LIVE from the Celebrity Summit: 6/27/17 Independence Day Canada & New England Cruise

[doggfan7]

So we just booked a cruise on board for the EDGE on March 31, 2019. We received the $150 on board credit plus two perks for booking on board and were entered into the raffle. The deposits were $100 each. We think a good deal, but we can always cancel before final deposit if not.

 

 

This afternoon, we were escorted by DOZENS of whales who put on quite a show! I took video of it and will upload after we return.

 

Thanks to everyone commenting, we promise to find answers to your questions and get back to you.

 

 

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[papajoe117@aol.com]

Enjoying your review. We are on the next sailing July 7th.

[annenj]

I'm also enjoying your review! We're on the July 16th to Bermuda, and I can't wait!

Thanks for posting the cocktail menu from sushi on 5.

If you manage to get to the martini bar, I would love to see a photo of their menu. ;-)

[DelawareTom]

Thanks for the informative review. Enjoy your cruise.

[sydsmom2034]

Hello from New Jersey! Tomorrow morning we will embark on a much-needed family vacation on the Celebrity Summit! Currently, I'm writing from the warm confines of my bed at home in Branchburg, New Jersey as my wife struggles to remember if she packed all of the shoes she will need for the next 10 days (spoiler: she's never packed enough shoes). We will be joined by our nearly 3 year old daughter.

 

I plan on providing daily updates on our cruise along with pictures and videos of the ship, the dailies, the kid's programs, menus and food (oh, there will be so much food). We have the the internet package and are ready to use it!

 

We are getting picked up promptly at 8:30 a.m. by our chauffeur (my father-in-law) to brave the Tuesday morning traffic into Hudson County to get to the Cape Liberty Cruise Port by 10 a.m. or so (we like being the first one on the ship after the VIPs - I'm paying for it, get me on it!)

 

We will be staying in a luxurious Category 11 Inside Cabin (2055). We usually go balcony but were very concerned about having a balcony with a toddler so opted for the inside at a great price!

 

The itinerary is as follows (along with our planned activities):

 

Tuesday, June 27th: Bayonne, New Jersey

Wednesday, June 28th: AT SEA

Thursday, June 29th: Bar Harbor, Maine (Ollie's Trollies)

Friday, June 30th: Saint John, New Brunswick (Freedom Tours' "Fundy to Fundy" Tour)

Saturday, July 1st: Halifax, Nova Scotia (CANADA DAY)(We plan to go to the parade and walk around on our own, at night we hope to see the fireworks)

Sunday, July 2nd: Halifax, Nova Scotia (Peggy's Cove & Titanic)

Monday, July 3rd: Portland, Maine (Lobster rolls....just, lots of lobster rolls)

Tuesday, July 4th: Boston, Massachusetts (Meeting up with friends who live in Boston for the day, maybe the Children's Museum)

Wednesday, July 5th: Boston, Massachusetts (Staying on board)

Thursday, July 6th: Newport, Rhode Island (The Breakers & the Elms Mansions)

Friday, July 7th: Bayonne, New Jersey (Time to go home, already?)

 

If you have any questions, let me know and I will be happy to answer. Can't wait to get on board!

 

Looking forward to your reports!

[BM64]

Love reading your report! Enjoy Bar Harbor tomorrow, it is absolutely beautiful.

[doggfan7]

Dinner tonight was very good. Our waitstaff was not as polished as our team last night. I do miss not having the same waitstaff every night when sailing with Select Dining. Our waitstaff did not introduce themselves, or interact at all.

 

We felt the beef "tournedo", the rack of lamb, the escargots and the French onion soup were very good (not excellent). The salmon tartar WAS excellent however. The shrimp scampi was not good. It went back with all but a few bites taken out of it. DD's grilled cheese was a grilled cheese.

 

For dessert we had the apple crumble a la mode (ehh), the chocolate cake (ehh), and the phyllo dough desert (double ehh). The winner was DD with her huge platter of delicious cookies and milk. It is numerous that we get a little sliver of cake and a 4 oz. beef "tournedo" and the kids menu offer 5 huge cookies and a 4 oz. filet mignon.

 

 

 

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[doggfan7]

 

 

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[miched]

Dining in the MDR with Select dining you can make reservations for the time you want ( talk to the host) and when checking in can request the servers. It usually helps to get the earliest time because if you wait a 1/2 hour or so after the MDR opens you may have to wait for others to finish dining.

 

When we found a area that we liked with the servers we liked we would request them and was always accommodated. The servers also like that you request them as it makes feel appreciated and gets recognition from the management.

 

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌞

[bravostar]

Loving your review. Thanks so much:)

[doggfan7]

Dining in the MDR with Select dining you can make reservations for the time you want ( talk to the host) and when checking in can request the servers. It usually helps to get the earliest time because if you wait a 1/2 hour or so after the MDR opens you may have to wait for others to finish dining.

 

 

 

When we found a area that we liked with the servers we liked we would request them and was always accommodated. The servers also like that you request them as it makes feel appreciated and gets recognition from the management.

 

 

 

 

 

Happy cruising [emoji305][emoji568][emoji631][emoji274]

 

 

 

Yes we will request the team we liked from now on. We have reservations every night. Thanks for the advice!

 

 

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[mackilbeggan]

Yes we will request the team we liked from now on. We have reservations every night. Thanks for the advice!

 

 

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Excellent. Who's your CD? Are OZ and Luigi assisting? Also if you get a chance to go to the sunset bar to see if Mario and Lionel are back

 

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[PEIpair]

First, the lobster in Halifax or St John is NOT the same as the lobster you'll get in Bar Harbor or Portland. It's ok, but it's not Maine lobster! Same with the cruise ship lobster-it's Caribbean and if you're used to Maine (I live outside of Portland), you can't be bothered with it. There is a big difference in flavor and lucky you, with many stops this week you can try them all and make your own decision.

 

In Portland, pass by the DiMillo's Floating Restaurant (tourist trap) on the waterfront and hit the Portland Lobster Company. Or for a truly local, no frills experience with some of the best lobster and chowder around, try Gilbert's Chowder House (waterfront, opposite direction from PLC). This is where the local businesspeople and tradespeople have lunch.

 

Happy Cruising....and eating....and drinking.....

 

 

Doggfan7:

 

The lobster in Halifax and St. John certainly is EVERY bit as delicious as the Maine lobster. Fished in the cold Atlantic waters , it is essentially the same. I've eaten them from all locations listed above and there is no difference whatsoever. ( What may change the experience, is the time of year you are eating it and that is true for everywhere ).

It is the clawless, warm-water, Caribbean lobster those of us from the north cannot abide.

Wish you were calling on my hometown, Charlottetown, P.E.I. I'd prove it!

[doggfan7]

Excellent. Who's your CD? Are OZ and Luigi assisting? Also if you get a chance to go to the sunset bar to see if Mario and Lionel are back

 

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Chris Sweets is the CD. Not sure about OZ and Luigi assisting, perhaps but I haven't caught them yet. Truthfully, tonight's show has been our only "Celebrity Life Activity." It's tough getting to many organized activities with a 3yo, but we did see the show tonight, which was very good. They started the show off with the video on the Eden from the EDGE and it received a lukewarm to tepid response when Chris asked "after seeing that, who is excited?!" I thought it was hilarious and telling (although the audience on this cruise is not the intended target audience for EDGE, I think we might be in that demographic, but who knows).

 

I'll find out about the Sunset Bar staff for you. We were back there when the pod of whales appeared and they were very into and made it seem special, as if that sort of thing didn't happen every time they go past Massachusetts.

[doggfan7]

Doggfan7:

 

The lobster in Halifax and St. John certainly is EVERY bit as delicious as the Maine lobster. Fished in the cold Atlantic waters , it is essentially the same. I've eaten them from all locations listed above and there is no difference whatsoever. ( What may change the experience, is the time of year you are eating it and that is true for everywhere ).

It is the clawless, warm-water, Caribbean lobster those of us from the north cannot abide.

Wish you were calling on my hometown, Charlottetown, P.E.I. I'd prove it!

 

I understand :). People are proud of their hometown goods. I'm from New Jersey and went to school in Connecticut. My friends knew better than to tell me Connecticut pizza was just as good as home!

[doggfan7]

As I mentioned above, the show (Karen Granger - impressionist) last night was very good (DD slept through it on momma).

 

This morning we had breakfast in bed, courtesy of room service. Now we are dressed and ready to go get our tender tickets from the Martini Bar to head into Bar Harbor.

 

 

And here are today's dailies.

 

 

 

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[doggfan7]

We also received the information on Celebrity's plans for Canada Day and Independence Day. We are very interested in the Halifax shuttle they will be running, but very disappointed they chose to schedule Taste of Film the same night! What sense does that make?!

 

 

 

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[ZapRowsdower]

Just discovered this thread. Thanks for doing it! I will be on this same cruise next year.

[doggfan7]

We've had an outstanding day in Bar Harbor! We started out with one of the earliest tenders which was a thrill in and of itself for DD. We then took the half mile stroll along the Shore Path which was beautiful. We then walked down Main Street stopping in several shops along the way, including a woodworking shop named "In the Woods" which was really cool. So cool in fact we spent over $100 and had our goods shipped back home!

 

We also figured 10 am was as good a time as any for an ice cream break! We stopped at the Mt. Desert Ice Cream shop which has been rated one of the best ice creams in the country, with some wild homemade flavors (see below). It was very good.

 

We then boarded the 11am Oli's Trollies tour through Acadia National Park. What a wonderful experience! The skies were clear and Robin, our guide, was phenomenal with her storytelling and attention to detail. We had three stops: Thunder Hole, Jordan Pond House and Cadillac Mountain.

 

After the trolley tour, we were hungry and knew we wanted some Maine lobster, but also knew that our little one was wearing thin and we couldn't go hiking for a place, so we settled at Stewman's right at the dock. It is beautifully decorated, but we feared it was a tourist trap and not the best lobster we could get elsewhere. We both ordered the lobster roll and, while good, did not jump out as special to us. Oh well, first world problems - our lobster was good!!

 

My one lasting memory of today will be learning that any lobster you get at a restaurant from home that is over 1.5 lb that say it's from Maine is either lying about the weight or that it is from Maine, as Maine laws prohibit the harvesting of lobsters over 1.5 lb.

 

 

 

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[gold1953]

Thought I would add to this since I live in Halifax...

On pulling up to the pier you will see the USS Dwight D Eisenhower anchored nearby.. A thrill for Americans and others who like this sort of thing too. First time since 1998 that a large aircraft carrier has been here

 

the walk along the waterfront is blocked by construction so you will need to take a detour up to the streets

 

if you are up at the far end towards the casino and want a break the ferry across the harbour will be free all day and runs every 15 minutes,.. Super good seafood at Evans in the terminal on the other side.. and so cheap ( owner is a fisherman) Bets gluten free fish and chips !!

 

Celebrity says there is a dedicated viewing area for fireworks.. chuckle... 150 for country / It will be PACKED

 

for those staying close to ship there will be cultural shows at Pier 21 ( free) Irish dancers are at 1:55.. I will be there

 

Noon gun at Citadel Hill is cool... I will be there too

[gold1953]

First, the lobster in Halifax or St John is NOT the same as the lobster you'll get in Bar Harbor or Portland. It's ok, but it's not Maine lobster! Same with the cruise ship lobster-it's Caribbean and if you're used to Maine (I live outside of Portland), you can't be bothered with it. There is a big difference in flavor and lucky you, with many stops this week you can try them all and make your own decision.

 

In Portland, pass by the DiMillo's Floating Restaurant (tourist trap) on the waterfront and hit the Portland Lobster Company. Or for a truly local, no frills experience with some of the best lobster and chowder around, try Gilbert's Chowder House (waterfront, opposite direction from PLC). This is where the local businesspeople and tradespeople have lunch.

 

Happy Cruising....and eating....and drinking.....

 

Lobster is identical . Comes form the same water

[doggfan7]

 

 

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[BettyCruiser]

Thanks for the LIVE FROM report:) This itinerary is on my wish list for the future. I was kind of assuming the fireworks would be visible from the ship. Is that not the case, do you have to go ashore to view the fireworks?

 

Thanks

[doggfan7]

I'm also enjoying your review! We're on the July 16th to Bermuda, and I can't wait!

Thanks for posting the cocktail menu from sushi on 5.

If you manage to get to the martini bar, I would love to see a photo of their menu. ;-)

 

 

 

Here you go!

 

 

 

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[doggfan7]

Thanks for the LIVE FROM report:) This itinerary is on my wish list for the future. I was kind of assuming the fireworks would be visible from the ship. Is that not the case, do you have to go ashore to view the fireworks?

 

 

 

Thanks

 

 

 

Sadly, the fireworks are not visible from the ship for the Boston fireworks, too far away. I am hearing mixed reports on the Halifax fireworks. The shuttle to the Halifax Common for the fireworks (for $36) is already sold out, but I'm guessing a lot of the people who signed up for it will be very upset when they get there are there are a hundred thousand people there who have been waiting there since the am! I think we are going to be staying on the ship in Halifax and hope we see them. In Boston, our local friends will be taking us somewhere for a good view of them without needing to get there at 9am!

 

 

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