Barcelona, a balcony cabin and our first day on Celebrity Apex

A little more time in Barcelona

My friend and I were boarding Celebrity Apex after her dry dock. An email that morning told us embarkation would be delayed by three hours. We made the most of the extra time in Barcelona, after being out exploring until after one in the morning the night before!

Once onboard, a late buffet lunch was very welcome. I thought it was one of the best buffets I’d enjoyed on a cruise.

Inside our cabins

We had upgraded to adjacent Concierge Class Infinite Obstructed Balcony cabins on deck 12. They were below the pool and buffet, with just one flight of stairs to reach them. So far, I’d found the cabins quiet.

The obstruction from the Magic Carpet wasn’t as bad as I’d expected. If the prices had been the same, I would still have chosen an unobstructed view, but I was pleased with what we had.

The Concierge extras weren’t a big draw for me. I preferred the buffet and a curry for lunch, and we declined the afternoon canapés. That’s part of finding what suits you on a ship, rather than assuming every extra will matter to you.

New friends at the Martini Bar

We were enjoying the Martini Bar and meeting new people, which meant we missed the comedian, Joe Tannetty. Dinner made up for it: I thought the food was superb.

Our first night had an 8.30pm dining time, with anytime dining to follow. It was a lovely start to the week.

An evening in Eden

Later, we listened to violinist Kateryna in Eden. There were cocktails to try too, including the Peacocktail and Two Peas in a Pod.

The next day was a sea day, and I was looking forward to relaxing. A little Barcelona adventure, a comfortable cabin and a good first evening — we were underway.