It started with an English garden party themed sailaway around the pool with an Olympic athletes display and Beatles tribute band. The president opened the proceedings, copious quantities of champagne, sparkling English wine and Pimms were provided, accompanied by canapes including dainty cones of fish and chips and towers of macrons. The party was whipped into a frenzy by two enthusiastic cruise directors and the warm sunny weather was perfect as we sailed away past the IOW towards Zeebruges.
We had visited most of the destinations before, but the fjords never dissappoint whatever the weather and on this cruise we had everything from warm sunshine to wind and snow.
The entertainment was better than average with speciality acts from Eagles tribute rock band to Las Vegas magician jetted in from the US for the occasion. The resident Celebrity cast entertained in the theatre, the club, Eden and the grande plaza, while the silent disco, Abba singalong and the nightly Martini bar show are established favourites now.
The chocolate extravaganda evening provided an opportunity for the chefs to show their skills creating a giant chocolate model of the Apex and dresssing live manikins in costumes decorated with chocolate. Belgium chocolates, dipped strawberries. tiffins and macrons complimented the chocolate themed cocktails. The President, chef Daniel Boulan and assorted executives mingled with the guests to provide a photo opportunity by the chocolate Apex and with the manikins.
We ate in three of the main restaurants, Normandie was our favourite, where we quickly made friends with Dewi, Ali and March our table attendants. The food was excellent, as was the service and we enjoyed more than our fair share of some gourmet standard dishes.
We made the most of our Elite status to take breakfast in Tuscany restaurant but Ocean view buffet was also excellent and did a superb sea food buffet on the last sea day. Eden at the stern of the ship was our favoured cocktail destination and Cafe al Bacio served us countless coffees and cakes.
On most evenings Captains club members received a gift, so we came home with scarves, water bottles, beannie hats and socks.
The weather was good in Olden, Stavanger and Alesund and we did excursions to the Briksdal glacier, the youngsters took a ride on a RIB to the iconic Pulpit rock and we rode the little train to the Mount Aksla viewpoint respectively. Geiranger was close to freezing with a mix of sunny intervals and showers, even snow on the hills, for a close pass of the seven sisters waterfall. Unfortunately the weather was not good enough for the scheduled late night deck party and drone display as we left for Alesund.
It would be difficult to better this cruise and as Celebrity slogan reads - 'Nothing comes close'.
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