Meet our competition winner | Terry and Margaret’s Mediterranean adventure with Celebrity Apex
Do you wonder what it’s like to embark on an exciting cruise adventure aboard Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Apex? Recently, a couple of Iglu Cruise customers were fortunate enough to enjoy a sensational Mediterranean cruise aboard Celebrity Apex after winning one of our exciting competitions. Sailing from Southampton to destinations like Gibraltar, Cagliari, and Rome, Terry and Margaret spent 13 nights aboard Celebrity Cruises’ impressive Edge-class cruise ship and are now sharing their thoughts on their experience.
A cruise line renowned for offering travellers incredible cruise getaways to some of the world’s most spectacular destinations and bucket-list holiday hotspots, Celebrity Cruises’ fleet utilises the latest technology to deliver an unforgettable onboard experience with sensational cuisine, engaging entertainment, and stylish interiors ideal for unwinding during sea days. To say Mediterranean cruises aboard Celebrity Apex are exciting would be an understatement, but read on to find out what Terry and Margaret thought about their experiences onboard and ashore.
We’ll also touch on a few highlights onboard Celebrity Apex; this should help you get an even better sense of the sort of experiences you can expect to enjoy when you embark on your own Celebrity Apex adventure.
The itinerary, from Southampton on Celebrity Apex
After spending the night before their cruise in a hotel near Southampton, and then getting a pre-paid taxi from the hotel to the cruise terminal on the day of departure, Terry and Margaret embarked on Celebrity Apex for almost two weeks of incredible adventure around the Mediterranean. Staying in a spacious Veranda Stateroom, which features a comfortable king-sized bed, a stylish interior decor, and outside space perfect for admiring stunning ocean views, the first stop on their sailing was Gibraltar.
Below, you’ll find a day-by-day rundown of the itinerary they had the chance to enjoy.
- Day One - Leaving Southampton
- Day Two - At Sea
- Day Three - At Sea
- Day Four - Gibraltar
- Day Five - At Sea
- Day Six - Villefranche-sur-Mer
- Day Seven - La Spezia
- Day Eight - Portofino
- Day Nine - Civitavecchia (for Rome)
- Day Ten - Cagliari
- Day Eleven - At Sea
- Day Twelve - Cádiz
- Day Thirteen - Arriving in Southampton
For a little more detail on what Terry and Margaret were up to during their time aboard Celebrity Apex, and ashore exploring these remarkable destinations, here’s what they had to say about their experience.
On arriving in Gibraltar and taking a cable car to visit a nature reserve…
“ It was a great experience and we had no problem with the monkeys… It would have been nice to have had longer there!”
On stopping at La Spezia…
“ We had booked an excursion [with] Celebrity to visit the Cinque Terre. It was a lovely day, as we boarded a coach to Portovenere and spent some time there before boarding a ferry to take us around the Cinque Terre villages. We enjoyed time sailing along the coast before coming ashore and returning by train. We would highly recommend this excursion.”
On visiting Portofino while the sun was shining…
“ [It was] a busy day in the town as there was a Swimathon on, and they had some famous guests arriving in the harbour. Steven Spielberg’s yacht was moored with Michelle Obama onboard… A lovely town to explore with beautiful buildings.”
On spending some time to explore Cagliari in Sardinia…
“ We decided to explore the city and chose an electric minibus tour of the Old City. It was a great experience as the driver [and] guide was very knowledgeable. We visited the Cathedral, with time to go inside and appreciate the architecture, then on to view the city from above.”
On calling at Cádiz, the final stop on the sailing…
“ We had booked a walking tour of Cádiz, taking in the Cathedral and Bell Tower. [It’s] a beautiful city that we would like to revisit.”
During days at sea, Terry and Margaret spent some time soaking up the serene atmosphere in the Solarium, enjoying the refined dining experiences available in the main restaurants onboard, and relaxing between shore excursions.
What was cruising on Celebrity Apex like?
If you’re wondering what an adventure aboard Celebrity Apex is really like, Terry and Margaret have had this to say:
“ [Celebrity Apex] is a lovely ship with excellent facilities, and the staff are a credit to [Celebrity Cruises]. We dined in the four main restaurants, and also enjoyed some lovely evenings in the Rooftop Garden Grill on Deck 15.
“ The Rooftop Garden Grill is in a lovely setting and the staff are excellent. We took clothes to dress up on the Chic Nights; although this is not as popular as on other cruise lines, we enjoyed it. The shows were very good in the evenings and provided a great mix of entertainment; the cruise director did an excellent job throughout. ”
Top highlights aboard Celebrity Apex
It’s safe to say that there’s a lot to look forward to when it comes to cruising aboard Celebrity Apex. Below, to help you get more of a sense of what to expect when you embark, we’re going to run through a few of the highlights – be those impressive entertainment venues, restaurants that serve sensational food, or engaging activities everyone can enjoy.
Raw on 5
An elegant, refined restaurant boasting a sensational selection of fresh, authentically-prepared sushi and Japanese specialties, Raw on 5 is the best place onboard for Japanese cuisine. Whether you’re looking for hand-made sushi rolls or the indulgent simplicity of salmon sashimi, an evening meal in Raw on 5 is worth looking forward to. You’ll even find wasabi gelato on the menu here, a dish that’s unlike anything else out there.
Rooftop Garden Grill
A venue Terry and Margaret spent some of their evenings during their Mediterranean cruise aboard Celebrity Apex, the Rooftop Garden Grill is a casual outdoor restaurant where you can indulge in flavourful BBQ-style dishes. Found in the wider Rooftop Garden, a living urban playscape with plenty of places to sit and relish in the relaxing atmosphere, you’ll find everything from signature burgers and chicken BLTs to hickory-smoked brisket and grilled seafood kabobs on the menu here. It’s somewhere where you can enjoy gourmet iterations of familiar favourites and treat yourself to some of the best views onboard.
Eden
Eden is a stunning multi-storey space onboard, boasting a restaurant and bar, with plenty of comfortable seating options. From the bar, you can enjoy a wonderful selection of carefully crafted cocktails, all of which match the laid-back atmosphere you’ll encounter here. Meanwhile, in the restaurant area, you’ll have the chance to indulge in fresh food from menus that feature everything from Atlantic Salmon and short rib wellington to Nova Scotia lobster casserole and sheep’s milk gnocchi.
Solarium
A laid-back area where Terry and Margaret spent some of their time during their sea days aboard Celebrity Apex, the adults-only Solarium is a relaxing retreat ideal for anyone wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of the ship’s other outdoor areas. Home to a pool, hot tubs, and plenty of luxurious sun loungers, the Solarium boasts a perfectly serene atmosphere ideal for unwinding – and topping up your tan ahead of your next adventure ashore.
The Club
Whether you’re an early riser or a night owl, The Club is the perfect place to visit if you’re looking for engaging activities and interesting entertainment. A multi-purpose venue that’s used to host everything from archery classes and interactive DJ sessions to rehearsed stage productions and live music performances, there’s always something to look forward to here.
Terry and Margaret’s final verdict on Celebrity Apex?
Wondering how Terry and Margaret feel about their Mediterranean escape aboard Celebrity Apex? Here’s their final verdict, and it’s certainly a positive one:
“ It was our first Celebrity cruise and we would definitely consider going with them again. Thank you very much… We had a lovely time aboard Celebrity Apex.”
Book an adventure aboard Celebrity Apex with Iglu Cruise today
If hearing about Terry and Margaret’s wonderful experience exploring the Mediterranean with Celebrity Cruises has inspired you to book your own getaway, be that one with Celebrity Apex or another one of the fantastic cruise ships in the Celebrity Cruises fleet, you’re in the right place. You’ll find the latest Celebrity Apex cruises right here, and current Celebrity Cruises deals here. Whether you’re planning on travelling solo, with your family, or otherwise, adventures aboard Celebrity Cruises are not to be missed.
Although, if you’re looking for a little more travel inspiration – and information about Celebrity Cruises – you’ll find more interesting blogs from the Iglu Cruise team below: