Where can you go on Apex to see off the front of the ship?

[PTC DAWG]

18 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

We did that when we were kids.  Had the station wagon with the rear facing seats.  Not a fan...

I think all of us of a certain age had that experience..I always liked it..

[verizon]

On 5/8/2024 at 2:51 PM, kwokpot said:

Yes,if you're Aquaclass and/or have a Thermal suite pass then you can access the forward outside deck in front of the Thermal suite. There never anyone there,so you'll have it all to yourself. You can get there anytime the Thermal suite is open.

Not so. On the first day its open to everyone.

i have been there before.

[QuestionEverything]

On 5/8/2024 at 7:03 PM, Turtles06 said:

For those of us, like the OP, who enjoy the "connection" to the water that comes from being on an outside, forward-facing deck, it's a shame that Celebrity's new builds (the E Class ships) have restricted that unique space to suite guests (and that Celebrity is doing as much possible on the S and M classes to do the same). 

 

It's one thing to have a suites-only restaurant and interior lounge.  These are not unique spaces on a ship, everyone gets to eat somewhere and hang out in other places. 

 

That's my personal feeling in terms of one of the things that I find special about being on a cruise ship -- seeing the ocean from an outside deck, seeing where the ship is going, seeing the ship pull into port, just hanging out on that deck.  

 

 

I agree. Hence why I will not book any of their ships that do not have a forward viewing lounge.

 

[tfred]

On 5/8/2024 at 7:03 PM, Turtles06 said:

For those of us, like the OP, who enjoy the "connection" to the water that comes from being on an outside, forward-facing deck, it's a shame that Celebrity's new builds (the E Class ships) have restricted that unique space to suite guests (and that Celebrity is doing as much possible on the S and M classes to do the same). 

 

It's one thing to have a suites-only restaurant and interior lounge.  These are not unique spaces on a ship, everyone gets to eat somewhere and hang out in other places. 

 

That's my personal feeling in terms of one of the things that I find special about being on a cruise ship -- seeing the ocean from an outside deck, seeing where the ship is going, seeing the ship pull into port, just hanging out on that deck.  

 

 

Any, and every, resort style hotel has multiple room classifications - ocean view, garden view, partial ocean view, dumpster view.  A resort guest doesn't have free reign to roam around anywhere they want to go for their "preferred" view. A cruise ship is no different.  

 

You pays your money and takes your choice. 

[Turtles06]

43 minutes ago, tfred said:

Any, and every, resort style hotel has multiple room classifications - ocean view, garden view, partial ocean view, dumpster view.  A resort guest doesn't have free reign to roam around anywhere they want to go for their "preferred" view. A cruise ship is no different.  

 

You pays your money and takes your choice. 

 

I don't agree.  I don't think of a cruise ship as just a floating hotel or resort.  I think of it first and foremost as a ship; a key reason for me to be on it is to be on the water, feel like I'm on the water, and see the water.  The trend with newer builds (and it's not just Celebrity) is to disconnect guests from the water.

 

You feel differently, that's fine.  

[PTC DAWG]

40 minutes ago, Turtles06 said:

 

I don't agree.  I don't think of a cruise ship as just a floating hotel or resort.  I think of it first and foremost as a ship; a key reason for me to be on it is to be on the water, feel like I'm on the water, and see the water.  The trend with newer builds (and it's not just Celebrity) is to disconnect guests from the water.

 

You feel differently, that's fine.  

The newly designed Sunset Bar on Beyond and Ascent are great connections to the ocean..the best I have seen on any ship. YMMV. Maybe they kept you from going outside. 🙂

[tfred]

59 minutes ago, Turtles06 said:

 

I don't agree.  I don't think of a cruise ship as just a floating hotel or resort.  I think of it first and foremost as a ship; a key reason for me to be on it is to be on the water, feel like I'm on the water, and see the water.  The trend with newer builds (and it's not just Celebrity) is to disconnect guests from the water.

 

You feel differently, that's fine.  

Every tv commercial on any non expedition cruise line shows it as a vacation that happens to be on a ship. 
 

X and others can’t survive only by poaching other lines pax- they need land resort vacationers to literally “get on board”. Land vacations in better resorts are expensive (I know since I just spent 4 nights at the Key Largo Marriott) and have sectioned off areas that everyone there understands. It isn’t one big egalitarian property.  
 

non suite guests have 3 sides of the ship to look at water so while that isn’t a preferred view of the there is plenty of connection to the water available 

[QuestionEverything]

3 hours ago, Turtles06 said:

 

I don't agree.  I don't think of a cruise ship as just a floating hotel or resort.  I think of it first and foremost as a ship; a key reason for me to be on it is to be on the water, feel like I'm on the water, and see the water.  The trend with newer builds (and it's not just Celebrity) is to disconnect guests from the water.

 

You feel differently, that's fine.  

Thank you Turtles06.

Varying assessment here and that is great.

Unlike a resort, one is on the sea, with water and waves.

Unlike a resort, the ship moves.

Therefore, I require to see where I am going via the front view (think seeing Venice rise from the sea), where I have been (the stern view watching Cape Horn disappear into the distance).

Turtles06 - correct, ship design is now designed to remove passengers from the sea and focus them inwards so they can be processed into spending $.

Look at the QM2 with her many open vistas to observe the side of the ship (actually the open wing bridge is beyond the side of the QM2), that is a ship. Not a cruise ship, hence why I patronize Cunard to a significant degree and the premium and luxury lines - 0 mass cruise lines, they are cancelled.

_______________

As the ship loving passengers leave cruising by choice or age, the cruise lines will need to attract the resort people as posted earlier. I suspect the new ship design is done to attract these customers.

I note there are many other forms of travel; vehicle, land and I am embracing all of these, my cruise $ are being increasingly diverted away from cruising.

Time will tell the fortunes of cruising indeed.

Thanks Turtle06!

 

 

[NMTraveller]

I don’t think anyone has mentioned this yet.  But to get a decent view on E class for 30 minutes just purchase the bridge excursion.

 

Or sail S or M class.

[NMTraveller]

4 hours ago, PTC DAWG said:

The newly designed Sunset Bar on Beyond and Ascent are great connections to the ocean..the best I have seen on any ship. YMMV. Maybe they kept you from going outside. 🙂

Wrong direction.

 

To have a decent sea vibe I want to see the sea from all around the ship.

 

Front back and sides.  Wrong ship.

[cruisestitch]

^^^^this^^^^

[Ipeeinthepools]

On 5/9/2024 at 12:07 AM, kwokpot said:

We are trying our 1st Holland America cruise in January (casino complimentary,of course). 

 

Please let us know what you think.  Please know that some HAL ships allow smoking in the Casino.

[Water_Baby_]

On 5/8/2024 at 2:18 PM, NanaPam00 said:

Clarifications above are correct - this is in the spa, not the fitness center.  You would have to access the area by first checking in at the desk to get access to the Thermal Suite, then walk through part of the Thermal Suite area and by the heated loungers out a door to the small deck.  Not possible without either being Aqua class or having a day/week pass.

 

We were able to go out on that deck on boarding day when the Spa had open house. 

[PTC DAWG]

3 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

Wrong direction.

 

To have a decent sea vibe I want to see the sea from all around the ship.

 

Front back and sides.  Wrong ship.

I’m easy to make happy…sailed E Class 4 times, only once in Retreat, didn’t miss the front view..

 

Sky Lounge on Equinox is usually dead as a door nail during the day..not my jam..not to mention no drinks usually during the day and at night, you can’t see squat.

[PTC DAWG]

2 hours ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

 

Please let us know what you think.  Please know that some HAL ships allow smoking in the Casino.

The smoking is a big deal to me, I can handle a little inside,  but I don’t play nearly as much on lines that allow it.

[Gracie115]

20 hours ago, PTC DAWG said:

The newly designed Sunset Bar on Beyond and Ascent are great connections to the ocean..the best I have seen on any ship. YMMV. Maybe they kept you from going outside. 🙂

For many people, me included, the view from the front of the ship is for more preferable than from the aft.  I like the aft, but it just doesn't match that feeling you get standing at the front of the ship, the wind in your hair, sometimes strong enough to feel like you may just become part of it.   One of my favorite things about cruising. 

 

We even seek out rooms that face the front with balconies.  Princess has many of them on Royal class ships, HAL has a few on their newer ships.....

 

[PTC DAWG]

3 hours ago, Gracie115 said:

For many people, me included, the view from the front of the ship is for more preferable than from the aft.  I like the aft, but it just doesn't match that feeling you get standing at the front of the ship, the wind in your hair, sometimes strong enough to feel like you may just become part of it.   One of my favorite things about cruising. 

 

We even seek out rooms that face the front with balconies.  Princess has many of them on Royal class ships, HAL has a few on their newer ships.....

 

I don’t sail on Carnival owned lines..that said, I’m sure they have boards you can get info on. 

[Gracie115]

9 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

I don’t sail on Carnival owned lines..that said, I’m sure they have boards you can get info on. 

 

I already have the info, and, thankfully, the S class ships are great for bow views for everyone. Which is what we book, will not book E class again, for many reasons.  

[QuestionEverything]

6 minutes ago, Gracie115 said:

 

I already have the info, and, thankfully, the S class ships are great for bow views for everyone. Which is what we book, will not book E class again, for many reasons.  

Morning Gracie115!

I 100% agree with you. 

Before I book a vessel, I study the deck plans.

No forward view for all = No booking.

This criteria also applies to many friends who also cruise.

It is one of the reasons that we moved to the premium and luxury lines as this is not an issue.

Imagine going through the Panama Canal and not being able to see the mules pull the ships into the lock. Have enjoyed many Celebrity - M class going through the Canal with food, beverages etc. They even had a food and beverage station on the bow during transit!

Going on inward focused ships is not happening.

[PTC DAWG]

37 minutes ago, Gracie115 said:

 

I already have the info, and, thankfully, the S class ships are great for bow views for everyone. Which is what we book, will not book E class again, for many reasons.  

I’m a big S class fan myself..but the Sky Lounge is under utilized, IMHO..and it’s not like you are outside in the wind. 

[tfred]

6 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

I’m a big S class fan myself..but the Sky Lounge is under utilized, IMHO..and it’s not like you are outside in the wind. 

for X it was a no brainer.  An half empty Sky  Lounge or a bunch of suites at $1k/day 

[Gracie115]

1 hour ago, PTC DAWG said:

I’m a big S class fan myself..but the Sky Lounge is under utilized, IMHO..and it’s not like you are outside in the wind. 

I wasn't referring to the Sky Lounge, which is very nice to just look out, but yes under utilized.  There are areas outside on the S class ships that you can be right at the bow of the boat on decks 15 & 16...... also deck 12 on M class.   

[PTC DAWG]

1 hour ago, tfred said:

for X it was a no brainer.  An half empty Sky  Lounge or a bunch of suites at $1k/day 

$$$ talks for sure

[rmalbers]

The sky lounge used to be a lot better when they had a bartender working in it more hours.  Last cruise the hours the bar was open were terrible.  Having said that I still used it but brought a beer with me after I 'learned'.  I've always like it for the forward view there.

[QuestionEverything]

1 minute ago, rmalbers said:

The sky lounge used to be a lot better when they had a bartender working in it more hours.  Last cruise the hours the bar was open were terrible.  Having said that I still used it but brought a beer with me after I 'learned'.  I've always like it for the forward view there.

100%.

We will not book any vessel without a forward view.

Previous posters are correct - more $ to be made in taking this forward view away.

The majority of cruisers seem to be focused on the ship experience - NOT the ocean and views. Big, internal, spending $, pool deck, buy stuff.

So that makes sense from a cruise line objective.

Hence why we now patronize the premium and luxury lines going forward.