Is The Retreat on Celebrity Apex worth it if you’re traveling with kids? We found out this summer on our cruise to Spain, Portugal, and France. We stayed in a Magic Carpet Sky Suite with a connecting interior cabin for our girls, who are 8 and 11. That gave us full Retreat access for the whole family.
Some of it was wonderful. A lot of it wasn’t what Celebrity promises. Here’s what it was really like for us.
The Short Answer
Only book The Retreat on Celebrity Apex if the price is close to what you’d pay for a regular cabin. For us, a Sky Suite plus a connecting interior cabin cost about the same as two balcony cabins, so it made sense. At the full asking price, it is not worth it. The service and food quality don’t match what you pay, and the Retreat spaces are too small for the number of guests.
Why We Booked The Retreat (It Was Kind of a No-Brainer)
We booked this cruise the first day the sailing was released, about a full year ahead. With two kids, we always need two cabins. When we priced it out, two balcony cabins cost roughly the same as a Magic Carpet Sky Suite plus a connecting interior cabin in The Retreat on Celebrity Apex. We paid maybe slightly more, and we got all the Retreat amenities for the four of us.
Because our girls were young, they could eat in Luminae with us and use all the Retreat spaces with us at no extra cost. So it was kind of a no-brainer.
We got lucky with the timing. Prices climbed a lot in the year after we booked. What we paid for the suite plus the interior cabin was about what Celebrity was charging for one interior cabin a couple of months before sailing. By sailing day, The Retreat was going for almost $10,000 per person, and it sold out fast. I would never pay that.
The Best Part: A Sky Suite That Connects to an Interior Cabin
This setup is the real reason we booked, and it’s very hard to find on any cruise ship. Our Sky Suite connected to a small interior cabin through a tiny private hallway. We kept both doors open, so it felt like our own two-bedroom suite. Celebrity designed these rooms so they can work together like this, or be booked separately.
My husband and I had the big, comfy bed in the suite. The girls each had their own bed in the interior cabin, plus their own bathroom and their own storage. They didn’t have to share our bathroom or our closet, and their stuff stayed in their room. Our suite never got cluttered, which made the whole trip feel calmer.
If you’re a family of four looking at The Retreat, ask about these connecting suite and interior combinations. For us, it was the single best thing about the trip.
Our Magic Carpet Sky Suite: Room Review
Our suite was on Deck 7. I liked the room very much, and there wasn’t anything about it I didn’t like.
The Bathroom
The bathroom was large and really nice. It had a full soaking tub, dual sinks, a separate vanity area to get ready, and a rain shower with a bunch of different shower jets. The toiletries and towels are “upgraded,” but don’t expect luxury. The towels felt like regular towels.
The Balcony
The balcony was bigger than a standard balcony and felt private and spacious. It had room for a lounge chair that fully reclines, two other chairs, and a small table. The furniture is standard cruise balcony furniture.
In-Room Extras
We got a bottle of champagne (the cheap kind), bathrobes, slippers, and a pillow menu. That’s about it.
Is the Magic Carpet Sky Suite Noisy? Does It Block the View?
This is the question I see most online, so here’s our experience. We heard the Magic Carpet move only once during the whole cruise, and it wasn’t a big deal. It never blocked our view and never stopped next to our balcony. It only came into view from our room once. For us, being near the Magic Carpet was a non-issue.
What’s Included in The Retreat on Celebrity Apex
As a Retreat guest, you get everything other passengers get, plus:
- Luminae, the private Retreat restaurant, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Blu, the restaurant for Aqua Class guests, which Retreat guests can also use
- The Retreat Lounge, with its own bar and afternoon tea
- The Retreat Sundeck, a private pool deck with a small pool and a hot tub
- Priority boarding and leaving the ship
- A separate waiting area for shore excursions
- A butler for your suite
- Unlimited drinks and Wi-Fi
- Reserved seating at the theater (more on that below)
The Wi-Fi was fine for us. Our girls don’t drink soda, so we didn’t add a drinks package for them. Gratuities were charged automatically at the recommended amount, and we didn’t add anything extra.
Celebrity changes Retreat perks from time to time, so check the current list on Celebrity’s Retreat FAQ page and the Sky Suite page before you book.
Boarding in Southampton: Fast, But Not Very “Retreat-ish”
We got to the port at 11:00 a.m. I expected a separate area or special staff for Retreat guests. There wasn’t. We had to flag down workers to help us with luggage tags, and we went through the same boarding and security lines as everyone else.
To be fair, it was fast. We were on the ship in less than an hour. But it didn’t feel special. When we stayed in the Haven on Norwegian, we had our own boarding lounge with champagne, snacks, comfortable seating, and lots of staff helping us. Celebrity isn’t close to that.
No butler or Retreat host greeted us when we boarded, and our room wasn’t ready yet. That part was understandable since we were early. We explored the Retreat on our own until someone in the Retreat Lounge told us about the lounge, its hours, and what we could use.
Our Butler: Nice, But Nothing to Rave About
Our butler, Michael, came to our suite a couple of hours after lunch. He spent about 15 minutes explaining his role and what The Retreat on Celebrity Apex offered. He was very nice.
We didn’t ask for much. We didn’t have him unpack for us. He filled a few pillow requests, brought room service once, and every morning we texted him for cappuccinos, coffee, and hot chocolate. That was about it. No one went the extra mile.
The butler also told us that if we went to the theater 30 minutes early, a butler would walk us to a reserved section for Retreat guests. The first night, there were no butlers and no reserved section. From the second night it worked, but each night fewer butlers showed up. By the fourth night there was only one. On the last night, all of them were back for a final appearance. Kind of ridiculous.
When Our Paris Excursion Was Canceled
This was the moment we needed help. Less than 24 hours before our stop in Le Havre, France, our butler brought an envelope to our room. Our Paris excursion by boat, train, and bus had been canceled. The letter told us to call a number for help.
It took us about an hour to rebook, and almost everything was already sold out. We ended up on a Paris tour by bus. It was fine, but we missed the train and the Seine river cruise, which would have been really nice. Neither the butler nor the Retreat concierge did anything to help. We had booked all our excursions ourselves ahead of time, and we fixed this one ourselves too.
Luminae: Great Breakfast, Average Everything Else
Luminae is supposed to be one of the main reasons to book The Retreat. We ate there for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Breakfast Was the Highlight
Breakfast was very good. There were lots of great options, and the food came out hot and fresh. There’s no kids’ menu at breakfast, but it’s easy to order pancakes or French toast for them. No complaints.
Lunch and Dinner Were Mediocre
Our first meal on board was lunch at Luminae. It was packed and chaotic. The servers seemed rushed and not very personal, and the food was average. Dinner wasn’t much better. The food was fine, but there were no standout dishes, and you could see the quality had slipped.
The menu lists a “ribeye,” but it’s a roast. I’ve seen other cruisers say the same thing online. The waiter will tell you it’s a roast and not the “ribeye” you get at a steakhouse.
We ordered a chocolate soufflé one night and got it. It was on the menu that night. Our waiter asked us if we wanted to order any special requests from the kitchen for the cruise. We said we wanted chocolate soufflé again. He said no problem and that we would have it the next night. When we arrived the next night, they told us they couldn’t make it that night and would do it the following night instead. Kind of odd.
Does Luminae Take Reservations? The Wait for a Table
No. This was our biggest frustration. On the first night we arrived around 6:00 p.m. and waited in line for a table. During dinner, the line kept getting longer and longer. It was ridiculous to watch Retreat guests, who pay extra for this restaurant, waiting that long.
On our way out, we asked for a standing reservation because I saw how long the wait was and that isn’t acceptable for the next 8 nights, especially with two hungry kids. The hostess said they don’t take reservations, but that if we arrived by 7:00 p.m., she could always get us a table right away. The next night we came at 7:00 on the dot. We still waited until about 7:30. The hostess apologized and sent us to the Retreat Lounge to wait. We had a cocktail there, but I was annoyed.
Celebrity has to fix this dining situation somehow.
The Kids’ Menu at Luminae
There is a kids’ menu with the usual pizza, chicken tenders, and pasta. Nothing special, but our girls ordered from it every night with no issues.
The Strange Comment Card Request
On our second-to-last night, the Luminae waiters went table to table asking guests to fill out the comment card and give a 10 for everything, including “quality of food.” We said, “Huh?” Our waiter said that score affects him and that “quality of food” really means how he brings the food out from the kitchen to the table. That’s very misleading. The quality of the ingredients has nothing to do with the waiter, and the food didn’t always come out well either.
One night he forgot the actual soup. He served my husband a soup cup with just tiny little greens in it and walked away.
I also remember that one morning at breakfast, I ordered baked oatmeal. He brought me out something white and green. I asked him if this was what I ordered and he said yes. The next day at breakfast, I realized he had brought me a baked frittata instead of baked oatmeal but he didn’t really seem to notice.
Blu Was Better Than Luminae
Retreat guests can also eat at Blu, the restaurant for Aqua Class guests. The food quality was the same as Luminae, but the service was better and the atmosphere was nicer at Blu. Luminae has a better view, but that only matters if you get a window table.
We didn’t eat in the main dining room or any specialty restaurants, only Luminae and Blu. I think the food and service would have been the same anywhere else on the ship. I can’t imagine them being worse.
The Retreat Lounge: Too Small for the Crowd
It’s nice to come up and order a drink at the small private bar, and we had afternoon tea there once, which was lovely. But the lounge is too small for the number of guests it serves. It felt cramped, not luxurious or relaxing. Kids were welcome, and it felt family-friendly.
The Retreat spaces were almost always crowded and felt cramped. Meanwhile, the rest of the ship never felt crowded or cramped, which I really liked about the Apex.
The Retreat Sundeck: Our Worst Experience
The Sundeck is where my husband and I got really mad.
On our first sea day, we went up to the Sundeck for lunch. No one helped us find seats or get towels. There’s a stand there for someone to help us with all of that, but no one was ever there. We got our own towels and chairs and waited for someone to bring a menu. No one came. We walked to the bar to get menus ourselves, then had to ask twice before anyone took our order. There was like one guy for the entire Retreat Sundeck. On a sea day, that’s where everyone goes, so one person can’t possibly take care of everyone. The one guy was also very flustered and rushed. You can tell it was too much for one person.
The pool is very small. That first day, hardly anyone was in it, so our girls enjoyed it.
Our Last Sea Day
Our second and last sea day was a different story. The Sundeck was packed, and we could barely find seats. Again, no one helped us. We asked four times for someone to take our food order and waited more than an hour. Then my husband really started to complain, and we finally got someone to take our food order. During this time of waiting and getting frustrated, a big group of kids took over the small pool and the one hot tub for hours, jumping and splashing and being very loud and really disruptive. No one else could use either the pool or the hot tub at this time because of how these kids were behaving.
Our girls aren’t like that, and it made them uncomfortable. They didn’t feel safe getting in. We complained, and I know other guests did too. The staff spoke to the parents, but nothing changed. When we asked why staff couldn’t ask the kids to leave, they told us they weren’t allowed to.
Kids belong in The Retreat. Ours were there too. But Celebrity doesn’t have enough staff on the Sundeck, and they won’t enforce basic pool rules. At the end of the day, one staff member came to apologize. But for a space guests pay extra for, it was a letdown. I don’t have a good tip for getting around this one. Celebrity needs to fix it.
Is The Retreat on Celebrity Apex Good for Kids?
Yes and no. Kids are welcome everywhere in The Retreat on Celebrity Apex, including Luminae, the lounge, and the Sundeck, and the staff were friendly to our girls. Our girls didn’t use Camp at Sea, the ship’s kids’ club. They weren’t interested, and they were happy hanging out with us.
The biggest win for our family was the suite plus connecting interior cabin. It gave us space, privacy, and a clean, calm room. The biggest letdowns were the overhyped Luminae dining room, the “luxury” Retreat pool and Sundeck and the tiny little cramped retreat lounge where I’m supposed to relax. It’s way too crowded and cramped for anyone to remotely feel comfortable or relaxed.
Leaving the Ship in Southampton
Getting off the ship was easy. We left early because we had booked the ship’s Stonehenge excursion, which also took us to Heathrow afterward. We picked up our luggage at the baggage claim area, loaded it on the tour bus, saw Stonehenge, and were dropped off right where we needed to be at the airport. It was a great excursion through Celebrity. It saved us the cost of a separate transfer to Heathrow, which is very expensive.
One of our luggage tags fell off, and we couldn’t find that bag at first. Luckily, we had an Apple AirTag inside and found it quickly. So here’s my tip: put an AirTag in every bag.
The Retreat on Celebrity Apex vs. The Haven on Norwegian
We’ve also stayed in the Haven on Norwegian, and it isn’t a close comparison. The Haven gave us a private boarding lounge, more staff, and a real sense of being taken care of. The private dining room was nicer. Noticeably better food and service, and the Haven Lounge was so quiet and lovely. The Haven pool was so quiet and lovely too. No comparison to what Celebrity offers you for the Retreat. Celebrity has a lot of work to do on The Retreat if it wants to compete.
Our Verdict: Is The Retreat on Celebrity Apex Worth It?
I loved the Celebrity Apex itself. It’s beautiful, with a great layout. And I loved that we could book a suite plus a connecting interior cabin, which let us experience The Retreat without paying a ridiculous price. This ship was noticeably nicer overall than when we stayed in the Haven on the Norwegian Bliss. The Haven itself on Norwegian was nicer than the Retreat on Celebrity.
The Retreat on Celebrity Apex didn’t deliver. The spaces are too small, the service is spread thin, and the food at lunch and dinner is average. We would only book it again if it cost the same as, or slightly more than, two balcony cabins. Otherwise, I would save the money. If food quality is your worry, I’d skip The Retreat and spend the savings on specialty dining. Maybe it will be better.
So here’s my advice. If a suite plus an interior cabin costs you about the same as two regular balcony cabins, book The Retreat. It would be silly not to. If it costs more, don’t bother. It’s not worth it. If you do stay in The Retreat, lower your expectations because it isn’t the luxury experience that they make it out to be.
Quick Answers: The Retreat With Kids
Can kids use The Retreat on Celebrity Apex?
Yes. Our girls, 8 and 11, ate in Luminae and used the Retreat Lounge and Sundeck with us.
Does Luminae take reservations?
No. Expect a wait at dinner, especially after 6:00 p.m.
Is the Magic Carpet Sky Suite noisy?
Not for us. We heard it move once and it never blocked our view.
Is the Retreat butler worth it?
Our butler was nice, but he didn’t do much beyond morning coffee, a pillow request, and one room service order. He didn’t help when our excursion was canceled.
More From Our Europe Trip
This post is part of our series on our summer trip to London and our Celebrity Apex cruise to Spain, Portugal, and France.
London With Kids
- Virgin Atlantic Review: Flying LAX to London With Kids
- London Marriott County Hall Review: A Family Stay by Big Ben
- London With Kids: One Big Thing a Day (Our Easy Itinerary)
- Getting Around London With Kids: The Best Ways, Honestly
- Dining in London With Kids: Our Honest Reviews of 4 Spots
Our Celebrity Apex Cruise
- The Retreat on Celebrity Apex With Kids: Was It Worth It?
- Lisbon Tuk Tuk Tour From a Cruise Ship: Fun, Hot, and Worth It With Kids
- Porto Cruise Port Without an Excursion: Hot Dogs, Vinho Verde, and Shopping With Kids
- Vigo and La Coruña Cruise Ports With Kids: A Walking Tour, Galician Food, and Gelato
- Bilbao Shore Excursion With Kids: The Guggenheim, the Market, and the Pintxos We Missed
- Southampton to Heathrow via Stonehenge: Our Cruise Excursion With Kids
- Le Havre to Paris on a Cruise With Kids: Is the Long Day Worth It?
Planning a cruise? These are already on the blog:
