Cruise New launch
An alfresco dining area on
the Celebrity Apex. Inset,
Jeannine in the party spiritThe Apex calls at ports including Santorini, below
SPAIN
ITALY
GREECE
FRANCE
Mediterranean
SeaMediterranean
SeaAthens
Barcelona
Valencia
Santorini
Mallorca
Sicily
200 milesI
perch at the bar of Craft
Social, transfixed as
draught ale glasses fill
as if by magic from the
base upwards — it
brings a new meaning to the
expression “bottoms up”.
Stefan, the bartender, tells
me that each glass has a hole
in the base sealed by a
magnetic ring, which moves
when it is placed on a
dispensing platform, allowing
beer to flow into the glass.
This technique is popular
with bars worldwide because
of its speed and efficiency. I
scan a list of more than 30
beers and order a Belgian
lager, taking care not to point
by mistake to the bottle of
Struise Black Damnation XXII
Willy, a rare “gourmet” stout
with a sobering £360 price tag.
The trendy watering hole
might have all the trappings
of a Saturday evening in
Shoreditch, but in reality I’m
miles from the nearest shore
of any kind — Craft Social is the
all-new hangout on Celebrity
Cruises’ latest ship, the 2,900-
passenger Celebrity Apex.
I’m aboard the last of the
line’s Mediterranean cruises
of 2021, sailing from Athens
to Barcelona as the ship
makes its way west towards
its winter grounds in the
Caribbean. Over the course
of the week we call at the
Greek island of Santorini,
Sicily in Italy, and Mallorca
and Valencia in Spain.
Apex is the second in a new
series, following its sister
ship, Celebrity Edge, in style.
A team of interior designers is
behind its cool look, among
them Kelly Hoppen, whose
clean lines and neutrals adorn
the cabins and suites.
There’s a pool fringed with
cabanas, a rooftop garden with
an alfresco grill restaurant and
— the most striking concept —
the Magic Carpet. This is
a tangerine-coloured platform,
the size of a tennis court,
cantilevered over the side of
the ship and able to move
between decks, serving a
different function on each —
on deck 2 it’s an embarkation
platform for the ship’s tenders;
on deck 5 it’s an extension of
the seafood restaurant Raw
on Five; alongside deck 14 it’s
a chilled cocktail lounge,
open to the sea breezes.
Once a week, weather
permitting, the real magic
happens as the platform
becomes the setting for Dinner
on the Edge, high up on deck- As we leave Mallorca at
sunset I step out on to a
platform surrounded on three
sides by three-quarter glass
walls. The waiter takes wine
orders as I watch the passing
coastline of Ibiza before we
sail into open sea towards the
Spanish mainland, suspended
above the ship’s wash. There’s
no fixed menu, with the chef
deciding on the courses — in
this case a seafood feast, with
oysters, giant prawns and
lobsters on huge sharing
plates, followed by steaks
and seared tuna, along with
veggie options. There’s a £40
supplemental charge, but it’s
worth it for the experience.
Eden is another spectacular
venue, serving as a bar,
lounge and restaurant. This
whimsical multideck area —
with yellow chairs resembling
flowers, a swing seat over
a wooden mushroom and
nature-themed decor —Jeannine Williamson hangs out with the in-crowd
aboard Celebrity Cruises’ coolest new vessel
APEX
overlooks the back of the ship
and has floor-to-ceiling sea
views. Plants from a living wall
are used to garnish intriguing
cocktails — given the setting,
I can’t resist the temptation of
“Forbidden”, a green-tinged
vodka, lemon juice and
apple-butter combination that
arrives in an apple-shaped
glass; it’s tangy and moreish.
Although there’s a very
good children’s club, Celebrity
Apex doesn’t have water
slides or outside facilities for
kids. With hundreds of pieces
of artwork and statement
features — including
irresistibly tactile pink ostrich
feather “trees” and a grown-up
hall of mirrors filled with
shimmering white sculptures— I suspect an oft-repeated
phrase for parents in charge of
small sailors would be “don’t
touch that”. The main appeal
of this sophisticated ship is for
couples or groups of friends.
The central Grand Plaza,
spanning three decks, is
a natural gathering spot,
particularly at night. Each
evening a light installation —
a seven-tonne LED chandelier
— bursts into a shimmering
display set to music, while
skilled bartenders juggle
cocktail shakers in the circular
martini bar below it.
I’m in for another surprise
when I try to offset some
cruising calories on the
running track. Jogging at sea is
usually akin to being a hamsterPlants from a living
wall are used to
garnish cocktails
LIFE
AT THE
on a horizontal wheel, going
round in small circles. Not
here, though — the path
traverses two decks and twists
through the rooftop garden.
This helps to keep me
motivated, and I soon find
myself looking forward to the
downhill section — clock up
four and a half laps and you’ll
have done a mile. Afterwards
I relax in a hot tub that
resembles a huge martini glass
on a slender stalk, gazing
down at the pool a deck below.
Alternatively, the huge gym
wrapped around the front ofthe ship gives any land-based
fitness centre a run for its
money. In addition to weight
and cardio equipment, there
are Peloton bikes and high-
intensity group classes, such
as boxing, which cost £15.
Celebrity Cruises has
teamed up with Gwyneth
Paltrow, appointing the Goop
founder as the line’s wellbeing
adviser. Her input includes
a special smoothie in the
Juice Bar, and if you book one
of the swish, wellness-geared
AquaClass cabins you’ll find
Goop-designed workouts and
meditation sessions on the
TV. Occupants of these cabins
also enjoy unlimited access
to the spa’s thermal suite,
a playground of saunas, steam
rooms and heated loungers, as
well as exclusive dining in Blu,
where healthier menu options
include zucchini carpaccio
and pan-seared red snapper.
Most nights I head to the
theatre, where the near-
circular stage is set against an
ever-changing, 180ft-wide LED
screen, and its offerings are
a far cry from the staid musical
revues that are showtime
staples on many ships. Tree of
Life is an elaborate production
with acrobats, singers and
dancers, and a centrepiece
tree with LED “leaves” that
change through the seasons,
culminating with a lifelike
snowfall. For Rockumentary
night there’s an interactive
preshow poll in which
audience members vote for
the closing number; Queen’s
We Wil l Ro ck Yo u smashes it.
I spend my last evening
back in Eden, where the
waitress asks whether I’d like
another Forbidden cocktail.
It’s an inviting prospect.Jeannine Williamson was
a guest of Celebrity Cruises.
Twelve nights from Amsterdam
to Rome — calling at Portugal,
Spain and France — on Celebrity
Apex, departing on September
11, 2022, costs from £2,029pp,
including flights, drinks, wi-fi
and tips (celebritycruises.com)MICHEL VERDURE; ALLARD1/GETTY IMAGEST
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