Celebrity Summit Live report 4/4/15 - First Luminae and new suite benefits sailing

[Project_gal]

[quote name='TommyD3']We have also experienced no bar server before 5:00 PM on Reflection and none before 5:30 on Eclipse. Apparently it is the HD & F&B trying to "save money".[/QUOTE]

When was that on Eclipse? We had no issue on the November TA. When Rose Marie was unavailable, a young lad from Murano stood in from breakfast time onwards.

[Project_gal]

Jenna

Many thanks for continuing to post. I hope that you are enjoying posting as much as everyone else is enjoying reading your posts.

[Gordoncruickshank]

[quote name='Project_gal']When was that on Eclipse? We had no issue on the November TA. When Rose Marie was unavailable, a young lad from Murano stood in from breakfast time onwards.[/QUOTE]


That happened when we were on the Eclipse last month.

Rosemarie went on vacation at the end of our cruise

[milesfromu]

[quote name='need2bespoiled'][IMG]http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/04/05/a80c62f9b6e263c9cf4a9249b484a89d.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/04/05/077c8e18647ff82d6489b7a57bca8068.jpg[/IMG]

Happy sailing,
Jenna


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk[/QUOTE]

Thanks so much! Excellent reporting.

[TommyD3]

[quote name='Project_gal']When was that on Eclipse? We had no issue on the November TA. When Rose Marie was unavailable, a young lad from Murano stood in from breakfast time onwards.[/QUOTE]

Late November 2014. About half way thru the 2 week cruise they had someone from another bar come earlier.
Currently on Equinox they have staff from the GastroBar filling in before 5 PM.

[TommyD3]

[quote name='hvsteve1']Premium beverage card is not included in Sky Suites so, unless you have a card, you pay.[/QUOTE]

Both Sky and Celebrity suites do not get the complementry premium alchol package. RS and above plus Zenith only. Zenith get Michaels but not Luminae.

[need2bespoiled]

[quote name='Moobaby214']Hi Jenna,

Thank you for this wonderful review so far. Can you get a pic or pics of the wine list in Luminae? We will be on the silhouette for the TA on the 19th.[/QUOTE]


This is on my "to do" list but have not had a chance. As previously stated it is a shortened list from Murano which seems to be changing (they're out of one of our favorite wines).

As far a cappuccinos being including in Luminae, our course, they are with the premium
(and classic) packages. I didn't bother answering as it was answered by other poster and by me when I said we ordered cafe lattes and when said we haven't paid for any drinks onboard except bottles of wine.

My partner Dee was the first in after the ribbon cutting which was lightly attended.

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[IMG]http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/04/06/11728dae065d3af54dba5340b9a03ce5.jpg[/IMG]

Barbados today but I do not plan to do much of a report on the islands or what we do. There are many reports for ports of call elsewhere. I'll
just say we do our own thing in port and have a car rented for freedom to do some shopping, some dining and some beach time probably,, in Holetown.

Tonight we're dining with the couple we had dinner with on opening night (and last night). The meal last night was great with dishes almost exclusively from Normandie. Fingers crossed for more highway cruising towards food bliss.

Off to the gym before breakfast. It is the ONLY way to enjoy Luminae.

Happy sailing,
Jenna



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[need2bespoiled]

Breakfast 0730a-0900a

[IMG]http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/04/06/7c1f379afe0ff2d4724dc5d11c0b212c.jpg[/IMG]

Looks great to me. Nothing too froo froo but an excellent selection.

Happy sailing,
Jenna


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[CHEZMARYLOU]

Breakfast looks good, with a few lighter choices. Even so, I'll be hitting the walking track on my cruise. Might have to up my daily walks to 5 miles before I leave.

[AlexDouglass]

Such a marvelous thread - and one that's getting me closer and closer to hitting that "book now" button for a trip next fall.

I'm loving each individual item on the Luminae dinner menus posted to date (here and on other threads), but is anyone else wondering when they're going to give in and have at least a limited a la carte menu? We are foodies, although more on the traditional than molecular gastronomy end of things, and those menus are tempting, no doubt, but some nights, it seems to me, one wants something comparatively simple and classic like sole, a steak, or a more straightforward soup or salad (without sacrificing being in the quieter and more pleasant dining room).

[Yorkshire-Pudding]

Thanks for taking the time to update the CC community during your holiday. Even my husband who does not concern himself with our holidays has found viewing the menus very interesting. My DS will be happy with all the lobster dishes.

I was a little disappointed at the early menus, but does seem to have picked up with each one you have photographed. One area of surprise is the inclusion of a number of Southern dishes, Chicken and Waffles, biscuits at breakfast, Grits (sorry I just can't get into these). It will be a pleasant change for those of us from other shores.

It is still early days but as someone else commented, seem to be missing the local dishes which given you are in Barbados, would expect to see some Caribbean dishes.

Please keep it coming.:)

[junetraveler2014]

Good morning Jenna,
Nice.... Can't wait. The menu looks good, DH loves eggs benedict. Have a great shore day!
Victoria

[hcat]

Great ongoing review...esp the photos and menus. So far nothing that would make us switch out of AQ/BLU for next few cruises....but maybe after that

Seems 123 GO still available if booked on board...interesting!

[koolforkatz]

Thank you so much to take the time out of your cruise to post your pics, menus and daily review of Luminae. I will be on the Solstice two weeks today in Luminae and am very excited now with what I have seen to date.

Hope you're enjoying your cruise.

[need2bespoiled]

A few notes of update after reading he Connie thread. First, I was certainly told we could order of the MDR menu at least for stables, and have no doubt we will. If you're going to order an entire meal from that menu though I'd still just go there. I'm fairly certain the "ice cream" we received was gelato, defintely not on the menu, but was offered when we asked and it's not far and the go to Al Bacio for coffee anyway. They are definitely looking for feedback on Luminae and we will give them honest feedback when we get a chance. There are a few more by the glass choices than Murano but a smaller list overall. I'm trying to upload a PDF of the full wine list where I am on the beach today in Barbados but it is more than 8meg, best I can do from a portable idevice. Unfortunately, most shops are closed (in Holetown where I like to shop) because of the holiday. Once I post, someone else can count. They are of course willing to provide what they have elsewhere on the ship. They offered us the Paul Hobbs Chardonnay even though it isn't on the menu.

One comment I have not made that should be noted is that service is not the smooth refined unobtrusive service it needs to be. We're not into full French white glove service every night but many restaurants with upscale food experiences have prompt, refined unobtrusive service without over formality.

Lunch was not listed as an option today. They said there working on how to add table side service. We'll ask about adjusting orders but so far our minor requests have not been a problem (except the first night when getting any meal seemed to be the problem).

Yes, I know I still need to ask about Mini-Bar wine, it's on my list of eventualies to keep you info hounds happy.

Happy sailing,
Jenna


Sent from my iPad using fat fingers and Tapatalk Edited April 6, 2015 by need2bespoiled

[Oxo]

Jenna: Thanks for the review. Even though we are not on the cruise we are enjoying all the postings you have made. One thing that surprises us is that they rolled this out and it seems like they are not truly prepared. Too many glitches regardless of how small or how many. This should not be a big thing considering that this is basically another Dining Room. They have all the resources to work these things out before they roll it out. They have been in this business long enough. It is not like they have never done this. JMHO!

[need2bespoiled]

[quote name='Oxo']Jenna: Thanks for the review. Even though we are not on the cruise we are enjoying all the postings you have made. One thing that surprises us is that they rolled this out and it seems like they are not truly prepared. Too many glitches regardless of how small or how many. This should not be a big thing considering that this is basically another Dining Room. They have all the resources to work these things out before they roll it out. They have been in this business long enough. It is not like they have never done this. JMHO![/QUOTE]


Yes and no. It's a completely independent restaurant with new dishes prepared to order. A FAR different task than the MDR where servers are primarily food delivery staff. Also far different t than Murano in that the menu is different every night. So no, Celebrity and its staff have not done "this" before. Being in the hospitality business for more than 20 years I also don't discount the challenge of this, especially at sea and under a microscope.

That does not mean I'm excusing the issues or feel they could and will do better. We're on vacation, I'm posting this from here:

[IMG]http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/04/06/d94190dfd28f9758a711d512816ec4bf.jpg[/IMG]

First world problems.

Happy sailing,
Jenna


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[jcpc]

Great picture, Jenna. Your toes look happy and content :)

[MGK]

[quote name='need2bespoiled']We've boarded Summit for day one of Luminae and the new suite benefits. Luminae opened with the new menus at 11:30a today.

[IMG]http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/04/04/a8a6f9c58f89cc801512c12fd6b38cdf.jpg[/IMG]

We'll be heading there soon. They're also asking us when we'd like to have dinner and to call the MC concierge or tell our butler when we'd like to eat each night.

We were given two promotion codes when we boarded for unlimited internet but it looks like we have to use our Captain's Club free minutes up before we can use the promo code.

Here are the current officers onboard. Paul Kelley just came back on as the hotel director.

[IMG]http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/04/04/be1bbd24b51955f26fbf0f65cec816a0.jpg[/IMG]

Happy sailing,
Jenna


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk[/quote]


I guess Ken Mills is now on vacation.

[Angelsea57]

Thanks for the review, it's been great so far. Looking forward to more
and photos.

[sr2]

Jenna

 

As much as I'd like to see the wine list... Don't forget - you are on holiday and that's your priorty... But have to add that we have really appreciated the insight we have been getting with the menu's you have posted..

 

Stephen

[vulcan1971]

Jenna -

 

First, thanks for taking the time and being so thorough with your pictures of menus and descriptions of how things are working/not working. I really liked your photo of the tomato/mozzarella salad.

 

More food porn, please!!! :D :cool:

 

Enjoy your B2B.

 

 

 

Walter

[need2bespoiled]

And the long awaited wine list to keep you information hounds happy. Not sure when it finally uploaded and if this link (dropbox) will work. Please note the file is more than 8meg.

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2562oyjd07j8ft2/Celebrity%20Summit%20Luminae%20opening%20wine%20li20150406121345595.pdf?dl=0

 

Happy drinking, err, sailing,

Jenna

[Moobaby214]

And the long awaited wine list to keep you information hounds happy. Not sure when it finally uploaded and if this link (dropbox) will work. Please note the file is more than 8meg.

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2562oyjd07j8ft2/Celebrity%20Summit%20Luminae%20opening%20wine%20li20150406121345595.pdf?dl=0

 

Happy drinking, err, sailing,

Jenna

 

You are much to kind! Link works and I have it downloaded. Thank you for all of your work. Tell Dee we thank her too for allowing you to post so often, my husband would have killed me by now haha. :D

 

Aaron

[FKGirl]

Looks like there are several decent choices within the Premium package limits. Thanks for doing this on vacation!