I'm delighted to have had the privilege of crafting Jo and Katherine's travel journeys over the years, always with accessibility at the heart of the experience. Following the success of their previous cruise to Amsterdam and Bruges with Celebrity, they set sail once again with Celebrity, this time aboard the stunning Apex ship on an 11-night 'Best of Scandinavia' voyage…
As a wheelchair user and a deaf traveller with a hearing aid and cochlear implant, accessibility is key for us. We were excited to see how the Celebrity Apex would accommodate our needs on this 11-night 'Best of Scandinavia' voyage. Overall, we had a fantastic time and want to share our feedback for others seeking accessible travel.
Cabin Accessibility & Design
Our cabin was a joy to stay in. With an automatic door that opened with a simple card swipe, accessing the room in a wheelchair was completely hassle-free.
The balcony was another highlight. With the touch of a button, we could lower or raise the windowpane, making it feel like an extension of the room - perfect for relaxing with a beautiful view.
Public Spaces & Facilities
The public spaces on the Celebrity Apex were thoughtfully designed for accessibility. All restrooms featured touchless, sensor-activated doors, which made them easily navigable with a wheelchair. In addition, the disabled toilet inside the Ladies' room also had a contactless hand swipe for the door; however, the lock inside was a knob that required turning, which could be challenging for some users.
The sinks were well designed with ample space underneath for wheelchair users, and the paper towels were positioned at a convenient height.
The lifts were exceptionally user-friendly, framed with white lights that turned green when descending and red when ascending, helping us quickly identify the correct lift. The floor selection buttons inside the lifts were touchscreen, further enhancing their accessibility.
Emergency Procedures & Staff Assistance
The practice emergency drill on check-in is now much better, with guests gathering at the muster station to receive life jackets, making the process smoother for everyone. However, a visual alert system, like flashing red lights, on each deck, including bathrooms, would be a helpful addition for deaf passengers.
The crew did a wonderful job ensuring our deaf member could lipread by maintaining eye contact while speaking, and they were always ready to assist with the wheelchair. Their kindness made our experience even better.
Areas for Improvement
Although our overall experience was positive, there were a few areas where accessibility could be improved.
The theatre lacked a functional hearing loop, and the TV in our cabin did not offer subtitles, which made some programs difficult to follow. Guest Relations attributed this to satellite signal limitations, with the caveat that satellite programming is not always reliable; however, movies with pre-loaded subtitles should work. We hope this can be addressed in the future.
Additionally, announcements over the tannoy were not helpful for deaf passengers. It would be beneficial if these announcements were displayed on screens or made available through the Celebrity X app, a suggestion Celebrity has indicated they will consider.
The Celebrity X App
Speaking of the app, it was fantastic! The check-in process was seamless, and the daily programme and deck plans were extremely useful. However, it would be beneficial if the Captain’s announcements were integrated into the app for easier access by deaf passengers.
We did encounter some delays due to slower load times with the basic Wi-Fi, but overall, the app significantly eased navigation around the ship. The onboard account information was also handy, allowing us to monitor our expenses throughout the trip, and the checkout instructions made disembarking a breeze.
Shore Excursions & Accessibility
At each port, we relied heavily on Hop-on-Hop-off buses to explore. Most were wheelchair accessible with ramps and conveniently arrived at the cruise terminal. However, Skagen was a disappointment, as the shuttle bus couldn’t accommodate electric wheelchairs, meaning we had to remain on the ship that day. This was a missed opportunity, and we hope Celebrity improves this for future travellers. It would also help if the Hop-on-Hop-off buses featured visual indicators for stops, along with driver announcements.
Each destination presented unique challenges, especially for navigating the cobblestone streets of medieval cities like Tallinn. While cities like Copenhagen and Helsinki were fairly manageable, Tallinn’s rough terrain made it quite uncomfortable.
Despite this, we had wonderful experiences in cities like Stockholm, where attractions such as the Vasa and Abba museums were fully wheelchair accessible.
Final Thoughts
Our Scandinavian cruise aboard the Celebrity Apex was an unforgettable experience, marked by breathtaking scenery and thoughtful accessibility features. The Apex is a superbly designed ship - so stable you could barely feel it moving at times.
While there is room for improvement in areas like visual aids for deaf passengers and more consistent wheelchair access at every port, Celebrity Cruises continues to impress us with their dedication to making travel enjoyable for all.
For travellers with similar needs, we highly recommend Celebrity’s accessible cruises and eagerly look forward to our next adventure.
A special thanks to Felicity for her unwavering professionalism, care and exceptional service.
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