Back from Bermuda on the Summit

[whatevergoes]

We were on the Summit and returned June 1st into Bayonne, NJ. The weather was perfect for our entire trip although very rough seas returning on Friday night into Sunday morning. We did fine because we were CC midship on Deck 8. This is our third year on same ship, same week. Very few children. I think they said about 34 total. We took our DS who is 13 and our nephew who is also 13. The boys loved it!!! Counselors were great and tons of activities for them. It does take some getting used to them coming home at midnight each night!!! I think 11:00 would be better because I can't sleep until he is safely home.

 

We had the 1-2-3 ago package and upgraded. We NEVER had a problem getting a drink promptly. Be it at the pool, MDR or Martini bar, service was quick and friendly. I'm not sure upgrading was necessary because we were a party of nine and we went to martini bar and they received Martinis with no extra charge? Ate dinner each night in MDR. Had our Celebrity agent who we booked with tie all three rooms reservations together and he reserved a table for nine in Select dining every night at 6:00. When I got onboard I went and spoke to the a afar and asked where our table would be. He took me in and showed me several choices and I picked. Daniella (the maître de?) was the best. Each night when we arrived our table was ready and we just walked right in. Our servers were great and the person who gets drinks had them ready for us as soon as we sat down.

 

My only issue the whole trip would have to be the buffet. It wasn't terrible but not great either. The little food baskets drove me crazy. They had odd mixtures in them, ie; scrambled eggs with lox, wet scrambled eggs with bacon and sausage, smoked meats with baked beans!, etc. The food was lukewarm in the baskets. I would walk up to that station and request a hot basket and they would make it for me with what I wanted and it was hot. They were very pleasant. But the easiest was go to back of bait and get fresh waffles and fruits back there or eat in MDR. All in all a great trip with great friends!

[Daleed77]

Thanks for the review. We'll be on the Summit in a couple of weeks. I'm glad to hear that the buffet was receptive to cooking fresh foods.

 

Do you know who the 54 Below performer was on your cruise? I wish they would release the names ahead of time.

 

Thanks,

Dale

 

 

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[JandKMom]

Thanks for posting! We are taking this same trip on June 29 and also bringing our 13 year old son as well as our 10 year old. I imagine there will be more kids on board then, as schools are out. He says he is not interested in the teen club, but maybe he will change his mind. We are excited!

[KellyW25]

Ken Page was the 54 Below performer (Cats, Ain't Misbehavin', The Wiz, plus some others) I thought he was fantastic!

[CruisingChick]

Thanks for the review. We'll be on the Summit in a couple of weeks. I'm glad to hear that the buffet was receptive to cooking fresh foods.

 

Do you know who the 54 Below performer was on your cruise? I wish they would release the names ahead of time.

 

Thanks,

Dale

 

 

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I was on the same cruise. Ken Page was our 54 Below performer and he was fantastic.

 

Not sure why they didn't release a schedule this year.

 

We only went to the buffet once for breakfast, but ate lunch there every day and enjoyed it more than we did the buffet last year. Never had cold food. My only complaint portions to much for lunch time.

Edited June 4, 2014 by CruisingChick

[antsnanny]

We were on the Summit and returned June 1st into Bayonne, NJ. The weather was perfect for our entire trip although very rough seas returning on Friday night into Sunday morning. We did fine because we were CC midship on Deck 8. This is our third year on same ship, same week. Very few children. I think they said about 34 total. We took our DS who is 13 and our nephew who is also 13. The boys loved it!!! Counselors were great and tons of activities for them. It does take some getting used to them coming home at midnight each night!!! I think 11:00 would be better because I can't sleep until he is safely home.

 

We had the 1-2-3 ago package and upgraded. We NEVER had a problem getting a drink promptly. Be it at the pool, MDR or Martini bar, service was quick and friendly. I'm not sure upgrading was necessary because we were a party of nine and we went to martini bar and they received Martinis with no extra charge? Ate dinner each night in MDR. Had our Celebrity agent who we booked with tie all three rooms reservations together and he reserved a table for nine in Select dining every night at 6:00. When I got onboard I went and spoke to the a afar and asked where our table would be. He took me in and showed me several choices and I picked. Daniella (the maître de?) was the best. Each night when we arrived our table was ready and we just walked right in. Our servers were great and the person who gets drinks had them ready for us as soon as we sat down.

 

My only issue the whole trip would have to be the buffet. It wasn't terrible but not great either. The little food baskets drove me crazy. They had odd mixtures in them, ie; scrambled eggs with lox, wet scrambled eggs with bacon and sausage, smoked meats with baked beans!, etc. The food was lukewarm in the baskets. I would walk up to that station and request a hot basket and they would make it for me with what I wanted and it was hot. They were very pleasant. But the easiest was go to back of bait and get fresh waffles and fruits back there or eat in MDR. All in all a great trip with great friends!

 

Agree, the Summit is a great ship, its crew is fantastic and Bermuda is beautiful so our trip was awesome also. BUT.. The buffet was not great!

[MInurse]

Agree, the Summit is a great ship, its crew is fantastic and Bermuda is beautiful so our trip was awesome also. BUT.. The buffet was not great!

 

We were on the same sailing. I agree the baskets had odd combos such as fried chicken and waffles. I guess I'm just old fashioned. The biggest disappointment was in regard to the organization . . . or lacking there of. We spent 10 minutes looking for cream cheese for my bagel. However, the best surprise was the departure breakfast at the buffet. There was a big sign labeled American Style, and the set up was identical to the way it was on previous sailings.The eggs were self serve and so was the bacon and other breakfast items. Still don't understand the purpose of the baskets. You could not even see what was in them and the signs were so high up that you couldn't read them either. Bistro on Five was a real life saver. We enjoyed every meal we ate there. Oh, and the cover charge was increased from $5 to $7.

[cle-guy]

the baskets had odd combos such as fried chicken and waffles. I guess I'm just old fashioned.

 

Fried Chicken and waffles is a very regional thing. It's been popular in Los Angeles for decades, and has started to become trendy elsewhere the last few years.

 

I only noticed it at the Mast grill by the pool one afternoon, and got a nice chuckle out of it, but it was something different out there than just a burger or dog. I know I didn't see them the day before when i grabbed a dog.

[cle-guy]

the signs were so high up that you couldn't read them either.

 

Were the signs placed any higher than in the past? I did notice they also didn't sign everything, and some things had slightly inaccurate signage or it was somewhat generic - for example the sausage/egg/cheese croissant simply said "croissant". I chucked that up to the extreme amount of experimentation going on and not having tome to make proper signs and laminate them.

 

But I always thought the signs were in that location, not any lower, or had that changed? Signage may vary from M class to S class ships as well due to different buffet set ups....in case your prior experience was an S class.

[CruisingChick]

The signs were much higher on the buffet on Summit on our May 25 cruise. I'm only just 5 feet tall and could not read them they were so high unless I stood on my tiptoes. They need to fix that. Also not everything was signed another thing they need to address.

 

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[KellyW25]

The signs were much higher on the buffet on Summit on our May 25 cruise. I'm only just 5 feet tall and could not read them they were so high unless I stood on my tiptoes. They need to fix that. Also not everything was signed another thing they need to address.

 

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I agree with you that they were too high up (I'm barely 5'3). I have some food allergy issues and need to know what I'm eating before I take it. some signs were missing too. I skipped anything I wasn't sure of. Didn't have that problem in previous years.

[cle-guy]

I agree with you that they were too high up (I'm barely 5'3).

 

I really don't know how the signs could have ever been any lower, they are made to "latch" over the top edge of the sneeze guard to hold them in place. They haven't raised the height of the sneeze guards have they?

[CruisingChick]

I really don't know how the signs could have ever been any lower, they are made to "latch" over the top edge of the sneeze guard to hold them in place. They haven't raised the height of the sneeze guards have they?

 

This was our 18th Celebrity cruise and I could not see them at all, so they had to have a different way of latching them on in the past or they changed the sneeze guards. I know I didn't shrink. ;)

[antsnanny]

The signs were much higher on the buffet on Summit on our May 25 cruise. I'm only just 5 feet tall and could not read them they were so high unless I stood on my tiptoes. They need to fix that. Also not everything was signed another thing they need to address.

 

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Your right either no signs, wrong signs or they were too high… They need to address the entire buffet in my opinion.

[MInurse]

Your right either no signs, wrong signs or they were too high… They need to address the entire buffet in my opinion.

I couldn't agree more! Wasn't worth the time or effort for me.

[toras]

While the signs were not too high for me I would say it is not ergonomic to look down at the food first, then look up for the sign, and look down to grab the pan. Sign should at the same level as the food.

[ludomonster]

As a tall person, I am looking forward to these signs.

[cle-guy]

as a tall person, i am looking forward to these signs.

 

post of the day! :d

[KevinsCruising]

Is the casino open when in port?

 

 

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[20pluscruises]

Is the casino open when in port?

 

 

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I was told it opened at 9pm in Bermuda :)

[KirkNC]

Welcome back! Thanks for the report!

[cle-guy]

Is the casino open when in port?

 

 

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Just started this season, Bermuda changed its law/rules and now allows cruise ships to buy a license to operate the casino in port.

 

Celebrity has the license, not sure if any other lines do. It's open at 9pm, and I couldn't recall when it closes. It was jam packed with people lined up waiting for spots to play on my last summit cruise.

 

This hasn't changed the rules about ship stores not being open in port, they are still closed the whole duration.

[schlimazel_traveler]

FYI the casino reopened each port night at 9 pm on Grandeur of the Seas last week.

[osborne66]

Just started this season, Bermuda changed its law/rules and now allows cruise ships to buy a license to operate the casino in port.

 

Celebrity has the license, not sure if any other lines do. It's open at 9pm, and I couldn't recall when it closes. It was jam packed with people lined up waiting for spots to play on my last summit cruise.

 

This hasn't changed the rules about ship stores not being open in port, they are still closed the whole duration.

 

Cle-Guy

 

9pm to 5am

[20pluscruises]

FYI the casino reopened each port night at 9 pm on Grandeur of the Seas last week.

 

woo hoo!