HS2BS

Hot tubs are changed to whirlpools with Luke warm water both in the solarium and by the outdoor pools. Even changed the signs! (Sorry it loaded upside down) - Hal

Presently on the Summit,10 day repo from Miami to Bayonne in Aqua. There is absolutely no dress code adhered to on ‘chic’ nights or any other - men in shorts are common with the maitre’d just watching. I even wore shorts last evening just to see if they would be questioned - nothing! That is the probable end to all dress codes! Hal ,

From a handicapped cruiser who always books an accessible cabin well in advance, there is nothing wrong with Celebrity or any other line selling accessible cabins after final payment. Anyone in need of an accessible cabin knows to book almost a year out on most ships as they’re usually in high demand. Tomorrow(4/25/23) boarding the Summit in the one and only accessible aqua cabin while there are six accessible sky suites. What should concern the original poster is the number of people who book an accessible cabin without need, but because of the larger size. At some time in the past you had to fill out a medical form prior to booking an accessible cabin, but that has been discontinued. Hal

We will be joining you on the Summit for the repo. We happened to be on the first cruise after the update and three time since then. Last June we were back for the Bermuda/Charleston cruise and the Oceanview had the beginning of the decline in previous quality. Reports are more positive about the situation! We’re also doing the Summit in August for the Greenland/Iceland cruise from Bayonne. See you on the ship, Hal - 9164

Next week(4/26) Summit, 10 days Miami to Bayonne via the ABCs(been there, done that many times and still love it). August, 12 days on Summit from Bayonne to Reykjavík, October, 8 days on Equinox to ABCs rt Ft. Lauderdale. December, on Beyond for 11 days to Panama Canal. February, 14 days Buenos Aires to Santiago on Sapphire Princess, October of 24, Ascent TA from Barcelona to Ft. Lauderdale then another 9 nights in the Caribbean. Into 2/25, Eurodam, 11 days to Caribbean. Thats all that is booked for know! Hal

Both of these cabins are adjacent to an accessible cabin thru a small hallway that has a door into the main hallway. The accessible is straight ahead and other cabin is to side. Hal

We have even to Barcelo(will be back 4/29 off the Summit) many times but never Rui, and chairs are very difficult to find. As with most resorts there are towels on everything from the guests put there early, but a nice gratuity to pool staff seems to miraculously find a couple loungers. Hal

It’s everywhere already, beaches that face eastward are more likely to see more then other directions, but even as you cruise you will see large patches, but not the massive swaths predicted in the near future. Hal

Our first cruise was on the Westerdam(Homeric), and never thought to save the conglomeration of menus, but do remember the table settings had more “silverware” then including silver creamer & sugar pieces. Butter was served as was bread or a roll. Uniformed doorman between buffet and outer deck - no chair hogs as you choose a lounger(with a little flag for service) for the cruise. Hal

We usually cruise in Aqua(when an accessible cabin is available), and on our Reflection cruise 1/8/23 we had multiple nights when there was waits of 5 - 15 minutes. Which wouldn’t be a problem if Celebrity would provide acceptable seating in the large foyer outside Blu, Tuscan, and Petite Chef. On S class ships there is a large incline to return to the Ensemble Lounge to wait, and another empty room before Ensemble. As we cruise frequently(80+ cruise) accessibility has become a main concern, and Blu provides ample space and maneuverability for my wife’s wheelchair. As for the food, the menu has become stale and limited., and here quality has declined most recently. Next month(and again in August)we are on the Summit in Aqua(only one accessible cabin in Aqua between A1 & A2), and will see if there is an improvement! Hal

We always travel with our own wheelchair, but Celebrity is the best as providing accessible needs. First thing you should do is see if there is an accessible cabin available by calling yourself or have your travel agent do it. Hal

That looks ether then some of the appetizers that were served on the Reflection in January! Ha

We were on the Summit last June(Bermuda & Charleston) and the ship and Staff were top notch. Our next Summit cruise is also at the end of April(repo from Miami to Bayonne, N J), and again in August to Greenland and Iceland, both in Aqua(accessible cabin 9164). Our two small schnauzers(male is diabetic) are always a concern, and finding a pet sitter that has long term availability has been a problem.

We had 9113(accessible) on the Beyond, which faces forward and have it again for our partial transit of the Panama Canal in December on Beyond. This cabin is unusually large as the window is on the forward slope, and the corner, compared to the cabin next door(9111). Hal

We are frequent cruisers that need an accessible cabin forcing us to book far in advance. The M class ship accessible cabins are usually located mid ship near the elevators for easier access. The Summit is our most frequently sailed, but we have been on the Beyond S class (November) and Reflection E class(January). The video is prior to the modernization, but the cabin size and layout hasn’t changed and the only serious accessible need overlooked was an electronic door opener. M - Our cruising preference is in Aqua, but on M class ships there is only one accessible cabin between A1 & A2 out of nearly a hundred other Aqua cabins, and this is located at the back of the ship(long distance from elevators). S - The most comfortable and locations are within easy reach of elevators. Cabins are well organized and all have electronic door openers for easy entrance/exit. E - large comfortable cabins, lack accessible storage, well designed bathroom and shower area. This past November our cruise on the Beyond, all of the balcony accessible cabins were booked so we utilized an ocean view. Extremely large and very comfortable, but at the front of the ship. Hal

So that fifty dollar specialty that had the gratuity included prior, is now really $59pp! Hal

We have been on the Summit 10+, as recently as last June. Our next is in April(b2b)in accessible cabins(first concierge, 8176 then Aqua, 9164) both aft facing. Your review was well organized and informative - we agree that the Persian gardens and spa are disappointing on M class ships(just got off the Reflection in Aqua). Food is always subjective to individual palates and background, but your review indicates that Celebrity hasn’t cut back enough that a first time cruiser would know it. I’ll write my observations when it’s our cruise from a perspective of twenty yeas sailing on the Summit(this has been one of our favorite ships of our 80+ cruises), and another Aqua cruise in August. Hal

We just got off the Reflection(Aqua) and the first video of the ovc was the same as witnessed on our cruise at night. We did cruise on the Summit in June and on Beyond in November, and the cutbacks were not visible. This afternoon we did our grocery shopping and the offerings that the supermarket has on their food bars makes the Reflection’s ovc look like a camp offering. There was a wing bar, salad bar & soup bar, hot food bar; all were kept clean and stocked. Other hot offering are offered at the counter, pizza, burgers, fried chicken, ect. Maybe Celebrity needs to increase the quality and presentations to bring cruisers back upstairs! Hal

Another “change” this past week on the Reflection we’re the towels by the pools. The normal gray large towels were supplemented by older, thin, worn out yellow towels that had dates from 2016(there is a small tag on every towel that tells which quarter and the year put into service)onward. What next? Hal

We have always booked with a ta, but none can compare with our pre asset that we have used for the last four years. Most of you get bombarded with daily emails from many different agencies. The big box store in NH seed to be our go too but, during Covid they were completely non communicating to requests, not open late and ot open on weekends to help! Our present ta is always available, instant message or email and by phone. And like many of the other posters, she recommends booking on board and the booking automatically goes to her. Takes care of price drops, adds obc and resolves any problems we might have. Hak

Refundable obc is truly refundable -on the last day. Go to customer service desk and tell them how much of the refundable credit you want in cash out! We’re presently on the reflection now, and I checked with CS that this is still the policy - yes it is! We were on Beyond in November, and the Summit last June - both times we were able to withdraw all the unused refundable obc in cash. Hal

On the present cruise we left from terminal 29. Hal

Thanks for taking us along! Boarding in at 11am! Barbara & Hal