Celebrity Apex Cruise Ship Review: Every Restaurant, Venue & Insider Planning Secret

In this full-week vlog, we experience everything the ship and Norway have to offer—from dining at Eden, Le Petit Chef, and Fine Cut Steakhouse to taking a helicopter flight over the fjords, renting an car in Nordfjord, and exploring the stunning island gardens of Flor & Fjære in Stavanger.

Summary: Celebrity Apex feels more like a modern, upscale hotel than a traditional cruise ship. It’s geared mostly toward adults, swapping loud waterparks for chill spots like the leafy Eden lounge, the central Grand Plaza, and the over-water Magic Carpet bar. Instead of one massive dining room, you get four smaller included restaurants, plus a great buffet and a fantastic café. The theater shows are amazing and the Wi-Fi is fast, but keep in mind that the balcony cabins have a drop-down window instead of an outside space you can step onto, and some of the indoor venues can get a bit crowded.

What Are the Public Spaces & Layout Like on Celebrity Apex?

Stepping onto Celebrity Apex feels less like boarding a cruise ship and more like checking into a modern hotel. The ship holds around 2,900 guests and 1,320 crew. The design is art-focused with unique sculptures, sharp contemporary artwork, and interesting design choices throughout.

The Grand Plaza is the central atrium space across Decks 3, 4, and 5, with a huge Martini Bar in the middle that hosts the popular flair bartenders. The space modern and comfortable with cozy seats, dark woods, and soft lighting. Around this area, you will find many of the specialty restaurants, cafes, and bars.

Towards the back is the unique Eden, a bright space featuring massive three-story windows, colorful seating, and lush green foliage. It is a space you can easily miss if you stick to the middle of the ship, but it is entirely worth visiting—especially on sea days and evenings at sunset.

Outside, the top decks flow very well between the indoor Solarium, outdoor pools, and the popular Rooftop Garden. The Sunset Bar at the very back lacks the updated multi-level decor found on the newer sister ships (like Celebrity Beyond and Ascent), which is a slight shame, but hopefully, it will be upgraded in a future refit.

Which Bars and Lounges Are Onboard?

Cafe al Bacio: Our absolute favorite and top daytime hangout. Located right off the Grand Plaza, it serves paid-for barista coffees (the iced oat lattes are superb) alongside complimentary cakes, cookies, and light savory bites that change throughout the day.
Eden Bar: A three-story, glass-enclosed space at the aft of the ship filled with real greenery and sweeping ocean views. It is easily one of the best spaces at sea for a daytime chill-out or evening cocktail.
The Club: A two-story venue designed for game shows, trivia, late-night parties, and guest acts. While versatile, The Club feels drastically undersized when popular events are hosted. If you arrive late for a show, seating fills fast and sightlines from the upper level are frustratingly poor.
Sunset Bar & Magic Carpet: Perfect outdoor watering holes. The Magic Carpet—an orange platform suspended over the side of the ship—serves as an elevated bar space with unbeatable ocean vantage points.

How Good Is the Entertainment & Recreation Onboard?

Celebrity Apex genuinely delivers some of the best production entertainment we have seen across our over 100 cruises.

What Main Theatre Shows Can You See?

The main Theatre features a massive curved LED background screen and a stage extending into the audience. You do not need reservations for any of the shows, and the theatre is so large, you will not struggle to get a seat.

Rockumentary: A high-energy rock concert celebrating iconic hitmakers. We liked the live band and the impressive vocals.
Tree of Life: A visually rich, colorful production featuring a giant tree centerpiece set and powerhouse vocals.
Crystallize: The absolute standout production show. Blends pop-violinists, aerialists, acrobats, and a full live band into a phenomenal, must-see performance.

What Other Entertainment & Shows Are Available?

Shine the Night: Celebrity's main celebration party hosted on the pool deck, or when cruising colder itineraries (like our Norwegian Fjords cruise), in the Grand Plaza atrium. Expect glowing batons, live performers on multiple decks, and high energy. Bring something shiny to wear.
The Club Parties & Games: Features live ABBA sing-alongs, a production show called Caravan, game shows, and late-night guest comedians.
Eden: Regularly features live acoustic music and an interactive production that blends music with acrobatics and dance.

What Are the Daytime Activities and Kids Clubs Like?

During the day the actives are a little more relaxed than you find on other cruise lines. You can expect bingo, general knowledge trivia in The Club, and the popular talks in the main theatre. The talks changes depending on the cruise. On our sailing the Cruise Director Arron did a talk about life working on a ship which was fascinating.

There is lots of music around the ship including acoustic sets at Eden and a live band in the atrium.

There are no massive water slides or go-kart tracks here—entertainment is aimed heavily at adults. Despite this there is a kids programme called Camp at Sea. It offers actives like gaming and art split across distinct age groups.

What Dining Is Included on Celebrity Apex?

Unlike standard cruise ships with one large main dining hall, Apex breaks its included dining into four distinct themed restaurants.

Top Tip: The main menus are all exactly the same, except for a small selection of exclusive dishes tailored to that specific restaurant. Some are always more popular than others, but it doesn't matter where you dine. We always go for their quietest option. They all share the same kitchen, so you can always request an exclusive dish from one of the other venues!

Beyond the included food, there is a big selection of extra-charge specialty restaurants. The prices of these vary, but we recommend if you want to enjoy more than one you pre-book a Specialty Dining Package before your cruise.

Dining Venue	Included / Paid	What It Is & Our Thoughts
Cosmopolitan Restaurant	Included	American with global influences. Our thoughts: A brilliant spot for a calm, civilized sit-down breakfast—the French cheese omelette and sauteed mushrooms were superb.
Cyprus Restaurant	Included	Mediterranean and Greek-inspired dishes. Our thoughts: We loved the Mezze platter and stuffed vine leaves here; really fresh, tangy flavours.
Tuscan Restaurant	Included	Southern Italian classics. Our thoughts: The spaghetti carbonara easily rivalled extra-charge specialty Italian venues on other ships!
Normandie Restaurant	Included	Contemporary French cuisine offering upscale, romantic European classics.
Oceanview Cafe (Buffet)	Included	The main ship buffet. Our thoughts: One of the best buffets at sea right now, featuring massive cheese boards, brilliant Indian curries, and great evening theme spreads.
Spa Cafe	Included	Healthy light bites and smoothies (smoothies cost extra). Our thoughts: Great for a quiet breakfast, and the included espresso machine coffee here is much better than the standard buffet drip coffee.
Eden Cafe	Included	A hidden gem at the back of the ship offering complimentary breakfast bites, fresh paninis, and salads in a bright, leafy space.
Mast Grill	Included	The classic poolside grill serving up fresh burgers, hot dogs, and fries for a quick bite in the sun.
Scoops	Included	Poolside ice cream and gelato bar. Our thoughts: The peanut butter gelato and soft serve were absolute winners on a hot sea day.
Le Petit Chef	Extra Charge	Interactive 3D table animation dinner. Our thoughts: Fantastic fun for the family, and the Beef Wellington was incredibly tender and perfectly cooked.
Rooftop Garden Grill	Extra Charge	Al fresco BBQ and smoked meats. Our thoughts: Eating outside while watching the sunset was beautiful; the BBQ ribs and fresh-baked skillet cookie were absolutely banging.
Fine Cut Steakhouse	Extra Charge	Premium cuts of meat and fresh seafood served in a sleek, upscale environment overlooking the Grand Plaza.
Raw on 5	Extra Charge	Sushi, sashimi, and fresh seafood with a vibrant, bustling atmosphere right near the Martini Bar.
Eden Restaurant	Extra Charge	An experiential, multi-course tasting menu featuring an open kitchen and stunning wake views at the aft of the ship.
Café al Bacio	Pastries Free / Drinks Paid	The main coffee house. Our thoughts: The cakes and fresh muffins here are top-tier, and the specialty espresso hits the spot perfectly.
Craft Social	Extra Charge	A bustling, relaxed pub offering craft beers, cocktails, and upscale comfort bar bites.

How Are the Cabins & Staterooms Designed?

Cabins on Celebrity Apex are clean, modern and spacious. Apex features Celebrity's signature infinite veranda layout. Instead of a traditional step-out balcony, a bi-fold window drops down at the touch of a button to transform your whole room into a sun porch. Read our full Celebrity Apex Cabin Review here.

The Retreat is the Suite Class. There are different types of suites ranging in size. We previously sailed in the cheapest suite - a Magic Carpet suite on the Celebrity Xcel. All Retreat suites have access to Luminae (a private restaurant), a private sun deck, lounge, and dedicated concierge services. You can read our full guide to The Retreat on Celebrity Cruises: What’s Included & Is It Worth the Upgrade.

How Reliable Is the App and Wi-Fi?

The Celebrity Cruises App: Hands-down one of the best apps in the cruise industry. You can complete your safety muster drill on your phone, view and save your daily schedule, view you bill, and review menus.
Onboard Wi-Fi: Speeds are fast and we could access the Wifi access the whole ship.

What Is the General Guest Crowd Like?

Celebrity Apex primarily attracts adults, couples, and friendship groups generally ranging from 35 to 70+. It is ideal for cruisers who prefer stylish lounges, live theatre, fine dining, and relaxation over rowdy pool deck parties or rollercoasters. You will see far fewer small children compared to Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line, or NCL especially outside the school holidays.

What Are the Pros & Cons of Celebrity Apex?

PRO: High-end, resort-style decor that avoids typical cruise design clichés.
PRO: Production shows in the main Theatre (Crystallize) are phenomenally executed.
PRO: Outstanding food quality in both complimentary main dining rooms and specialty venues.
PRO: Cafe al Bacio offers unmatched coffee shop culture at sea with free snacks.
CON: Some venue capacities (like The Club) are too small for major events, leading to standing crowds.
CON: Infinite Verandas are divisive—some cruisers really miss having a traditional step-out balcony.

Post-Level FAQ

Is food at Cafe al Bacio included on Celebrity Apex?

Yes, all cakes, pastries, cookies, and savory sandwiches at Cafe al Bacio are completely free. You only pay for specialty coffees, teas, or alcoholic beverages if you do not hold a beverage package.

How does main dining work on Celebrity Apex?

Instead of one massive dining room, Apex features four smaller, distinct themed main dining rooms (Normandy, Tuscan, Cosmopolitan, and Cyprus). Guests can eat at any of them for free using flexible seatings.

Is Celebrity Apex suitable for families with children?

While Celebrity Apex offers an excellent "Camp at Sea" kids program, the ship layout leans heavily toward couples and adults seeking upscale relaxation rather than high-energy waterparks or thrill rides.

Is Wi-Fi included on Celebrity Apex, and how fast is it?

Basic Wi-Fi is included on select All-Included fares, but the standalone Premium Wi-Fi package uses SpaceX Starlink technology. It costs roughly $200–$250 per week and easily supports video streaming, YouTube uploads, and remote work at sea. Don’t expect land speeds thought. Even with Starlink some actives can be throttled or affected by poor weather.

What drinks are free on Celebrity Apex if you don't buy a package?

Complimentary beverages include iced tea, lemonade, regular drip coffee, tea, fruit juices, and tap water available in the Oceanview Cafe buffet and Spa Cafe. Premium espresso drinks, sodas, and alcohol require individual payment or a purchased beverage package.