Celebrity Apex: Our Family Norwegian Fjords Summer Adventure

After years of selling cruises to my clients and helping them choose the perfect sailing, it was finally time for us to experience one as a family!

On the 22nd of August 2026, Steve, our daughters Robyn and Freya, and I headed off on our very first family cruise with Celebrity Cruises aboard the beautiful Celebrity Apex. We were setting sail from Southampton for a seven-night Norwegian Fjords itinerary, with a visit to Bruges in Belgium before returning home.

I was particularly excited to experience the Norwegian Fjords, a destination I had wanted to visit for some time. I was also looking forward to seeing how a cruise holiday would work for us as a family with two teenage daughters.
Would it live up to expectations? I’m pleased to say it certainly did!

Getting to Southampton and embarkation day

We decided to drive down to Southampton the day before our cruise and stayed overnight in Newbury. This turned out to be a very good decision, particularly as the M6 was closed in both directions on the Friday. Sometimes a little forward planning really does pay off!
We had booked our parking through AB Parking, which had been recommended by Celebrity Cruises. On arrival at the Horizon Cruise Terminal, we dropped off our luggage and passengers before heading to the car park. From there, it was a straightforward walk back to the terminal.
Our allocated arrival time was 12.30pm for a 4pm sailing. Although everything was very well organised, next time I would probably opt for an earlier arrival slot so that we could enjoy a little more time exploring the ship before departure.
Once onboard, we completed our mandatory Muster Station check-in and began exploring our new home for the next seven nights.
A little tip for anyone cruising for the first time: keep your swimwear and anything you might need during the afternoon in your hand luggage, as your main cases may not arrive at your stateroom straight away. I’d also recommend booking drinks packages, Wi-Fi, speciality restaurants and any excursions in advance where possible.

Our accommodation onboard

We had booked two staterooms on the same deck, which worked brilliantly for our family.
Steve and I stayed in Balcony Stateroom 7102, while the girls had their own Inside Stateroom, number 7196.
Having two separate cabins gave everyone a little more space, privacy and independence. The girls loved having their own room, and it meant they could enjoy some freedom while still being close enough for us to keep in touch.
Our balcony was lovely, particularly when sailing through the fjords. There is something rather special about being able to step outside your own cabin and take in those incredible views.

Saturday 22 August – Setting sail from Southampton

After settling into our staterooms and exploring some of the ship, it was time for the moment we’d all been waiting for – sail-away. Celebrity Apex departed Southampton at 4pm, and we headed up to enjoy the atmosphere as we began our Norwegian adventure.
Our first evening included dinner in the Normandie Restaurant. One of the lovely surprises was that our waiters already seemed to know a little about us! Our friend Nicola had sailed on Celebrity Apex just a few weeks earlier and had told them all about the family. It was a lovely welcome and a great start to the holiday.

Sunday 23 August – A day at sea

Our first full day onboard was a sea day, giving us the opportunity to discover more of what Celebrity Apex had to offer.
One of the highlights for Robyn was attending a fascinating talk called “Ocean Currents and Animal Patterns” by Dr Niall Doran, an award-winning biologist from Tasmania.
Robyn had actually met Niall the evening before, and after chatting with him in one of the bars, she was keen to attend his presentation. It was lovely to see her making the most of the opportunities onboard and enjoying something a little different.

There was plenty going on throughout the day. We took part in music bingo, Freya enjoyed some shopping and began making friends through the teen club, while Steve headed off to a Jack Daniel’s whisky tasting.

Later, we attended the Captain’s Party in Eden before heading to one of the more unusual dining experiences onboard, which was Le Petit Chef. Le petit Chef is a really clever concept, using 3D animation projected onto your tabletop to tell the story of a tiny chef preparing each course. It is certainly something a little different from your usual restaurant experience! There are two menu choices, although the overall selection is more limited than in some of the other restaurants, so I’d recommend checking the menu and any dietary requirements in advance.

The evening continued with the Rockumentary show, followed by late-night comedy from Kevin Bozeman. so remember that some comedy performances are adults-only, with an 18+ restriction.

Monday 24th August – Stavanger, Norway

Our first Norwegian port of call was Stavanger, and what a lovely introduction to Norway it was. The ship docks centrally, making it very easy to explore the town independently if you prefer not to book an organised excursion. We had pre-booked the “Stavanger Silent Lysefjord and Pulpit Rock Cruise” with Brim Explorer. The excursion lasted approximately three and a half hours and was one I was particularly looking forward to.
We were incredibly lucky with the weather, enjoying beautiful sunshine as we headed out into Lysefjord. The scenery was spectacular, with towering cliffs, beautiful water and the famous Pulpit Rock providing a truly memorable backdrop. Seeing these landscapes from the water gives you a completely different perspective.

Another unexpected highlight was spotting Draken, the world’s largest replica Viking ship. We were told it was the first time the captain had seen it all year, which made the sighting even more special.

After returning to the ship, we set sail at around 4.30pm towards our next destination, Nordfjordeid.

That evening we dined in the Cosmopolitan Restaurant before enjoying the Adam Barry music show. We also joined in with the Celebrity Silent Disco, which was great fun. Our cruise director Aaron was on the Red team, and naturally we were cheering him on!
The girls were continuing to make friends through the teen club, which was lovely to see. One of the things I particularly liked about this cruise was that they could enjoy their own activities while we enjoyed ours, giving everyone the right balance of family time and independence.

Tuesday 25th August –Nordfjordeid, Norway

Our next stop was Nordfjordeid, another beautiful Norwegian destination. The scenery was simply breathtaking, with dramatic mountains, sparkling waters and the most wonderful surroundings. We were again blessed with warm, sunny weather, which made exploring even more enjoyable.
We also spotted P&O Arcadia during the day, always interesting when you’re a cruise enthusiast!

One of the things I was beginning to appreciate about this itinerary was just how different each port felt. Every destination offered something new, and the scenery while sailing between them was every bit as memorable as the ports themselves.

That evening we enjoyed dinner in the Tuscan Restaurant before watching the Tree of Life show and taking part in some 80s music trivia.

Cruising really does have a lovely sociable atmosphere. There are so many opportunities to meet people, join in with activities or simply relax and enjoy the surroundings.

Wednesday 26th August – Geiranger, Norway

Geiranger was one of the destinations I had been most excited about visiting, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. In fact, I would put it firmly in my personal top five destinations. I genuinely think everyone should experience the Norwegian Fjords at least once.

Geiranger sits within the UNESCO-listed West Norwegian Fjords, and the scenery is every bit as spectacular as the photographs suggest. We spent time exploring the quaint village and its little shops before taking the Hop On Hop Off bus up to some of the mountain viewpoints. The views from above were incredible, giving us a wonderful perspective of the fjord and the surrounding mountains. Once again, the sunshine was on our side.

Leaving Geiranger was just as memorable as arriving. As Celebrity Apex sailed out through the fjord, we passed the famous Seven Sisters Waterfall, the Suitor Waterfall and the Viking face formation in the rock. We headed up to the top deck to enjoy the views, and I also managed some time relaxing in the hot tub in the Solarium.

That evening we dined in the Cyprus Restaurant before enjoying the Adam Heppenstall Magic Show.

Geiranger was definitely one of the highlights of our entire holiday. It is somewhere I would happily return to.

Thursday 27th August – Another day at sea

After several busy days exploring Norway, our next day was spent at sea, giving us time to enjoy more of the facilities onboard Celebrity Apex. At 9.30am, Robyn and I attended another fascinating presentation from Dr Niall Doran, this time entitled “Seabirds Traversing the Globe”. The talk explored the remarkable journeys seabirds make across oceans and around the world. It was fascinating to hear about their migrations and the distances they travel.
I also managed to fit in five laps of the ship for a little exercise, followed by coffee and cake at Café al Bacio, some shopping and a little more relaxation.
With our wedding anniversary approaching, Steve and I had also booked a couples massage. Unfortunately, there was a little hiccup with our reservation, but Celebrity looked after us and provided a complimentary two-day Thermal Suite pass. A lovely gesture and a great opportunity to enjoy even more of the ship’s relaxation facilities.

This was also the first evening we decided to dine separately from the girls. Steve and I headed to the Normandie Restaurant, while the girls opted for a different restaurant. It was lovely to see them feeling confident enough to enjoy their own evening, and it really demonstrated how well this style of holiday can work for families with teenagers.
Entertainment that evening included Tabitha, a very talented female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist.
We also enjoyed a drink and a catch-up with Niall at the Martini Bar. It had been lovely getting to know him during the cruise, and his talks had certainly added something extra to our experience.

Friday 28th – Bruges, Belgium

Our final port of call was Zeebrugge, giving us the opportunity to visit Bruges. This was our first visit to Bruges, and we were looking forward to exploring somewhere completely different after our Norwegian adventure. We spent time wandering through the historic streets, browsing the shops and taking in the beautiful architecture.
A particular highlight was visiting the Choco-Story Chocolate Museum, where we learnt more about the history of chocolate and, of course, enjoyed a little free chocolate tasting!
No visit to Belgium would be complete without trying some local food, so lunch was moules et frites, accompanied by a Leffe Blonde beer.
It was a lovely day and a great way to round off our ports of call.

We returned to Celebrity Apex in the sunshine, with enough time to enjoy the hot tub on the top deck before setting sail for Southampton.

There really is something special about watching the coastline disappear as you sail away, particularly when you’ve had such a wonderful week.

Our verdict on Celebrity Apex and cruising with teenagers. So, what did we think of our first family cruise?
Quite simply, we loved it!

Celebrity Apex is a beautiful, contemporary ship, with fantastic public spaces, a great choice of restaurants and plenty of places to relax.

We enjoyed trying the different dining experiences, including Normandie, Cosmopolitan, Tuscan, Cyprus and the more unusual Le Petit Chef experience.

The entertainment was varied, with live music, theatre productions, comedy, magic, quizzes and the ever-popular Silent Disco. There was always something happening, but equally plenty of opportunities to find a quiet spot and enjoy some downtime.

For us, one of the biggest positives was how well the cruise worked as a family holiday with two teenage daughters. The girls had the freedom to enjoy their own activities, make new friends and spend time in the teen club, while Steve and I could enjoy some of the things we wanted to do too. We still spent plenty of time together, but everyone had the flexibility to make the holiday their own.

And then there were the Norwegian Fjords. The scenery was absolutely incredible, and visiting Stavanger, Nordfjordeid and Geiranger gave us a wonderful introduction to this beautiful part of the world. I would happily return and explore more of Norway by cruise.

As someone who has spent many years helping clients choose their perfect cruise holiday, it was fantastic to experience Celebrity Cruises first-hand as a family.
Our first cruise with Celebrity certainly won’t be our last!
Celebrity Apex delivered a fantastic family holiday, wonderful memories and a new appreciation for just how special a Norwegian Fjords cruise can be.