Celebrity Apex Sets Sail for President’s Cruise Celebration
Celebrity Cruises heralded its annual President’s Cruise with a special voyage aboard Celebrity Apex, setting out round-trip from Southampton on May 17 on a bespoke itinerary that honored the line’s most loyal Captain’s Club members. Company president Laura Hodges Bethge and her executive leadership team kicked off the celebration with an exclusive two-night London city stay, offering guests private tours of Kensington Palace and Gardens followed by champagne tastings and luxury shopping at Harrods. The pre-cruise experience culminated in an opulent gala at the Natural History Museum, where a gourmet dinner and performances by West End star Cedric Neal set an unforgettable tone before passengers embarked on the sleek, Edge-class vessel.
Once aboard Celebrity Apex, travelers were immersed in a world of immersive décor and high-energy entertainment, beginning with a sail-away garden party on the resort deck. Stilt-walkers draped in flowers, rhythm gymnasts from Great Britain and a Beatles tribute band enlivened the festivities as the ship slipped into the English Channel. The voyage’s first port call in Bruges brought fairytale charm with cobblestone streets, medieval architecture and canal-side strolls, while local delicacies such as Belgian chocolate, waffles and handcrafted lace offered a taste of the city’s storied heritage. At sea en route to Norway’s fjords, Zenith-tier guests dined on a menu personally curated by Celebrity’s Global Culinary Ambassador Daniel Boulud, who later hosted a fireside chat and judged a guest cooking competition.
A day in Olden revealed the raw beauty of Norway’s Nordfjord region, where cascading snowmelt, tidewater glaciers and wildflower-strewn valleys framed traditional farmsteads and waterfalls. Excursions ranged from hiking and biking along scenic trails to RIB boat adventures on the fjord, capturing the spirit of exploration that defines Celebrity’s Expedition offerings. In Geiranger, the tiny UNESCO-listed village at the heart of the dramatic Geirangerfjord, President’s Cruise members enjoyed bespoke shore excursions including electric car rentals, ziplining through nature parks, kayaking beneath sheer cliff faces and helicopter tours over glacial ladders. As Apex paused beneath the iconic Seven Sisters and the Suitor waterfalls, guests witnessed a panorama of glacial-fed cascades that has inspired travelers for generations.
Further north, Alesund showcased turn-of-the-century Art Nouveau architecture rebuilt after a great fire, with guests sampling local artistry in aquariums, museums and sea-kayak excursions before ascending to panoramic vistas via a mountaintop gondola. Stavanger’s blend of medieval heritage and modern innovation provided the voyage’s final port day, as travelers hiked to the famed Pulpit Rock, strolled the Old Town’s preserved wooden houses and sampled fresh seafood amid the city’s revitalized waterfront district. In each destination, Celebrity’s commitment to small-group experiences and curated storytelling reinforced why President’s Cruise remains the line’s most coveted sailing.
On the homeward sea day, Bethge took to the stage for “Conversations with Celebrity,” teasing upcoming brand-first experiences aboard Celebrity Xcel, from the rooftop al fresco restaurant Bora to the multisensory Bazaar venue, and revealing plans for the line’s entry into river cruising and Project Nirvana ocean ships. A final lunch previewed Xcel’s inaugural menu, giving guests a taste of the Mediterranean-inspired brunch and evening seafood concepts that will define the next Edge-class innovation. As guests disembarked in Southampton, many had already secured their places on next year’s President’s Cruise, eager to relive the blend of destination immersion, culinary highlights and executive-hosted exclusives that make this annual voyage a celebration worth repeating.
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