Celebrity Apex Recommendation on whether to book Sky Suite or Aqua class in 2025 Norwegian Fjord

[Phoenix42]

I am looking at two possible cruises in 2025 both on Celebrity Apex a 12 night in June or a 14 night in August both Norwegian Fjords and Arctic circle.

We last cruised Celebrity in 2019 on Celebrity Eclipse in  Aqua class, before that we had mostly cruised Disney. Celebrity was amazing especially as my wife was going through Chemotherapy for brain cancer at the time, and the service level they provided her was out of this world.

We've barely started cruising again. At first we were going to just get another Aqua class, but I am contemplating upgrading to a Sky Suite and would love to hear from those who have recently sailed on Apex in Aqua or Sky Suite both positive and negative.

Here are my thoughts.

This is a once in a lifetime bucket list trip for us. I doubt we will ever make another trip like this, and I want to make it perfect for my wife (and me)

Either trip has 4 sea/cruising days and then either 6 or 8 port days. 

We are big fans of nature and are excited about being able to sit back and really enjoy watching the fjords, and ny other scenic cruising.

 

I am concerned about how well we will be able to see and enjoy sitting and watching the fjords on the IV, which is a big part of what we want.

On the other hand my wife gets cold very easily, so perhaps she would be able to enjoy sitting and watching it more on the IV than on a regular Verandah.

I have hear that on Apex the only place you can really sit and watch with a forward view is in the retreat sundeck. Again we are very much on this for the scenic views/nature.

However if the sundeck is always freezing we wouldn't make a lot of use out of that.

The price of the Sky Suite is about 50% more than Aqua so I want to make sure that we are able to get our money worth.

The location and verandah were the main reason I started looking into the sky suite, however.

We usually consider ourselves to be low-key guests (we ask our cabin steward to please give us ice 1-2x a day depending on the cruise line) 

Due to the affects of my wifes cancer she spends about 50% of her time in a wheelchair, and needs a nap daily. Crusing can be difficult navigating some of life with the after affects of her cancer. Having upgraded service even if just having an actual decent room service menu that doesn't cost every time you order so that when she is too exhausted to go to dinner she can still have decent food, or having someone who is willing to deliver a specialty coffee, or her favorite treat for when she has had a really bad day, and can't leave the room, but also needs my help so doesn't want me to leave would be a true godsend. So yes for a 1 time bucket list cruise having a butler who I can say can you help rearrange dining reservations or order coffee because she can't get out of bed today would turn bad days into amazing ones. (And we're used to bad days) but some of the reviews I am reading about all of the changes (getting rid of butlers, maybe they came back) say that not only will they not bring you coffee, you struggle to even get ice any more.

We are both gluten free, so I don't know how that would affect things like food in luminae, or at the afternoon tea.

 

Anyway I would love any insight, recommendations, advice, thoughts about sailing sky suite vs aqua class.

 

On a side note, I know the ships are sailing much closer to full, does anyone know if the same is true for the longer cruises like the ones I am looking at?

 

[George C]

We always book suites, just love suite perks on E class like apex. If outdoor retreat is too cold there is a large indoor retreat with huge windows that would be great for viewing. Plus food in Luminae is extremely good , having the suite concierge is a big plus he can help with any issues you might have . I wish you and your wife a great cruise no matter what you choose. I would expect the ship to be full.

[mac_tlc]

We have done Sky Suites on all the E-class ships and enjoy the extra cabin space as much as anything. We spent a decent amount of time there.
 

We did the Norwegian fjords last year on the Jewel of the Seas. We had an aft balcony. I would highly recommend one. If you can get an aft Sky Suite that would be wonderful— except for the walk to the elevators. My wife has limited walking ability and we used a wheelchair all the time she was out of the cabin. 

 

Geiranger, Flam, Alesund, Honninsvag —It was a trip of a lifetime.

 

Just a couple pictures from our aft sailing to Geiranger. Words do not do it justice…

 

I hope you also have the trip of a lifetime ! 

 

 

Edited May 1 by mac_tlc

[PhillyTravelBug]

Just want to add how lovely Geiranger is. One of the best days of my life. Beauty everywhere!

 

[cruzzzinma]

I agree with others comments. I would almost always choose a suite.But there are some things you need to think about.

 

My husband and I were in a Sunset Sky Suite on the Beyond last year. It is far with a wheel chair or a walker (he used a walker.)

 

Do you need a handicapped sky suite? I personally think the tub/shower combination in the regular sky suites on E Class is a challenge. The tub is large and there is one grip bar in an inconvenient place but it is easy to step in and out of.

[Shiba_Lover]

I would also like to add about the tub / shower combo on sky suites on Apex - for someone that uses a wheelchair - it could be a challenge.  It is an actual tub, so be aware of that.  It would require stepping up and into the tub.  You may want to consider selecting a handicap accessible room if that is available to make it easier.  Your butler will bring blankets to use while sitting on the balcony.

 

I've had an aft sky suite on the Apex, and it is a really nice large balcony.   Aft is indeed very far from everything if mobility is an issue.   

 

I am actually about to go on the Apex in a sky suite on a B2B in the Fjords this July - a 12 night followed by a 7 night.  If you would like any specific photos or have something specific I can find out for you, please let me know.

Edited May 1 by Shiba_Lover

[George C]

43 minutes ago, Shiba_Lover said:

I would also like to add about the tub / shower combo on sky suites on Apex - for someone that uses a wheelchair - it could be a challenge.  It is an actual tub, so be aware of that.  It would require stepping up and into the tub.  You may want to consider selecting a handicap accessible room if that is available to make it easier.  Your butler will bring blankets to use while sitting on the balcony.

 

I've had an aft sky suite on the Apex, and it is a really nice large balcony.   Aft is indeed very far from everything if mobility is an issue.   

 

I am actually about to go on the Apex in a sky suite on a B2B in the Fjords this July - a 12 night followed by a 7 night.  If you would like any specific photos or have something specific I can find out for you, please let me know.

We also have had a aft corner sky suite, great balcony, way to far from Luminae and the retreat , would not book it again.

[Shiba_Lover]

14 minutes ago, George C said:

We also have had a aft corner sky suite, great balcony, way to far from Luminae and the retreat , would not book it again.

Yes - it is a hike.  I think I am the rare minority that likes the distance - I actually really like to walk - but it's always good to point out that it IS a long walk as most people either don't care for it or want to be aware in case it is an issue.  It seems especially long if you just forgot one thing in the room.  You don't realize how big that ship is until you have to go from one end to the other constantly. 🤣

[Northern Aurora]

Given the description as described by our OP I would tend to go with an accessible Sky Suite.  While we loved the bathroom in our Sunset Sky Suite on the Edge last fall there is a square tub/shower combination which is a serious issue for anyone with mobility issues.  A suite would also provide access to the Retreat Concierges, which can be a great help.  

 

Dedicated butlers are scheduled to return, but even when we were on the Edge for 40 nights last fall (Sunset Sky Suite) and then on the Millennium (Aqua Sky Suite) for 28 nights this spring we always had ice delivered twice a day.

 

And expect the ship to sail full.  

[REEtired]

Dear Phoenix 42. I too had brain cancer, had a craniotomy in January 2024.  Had 19 stitches on top of my head!  Under going chemotherapy but all my doctors say travel, life is too short. I was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic brain cancer in 2018 and plan to fight to live another day!  
 

I would recommend an accessible room, either Aqua or sky suite. The tubs in sky could pose a problem for her as they did for me.  We currently have 4 cruises booked, all with refundable deposits, because you just never know. 
 

we sailed in November last year and on December 21 my MRI showed a brain tumor.  Again, you just never know.  Best to be safe, refundable and trip insurance. 
Marie