Celebrity Summit - "Slummit" or Sanctuary?

[Denny01]

Entertaining review! Not only informative, but fun to read. But things in perspective.

 

Denny

[sarahc78]

Great review! Glad you had a wonderful, restful, vacation :-)

[Ontario Cruiser]

Thank you Paul for taking time out of your very busy life to write this review. I so enjoyed reading your refreshing perspective. I was having second thoughts about the booking we just made for our third cruise on the Summit. This one is a B2B on Feburay 26th for our 50th wedding anniverary. Just back from the Millie and though she is getting a bit shabby she was still a wonderful ship. These poor old ladies are holding up very well. I just hope I continue to hold up as well too.

Ontario Cruiser

[MikeKl]

Very nice review; The funny thing about the shows was that the best one was not a produced one. For us the most enjoyable show was the crew talent show

[CateW]

We were on this cruise as well, in 7188 right down the call from you. Your review is spot on (except we didn't go to any shows, prefer the casino). Wonderful trip, ship and crew. This was our first Celebrity cruise, not our last; we did book a follow up on the Silhouette for next year.

[squidward]

Add my name to the list of satisfied Summit 5/30/10 passengers!

 

Overall it was one of our favorite cruises ever. We last sailed on Summit about 5 years ago and didn't notice any major change in condition or appearance. Service on Celebrity remains top-notch, and although no cruise is perfect they do a pretty darn good job trying to make everything perfect.

 

Our last cruise was on the QM2, in Queen's Grill (their version of 1st class), but it was nowhere as enjoyable as Celebrity.

 

Look for my review in the Members' Reviews section. It's long, but strikingly similar to Bundle's.

[2forseas]

Paul,

You're the Best! We are sailing on Sunday, and you have truly brightened our week. This will be our first X sailing, and can't wait to enjoy this graceful, refined lady Summit of some years. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

 

Tom & Fran

Maryland

[Daleed77]

Great review! It was so nice meeting you guys on the cruise. I'll send you the pic from the Sizzle Inn.

 

I have to agree with you on the shows. I'm a harsh critic too when it comes to entertainment, but The Wiz section of the Encore made us walk out. The video montage playing behind the performer singing Home was inexcusable and a bit offensive.

 

Besides that, we also had a wonderful time on the cruise and hope to see you guys on another one soon!

 

Dale

[nannyny]

Bravo!

 

Nan

[BroncosFan2010]

I enjoyed reading your review, and have no worries about booking the Summit for my next cruise (after my B2B)! They are running some great deals! I found one sailing for $449 inside in February!!

[lorriv20]

Wonderful review..very enjoyable to read. I work at a high school, I think it I will show it to students in creative writing. Your review, I am afraid, will make the next two weeks drag by until I sail on the Summit.

[StartrainDD]

Nice meeting you on board. We echo much of what you said and I submitted a review to CC yesterday. Will post a link on our roll call once published.

 

One comment I made on our survey card is that we would really LOVE it if Celebrity would offer some ongoing musical venue during the shows. We are not big fans of the shows, (although the crew show we thought was fabulous!) and would prefer to stay in a lounge sipping some drinks and dancing some dances - but everything else except the casino shuts down during the main shows!

 

Even on HAL's smaller ships they keep the Ocean bar music going during the shows and there are always people there "Sippin and dancing."

[FF JimP]

My family just had the pleasure of being on the same cruise and totally agree with the review. I must say that we were blessed with perfect weather too!

[Lois R]

....to see how much everyone loves his review:)

Writing style, honesty, all of it.....Paul, you are a hit:):D

[cruisenshop]

Many thanks for an informative and entertaining review. Just what I needed to read today Paul! Yes, I am sailing the Summit with my family and a family friend who has never sailed before. I appreciate your candor and the reassurance that I have made a solid choice.

 

Perfection - if you look for it you will never find it. However, fun, relaxation and plain good times, yes, you can find that on any cruise.

 

Thanks for posting, Paul. We cruise out of NY and NJ a lot due to family in the Newark area. You should consider expanding your horizons and taking one out of Florida, California or even Alaska. So much cruising to do, so little time.

 

Can't wait to read you next review. You have a fan in Pittsburgh!

[geojobes]

Paul, great review. We went the week before you & agree wholeheartedly with your review. We enjoyed the Summit, "rust" & all.

 

We came back & read the reviews from our sailing & didn't agree at all with the reviews our cruise got. People were whining about little things (really tiny things). I learned long ago that nothing in life is perfect & I roll with the punches. I can see that you do, too.

 

Hope you & your partner can go on another cruise, soon & I'm looking forward to reading more reviews by you.

[madelinerose]

Nice job, Paul! ;)

[Ellen S]

Fran, Am going back on the Summit in July and can't wait. I am not in the entertainment business and enjoyed the shows, knowing ahead time what to expect. I did enjoy the entertainment. Also, the Savor (food) program was interesting. Didn't like the one lecturer talking about Bermuda, (the other talked about the port and didn't hear him). The audience knew more than him. Just be prepared to be pampered for a week and do lots of walking on deck 11 to walk off some of the weight you may gain. Did well, only gained 2 pounds. BTW if you have a problem with the food (allergies, etc) the head waiter is great in getting you special meals for the next evening.

Sometimes the food on the buffet is different sections and opens and closes at weird times. But you always find something to eat till midnight.

Enjoy your cruise.

Ellen

[CapeGal]

We had the priviledge of sailing on the Summit for our 31st anniversary in May. We have been on 6 cruises ALL on RCI but I can honestly say I fell in love with the Celebrity treatment and the Summit. We were treated royally and could NOT have asked for a better Anniversary. Unlike Paul, who I understand is in the business to know about talent and shows, we did enjoy the shows. Although they were a little silly at times. :) The comedian and the "magician" were NOT up to par. (The best thing with the magician was that he was cute and the music he used good---not the magic).

Go on the Summit and enjoy yourselves. You will NOT regret it.

[MChizm]

Hi, just curious for past Summit cruisers...on the 7-night cruises to Bermuda what nights are the 5 smart casuals dinners and what nights are the 2 formals?

 

I wanted to go to Normandie one night but didn't want make a reservation on a formal night :)

 

Thanks, I appreciate the help!

[Lois R]

Hi, just curious for past Summit cruisers...on the 7-night cruises to Bermuda what nights are the 5 smart casuals dinners and what nights are the 2 formals?

 

I wanted to go to Normandie one night but didn't want make a reservation on a formal night :)

 

Thanks, I appreciate the help!

 

Formal nights on my sailing were Monday Night and Friday night.

I went last month.:)

[Bundles917]

Thank you all for the very kind compliments. Much appreciated.

 

I've been busy with work and would love to respond to all of you individually. As I write this I have a group of actors waiting for me to teach them how to navigate the entertainment business.

 

This Sunday I will be posting further commentary (with pictures) on my blog. I'll post here some sort of link when it goes live.

 

Again, thanks. Meeting and joining the Cruise Critic family has been a wonderful delight.

 

And the full review has been posted (albeit edited a bit by CC) @ http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=68092

 

Paul

[pluckrose]

We were on the same cruise and I agree completely with your review. Good times. Lovely ship, attentive & friendly staff, great weather and good fellow passenger (except for the few rude people who spoke harshly to the staff but I fear there are also rude to their own mothers). The only negative ,besides the shows which I didn't really care for, was Joe Valenti the speaker on Bermuda. Snore, snore, snore. You can't tell me there isn't a more dynamic speaker that can educate the passengers on the interesting history, culture and tourism of Bermuda. I would rather read a pamphlet for 2 minutes than listen to him drone on. My favorite moment was when his slide said "Navel Dockyard" which started me giggling like a kid you heard something naughty. I guess I was just so bored anything would be funny. Thanks for your spot on review, Paul. I'm happy you and your partner enjoyed your first cruise. I hope you can enjoy many more together.

[MartinsCruise]

Thanks, Paul for reminding us of the excitement of cruising for the first time. I'm glad you had such a wonderful time and fell in love with cruising like so many of us.

 

Sue

[MChizm]

Thanks Lois R ;):D