Short Review of our Summit Cruise, 3/21/05-4/1/05

We just returned from an 11 night cruise on the Summit. This was my 8th Celebrity cruise but my first on the Summit.

Some random thoughts….

The ports were just OK. We stopped in Key West, Cozumel, Costa Rica, Panama, Aruba and Grand Cayman. Key West was a nice first stop because we forgot a few items and were able to shop for them there. I had forgotten a 3rd formal for myself and found one there. In Cozumel we went to the Nachi Cokum beach club. We just relaxed on the beach and had lunch there. It was a decent place to hang out, but the ocean was full of seaweed…the second time we’ve had this experience in Cozumel. In Costa Rica we had been there before and toured with Oscar Brown. This time we just went to Playa Bonita beach. It was fine- but crowded because it was Good Friday and everyone was off form work. We also got ripped off by Oscar Browns nephew who drove us there in one of Oscar’s cabs. He charged us $20 for a $5 cab ride. I e mailed Oscar and complained, and he is supposed to be refunding us $15. We stayed on board in Panama and enjoyed an empty ship. In Aruba and Grand Cayman we had beach days again- but in Grand Cayman the tender situation was a NIGHTMARE. A 45 minute wait to go out and again to come in. On the way out you are waiting in the Celebrity Theater so its not so bad, but waiting on a 45 minute, 2 block long line in the blazing sun and heat to get a tender to come back to the ship is NOT FUN. The problem was there were 6 ships in port and there is only enough room at the dock for three tenders at a time. Disastrous. They need to figure out a solution to that one.

The Bar at the Edge of the Earth (formerly known as the Mast Bar) is just beautiful. Make sure to go to the White Night/Masquerade Party just to see the contortionist. She is wonderful. One of their performers also did a fun Physical Comedy class one day that was a unique on board experience! I just wish they would let them take over the theater one night and do their own actual show.

The shows at night were the usual….some excellent singers and very good dancers, and as per usual, the most HIDEOUS costumes at sea.

My husband did well at the casino with “Let It Ride” and actually covered half of our bill for the week!

They did some nice activities for the kids on Easter, but should have grouped the kids according to their ages. Little kids get trampled trying to do Easter Egg hunts with big kids. There were a few rowdy kids on this cruise….after all it was Spring Break and there were 250 kids on board.

The Normandie meal was wonderful, but I would have enjoyed it more had I not been slightly seasick. The only disappointment was the sommelier, who poured our first glass of wine and disappeared, only reappearing at the end of our meal with someone else’s champagne. At one point my husband just flagged down the maitre’d who poured more wine for us.

The chair hogs were out in FULL FORCE! There were definitely more books and bottles of suntan lotion enjoying the lounges around the pool than actual bodies. As per usual, the pool butlers did nothing.

The usual Celebrity outstanding service everywhere except in that department though.….cannot wait to cruise with them again.

Suzanne

suzanne- I am glad to know I am not the only disappointed customer of oscar brown. Carol gave us a discount on the spot- she was very professional and apologetic for our experience- I think a little embarrased too.I thought the easter activities were great but would also he=ave to agree they should have seperated the kids on the hunt. One boy about 5 or 6 took a good fall down the stairs.:( Too bad you didnt get off on all the stops I thought they were great the only disapointment beyond oscar b was cozumel-just more Mexico- if you've been to ensenada, just add a beautiful beach and there you are.

Thanks for the report, it is good to hear about the pros and cons on board.

I know how horrible tendering can be. We had very long lines outside in the sun last year in P.Vallarta.

If only Celebrity-staff would do something against these chairhogs...

It really is unacceptable making those reservations with sunlotions and books. If strictly enforced with help of the staff, I think problems will be over soon.

Look familiar???

I have no desire to step foot on Cayman Island again.

Was that from last week or from a previous cruise?

I am imagining that the Caymans are trying to make back as much lost revenue as possible, and are not refusing access to ships as they should be. There were just too many there that day.

Celebrity also should really investigate how many other ships will be there on that day before deciding on that as a port.

Suzanne

That was from last week, 3-21-05 sailing, and I concur, what a nightmare experience.

and it was just us, no other ships. In fact, Captain Marvins had 15 folks onthe ship, so snorkeling was great with 3 guides in the water with us & the stingrays were so much fun without a hoard of folks as we saw off in the distance. When the Rays saw Marvin show up, they all came running.........just as he created back in 1950.

There are not usually so many ships in port. I believe the reason was the previous day tendering was not possible and 2 or 3 ships who were supposed to have been in the day prior to us, returned the day we were in port. They switched sea days meaning they actually did make it on to Grand Cayman.

Thankfully we got off to get the obligatory Tortuga Rum Cake and returned to the ship within the hour. We were lucky enough to miss all the queues.

.

Hi everyone! Nice to hear from the Scotsman. Hope you had a good trip home! Say hi to Weemo. The Scotsman is right about Cayman. Unfortunately, everyone had to suffer. I will not be getting off again if there are as many ships. The cruise was excellent except for a few minor cliches at the beginning. The staff did bend over backwards to make up for it however. There were alot of kids, but for the most part they were excellent. You always have a few unruly ones. The ports of call were good, however, if you go to Costa Rica or Panama, definitely do an excursion with the ship. Otherwise, don't even plan on leaving the ship. We did the Panama Canal by ferry and it was excellent. The Scotsman and Weemo did the Hacienda Experience in Costa Rica and said it was great. I'm sorry we did not do it as well. We did a timeshare talk in Cozumel right next to the pier, and got free drinks, food, beach, and snorkel equipment, plus a taxi into town for listening to an hour of sales talk. It was great! We've been to Cozumel so many times, and just wanted the beach anyway! No seaweed either. Aruba, we went to the beach...beautiful beaches! Back on the ship, I never had a problem with finding a chair. Towards the end of the cruise, I noticed the pool butlers removing towels every 20 mins or so. The food was great and the Normandie Rest. was a pampering experience. The white night ball at the edge of the earth was not what I was expecting. If you go, wait at the main entrance, not on the port side as we were told to wait. Bring masks or make them, you will save $40.00. Noone ends of wearing them as they are supposed to and many did not even have one. I thought the experience the the next night was much better. The white night ball was in my opinion a glorified disco atmosphere, with new age music and effects. The contorsionist was great if you could see her. The stage is floor level, so if you were not in the 1st couple rows, you could not see her. The bar is open during the day as a lounge and makes a nice quite space. It looks totally different at night. Thats all for now!

Have to disagree with the comment about tours with Oscar. Fourteen of us did the Tortugera Canal excursion with Oscar's sister Carol on March 25th and we had a fantastic time, couldn't have been happier with our experience. It was definitely the highlight of the entire trip. We paid $45. p/p compared to $86. with the cruise line and we got to see far more for our money. We rented a cab to see the Panama Canal ($40 for 4) and our timing was perfect. We got to see a ship complete the transit - very interesting. I would highly recommend excursions booked privately for both these ports.

I was on the Carnival Miracle the same day your cruise was in the Caymans. We caught an early tender back to the Miracle & saw a TON of folks from your cruise waiting on the pier for the tender. We went inside for a drink & went back out & still a TON of folks from Celebrity waiting to get back to the ship. We felt really bad b/c it was blazing & I'm sure everyone was scorching, thirsty & hungry. The winds this day were really bad & strong & the tenders could barely park at the doc. On Carnival an announcement came over the loud speaker at 2:30 that no one else could go to land b/c of the high winds & problems with tendering. Our ship was supposed to leave by 4 with the last tender at 3:30 but b/c of the high winds Carnival tendered the last group of passengers at 5pm.

In defense of Celebrity, they did walk up and down the tender line with cold towels and cups of cold water in an effort to make it a bit more comfortable. We only waited about 15 minutes for the tender.

Bob

Hi Bob, Steven, & Holly!!! Seems like old home week!! We really miss you all!!

We rented a jeep and did the "wild" side of the island on Grand Cayman, which was absolutely breathtaking. We only waited about 15 minutes for the tender, slowly moving most of the time. But the iced towels and cold drinks delivered by Celebrity staff were great. The Carnival lines were 4 across at times, and almost two blocks long. :eek: Of course, that was closer to "last call".

It would have been much less crowded for shopping, if there had been fewer ships in port,

but when given lemons, we make lemonade. :D

Take care everyone!

Pat & Mike :cool: :cool: