Discover the Celebrity Apex: Redefining Modern Luxury Cruising
If you are searching for a cruise vacation that blends cutting-edge design with unparalleled comfort, look no further than the Celebrity Apex. As the highly anticipated second ship in Celebrity Cruises’ revolutionary Edge Series, the Apex transforms the way you experience the ocean. With outward-facing designs, world-class culinary venues, and transformational entertainment spaces, this ship isn't just a way to travel—it is a destination in itself.
Whether you are planning a European getaway or a sun-soaked Caribbean escape, here is everything you need to know about sailing on the Celebrity Apex.
Technical Specifications
Before diving into the onboard experience, here is a quick look at the impressive numbers behind the Celebrity Apex:
129,500 GT
Gross Tonnage
2020
Year Built
2,910 maximum
Passenger Capacity
1320
Crew Size
Southampton, England
Home Port
Standout Features & Unique Amenities
The Celebrity Apex was built to break the mold of traditional cruise ships. Its architectural milestones blur the line between indoor and outdoor living.
The Magic Carpet®
Perhaps the most iconic feature of the Edge Series, the Magic Carpet is a cantilevered, floating platform that scales the exterior of the ship. Depending on the deck it is positioned on, it transforms from an open-air lounge and sunset bar on deck 14 to an extension of a seafood restaurant on deck 5, or even a luxury boarding platform for shore excursions at sea level.
Eden
Spanning three decks at the aft of the ship, Eden is a sensory masterpiece wrapped in panoramic glass. This lush, multi-level venue evolves throughout the day. In the morning, it is a serene spot for coffee and yoga; by afternoon, it hosts interactive classes; and at night, it transforms into an immersive dining and nightlife hub featuring cirque-style performances and inventive cocktails.
The Resort Deck & Rooftop Garden
The Resort Deck features an oversized asymmetric pool, chic cabanas, and a two-story jogging track. For a more tranquil escape, the Rooftop Garden offers a beautifully landscaped outdoor space perfect for live acoustic music, outdoor movies (A Taste of Film), and backyard-style grilling.
Innovative Accommodations
Say goodbye to standard cruise ship cabins. The staterooms on the Celebrity Apex are thoughtfully designed with 20% more space than previous ship classes, featuring king-sized beds with exclusive eXhale® bedding and luxurious cashmere mattresses.
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Infinite Verandas: These groundbreaking staterooms erase the boundary between your room and the ocean. With the touch of a button, the floor-to-ceiling window lowers, transforming your entire living space into a breezy, open-air balcony.
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The Retreat®: For the ultimate VIP experience, suite guests gain access to The Retreat. This exclusive enclave includes private accommodations like the two-story Edge Villas, a private sundeck, a dedicated 24/7 lounge, and dining at Luminae, a private restaurant with signature dishes crafted by renowned chefs.
A Culinary Journey at Sea
Dining on the Celebrity Apex is a global adventure. With 29 distinct restaurants, bars, and lounges, you can eat somewhere new every day of your voyage.
Instead of one massive dining hall, the Apex features four complimentary main dining rooms, each highlighting a different regional cuisine (Italian, French, Mediterranean, and Contemporary American).
For a specialized culinary experience, guests can book specialty dining venues such as:
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Fine Cut Steakhouse: Offering premium cuts of meat and fresh seafood.
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Raw on 5: A sophisticated sushi and seafood bar.
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Le Petit Chef: An unforgettable dining experience where 3D animation brings your tabletop to life before your food arrives.
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Eden Restaurant: An experiential menu inspired by nature.
Entertainment & Wellness
When the sun goes down, the Grand Plaza—a three-story, Italian-inspired atrium featuring the famous Martini Bar—becomes the energetic heart of the ship, complete with flair bartenders and live music.
For jaw-dropping productions, the Apex Theater utilizes a 20-foot 4K LED screen and a wrap-around stage to put the audience right in the middle of the action. If you prefer to dance, The Club acts as an interactive game space by day and a high-energy, DJ-fueled nightclub after dark.
Those looking to relax can retreat to The Spa, a sprawling wellness sanctuary offering over 120 treatments and the expansive SEA Thermal Suite, which includes a salt room, crystalarium, and rainfall water therapy.
Celebrity Apex Insider Tips & Hidden Secrets: Cruise Like a Pro
Sailing on a ship as technologically advanced and uniquely designed as the Celebrity Apex comes with a learning curve. While the ship is stunning at first glance, the most seasoned cruisers know that the best experiences require a few insider hacks.
Whether you want to avoid the crowds, score free gourmet food, or unlock hidden features in your stateroom, these insider secrets will completely elevate your Celebrity Apex vacation.
1. Ditch the Buffet: The Eden Café Secret
On embarkation day and busy sea-day mornings, the Oceanview Café buffet can get incredibly hectic. Instead of fighting the crowds, head to the back of the ship on Deck 5 to Eden Café.
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The Secret: It is completely complimentary (free) for breakfast and lunch, yet a huge percentage of passengers don’t realize it until day four or five.
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What you get: Gourmet breakfast paninis, fresh-baked pastries, chopped salads, and specialized sandwiches in a serene, plant-filled atmosphere with floor-to-ceiling ocean views.
2. Master the Four Main Dining Rooms (MDR)
Unlike traditional ships with one massive dining room, the Apex splits its complimentary dining into four smaller, themed venues: Cyprus, Normandie, Tuscan, and Cosmopolitan. Each has its own distinct decor and exclusive regional menu items (about 25% of the menu changes per restaurant, while the rest remains standard fleet-wide favorites).
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The Hack: You are never locked into just one. If you have "Celebrity Select Dining" (flexible timing), you can reserve a table at a different venue each night.
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The Menu Trick: If you are dining in the Tuscan room but secretly craving the French-inspired beef tenderloin from Normandie, just ask your waiter. The kitchens are connected, and the staff will frequently accommodate cross-menu requests if asked politely!
3. Order the Exclusive "Magic Carpet" Drink
The iconic, cantilevered orange platform that hangs over the side of the ship features its own fully stocked bar. But if you order a standard rum and coke here, you are missing out.
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The Secret: The Magic Carpet has a signature cocktail that you literally cannot order at any other bar on the ship. Ask for the "Magic Spritz." It is a bright orange, incredibly refreshing blend of Aperol, Campari, and Prosecco.
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Pro View Tip: Try to visit the Magic Carpet right at golden hour when the ship is sailing westward. Because the platform sits completely outside the ship's superstructure, it offers the absolute best, unobstructed sunset views at sea.
4. Bypass the Café al Bacio Line
Café al Bacio is the undisputed heart of the ship for specialty coffees, gelatos, and pastries. Because of this, the morning queue can look intimidatingly long.
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The Hack: Don't stand in line. If you can snag one of the plush lounge chairs or tables surrounding the café, take a seat. The area is fully staffed with table-service waiters who will take your espresso order and bring it directly to you, completely bypassing the counter line.
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Bonus Fact: All the cakes, giant cookies, and pastries in the glass display case are 100% free, even if you don't buy a premium coffee.
5. Override Your Stateroom's "Eco-Mode" AC
If you are staying in an Infinite Veranda cabin, the room is packed with smart-tech automation. However, the ship defaults to a "Go Green" setting designed to save energy.
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The Secret: When the ship senses you have left the cabin, the system automatically dials your thermostat up by 2 degrees and drops the blinds. If you love returning to a crisp, ice-cold room after a hot day in port, you need to go into your stateroom’s touchscreen settings (or use the Celebrity App) and manually turn off the "Go Green" mode.
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Hidden Feature: The bathroom mirrors in the Edge-class staterooms are gently heated from behind. You will never have to wipe away steam after a hot shower.
6. Play the Pre-Cruise "Cancel and Rebook" Game
Celebrity’s online Cruise Planner platform is notorious for fluctuating prices on add-ons like Wi-Fi, drink packages, and shore excursions.
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The Hack: Check the portal every week in the 30 to 60 days leading up to your sail date. Celebrity frequently runs unannounced flash sales dropping prices by 10% to 50%. If you already bought a package at full price, you can easily cancel it for a 100% refund to your credit card within the app and immediately rebook it at the lower sale price.
Celebrity Apex The Magic Carpet
Celebrity Apex Eden
Celebrity Apex Infinite Verandas
Celebrity Apex Raw on 5
Celebrity Apex Theater
