Celebrity Cruises has built a loyal following for its contemporary approach to premium cruising, combining the sophistication of small ships with the variety of experiences offered by larger vessels. The line's design-led fleet boasts a "boutique resort at sea" vibe that maintains a casual feel. And with sailings to nearly 300 destinations across all seven continents, finding the perfect Celebrity Cruises voyage is a breeze.
Dunedin, a city on New Zealand's South Island, has a rich history as a tourist destination. Founded by Scottish settlers in the 19th century, Dunedin's Victorian and Edwardian architecture, such as the iconic Dunedin Railway Station, draws visitors seeking a glimpse of its heritage. The city's proximity to stunning natural landscapes, including the Otago Peninsula and the Catlins, adds to its allure. Dunedin's vibrant arts scene, historic attractions like Larnach Castle, and renowned wildlife encounters, such as viewing yellow-eyed penguins, seal colonies, and albatrosses, make it a must-visit destination for travelers exploring New Zealand's South Island.
Day 6
Christchurch
Local culture in Christchurch is a unique mix of Maori heritage and British influence, reflected in everything from its cuisine to its traditions. Don't miss the chance to try classic Kiwi dishes like lamb roast and pavlova, washed down with a pint of locally brewed beer or a glass of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. And for a taste of true Kiwi hospitality, strike up a conversation with a localthey're known for their friendly and laid-back attitude. The best time to visit is during the spring and summer months, when the city comes alive with festivals and events. Keep an eye out for local favorites like the Christchurch Arts Festival and the Canterbury Agricultural Show, where you can experience the best of Kiwi culture and entertainment.
Day 7
At sea
Day 8
Tauranga
Day 9
Auckland
Known as the "City of Sails," Auckland boasts a vibrant waterfront and rich Maori heritage, providing a quintessential Kiwi experience. Explore the iconic Sky Tower, wander through bustling markets, and immerse yourself in Maori traditions at cultural centers like Te Puia. Sample local delicacies like fresh seafood, hangi feasts, and world-renowned wines, showcasing New Zealand's diverse culinary scene. With its stunning landscapes, friendly locals, and dynamic cultural offerings, Auckland captures the essence of New Zealand's spirit and serves as an ideal introduction to this captivating country.
Dunedin, a city on New Zealand's South Island, has a rich history as a tourist destination. Founded by Scottish settlers in the 19th century, Dunedin's Victorian and Edwardian architecture, such as the iconic Dunedin Railway Station, draws visitors seeking a glimpse of its heritage. The city's proximity to stunning natural landscapes, including the Otago Peninsula and the Catlins, adds to its allure. Dunedin's vibrant arts scene, historic attractions like Larnach Castle, and renowned wildlife encounters, such as viewing yellow-eyed penguins, seal colonies, and albatrosses, make it a must-visit destination for travelers exploring New Zealand's South Island.
Local culture in Christchurch is a unique mix of Maori heritage and British influence, reflected in everything from its cuisine to its traditions. Don't miss the chance to try classic Kiwi dishes like lamb roast and pavlova, washed down with a pint of locally brewed beer or a glass of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. And for a taste of true Kiwi hospitality, strike up a conversation with a localthey're known for their friendly and laid-back attitude. The best time to visit is during the spring and summer months, when the city comes alive with festivals and events. Keep an eye out for local favorites like the Christchurch Arts Festival and the Canterbury Agricultural Show, where you can experience the best of Kiwi culture and entertainment.
Known as the "City of Sails," Auckland boasts a vibrant waterfront and rich Maori heritage, providing a quintessential Kiwi experience. Explore the iconic Sky Tower, wander through bustling markets, and immerse yourself in Maori traditions at cultural centers like Te Puia. Sample local delicacies like fresh seafood, hangi feasts, and world-renowned wines, showcasing New Zealand's diverse culinary scene. With its stunning landscapes, friendly locals, and dynamic cultural offerings, Auckland captures the essence of New Zealand's spirit and serves as an ideal introduction to this captivating country.
New Outdoor Escapes. New Entertainment. New Dining. New Rooms. New Everything.
Welcome to the Renewed Celebrity Solstice. Your happy place is about to make you even happier, because we’ve introduced all-new experiences you’ve never seen before that make the classic ship you love completely new again. Renew your views with reinvented outdoor escapes that give you a whole new perspective on the world. Reignite date night with new restaurants and experiences that will bring you closer together than ever. Remix your routine with so many new things to do from day to night you’ll wish it took longer to get there. And reimagine your stay with newly updated rooms and more ways to make yourself at home miles at sea. Celebrity Solstice is the first of many classics to be made new again, so Nothing Comes Close to Celebrity Cruises. Ever.
I could not fault this cruise from start to finish. The Celebrity Apex is a wonderful ship, my favourite cruise line so far. The Fjords are truly breath taking and I would recommend this ship and itinerary.
Mini cruises from the UK are very popular and if you haven’t cruised before a great way to see what cruising is all about! My wife and I embarked on such a cruise from Southampton visiting Zeebrugge (for Bruges) and then right into the heart of Amsterdam onboard Celebrity Apex.
The Celebrity Apex ship is one of the Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Series. It launched in 2020, and this 130,818-ton vessel accommodates approximately 2,910 passengers offering an elegant, high-end experience with cutting-edge design, diverse dining options, and superb entertainment. With its innovative spaces, including the Magic Carpet and Infinite Veranda staterooms, Celebrity Apex redefines the traditional cruise experience, blending contemporary luxury with a laid-back, sophisticated atmosphere.
So what makes Celebrity Apex stand out:
Ship Design and Atmosphere
The ship boasts a sleek, modern aesthetic with a focus on open spaces, natural light, and great design. The ship interiors were designed by Kelly Hoppen, a renowned British designer known for her contemporary and inviting style. The neutral colour palette—blues, greys, and soft earth tones—gives the ship a boutique hotel feel. One of the most striking features is the Magic Carpet, a cantilevered platform that moves up and down the ship’s exterior, serving different purposes at different levels. It transforms into an al fresco dining area, a lounge, or an embarkation platform, depending on its position. This innovation not only adds to the ship’s futuristic look but also enhances the overall passenger experience.
The Resort Deck, featuring the main pool, martini glass-shaped hot tubs, and a solarium, is a beautifully designed space with plenty of room. The Rooftop Garden, a lush, plant filled retreat was one of our favourite places to relax in the sun, perfect for enjoying cocktails!
Accommodations: The Infinite Veranda and Suites
Celebrity Apex’s accommodations set a new standard for cruise ship cabins. The most notable innovation is the Infinite Veranda staterooms, which replace traditional balconies with floor-to-ceiling glass doors that can be opened at the touch of a button, essentially merging the balcony with the cabin’s interior. This design creates more space and creates an indoor-outdoor experience, we loved it!
For those seeking a more exclusive experience, The Retreat offers suite guests a private, all-inclusive experience with personalised butler service, a private restaurant (Luminae), and a secluded sundeck.
Dining
Dining on Celebrity Apex is a cruise highlight, with 29 restaurants, bars, and lounges offering a wide selection of cuisine.
The ship features four complimentary main dining rooms—Normandie, Tuscan, Cosmopolitan, and Cyprus—each with a distinct theme and specialty dishes. Instead of a traditional single main dining room, this setup offers more variety and a restaurant-like atmosphere.
The Oceanview Café is the buffet area which provides a vast selection of food. Room service is also available 24/7
Specialty dining options include:
• Le Petit Chef – We experienced this one evening and found it really good fun. A whimsical, animated dining experience where a tiny chef “prepares” your meal before the actual dish is served and your table is turned into a 3D cinema screen where the little chef entertains throughout your meal
• Fine Cut Steakhouse – A classic steakhouse offering premium cuts
• Eden Restaurant – A multi-sensory dining experience in a botanical-inspired setting.
• Raw on 5 – A sushi and seafood restaurant with ocean views and a fresh raw bar selection.
• Le Grand Bistro – A charming French bistro serving classic Parisian fare.
Entertainment and Activities
Celebrity Apex offers a wide entertainment line-up,
• Theatre Shows – The state-of-the-art theatre at the front of the ship features productions and aerial acrobatics. Check out the daily newsletter for the shows and timings
• Eden – This is a multi-use venue offering intimate performances, and live music in a stunning garden-inspired setting.
• The Club – A versatile venue that hosts everything from silent discos and live bands to trivia and game shows.
• Casino – A modern Vegas-style casino with slot machines, blackjack, poker, and roulette.
The Spa offers an impressive range of treatments, including a seaweed wrap, cryotherapy facials, and a thermal suite with steam rooms and saunas. The Fitness Centre is fully equipped with Peloton bikes, yoga classes, and personal training options.
Conclusion:
From my initial booking which I made over the phone to sailing onboard, Celebrity Apex offered a friendly and professional cruising experience. From restaurant waiters to housekeeping and concierge staff, we found the service exceptionally good.
With its stunning design and unique accommodations to gourmet dining and high-tech entertainment, Apex offers a top of the range cruise experience. Whilst it may not be the best fit for families with young children, it is perfect for travellers looking for a sophisticated and relaxed voyage whilst discovering a great choice of worldwide destinations.
We were totally blown away by the beauty of the Norwegian Fjords. They definitely stole a piece of my heart and I will be booking to go again. The itinerary with Celebrity cruises was amazing and the highlight was the stop in Olden where the scenery was magical. The Flam Railway was another highlight of the trip with the stop at the waterfalls being mesmerizing. Celebrity cruises are class. They are the nest cruise line we have travelled with.
Fantastic wildlife, fabulous scenery and quiet little towns cut off from the rest of the World. What a great way to spend seven days. Glaciers, bears, whales, Tingit culture and more combined with the comfort of a modern cruise ship. Top trip !
Lovely cruise from Rome around Italy and France. Bid for a room upgrade which we got, a balcony was nice as weather was good. The room was a family room but was only just big enough for 2 people so I don’t know how you would have fitted children in .Staff were all so lovely . The final invoice was for tips which was quite a lot 190 dollars per person per day, so 380 dollars. Also charged for drinks in mini bar which we didn’t have , 1 bottle of water and 1bottle of prosecco which was supposed to be complimentary . No response from query from final bill.
Overall a lovely cruise
Celebrity Millennium may be one of the smaller, older ships but it packs a punch in friendliness of the crew, and the most delicious food. In fact, 'delicious' became our word of the cruise - there wasn't a single meal where we weren't spoilt for choice, and when we couldn't choose, our waiter just brought us everything we fancied!
The entertainment was also great - the three production shows in The Theatre were fabulous, and the music around the ship was perfectly pitched for everyone on board.
The activity staff we met were friendly and enthusiastic - as we were cruising around Japan, there were several origami sessions which were great fun!
We had a balcony cabin on Deck 9 - great position for going up to the Oceanview Cafe or Spa Cafe for breakfast - or to the pool, which was the perfect temperature for a proper swim! Or how about watching a film outdoors, under a fleecy blanket to keep warm.
One of my favourite places on any Celebrity ship is Cafe al Bacio on Deck 5 and it was as inviting as ever on Celebrity Millennium - how the crew remember your drink of choice after just one visit always amazes me!
Our 12-night cruise sailed from Yokohama,Tokyo and visited Shimizu, Osaka (overnight), Kochi, Hiroshima, Busan, Hakodate and Aomori - the only thing that could have improved it would be to have a couple more sea days (we had 3) as it's a full-on itinerary and we needed to recharge our batteries!
We did everything on our own - Japan is exceptionally clean and very easy to navigate by public transport, which is cheaper than we are used to in London - and the Japanese people are incredibly welcoming to tourists. It definitely wasn't necessary to book any ship excursions.
So, my abridged version of my review would be... book it, the ship is great and Japan is a wonderful country to visit!
