Summit 2/28 - 3/11 Just returned

[SandyR5]

Hi everyone - WOW! That just about sums up our experience on our 11 day cruise. The ship is just wonderful. We have NEVER had a more attentive, friendly crew. The entertainment was just awesome every night. We were in CC class, and when my husband was about to ask our room steward if something was possible, he stopped my husband and said, "Anything is possible...what can I do for you?" (We were just going to ask about the pillow menu.) We had the best time, met our wonderful cruise critic roll call friends and had a ball. Our favorite excursions were ziplining in Costa Rica and the Everglades air boat ride when you disembark in Ft. Lauderdale. The Bar at the Edge of the Earth was an interesting experience for us. You'll get lots of different opinions about it. It is NOT a show. It's a bar/dance lounge with Cirque characters interacting with the people. It is very interestingly decorated and a fun place to go for a drink/dance on the nights it is open. On other nights it is just the regular disco. Any questions...just ask.

[hcat]

Glad you had a great cruise. We enjoyed Summit last March & will be on again next yr to Hawaii Ques: re the area where the have CdS ..The nights it is a regular place does the party band play? How many nights is that?--hoping to avoid CdS And can you go in there during the day to get those great views? Is Perry Grant still in Michaels? Are yo going to post a review or any photos? Thanks alot!

[wv4891]

Hi Sandy,

 

 

Glad that you had such a great time!! We are doing this cruise in April and I have one question for you. Who and where did you zipline with in Costa Rica? We are interested in it but have not made up our minds yet.

 

Bill

[Crusin-Suzan]

Hi Sandy. We are going on the Summit 4/22 and also interested in zipline. Was it really high off the ground? How fast does it go? Let us know. Thanks Sue

[excitedofharpenden]

Bill and Sue

 

We used Oscar Brown for our Costa Rica tour in November. He was great and charged $105 for a full day including the zip-lining and Tortuguero Canal. If you want to go it alone to do the zip-lining, here is the website address:http://www.almondsandcorals.com . They charge $40 for the zip-lining. Be aware that it is a VERY rough and bumpy ride from Puerto Limon, but well worth it. I felt more comfortable going as part of a tour. Oscar's email is cbrown@costarricense.cr

 

Sue, you need a head for heights. The platforms are well up in the tree canopy, but safety is first rate and you are always clipped on to a safety wire (this had no effect upon the :eek: look on my face). I've posted some pictures of the zip-lining in the Webshots link at the bottom of my signature. You go pretty fast between trees.

 

Despite the bumpy ride and my apprehension, I loved the zipping. If you get a chance, do it.

 

Phil

[AFT_LOVER]

til November 20th to see her unless some great party at "X" can find me a dirt cheap cruise on her before schools let out. As you see we don't cruise in the summer since we have the Lake to play with. But late April early May to do a quickie cruise on any M class, not interested in the old small ones.

[excitedofharpenden]

not interested in the old small ones

 

Since when is 8 or 9 years old, old?:eek: Have you tried Mercury or Galaxy? I'm looking forward to Summit, but I really enjoyed my experience on both Galaxy and Mercury. I thought they were a nice size ship.

 

Phil

[Chefjacque]

Hi Sandy, I am not surprised to hear that you had a wondeful time. We were on the Summit in 2001 and she was such a nice ship. We leave on 4/11 for the 11 day also and can not wait.

 

Could you please tell me which days are formal, informal and casual. We want to make reservations at the Normandy, but do not want to do it on a formal night, we are probably looking at a casual night. If you could check your daily's and let me know, it would be most helpful.

 

Who was the band on board and also the CD? What did you think of them.. also did you think the food quality was up to Celebrity standards?

 

Thanks for your time, and welcome home, although I am sure you would have been happy to stay on board for another 11 days.

 

Jacqueline

[SandyR5]

Hi all - I'll try to answer some of your questions. Perry Grant was not in Michael's Club. It is Nathaniel Reed. The Bar at the Edge of the Earth is closed until after White Night, which was the third night of the cruise. After that it is open during the day for sitting, relaxing and it's a disco on other nights. I think there were 4 other nights when it was open as the Bar at the Edge of the Earth with the Cirque characters. We ziplined at Almonds and Corals. Oscar Brown took us to a banana plantation first, then to a place where we held monkeys and sloths and finally to Almonds and Coral. We paid the $40 per person to Almonds and Coral and gave Oscar $30 per person more...plus a tip. We did not find the road too bumpy. Maybe because he drove a 12 passenger van rather than a bus. Ziplining was SO exciting. I'm surprised you didn't hear me scream from wherever you live. It's about 250 feet up. It's just so weird to push off and let go with only trees under you. After the first two platforms it becomes easier though. There are 11 platforms. I'll try to attach a frightening picture of me zipping to this reply. The cruise director is John Howell and he is absolutely fantastic. The party band, at the pool, is called Prodigy. We loved concierge class and would do it again. The champagne and flowers upon arrival were great. We had terrific pillows, cheese/crackers every day, (instead of the canapes they give you), a fantastic breakfast on our balcony every day..with tablecloth, cloth napkins and flowers, priority tendering, etc. It was terrific. Anything else, just ask. (I tried to upload a picture but the "file was too large". Sorry.

[SandyR5]

Oops, I forgot to answer this. (We went to the NOrmandie on an informal night because we figured we'd be dressed appropriately for the ship) I'll start with the first night...casual, formal, casual, informal, casual, informal, formal, casual, informal, formal, casual.

[wv4891]

Sandy & Phil,

 

 

thanks for the information on Oscar, he seems to be da guy in Costa Rica... Sandy I would luv to see a photo of you ziplining. Hope you can post one. Phil I saw yours, it looks like quite a lot of fun!!!

 

Bill

[The Admiral]

what was the condition of the ship and staterooms, rugs, furniture etc...good shape of worn out?

[SandyR5]

Hi Admiral - Everything was super. We saw nothing worn or in need or fixing.

[Chefjacque]

Hi Sandy, Thanks for the information on the dress code on different nights, that will help us decide which nite to book the Normandy. I read somewhere that they now had something different there that if you paid an extra $27.00 you got an extra course or two (I can't imagine anyone needing more), and that wine was included with every course... Is this something new, or did I get the wrong information? (this is in excess of the $30.00 fee)

 

What table did were you assigned to in the main dining room and was it a good experience?

 

Thanks for all your fun information.

 

Jacqueline

[Andy]

Hi everyone - WOW! That just about sums up our experience on our 11 day cruise. The ship is just wonderful. We have NEVER had a more attentive, friendly crew. The entertainment was just awesome every night. We were in CC class, and when my husband was about to ask our room steward if something was possible, he stopped my husband and said, "Anything is possible...what can I do for you?" (We were just going to ask about the pillow menu.) We had the best time, met our wonderful cruise critic roll call friends and had a ball. Our favorite excursions were ziplining in Costa Rica and the Everglades air boat ride when you disembark in Ft. Lauderdale. The Bar at the Edge of the Earth was an interesting experience for us. You'll get lots of different opinions about it. It is NOT a show. It's a bar/dance lounge with Cirque characters interacting with the people. It is very interestingly decorated and a fun place to go for a drink/dance on the nights it is open. On other nights it is just the regular disco. Any questions...just ask.

 

Hi Sandy !

 

We are going to be on Summit on 4/1. We are starting to get very excited about our Cruise. As Summit will not be back in the Caribbean next season, this is probably our last time on her, for a very long time.

 

Do you happen to recall, the name of the Guitar player/singer at the very aft of the ship (near the buffet) who played in the early evening ? We were on Summit in November, and the person was awesome. We were hoping he was still on the ship.

 

Also, how did you like the Cruise Director ? Any comments to share with us ?

 

I am glad you enjoyed your trip. Summit is one of the best in Celebrity's fleet !

[mamoni]

Hi Sandy,

 

I have another question for you. What's the deal with white night? Do you need to have reservations for the Bar at the Edge on that night or can you just show up? Also, is this the night to wear your mask? Thanks!

[cruzaddict]

Hi Sandy...thanks for the information,it's great! I have a question about the bar at the edge......so basically,you can go into the area "every" night if you want,it's just that they do the "cirque" thing a few nights right? But basically,it is open every night,one way or another...and you can dance there every night if you want right? A reply would be very much appreciated! So glad you had a good time....I can't wait for April 11th!!!!

[ROMPAR98]

Do you happen to recall, the name of the Guitar player/singer at the very aft of the ship (near the buffet) who played in the early evening ? We were on Summit in November, and the person was awesome. We were hoping he was still on the ship.

 

Mario...

 

I am forever his devoted groupie. He is absolutely wonderful and extremely talented!

[opatija]

Great ship!

[SandyR5]

Hi again - Well, I'll try to answer the new questions. Mario was the guitar player. I must say we never got to hear him...there is just so much going on so much of the time! In the Normandie there IS an option that costs more than the $30 pp. I don't remember the course but it does include a tasting of wine with each course and an additional course or two. (Where would you put the additional food!!) The cruise director was John Howell and he was fantastic. He's very visable and just a really nice guy. HE was at the cruise connection gathering with us and was very concerned with our opinions of "White Night" because it was the first one on the Summit. He really listened and reported to the powers that be, about our comments. Now, as far as White Night goes...unless they have already made changes...I suggest you do as I did...go to a party/card/gift store and buy some inexpensive masks. The ones I bought were 2 for $3. You need a mask to get into the White Night. It was held on a casual night so I just put away the outfit I was going to wear and wore white capris and a white t-shirt. Some people showed up in their bathrobes!! ( Very few ) Most masks were "creative". People took menus, cut out eye holes and attached sushi sticks to them. One guy wore a pair of woman's underwear using the leg holes for his eyes. Someone wore a bag over his head, etc. Ours was on the night of Cozumel. Many people went all over Cozumel looking for masks. One group that was on line after us, found masks at a fabric store in Cozumel. The creativity was hilarious...but I was glad I just brought one. After White Night the bar is open every night either as a disco or The Bar at the Edge of the Earth which is really the same but with the characters walking around and interacting with you. White night started at 10:03 p.m. which I didn't like because we are late seating. Everyone rushed through dinner to be there. You had to line up to get in. I hope they change that. You have to look at it as just another gimmick. I'm sure it will be refined further. I would have liked to have seen the characters walking around the ship and interacting besides just at the bar. I think I've answered you all now. Just know you'll have the best time on Summit.

[duke052]

We are sailing on 4/11 . Would you know if the FV cabins are CC? Rich

[BB5953]

duke - I had the same question as I am on the 4/1 sailing in a former 1A that was suppossed to be CC as of the end of March. My documents read CC but the website says it is not until the 4/22 sailing. What I have been told is that most of the ammenitites will be there but possibly not all.

[gracecarmo]

Duke: I asked the same question re the FV cabins: and the reply I got from X was no, they are not CC. We were on the Summit in Feb. and again, I asked the room steward and he said no, they are not going to be CC.

We have 8166 on our next cruise in 06.

 

Grace

[SandyR5]

I do not know about the FV cabins being CC, but I have to say that CC was fantastic. From the extended breakfast menu and the food served on a linen tablecloth with flowers to the priority tendering tickets to the early embarkation to the pillow menu, etc., it was fabulous. You have to just try the yogurt/granola parfait or the baked bananas in apricot sauce for breakfast and you'll know why we loved it so much. In Grand Cayman we just took our priority tendering tickets to the meeting area and we were escorted right to the head of the line. It was wonderful. I must say that even if you don't cruise CC, you will just feel so pampered and so special. It was just an incredible crew.

[mjceditor]

Sandy,

 

May I ask what deck was your cabin on? We will be on deck 8 next week and I was wondering if those cabins have all been converted to CC?

 

Thanks, Mike