Just back from the craziest Summit cruise

[TeaBag]

So there is such a thing as a "free lunch"?

 

I would have been wary too, as I prefer to pay my way. However, they sound like a very generous couple. Glad you had a good time.

[tgmtgm]

That was our thoughts at first too, lol. However, after talking with his wife, and doing some background checking at home, the stories are true. Basically the guy has had many people take advantage of him, or want to be friends just for his money. So when we genuinely showed that didn't matter to us, he was happy to be around us.

 

 

I've met and traveled with folks of VERY substantial means, but I would never post about it on a public forum. Seems tacky and gauche.

 

Just enjoy their company and generosity, but don't publicize it. When you do, you start to come across as the very same people your host claims to dislike.

 

 

Tony

[njgrlloves2trvl]

Which port did the orgy happen in?

[Sloop-JohnB]

I'm glad Sloop-JohnB asked for some white space or I wouldn't of bothered reading it. Nothing wrong with a few polite and constructive pointers.

 

Thank you, I thought I did the OP a favour (got more readers for them). Was not meant as a criticism in any way.

 

I found it easy to read.

 

I think the rules on these boards is that we are not supposed to critiquing writing styles, punctuation, spelling or grammar. At least he had periods at the end of each sentence.

 

Lol, I agree that it is now.

 

I see you read it about 6 Hours after it originally posted (which is when I originally commented)

 

When it was first posted there were no spaces... Just one great wall of text.

 

I wasn't criticizing... I was just trying to state that white space would make it easier for all to read. The OP took my advice and edited it within the short Editing Window (20 minutes of his OP) hence why you don't see what I did originally :D

 

And in return I see that many have read it & replied... Something that probably would not have happened otherwise

 

Cheers!

Edited November 25, 2014 by Sloop-JohnB

[cherylroslyn]

I believe this 100% and have had a similar experience.

 

The one thing you should never do on this forum, however, is brag about getting into BLU and Michael's because it will cause a world of problems with other passengers expecting this treatment and it is not the norm. Does it happen? Yes... Is it supposed to happen? No...

 

 

And for those of you that doubt it....let me just say that the bonds made in a casino, at a craps table, where one player throws well enough for another player to make ten grand or more, are bonds that most non-gamblers would not understand. Even though OP is not a high roller, his throwing helped the man and they made a bond......and a gambler that can throw around that type of money can pick up some excursions or some wine and dinner......its like regular people picking up the cab or a round of drinks.......

 

 

 

That being said, I would not have people paying for my future vacations...I might meet them somewhere and pay for my own room, but I would not feel comfortable with strangers booking me a room connected to theirs.......

[hulamoon]

cherylRoslyn you make good points. Not a gambler myself this was good to know. And this was the first time I heard of folks getting Into Blu and Michaels Club...had no idea it happened.

[G&L in WPG]

Which port did the orgy happen in?

 

Now that's funny! (and we were all thinking it....)

[4cats4me]

Quite an entertaining cruise review. ;)

How boring my cruises have been compared to the OP's :eek::D

[H2OH!]

Here's how to cruise in luxury on a budget.

 

We did the Summit Nov 15-22 (SJ, Barbados, St Lucia, Antigua, St Maarten, St Thomas, SJ). Stayed at the SJ Marriott/Stellaris Casino. Really liked this hotel.

 

On cruise day, we arrived at the pier at 11:15 and was on board by 11:30. We had room 8112 (C2). Room was nice, clean, decent size. Only complaint was location of closet. Made it impossible for 2 people to use it at once, or to get in bathroom. We were in the room by 1pm, luggage came around 4pm.

 

Since this trip was port intensive, we planned to use the first day as we would a sea day and enjoy the solarium, pool, bars, etc. And we did. Had lunch in buffet. Food was decent. Some food was in small containers, some was served by staff, and some was self serve. Trays are available, but not at all stations. Drink service was SLOW. We also decided to take advantage of the 20% discount the first day for Qsine. We booked it for 9pm so we could join the sailaway party.

 

8:30 came and went, and we finally left port about 8:45, but no sailaway party :( Oh well, off to Qsine for our first time. We really liked the food and service there. While there, we noticed a somewhat odd looking couple (hot girl, not so hot guy), but w/e, we're all different, lol.

 

Later that night I went to the casino and played craps. The guy from dinner, introduced himself as J. He and I played for a couple hours, and I ended up winning him about $12k. I only won about $1k, but I wasn't throwing the money around like he was. I went back to our room about 2:30am and told my wife, but I don't think she believed my story.

 

Next morning, we did the same routine again (pools, eat, drink, etc). We went to Martini Bar around 6pm, and J shows up with his wife, P, and we all introduce ourselves. We went our seperate ways, us goinf to MDR for formal night. Had a good meal, decent service. Afterwards, went to the show. Left partway through as the musical wasn't exactly my thing. Hit the casino again, and J showed up again, winning big again, and tossing a couple thousand in tips to the staff.

 

Next day, wife and I depart to explore Barbados. After we made it through the duty free shops, I hear someone yelling my name. It was J and P. We decided to hang out that morning at the Boatyard. They took off later for lunch, and we headed back to the ship. We made plans to meet at Martini at 6 again. On our way back, I picked up a small gift for J. At 6, we met, and they invited us to dinner at Qsine again, and they picked up the tab. Now is when everything really started getting crazy. We went back to the casino, and my wife went with P to their stateroom (penthouse suite). J and I won big again. After playing, we found our wives, and P was hungry and wanted the sliders at Qsine. However it was 11pm and they were closed. We went up anyway, J gave the Matre D' and servers big tips, and we got a couple orders of sliders :).

 

In St Lucia, we went our seperate ways, and neither really enjoyed ourselves, so we met up again at Martini, and made good friends with the bartender, Sergei. He was great the rest of the trip. We all ate in the MDR that night, and after dinner I got to see their suite. I guess having a jacuzzi on the deck would be nice, but they don't have those in C2 rooms.

 

I went to the concierge the next morning to get tips on where to go in Antigua, and Nadia sent us in the right direction. We went to Jolly Harbour and had a great time. The best looking beach of the trip, very good drinks too. Food wasn't good, but we had a great time. Different routine when we got to the ship. Martini, Blu, Casino. They didn't want to let my wife and I in since we were in concierge. But J convinced them it wasn't in their financial intrests to do so. The food was good except for the steaks. I don't remember a whole lot about it as Sergei had given me many, many strong martinis. We had been talking about birthdays that night, and I said mine was in January. So J and P said lets meet in Chicago. Again, we're thinking, sure, w/e, because we were thinking it's not going to happen.

 

In St Maarten, the Suite Concierge, Jole, made reservations at a resort called The Cliffs. OMG! This place had an amazing view, great staff, and the best food of the entire cruise. The owner had caught the yellowfin tuna that was used for the sashimi himself that morning. J and P liked the place so much they booked the 5 BR penthouse for a weekend in March, and asked us if we wanted to join them. We jokingly said sure, as we didn't take them seriously. We spent the day there drinking and eating and laying in the sun. J picked up the tab again. And again that night, Martini, Qsine, Casino.

 

Finally the last day was St Thomas. J asked the cab driver to take us to a quiet beach and we ended up at Secret Harbour on the SE side of the island. This place was quiet, although the beach wasn't all that great. The drinks and food were great for beachside. Back to the ship, and we changed our routine! They took us to Normandie tonight, after Martini of course. They ordered caviar, and lots of wine and champagne. The cheapest thing he ordered was a bottle of Cristal. They actually had emptied the ship of the wine they had been drinking, and it was $675/bottle. We spent about 3 hrs there that night and had a fantastic time. I appologize to anyone that was in there if we got a little loud or obnoxious, lol. During dinner, J called the Ritz in Chicago and booked the top suite and the adjoining room, and said, ok, we'll see you in Chicago!

 

Each of these nights we also spent a lot of time in Michael's, event though we weren't in a suite. This place was empty all the time.

On disembarkment, we all decided to meet at Michael's, and Jole escorted us off the ship. She was a fantastic concierge. Very sweet and helpful. J had arranged a private car to take us to the airport, but only after stopping at the Ritz for breakfast, lol. We got off at the aiport, and went our separate ways, however we've been in contact via phone, text, and facebook ever since.

 

Not sure how any of this happened to us, but it was truly a trip of a lifetime. BTW, I'm looking into airfare to St Maarten :)

 

Glad you had a great time! Have fun with your new friends!

[uktog]

If bungs changed hands to get guests priviledges they are not entitled to possibly impacting on guests who were entitled, then I'm not impressed

 

I'm also not impressed by the boasting here, being discrete is something to learn, how will your new found "friends" view the fact you splashed this over public boards and with a small element of detective work they can probably be identified.

[emcee207]

I am continually amazed by some of the posts on here.

 

And, H2OH, did you really have to copy the entire original post just to say you were glad they had a good time with their new friends???:rolleyes:

Edited November 26, 2014 by emcee207

[NorthernOntario]

I am glad you had fun and made new friends too! Ingore the negativity. Thanks for sharing I am sure it was pretty exciting :)

[bouhunter]

I've met and traveled with folks of VERY substantial means, but I would never post about it on a public forum. Seems tacky and gauche.

 

Just enjoy their company and generosity, but don't publicize it. When you do, you start to come across as the very same people your host claims to dislike.

 

 

Tony

 

I have to agree, very well put. Quite wierd. Even if I met someone like that I wouldn't let them keep buying me things, have you no pride or self respect? And would never dream of "bragging" about it on an internet forum..........a strange post.......

 

Almost like it never ended: they bought me things, they got me into special places, on and on and on....... Even if it's all true, why would someone brag about being pampered by a rich stranger on an internet forum.......

Edited November 26, 2014 by bouhunter

[gsb]

I have to agree, very well put. Quite wierd. Even if I met someone like that I wouldn't let them keep buying me things, have you no pride or self respect? And would never dream of "bragging" about it on an internet forum..........a strange post.......

 

Almost like it never ended: they bought me things, they got me into special places, on and on and on....... Even if it's all true, why would someone brag about being pampered by a rich stranger on an internet forum.......

 

Hey--you do all that for me and I'll be on here in CAPITALS telling the world!:D

[CruisersTimesThree]

On the Summit to Bermuda a couple of years ago we had a similar experience with the PH occupants trying to become best friends.

We were staying in a RS and ran into this couple quite frequently around the ship. The husband took a liking to my husband and it felt like eveytime we turned around, there he was.

We'd step into an elevator and BOOM! he'd slink in.

We were on the beach in Bermuda and BOOM! he shows up in the water next to us.

One night he "invited" himself to check out our RS since he only stayed in the PH on all his cruises and had never seen the RS. He was the guest that wouldnt leave! Finally at 2am I politely asked him to go.

I actually found it super uncomfortable and did everything I could to avoid him.

He was a huge bragger and that was probably the biggest thing I couldnt stand about him. He was very strange and kept trying to get us to commit to meeting them on another cruise, giving us his cruise itinerary for the next few years (big cruiser apparently)

He bragged about how big his house was, he and his wife could go days without running into each other....how big his hedgefund business was....how many times he treated his whole family on vacations, it was maddening listening to him!

The following year we went on the same cruise, same cabin and met the loveliest couple staying the in the PH while in the casino. They were quiet, elegant and did their own thing without letting everyone know how much money they had.

I much prefer the company of those kind of people to what the OP described and what we came across that one time.

People who flaunt what they have are not my style.

[bouhunter]

Hey--you do all that for me and I'll be on here in CAPITALS telling the world!:D

 

Won't be happening. Why would anyone let some stranger do that???? Very very odd. Just for the money and freebies I guess. Can't imagine going home and telling my friends some stranger bought my dinners and took care of me in the clubs, bought me rides, etc etc etc. Just tooooooo wierd. And even more bizarre to come on an internet forum and "brag" about it....... apparently the OP has no shame or self respect.

Edited November 26, 2014 by bouhunter

[Us Two]

Or those that have to pretend , making up stories to get attention.

We were two couples , enjoying some music in the attrium, when a woman came and sat near us , a little bit tipsy. She started talking to us and then said that she had just won a ' raffle " up stairs in the jewlrey store , a 25 K yellow diamond ring!!

It sparkled so nice on her finger and it was a lovely setting. She said she wanted to buy us all a drink , quite insisted as she waved the drinks person over.We said no and thanked her. to which she said " wont you share my happiness with me?" So we agreed.

 

Now I started seeing holes in this story . The next day my friend and I were in the shop that carries costume jewelry, and lo and behold, there was her yellowdiamond ring!!! Exact! then to top it all , unbeilevable, she walked in.

I felt so embarrased we hid our faces , turning our backs towards her :o

 

We felt sorry for her.

[MGK]

Or those that have to pretend , making up stories to get attention.

We were two couples , enjoying some music in the attrium, when a woman came and sat near us , a little bit tipsy. She started talking to us and then said that she had just won a ' raffle " up stairs in the jewlrey store , a 25 K yellow diamond ring!!

It sparkled so nice on her finger and it was a lovely setting. She said she wanted to buy us all a drink , quite insisted as she waved the drinks person over.We said no and thanked her. to which she said " wont you share my happiness with me?" So we agreed.

 

Now I started seeing holes in this story . The next day my friend and I were in the shop that carries costume jewelry, and lo and behold, there was her yellowdiamond ring!!! Exact! then to top it all , unbeilevable, she walked in.

I felt so embarrased we hid our faces , turning our backs towards her :o

 

We felt sorry for her.

 

 

Wow, how depressing.

[debkaysmith]

Amazing story to read and ponder.

 

We know a couple who met each other onboard a cruise ship. They told us how they met at dinner the first evening and hit it off for the rest of the week. They got off the ship together, leaving their respective spouses behind. They were BOTH on their honeymoons!! Hard to fathom, but true.

[New Hampshire]

I find the idea of a future vacation with adjoining rooms for these people to be really creepy!!

[SPacificbound]

Just taking OP's post at face value.

 

Very uncool to have posted this in a public forum.

[gsb]

Just taking OP's post at face value.

 

Very uncool to have posted this in a public forum.

 

All I know is I'm not booking the Summit in the near future.:cool:

[Caribbean Chris]

Opening advice in first sentence -"Here's how to cruise in luxury on a budget" - is advice I'd decline after reading the rest of the review!

 

...find an "odd looking couple" with "hot girl and "not so hot guy" and let them pay or bribe my way into experiences I can't afford? Not my idea of cruising in luxury.

[Caribbean Chris]

Kind of sounds like the cruising version of the Penthouse forums of the old days... "There was a knock on my door and the most gorgeous woman in a fed ex uniform was standing there all sweaty asking if she could cool off inside for a minute..." ;)

 

I thought it might end up the cruising version of "Locked Up Overseas"...where the not-so-hot looking guy not only throws his money around visibly on the ship, but does the same in foreign countries...then asks the bartender at the Boatyard where to score some illicit substances, which lands all four in a Barbados hoosegow watching through the bars as the ship sails away....