FRONTLINE
KIM KENT branch manager, Spear Travels, Wolverhampton
I never miss an opportunity to
increase my cruise knowledge, so when I was invited to have lunch on Celebrity Apex, I travelled to Liverpool to take a look around. I’ve seen a few ships in my time but I have to say this one blew me away. So I thought I’d use this
opportunity to give you a flavour of the ship, before it repositions to Florida in November for a series of Caribbean sailings which promise to be pretty special. Kelly Hoppen, the ship’s interior
designer, has done an amazing job. There is a feeling of calm as soon as you step on board, created by the warm pastel shades and modern decor. ‘Eden’ is a space full of natural foliage, with suede chairs designed to look like leaves, while hanging baskets cover the ceiling, and fresh orchids are everywhere you look. It is truly magnificent.
SHIP FACILITIES The rooftop garden is another wonderful natural space with many potted plants, tree sculptures and comfy sofas arranged to offer a feeling of privacy. There is a speciality restaurant here, as well as a bar for evening cocktails and perfect sunset views. I also loved the theatre, which is larger than it looks at first. Dining is an experience
wherever you choose to eat on Apex, with the ship boasting four gorgeous main restaurants and
36 6 JULY 2023 AGENT After taking steps
to secure our shop, I now hope to secure some bookings for a very impressive ship
many other quirky options such as Le Petit Chef, a unique animated dining experience (take a look on YouTube – it’s very impressive!) Aqua-class guests have exclusive use of the Persian Garden and can eat at Blu, while Retreat guests staying in suites can eat at Luminae and access the Retreat Garden. The spa is also impressive. I was amazed at how lovely
the staterooms are too. Obviously, there are many different types, but they are all of fabulous quality, with large shower rooms. Having experienced Apex first hand, I wouldn’t hesitate to sell it, or the other two ships in this class.
SHOP SECURITY Not long after returning home, I was watching TV when my phone pinged at about 10.15pm. It was Tao from the Chinese restaurant next door to my shop, who said my alarm was going off. Fortunately, I hadn’t had a drink, so I jumped in the car and headed to the shop. Thankfully, when I arrived I found that nothing suspicious was going on and it was just a false alarm. I was also relieved that Tao’s restaurant was quiet, otherwise it would have been very annoying for his customers. Our shop is located in a small village that’s home to many privately owned businesses. Last year there was a spate of break-ins, so as a community we had a meeting to discuss what could be done to try to catch the offenders. We set up a WhatsApp group so we could keep each other updated at any hour of the day and pass on information using the cameras dotted around the village. This has proved invaluable, especially at times like this, but also for a couple of serious incidents that involved the police making arrests. I thought I’d share this with you as something to consider for your own safety and crime prevention: you can’t put a price on it.
ALASKA SOUNDS SIMPLY AMAZING
Speaking of cruising America, we sell many Alaska sailings but none of us had actually experienced it ourselves – until recently. Linda won a fam trip with Holland America Line and, upon her return, briefed us on the many ports of call and on what clients should expect when cruising the Inside Passage. Her top tip is for clients to book the excursions from the ship as soon as they can as places are limited. She said clients can expect to see whales, sea otters and bears, with other activities including
traversing the Yukon Suspension Bridge, admiring sled dogs at work and taking in the beauty of the Mendenhall Glacier. Doesn’t sound too bad, does it!
Whale watching in Alaska
travelweekly.co.uk
David ClareHelen Sharon Colin David ClareHelen Sharon Colin diary diary
Kim
Kim
PICTURE: Shutterstock/Maridav
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