Glorious Summit

[Hawkstar33]

13 hours ago, George C said:

We did summit in March only thing I would like to add is we were extremely disappointed in Tuscan speciality but totally loved Le Petit Chef and we did both multiple times.

Wow surprised.. Quite different for us.  We both had the Filet each time, mine with gorgonzola sauce on the side, cooked med/rare. It was great.  I'm sure they would have remedied your unhappiness right away, if you said something. Don't give up on them.  We tried Le Petit on last trip, was very good, but we are part of the one and done club, with the animation.   Wish Silk Harvest would return, as well as the old Qsine....

[George C]

35 minutes ago, Hawkstar33 said:

Wow surprised.. Quite different for us.  We both had the Filet each time, mine with gorgonzola sauce on the side, cooked med/rare. It was great.  I'm sure they would have remedied your unhappiness right away, if you said something. Don't give up on them.  We tried Le Petit on last trip, was very good, but we are part of the one and done club, with the animation.   Wish Silk Harvest would return, as well as the old Qsine....

Both meals I had ordered Italian, would have been better off with the steak .

[Midlo]

Thanks for the interesting review. Summit is our second favorite ship ( next to Equinox) and in fact we are on her now for the May 6 sailing. We arrived in Bermuda early today at 11 AM instead of 5 PM. There was a medical emergency onboard so they sped here as fast as possible. Don’t know any other details but we did see them transported from the ship. 
The weather for this entire cruise has been perfect. The only thing that could be better would be a little bit warmer for the people headed to beaches but even Thayer should be happy.

I have to agree with the OP about the officers and crew on this ship. Everyone is extremely friendly and helpful. Even fellow passengers are the friendliest we’ve ever encountered.

 

 

 

 

 

[dls881]

We were on the ABC portion. The 10 day cruise was perfect.  No complaints about anything. shout out to our room attendant, Ri-tesh. Outstanding service!  

[bayonnejoe]

           DW, friends, and myself, have been sailing the Summit since 2010. We have seen the transition of Normandie (which we had many great meals, and a few not so great) to Tuscan Grille. We have witnessed the many incarnations of Bistro on 5, now Sushi on 5. We've had many great nights at Qsine before it became Le Petit Chef. We dine several times each sailing at Tuscan. I think that dining at specialty restaurants on ships has the slight possibility of being a crapshoot, only because of limitations of the ingredients being used. We've dined at Tuscan several times on the same sailing, most recently on the April 26th repo. On the first night, everyone thought it was excellent. On the second night, steaks were very good, but we did have a few issues. The dining room was more crowded, and service was spotty. We order the meatballs every time we go, and the first night everyone thought they were excellent. However,  on the second night, they were  not good. They bore no resemblance  to what we had on the first night.  They were balls of mush  and looked undercooked. To make matters worse,  when we brought this to their attention,  the chef came to our table and proceeded to explain to us why were wrong. Needless to say no one ate them. 

          I guess the moral of the story is just order something else when you are not satisfied. They will never say no.

[olemissreb]

My sister and I are debating between Summit and Rhapsody of the Seas for a Southern Caribbean cruise in Feb. '25. I've cruised both Celebrity and RCCL. Right now Summit is about $700 more expensive. I know both ships are older which doesn't bother us. What advice/perspective can you give me about sailing one over the other? 

 

Also, my sister is a recovering alcoholic (almost 19 years sober!!!! YAY SIS!), but I'm going to want a drink package. Is it possible for me to get it without my sister having to do the same? Is it something I would have to do on board? Any help/guidance is appreciated.

[Hawkstar33]

2 hours ago, olemissreb said:

My sister and I are debating between Summit and Rhapsody of the Seas for a Southern Caribbean cruise in Feb. '25. I've cruised both Celebrity and RCCL. Right now Summit is about $700 more expensive. I know both ships are older which doesn't bother us. What advice/perspective can you give me about sailing one over the other? 

 

Also, my sister is a recovering alcoholic (almost 19 years sober!!!! YAY SIS!), but I'm going to want a drink package. Is it possible for me to get it without my sister having to do the same? Is it something I would have to do on board? Any help/guidance is appreciated.

Can't tell you about Rhapsody.  Summit wins with us.  I'm sure that they will work something out, in regards to your sister. Bravo to her.  They will figure out a package to fit both of your needs.  You can call up each cruise line beforehand , and I'm sure they will explain it to you. Good luck

[RichYak]

3 hours ago, olemissreb said:

Also, my sister is a recovering alcoholic (almost 19 years sober!!!! YAY SIS!), but I'm going to want a drink package. Is it possible for me to get it without my sister having to do the same? Is it something I would have to do on board? Any help/guidance is appreciated.

Typically, both passengers are required to have the same beverage package. There are exceptions made for circumstances like your sister's. Call before your cruise to purchase your drink package (classic or premium), let them know what you've told us, and they will permit your sister to purchase the Zero Proof package instead.

[olemissreb]

14 hours ago, Hawkstar33 said:

Can't tell you about Rhapsody.  Summit wins with us.  I'm sure that they will work something out, in regards to your sister. Bravo to her.  They will figure out a package to fit both of your needs.  You can call up each cruise line beforehand , and I'm sure they will explain it to you. Good luck

 

14 hours ago, RichYak said:

Typically, both passengers are required to have the same beverage package. There are exceptions made for circumstances like your sister's. Call before your cruise to purchase your drink package (classic or premium), let them know what you've told us, and they will permit your sister to purchase the Zero Proof package instead.

 

Thank you Hawkstar & RichYak.  Last time I cruised (in 2019), there didn't seem to be any exceptions allowed on the beverage packages.  Good to know that Celebrity, at least, now recognizes that there needs to be exceptions for some people.  I'm ok going without it, if necessary, but it sure is much easier to have it and not have to sign those pesky slips all the time.

[jagoffee]

1 hour ago, olemissreb said:

 

 

Thank you Hawkstar & RichYak.  Last time I cruised (in 2019), there didn't seem to be any exceptions allowed on the beverage packages.  Good to know that Celebrity, at least, now recognizes that there needs to be exceptions for some people.  I'm ok going without it, if necessary, but it sure is much easier to have it and not have to sign those pesky slips all the time.

Do you have a Casino booking?  If not, it might be better to book the AI rate. (Bundle)

Booking just a Beverage package only might not be the best option.

Edited May 15, 2023 by jagoffee

[olemissreb]

17 minutes ago, jagoffee said:

Do you have a Casino booking?  If not, it might be better to book the AI rate. (Bundle)

Booking just a Beverage package only might not be the best option.

We haven't booked anything yet.  We won't have a Casino booking (whatever that is)  AI may give us more than we really want/need, but I haven't priced that out yet either.  If I book that, I would have to book both of us as Zero Proof packages and then call to upgrade mine to a premium beverage - is that correct?  Or is it that I book both of us a beverage package and then have to call to downgrade my sister to Zero Proof and upgrade me to premium?

[Cachecara]

On 5/7/2023 at 10:15 AM, Laurab23 said:

So happy to read all the positives. We love the Summit and will be boarding her May 15. I will miss being on her next years. After so many cruises, she feels like home to me.

 

Laura

Us to! On our way to port now.  Many times on lovely Summit. 

[mahdnc]

NY Harbor webcam: link

 

[mahdnc]

She is sailing away now (link).

 

[jagoffee]

11 hours ago, olemissreb said:

We haven't booked anything yet.  We won't have a Casino booking (whatever that is)  AI may give us more than we really want/need, but I haven't priced that out yet either.  If I book that, I would have to book both of us as Zero Proof packages and then call to upgrade mine to a premium beverage - is that correct?  Or is it that I book both of us a beverage package and then have to call to downgrade my sister to Zero Proof and upgrade me to premium?

I suggest  compare the price of a booking with the AI and a Cruise only booking.  You would not get a reduction by downgrading the second person to a Zero proof package.

 

Compare the AI pricing to a cruise only booking with a separate Premium drink package  and a Zero Proof package.  This likely be more expensive and not include the internet and regular gratuities.