Bimmer09

Tough getting a longer this morning... A great innovation It's not going to be a money spinner in this cold weather alas. hardy swimmers I grabbed a coffee from the buffet on this deck and visited the pool deck smoking section which is up a flight of steps which is where the pool photo was taken from While relaxing I was startled by a death-throws cough that lasted for 3 minutes at a terrific volume. There was a hidden woman about 50 feet away hidden by the shrubbery. I caught Covid after disembarking from my last cruise and am familiar with that cough. As I left I went over to her to see if she was ok (keeping my distance) and mentioned the possibilty of Covid and my experience and suggesting a test. "I don't have Covid" she spat back-but how do you know was the thought bubble above my head as I walked away? We carry some self-tests with us just in case.

Eden Cafe for breakfast. Danilo from Eden is the host. I had me another parfait and a cup of Joe. Plus some OJ (not Simpson) Carol enjoyed her Bacon egg and cheese Panini, parfait, cinnamon bun and a fruit bowl. She will get her coffee-a latte with an extra shot at Bacio for $7.80. She will repair to her Eden ramp for peace and quiet but that ends when the Captain's reception gets underway after half an hour of Zen. He gave the pax count as 2200 with 1300 captain's Club members. 900 new to X!! I'm going up on deck. I mean , how windy can it be?

I couldn't resist the reflection on the table Craft Social bar Breakfast then I'll check out the Magic Carpet...

I'm sure there is a check in the mail! Just tell Danilo the MD that I sent you. Mr Adair or Sir Norris as the staff might know me. Cheers (and you've made a great decision!) Norris

Sea Day June 8 Good morning! To the buffet full speed for coffee. The hand washing station. Coffee obtained. Back into elevator. To deck 5 I have to walk through this art installation which plays new age zen music as you pass through Pass this guy in the smoking section and take up my early morning station This is our last day before we see Iceland. I'm meeting Carol at 9 in Eden Cafe. They draw a curtain over the kitchen until it opens I'll have some time to wander around and take random photos while the rooms are quiet Norris

EDITOR'S NOTE If you want to see things in detail-like how many martinis is that guy pouring? you could click on the picture and it will show you the original on Flickr where I keep them. Another right click and you'll see it magnified. I am using a MacBook Air- Hope it works the same on any computer. Norris

Walking from the show back to the aft elevators we came upon a Martini show down below Amazing! The clocks go back an hour again as we cross another time zone. Time for bed.

Hi, the meal was billed as $0.00(paid for 3 months prior), the wines by the glass extra- I think $14 plus 20% (or $16.80) I have often bought bottles on board at dinner but always had an issue waiting for them to be found from the last place I drank from them so now just buy a glass at a time and never drink more than 2 at a sitting. The bottles are usually 4 to 5 times the price you pay back on Earth so the markup is like the wine-delicious for the cruise line. The pours were generous. Norris

One of the many things we love about cruising is that after a remarkable meal in surroundings that don't exist on land and with giant windows where the sea is unfolding into the distance as you watch the wake at 20 mph is that you can get up from the table and have a myriad of options for what comes next; a hot cocoa and an early night? A night in the Casino? A bar with a good band? A game of cards with some new friends from a country you've never been to? A walk around a beautiful ship? Some shopping? Watch the Martini show? Walk 1,000 feet (no taxis) along wide boulevards to a state of the art theater where you don't have to pay to get in and see a really good act? What did we choose? Our CD Shawna, a tall Canadian lass with no off-switch (energy plus) introduces a trio from New York City who will take us down a Motown memory lane with nifty choreography, tight harmonies, a lot of wit and some schtick (they don't need) with an audience member. You will probably know all the words to the classic hits from yesterday (meaning from long ago-not the day before today) They are called Uptown. They are backed by the superb Apex house band which has the best brass section we've ever heard on a ship. The sound is crystal clear and punchy. Your toes will tap. Shawna thanks the superb band I just had my 70mm lens with me so couldn't get close ups to share. This band was so good that next time I would bring a zoom lens and a camcorder. I am doubtful that YouTube will allow the video due to copyright issues but I'll try... Art surprises are everywhere on this ship

Maris, you know how hard it can be to make food look good with a camera and lights and a spray bottle. I gave up trying in real time with the DSLR as my food was always getting cold, lol (not a laughing matter). So I switched to just the iPhone and it isn't one the size of a roof tile. This food comes to the table ready for its close up. None of it remains on the plate. You'll see us in Eden again as we leave Liverpool and I'll get some video of our servers. Norris

Welcome Alexandra! Good to "see" you again. Norris

My Azteca chocolate best dessert ever-Death by Chocolate is how I would like to go So inventive and cute-Carol's Meyer Lemon "tart" I had a Sambuca and Espresso. The Sambuca was served in the wrong glass for a connoisseur. I let them away with it this time. and then a surprise. On the house nibbles... Mindblowing meal for only $65 a head!! (we'll be back... for round 2)

Meanwhile I took the camera and checked on the kitchen Nicolas the Head Chef Pics taken as we were leaving OK -back to the desserts...

Filet mignon, short rib Wellington. The steak alas was cooked sous vide (a warm water bath) rather than in a screaming hot pan= no sear and less flavor than scorched meat. Carol's lobster "casserole" We traded bites of our dishes as we always do. Is yummy a word? We look at the dessert options and choose

Sorry I didn't take a pic of the Cocktail menu. I never order them. Here's the food.... Amuse bouche of white asparagus with crispy leeks Carol's "Garden Bouquet" before the gardener (Desy) does her work Carol is an expert in salad and gave this two thumbs up My crab cake It's crabalishus! I love Indian food so I had to order the Mulligatawny soup Earth's most flavorful soup-bar none The food is cooked a la minute so there is a nice pause between courses for wine supping, talking and looking out at the sea churning in the wake behind us. We have already decided that this is the best meal we have had at sea-even surpassing Murano by X. Next will be entrees...

DINNER AT EDEN Only one table for two twixt us and the windows to the sea. Waiter is Desy from Indonesia, Suno our busboy from India and our Sommelier Yan from China. They were Olympic Gold Medalists in Food Service . Carol ordered a glass of Prosecco- Ah, Happy Bubbles said Yan. I ordered my usual Cabernet Sauvignon When Desy asked me if I wanted still or sparkling water I replied "I'll have a glass of sea water please" She laughed and so had passed my test for loose waiters who can take a joke. The man at the table next to us has just had the filet mignon and is telling his wife and the Maitre 'd Danilo how this steak is better than any he has had near his home in Tampa. Food next...

I had a small lunch at the buffet-fish and chips/liver and onions to start and then Carol asked me why I didn't get a steak pie. Huh? If there's a steak and ale pie I want one so I went back and found where they were so this is lunch stage 2 The fries were good and a 2nd helping was in order. Don't judge me...The Bavarian mousse found it's way onto both our plates somehow. Carol had made to order stir fry, broccoli, liver and onions. That would tide us over until 7 pm when we dine at Eden! Nap time!

Time to return to the cabin before lunch to download some pics from the camera to the computer for processing (MacBook Air) The hallway art helps me gauge how far I have to go Long way to go Getting closer The end is nigh!

Thanks for the info. I will have a special section on Apex chairs and why it's often better just to stand or bring your own... Norris

The morning unfolds- a light breakfast in Eden Cafe. Notes tell me I had;Yoghurt parfait with a bear claw and drip coffee. Carol yoghurt parfait, cinnamon bun, fruit bowl and some cold cuts, no coffee. She will get her latte with an extra shot from Cafe il Bacio II in the buffet when I get my next cup to take on deck. On deck 15 aft I attempt to have a cigarette with said coffee but the wind has other ideas. I predict Sunset Bar sales today to be Zero. Carol had a lecture to attend at 10 a.m in the theater which she said was a waste of time. It was a destination lecture which was basically the excursions listed on line with some slides and no useful information on the ports. A snooze fest. She retired to try out the seats high above Eden for a quiet read She loved these seats!! That is until the morning stretch class started behind her followed by the Cha Cha Class for half an hour. In future she made a note to self-bring Bose noise canceling headphones. After cha-cha it was the Golf Chipping class... I wandered and came to the theater, deck 4 and 5 forward There was a man giving a lecture on NASA to a small non-crowd. Amazing theater! Theater art Park West in the House! I will eat here at some point! Time to go back to the cabin and work on some pictures...

Eden Cafe will be to your left once you pass these chairs-that will be a separate feature

Even though I don't wear one I take my hat off to the designers of the E Class for thinking way outside the box. The Apex is a striking looking ship with the orange Magic Carpet, inclined walking track above the pool, the pool itself and the asymmetrical aft where Eden lives. Destination Gateway where you tender is a game changer. The S Class was a similar Home Run for me, the Silhouette being my favorite design. I loved the grass and the lawn dwellers with their picnic baskets listening to a singer guitarist as the sun went down. Then we'd have dinner at the Lawn Club Grill which had overhead heaters on cooler nights. One thing lacking on Apex though is shade around the pool.You'll get roasted. Ditto by the Sunset Bar. The Cabanas on the pool deck have zero privacy and you share your cosy nook with another party-maybe a group of drunken jocks. We used to pay the $199 for a cabana on the grass on Silly but we'd be silly to book one on Apex. There will be photos of course at some point. Just musing. Norris

I mentioned Eden earlier and along with Destination Gateway it is one of the most striking things about the ship. I'll have photos of D Gateway when we use it tendering in Isafjordur. Eden I will do a separate feature. We were looking at some X cruises for 2024 yesterday and I found one that might fit. Not an E Class. Carol asked- does it have Eden? Nope. Then forget it! Another shop Fine Cut steakhouse Grand Plaza Martini Bar The loose plan for the day is meet for breakfast at Eden Cafe (sea days only) then a lecture in the theater for Carol and another wander for me, then lunch in Oceanview as there are some Brit items featured followed by whatever until Eden dinner at 7 p.m. Followed by a show.

Both Nancy. Norris

Sea Day, Day 2 on the North Sea June 7, Wednesday and I am up and dressed to go on deck. There are only 2 elevator banks on this big ship. We are in an aft-most cabin so when I grout into the hallway without a molecule of coffee Imagine my horror when I see the path ahead.. I make it to the elevator and touch lightly the button for deck 14. The Oceanview cafe is here. There's a person who stands near the multiple sinks with their automatic soap dispensers and faucets and paper towels and welcomes guests and thanks them for washing their hands. I have photos of all of this stuff but later with those as this is my first day and if I don't get a coffee soon it may be my last. It's a coffee to go so I grab a paper cup, load up 2 sachets of white sugar, grab a stirrer, pour coffee from a big tank with a tap, move to the half and half dispenser, feeling weaker by the second, stir the coffee then cap it with an ill fitting lid and a paper sleeve to stop it burning my hand. Back into the elevator and make my way to deck 5. Walk the same distance to Eden where they have automatic doors and out into the cold fresh air/wind to the smoking section. The first sip of this Melita coffee is life affirming and I feel I have been saved. This the Port aft section outside Eden. It's windy. Below is my destination-more sheltered. There's some crazy woman peeping into Eden I am wearing my puffy winter coat with a scarf as the F temperature starts with a 5. We have passed some oil rigs way back to the right-they'll never catch up We are into our second day which will be our first full day on board. First impressions are strong, besides the Guinness can fiasco. We haven't met many staff yet but the ones we have were smiling and eager to be of service so we are impressed by the service but there's a lot more staff to meet. My days will begin where I am now, by Eden. We are dining there tonight at 7 pm. After Eden? Carol had questioned my need to book a Specialty restaurant when the MDR food was good enough. I had done my research and had a good idea of what was awaiting our tummies this evening. She has since thanked me for my steely resolve. It's time for me to wander until the coffee's life-affirming balm wears off. What's nearby? There's this lonely little shop all by itself like an afterthought... and opposite-a whimsical seating area opposite this is Blu, for Aqua and Suite guests As it's not open yet I mosey inside for some pics On Apex Blu looks out onto lifeboats, unlike on Silhouette where they look upon the sea The wandering will continue.... Norris