DCPIV

On 10/21/2021 at 7:43 PM, NutsAboutGolf said:

direct sunlight can very slowly (weeks) progressively skunk bottled beer but not cans.  Constant temp changes could degrade other non-beer beverage items

Direct sunlight can actually skunk a beer within minutes. It depends on the beer and packaging. Hoppier beers skunk more quickly (although some brewers use extracts that will not skunk). Some beers use preservatives to slow skunking. Brown and green glass also slow skunking (brown much more so than green).

Reflected sunlight and even florescent light can skunk beer over time (a very, very long time for florescent light).

You are correct that cans don't skunk. However, repeated temperature changes can have adverse effect on beer. 

As mentioned, room service is available. It sounds like you'll just have a few drinks per day, so it's not a big deal. However, you still might want to consider a classic drink package. A lot of us tend to cut loose a little on a cruise. You might find it worth your while when you also think about the non-alcoholic beverages. Then again, you might not. In any case, room service drinks are not included. 

Summit is a fairly small ship. In all likelihood, it won't be much effort to go grab a drink at a nearby bar. 

By the way, Summit has an amazing crew onboard. You'll have a wonderful time!  Even if you don't drink much, spend some time at Cellar Masters for terrific music (and Eugene, a wonderful person and bartender) and the Martini Bar for fun (also wonderful guys there).

Cheers, and Happy Sailing! 

Everyone must be off by 9:00 AM.

No problems here, either. 

I've been on Summit twice with sold out suites and reduced capacity. There were no issues with Luminae or the Retreat Lounge. 

Thanks for the review!  I finally got to read about your experience on board! (after a good week of inability to effectively log in).

Rogelio also was my butler just recently as well as a couple months prior.  He's fantastic!

Ria is joy embodied in a lovely person!

Happy cruising!

On 10/16/2021 at 10:19 AM, jg51 said:

Can a guest order cappuccino in the MDR (and/or in Luminae and/or in Blu)?

I'm nearly positive you can do so in Luminae.  I ordered espresso without any trouble, and I swear I recall someone ordering cappuccino.  I'm pretty sure it comes from Cafe Al Bacio but only because they seemed to come through the front door (and not the kitchen entrance).  Regardless, the espresso was as good as what came from Cafe Al Bacio, so no big deal there.

I never dined in MDR or Blu, so I can't comment on that.

On 10/14/2021 at 5:02 PM, jentravelrn said:

Is a COVID test required and offered onboard before debarking?

We are booked on the Summit on Nov 18 and will then be transferring to Freedom of the Seas on Nov 22. Was hoping to use the COVID test onboard the Summit as our pre-cruise test for Freedom...

It's not required for US residents who board in the US and return to the US (i.e., "closed-loop" cruises).  I've seen some talk about being able to get a test on board for the "sideways B2B" like you are doing, but I never talked to anyone about it on board.  I'd give Celebrity a call about that or be prepared with the at-home test.

Oh, and here's a preview of what you might see at the Martini Bar. Tell those guys I said Hi, too! 

Happy cruising! Tell the Luminae crew (especially Danilo, Raj, and Genesis) I said hi! 

Hey, y'all. It's not like we're enduring the Battle of Britain. Be thankful we live in a time and a world where these options are options. 

Happy cruising.

I'm late to this thread, but I want to reiterate what @Bo1953 said.  When it comes to third-party insurance, typically you must purchase it within a certain period after booking.  That period usually around 15 days from when you pay your deposit (give or take), and I don't think I've ever seen a period longer than 30 days.  You're way beyond that.  If there happens to be something out there, it'll probably cost you more than a pretty penny.

Right now, Carnival allows cancellation for FCC.  That might be your only option if you don't want to get vaccinated.  I'd be surprised if vaccination restrictions are lifted substantially before March.

Oh, about the ports.  If the ports change, you SHOULD get a refund automatically.  There are some reports of that not happening, though.  Again, it's pretty easy to cancel online, so you might just want to do that on your own if a port changes prior to sailing and you don't receive the refund right off the bat.

I also recently had a port change (Grand Cayman changed to Cozumel).  When I saw that, I just went ahead and cancelled my Grand Cayman excursion just to get it done and off my mind.  Easy peasy.

If you book on the cruise planner and cancel before you sail, you get a refund to your original payment method (whether credit card or OBC).  It's actually quite simple to cancel, too.  

If you do cancel onboard, see above.  However, I encourage you always to contact Shore Excursions whenever you decide not to go on an excursion.  Don't just be a "no show."  First of all, it keeps them from tracking you down (they get concerned that there may be a medical situation).  A bonus is that you MIGHT be able to get a refund, even if you are very close to the excursion.  I recently received a refund for an excursion I cancelled within 2 hours of it's departure time.  That was a pleasant surprise.  I never, ever would count on that happening, but it can (at least, it has).

It's actually a very nice, fairly quiet space on the starboard side of Deck 5, just forward of Cellar Masters.

9 minutes ago, Big_G said:

 

Here's what mine looks like...

Yep.  That's precisely what I was talking about.

12 hours ago, Algebralovr said:

If you order the 6-pack from eMed, you should get them the next day.  

Those are not available at the moment.

9 minutes ago, mahdnc said:

 

The drop down boxes for showing the deck plans during different time periods have been on Celebrity's website for at least a couple of years, so I am pretty familiar with them.  Yesterday, I was clicking on the drop down box to do a comparison, but only the post May 20 2023 date was available.

I just looked, and there are (now) three options for Millennium, including the present.  You can compare now.

+1 They want to see both sides.  

1 hour ago, zitsky said:

I know All Inclusive tips show up on the invoice.  Do they show up in planner anywhere?

They don't show up in the cruise planner, but you can see them if you click on the "Manage Cruise" option and then on "Reservation Details" that is in the area with you suite designation.  

1 minute ago, Oak Hill Cruisers said:

I believe that the rapid test done in doctor's offices is the antigen test.  These antigen tests are done in the doctor's office and not in an accredited lab.  PCR tests are done in a lab.

It doesn't have to be a PCR test. An antigen test will suffice. You might even have time to get the proctored test delivered to you home in case Walgreens or CVS can't help. 

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

You can not upload it to the app.   When you get to the pier they scan it in using an iPad. They also shoot a picture of you passport.

They are adding a way to upload it. 

It seems that, at least for the time being, you still need to bring your card. However, you also upload it if available. 

Other than that last Carnival "outbreak" (which I put in quotes because it was all pretty small relative to everyone on board), I've only heard reports like above. 

With all the protocols in place, I'm much more concerned about the airports and flights than I am about the cruise that happens in between. 

I can't speak to cruising in South America, but I can show you a sample of what we had going on aboard Summit last week. 

It's not quite the same a what you see on RCCL, but it's not far off, and it doesn't seem terribly scaled back from before covid. 

Happy cruising! 

I just got off Summit on Saturday after a fantastic cruise! It was my first solo cruise, and it was a ball. The low passenger numbers (which I suspect you still will have) might seem strange at first, but you'll probably find that you like it in the end. 

I wish I still were aboard! 

1 hour ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

I don't think straight solo cruising works right now.  People seem to be staying in their own pods and avoiding those they don't know.

That wasn't my experience last week. I had very little trouble meeting and conversing with others. Folks were ready to meet other folks. 

I admit that dinner may have been different if I hadn't been in Luminae, and it likely would have been quite different if another group hadn't invited me to join them on the second night and for the rest of the cruise. However, it seems that more and more have been keeping to themselves for dinner, anyhow, covid or otherwise.