Standing in front of an MSC Seashore elevator, I counted the numbers twice. I was not going to deck 17 but was curious as to why no number 17 was listed. I checked on another nearby elevator. Same thing. No deck 17. A passing crew member explained that mystery to me. In Italy, he said, the number 17 is an unlucky number. Like the number 13 in the United States is thought to bring bad luck. That …
A mechanical Lucky Cat waves her paws on the front counter as two sushi chefs prepare fresh delicacies and place them in domed dishes on a moving conveyor belt. I watch all the dishes pass by me before choosing the ones I want at Kaito Sushi Bar. I know in my cruising years I have sometimes ordered an appetizer or entrée from one of the ship restaurants and, when it arrived, it didn’t look at all like …
When my daughter Kelly asked what I like about my cabin on the new MSC Seashore, I heard her discreetly giggle at my answer. Of course, I love the balcony with the two chairs and table. I’m sure I will spend much time out there watching the ocean roll. The queen-size bed is quite comfy and placed next to balcony doors so I can better view the ocean when I fall asleep at night and awaken in …
The Statue of Liberty raises her arm in welcome. Times Square billboards glow with dazzling lights. Dining rooms boast names like Manhattan, Central Park, Tribeca and 5th Avenue. Then there’s the Long Island Pool. The new MSC Seashore definitely has a New York vibe and is an astoundingly elegant ship. But that’s just the beginning of what this lovely ship offers. Even though I have just stepped onboard, I can see why people are choosing to cruise …
Such a simple thing. But, to me, it shows that Celebrity Cruises aims to please its passengers and pays attention to what breakfast eaters want. In the Celebrity Apex’s buffet restaurant, Oceanview Café, is a popular breakfast item with a sign overtop it – Crispy Bacon. Great idea! I’ve seen it happen so many times on cruise ships where a passenger in the breakfast buffet asks a crew member for crispy bacon. Then the crew member uses …
Lights dim in Le Grand Bistro restaurant aboard the Celebrity Apex and my dinner show begins. Right on the dining room table in front of me, a tiny chef prepares a four-course meal in a delightful presentation called “Le Petit Chef & Family Cooking Through the Seasons.” Le Petit Chef is the brainchild of Skullmapping, an artists’ collective that specializes in 3D projections. It began as a land-based offering before hitting the high seas with Celebrity. During …
What was the first instrument Jimi Hendrix learned how to play and who gave it to him? Also, who designed the logo for the famous rock group Queen? I didn’t know the answers to either of those questions until I attended the “Rockumentary” show aboard the Celebrity Apex. The daily ship bulletin describes the production as being a chance to relive epic performances that have defined decade after decade of rock and roll. That it was. But, …
Overheard: Heading ashore in Cozumel from my Celebrity Apex cruise ship, I heard a passenger from the Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas docked nearby ask a question of our security guard. “What is that strange device on the side of your ship?” I listened for the answer, although I already knew what it was. “It’s called The Magic Carpet,” the security guard answered. “It can move up and down to be used for different things.” Positioned on …
When I boarded the Celebrity Apex in Fort Lauderdale and headed to my stateroom, a crew member greeted me with, “Welcome to paradise.” He wasn’t far wrong. The new Apex is a beauty and my stateroom in the Retreat on deck 10 is mighty grand. Room 10140 has a queen-sized bed, nightstands, large interactive TV, bedside phone, safe, desk, chair, sofa, roomy closet and drawer space, slippers and robe and a refrigerator stocked with complimentary soft drinks, …
Celebrity’s newest spectacular ship has the perfect name. Apex. Meaning the highest point, the peak, the summit, the Celebrity Apex is all this and more. Because of COVID-19, it took 581 days longer than anticipated for the Apex to arrive in U.S. ports. The vessel’s launch was originally planned for late March 2020. Instead, Apex kicked off its inaugural Caribbean cruise in November, setting sail from Fort Lauderdale for the ship’s official naming ceremony by godmother Reshma …
Heidi, Editor-In-Chief
