allready

7 hours ago, Traveller20074 said:

 

 

 

so, it HAS the spa?  is there a spa pass?

 

Yes it has Mandara Spa, we used the services. I heard some one soeaking about daily pass but I don’t think it was worth it

6 hours ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Don't blame a cruise ship for math.  Math always wins (i.e the house always wins).

I should have been clearer- the variety of slot machines were bad, and table min just too high. So much they were mostly empty tables

Was on the Joy for the last trip to Bermuda this season. It was Okay.  The ship was clean., other travelers were great and friendly. Our room steward was lovely. 

What stunk:
entertainment was extremely lacking!  The ticketing system sucks.  We saw the same comedian 3x in 5 days because basically not much else on board to watch.  Footloose was cancelled with no reason given.  The new Elements show was Ok. Not our thing.  

Guest services was kind of ridiculous, couldn't resolve an issue.  The cruise director was in hiding :).  Never saw her do anything. Casino slots were frustrating more than normal. 

Food was boring!  Must do speciality dining.

Spa was nice but overpriced!

The good:
Cagneys was amazing.  
The pool decks  were really nice, loved Spice H2O to chill and beautiful aft view.  Watching USA I n the World Cup on the pool deck was just exciting -- alot of energy. 

go-karts - OK, just dont go at night if chilly, as mask will fog up and can't see anything. 7D movie didnt work right, but clever. Alot of VR activities for extra $

Not sure we would travel it again. We have had better experiences on other ships & cruise lines. 

 

What ship are you on? The ship and the sailing will make a big difference in the average age. Regardless, it's probably well worth a try.

We are looking at the Veendam, Montreal to Boston

Thank you everyone for the great and honest responses!!

We have always cruised RCL or NCL, but considering HAL because the ports and date is right. How out of place will 40- something be on board. I have heard the ship has quite older guests.

We are traveling for an anniversary and leaving the kiddos at home, so kind of looking for a low volumen of kids atmosphere.

Thoughts?

Just want to comment on the pool situation on the Summit. I mentioned on another thread that I didn't feel the Summit was a good fit for kids because of the pools. The big pool very clearly states Adults Only. So the butlers were simply enforcing the rules. The indoor solarium is also adults only. So that only leaves the small pool for all the kids.

I wish we had known that before my parents booked the cruise. This is something not shared when you book.

The bigger problem was that the smaller pool that allowed kids was full with seniors... I mean really old seniors so they could not stand a child anywhere near them. And god forbid they splashed as they swam across the way (if they could).... such nasty remarks, evil looks. Its a pool you will get wet.

At the same time- the bigger pool was somewhat empty because the seniors could not hold there footing in the deeper pool. It may have just been how the water was sloshing about. But some interpretation or at least tolerance would have been nice to see. Our kids paid the same price to be on board. From a satisfaction rating it would have been best to reverse the signs, so the seniors didn't feel like they were drowning in the big pool and the kids could do what kids do.

I think all and all, we will stick to RCCL or NCL while they are young. Not fair to anyone involved.

He may like the kids club. We just got off the Celebrity Summit last week. We had 3 teens and 1 kiddo-- my 16 yr old (ADHD), my 16 yr old nephew (Autistic), my 13 yr old nephew (ADHD) and my 9 yr old son (ADHD). What a group we are!!

My daughter loves the dance party, etc. She looked at the kids club once and never looked back. Both my nephews decided not to go either. They wound out hanging out with each other and going to the entertainment.

The X Club was large enough for a ping pong table. They had 4-5 tvs with xbox or pS stations on the wall. They also had a loft upstairs. I didn't see many teens on our cruise, but it could of just been the week.

My 9 yr old kept trying the kids club but was very bored most of the time and wound up following his sister and cousins around. They would sign him out.

If you son likes the quiet stuff, he may like this teen club. Also, I found the two 16 yr old could handle the adult comedian and adult shows. They were R rated, but not raunchy.

Thanks for your review! Your pictures are amazing.

We cruised the week after you. Sounds like we had the same entertainment - The A Capella group, the shows. We had two comedians -- both who were very funny. The liar's club was a riot -- and they did the same pantyhose skit. Capt Leo has such charisma and was very funny. Nice to the see the Captain out and about around the ship. We loved the martini bar and rendezvous lounge. Revelations was just beautiful. The Port vs Starboard contest was great and engaging! Karaoke contestants were amazing. AND of course Bermuda is beautiful.

We typically cruise RCCL, its our favorite, but we cruised Celebrity as my parents arranged this one. Even though the companies are related, they are very different experiences. The major difference - Celebrity is not for families.

The crew/wait staff was great with our kids. We asked for towel animals and they delivered (Small ones) but nonetheless we had a circus of small animals in our cabin by the end of the ship. The cabins were tiny compared to other cruise lines, but still comfortable. Loved the bed - slept soundly.

However, this type of cruise had serious issues with the crotchiness of many other passengers. The average age was probably 75, making my husband and I (in our late 40's) youngsters. We were able to be the hot ones (not) in all the games on deck, etc. An idea of the crotchiness -- two old ladies giving my 9 & 16 yr old the finger and telling them off because my son jumped in the elevator to hold the button before they got out. It was hard to get anywhere the first few days or in and out of the dining room without tripping over a scooter or walker.

It seemed every time my kids turned around they received very rude or odd comments from other passengers through out the trip. Additionally the were kicking the kids out of the outdoor pool pushing them to the smaller pool that was filled with Seniors. It was a mess with 3 days at see and that attitude. The older crowd didn't want to be in the big pool because of the waves and they couldn't stand, the younger kids did, but the Pool butlers were like ****s about this. There was low tolerance for any bit of splashing (from actual swimming) in the pools. Additionally kids club was boring, teen club was tiny and focused on video games. So not like they could hide up there for the week.

I think we have sworn off Celebrity for the time being.. .until we are retired at least - Back to RCCL and NCL for the family friendly atmosphere.

Thank you fir your responses. We are going the last week of summer to Bermuda. My teen loves the teen club dances/ parties/ scavenger hunts.

I am going to set her expectations... May not be as exciting as RCCL which we have had great experiences.

Hi, I am new to Celebrity. I have maybe 12 cruise experiences (RCCL, NCL, Disney, MCI, Carnvial). I am trying to find info about traveling with kids on Celebrity. What are the Kids programs like? I have a 9 yr old and 16 yr old. What is the tolerance level for kids on Celebrity? Other cruiselines are very family oriented... Celebrity does not come to mind.

Can anyone share the does and don'ts with kids on Celebrity Summitt? My kids are well travelled. They are not the ones loitering in the elevators, but still.

Anything that I shouldn't miss with them?

UNless they fixed their system in the last two weeks, it doesn't matter. They were so disorganized. If you have reservations they will seat you together, they didn't have a lot of tables for 2. On Port days you may have better luck just walking ingot he restaurants.

There was the love and marriage game show on my sailing 12/20 -- but it was boring!!!! I did not find the emcee Jimmy Rhodes entertaining at all.

A really funny show was the Battle of the Sexes held in the Music Hall.

They could do Quest in the music hall, its smaller it, but they could manage.

My husband says yes to both. THe multiplayer poker machines were mixed into an all in one slot game. The minimums on the tables were really high -- maybe $100, towards the end of the trip the minimums lowered to 25 or so.

HAve to say there were some really big spenders on board

No. Nothing is allowed in. Reason being is there are two tubes, and inner and outer tube. The group of 10/12 go together into the outer tube. There is an open doorway to the inner tube. Everyone is seated in the outer tube area until their turn to step into the air tunnel. THe risk if if you let go of anything and it gets sucked into the tunnel it could hurt the person flying, the instructor in the tunnel with you, the camera itself and possible the fan once it falls.

If you book a time slot after about 10 am, there should be one of the photographer from Royal there to take your pic.

If you go a separate times you can take turns watching each other, though it feels less like sharing the experience.

We were there at 11:30 am and the terminal was already packed and lines long. I think you can get on much earlier. Which is amazing because we didn't disembark until after 9:30 so they really turn the ship around quickly.

Being berated by a low-class head waiter for wanting a very minor accommodation to my dinner due to food allergies.

That was a real low point.

We are more regular cruisers on RCL, but we saw a good deal on the Norwegian Gem for March that looks really interesting. Great itinerary, the boat has gotten super reviews. My biggest hang-up about booking is the kids clubs. I have a 9 & 16 yr old who love RCL youth programs. It has been a long time since we have sailed NCL, I don't think I even had my younger one then. I can't remember our experience with the NCL kids program.

I see the NCL kids club are grouped 6-9 yrs, 10-12 yrs and then 13-17yrs. If anyone has sailed other lines, how do the NCL kids clubs compare? We have travelled Disney (my daughter hated the kids club there - all movie theme, no beach theme), MSC (they let my then 6 yr old sign himself out-YIKES), Carnival (dingy and cramped).

Can anyone give me the low down on the teen club/activities and the stuff for younger kids. I want a kids club that I have to pry my kids away from (like on RCL). Do you know if you can move a 9 1/2 yr old to the 10 yr old group? My son is way too competitive and athletic to play sports/games with 6 yr olds. Cruise we just finished had a 9-11 yr old group and that was perfect for him.

Any thoughts are appreciated. The kids program is an important consideration for our trips, not the deal breaker, but definitely makes on board life better for us.

Just got off on Saturday. I went standby for iFLY since I could not book it. The person behind me on the standby line had pre-booked her iFLY session. It seemed so easy to her, but alas -- the pre-board and onboard system do not speak to one another, so regardless of being to book something prior to boarding, it will not do you any good.

When you get on board, go to iFLY and book a time for any time during the week.

Just got off yesterday, I can verify there are two lines. That really doesn't help because they couldn't sit those with reservations so were turning away people without reservations. The no reservation line was empty, and the reservation line at different restaurants at many moments extended back to the elevators -- maybe 100-150 people on line at a time.

What I think would help:

1. Target 90 minutes for dinner (as OP stated), which means the waiter needs to be at the table reasonably fast, take orders, deliver food on time (which would solve the cold food issue too).

2. Bring back the assistant waiter so #1 can be achieved

3. Bring back bar service so #1 can be achieved

4. Fix the reservation system so that there is less confusion at hostess station

if they can reduce their table turn around they will not have the back up they experienced last week, and not so many angry and upset people.

The focus will turn to the quality of the food and boring menus vs the lack of service.

Yes, they charge. 10 per adult, children are free.

We could not book it ahead of time, so booked it first thing on the ship. We showed up and of course they didn't have our reservation, though had billed us already. They let us in anyway and we had to go deal with guest services to reverse the charges for the kids.

They brought out 3 characters -- Po & Tigress from Kung Fu Panda and King Julien from Madagascar. Strangely they limited it to about 12 tables so we had plenty of time with the characters. Breakfast was served timely and hot.

George in NY -- we had similar experience. Not 63 cruises under our belt buy probably 15 across multiple cruise lines.

I really like RCCL for their kids activities, and the did not disappoint me there. BUt there is only so much bread you can eat to validate the $$ you pay for this cruise.

IMHO, if they want to roll out dynamic dining they should not have cut the wait staff yet, but rather rolled out the concept. Made it marginally successful. Then cut back the staff. The really made a mess by trying to do both at once.

There is not traditional dining on this ship. It's all by reservation. If your travel agent had enough foresight to book you for 6 pm for every night -- you need to give them the tip.

The restaurants do not rotate their menus, so best to rotate the restaurants. You will find you like some more than others.

Tip whatever you want. Gratuities seem to be prepaid these days. Honestly if you tip for good service, you will be walking out with money in your pockets.

Dynamic dining is not set up to receive good service. So don't worry about it.

I think the only ones really worried about it are the servers who are seeing their livelihood disappearing by a corporate decision.

To further explain the dynamic disaster of dining on the Quantum… they pre-booking computer system doesn't always communicate well with the system they run onboard. Thus they overbook and lose bookings at an alarming rate. All the specialty restaurants seemed to be overbooked, we couldn't get in, and didn't really try just showing up.

They have an App for iPhones called Royal IQ which will show you all your dining and other reservations. This app worked marginally poor most of the time. Some reservations could be viewed others not. If you try to book reservations through this app, it will tell you everything is booked.

Best advice is to go to one of the restaurants when you board and speak to the host/hostess and review all your reservations. These should show on your TV screen even in your cabin, even if it doesn't show on your Royal IQ app.

If you haven't booked any reservations, just make them, you don't have to keep them, but at least you will have something.

We were sent away when we showed up early. One day after we formally complained about really poor service and attitudes we did receive some petit fours in our cabin with a note they were from the manager at Silk -no apology. Though they did call us and tell us to come early for Christmas eve at the Grande so we could get better service (though they had told us earlier in the day not too). Hard to understand this. I guess if you get the right person's ear, you get some action.

About the entertainment - someone mentioned it was a little spares in the Compass -- I agree. Seems like most of the onboard entertainment (i.e. calypso band, etc) boarded later in the cruise. It was a little Quiet on the way down to Florida. No sail away party, little music aside from DJs. We seem to find our way to trivia games and that was about it. And the worst decision -- NO QUEST!!!! I can't believe they are not doing Quest. They did have Battle of the Sexes in the Music Hall but it was not in the Cruise Compass we just happened on it.