Summit embarkation lunch...Best places ?

[zdad59]

My gang of 8 sails Feb 15 on Summit.    We like to board early and get the cruise started.   We'll have already spent two days in OSJ and we'll likely board by 1:00-1:30.    For those with Summit experience, where's the best place for an embarkation day lunch on board??    Also 8:30 sail away from San Juan is always nice.   Would Sunset Bar be a good place for that or would you recco somewhere else ?

 

TIA

[TeaBag]

First of all, if you can board before 1, (11:30 or 12) you would have an advantage.  With the sea pass cards now available by your cabin door, this enables you to enter the cabin and drop off your carry-ons even before the "cabins ready" announcement.  I think this takes the heat off the buffet area as people are not sitting longer than they need to, at the tables waiting to drop off their things.

We mostly go to the Spa Cafe on embarkation day as it is quiet and not many go there.  The food is lighter but you can  have as many dishes as you want. Tables are for 4 so you need 2 and there are not many.  Sushi on 5 is an option but it is fee based. 

If you are in Concierge class, then you may eat at the MDR.

Enjoy your cruise.  We were on Summit in Oct and loved her new look.  The buffet is really lovely with all the different stations.  if you do end up there, you could take your food out to the Sunset bar area and enjoy the sunshine.

[varoo]

1 hour ago, zdad59 said:

My gang of 8 sails Feb 15 on Summit.    We like to board early and get the cruise started.   We'll have already spent two days in OSJ and we'll likely board by 1:00-1:30.    For those with Summit experience, where's the best place for an embarkation day lunch on board??    Also 8:30 sail away from San Juan is always nice.   Would Sunset Bar be a good place for that or would you recco somewhere else ?

 

Sunset Bar is good.  If you like, you can each pick up your food at the buffet and sit out on the back deck together to eat.

 

Luminae serves lunch on embarkation day for suite passengers.

 

Anyone staying in concierge class can eat lunch in the main dining room, along with the back-to-back passengers and several other categories.

 

There is the pool grill for hamburgers, hotdogs and such.

Additionally, the spa cafe is usually open for lunch.

 

Sushi on Five serves a sit-down lunch for a fee.

 

With a gang of 8, it is likely that someone may want food from one location and someone else from another. 

If you wish, you can each gather your food from whichever venue you prefer and all meet at an agreed upon place to sit down and eat. 

 

But that used to be more desirable and much easier to do back in the days when they  provided trays,  so you could each gather your meal with all its accoutrements,  then sit down and eat together leisurely without needing to keep jumping up and down,  running back and forth.

  

      

                         

Edited November 29, 2019 by varoo

[zdad59]

2 minutes ago, varoo said:

 

Sunset Bar is good.  If you like, you can each pick up your food at the buffet and sit out on the back deck together to eat.

 

Luminae serves lunch on embarkation day for suite passengers.

 

Anyone staying in concierge class can eat lunch in the main dining room, along with the back-to-back passengers and several other categories.

 

There is the pool grill for hamburgers, hotdogs and such.

Additionally, the spa cafe is usually open for lunch.

 

Sushi on Five serves a sit-down lunch for a fee.

 

With a gang of 8, it is likely that someone may want food from one location and someone else from another. 

If you wish, you can each gather your food from whichever venue you prefer and all meet at an agreed upon place to sit down and eat. 

 

But that used to be more desirable and much easier to do back in the days when they  provided trays,  so you could assemble your meal, then sit down and eat it leisurely without needing to keep jumping up and down, running back and forth.

  

      

                         

 

Thanks.    We’re in aqua Class so maybe the MDR is an option.     If not, maybe the spa cafe or a rendezvous at the Sunset Bat as you suggest.  

[alcpa1]

Unfortunately Aqua class passengers are not admitted to the MDR unless on back to back cruises.

I would suggest you find seating first and then go to whichever restaurant/seating area you can.

If you can also head to Blu when Blu opens and let the maitre 'd know you want a table for 8.  There are not many banquettes that can accommodate  8. It may be a little challenging the first night but the remainder of your cruise should work out just fine.

Have a great cruise. 

[Northern Aurora]

1 hour ago, varoo said:

 

.......

 

Anyone staying in concierge class can eat lunch in the main dining room, along with the back-to-back passengers and several other categories.

 

.......

  

      

                         

 

As far as I know the only folks eligible to dine in the MDR on embarkation day are those in Concierge Class staterooms, B2B passengers (on turnaround day) and Zenith members of the Captain's Club.

[TeaBag]

Blu never serves lunch.

[airhose]

We were on the Summit in September with 7 people.  The tables at the Sunset bar area aren't as good for eating as they used to be.  And there is less shade.  We put a couple of tables together near the stern of the Oceanview cafe....that worked well for us. 

[K12Guy]

If possible upgrade to Suite Class and you can dine in Luminae for lunch and then maybe get an invitation for the helipad for sail away. Just an idea.

 

[Sammigar]

On 11/28/2019 at 10:57 PM, TeaBag said:

First of all, if you can board before 1, (11:30 or 12) you would have an advantage.  With the sea pass cards now available by your cabin door, this enables you to enter the cabin and drop off your carry-ons even before the "cabins ready" announcement.  I think this takes the heat off the buffet area as people are not sitting longer than they need to, at the tables waiting to drop off their things.

We mostly go to the Spa Cafe on embarkation day as it is quiet and not many go there.  The food is lighter but you can  have as many dishes as you want. Tables are for 4 so you need 2 and there are not many.  Sushi on 5 is an option but it is fee based. 

If you are in Concierge class, then you may eat at the MDR.

Enjoy your cruise.  We were on Summit in Oct and loved her new look.  The buffet is really lovely with all the different stations.  if you do end up there, you could take your food out to the Sunset bar area and enjoy the sunshine.

 

Love that you can now drop off your luggage upon boarding - awesome idea Celebrity!

 

We did the concierge lunch in the MDR once, won't due it again. It was awfully fancy for lunch - more like dinner and it took a couple of hours. People had long been in their rooms before even finished lunch, so we skip it now and head to the Aqua Spa Cafe. The food is very good and just more quiet and relaxed.