Just back from the Summit - here's a few thoughts.

[Shiba_Lover]

Just back from the Summit - here's a few thoughts.

 

We were in Retreat class, so had most meals in Luminae.  We did one lunch in the Ocean View cafe.  

 

The cruise was a short one - 4 nights from Miami.  Ports were Key West and Nassau with one sea day.  We just wanted to escape the cold weather at home, so this was more about a quick getaway than the ports.

 

Boarding - efficient.  Staff at the pier were helpful.  The boarding lounge was small, but it was fine to wait for a few minutes before they escorted us to the ship.  The concierges came to the lounge to speak to the passengers, then they walked us to the ship.  

 

The ship was nice.  We had not been on the Summit before.  It looks just like the Constellation in layout, which we had been on years ago.  The Summit has been revolutionized - so the decor was updated.  We were in a Celebrity Suite, which is nice.  The room itself was fine - but I am not sure I would book one of these again.  For the price - I think the bathroom is a bit small and others have pointed out the combo bathtub/shower is really tall - so you have to really step up to get in.  Not an issue for us - but my husband is 6'3" and he was too tall for the shower.  He hit his head on the fan which is in the shower.  His head was too tall for the shower head too.  The bedroom also get very hot at night.  Not sure if this was some AC issue - like in some hotels where it is motion activated or just being in the Caribbean and it was hot/humid outside.  But the living room stayed cool - just the bedroom was hot.

 

Our butler was Prez and room attendant was Gerardo.  Both were excellent.  Prez put some cold beers in our fridge and kept them stocked.  That was a nice touch.  It was my husband's birthday and he added a sign on the wall with a birthday message and also a piece of cake.  

 

Luminae - the food was very good but for sure the portions are smaller than they used to be.  I am OK with that.  But my husband was still hungry after the fish options.  He solved the problem by asking for a side of grilled vegetables.  They also brought MDR menus - I do still think they have fewer options than they used to.   I did notice on the MDR menu - it still said extra charge if you wanted an additional lobster.  We did not order lobster - so not sure if that charge would apply to those ordering in Luminae or only in MDR.

 

Ocean View - I did not make it by for dinner to see what they were offering.  We went for lunch one day and it was in full swing.  They had lamb and turkey at the carving station ( I did not notice if they had beef - I don't eat red meat, so I just don't often notice it - sorry!! - only noticed lamb as husband tried it).

The stations are self-serve.  I don't care for this at all.  I noticed many people walking around eating off of their plates with their hands WHILE also serving themselves.  Gross.  I also saw someone using tongs - but grabbing them by the tong part (the part that grabs food) not by the handle.  I decided to get chicken from the fajita section.  There was a guy standing there eating tortilla chips from the large bowl WITH HIS HANDS.  Have people forgotten how to behave?  So - that was it.  Don't need to eat this.  The panini grill still had someone making the panini for you.  I wish they would go back to served food.

 

All of the staff onboard were very upbeat/friendly like they have always been onboard Celebrity.  Ship seemed very well taken care of and clean.

 

We did go on a galley tour and someone asked about the supply chain issue - he said it is still impacting them as they sign contracts and order 8 - 9 months in advance for the cruise we are on now, and things are planned even before that.  Menu changes, etc are done long in advance.  And for example if they ordered X number of tomatoes or eggs 8 months ago but now it is not available - then they have to adjust.

 

So - interesting - still supply chain + cost cutting

 

 

[Shiba_Lover]

Oh - one thing I forgot to mention - I did book a future cruise - the option where you book a future reservation then have 1 year to actually book.  I was told that is changing to 6 months to book.  The change took effect on the cruise after mine.  So look for that change coming if any of you like to book this option onboard.

[HardyVA]

Did you happen to go to the gym (fitness center)?  This is very important to my husband.  We sailed on Summit 6 years in a row prior to Covid.  This June will be our first time back and we’re wondering if it’s changed much?  

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

Thanks for your review.  I've also had Prez as my butler on the Summit--he's great.  He had been our cabin attendant in the PH previously--I was very glad to see that he got promoted.  You should have mentioned the temperature issue to him--perhaps there was a separate thermostat in the bedroom.  I agree, that tub/shower combo is a no go.  I have to do at least a royal suite on M class for a separate shower.

[horseymike]

4 hours ago, ehall said:

Just back from the Summit - here's a few thoughts.

 

We were in Retreat class, so had most meals in Luminae.  We did one lunch in the Ocean View cafe.  

 

The cruise was a short one - 4 nights from Miami.  Ports were Key West and Nassau with one sea day.  We just wanted to escape the cold weather at home, so this was more about a quick getaway than the ports.

 

Boarding - efficient.  Staff at the pier were helpful.  The boarding lounge was small, but it was fine to wait for a few minutes before they escorted us to the ship.  The concierges came to the lounge to speak to the passengers, then they walked us to the ship.  

 

The ship was nice.  We had not been on the Summit before.  It looks just like the Constellation in layout, which we had been on years ago.  The Summit has been revolutionized - so the decor was updated.  We were in a Celebrity Suite, which is nice.  The room itself was fine - but I am not sure I would book one of these again.  For the price - I think the bathroom is a bit small and others have pointed out the combo bathtub/shower is really tall - so you have to really step up to get in.  Not an issue for us - but my husband is 6'3" and he was too tall for the shower.  He hit his head on the fan which is in the shower.  His head was too tall for the shower head too.  The bedroom also get very hot at night.  Not sure if this was some AC issue - like in some hotels where it is motion activated or just being in the Caribbean and it was hot/humid outside.  But the living room stayed cool - just the bedroom was hot.

 

Our butler was Prez and room attendant was Gerardo.  Both were excellent.  Prez put some cold beers in our fridge and kept them stocked.  That was a nice touch.  It was my husband's birthday and he added a sign on the wall with a birthday message and also a piece of cake.  

 

Luminae - the food was very good but for sure the portions are smaller than they used to be.  I am OK with that.  But my husband was still hungry after the fish options.  He solved the problem by asking for a side of grilled vegetables.  They also brought MDR menus - I do still think they have fewer options than they used to.   I did notice on the MDR menu - it still said extra charge if you wanted an additional lobster.  We did not order lobster - so not sure if that charge would apply to those ordering in Luminae or only in MDR.

 

Ocean View - I did not make it by for dinner to see what they were offering.  We went for lunch one day and it was in full swing.  They had lamb and turkey at the carving station ( I did not notice if they had beef - I don't eat red meat, so I just don't often notice it - sorry!! - only noticed lamb as husband tried it).

The stations are self-serve.  I don't care for this at all.  I noticed many people walking around eating off of their plates with their hands WHILE also serving themselves.  Gross.  I also saw someone using tongs - but grabbing them by the tong part (the part that grabs food) not by the handle.  I decided to get chicken from the fajita section.  There was a guy standing there eating tortilla chips from the large bowl WITH HIS HANDS.  Have people forgotten how to behave?  So - that was it.  Don't need to eat this.  The panini grill still had someone making the panini for you.  I wish they would go back to served food.

 

All of the staff onboard were very upbeat/friendly like they have always been onboard Celebrity.  Ship seemed very well taken care of and clean.

 

We did go on a galley tour and someone asked about the supply chain issue - he said it is still impacting them as they sign contracts and order 8 - 9 months in advance for the cruise we are on now, and things are planned even before that.  Menu changes, etc are done long in advance.  And for example if they ordered X number of tomatoes or eggs 8 months ago but now it is not available - then they have to adjust.

 

So - interesting - still supply chain + cost cutting

 

 

Thanks for your review.

[kwokpot]

3 hours ago, HardyVA said:

Did you happen to go to the gym (fitness center)?  This is very important to my husband.  We sailed on Summit 6 years in a row prior to Covid.  This June will be our first time back and we’re wondering if it’s changed much?  

The fitness center and the whole spa area has been altered. Having said that the gym has all the same equipment just in a smaller footprint than the original layout. I was concerned about the reduction in size of the gym but my fears were allayed. Cardio machines, weight training machines, and dumbbells all still there, The Locker rooms changed dramatically. They basically took the original  women's locker room and redesigned it to house both the men's and women's locker rooms. Gone are the spacious saunas with the round window BUT they did replace them with very small saunas that hold 4 comfortably. Individual Showers, vanity,  toilets, lockers are all still there, albeit in a space 1/2 the size. Best part it's still accessible to everyone, no need for a thermal suite pass. So a complementary sauna is available to everyone. 

Edited February 7, 2023 by kwokpot

[mpdog42]

4 hours ago, ehall said:

Just back from the Summit - here's a few thoughts.

 

We were in Retreat class, so had most meals in Luminae.  We did one lunch in the Ocean View cafe.  

 

The cruise was a short one - 4 nights from Miami.  Ports were Key West and Nassau with one sea day.  We just wanted to escape the cold weather at home, so this was more about a quick getaway than the ports.

 

Boarding - efficient.  Staff at the pier were helpful.  The boarding lounge was small, but it was fine to wait for a few minutes before they escorted us to the ship.  The concierges came to the lounge to speak to the passengers, then they walked us to the ship.  

 

The ship was nice.  We had not been on the Summit before.  It looks just like the Constellation in layout, which we had been on years ago.  The Summit has been revolutionized - so the decor was updated.  We were in a Celebrity Suite, which is nice.  The room itself was fine - but I am not sure I would book one of these again.  For the price - I think the bathroom is a bit small and others have pointed out the combo bathtub/shower is really tall - so you have to really step up to get in.  Not an issue for us - but my husband is 6'3" and he was too tall for the shower.  He hit his head on the fan which is in the shower.  His head was too tall for the shower head too.  The bedroom also get very hot at night.  Not sure if this was some AC issue - like in some hotels where it is motion activated or just being in the Caribbean and it was hot/humid outside.  But the living room stayed cool - just the bedroom was hot.

 

Our butler was Prez and room attendant was Gerardo.  Both were excellent.  Prez put some cold beers in our fridge and kept them stocked.  That was a nice touch.  It was my husband's birthday and he added a sign on the wall with a birthday message and also a piece of cake.  

 

Luminae - the food was very good but for sure the portions are smaller than they used to be.  I am OK with that.  But my husband was still hungry after the fish options.  He solved the problem by asking for a side of grilled vegetables.  They also brought MDR menus - I do still think they have fewer options than they used to.   I did notice on the MDR menu - it still said extra charge if you wanted an additional lobster.  We did not order lobster - so not sure if that charge would apply to those ordering in Luminae or only in MDR.

 

Ocean View - I did not make it by for dinner to see what they were offering.  We went for lunch one day and it was in full swing.  They had lamb and turkey at the carving station ( I did not notice if they had beef - I don't eat red meat, so I just don't often notice it - sorry!! - only noticed lamb as husband tried it).

The stations are self-serve.  I don't care for this at all.  I noticed many people walking around eating off of their plates with their hands WHILE also serving themselves.  Gross.  I also saw someone using tongs - but grabbing them by the tong part (the part that grabs food) not by the handle.  I decided to get chicken from the fajita section.  There was a guy standing there eating tortilla chips from the large bowl WITH HIS HANDS.  Have people forgotten how to behave?  So - that was it.  Don't need to eat this.  The panini grill still had someone making the panini for you.  I wish they would go back to served food.

 

All of the staff onboard were very upbeat/friendly like they have always been onboard Celebrity.  Ship seemed very well taken care of and clean.

 

We did go on a galley tour and someone asked about the supply chain issue - he said it is still impacting them as they sign contracts and order 8 - 9 months in advance for the cruise we are on now, and things are planned even before that.  Menu changes, etc are done long in advance.  And for example if they ordered X number of tomatoes or eggs 8 months ago but now it is not available - then they have to adjust.

 

So - interesting - still supply chain + cost cutting

 

 

Thank you for your honest review!

[Shiba_Lover]

1 hour ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

Thanks for your review.  I've also had Prez as my butler on the Summit--he's great.  He had been our cabin attendant in the PH previously--I was very glad to see that he got promoted.  You should have mentioned the temperature issue to him--perhaps there was a separate thermostat in the bedroom.  I agree, that tub/shower combo is a no go.  I have to do at least a royal suite on M class for a separate shower.

There were two controls. One in the bedroom and another in the living room. It was just odd.  We had it set low.  It seemed like it was set on motion.  Yes.  Should have mentioned it.  Just kept forgetting during the day. 😁

[Shiba_Lover]

4 hours ago, HardyVA said:

Did you happen to go to the gym (fitness center)?  This is very important to my husband.  We sailed on Summit 6 years in a row prior to Covid.  This June will be our first time back and we’re wondering if it’s changed much?  

We did not make it this trip - but sounds like Kwokpot covered it pretty well!

[George C]

Thanks for the review, glad you liked Luminae, we don’t care for celebrity suites in this class , dislike the balcony and shower. We sail her next month in royal suite which has a huge balcony with small hot tub, you also get free specialty restaurants and bar setup with two liters of liquor of your choice. Do you remember who concierge was , ours last year was fantastic. 

[Shiba_Lover]

10 minutes ago, George C said:

Thanks for the review, glad you liked Luminae, we don’t care for celebrity suites in this class , dislike the balcony and shower. We sail her next month in royal suite which has a huge balcony with small hot tub, you also get free specialty restaurants and bar setup with two liters of liquor of your choice. Do you remember who concierge was , ours last year was fantastic.

The concierges were Conrad and Connie.  ( Or the Conn's) . They were both very good.  

[tomcruiser1234]

Glad you had a fun time on Summit   We will be on her in April. Self serving food is a problem when people dont use good health practices. I think some just dont think…

 

 

Also, I am sure that suites will come down in price. 

 

FCC have been a big factor in them filling up at some pretty high prices.  As long as they remain full the price will stay as is. Crazy when per night cost is over $1000 per night. 

[AF-1]

Thank you for your review.  Very nice to hear the positive and negatives based on your experience.  I will be taking my first Celebrity Cruise in March.  Cheers

[horseymike]

1 hour ago, tomcruiser1234 said:

Glad you had a fun time on Summit   We will be on her in April. Self serving food is a problem when people dont use good health practices. I think some just dont think…

 

 

Also, I am sure that suites will come down in price. 

 

FCC have been a big factor in them filling up at some pretty high prices.  As long as they remain full the price will stay as is. Crazy when per night cost is over $1000 per night. 

All true. Hopefully the higher ups at RCCL / Celebrity will address the concerns on these boards about the quality of the things that make people enjoy cruising … eg food , entertainment , because like anything else, when quality leaves the customers are not far behind.

[Shiba_Lover]

1 hour ago, newtocruiseinblue said:

 

One thing I will agree with you on is that everyone on this board that stays in a suite thinks we care, but we don't (not talking about the OP). 

No, I don't think people "care" if I am in a suite.  I am pointing out the type of room I am in so people are aware of what I am commenting on (either good or bad).  As I pointed out some issues / concerns I had with the shower/tub - I think it is important to note the room name so that people can avoid it if they would like to.  I think this is the case for most people on these boards.  Hope that helps explain why I pointed out the room type.  

[Daleed77]

Thank you for the review!

 

Staying in a suite has become easier since moving to Miami. No flights, hotels, etc. Also, I have three cruises booked currently: two are in suites, and one is Aqua. The Aqua stateroom is for a holiday cruise and far more expensive than the suites I booked. It's all relative. 

Edited February 8, 2023 by Daleed77

[thepetries1991]

On 2/7/2023 at 2:25 PM, ehall said:

Just back from the Summit - here's a few thoughts.

 

We were in Retreat class, so had most meals in Luminae.  We did one lunch in the Ocean View cafe.  

 

 

 

 

Thank you for posting your experience. We have only done one other cruise and I am enjoying reading about others experiences, from those staying inside cabin to those in a penthouse. We had originally booked a Celebrity suite and chose to make a change to a RS (and yes, we really are booked in a RS for our cruise), so I like hearing about both as I hope it will give us a better feel for what we'd like to do the next time. I appreciate you stating your experiences both good and not so good as I believe it helps me to keep my expectations reasonable.

[newtocruiseinblue]

8 hours ago, ehall said:

No, I don't think people "care" if I am in a suite.  I am pointing out the type of room I am in so people are aware of what I am commenting on (either good or bad).  As I pointed out some issues / concerns I had with the shower/tub - I think it is important to note the room name so that people can avoid it if they would like to.  I think this is the case for most people on these boards.  Hope that helps explain why I pointed out the room type.  

Completely understand, which is why I said not talking about the OP (which means original poster)...

[jcpc]

23 hours ago, ehall said:

The concierges were Conrad and Connie.  ( Or the Conn's) . They were both very good.  

I don’t know Conrad but Connie is excellent.  I hope she’s still onboard when we sail in April.  I would love to see her again.

[2boxers]

Sadly, the behavior in the buffet is not new or exclusive to Celebrity nor is this poor behavior limited to cruising!  We have sailed for 25 years and run into this everywhere. As a chef and caterer, I can tell you these things happen all the time.  We have always (way before covid) carried our own sanitizer to use after going through the buffet lines and using s & p shakers, etc.  (even when dining out at home)

 

For years the cruise lines have done their best to ask guests to use the wash stations, those so arrogant to think they have no germs to spread just past right by. In March of 2022 we were on a cruise on the Edge, the buffet was served by the staff.  Our next cruise in November of '22 the buffet was back to self serve. UGH! 

 

There is always people eating at the buffet, eating while walking around, eating with their fingers in the crowd.  It's amazing how poor peoples manners are.

[psuboater]

On 2/7/2023 at 11:56 AM, HardyVA said:

Did you happen to go to the gym (fitness center)?  This is very important to my husband.  We sailed on Summit 6 years in a row prior to Covid.  This June will be our first time back and we’re wondering if it’s changed much?  

Sailed in June 2022, as well as Pre-Covid (2018 and 2019). The biggest difference to me is the 4 (possibly 5?) Peloton Bikes offered for free (you have to make a reservation, but mid-way through the cruise, the gym was so empty they just waved me through). The room to do mat work appeared smaller to me, but otherwise, it's a nice gym with an excellent view. 

[Georgia_Peaches]

I would have been complaining majorly about sleeping in a hot bedroom!  This happened to us once in a RS and they eventually brought me a fan. Mama can’t sleep in a hot room! 🥵. 
 

Appreciate the review!

Edited February 10, 2023 by Georgia_Peaches

[horseymike]

On 2/8/2023 at 8:19 PM, 2boxers said:

Sadly, the behavior in the buffet is not new or exclusive to Celebrity nor is this poor behavior limited to cruising!  We have sailed for 25 years and run into this everywhere. As a chef and caterer, I can tell you these things happen all the time.  We have always (way before covid) carried our own sanitizer to use after going through the buffet lines and using s & p shakers, etc.  (even when dining out at home)

 

For years the cruise lines have done their best to ask guests to use the wash stations, those so arrogant to think they have no germs to spread just past right by. In March of 2022 we were on a cruise on the Edge, the buffet was served by the staff.  Our next cruise in November of '22 the buffet was back to self serve. UGH! 

 

There is always people eating at the buffet, eating while walking around, eating with their fingers in the crowd.  It's amazing how poor peoples manners are.

the majority of the people are wonderful to cruise with , unfortunately you will always run into a few who are not housebroke.

[JustCruzin77]

On 2/7/2023 at 2:25 PM, ehall said:

Just back from the Summit - here's a few thoughts.

 

We were in Retreat class, so had most meals in Luminae.  We did one lunch in the Ocean View cafe.  

 

The cruise was a short one - 4 nights from Miami.  Ports were Key West and Nassau with one sea day.  We just wanted to escape the cold weather at home, so this was more about a quick getaway than the ports.

 

Boarding - efficient.  Staff at the pier were helpful.  The boarding lounge was small, but it was fine to wait for a few minutes before they escorted us to the ship.  The concierges came to the lounge to speak to the passengers, then they walked us to the ship.  

 

The ship was nice.  We had not been on the Summit before.  It looks just like the Constellation in layout, which we had been on years ago.  The Summit has been revolutionized - so the decor was updated.  We were in a Celebrity Suite, which is nice.  The room itself was fine - but I am not sure I would book one of these again.  For the price - I think the bathroom is a bit small and others have pointed out the combo bathtub/shower is really tall - so you have to really step up to get in.  Not an issue for us - but my husband is 6'3" and he was too tall for the shower.  He hit his head on the fan which is in the shower.  His head was too tall for the shower head too.  The bedroom also get very hot at night.  Not sure if this was some AC issue - like in some hotels where it is motion activated or just being in the Caribbean and it was hot/humid outside.  But the living room stayed cool - just the bedroom was hot.

 

Our butler was Prez and room attendant was Gerardo.  Both were excellent.  Prez put some cold beers in our fridge and kept them stocked.  That was a nice touch.  It was my husband's birthday and he added a sign on the wall with a birthday message and also a piece of cake.  

 

Luminae - the food was very good but for sure the portions are smaller than they used to be.  I am OK with that.  But my husband was still hungry after the fish options.  He solved the problem by asking for a side of grilled vegetables.  They also brought MDR menus - I do still think they have fewer options than they used to.   I did notice on the MDR menu - it still said extra charge if you wanted an additional lobster.  We did not order lobster - so not sure if that charge would apply to those ordering in Luminae or only in MDR.

 

Ocean View - I did not make it by for dinner to see what they were offering.  We went for lunch one day and it was in full swing.  They had lamb and turkey at the carving station ( I did not notice if they had beef - I don't eat red meat, so I just don't often notice it - sorry!! - only noticed lamb as husband tried it).

The stations are self-serve.  I don't care for this at all.  I noticed many people walking around eating off of their plates with their hands WHILE also serving themselves.  Gross.  I also saw someone using tongs - but grabbing them by the tong part (the part that grabs food) not by the handle.  I decided to get chicken from the fajita section.  There was a guy standing there eating tortilla chips from the large bowl WITH HIS HANDS.  Have people forgotten how to behave?  So - that was it.  Don't need to eat this.  The panini grill still had someone making the panini for you.  I wish they would go back to served food.

 

All of the staff onboard were very upbeat/friendly like they have always been onboard Celebrity.  Ship seemed very well taken care of and clean.

 

We did go on a galley tour and someone asked about the supply chain issue - he said it is still impacting them as they sign contracts and order 8 - 9 months in advance for the cruise we are on now, and things are planned even before that.  Menu changes, etc are done long in advance.  And for example if they ordered X number of tomatoes or eggs 8 months ago but now it is not available - then they have to adjust.

 

So - interesting - still supply chain + cost cutting

 

 

Thanks for your review!

My wife and I are booked on the Summit this June for our 19th Anniversary. This will be our 4th cruise, and 1st time with Celebrity. One of the things we liked was that they serve you in the buffet, it's sad to hear that this service has stopped!

After booking we also heard that they close two thirds of the buffet for dinner service! We normally dine in the restaurant so this probably wont effect us much, but it would be nice to have the option of a full buffet for dinner.

We were also hoping the crowd in the buffet and on the ship in general would be a bit more respectful of others than the crowd we experienced on our last Carnival cruise.

We booked an inside cabin. We're not really planning on spending a lot of time in our room, although if we have the opportunity for a cheap upgrade to a balcony or a suite we would gladly take it! I'm going to look into the room auction, this is also new to me!

I'm also curious about the future cruises, another sad change that it's down to 6 months! I've only heard a little bit about Future Cruises, what sort of perks do they offer you for booking on board, and is it true that you can stack those perks with online offers later in the year?

 

 

[Shiba_Lover]

1 hour ago, JustCruzin77 said:

I'm also curious about the future cruises, another sad change that it's down to 6 months! I've only heard a little bit about Future Cruises, what sort of perks do they offer you for booking on board, and is it true that you can stack those perks with online offers later in the year?

 

 

Hi - the other perks for booking onboard are a reduced deposit.  And yes, whatever best offer is available at the time - you do get the additional benefit on top of the best offer perks.  So it is a win-win.  You can either book direct on board or do the future booking reservation like I did, which is a place holder.  With that, the benefit is you have a reservation for a booking with the reduced deposit.  If you make a real booking within the time frame (mine is one year, but that will be 6 months as they are changing it) - then your deposit is the reduced amount, and you get the best offer in place at the time plus the additional benefits as you booked on board.  If you do not book - then the deposit is refunded.   Enjoy your cruise!