Live from the Summit

[avalon1025]

Hi everyone,

 

Currently in Aruba on the Summit, here is a brief overview..

 

Ship is in much better condition that lead to believe, in fact of the three Celebrity cruises we have taking in the last 12 months this ship is in the best condition (better than Mercury and Infinity).

 

Service has been also tops, best we have had in many Celebrity cruises.

 

Food has been hit or miss, and the dinning room, though great service, food has been unmemorable. Meats are good, salads weak, overall no better or worse than any of the other cruise lines in this segment

 

Our suite is in perfect working order, we asked to have our balcony railing varnished and it was done the next day (it was completely raw wood and worn)

 

Nightlife is dull! The DJ is some frumpy college kid who could care less. After 11:00 this ship is pretty quiets except for the casino. If you are young and want to disco, you might get one or two nights onboard

 

The pools have been crowded and with really a loud Lionel Richie CD playing, there is no nice quiet adult pool (outdoor) to enjoy.

 

Lots of Jeans and T's in the dinning room...

 

Overall we are hainvg a good time!

[barryod]

Thanks for the report avalon1025. Summit is due for dry dock in April for the standard upgrades and repairs. I'm anxious to get back on board.:D

 

Barry

[Andy]

Hi Avalon !

 

Thanks for the report. Have a great Cruise !

[Kaboochi]

Avalon,

 

Sounds like the cruise for you is so/so, which is too bad. We did 2/9-2/16 total 13 of us. Pre-winter break and it was absolutely fantastic. Food, entertainment, ports and everything else were fantastic. Cruise years for the group 20+. Ages range from 49-59. We'd do Summit again in a heartbeat. Sit on aft 10 tommorrow and have a drink for us. Hope the rocking and rolling is not bad coming back from Aruba, it was a rolly ride for us. Laurie

[Kaboochi]

Oh my word, this is the best/most obsurd complaint I have read on the forum. Yes, the railings need to be revarnished but who goes on a vacation and looks at something like that. YOU ARE ON VACATION, ENJOY! Celebrity Summit had the cleanest rooms and the most comfortalbe beds I have ever rested in. Laurie

[usha]

Celebrity Summit had the cleanest rooms and the most comfortalbe beds I have ever rested in.

...and, NO BED BUGS!!!:D

[Kaboochi]

And no Virus outbreak! Laurie

[PatC]

Question for all you guys on board

 

What time did they allow you to board? We're sailing on 3/22. Last time we sailed on Galaxy they didn't allow ANYONE to board before 12:30. I know, cleaning the ship, late arrival, etc., etc., but, barring any problems, what time do you think?

 

I'm so glad Summit is okay. This will be our 4th time sailing her and she's one of our favorite ships. A little wear and tear is to be expected with 2000 people every week, but all in all she's always been extremely clean and well kept.

 

Thanks for any help.

 

BTW - what about taking liquor on board from the shop in the terminal? I know this question has been asked more than a dozen times, but would like to confirm what's happening so close to our cruise. Thanks again folks.

 

Enjoy your cruise. We're experiencing snow, sleet and freezing rain right now - airports are way behind so I hope this doesn't affect anyone flying home tomorrow. The Northeast is socked in for a while.

 

Pat C

[Tiki_Man]

Avalon, take good care of the ship, we board in 1 week (plus 1 day). Thanks for the updates.

 

Tiki

[Kaboochi]

Avalon,

 

Based on the information from the !st day newsletter, boarding begins at 11:00. We boarded at 12:15 and were up in the cafe by 12:45. It was an absolute breeze.

 

A couple of people in our group bought liquor at the store in the boarding terminal and put it in their carry-on without any problem. Except for the port security nobody looked in our bags. We heard later from someone that they had theirs taken away because there was a gent checking carry-on suitcases as soon as you walked off the last gangway onto the ship. We brought the allowed 2 bottles of wine on board and it went through the xray security check fine.

 

Anyone who had put it in the suitcases that were brought to the cabins by the staff had no problem.

 

You will love this ship and its staff, it is definitely a step up from RC and we loved their ships too. Beds are new and sooooo comfy. Food was very very good, and the desserts were the best our group of 13 have had at sea.

 

Beware of the slot machines - they are VERY tight, fun but tight! There is a thread called San Juan and South 2/9 that we were part of. Check it out as there is a lot of tour info for Dominica and Grenada.

 

Dominica was our fav. We rented a very comfortable mini-bus and had 1 driver for the entire day for $20pp. He gave us his card with his email address if you want it. He would meet you right outside the pier. We snorkeled, did the falls and sulfer spring, ate at a great restaurant in the rain forest and swam at Screw's Hot Springs (That was the highlight). The owner, yes his name is Screw, was very nice. The cost is $10 per hour and we loved it. He has a website and you can email him. Tell him Fred and his gang sent you. ENJOY! Laurie

[avalon1025]

We are back after a long long flight from San Juan back to the west coast. Overall the Summit was a nice cruise, and we have Constellation up next.

 

Suite: our cabin was in fine shape, again much better than Mercury or Infinity and we had a wonderful butler named Darrell. We did not ask him for much but he bought us team each afternoon and would always be there to open doors etc. Yes, the teak rail in our cabin was completely raw and its a pet peeve of mine. It took them three minutes to wipe more varnish on it (so if you think thats too fussy, too bad)

 

Normandie Restaurant: Food was just OK, not the best we have had in a Celebrity alternative restaurant, though service was excellent

 

Dinning Room: We had a very nice waiter and a so-so head waiter. Our waiter tried hard, but food was hit or miss, but overall nothing to write home about. Not that we went hungry, but the food was no better or worse than any other line in this segment.

 

We did have one incident on the last formal night where our table and a few others did not receive entrees and we ended up leaving at 10:45 after only soup and salad. Received a call from guest relations manager the next day saying that the kitchen had not anticipated so many passengers ordering the fillet and they ran out/and or could not find any that would be ready in time. Whatever, it was a simple 7 night cruise, they should know by now how to stock their ships. Also, I would think our head waiter would have offered something else off the menu, but at 10:45 we were done with it all.

 

Service: Service was wonderful, all the crew seemed happy, always smiling with a hello. Overall our top Celebrity cruise for service.

 

Ports: Nice Caribbean itinerary, we docked everywhere which was nice.

 

Entertainment: Production shows were good, I know everyone loved them, but I thought the singing quartet was strange. Having pre-dinner drinks felt like being at a gospel brunch.

 

Pool was crowded, I missed the ships that have a variety of pool areas to break up crowds.

 

Happy to see the library still intact vs being filled in with cabins like on Infinity

 

Overall a nice time, we enjoyed the cruise and look forward to the Constellation.

[avalon1025]

also, Celebrity, please re-do that awful Bar at the Edge of the Earth, its fantastic real estate but looks terrible!

[eskiemopie]

Hi. We're sailing on 3/8 southern carribean (our 1st cruise). For those of you who are familiar with the Summit, do they provide a hair dryer & ironing board? Are there laundry facilities on site? Is entrance to the persian garden or use of the thalasotherapy pool additional? And regarding the aquaspa cafe? Is that included as well or additional? What about beverages i.e. smoothies and such at the aquaspa cafe? And finally, how are you transporting your luggage from the cruise terminal to the airport? Our flight isn't until late afternoon. Is there a luggage storage in San Juan? Thanks for your help.

[WineDown17]

I had to laugh at the tight slots comment- The last time I was on Summit, I had to walk thru the casino on the 2nd to last day of trip to pick up photos.. I had $5 in my pocket and figured I hadnt gambled at all the whole trip (other than getting married on it... lol) so I dropped $3 in a Wheel of fortune Slot... And hit for $1,000 on my one and only spin!!! Cant beat that.. guess it was my lucky day!! And it paid off a few of the bottles of wine we had enjoyed.. hubby was ecstatic to pay down a little of the room charges beforer we even got home!!

[looking]

Hi eskiemopie,

 

Yes the do have hair dryers in the bathrooms.

 

They do not have irons and you are not allowed to bring on on board.

 

There are no laundry facalities but the prices of laundry is less than back home.

 

Persan garden cost $100 for the cruise. Basically you get a dry sauna, a wet sauna and a herbal steam room. Think that's it.

 

The thalasotherapy pool is free as is the Aqua Spa Cafe. They don't have smoothies there that I was aware of For lunch they usually have a cold soup, a vegie entree and 2 fish or meat ones, fresh fruit and 2 deserts. Don't remember too much about their breakfast but everything is low/no fat.

 

As far a luggage, there is a restaurant in old San Juan that will hold your lugage for you. I don't know the name of it but I'm sure they can find it for you on the ship.

 

Enjoy your trip. We had a good time.

[eskiemopie]

Thank you Looking for responding to my questions. How was the food at Aquaspa cafe? Which beverages are included on the ship? I know obviously alcohol & sodas but are juices, iced tea, water, included at all restaurants?

[Kaboochi]

Auqa spa food is not only wonderful but beautifully displayed on each plate. Better yet, at 5pm the cafe opens their shushi bar which my husband said was absolutely wonderul. It looked good to me too but I was not the least bit hungry at 5pm

[Kaboochi]

I love Summit but their blowdryers are just the worst. I have curly hair and left my mega-blower home. I gave up after 2 days and went curly. I liked the ease of the new hairdo so much I think I will do this for every cruise following. If you want perfect hair BRING YOUR OWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am serious, their blowdryers have no power for those of us that are hair challenged!!!!! Laurie

[MLK2000]

Just got back from the Summit on the 23rd. We were allowed in at 11:30, and breezed through check in and security. We were on board by 11:40AM. We were also on the Summit a few years ago and is still looks great. We had a wonderful time. Don't let any of the negative comments discourage you.

[looking]

eskiemopie,

 

The food at the Aqua Cafe was the best. They are preparing in much smaller quantities and the quality of the food and presentation is great. During our 2/9 - 2/16 trip they had several different sliced chicken plates, some cold fish such as poached salmon, vegie taco salad, salid nicoise, sliced fruit plates.

 

The free drinks in self serve dispensers were lemonaid, ice tea and I think it was passion guava juice. For breakfast there also was OJ. There is always ice dispensers and water available. Not sure what was available for free besides water in the Cosmopolitian restaurant as I ordered drinks from the bar.

 

I did hear that the hair dryers in CC are better that the regular cabins. Just a rumor.

[hcat]

you already answered my ques abt Bar at Edge of the Earth--hopefully it'll be restored to it's former look or something even better on the next drydock. We won't return to Summit til that is done just on Gen Principle--

 

But Summit is on our list of favorites--

[eskiemopie]

Thank you all for your tips/advice especially about the hairdryers. I didn't want to pack one but I think I will. I did find out that Barachina restaurant and Agua Guia offers luggage storage so that solves one of my problems. Regarding the irons, does anyone know if I can get one from housekeeping so I can press my clothes? It seems silly to have your whole suitcase full of clothes pressed. Thanks.

[davebadger]

A couple of comments - buying booze in the cruise terminal was a breeze; they actually seemed to "encourage" it. We bought two bottles of rum and then I bought the soda card once we got on the ships. Rum and Diet Coke was then my drink for the next several days! We were on the ship by 12:30 and eating by 1:00 p.m.

 

As far as packing/ironing, we packed our clothes in ziploc bags - believe it or not, it keeps the wrinkles out (or at least contained...) My wife is now addicted to the idea of packing in ziploc bags - it gives you more room in the suitcase and really does seem to keep the wrinkles at bay. We brought along some Downy Wrinkle Release spray but I didn't have to use it (even on my suits).

 

The balcony was very nice; yes, the railing was a bit worn but as stated earlier, that's being a bit nitpicky. The best spot on the ship is the bar on the 10th level aft deck. Great spot to sit as your leaving port. Also, I highly recommend the thelasotherapy pool after the day at port - very relaxing!!!

 

Have a great time!

[BabySis]

Avalon,

 

Based on the information from the !st day newsletter, boarding begins at 11:00. We boarded at 12:15 and were up in the cafe by 12:45. It was an absolute breeze.

 

A couple of people in our group bought liquor at the store in the boarding terminal and put it in their carry-on without any problem. Except for the port security nobody looked in our bags. We heard later from someone that they had theirs taken away because there was a gent checking carry-on suitcases as soon as you walked off the last gangway onto the ship. We brought the allowed 2 bottles of wine on board and it went through the xray security check fine.

 

Anyone who had put it in the suitcases that were brought to the cabins by the staff had no problem.

 

You will love this ship and its staff, it is definitely a step up from RC and we loved their ships too. Beds are new and sooooo comfy. Food was very very good, and the desserts were the best our group of 13 have had at sea.

 

Beware of the slot machines - they are VERY tight, fun but tight! There is a thread called San Juan and South 2/9 that we were part of. Check it out as there is a lot of tour info for Dominica and Grenada.

 

Dominica was our fav. We rented a very comfortable mini-bus and had 1 driver for the entire day for $20pp. He gave us his card with his email address if you want it. He would meet you right outside the pier. We snorkeled, did the falls and sulfer spring, ate at a great restaurant in the rain forest and swam at Screw's Hot Springs (That was the highlight). The owner, yes his name is Screw, was very nice. The cost is $10 per hour and we loved it. He has a website and you can email him. Tell him Fred and his gang sent you. ENJOY! Laurie

Laurie, could you please share these email addresses!! dinahsue@dinahfuller.com

[glenneagle]

We got off the summit on saturday.

Had a great cruise but worst food/service of any celebrity cruise.WEhave done over 15 on celebrity.Food was always cold, orders were never correct.Wrong soups or entrees.One night 2 people got no entrees.other than that spa food was great,ship in a good condition.