Sheeba67

Funny, I have been on X three times in the past three years and fish was the one thing that was consistently done well. I am planning of having fish most every night on my upcoming cruise.

Great to know. I will have to try some out next month on our cruise.

Someone (sorry, don't recall who) that sailed Summit earlier this year posted them in this Google doc: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B54UuJHl8HiZdEdlSUM5VkpwdkU/view

Seems like they are having a fish or seafood option every night. Does anyone know if they are doing a better job with the fish these days? The only inedible entree I have ever had on a cruise was a Mahi Mahi dish that was horrible.

most non premium mixed drinks are included in the classic package. You can order whatever you want like a gin and tonic, margarita, pina colada, mojito, etc..., but they will make it with whatever alcohol they want. Most domestic beers included with some imports.Just check the list on the Celebrity website and it is pretty close. We like the premium options, but we have done several cruises with the classic package and you can get most of what you want. For most people it is more than adequate. If you have a free classic package, it is only about $11/day to upgrade to the premium and you don't even have to do it on the first day. See how it goes an upgrade on the 2nd or 3rd day, if you see the benefit.

We usually just stick with the classic as it is fine, but the last cruise I upgraded to the premium and couldn't be happier. With the premium you can experience as many full size martinis as you want so never mind trying to get the flight. I liked having the option to try the higher end vodkas. My suggestion, as others, would be try out the classic and then upgrade for one or both of you the second or third day, if needed. You can't make a bad decision.

Just booked a cruise to the Southern Caribbean on Summit. (PR, St. Croix, Martinique, Dominica, St. Kitts, St. Thomas, PR) in Nov this year. This will be our first time on Celebrity - (the travelers are myself and my best friend). I am turing 50 and this trip is a gift from my DH - the ultimate girls getaway. I am hoping I can rely on your expertise in helping plan this once in a lifetime trip. We are pretty easy to please but I have asthma and am very sensitive to smoke - other than that we are happy with anything. Here are my questions.

 

Best Place for Sailaway - for us deck 11. You can walk back and forth from both sides, but not a whole lot to see, except the Fort lights, as we leave in the dark.

Where should we go for lunch upon embarkation -We usually just do the Oceanview buffet

Best Place for Breakfast (is there a spot outside to eat) - Oceanview Buffet

Best Pool Bar (Non Smoking) - Only one bar around the pool and it gets pretty crowded, but the mast bar is just up the stairs on deck 11.

Best Pool – with pool service - Only two pools. One indoor with no pool service and the one outdoor pool with service.

Any recommended shows/experiences we should do? - Shows not too good on Celebrity IMHO, so we spend more time enjoying our drink package and listening to music at the Sunset Bar.

Anything special that we really should experience or do while on board? - Kick back and relax and meet and mingle.

Anything we should do ahead of the sail date? - Read lots of cruise critic and study the ports so you have an idea of what you want to do. Most are beach ports, so pack the sunscreen.

Anything we should do immediately upon boarding? Get a drink, and then arrange a specialty dinner, if your so inclined. We find the dinning fine in the MDR, so unless we have a bunch of OBC to spare we are content with the MDR.

Planning on getting a taxi from San Juan Airport - is this ok? Yep, easiest way to go. Regulated taxi stand right outside the baggage claim. Can't go wrong.

Should we book flights thru Summit or just do it ourselves? Book yourself. Check Jet Blue or Southwest. Most recommend coming in a day early, but we tend to roll the dice since we have such a late departure and get in around noon the day of the cruise.

Any recommended excursions? Depends on what you like, we tend to hit beaches with bars to get a little sun and then have a few drinks in the shade on the beach.

 

I can't thank you enough for taking the time to respond. I know it will help to make our trip that much better.

Anna:)

Hey Anna, are you on the Nov 5th sailing with us? My wife and I are traveling with my sister and her husband. He will be celebrating his 50th bday as well. Above are our recommendations. Hope to see you at the Sunset bar

Nobody mentioned this yet, but it is hard to beat a Grey Goose, Red Bull, with a splash of Cranberry. We usually stick with the Classic, but took the leap last time and will be not going back when we have the classic as a perk. You almost can't afford not to upgrade. Also, there were quite a few times when thy only had small regular bottles of water when exiting the ship at ports, but they did have large Evian waters. The Martini bar is also a treat we usually do not get to experience.

We liked the blue and almond joy. Both very tasty.

We second the Embassy Suites if you can get a decent rate. There are multiple restaurants, including a sports bar and a Publix store just a block a way. The port is only a 5 minute taxi ride away as well. You can walk or take the shuttle down to the beach as well. Happy hour and breakfast save quite a bit as well.

Free drink package, prepaid gratuities, enough on board credit to upgrade the drink package, and good food. After that, everything else just falls into place.

Is the Mexican Train Game available on the Summit.

I wish there was. We brought it one year, but had a hard time finding tables big enough to play with 6 people. You should have seen TSA having a fit seeing the dark rectangular dominoes and trying to figure out what they were.

There were very few children on the first cruise. Most of them were toddlers in carriages. It was a friendly atmosphere overall. Everyone just seemed to get along great. Very little smoke to deal with. That was usually at night - during the performances.

 

We are booked for cruise 2 this year. I hope you decide to go.

Did you make the cruise in 2015? Looking for another review or just your experience. We are looking to go 2016 on Royale Caribbean.

I just saw a post of one of the artists that's going to be there. Looks like nov 14-19 2016. not much info except for the list of artist and date. The flyer doesn't show the cruiseline or port. It does go to montego bay and ocho rios, probably on the Pearl again. Nevermind, I checked NCL, the Pearl is doing an 11 day panama. just gonna have to wait for the info to come out.:)

It's on the Independence of the Seas with Royal Caribbean, but you can't book through them. I am trying to find out more info, but not having much luck. I want to know if they limit the entry to some of the headliner shows. I would be passed if you go to see a band and then you can't see them.

Anyone get back from the Jamrock cruise on the Pearl? Interested to find out how crowded it was at the venues with the headliners, and if you could see everything that was going on? Where the drinks regular priced, or did they jack those up as well? Was it worth the add cost? Any info would be appreciated.

Hi All,

 

We're cruising next week (over Christmas - yay!) and one of the stops will be the Grand Cayman. I've always wanted to do Stingray City but the excursions offered by RC are combo packages: 4 hours with stingrays and dolphins or stingrays and turtles. While I would love to also swim with the dolphins, I'm concerned that within a 4 hour time frame, everything will feel too rushed and I will be disappointed in the experience.

 

I'm a little weary of chartering a non-cruise line excursion (afraid about missing the boat, lol) but I know it's done a lot. Does anyone have any recommendations>? We leave next Sunday so I kind of put this out to the last minute.

 

Thanks!

Amy

Book with a private company. The catamaran's are smaller for the most part and the trip should be more intimate. Usually a private tour will be stingray city and two short snorkel spots. One of which was a reef that was very good. The other had some fish with a lot of starfish. We went with Island Marketing, but they are just a broker. That excursion is a must do when on Grand Cayman. You should still have plenty of time for shopping or a snorkel near the pier.

The demographic on our cruise was pretty mixed, but I will say skewed somewhat older. There was only one "nightclub" that stayed open past midnight. We are in our 30s but typically don't stay out past midnight. There was always plenty to keep us entertained in the late evenings.

We were on the same sailing and I would guess the majority of the folks were 40 - 60. We hung out at the back bar most nights and it was fun to listen and sign along with the acoustic guitarist. We never made it to Revelations, as most of the time we tried to go there was a private event. Usually made it to about midnight before making our way back to the room.

That is odd - Their schedule shows the 10AM departure to VG on Sun as usual. Was their a notice posted at the terminal?

No notice at terminal, just showed up at 9:45 am and they said they discontinued that service. I think Speedy's add a 10:40 departure, but still had to return at 1:00pm or 4:30pm, which was too late. I told them their website still shows the 10:00am schedule, and they just shrugged their shoulders like that was not their deal. Quite disappointing.

Smith's Ferry no longer goes to Virgin Gorda on Sunday's, so you have to plan to do Speedy's at 9:00am and return at 1:00pm. We got screwed when we showed for the supposed 10:00am Smiths ferry. Had to change plans and go the CGB. This was the only thing we really planned for this cruise and we were very disappointed when we couldn't get to the Baths.

We have been to Cane Garden Bay and really liked the vibe along with the "quaint" Callwood Distillery. We would like to go back but would also like to snorkel and I understand Brewer's Bay is the place to go for snorkeling. Does anyone know of a taxi service or tour operator that we could maybe hire to do both? There are 6 of us. I remember it was kind of a crazy ride to CGB and am not sure how far the 2 are apart' date=' so maybe not feasible. We are there from 8-5p. Thank you.[/quote']

 

We were just there last week and we're going to do just that, until a big thunder storm came through and scared us back to the ship. There are plenty of taxis at CGB that will take you to Brewers for about $8/pp, you just have to find a small one rather than the big open air trucks.

CURIOUS, for those who purchase the Cheers program, is the sticker on the card when you check in at the pier or do you have to get it at the bar?

you have to buy the package at the bar when you board, so there is not a sticker on your card when you check in at the pier.

A rough start due to hurricane Patricia but a great trip overall - we sailed less than 50% full - hopping on the Galveston Express to Bush airport -

 

Got questions? Ask away!

:)

I've never been on a cruise that empty. I bet that made getting drinks and getting a seat in the comedy show a lot easier. Did they end up cancelling a lot of trivia and other on board activities?

Yes you can, taxis are readily available outside Spinnakers Beach Restaurant and bar.

Great. Thanks so much for the response. We are going on the Summit Nov 7th, so it is getting close.

Pigeon Island has hiking (two good sized hills with amazing views), ruins, beach, snorkelimg, snuba, large gassy area for running around and excellent eats at Jambe de Bois.

Rodney Bay and Reduit Beach, while far from being the "best" beach on the island, is a very good typical beach experience with lounge chairs/umbrellas, beach bat/restaurant, water sports for hire, etc.

RB is a $30 taxi ride one way for up to 3 persons and PI is a $35 one way ride for up to 3 people, with a $6us pp entry fee - it is a national park.

Both have options that are good for kids, depends on the sorts of things you're wanting. More typical beach experience or some history and culture, hiking and beach time...

Can you take the bus to Reduit Beach (with walk), and then catch a taxi back right from the beach? Thanks.

Could have sworn it was Celebrity, but I guess it was RCCL that had the daily menu's posted on the TV. My husband would check it out every afternoon.:D

 

I have asked the question about under sofa storage, before. Was told that if the sofa was not a Convertabed, then there was a narrow amount of storage under them. I also found this mention of the storage in a 1A on the Solstice class.

 

 

 

 

 

That sounds awesome, chamima! The only thing to make that better would have been some type of live performing artist like an opera singer below your balcony. :)

Carnival has the menu on the TV. It is very convenient.

It looks like there are only a couple ferries per day back and forth between Charlotte Amalie and St. John, but more like every hour to Red Hook. Would it be very difficult to get from Red Hook back to Charlotte Amalie (where our shop will dock)? How long would it take and there would be taxi's to take us?

Yes, no problems getting a taxi back to the port from Red Hook.

We will be arriving on the Allure of the Seas from 10:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. We want to go over to St John for the day. I see the ALLURE docks at Crown Bay instead of Havensight in St Thomas. How would you recommend we do this to have the maximum time in St John? Ship excursion or on our own? Thanks!

We just hopped on an open air taxi from the port to Red Hook and then got on the next ferry to St john. It was as easy as that with a lot of taxi's on both sides. Good luck and have fun.