Bimmer 09 sails APEX to Iceland June 2023

[Bimmer09]

Come gather 'round people wherever you roam...

It's jet-lagged Norris here, not awash in cheap grog from the rum barrel but awash in memories from our 4th Celebrity cruise. If ye'd sit a spell I'll tell ye a tale!

As usual in my Gentleman's Seafaring Journals there will be some "pirate speak" born from my love of the sea and my late dad, a ship's captain.

There will be a lot of APEX and the ports she sailed to.

There will be a lot of FOOD PORN and I'm not talking bole weevils in the ship's biscuits.

There will be PHOTOS (in color!) galore and videos too.

There will be hidden SONG LYRICS. Guess the song and you could win FABULOUS PRIZES- like this Broyhill 5 piece dinette set! (not pictured)

There will be MUSINGS on the Celebrity product and life in general.

There will, as always, be a CYBER BAR where you can drink anything you want but most of the top shelf stuff is gone (Mea Culpa)

There will be a lot of pics from AMSTERDAM (love at first sight)

 

Here, shipmates, is our Itinerary...

Day 1, June 3 Fly to Amsterdam from Chicago O'Hare airport

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bless me barnacles-that's a lot of places!

We flew home yesterday .....

 

Norris

[lola2013]

Looking forward to another fabulous cruise review.  
Welcome home 😉

Susan 

[parrothead33]

I have pulled up my chair and can’t wait to hear all about your latest adventure!

[Bimmer09]

How this thing works...

 

It's not a live review. It's over and done and we're home. 

I write everyday until the end.

I welcome comments and questions. They help keep the thing on Page 1 where it's easier to find.

Feel free to follow to get updated.

If you like a photo right click on it and you see the Flickr original. Another right click can magnify it so you can see the detail.

I write in blue so it's easier to find my place when scrolling. This has caused at least one host to fall upon the fainting couch with an attack of "the vapors". I yield no quarter.

I look forward to friends old and new saying "hi." If it's followed by "can I get you a Guinness?" then we are friends for life.

Welcome all!

Norris

[Bimmer09]

                                   THE BACK STORY

This cruise didn't happen overnight without any thought. There's a history to the planning...

 

The early Mesopotamians, circa 10,000 BC needed land to graze their sheep-sorry! sorry!

That's way too far back and nothing to do with cruising-I don't think they even had cruise ships back then, unless some of the older Carnival ones?

 

Let me start again...

The original plan for 2023 was a Princess 10  day and tour/cruise to Alaska in May. That would have been our 4th Alaska cruise in 12 years. Then we thought "bucket list" and Iceland was at the top. As we love sailing Azamara I found an 11 day beginning in Reykjavik and ending in Dublin and mulled that over for a while. 

Meantime Celebrity were bombarding my mailbox with offers and one caught Carol's eye-12 nights Iceland including Belfast ! (I'm from Northern Ireland but haven't been there in 20 years) Liverpool (The Beatles!!) and Dover -a round trip from Amsterdam which United Airlines flies direct to. The deal was 75% off 2nd passenger with no perks. Cost $8200 for two, undercutting Azamara. There was a Sunset Verandah and we snapped it up.

The ship was the APEX and by golly I was drooling at the chance to sail that beauty!

As time passed it was announced that the ship would not sail from Amsterdam but instead from Rotterdam. No biggie-we are both cargo ship and docks with cranes nerds and Rotterdam is Europe's biggest port. Hooray!!

 

Norris

 

[lola2013]

8 minutes ago, Bimmer09 said:

                                   THE BACK STORY

This cruise didn't happen overnight without any thought. There's a history to the planning...

 

The early Mesopotamians, circa 10,000 BC needed land to graze their sheep-sorry! sorry!

That's way too far back and nothing to do with cruising-I don't think they even had cruise ships back then, unless some of the older Carnival ones?

 

Let me start again...

The original plan for 2023 was a Princess 10  day and tour/cruise to Alaska in May. That would have been our 4th Alaska cruise in 12 years. Then we thought "bucket list" and Iceland was at the top. As we love sailing Azamara I found an 11 day beginning in Reykjavik and ending in Dublin and mulled that over for a while. 

Meantime Celebrity were bombarding my mailbox with offers and one caught Carol's eye-12 nights Iceland including Belfast ! (I'm from Northern Ireland but haven't been there in 20 years) Liverpool (The Beatles!!) and Dover -a round trip from Amsterdam which United Airlines flies direct to. The deal was 75% off 2nd passenger with no perks. Cost $8200 for two, undercutting Azamara. There was a Sunset Verandah and we snapped it up.

The ship was the APEX and by golly I was drooling at the chance to sail that beauty!

As time passed it was announced that the ship would not sail from Amsterdam but instead from Rotterdam. No biggie-we are both cargo ship and docks with cranes nerds and Rotterdam is Europe's biggest port. Hooray!!

 

Norris

 

SV on Apex…I’m hooked………

[Silkroad]

Following 😎

[Beachlover1989]

Really looking forward to this review! We are doing this on Apex in August, except we’re going to Glasgow and Cobh instead of Liverpool and Dover. 

[Bimmer09]

                                FLYING TO AMSTERDAM

We had booked our flight to AMS over 3 months ago and Business Class was booked so we got waitlisted. Arlines currently charge and arm and a leg for a seat for people who have legs that con't fit in the overhead compartment and for food that comes with a knife to saw through it. Plastic knives literally don't cut it.

 We flew on a Saturday after the Memorial Day craziness crowds, not enough baggage handlers and ATC operators.

Our Lyft driver picked us up at the reserved time for the 18 mile drive to O'Hare. We had Easy Bag check-in and TSA Pre and were sitting relaxed in a United Lounge eating free food and complimentary beverages while the flight crew were walking the Captain around the tarmac trying to sober him up. The airport was not a madhouse. We walked the tunnel of death from Terminal B to C whistling along with Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin as the neon lighting display delighted us like a Christmas tree. 

We didn't get upgraded but we sucked it up.

 

 

 

 

 

Dinner

 

Breakfast

 

I love a country that is investing in wind power!

 

 First sighting of the Netherlands

 

 

Nice approach to Schiphol airport. Although I offered my help the Pilot said "I"ve got this Norris" and landed the plane with panache and elan.

We were on the ground, a tad sleepless due mainly to seats that had been designed by a man with no buttocks and into the massive modern bowels of Schiphol, which is a stunner!

 

Norris (all pics iPhone 11)

[ROWSE]

Found it too!!  Pulling up a chair for an exciting read!!!

[silkismom]

Had to jump in "Times they are a changing" PP&M.

[MJSailors]

Good to see you have begun posting, Norris!

MJ🙋🏻‍♀️

[Spif Barwunkel]

You had me at Mesopotamia and I would have happily followed along through the various planning stages, from then 'til whenever. An entertaining segue it would have been, from western Asia to northwestern Europe. From where Cornflakes and Wheaties originated to where tulip fields and windmills abound.

 

It shall indeed be an enjoyable post-cruise presentation. 

[Bimmer09]

Schiphol Airport is  big and modern and bustling and full of shops and eateries. We were being picked up on the upper floor by a driver with a company called Welcome Pickups which Carol found on line. I had requested a Mercedes E Class as they are very comfy and have a big truck.

 

After baggage pickup following a painless breeze through Customs we found a unique (for us) escalator ramp to the upper level. We wheeled our luggage cart on to his flat, steeply inclined ramp and applied the brake. It was like a nice slow fairground ride and I would have gone around for another trip but our car was waiting.

 

Soufjen our driver loaded up the car for the 30 minute trip to our hotel which is in the Centrum district, surrounded by canals and perfect for walking to many of the sights. He spoke perfect English as would every Amsterdamian we met. We had learned some Dutch phrases at home but it's not so easy as the pronunciations can sometimes sound like you are choking on a caramel or coughing up a hairball. We did get smiles when we said some Dutch phrases and we'll be better next time.

 

The drive was mainly by highway on very smooth roads and passed a lot of amazing modern architecture  with angled and quirky "how does it stand up?" towers. Attentive drivers and no one driving a beater held together by "car tape". Now we are in narrow streets with bicycles and cars sharing the roads and bridges. There are cobblestones and canals and tourist boats sailing quietly bay.

 

The sun is shining, mid 70s F. Birds are singing. The air is rich with the smell of cannabis as there are 4 Coffeeshops within a one minute walk of our hotel. The coffeeshops sell weed or hashish with your morning espresso. There are no guys hanging out on the corners offering dime bags. That's illegal. 

 

Next will be a look at the hotel we have been dropped off at...

Norris

 

 

[Bimmer09]

26 minutes ago, silkismom said:

Had to jump in "Times they are a changing" PP&M.

Bob Dylan-accept no substitute!

Norris

[Bimmer09]

                                RADISSON BLU HOTEL

                                              (Off to a shaky start...)

We had originally booked a Marriott in a less desirable location (too far from the canals we love) so Carol found this hotel from a shortlist I had given her. The hotel had sent her an email offering early check-in (11 a.m vs 3 p.m) for 39 Euro (@ $43). We'll take it was the response. Their response was "this offer not available".

 

We brought our bags into the large reception area where there was one receptionist at the time. She reminded me of a Brit pop singer and when she spoke I realized it must be Bitchy Spice .

"We'd like to check in"

Passport! (no welcome or how was your flight from Chicago ?) You have to pay now!

(Huh?) That was unexpected. Oh well.

"Can we check in now (11 a.m) and pay the fee?"

No.

"Can we leave our luggage?"

Yes.

"Could you text us when a room is ready?"

No, we don't do that. You can come back around 2.30 and see if your room is ready then.

(Oh gee, thanks!)

 

Here are a few pics of the hotel....

 

It's the one to the left of the bridge. The tree covers our eventual room. Next to the tiny red car are 2 coffeeshops. The hotel is unique in that the reception, bar, restaurant and most rooms are on the opposite side of the street and the two buildings are linked by a carpeted tunnel. That's not the same as carpal tunnel syndrome. 

 

Later that evening the reception area on the other side of the street from our Canal View Room

 

 

 

24 hour drinks center we didn't use

 

 

The 4 windows above the black door (which doesn't open except in emergencies) would be ours

 

 

Now the view from our room

 

So we have 4 hours to kill before we get our room keys and 5 minutes walk away is a cafe I saw on one of the many Amsterdam walking videos. Carol was gung-ho when she saw the video and with good reason. We'll go there next for some lunch....

Hungry?

Norris

[jzad]

Oh am I excited to follow along!  

[FRMPEI]

You had me at ... "Come gather"

 

Looking forward to sharing in on the adventure.

 

Regards,

Kevin Reid

 

 

[Bimmer09]

                         Cafe de Jaren on the Amstel river

One of the excellent videos I watched showed the walker pass by the Radisson Blu, turn the corner, walk along the pretty canal and by gum he walked past Cafe de Jaren which I recognized as the bar on the river that we were both drooling over. It took him 4 minutes on foot. I could have walked there blindfolded...

 

 Open from 10 a.m to 10 p.m but kitchen closes at 9. Always busy. It has two terraces but we wanted to sit down by the River Amstel so we waited 10 minutes then pounced on a table. Amazing view and ambiance but I forgot to take pictures. Or did I?

Norris

[Bimmer09]

75 F, sun is shining and we have a table down by the riverside

 

 

 

That's the lower terrace, extreme right

 

 

view to our left

 

 

We ordered refreshments. When mine came I heard Angels sing. I kid you not!

 

As we sat soaking up the sun-we had our heads thrown back, Wayfarers on, baby, we perused the menu of bar foods-salads, burgers, smoothies and Illy espressos (the best!). I found a Dutch ham and cheese croissant and some fries. For Carol a baked egg and cheese dish.

 

I do exaggerate, that I'll readily admit and have fessed-up at least a million times, but when I say these are the best fries I have eaten in a long life of addiction you must believe me. As hot as the sun, as crunchy as all-get-out. Carol I hope can confirm my findings as she helped me eat them when I stupidly offered to share. These might have been the fries that pleased the gods of Mt Olympus-by the fiery Beard of Zeus!

 

Carol's copious notes say she also had some pistachio gelato and an Illy latte and I sure had another beer. We spent 3 wonderful "welcome to Amsterdam" hours there. 

 

Some pics on the way out-the interior and bar

 

 

 

Norris

Edited June 21, 2023 by Bimmer09
spelling

[helen haywood]

11 minutes ago, Bimmer09 said:

we had our heads thrown back, Wayfarers on, baby,

Don Henley, Boys of Summer.

[Marvy Mare]

Hi Norris

I thought you review would be starting soon. My brother alerted me this morning. Looking forward to following along. I’m interested in your impressions of the Edge class ships. We have booked a future vacation on the Beyond but weren’t able to get a Sunset view cabin. 
 

Maris

Edited June 21, 2023 by Marvy Mare
Addition

[Bimmer09]

13 minutes ago, helen haywood said:

Don Henley, Boys of Summer.

Nice work Helen! One of my favorite voices singing a favorite song! The Broyhill Dinette set has a couple of wobbly legs but will be on it's way to you shortly-at least by Christmas.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

1 hour ago, FRMPEI said:

You had me at ... "Come gather"

 

Looking forward to sharing in on the adventure.

 

Regards,

Kevin Reid

 

 

Kevin-it's always a pleasure to see you reading along. Welcome aboard!

Norris

[Deck Chair Queen]

Deck Chair Queen aka Carol, piping up with some practical info about out air travel arrangements, as I am the one who makes them —Travel Agent to the Stars (TM). In March (about three months ahead) we purchased refundable Economy tickets on UA, which thankfully had direct flights from Chicago to Amsterdam ( and back). We paid another $250 per person per leg for Economy Plus for a couple of inches of extra space but the same prison food. We applied for upgrades using miles but naturally they first try to sell as many Business and Premium seats as they can so you don’t know for months. Unfortunately you can’t apply for upgrades to both Business and Premium Economy, just one or the other. In Premium Economy you get slightly better food and a couple more inches of space. I watched our fare and the seating over time. The fares went only one direction—up. The Premium Economy seats sold out quickly, as there are only three rows and they are pretty good value unless you get a middle seat, which isn’t. What I should have done from the start if I wanted to upgrade with miles (which is what we save our miles for) is apply for the Business upgrade, as I could only choose one. I even tried to change my upgrade application but no dice. I believe the Business upgrade would have gone through, as many flights left with unsold Business seats. I go on at length because 1) I learned a lesson and 2) the terminology is confusing and the rules are needlessly rigid. On the final day I was offered an upgrade to Business for $6200 each, so you can see why we did not fly Business. We were lucky on the inbound flight to have an empty middle seat between us (he must have a window and I must have an aisle), and we were actually quite comfy. Carol’s Transatlantic Jet Lag Rule is sleep as much as you can outbound and stay awake as much as you can inbound, so it didn’t matter if we couldn’t recline all the way inbound.  I hope this helps.