DisneyJen

16 hours ago, Redking said:

@DisneyJen enjoying your review before you even board. We're still a wee way off our "recommencement" cruise out of Auckland in January so loving all the live reviews on CC. Enjoy the RS and your celebrations.

Thanks @Redking!

18 hours ago, davidfx64 said:

My husband and I will be joining you on this cruise (although, staying in an interior room so probably a little different experience haha, but we’re just excited to be on a ship!) We are seasoned cruisers but this will be our first time on Celebrity. Looking forward to following along with your posts! Ps-cute dog pic 🙂 

While we haven't stayed in an inside cabin on Celebrity we have sailed in Aqua Class. On our previous Summit and our Equinox sailings we found the Celebrity Crew outstanding.

Glad you liked the photo of the boys. They weren't to happy this afternoon.

18 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

I agree 100% that especially on long cruises we spend more time in our room and enjoy staying connected and spending quality time together.   

 

I've used YouTube TV but depending on what satellite the ship is bouncing off of you may need to use a VPN to make it think your in the U.S.    If connected to Miami you will only be able to watch Miami local news and stations.    You can however watch anything you record so I set up recording for our local stations for the local news -  Early Morning, Evening and Late Nights.    It buffers pretty well and quality will adjust to bandwidth limitations.  I'm bringing along a Firestick his next cruise as they have built in VPN access.

 

If your husband has a problem have him e-mail me.     Actually the hardest part is getting it plugged in -    The HDMI ports are about 10 inches in and you only have about  6-7 inches on the sides as they are set into a frame.    Our butler has been helpful (knowing how to get it to lean up)   otherwise they will have IT come up an connect for you.

Thanks for the tips on the HDMI ports and the offer of tech support @Jim_Iain!

19 hours ago, asnaleah said:

We loved our RS on Infinity back in the day. Great balcony! We mostly sail S class these days. I hope you enjoy Luminae. We seldom eat in specialty restaurants because we are so pleased with Luminae. In a RS, I think you can also eat at Blu, if capacity allows. It used to be all suites, but I have read recently that Blu is not always an option unless in an upper suite. At any rate, enjoy every minute!

Thanks @asnaleah!

One of the things I think we will like about Luminae on the Summit is the ability to order from the MDR and Blu menus. DJ"s DH isn't an adventurous dinner but was able to find something he liked each night while in Blu on the Equinox.

We both worked our way through college in the restaurant business so we really appreciate good service.

19 hours ago, George C said:

I love all suites on Celebrity but summit doesn’t have the ship with a ship like Edge class has , I consider the outdoor retreat area a joke . But suite lounge and suite lounge are excellent.

16 hours ago, George C said:

My last two cruises on celebrity was a penthouse last July ( move up) and a royal suite, next one is corner aft sky suite on beyond, which I am sure will be nice but definitely not a penthouse, might need another move up.

18 hours ago, George C said:

Luminae is great but I would also try Tuscan and Le petit chef , we also did sushi at 5 a couple of times for lunch since Luminae is closed on port days, the only time we did outdoor retreat was for lunch on a port day. All specialty restaurants are free for royal suite and above.

Thanks for the suggestions @George C!

I suspect we will spend most of our outdoor time on on balcony. Neither one of us are huge pool people. We might try the Retreat for lunch one day in port.

We did Tuscan and Murano's when we were on the Equinox. We loved Murano's but Tuscan was just meh. I still don't get the concept for Le Petite Chef but who knows we may try it since it is included.

Good afternoon all from Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania!

What a whirlwind morning and early afternoon of packing and rechecking packing. Like @baggal since we are driving to the port I am sure we over packed.

Our niece (AKA our dog sitter ) arrived right on time. The pups were happy to see her but they weren't happy to see the suitcases by the garage door.

Waze is showing up arriving at the Liberty Internal Airport Marriott at 5:41 p.m. Our game plan after check in is to decompress. We lived in Dutchess County, New York for several years so going into the city, especially on a Saturday night, isn't a priority for us.

This time tomorrow we'll be getting ready for sail away!

Congratulations and thanks @Kteacher🥂

Sounds like you enjoyed the Veuve dinner as well!

Your ears must be ringing @Jim_Iain ... Inspector Gadget (AKA Dr. Logi AKA @DJ's DH) has started phase two of packing which includes HDMI cables and all other possible modes of connection and communication. I told him to add the Firestick so we can watch youtubetv. "Genius" was his reply🤣

We're in search of our "suite" spot on a mainstream line as we love SeaDream. The only problem, first world of course, is that they spend a short time in the Caribbean and when they sail those dates don't work for the "retired" one.

So this test drive, if you will, is how the "ship within a ship" concept works for us.

We don't need all the bells and whistles ... We need a place to reconnect and recharge.

10 minutes ago, George C said:

We love Royal suites on summit we did ours end of February on a rock and romance charter cruise, great suite and huge balcony, concierge and staff were great some were on our penthouse cruise on edge last year . Fantastic balcony even though we never used hot tub .

This is our first suite on Celebrity but I suspect it won't be  our last!

We are looking forward to lounging and dining on that balcony.

@Lena11033 you will appreciate this:

@Jim_Iain  ... I have been following Charla @GenerationX. I was sharing her photos from the Veuve Dinner with @DJ's DH as an enticement. I am sure you and Iain will have an incredible trip.

@RosieRoo ... Congratulations 🥂 On most evenings we plan on enjoying a pre-dinner drink in the Retreat. Here's a hint on how to identify us. @DJ's DHsays ... "I was six-foot four when I married her. She's beaten me down to five-foot eight. She's still five-foot nine 🤣"

14 minutes ago, peanut head said:

Looks like you are ready for a suite sale on the high seas. Congratulations on all of your milestones. 

Thanks @peanut head!

We are so ready 🥂

Thanks for following along @asnaleah and @vickykay!

The first phase of packing, which includes negotiations on  how many pairs of shoes does one REALLY need, has begun in earnest. I have convinced @DJ's DH that if I take four pair of shoes he needs just four pair.🤣

DJ's DH has returned from what he hopes is the last of pre-cruise errands.

Here are his supervisors patiently waiting at the CVS drive through ...

Firstly, a trip to CVS to procure our insurance policy against covid ... paxlovoid. I am so thankful that my rheumatologist is so proactive. I had to chuckle at his IM to me about the script:

"I spoke with 1 of our infectious disease doctors. Given the supply this medication is more than adequate these days, he felt given a prescription to have on hand if you get diagnosed with COVID make sense especially since cruises are still considered high risk activities."

Secondly, a trip to the local Wegman's to procure four bottle of champers for our vacation mimosas.

When I spoke with the Alex the Shoreside Concierge last week I requested that one of our two bottle of spirits be the secret ingredient for our Grand Mimosas .... Grand Marnier!

Following the recommendations of @chemmo and @bnurick I have printed out the requests I made of the Shoreside Concierge  for our PRH/Butler. The notes, along with printed copies of our Bermuda Travel Authorization, and Covid tests are all in a folder waiting to go. Our vaccines and US passports along with some cash are also in the folder as well since we learned our lesson after reading about@Jim_Iain's  passport misadventure!

So here we are on a Friday afternoon, the day before we make the four-hour drive to Cape Liberty, with items still to cross off the checklist and bags still to be packed.

All the “normal” pre-cruise rituals (hair cuts, banking, dog sitting arrangements, etc.) took place on the regular timeline.

This morning we took our mandatory pre-boarding Covid test with OnPoint. We both were negative. I never thought I would be so happy to see just one line on a test strip.🤣

Packing has commenced as I was afraid to jinx the trip by packing too soon.

Our game plan is to leave tomorrow after lunch for our overnight stay at the Newark Liberty International Marriott. We have an 11:30 a.m. check-in time at Cape Liberty.

Welcome to my return to cruise reporting in the new world!🥂

On this cruise, DH ( DJ’s DH) and I will celebrate our 38th wedding anniversary, his belated-by-a-year 60th birthday, his so called “retirement” and my 60th birthday. Since he “retired” in March 2021 he has been teaching full-time at our alma mater (We Are ... Penn State) as well as consulting internationally for the automotive industry. His area of expertise … Supply Chain … I kid you not.

We will be sailing on the Celebrity Summit in a Royal Suite from Cape Liberty to Bermuda and back. This will be my second time and his first time on the Summit.

Since our last cruise three years ago on the Celebrity Equinox, we have sold a house, moved 300 miles, lived in a townhouse while our “retirement/dream” home was being built, moved into said home, changed careers from executive in the corporate world to teaching professor in the academic world and moved a family member into a memory care facility near our new home since we are his medical and financial representatives.

Stress … what stress.

Sometime in early May I was able to find a cruise on the Summit in Aqua Class that worked logistically for us since we had multiple issues at play (see above).

A few weeks later, fare stalker that I am, I found availability in a Royal Suite for our sailing. Let’s just say it was easy to persuade my fiscally responsible DH to upgrade … although I think he might have misunderstood the cost per person versus in total.

Cruising isn’t new for us (in no chronological order):

    Six SeaDream Yacht Club, which is our favorite cruise line. Two in a Commodore Suite and four in a Yacht Club Stateroom.

    Five Royal Caribbean - First one as a young married couple in an inside cabin we share with my parents. Four in a Junior Suite.

    Four Princess all in Deluxe Verandah.

    Two HAL - One in Deluxe Derandah and one in a Neptune Suite.

    Two Celebrity both in Aqua.

    One Seabourn in a Suite.

    One Disney in a Deluxe verandah

We have been blessed to visit many of this Caribbean islands on cruise, sailboat and land-based vacations.

For us, the destination is the ship ... not the ports.

DH and I used OnPoint this morning for our Summit cruise that leaves on Sunday.

We entered our insurance info and our ID the day before.

The whole process took less than 15 minutes. We received a link to our results plus a PDF that we have printer out.

Would definitely use again!

59 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Definitely.  

 

I got a call from the Shore side Concierge yesterday and one of the questions she asked was whether we had any allergies.   They will usually call  10-11 days prior to the cruise.

 When the Shoreside Concierge called last week I did let her know.

I'll gentle remind folks when we are on board.

Thanks @Jim_Iain!

We will be in a RS next week so I guess I can let the Retreat Staff and maitre d know as well.

Sounds like a wonderful evening @GenerationX!

Do you know who I need to talk to about food allergies for the Veuve dinner? The sea bass crudo and caviar would be a problem for me. TIA!

@Holly g Thanks for the update on masking and crowd levels.

DH and I board next Sunday 🤞

Are any passengers masking?

@GenerationX Wishing you a magical and Happy Birthday Charla!

Here's to another trip around the sun🥂

Thanks for posting an update @BratDet.

Hope you, your DH and @Quik2flip's DH a speedy recovery.

We board on Sunday. Just added Dayquil and Nyquil to the list of things to pack.

Thanks for the great reporting @GenerationX!

Please let Sommeliers Genesis and Michael that we will be boarding next Sunday and will be signing up for the Veuve dinner 🥂 We are staying in a RS so we will let the Retreat team know as well.

Thanks for the great info @PaulaW. Poor DH doesn't have the same "status" as I do since I have been known to take my Mom our cruises instead of him 🥰

Thanks so much for the live report @tulok and @BratDet!

Hopefully we board a week from tomorrow🤞

So appreciate your taking out time from your vacation to share your opinions/observations with us.

Safe travels home🥂

So excited for a Live Review from Summit!

We board in two weeks🥂

1 hour ago, bnurick said:

Enrique is the Cellar Master on the Summit that handled the Veuve dinner.  Once onboard, ask for the "wine events" card from the Manager in Luminae, they will have just been printed, so keep asking for it.  That will show you the date, time and cost.  I would book it with the Luminae Manager and get a receipt.  Take the receipt and card to the Retreat Lounge and let Mar/Penelope know you booked it.  This way they can encourage others to book as well, and they will most likely not have received the wine events cards just yet.  They will be dealing with meeting new guests and booking dining, so this information will help them out.  This was our experience.  It is our favorite dinner...  Best of luck!  Brian

Thanks so much Brian!

Will follow accordingly 🙂

@bnurick DH and I are very interested in the Veuve Dinner during our July 31 sailing. We were the only couple who signed up for it on the Equinox when we last cruised before the shutdown.

Should I inquire about the dinner in the Retreat Lounge? Not sure who Enrique is.

Thanks again!