While Heidi and I are inclined to sail on newer mega-ships, we determined to do one thing totally different this vacation season. We took the household to Puerto Rico for a Southern Caribbean cruise on the 24-year-old Celebrity Summit. How did this older, smaller vessel examine to the likes of her massive sisters, Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Ascent? Well, we’re again and share our trustworthy suggestions on this Celebrity Summit ship assessment.
Our Honest Celebrity Summit Ship Review
Casual Dining
Given Celebrity Summit is a ship holding simply barely over 2,200 company at double occupancy, there are only some choices on the subject of informal eating. The Oceanview Café, the ship’s buffet, was open a lot of the day for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner. Thankfully, the Oceanview Café held up when in comparison with different ships within the Celebrity fleet.
This buffet included varied cold and warm breakfast alternatives, a number of customized omelet stations, and breakfast meals from all over the world.
For lunch and dinner, the buffet supplied some normal stations, together with Mexican and Asian favorites. In addition to different choices like a customized salad bar, sandwiches, and a pasta station, there have been additionally themed Chef’s Selections. Something new was supplied every day, like Caribbean specialties or American classics.
On the final day of our cruise (the one sea day), the buffet featured an extravagant lunch, full with a shrimp cocktail station and chocolate fondue tower.
The Oceanview Cafe additionally had a pizza nook on the very again. This was open into the late evenings for these needing a snack earlier than mattress. While not one of the best pizza at sea, it was nonetheless higher than sister model Royal Caribbean’s Sorrento’s pizza.
In addition, the Pool Grill is exterior on the pool deck. This fast service counter provides hamburgers and scorching canine from about midday to six PM day-after-day. The burgers right here don’t stack as much as the freshly ready choices on Carnival or Holland America, however I do must say that the one burger I attempted was higher than what you sometimes get on a Celebrity Cruises’ ship.
In the Solarium on Celebrity Summit, there’s the Spa Café as nicely. This more healthy, grab-and-go various supplied small plates for breakfast and lunch. The alternatives right here ranged from muffins within the morning to small plates of pre-made salads and lightweight bites for lunch. This venue additionally options juices and smoothies, but they had been usually out of elements to make them.
One of our favourite spots on any Celebrity Cruises’ ship is the espresso store, Café al Bacio. Located on Deck 5 midship on Celebrity Summit, we frequented Café al Bacio a number of occasions every day. Along with serving specialty espresso that’s included within the cruise line’s drink packages, Café al Bacio provides breakfast bakery objects and small pastries all through the day like cookies and slices of cake.
However, not like Princess Cruises or Royal Caribbean, Cafe al Bacio doesn’t have a big collection of meals objects like sandwiches.
While there have been fewer eating venues on Celebrity Summit than most trendy mega-ships, we by no means went hungry. The meals high quality and alternatives had been much like newer ships within the Celebrity Cruises’ fleet, and we all the time suppose this cruise line has among the best buffets at sea. Still, the Oceanview Café did get busy at sure occasions, so discovering a seat did take some work.
Pool Deck
One place Celebrity Summit confirmed her age was the pool deck. While many public venues did obtain intensive revitalization in 2019, it didn’t seem that the outside decks obtained many updates.
The primary pool space is midship on Deck 10. Yet, it felt quite closed off with two smaller swimming pools and 4 whirlpools raised barely above the pool deck. Of course, we’re used to the expansive and chic Resort Pool on the Edge Class ships.
Given this seven-night cruise included 5 ports, we didn’t spend a lot time on the pool deck. On the one sea day, we had no points discovering loungers on Deck 11 subsequent to the Mast Bar and our nephew loved some pool time. When strolling by means of the pool space at different occasions, the area by no means appeared overly busy.
Celebrity is a premium cruise line, so one good perk is that you just don’t have to fret about towels. Plenty can be found on the pool deck, and also you don’t must swipe your card to get one like on Royal Caribbean.
In addition to the principle swimming pools, the Solarium is ahead on Deck 10. Again, its design felt lower than rejuvenating. Further, just one aspect had loungers, because the starboard aspect contained tables with chairs for the close by Spa Café.
Finally, aft on Deck 12 is the Rooftop Terrace. This space options an out of doors tv exhibiting motion pictures and sporting occasions all through the cruise. There’s additionally quite a lot of seating choices for these trying to soak up a flick or catch the sport. However, given the itinerary, and the film schedule, we by no means spent any time right here.
Sports Deck
Celebrity Summit provides restricted outside sports activities areas and facilities. Granted, Celebrity Cruises caters extra to {couples} than households. We prefer to say Celebrity Cruises is family-friendly, not family-focused.
Still, the sports activities courtroom aft on Deck 12 did provide each organized actions and free play. Popular sports activities included basketball and pickleball. Back on the pool deck, there have been two ping pong tables and cornhole, which had been obtainable a lot of the day.
The ship’s health heart is ahead on Deck 10. We felt the fitness center was a great dimension for this ship. It housed loads of cardio gear, weight machines, and free weights. While there have been Peloton bikes, that they had indicators saying, “out of order”. So, undecided in the event that they had been obtainable for company to make use of.
The Deck 11 sundeck doubled because the jogging observe as nicely, with over 9 laps equaling one mile. Just watch out, as solely the middle part of the observe makes a whole loop. The jogging observe on the aft portion has useless ends.
Given that we had been off the ship a lot of the day, the restricted outside sports activities amenities didn’t influence our journey.
Onboard Activities
Despite the port intensive itinerary, the cruise director Manuel and the actions workers hosted quite a lot of occasions along with different self-led actions.
For occasion, every day, there have been puzzles and grownup coloring. Plus, board video games and playing cards had been obtainable within the Sky Lounge or Rendezvous Lounge for these staying onboard.
There had been daytime competitions and totally different trivia classes, and there was even axe throwing one afternoon within the Grand Foyer. Note that no actual axes had been used within the competitors.
There had been additionally family-friendly sport exhibits and karaoke classes all through the cruise, to not point out bingo classes on a number of days. We couldn’t resist a spherical of Deal or No Deal, however sadly, nobody in our social gathering walked away with any prizes.
Though, given we had been crusing over Christmas, we might have anticipated a couple of extra holiday-themed occasions all through the week. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, actions ranged from a household bazaar to a go to from Santa Claus and a Christmas-themed silent disco.
While Celebrity Summit did provide a number of of the same old cruise actions, we couldn’t assist however really feel just like the onboard ambiance wasn’t as enjoyable and fascinating as common.
Nightlife
Being accustomed to the high-energy feeling and dynamic venues on the Edge Class, we had been stunned at how subdued the nightlife was on Celebrity Summit.
We scheduled most dinners with Celebrity Select eating for round 6:15 PM. This gave us loads of time for our typical routine of dinner, sport present, primary theater efficiency, and a nightcap and/or social gathering.
The Rendezvous Lounge was the second leisure area and residential to a nightly sport present at 8:15 PM. While these sport exhibits had been typical exhibits like True or False, Yes or No, and 60 Seconds or Less, they lacked enthusiasm and felt rushed. At occasions, it appeared the workers had been merely going by means of the motions. The exhibits had been nowhere close to as partaking as they’re on different cruise traces, like Princess Cruises.
The musical acts on the cruise had been fairly normal. They included a duo, a solo guitarist, and a few bands. These acts rotated by means of venues like Cellar Masters and the Rendezvous Lounge. Sometimes a band or DJ would additionally play close to the Martini Bar on Deck 4. Overall, not one of the acts had been memorable although.
There had been a number of events too, just like the Silent Disco and 80s social gathering. Thanks to the cruise director, Manuel, these occasions had been a bit extra vigorous. Manuel was an awesome cruise director. He was in every single place on the ship, and he wasn’t shy about going all in to get fun.
Even the Martini Bar, the same old hub of exercise on many Celebrity ships, didn’t have its typical vibrance.
Given we had some lengthy days ashore, we had been okay retiring sooner than common within the evenings. But, if the itinerary had been totally different, we could have been uninterested in the shortage of livelihood on the ship.
Entertainment
Like most cruises, we attended a number of of the exhibits in the principle theater. Over our seven nights, there have been three manufacturing exhibits and 4 headliner acts.
Overall, the manufacturing exhibits had been fairly common cruise revues with a solid of singers, dancers, and aerialists.
On evening two, the manufacturing present Life was a mashup of very literal songs. Most songs had the title life or dying within the title.
On the final evening, Soundtrack was a present marketed as “redefining movie music”. But the setlist included a number of pop songs with preparations within the type of early Twentieth-century jazz. Plus, we’re fairly positive not all songs had been prominently featured in motion pictures.
On Christmas evening, the manufacturing solid placed on a Holiday Spectacluar. The present featured a reasonably typical setlist of Christmas songs that positively obtained everybody into the vacation spirit.
On the opposite nights, the headliner acts had been run-of-the-mill.
We are fairly positive we’ve seen the Welcome Aboard comic on one other cruise. Her first-night set was sufficient for us, so we by no means made it to her adults-only present later within the week.
Additionally, there was Evolution Motown, a trio of singers that performed predictable songs and Zak McAllister, a two-time gold medal juggler within the World Championships of Juggling.
Bars and Lounges
Celebrity Summit boasts 9 bars and lounges, lots of which supply signature cocktail menus.
Our go-to on any Celebrity ship is the Martini Bar. While the drinks right here had been the identical, the ambiance wasn’t as vigorous and the bartenders weren’t as high-energy. Before you ask, sure, that they had espresso martinis on faucet!
The Rendezvous Lounge was one of many primary pre-dinner or post-dinner venues. Subsequently, we couldn’t go up the She’s With the Whiksy and the Sweet Berry Smash. One deck above, Cellar Masters usually supplied mild music paired with its customized wine record.
The cosmically-themed cocktails on the Sky Lounge, just like the Libra or the Cancer, had been good for sipping throughout one of many nightly events. For these in search of a extra conventional poolside drink, the Mast Bar on Deck 11 combined up frosty concoctions and traditional cocktails.
Not to say, aft on Deck 10, the Sunset Bar paired nice views with refreshing takes on boat drinks, like a Pickford Punch. The resident espresso store, Café al Bacio, additionally supplied dessert cocktails and candy treats all through the day. Even the Casino Bar supplied some distinctive drinks not discovered on some other bar menu.
We by no means waited lengthy for drinks in any of the bars. Although, there weren’t many servers within the venues. Often, we ordered from the bar and took the drinks again to the desk on our personal.
Main Dining Room
Like the informal eating, the 2-story Cosmopolitan primary eating room on Celebrity Summit delivered on a number of fronts.
Our three-course meals had been well-timed, with dinner normally lasting not more than 90 minutes for our group of six. Plus, all of our dishes had been served on the applicable temperature and as requested. With two meals allergy symptoms on the desk and several other particular requests, the waitstaff had no points making our lodging.
While Celebrity Cruises does nonetheless provide conventional eating, we opted for Celebrity Select eating. We made reservations pre-cruise for six:15 PM every evening. All evenings however one, we had been sat on the similar desk with the identical waitstaff.
The service staff of waitress, Kim, and assistant waitress, Win, took wonderful care of our group. They had been among the many highlights on the ship when it got here to service. By our third go to to the restaurant, sommelier Elmer knew our desk’s order, which included wine and cocktails.
Among the stand-out dishes was the signature Celebrity Tournedo, a young lower of beef cooked to a medium uncommon temperature. On evening 1, the Fried Masala Potatoes was a spicy addition to a quite bland welcome aboard dinner lineup.
On Christmas Day, our desk raved in regards to the vacation classics together with the Old Fashioned Honey Glazed Virgina Ham, Broiled Lobster Tail, and Slow Roasted Turkey. Prime rib, a traditional cruiser favourite, was served on the final evening. And, the Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli and the Rigatoni Boscaiola had been decadent pasta dishes with parts that had been simply the fitting dimension.
For dessert, we couldn’t go up the apple pie a la mode and the Tiramisu cake, amongst others. But, Heidi was upset that there was no Baked Alaska this crusing.
Specialty Restaurants
Celebrity Summit has only some specialty eating places. On Deck 11, Le Petit Chef at Qsine provides a dinner and present. This distinctive digital eating expertise is unique to Celebrity Cruises. We have dined at Le Petit Chef on different Celebrity Cruises ships and loved it. However, our 12-year-old nephew was not within the menu.
Likewise, Sushi on 5 provides its namesake Japanese delicacies with a small menu of different Asian specialties. Given our relations’ less-than-adventurous palates (Heidi included), we additionally handed on this restaurant.
But, you’ll be able to’t go unsuitable with Italian meals! So, on evening two, the six of us settled in to mangia on the Tuscan Grille.
Perhaps probably the most difficult a part of eating at this restaurant is discovering it. But after making our manner down the starboard aspect hallway on Deck 3, we had been handled to a culinary feast.
Alongside varied Italian breads, dinner began with hearty appetizers like home made meatballs and fried calamari. As anticipated, Heidi couldn’t go up the Chicken Parmesan, and I went with the Short Rib Pappardelle Ragu. Both had been wealthy meals harking back to the genuine flavors you’ll discover in Boston’s North End.
Lastly, for dessert, I couldn’t say no to the Limoncello Cheesecake. This citrus-infused, mild, and ethereal cheesecake was the right ending to this satisfying meal.
Staterooms
Celebrity Summit acquired a multi-million-dollar refurbishment in 2019, and fortunately, the staterooms had been a part of this main makeover. In reality, we had been very impressed with the furnishings and stylings of our Prime Veranda, stateroom 9023. This class V1 stateroom was on the portside, ahead of the ahead elevators.
According to the Celebrity Cruises web site, this stateroom is 170 sq. toes with a 38-foot veranda. While smaller than the balcony staterooms we sometimes keep in, the format was acquainted.
Immediately upon getting into the room, the toilet was on our proper. Likewise, our mattress was additionally on the fitting wall, dealing with aft. After the mattress, a small desk and outsized chair had been located close to the balcony.
Near the doorway to the room was the closet and a wall unit containing some over-head cupboards with cabinets, a sequence of drawers, and the mini-fridge. We had simply sufficient hangers and cabinets to neatly retailer all of our clothes. Using a few of our cruise cabin hacks, we had been capable of get all of our equipment organized as nicely.
The toilet on this Celebrity Summit cabin was a welcomed shock. It too acquired a serious facelift and truly resembled these on the Edge Class, full with a glass-door bathe and marble finishes.
Our cabin was immediately under the pool deck; thus, we had {a partially} obstructed view resulting from some assist beams and roofing. Still, we had been capable of make the most of the veranda to look at the sail-ins and sail-outs from our ports of name. Awkwardly although, the chairs had been fastened able someplace between upright and reclined, in order that they weren’t very comfy.
Overall, whereas smaller than typical, our Celebrity Summit stateroom was a cushty and trendy dwelling away from dwelling for our vacation household cruise.
Our Overall Celebrity Summit Ship Review
Admittedly, it has been some time since we sailed on an older, smaller Celebrity Cruises ship. Yet, Celebrity Summit held as much as her massive sisters in a number of methods.
The informal eating and primary eating room served up well-prepared and flavorful dishes. Service was additionally well timed and pleasant within the Oceanview Café and the Cosmopolitan Restaurant. Further, our household dinner on the Tuscan Grille was among the best eating experiences we had all 12 months on a cruise ship.
Likewise, a number of bars and lounges supplied distinctive atmospheres and specialty cocktail menus. These venues had been by no means too busy, so we may sit back and calm down with a drink in hand whereas watching a sport present or listening to reside music.
Similarly, our renovated stateroom was trendy and nicely laid out. While the veranda was not splendid, it was a tremendous place to calm down after an extended day ashore.
However, some areas of the ship did present indicators of growing old, notably the outside areas. The pool deck had an ungainly format and felt dated. The sports activities deck and Rooftop Terrace additionally appeared to get little to no updates.
To us, Celebrity Summit additionally lacked character. The ship felt like a set of venues and folks, quite than exuding a definite vibe that different cruise ships provide. On different Celebrity ships, the Atrium or Grand Foyer are normally vigorous spots for actions and occasions. Yet, there didn’t appear to be a central hub that cruisers gravitated to throughout this voyage.
Still, with the ports of name being the principle draw for our household throughout this cruise, Celebrity Summit was a pleasant backdrop. She supplied lush lodging, scrumptious meals, and sufficient actions and nightlife to maintain us entertained as we sailed from one port of name to the following.
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The submit What It’s Really Like on a 24-Year-Old Celebrity Cruises Ship appeared first on EatSleepCruise.com.