Summit Suite Life - a Sweet Experience!

We booked a Summit Bermuda cruise in Aqua Class more than a year ago. Just before Christmas, we decided to upgrade to our first suite because of the "Suites Are Best" offer where we got all four perks. I hoped to like it, but also hoped we'd decide it wasn't that special or worth the money. Unfortunately, our hopes were dashed. We loved it and book another cruise on board in a suite.

We got to Cape Liberty about 10:30 am. We were through security fast and were sent to the suite/zenith check-in line where we waited for two or three minutes. We were checked in quickly and sent to a waiting area with soft chairs. We waited another two or three minutes and boarding started. We entered through the a separate suites/zenith doorway and had a mimosa in hand by 11:05.

There were masses of people everywhere so we headed to Michael's Club. I was afraid we'd be turned away because we were in a baby suite, but we were warmly welcomed. Sara, the concierge, was wonderful. She really focused on whoever she was speaking with - it didn't matter whether you were in a high or low end suite. She and the butler were problem solvers, more on this later.

We had a lot of OBC so we waited until we got on board to book anything. Sara had shore excursion brochures so we picked out excursions (did I mention I had done no preplanning?) and she booked them for us.

We left our carry-on in Michael's Cub and headed to Luminae for lunch about 12. Wow! Wow! Wow! We loved Luminae. The staff was incredible and the food was delicious. The tables are further apart than they were in Blu. The staff really worked as a team. We never felt rushed or that the meal was taking too long. We had one complaint - the holes were too small in the pepper shaker! Seriously, it was a fantastic experience.

After lunch, we grabbed our carry-on and headed to our cabin. I am a compulsive cabin availability watcher so about six weeks before the cruise I was able to get Sky Suite 6146 - a it was a bit larger, had better finishes with a separate shower. There was no sign of our butler, steward or luggage when we got there. I started a list - clean out mini fridge, foam pillow, Luminae menus for the week, extra towels, change out sparkling wine for something red, etc. I laid it on the table by the entry door and we went to explore. We headed to the spa to make appointments. I wanted a hot stone massage and had to take an afternoon appointment on the very last full day of the cruise (because I didn't want to come at 8am on any day.)

When we came back, we had luggage and both the butler and steward appeared instantly. They had already worked through most of the list. We had the amazing Dominic as our butler. He knew we had a complementary specialty restaurant and he urged to decide when we wanted to go and let him make the reservation. He got us our preferred day and time in Tuscan Grill. We are not butler people so he struggled to serve us but he came up with some innovative ways. I think he would have done almost anything.

I went to see Sara with "problem number 1." I didn't want to wait till the last sea day for a massage. She called the spa and changed my appointment to the first sea day at 10:30 am. There is a pattern beginning to emerge here.

Michael's is very underutilized. We liked it because it was quiet. We tended to pick up a martini at the Martini Bar and take it to Michael's before dinner. I think we hurt the bartender's feelings in Michael's. They had port talks in Michael's on the first sea day. I'm glad we went because I realized one of our excursions had us on a minibus for five hours.

I headed to the shore excursion desk the next day and cancelled the long bus ride ride, but didn't get much help in figuring out what to do. For some reason he expected me to KNOW what I wanted to do. Back to the cabin, we looked at the excursion guide for a few minutes and had a plan. This time my plan included the amazing Sara with "problem number 2." We went to the martini bar for take-out and headed to Michael's. Sara made a call or two and fixed everything, including seats on a sold out excursion.

For debarkation, we had our choice of Tuscan Grill or Michael's Club. We went to Michael's not realizing that we would be ESCORTED off the ship, bypassing all the lines, taken to our luggage and then through a special immigration line. It was good.

What would I change? If I were the Queen of M-Class, I would replace the exterior wall of Michael's with windows so we could see the sea from everywhere and brighten the lounge up.

We had a sweet time!

Question we have same cabin 6146 on Summit at the end of August. How well did you like the cabin I am reading one thing that there is not much closet space. Was there any noise from the Pent House next door.

Thanks,

ERS

So glad you enjoyed your sweet, suite experience...

It is addictive. It is hard to explain the role of the conceirge but 'problem solver' is a good start!

How did you find Tuscan Grill? We did love Normandie when we were on Summit. Like you we also enjoyed Michael's as a really relaxing pre and post dinner venue.

Thank you for your post and enthusiastic observations and work throughs ...

It also sounds like that if some of the 'challenges' could not be worked out, you would have enjoyed yourself regardless, very good to know if in fact my posit is correct...

bon voyage

So glad you enjoyed your sweet, suite experience...

 

It is addictive. It is hard to explain the role of the conceirge but 'problem solver' is a good start!

 

How did you find Tuscan Grill? We did love Normandie when we were on Summit. Like you we also enjoyed Michael's as a really relaxing pre and post dinner venue.

Tuscan Grille was worth every penny we paid for it. $0! We booked before the first of the year and got one complimentary specialty dinner.

Tuscan was a disappointment, especially after Luminae. We have always loved the minestrone but this was a different recipe, I think. It also had uncooked, not just undercooked, pasta in it. We had had delicious filets, lamb loin and rack of lamb in Luminae so we both opted for pasta.

I had carbonara which was like wet Mac and cheese with grisly chunks of bacon or pancetta. My husband had Fruits de Mer in a red sauce - he said it wasn't as good as our local chain Italian restaurant.

The waiter sent the matrie d' over when it was obvious we weren't enjoying our food. He took a lot of notes. Both he and the waiter highlighted the need to separately rate service and quality of food on the survey. Everyone mentioned the need for a 10 on the survey over the last day or two so there must be a lot of emphasis on it.

Question we have same cabin 6146 on Summit at the end of August. How well did you like the cabin I am reading one thing that there is not much closet space. Was there any noise from the Pent House next door.

Thanks,

ERS

This was a great cabin. I think the amazing Dominic will be on his break then. There was no noise from next door. If there had been, I think the butler would have taken care of it.

Storage space is a little weird. The closet was big enough but there is no drawer storage in the closet. There was drawer storage in the cabinet under the mirror in the main part of the cabin and the night stands had a drawer and storage space underneath behind a door. There was a lot of open storage under the bath room sinks. We used the large tub for dirty towels.

Thank you for your post and enthusiastic observations and work throughs ...

 

It also sounds like that if some of the 'challenges' could not be worked out, you would have enjoyed yourself regardless, very good to know if in fact my posit is correct...

 

bon voyage

First world challenges! That pepper thing was almost a deal breaker. However, one of the waiters just brought out the pepper grinder and another routinely delivered a condiment bowl with ground pepper. Honestly, that was our only complaint about Luminae and we obviously had to struggle to find that.

You had nearly the same experience in suite class as we have had. Once you try it it's hard not to go back!

We loved Michael's and Sara (on Eclipse she was the concierge - wonder if it's the same Sara) and I asked the MC bartender for some of the same martinis as at the Martini Bar. Not only did he make them, I liked his version better, and he came up with even MORE fun martinis for us to try.

Next time don't carry your drinks over -- have them make them at the bar.

We've only been in MC on Eclipse - and Equinox is next. I agree, in the perfect world it would be on a high deck with windows. We typically go up to the Sky Lounge for the elite cocktails (even with a package) because there's just no better place for sunset viewing unless it's the sunset bar. After sunset we head to Michael's for a bit, then dinner.

Wow, our Tuscan Grill experiences are always fabulous. Sorry you didn't enjoy it. Maybe the refit from Normandie is just not smooth yet. I've always had the best filets on the ship in TG and their goat cheese salad and pasta dishes -- oh my. Hopefully they'll improve. Maybe it was a one-off ??? Although, we really typically just sail S class ships and they were on since the beginning, so not sure.

Wow, our Tuscan Grill experiences are always fabulous. Sorry you didn't enjoy it. Maybe the refit from Normandie is just not smooth yet. I've always had the best filets on the ship in TG and their goat cheese salad and pasta dishes -- oh my. Hopefully they'll improve. Maybe it was a one-off ??? Although, we really typically just sail S class ships and they were on since the beginning, so not sure.

Our specialty experiences have always been good. Tuscan was full and people seemed happy. Maybe it was the odd combination we ordered. We will be back on the Summit in October in Aqua Class with two other couples so we will most likely try again.

Our specialty experiences have always been good. Tuscan was full and people seemed happy. Maybe it was the odd combination we ordered. We will be back on the Summit in October in Aqua Class with two other couples so we will most likely try again.

We had the same negative Tuscan experience in our first suite on the summit during the repo in April. Service was lacking, hectic, and rushed. Food was salty and sub-par. Sad to see they haven't improved much int he weeks since.

We were on the Summit in a "baby suite" the week before you and had the wonderful sweet experience. Sara was wonderful! I recognized her last name as being Portuguese, as am I, and we just connected. She even called my father to talk to him in Portuguese. He loved it as he dosn't get to speak it much anymore (he is almost 90). She booked our dining reservations and got the Luminae menus so we could decide which night we would eat at Tuscan.

We also agree that Luminae was spectacular and wouldn't eat elsewhere next time except maybe to do the Chef's Table. The staff was fantastic and our fellow passengers were also great. By the end of the week we all felt like old friends.

We also used Michaels Club much the same way you did but also enjoyed other venues during the cruise.

Our butler was Rolando and he absolutely outdid himself. Our wish was his command. Thing is we didn't have to "ask" as he somehow anticipated our needs. When he found out I liked sushi he brought me a platter of first rate sushi for afternoon treats. That happened twice. He also managed to acquire a bottle of Moët to replace our opened, 1/2 drunk, flat (and not that great) bubbly. I never asked but it just appeared.

Captain Kate was visible around the ship the whole week and liked to talk to guests. We ran into her several times in either Michaels or Luminae. The staff really like & respect her and it shows in how they perform & interact with guests & each other. Good leadership!

AND like you we booked 2 more cruises, both in suites. Once again we are back on the Summit to Bermuda next year, and treating my parents to a suite. 2018 is Solstice New Zealand. As they say, once you go UP it's hard to go back, so it looks like suites for us from now on.

When will Dominic be on vacation on the Summit? We had him last year and he was phenomenal! I'd be sorry to miss him!

Question we have same cabin 6146 on Summit at the end of August. How well did you like the cabin I am reading one thing that there is not much closet space. Was there any noise from the Pent House next door.

Thanks,

ERS

We also have that Cabin in August. Look at youtube. That have a nice video of that cabin on the Summit- The bathroom is wonderful! In addition to the bathtub, you have a walk in shower. The bathroom is all marble. You will have ample draw and closet space for a one week cruise. The décor and size of the bathroom will make up for a little less closet space

Enjoy!