Although we are not the target demographic (59 and 63) we did our first Celebrity cruise in April 2022 on Apex. Previously, our only cruise was RCCL Explorer of the Seas in 2011. I was very bored on the Explorer and thought the food was okay. They had the waterslides, rock walls, etc. but that is not our thing. I think that is why we waited so long to book another cruise.
Fast forward to the Apex - loved it. We enjoyed the shows, loved the World Class Bar to relax with a cocktail before dinner, and loved hanging out and dancing at the Martini Bar after dinner. We thought the food was very good and the service was outstanding at all venues except one of the main dining rooms. Our room attendant was fabulous. This was right after the re-start and the ship was probably 50-60% full.
We are going on Beyond in April in a Sunset Veranda cabin. I know the ship will be quite full, so it will be a totally different situation than the Apex. We are going in with open minds and I am sure we will enjoy our trip, because a lot of the time a vacation is what you make of it. We are not foodies or wine connoisseurs, we just enjoy good food and a nice glass of wine or good cocktail. We like a relaxed vibe and don't need to be moving at a lightening pace all day and night, which is why we feel cruising with Celebrity is a good fit for us. The ability to do as much or as little as you want is our preference.
I hope we enjoy our Beyond experience as much as we enjoyed Apex. Based on when we booked (over a year ago) the price was reasonable and it was with the all-included package. Got a great deal on an upgrade to the premium alcohol package a few months ago so that also was an added bonus.
We do not have many years of cruising experience, but we have enjoyed the product Celebrity puts out.