Eagerly anticipated billion-dollar Edge Series ship due to launch in April 2020

Celebrity Apex, the second of Celebrity Cruises Edge Series ships, returned to the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France after completing a successful sea trial in early February. Celebrity Cruises said the trial had far surpassed performance expectations.

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Celebrity Apex successful trial

The trial, conducted between February 4 – 8, in the Bay of Biscay near the shipyard, was overseen by more than 50 crew members, including engineers and nautical experts. Despite the optimal trial conditions, including strong winds and waves, the ship showcased a superior level of comfort and fuel efficiency thanks to the revolutionary design of the Parabolic Ultrabow.

“The purpose of a sea trial is to test the functionality of the ship, but this wasn’t just any sea trial – and Celebrity Apex isn’t just any ship,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises. “In typical Edge Series-fashion, the ship absolutely exceeded our expectations, performing perfectly in line with our above-and-beyond operating standards.”

“It was an absolute honor to stand at the helm of Celebrity Apex for her highly successful first sea trial,” said Celebrity Apex Captain Dimitris Kafetzis. “Celebrity Apex is truly a beautiful and highly advanced vessel.”

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The Apex is a a one-billion dollars ship

Built at a cost of over a billion dollars, the eagerly anticipated Celebrity Apex is the sister ship to the award-winning Celebrity Edge. Set to sail in April 2020, it will showcase a host of new features, such as Infinite Veranda where with the touch of a button a wall of glass slides down opening up your living space and creates a balcony over the water’s edge. The innovative design makes rooms with the feature 23 percent larger as the area that would have been taken up by a balcony becomes part of the living space.

For the ultimate in luxury, The Retreat is an all-suite forward deck extra large staterooms and private two-story villas with its own private pool, bar, sunbathing area, an exclusive lounge and private restaurant, the Luminae. Every suite guest gets their own dedicated butler and pre-cruise concierge services are provided.

Celebrity Apex, like the line’s first Edge Series ship, Celebrity Edge, features daring designs and distinctive features such as the Magic Carpet, where guests can eat drink on a deck that projects out of the ship’s side and soars up to 16 decks above the sea.

The ship will feature four main dining rooms: The Cosmopolitan with new American cuisine with global influences; The Normandie, a contemporary French restaurant; the Cyprus Restaurant, featuring Greek and Mediterranean fare; and the Tuscan Restaurant where you can find authentic southern Italian dishes. All told there are 29 restaurants, bars, and lounges to choose from, with cuisine designed by Michelin star chefs

A SPA with a ship

Celebrity Cruises describes the spa on the Celebrity Apex as “an indulgent escape where you can do it all.” The spa features an ultra-modern fitness center with floor-to-ceiling glass windows looking out over the sea; over 120 spa treatments, a Turkish Hammam, a salt room and a float room, to name a few.

Entertainment options set new standards with a theater featuring a -20-foot-tall, 117 million pixel, 4K LED screen that curves 180 feet around the stage to give a perfect view from every seat.

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Celebrity Apex cruise plan

Celebrity Apex will set sail around the Mediterranean this summer with cruises ranging from seven to an extra long 12 nights. (Photos Celebrity Cruises)

Celebrity Apex will begin its inaugural season on April 1, 2020, with a mini-season of five sailings to Northern European destinations and then spend the summer sailing seven-to-12-night cruises in the Mediterranean. In November, Celebrity Apex will head back to Fort Lauderdale for a winter season of week-long Caribbean sailings.

Celebrity Cruises has also partnered with Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop lifestyle brand and Academy award winning actress will be on board when the Celebrity Apex sails around the Mediterranean from on August 26 until September 6 for a floating wellness summit.