Such a easy factor. But, to me, it exhibits that Celebrity Cruises goals to please its passengers and pays consideration to what breakfast eaters need.
In the Celebrity Apex’s buffet restaurant, Oceanview Café, is a well-liked breakfast merchandise with an indication overtop it – Crispy Bacon. Great thought!
I’ve seen it occur so many instances on cruise ships the place a passenger within the breakfast buffet asks a crew member for crispy bacon. Then the crew member makes use of utensils to look by way of a giant tray of limply half-cooked bacon to search out the crispiest.
It was so refreshing to search out that Apex has a buffet part particularly devoted to well-cooked bacon. Those who like their bacon undercooked can actually discover it in Oceanview, too. But most people I noticed at my each day breakfast on the Apex had been heading for the Crispy Bacon possibility.
All in all, the meals on the brand new Celebrity Apex has been wonderful. The ship has so many fantastic eating places that even on my weeklong cruise, I gained’t have time to eat at each one in every of them. I’ll give a brief description of all of the eating places and add a bit extra details about these during which I dined. I already wrote a submit about my fantastic eating expertise at Le Petit Chef so gained’t go into that one once more.
Instead of getting one big fundamental eating room, the Apex has 4 smaller ones for a extra non-public eating expertise – Tuscan, Normandie, Cyprus and Cosmopolitan. Each of the 4 has its personal stunning design and particular dishes.
Then there are the specialty eating places which cost additional. I put a greenback signal $ subsequent to these eating spots. There are additionally two eating places which can be unique – Luminae for Retreat stateroom passengers and Blu for AquaClass stateroom passengers. For starters, let’s go to Oceanview Café the place some passengers select to eat virtually all their meals.
Oceanview Café
Seems like there may be meals being served in Oceanview virtually any time of the day. I’ve eaten each breakfast on my cruise to date in Oceanview. For one factor, the meals is nice. For one other, the floor-to-ceiling home windows supply superior ocean views. And, like in all places else on the ship, the service is improbable.
There’s additionally the plus in Oceanview that I don’t have to seem at a sure time. No reservations. Just stroll in after I’m hungry. That means passengers can have an early risers’ breakfast beginning at 6:30 a.m. or a late breakfast as much as 11:15 a.m.
For lunch and dinner, Oceanview usually has themed buffets – American, Taste of Germany,
Taste of France, Taste of Caribbean, Taste of Mexico, Italian Buffet, Taste of Asia and Extravaganza Buffet.
In Oceanview, passengers select what meals they need from the large buffet, then crew members serve the meals onto diner’s plates. In my opinion, that needs to be executed in all places on cruise ships, in buffet eating places and in grocery shops. I don’t purchase something from the grocery store salad bar in my hometown as a result of I’ve seen too many patrons use their fingers to select up a free chew or mess with the meals displayed to purchase. Yuck.
Also, when strolling into Oceanview, there are lengthy sinks for passengers to clean and dry their fingers. Great thought as a result of even when I washed my fingers simply earlier than I left my cabin, I nonetheless have touched handrails and different surfaces on my solution to Oceanview. Hand sanitizer stations are additionally helpful throughout the ship.
It took me a day or so to search out the pizza place. Doesn’t each cruise ship have a pizza stand? It’s at one finish of Oceanview Café on Deck 14. Same for the ice cream and frozen yogurt place. It’s at one other finish of Oceanview Café on Deck 14. A pleasant plus of the Apex ice cream is that they really make recent waffle cones. Very tasty.
A tip I all the time give first-time cruisers is to stroll all the buffet earlier than filling a plate. On a cruise one time, a passenger checked out my seafood laden plate and requested the place I obtained that. Seems she had stopped on the first meals stations within the buffet and would fairly have what was on my plate.
Luminae
Luminae is unique for Retreat passengers and it’s my favourite restaurant on Celebrity Apex. It is the place I ate lunch on my first day aboard the ship. When I advised Luminae waiter Sanjeev that I beloved the window seat the place he led me, Sanjeev made positive that’s the place I sat each time thereafter.
I’ve mentioned it earlier than however some cruise ships don’t prefer to seat a solo cruiser in a well-liked window seat as a result of two individuals may sit there as a substitute of 1. So, any time I’ve a considerate crew member like Sanjeev on Celebrity Apex, I actually respect it.
Of course, having a window seat will not be sufficient if the restaurant meals isn’t good. But Luminae meals is great. My favourite was the lobster roll for lunch. In truth, I had it twice for lunch. Dinner selections embody grilled filet mignon, Moroccan rooster, fettucine with calamari and shrimp, butter poached lobster, seared scallops, grilled barramundi and a lot extra.
Luminae has its personal particular cocktails together with Bourbon & Peaches with Maker’s Mark Bourbon, peaches, easy syrup and lemon; Spicy Passion with Ketel One Vodka, ardour fruit, lime and jalapeno; Wandering Scotsman with Bulleit Rye, demerara and scotch; and extra. Bourbon & Peaches was my decide and an excellent one.
Fine Cut Steakhouse $
The menu on this extra-charge restaurant gives a variety of alternative meats and premium seafood. I already knew the steak I wished, bone-in filet mignon. But it was the steak sauce that had me stumped. Would or not it’s béarnaise sauce, home steak sauce, creamy au poivre sauce, bordelaise sauce, chimichurri sauce, black truffle butter or Maytag blue cheese sauce?
So I requested for recommendation from my waiter Jelid. He positive didn’t steer me incorrect. Since I don’t like sizzling or spicy, Jelid instructed the home steak sauce. And it was good.
I additionally requested Jelid in regards to the aspect dishes and he instructed one I wouldn’t have picked however am so glad I did. Choices included smoked bacon mac & cheese, sautéed spinach, gruyere tater tots, grilled asparagus, parmesan truffle fries, roasted mushrooms and creamed spinach.
Jelid instructed the parmesan truffle fries. I normally don’t order fries however Jelid mentioned if I didn’t like them he would being me one thing else. I undoubtedly favored them. In truth, I cleaned my plate of all of the steak, potatoes and heirloom tomato caprese salad.
“I would give you a hug if I could,” Jelid mentioned when he noticed my empty plate. I had skipped lunch to be prepared for Fine Cut Steakhouse and it was undoubtedly price it.
Raw on 5 $
My Dad taught me to understand uncooked oysters after I was a baby. I’m positive he would have beloved Raw on 5. This Japanese restaurant gives costs a la carte, akin to steamed mussels ($11), pork stomach skewers ($11), shrimp stir fry ($10), salmon roll ($9) and way more.
I selected The Lotus with six oysters, three chilled shrimp and three crab claws $28. And the Alaskan California with snow crab, avocado, cucumber and roasted sesame seed ($10). Raw on 5 has a pleasant sake record. For dessert, I loved a Tokyo Rose cocktail made with Pure Snow Sake, vodka, triple sec and cranberry juice.
Café al Bacio
Although it’s not a restaurant, this was one in every of my favourite spots. On deck 4, Café al Bacio is an excellent place to have a dessert, cup of espresso or tea or a espresso cocktail. Sitting by a window, sipping a Speyside Latte (Macallan Scotch, Tia Maria Liqueur, espresso, easy syrup, milk and grated hazelnut) and listening to the dwell music within the Grand Plaza goes to be one in every of my finest Apex cruise recollections.
Cyprus Restaurant
Featuring a Mediterranean environment, the Cyprus menu focuses on seafood.
Cosmopolitan Restaurant
Fare right here is new American with worldwide influences.
Normandie Restaurant
Normandie options modern French delicacies in a contemporary upscale design.
Tuscan
With a contemporary classical design, Tuscan serves Italian impressed dishes that includes all selfmade pastas.
Blu
For AquaClass friends, Blu serves modern delicacies in a restaurant crammed with pure mild from giant home windows, plus loads of blue design colours. I took photographs of the gorgeous restaurant however didn’t dine there as a result of I wasn’t in AquaClass.
Rooftop Garden Grill $
A hidden gem, Rooftop Garden Grill is an open-air restaurant behind the ship on deck 15. Tables are surrounded by greenery and windscreens so napkins and salads don’t blow away. This specialty grill gives premium burgers, barbecue, pork ribs, steaks and extra.
Eden $
Sorry I didn’t get to this one however, as I mentioned, no method I can eat in any respect the Apex eating places on my seven-day cruise. I used to be advised by different passengers that Eden is a culinary expertise. I additionally didn’t make it to The Mast Grill, SpaCafe, Le Grand Bistro or The Magic Carpet.
Guess meaning I have to take one other Celebrity Apex cruise to see what I missed. Sounds good to me, a to-do record entry for 2022.
Photos by Jackie Sheckler Finch
- Blu has beautiful blue décor. (cowl picture)
- Shrimp is prepared for waiters to serve in Oceanview Café.
- Dining at Eden gives fantastic ocean surroundings.
- Heirloom tomato caprese at Fine Cut Steakhouse.
- Oceanview Café lives as much as its title with stunning ocean views.
- Strawberry cheesecake has a tasty presentation.
- A espresso cocktail at a Café al Bacio window seat is a favourite deal with.
See sailings right here Celebrity Apex Cruises (cruisecompete.com)
Celebrity Cruises | Celebrity Cruise Lines (cruisecompete.com)