Celebrity Apex Christened Ahead of Inaugural Cruise From Port Everglades

08 November, 2021

During a ceremony at Port Everglades, FL, Celebrity Cruises’ new Celebrity Apex, the line’s second Edge-class ship, was christened by Reshma Saujani, founder of the non-profit Girls Who Code and author of bestseller, “Brave, Not Perfect.”

The ship is now sailing an inaugural 2021-22 Caribbean season of voyages from the South Florida home port.

The naming ceremony was a celebratory occasion for the cruise line, travel advisors, guests, local government and port officials as the vessel’s launch was originally planned for March 2020. Earlier this summer, Celebrity Apex operated a short run of Greek Island sailings, but the cruise ship now embarks guests for the first time from U.S. shores on rotating eastern and western Caribbean itineraries

“We are elated to welcome Celebrity Apex to our family of magnificent vessels that push the boundaries of what’s possible on a cruise ship,” said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “As we welcome guests back to the seas aboard the newest Edge-class ship, we are excited to deliver the very best vacation experience that is the hallmark of every Celebrity cruise.

“Celebrating Celebrity Apex is certainly long overdue and it’s a day I have been waiting to celebrate for quite a long time—581 days, to be exact. This stunning ship truly represents a new standard in new-luxury travel, and we can’t wait for our guests to finally experience it for themselves,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, president and CEO, Celebrity Cruises.

Godmother Saujani, who’s been at the forefront of providing opportunities for women in the traditionally male-dominated technology field, is famed for her advocacy of educational opportunities for girls everywhere. “Reshma is a visionary, leading the charge to challenge stereotypes and inspire a whole new generation of girls and women to bravely pursue tech jobs,” said Lutoff-Perlo.

Saying that it was both “thrilling and humbling” to serve as the new ship’s godmother, Saujani said the cruise line is leading the way to create a more diverse future in the cruise industry. Lutoff-Perlo noted that the cruise line’s percentage of women serving as bridge officers is 30 percent in an industry where the average is 2 percent.

Innovation Afloat

Among Celebrity Edge's innovative, one-of-a-kind spaces are the exclusive Retreat with its suite accommodations, private restaurant and private lounge; accommodations that range from modern, two-story villas with plunge pools to staterooms with infinite verandas; and the Magic Carpet, a lounge and gathering spot cantilevered off the ship’s side.

Celebrity Apex also offers 29 culinary venues including the new Craft Social Bar, offering 40 handcrafted boutique beer selections, creative cocktails and a wide selection of a la carte, gourmet comfort food and bar bites. Some 7,000 square feet of retail offerings includes Bvlgari, Cartier and the first-ever Montblanc lifestyle boutique.

The new ship will also have the first-at-sea F45 classes, along with Peloton bikes and “Women in Wellness” onboard content and experiences. In addition, in honor of Saujani’s work, Celebrity Cruises will offer fun, interactive beginning coding activities from the Girls Who Code curriculum as part of the cruise line’s onboard Camp at Sea program.