If you've ever wondered what it’s like to sign away $1billion, ask Richard Fain.
He’s the boss of Royal Caribbean Cruises who paid that amount for Celebrity Edge in 2018 - and is about to hand over a second 10-figure sum for its sister ship, Celebrity Apex.
As he visited the yard in France where Apex is being built, Mr Fain joked that his hand shook when it came to signing for delivery of the 2,910-passenger ships. "It’s scary," he added, with a smile.
So what does $1billion buy you these days? Well, like Celebrity Edge, Apex has a bright orange venue on its side called the Magic Carpet which changes use as it moves up and down between decks.
Cabins have ‘infinite balconies’ where the top half of a floor-to-ceiling window lowers to give fresh air and an uninterrupted view.
During my hard-hat tour of Apex - which is still largely a building site - I was impressed by the central Grand Plaza with its dazzling light show provided by a huge bank of LED tubes above the bar.
The theatre, with a 23ft-tall screen that curves around the stage, will host three spectacular shows, including Tree of Life featuring a 20ft tree fitted with more than 3,000 LED leaves.
We were also shown some of the many restaurants where new menus are being introduced.
Still being constructed is the Craft Social Bar, a venue offering draft cocktails, wines on tap and more than 50 rare craft beers.
But nearing completion is the three-storey venue Eden, which will have different food and entertainment from its predecessor on Celebrity Edge.
The Club will put on a cabaret-style evening show called Caravan, using circus skills and acrobatics, while during the day it will host activities from video dance classes to archery.
There are only about 50 days until Apex is handed over to Celebrity Cruises.
It will then be christened in Southampton on March 30 and sail five times to northern Europe before spending summer in the Med. One special cruise from Barcelona in August stars actress Gwyneth Paltrow and her Goop lifestyle brand.
In November, the ship will head to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to begin week-long cruises to the Caribbean.
After my visit to Apex I went to another part of the shipyard to see the cutting of the first steel for the third ship in the Edge class, Celebrity Beyond.
Remarkably, it will grow from that little bit of metal to a fully operating vessel in about 18 months.
Then it will be time for Mr Fain to reach for his pen again - and sign off another $1billion. Let’s hope his hand is steady because there are two more ships on order after that...
Book a Celebrity Apex cruise holiday
A 10-night cruise of northern European capitals on Celebrity Apex, leaving Southampton on April 13, costs from £1,519pp. You can find out more at celebritycruises.co.uk or by calling 0800 441 4054.
You can read more cruise news from Dave Monk on Shipmonk.co.uk .
