Summit to Bermuda, 9-2-12 ** LONG **with photos

[DPurcell58]

We were on the week before you and I saw Michael's crowded many nights. I'm surprised the guitar player said that. There were a lot of kids, but they weren't out of control at all and you have to expect that the week before school starts in New York.

 

We were in a FV corner aft and couldn't get over all the space and storage. I think I had at least six drawers (like under the safe) that I didn't even use!

[Ellen S]

Lovestx, If you go the first week in June you will not encounter many children. School is still in session for most schools. Went in 2010 the last week in May and there were very few children on board.

[jackdiamond]

A very nice review; and, great pictures. Do you have any pictures of the beaches?

[librarylady19]

Be patient....I have tons and will post some soon. The beaches were absolutely gorgeous.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jackdiamond]

Be patient....I have tons and will post some soon. The beaches were absolutely gorgeous.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Patience and perserverance made a bishop out of his reverence.

[u2cruiser]

Patience and perserverance made a bishop out of his reverence.

 

Haha! I just googled the above saying and got a link back to this thread on CC :D

[librarylady19]

Monday, September 3, contd.

 

I was feeling pretty disgusted with myself after all the food and drink I had already consumed on this cruise, and felt a visit to the gym was in order. I don’t recall even seeing the gym on our last visit to the Summit, but it was conveniently located one deck down from our cabin, just through the Aqua Spa area. The gym itself was well equipped and seemed in good shape. There were quite a few different machines including a row of treadmills facing the water. I used an exercise bike and the elliptical only as I find it hard to run while on a moving ship. In the middle of the day, the gym was full but not overly crowded. I did make it back there once more. I also walked around the upper decks (and up and down the stairs to Deck 12 and around) a few times but it was a bit windy at times, but not bad.

 

We made plans to meet up with Deirdre & Rob and Jeff and Art (who were also on our Roll Call) for dinner at Blu. Well, apparently to dine as a table of 6 you should have a reservation, as Maitre D’ Nicholas interrogated me upon arrival (“You don’t have a reservation”??) I told him, I didn’t know reservations were needed in Blu and he finally relented and huffed off to arrange a table for us.

 

Dinner at Blu that night was a mixed bag. As it was Formal Night, I had expected rack of lamb or some other special dish. I always look forward to the lamb on Celebrity; but, as I mentioned earlier, we had seen the menu earlier in the day and knew lamb was not on the menu. I was not particularly thrilled with any of the choices, but settled for the tuna. This was unlike the tuna I had previously had in Blu that had an Asian sauce with noodles, but was swimming in a pool of sauce on a pile of mashed potatoes - not the best.

 

Here are some food photos from Blu...

Gnocchi appetizer (pretty good)

 

Beef Tartare (I didn't have it but others said it was excellent)

 

 

Meatloaf!!

 

After Eight Cake (pretty tasteless)

 

Some kind of fruit dessert (apple/pear?)

 

The desserts as a whole were not too tasty in Blu, I think they needed more sugar! The sorbets and icecreams were the best choices. I did order creme brulee one evening but even that wasn't fantastic. One night, the menu included a dessert with "Bugnets" We asked what that might be and the waiter said...you know, they are like donuts....Oh, we said, you mean "Beignets"....they didn't really taste any better than they looked written on the menu really!!!

[dln929]

Yes, Sandi, you should have ordered the steak tartare. And I should have ordered seconds! It was culinary heaven on a plate. ;)

[Texed]

Outstanding! Thanks for posting. :)

[librarylady19]

After dinner, we went to Revelations to where there was a dance band playing (I think it was Fusion). I even got out on the dance floor and worked off a few calories.

 

This is another of the improvements in the Summit; this area, while affording great views, was downright drab in its prior incarnation, with those strange rags hanging from the ceiling. The room was amply-sized with great views still and the decor was much more pleasant. (This is where the Elite gatherings were held on this sailing). It is wonderful that there is now no indoor smoking as this area was also marred previously by the fact that smoking was permissible in this venue.

Here are some photos taken in daylight:

 

 

 

Another long day....so lovely to return to our cabin and our freshly made bed with those little pillow chocolates.

[librarylady19]

Tuesday, September 4

I was very excited that we would finally be in Bermuda today. I have not met anyone who visited Bermuda who didn’t like it, so I was really looking forward to seeing it for myself. Being from England, I was also looking forward to some British touches, especially finding some British goods in Hamilton.

 

After another nice breakfast in Blu, and another visit to the gym, I decided to order a room service lunch so we could be ready to get off the ship as quickly as possible once we docked in Bermuda (arrival was scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

 

In the meantime, I popped down to the pool bar to pick up a couple of spiced cooler to accompany our lunch (a really yummy drink!) and returned with sushi, salad and more from the Aqua Spa Cafe. (I liked the set up of the Aqua Spa cafe and the fact that there were quite a few tables to eat at in the T-pool area, many more than are on the S class ships). I am sold on having a cabin in a location convenient to a bar (any bar will do) as it is so nice to send your husband off to get drinks while you relax on the balcony!!

 

 

This is the first time I had used room service, other than for breakfast, and was quite impressed. The food was ordered via the TV and arrived in about 30 minutes and was all hot and correct to order. I had a turkey club, Scott had steak and fries and we had a fruit plate (well....we didn't eat all of it!!).

 

By this time, we were getting closer to Bermuda and we were treated to some beautiful vistas of amazing turquoise water...

 

(overhang of balcony visible)

 

 

We are getting close...

 

Here is the pilot boat guiding us into shore:

 

We had great views of Bermuda as we sailed in:

 

[librarylady19]

Kings Wharf

 

 

 

 

We were ready and waiting when the all clear came to leave the ship. Unfortunately, I was turned back at the security line because my Sea Pass was somehow deactivated and I had to fight against the current to get to Guest Relations and get my card replaced. Fortunately, that didn’t take long and Scott went and purchased our two day transportation passes in the meantime ($20 each, cash) at a kiosk right at the docks.

Yeah, we are finally here.

 

 

Looking back at the ship:

 

 

Our original plan was to take the 3:00 p.m. ferry to St. George, but the Hamilton ferry was there first so we decided to take that instead. It was quite hot and sunny but we opted to sit on the upper deck of the ferry in order to take advantage of the breeze once we were moving and get some photos.

 

View of the ship from the ferry:

 

 

It is a pleasant 30 minute scenic ride into Hamilton. Here are some of the beautiful (and no doubt very expensive) homes we saw along the way:

[librarylady19]

From the ferry to Hamilton:

 

 

 

 

 

[librarylady19]

Arriving at Hamilton:

 

 

 

Lots of scooter parking!

 

 

The ferry docks right on Front Street in the heart of the shopping and business district. This is a working city, not a tourist attraction. The shops all close at 5:00 p.m. when the business people quit for the day.

[librarylady19]

Since we wanted to catch the 5:45 p.m .ferry back to the ship, we decided to split up....I was interested in shopping and Scott wanted to visit some of the pubs.

 

Here are Scott's photos of his journeys:

 

 

Interesting mural:

 

A new beer for Scott!

Dark & Stormy:

 

 

[librarylady19]

I headed right for Marks & Spencers and picked up some sweets, crisps, and a couple of tops for myself and wandered in and out of the stores for a good hour and a half, snapping a few photos with my phone along the way.

 

 

I had to get a photo of traditional Bermuda attire!

 

Bermuda National Library....sadly I did not go in but they do have free WIFI that can be accessed from the courtyard.

 

 

Unfortunately, I did not have time to explore the interior of this church:

 

 

or City Hall.

 

[librarylady19]

After the shops closed at 5:00 p.m. I did have a little time to wander and was captivated by this cute little cottage:

 

 

and Queen Elizabeth Park, a little oasis in the city, and a delightful surprise.

 

 

 

 

 

A Moongate:

[librarylady19]

More of the beautiful flora from QE Park:

 

 

 

and statuary too...

 

 

 

 

I hated to leave, but needed to get to the ferry...

[u2cruiser]

Wow! I'm drooling over this cruise and it's definitely going on my list.

I'm not at all surprised to hear you are English. Your turn of phrase gives it away. :D

Great stuff, love all the detail and much appreciated thanks.

[uglybutgoodbakery]

By far, the best review I've ever read. Thank you for putting so much time into doing it!

[cruiserhal]

I was wondering if you saw the Enchantment of the Seas pass you as you were going into Bermuda? We were on it and watched you go by with great anticipation because we are on the 14-night Canada trip on the Summit leaving this Saturday.

 

Thanks for all the great pictures on the ship. It has been a few years since we were on the Summit and we were curious how it looked after the upgrades. Please keep the review and pictures coming.

 

Hal

[Diane Rose]

By far, the best review I've ever read. Thank you for putting so much time into doing it!

 

Sandi,

I have to agree with this. Great review, great pictures!

 

BTW, how did I miss the steak tartare? Next time.

 

Diane

[librarylady19]

I was wondering if you saw the Enchantment of the Seas pass you as you were going into Bermuda? We were on it and watched you go by with great anticipation because we are on the 14-night Canada trip on the Summit leaving this Saturday.

 

Thanks for all the great pictures on the ship. It has been a few years since we were on the Summit and we were curious how it looked after the upgrades. Please keep the review and pictures coming.

 

Hal

 

yes, we did! hope you had a good time in Bermuda also!!

[mbw1024]

Blu looks very nice. Where is it located? I thought it was the upper right side of the MDR. Is that right? Can you still see in to the MDR from the upper level?

 

 

 

 

I was particularly impressed by the addition of Blu. We stopped by for a lookaround as we wouldn’t be dining there the first night. The restaurant is actually much more spacious than it looks in photos. I do love Blu on Eclipse (which is actually done up in shades of green, not blue!!) but thought this was a well rendered homage to the original Blu as we experienced on Equinox.

 

 

 

 

 

 

More on our experiences in Blu later....

[jamin jul]

Hi Sandi- We are in an Aqua class room in Nov. on the Summit. I have seen the menu options for Blu and not really sure if I like the options. Then yesterday I read a post with the menus for the MDR and that had more choices that I liked. My question is- can you or did you order from the MDR in Blu? Did you ever eat in the MDR. Do you think the two top tables in Blu are too close to others? Also- on the bathroom situation- you sounded pleased with your bathroom. Do you think they cleaned deck 9 bathrooms up since all the complaints at the beginning of the summer? :confused: Julie