It’s that singular time of year again when Celebrity Cruises celebrates its loyal Captain’s Club members with a special President’s Cruise sailing.
Company president, Laura Hodges Bethge, along with many members of the brand’s executive leadership, once again joined this year’s exclusive voyage, which set out round-trip from Southampton, UK, aboard the Celebrity Apex on May 17, visiting ports in Belgium and the stunning Norwegian fjords along the way.
A Prelude of Royal Proportions
This special one-of-a-kind itinerary included onboard exclusives, events and offerings not to be found on any other voyage. It all kicked off with an exclusive two-night President’s Cruise city stay in London, during which those who opted for the add-on had the opportunity to indulge in a private tour of Kensington Palace and Kensington Gardens, and visit the world-famous Harrods department store for champagne tasting and high-end shopping.
The pre-cruise happenings then concluded with an opulent evening gala hosted by Hodges-Bethge and held in a reception hall at the city’s renowned Natural History Museum. The supremely elegant affair featured an open bar and canapes, a three-course gourmet dinner and private performances by celebrated West End star Cedric Neal.
Celebrity Cruises' President Laura Hodges Bethge speaks aboard the 2025 President's Cruise voyage. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group/Laurie Baratti)
Sailing Away in Style
The following day, guests traveled to Southampton, where they boarded the stunning Celebrity Apex, the second of the premium line’s Edge-class vessels. Once on board, they were treated to a set of lively festivities, complete with over-the-top décor, which saw the resort deck festooned with brilliant floral displays and stilt-walkers swathed in flowers. Guests gathered en mass for the sail-away garden party, which featured live performances from Great Britain’s rhythm gymnastics team and a crowd-pleasing Beatles tribute band.
Storybook Charm in Bruges
The first port day saw Celebrity guests exploring the quaint architecture and cobblestone streets of Bruges, Belgium, on foot, by bike or even horse-drawn carriage. This well-preserved fairytale city—also known as the “Venice of the North” for its network of winding canals—boasts UNESCO World Heritage Site status for its authentically Medieval character. Visitors partook in locally made specialties like authentic handmade Belgian chocolate, beer, waffles and fries. Artisans here also continue to weave lace by hand, a tradition that has been passed down for centuries.
Celebrity chef Daniel Boulud speaks during a fireside chat on board Celebrity Cruises' 2025 President's Cruise. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group/Laurie Baratti)
Culinary Delights and Sweet Surprises
From there, Apex continued to traverse the North Sea on its path toward the fjords, with several special onboard offerings available during a day at sea. Among them was an exclusive lunch held for Zenith-tier Captain’s Club members, featuring a menu curated by Celebrity’s Global Culinary Ambassador and celebrity chef, Daniel Boulud, who joined Hodges Bethge in personally hosting the affair. Boulud also took to the Theatre stage for an intimate fireside chat and book signing, in addition to playing judge during a guest cooking competition.
Later on, evening brought the brand’s first-ever “Chocolate Wonderland” activation to the Grand Plaza area, where all guests could indulge their sweet tooth. The event proved to be wildly popular, thanks to an abundance and wide variety of decadent chocolate-rich creations being handed out freely to all who stepped into the vicinity. Guests jockeyed to get photos of a scaled-down replica of Celebrity Apex made entirely out of chocolate, as well as glimpse the chocolate-themed fashions being modeled onstage.
A chocolate replica of Celebrity Apex on display during the "Chocolate Wonderland" event. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group/Laurie Baratti)
Immersive Adventures in Olden
Day 4 brought Apex to the charming coastal village of Olden, Norway, located on the southern shore of the Nordfjord in a green valley over which spectacular snow-covered mountains tower. With spring upon us, snowmelt could be seen everywhere, cascading into waterfalls almost anywhere you look, and running into rivers and estuaries. It isn’t just the landscape that is uniquely picturesque, but also the neatly kept traditional homes and farmsteads that dot the countryside, which is currently covered in colorful wildflowers and butterflies. Besides the various sightseeing excursions that took guests to spectacular viewpoints and to see the area’s glaciers, guests could take their pick from among several activities here, including hiking, biking, fishing, open-top bus tours and RIB boat rides. And, of course, there was the option of simply souvenir shopping, or grabbing a pint and an authentic bite in the local pub.
Exclusive Excursions in Magical Geiranger
In Geiranger on Day 5, available excursions included some unique offerings, with multiple President’s Cruise exclusives, such as e-car rental, nature park ziplining, kayaking the stunning fjord, a private fishing cruise and glacier viewing by helicopter. Protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the tiny village sits at the head of the breathtaking Geirangerfjord, which is celebrated as the most spectacular of the Norwegian fjords with good reason. Crystalline waters, soaring snow-topped mountain peaks, impossibly lush hillsides and majestic waterfalls cascading at every turn all converge to create a truly magical, unspoiled setting that has drawn spellbound cruise passengers since the late 19th century. Upon sail-away, Apex paused at the iconic Seven Sisters and the Suitor waterfalls, which sit on opposing sides of the fjord, to allow guests to soak in the splendor of this truly majestic sight.
The famous Seven Sisters waterfalls in UNESCO-rated Geiranger, Norway. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group/Laurie Baratti)
Art Nouveau and Fjord Views in Alesund
Next up on the itinerary came Alesund, a substantially larger town located at the entrance to the Geirangerfjord, which stretches across several islands connected by bridges. Alesund boasts a unique overall aesthetic, with predominantly Art Nouveau architecture that was constructed after a great fire destroyed most of its wooden buildings in 1904. Its turn-of-the-century charm, combined with a vibrant local arts and cultural scene, and the preservation of its maritime heritage and folk traditions make it a gem of Norway’s west coast. Here, guests had the option of visiting various aquariums, museums and lighthouses, or going on boat tours, sea kayaking or taking a gondola to the summit of nearby Strandafjell Mountain for eye-popping views over the fjords.
Stavanger’s Scenic and Cultural Treasures
The voyage’s final port day saw the ship dock in Stavanger, known as the Energy Capital of Norway, which lies along its North Sea coastline at the entrance to the Gandsfjord. Dating back to the 12th century, Stavanger offers a vibrant blend of both Old-World tradition and modern innovation, with a rich artistic scene and ample cultural festivals. Despite being the country’s fourth-largest city, it’s also renowned for its proximity to stunning natural landscapes, including the iconic Pulpit Rock, to which some Celebrity guests hiked on their excursions. Others participated in sightseeing tours, Nordic walking in the open countryside or foodie treks through the Old Town and former canning district.
Celebrity Apex docked in Alesund, Norway, during the 2025 President's Cruise. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group/Laurie Baratti)
An Island Garden Escape for Elite Guests
By invitation only, loyalty members with Elite Plus and Zenith status were treated to a special lunch event personally hosted by Hodges Bethge and her leadership team, held at the lauded Flor & Fjaere. Guests were consistently enchanted by the venue, which comprises approximately 20 acres of stunningly beautiful and meticulously tended gardens. Situated on its own offshore island and accessible via ferry, Flor & Fjaere served just over 400 invitees a supremely elegant three-course lunch in its new Jungle Restaurant, housed in a massive greenhouse. Celebrity bought out the entire venue for the day, ensuring an exceptional experience would be had by all.
Sneak Peeks at Celebrity’s Future
Day 8, spent at sea en route back to Southampton, brought some more surprises for President’s Cruise passengers. Hodges Bethge took to the stage for “Conversations with Celebrity”, during which the president teased some upcoming developments, discussing some exciting details about Celebrity Xcel’s brand-new onboard experiences, Celebrity River Cruises (set to launch in 2027), a sixth Edge-series ship (as yet unnamed) that’s currently under construction and Project Nirvana—the next class of oceangoing vessels in the planning stages. Then, she and a few of her executive team members took Q&As from the audience.
Afterward, Hodges Bethge, Celebrity executives and Zenith-tier Captain’s Club members attended an exclusive lunch event where they sampled the upcoming menu for Bora, a new al fresco restaurant concept debuting aboard Celebrity Xcel, which launches in November.
Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge mingles with guests at Flor & Fjaere in Stavanger, Norway. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group/Laurie Baratti)
The rooftop Bora will serve as the brand’s first brunch venue during the day, featuring a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar, and in the evening, it will transition to a more upscale Mediterranean-style dining experience with fresh seafood at the forefront. The other new concept on Xcel that has been revealed thus far is The Bazaar, a dynamic multisensory space intended to bring authentic experiences from shore directly on board the ship. Xcel will introduce a total of seven new onboard concepts, and Hodges Bethge revealed that four more will be unveiled in July, but the final one will remain a secret from all except those who actually sail aboard the Edge Series vessel.
A Voyage Worth Repeating
Celebrity Cruises’ President’s Cruise sailing continues to up the ante each year with a wealth of added extras, exclusive offerings and special events, particularly when it comes to celebrating and spoiling the brand’s most loyal guests. From the little gifts delivered to top-tier Captain’s Club members each evening to opportunities to explore enviable destinations alongside the president herself, Celebrity devotees can’t get enough of the premium perks onboard this once-a-year sailing, as evidenced by the fact that so many rushed to book next year’s President’s Cruise immediately following its announcement.
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