On location: PAX, agents explore Celebrity Apex in Fort Lauderdale at NA inaugural sailing

Described as the “next game-changing, innovative ship to push modern travel to bold new heights” and “world’s most anticipated new-luxury cruise ship”, Celebrity Apex is being inaugurated today (Nov. 2) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, exactly 582 days after her debut in Southampton, England.

PAX will be on the scene for the the ship's official naming ceremony before she starts her first Caribbean season.

Celebrity Cruises has chosen Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of international non-profit Girls Who Code, as godmother of Apex.

The 1,467-room, chic and modern Apex – which is almost identical to the first-in-class Celebrity Edge, which debuted in 2018 – was scheduled to sail in April 2020, but due to the pandemic, her debut, like many projects last year, was postponed.

Apex made her official world debut in Greece this past summer on June 19, 2021. 

READ MORE: Celebrity Apex begins maiden voyage in the Aegean

This week, Canadian travel advisors and media have been flocking to Florida to participate in two separate two-night sailings on board Apex to experience the ship and celebrate her arrival in North America. 

“To say that we are excited to have the Apex finally being inaugurated in North America is an understatement," Allan Brooks, director of market sales for Canada at Celebrity Cruises, told PAX. "Celebrity Cruises was honoured to have been the first ship sailing out of the U.S. and now to have her sister follow suit is remarkable." 

"This is truly the restart of the cruise industry and we cannot wait to share this moment with our valued travel partners." 

READ MORE: Brenda Lynne Yeomans reports from Celebrity Apex in Greece

Brooks said he is very happy to have Canadian partners and guests back onboard. 

"We have worked so closely throughout and this will, no doubt, be an emotional experience for everyone," he said. 

The Apex of new luxury

Celebrity Apex's distinctive features include the "floating" Magic Carpet cantilevered off the ship's side inviting guests to eat, drink and soar up to 16 decks above the sea.

The Apex also offers an all-exclusive experience for suite guests in The Retreat; dramatically expanded staterooms with Infinite Verandas; epic indoor and outdoor garden escapes; magnificent two-story Edge Villas with their own private terrace and plunge pool; and high-style spaces throughout public areas, keeping focus on the contemporary design elements that are a highlight of the Edge Series of ships.

Stay tuned as PAX brings you in-depth updates from the ship in Florida! 

For more on Celebrity Apex, click here.

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