From the moment I entered my Sky Suite, I felt like I’d stepped straight into a luxury hotel. The private balcony and ever-changing views of the passing horizon took my breath away.
My personal retreat host, Izzy, met me with a warm welcome. He explained that he was there to help with anything I needed, alongside the exclusive services of the concierge in the Retreat Lounge - no request was too big or too small. And boy, did the concierge come in handy! They helped me to reserve my preferred speciality dining restaurant and spa treatments and gave me advice on shore excursions and the like.
All Celebrity Cruises guests enjoy drinks, Wi-Fi and tips as standard but as a suite guest, I had upgraded amenities. This included a premium drinks package which made my choice at the bar much harder - what a nice problem to have! I would highly recommend making your way through the cocktail menu during your time aboard Celebrity Apex. The spicy Mexican Martini (which is made with jalapenos) is a must-try!
Now onto the food. While relaxing in the Retreat Lounge I couldn’t help but notice how many snacks were available. I enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea which had an excellent mix of sandwiches, scones and sweet treats. But Luminae is where things got even better. Luminae is a restaurant exclusively for suite guests - I enjoyed lunch here on my first day (a classic beef burger served with a brioche bun and truffle fries, I know you’re wondering!) but it’s open for breakfast and dinner too.
Something that really blew me away was the level of service - not just exclusive to Luminae, I might add. Everywhere I went on board, I was met with friendly staff members who genuinely wanted to help. It was clear how thrilled they are to be sailing again!
In between meals, I opted to relax on The Retreat sundeck. Complete with pool, hot tub, bar and comfortable sun lounges with plush furnishings, the sundeck is a slice of heaven. At night, I was wowed in the theatre by the range of impressive entertainment. Comedians, musicians, acrobats - the theatre had it all! Plus, it was a real treat to be able to head to The Retreat Lounge for a drink before the evening’s entertainment.
Once the day came to an end and I retired to my suite, it was like an elf had snuck into my room - it was spotless! What’s more, a programme for the next day lay waiting for me. If you can pull yourself away from The Retreat, over 60 different activities await to keep you as busy or as relaxed as you wish.
If you’re looking for a special way to celebrate an anniversary, birthday or simply want to enhance your cruise experience, The Retreat offers everything you need and much, much more. The only decision left to make is which suite to book! Will you pick the one-bedroom luxury Sky Suite the Royal Suite with separate living, dining and sleeping area, the seriously impressive two-storey Edge Villa complete with plunge pool or the Iconic Suite with over 2,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor space and a private hot tub? Whichever you decide, our friendly sales consultants are on hand to guide you through the right choice.
I hope you enjoy your Celebrity Apex cruise as much as I did!
