darbs7

I booked for my cousin and her husband while on my cruise last year on Summit. They got all the same benefits as me, including my upgrade (even though they had never sailed on Celebrity before) and the 123 go offer (took beverage package) and $150 on board credit (for booking on board). I paid the deposit for them and they paid me back.

I agree...sometimes I don't have a drink for a month or more at home, but on a cruise....way different. If you have the drink package and they offer a mimosa at brunch..why not:cool:

Then by the pool a nice margarita or two:p

Then pre-dinner martini at the bar:D

Then wine with dinner:o

then after dinner drink:roll eyes:

then if you go out dancing or the casino who knows;)

this is not normal behavior...just vacation. On top of that 3 to 5 bottles of water a day (get those 64 ounces in) and a specialty coffee to start the day and my premium package is covered.

We sail both Celebrity and NCL (and Princess) and enjoy them all, but you should know going in that NCL is quite different from the other two. The atmosphere on Celebrity will be more formal, quieter and more dignified than NCL. There is a dress code and it is followed by the vast majority of the passengers --- not as formal as a few years ago, but there will be 2 formal nights and most men will wear at least a sport coat and tie, ladies something dressy (although generally not a formal gown.) The specialty restaurants and Blu (for Aqua Class only) are always smart casual, but this is still generally fancier than what you are used to on NCL. We find Celebrity food better in the MDR, with an excellent buffet set up, but there are limited buffet options for dinner if that interests you. Bathrooms on Equinox are lovely, with great storage space and glass shower doors, no tubs that I am aware of. Entertainment is more extensive and varied on NCL, Celebrity really is more about relaxing with friends and good conversation in a dignified environment. As long as you are fine with the dress code, I say give it a try. We enjoy the positives on every line we cruise, have not yet found a cruise line or ship that is perfect in every way.

We sailed Carnival for years, tried RCCL (did not like it) and then NCL and loved it (been sailing past for years with them). But this year we did Celebrity for the first time…SOLD! We loved it. We a empty nest couple in our mid-40's. We loved our room, the food, the intimate areas for a drink, the drink package. WE had a great time and booked for the Reflection next year while we were on board the Summit a few weeks ago. But NCL would be my second favorite and I would sail with either line.

Since Don has answered your question, please do tell how you got the 'search' to work?:confused:

Upper right hand corner of the website site the box you can type in with the magnifying glass next to it. Typed in specialty restaurant, Celebrity, gratuity

I did the search function on this website and read the first 7-8 searches and it appears that the surcharge you pay includes gratuity for the specialty restaurants. I just wanted to get everyone's experience with it.

We have done lots of speciality on NCL and the regular service charge to your cabin covered it (although we always left an extra $5 or $10).

We did our first Celebrity two weeks ago but no specialty (we were in BLU). But on the Reflection we want to do a 4 or 5 night package.

this makes sense with the higher than other cruise lines surcharge.

When one books onboard does Celebrity always offer an OBC and/or reduced deposit? If a special promotion is going on, such as the 123 or Pick a Perk, are these combinable with the OBC/reduced deposit? I am very unclear about when things are combinable or not.

We will be onboard Eclipse in less than 3 weeks and I am wondering if we should wait to book our next cruise until then. Thanks.

I just booked the Reflection while I was onboard the Summit 10 days ago.

Here is what I got:

1. booked a balcony and got upgraded to premium balcony

2. received $150 on board credit

3. received the 123 promotion (took the drink package…best deal ever!)

4. reduced deposit of $200 total for the cabin

AND

****I booked my cousin a cabin with all the same benefits as me (she was not on the cruise!

My review is up, if you find you have any questions after reading it, post them here…I will be more than happy to answer.

I booked for next year on the Reflection (I did this onboard).

Summit is port intensive…awesome

Reflection…onboard intensive…but looking forward to the contrast

Personally the drink package is a much better deal. We drank way more than $100 worth of water and specialty coffees. Not sure if you drink soda too. We also drink wine and martinis so we more than got our money's worth. We each had two $5 waters a day…so $20 worth of water daily…that was $140 for water for the week. Plus speciality coffee daily…another $70 buck for the week. We had maybe 2 sodas the whole week. But no need to elaborate…but we got our money's worth on the martinis and wine!

Hi there,

We just booked an aft cabin (1141) on deck 11 on the Summit. We're going on 8/25. I am very excited about the aft...always wanted to watch the wake from our balcony! Here's the glitch. I think I remember reading on one of these posts that there was a soot problem. If anyone has sailed in these aft cabins I would love your feedback. My TA will change our cabin if we do find a problem.

 

Thank you so much. I am always so impressed with the wonderful info and delightful insights into cruising that I obtain from this board. You all have made my experience all the richer.

 

Phylllis

Just off the Summit last Saturday, cabin 1130…no soot, no smoke, no noise. LOVED our cabin. Great balcony. Favorite balcony of the 13 cruises we have been on. ENJOY!!!

Sailing on March 29, flying into San Juan from Georgia, can't wait to read your review, especially on your ports. Hurry!! My question: did the ship typically dock (and you could get off) at the appointed time? Thanks for sharing.

yes, we docked on time or early every day and walks are all short to the ports.

enjoy

Hi darbs7;

We are on this next Feb and would like to get some details of how you flew to San Juan. Did you go down the day the cruise left or early. Who did you fly with and was it direct or a stopover? We live in Canada but may be worth the drive to Buffalo if the price is right for the flight. Did you book it on your own or go through ChoiceAir? Thanks

We booked on our own with Southwest from Albany to San Juan, one stop in Baltimore on the way down and one stop in Orlando on the way back…one delay in San Juan that was about 20 minutes. Flew the day of the cruise, landed at 1pm. I choose to not use choice air because I wanted the reliable Southwest airlines. If you can get a non-stop flight I would pay extra for it. I didn't sleep for two days leading up to the cruise worrying about the flight. So many people never made it because there flights were Wed, Thurs, Fri and there were cancellations all over and no rebooking until Tuesday. We lucked out flying the day of.

Thanks for posting. We are headed onto Summit in 39 days (can you tell we are counting!!). Second sailing on this ship - this time with a larger group. Loved it last year.

 

Was there a roaming piano player - think his name was Jordan? We liked him alot since if he didn't know a song he would promise to learn it - and he did.

 

Was the comedian Fred Lett?

Can't remember comedian's name. I think there was a piano player, sorry.

Going on the Summit for the fourth time in August. We truly enjoyed the Acapella singers and sorely missed them last year- are they back? We enjoyed sitting at cafe bacci enjoying espresso and other delicious coffee drinks and listening to them perform thoughtout the day.

Yes they were there in the main atrium every day and did a 2:30 matinee show on sea day

starting my review in word on my computer and going to work on it for a few days so I don't forget anything and then I will copy and paste in the review section. Does anyone have specific questions…

1. We were aqua class

2. we rebooked for next year on Reflection

3. we had premium beverage package

I'm sure if the search function was working, I could find info on this, but without it not so much. This question refers to Aqua Class cabins.

 

What has been people's experience when sailing on deck 9 as respects noise in particular?

 

Other AQ cabins are on deck 11 aft. Any pros or cons? We cannot get the ones all the way in the back for the sailing we are on, so info on the side view cabins please.

 

Thank you!!

Just off the Summit yesterday cabin 1130 (aqua class)…loved the cabin, the sunset bar below was not loud or annoying ever. The balcony is 10 x 10…great size. chairs recline with foot rests and a large table. And about 10 X 6 of it is covered from above so very private. We bragged about the cabin and balcony over and over all week. We would book it again in a heartbeat.

Just stepped off the Summit. We upgraded…total 80.50 per person for the week. Never regretted it for a minute. Made the week so enjoyable. Never paid a dime for anything…some might have been more than the $13 limit, but no charges ever. Martinis before and after dinner, wine with dinner. Great value

Sounds like you had a wonderful time! I love the Summit too and am going in March.

 

Any info/advice about ports and shore ex would be wonderful.

 

Welcome back!

I will be doing a full review in the next week or so with all our port information and I will have it under the member reviews…keep checking. The ports were awesome and I definitely have advice to give that should be helpful.

Who were the guest entertainers on the ship during your cruise? We sail in 30 days, curious as to who is on board. Did you happen to save any of your dalies? Thanks so much for posting.

I think we have one. I will check and take a picture and post it with my review. We only went to one production show, it was okay. We also went to the comedian who was awesome. We went to the dance club a lot for the "game show" and dancing which was a blast.

Did you happen to notice if their was a guitarist or steel drums at the sunset bar, deck 10 aft.

 

There was in the past but reports now are conflicting. Sailing in 40 days and would love if there still was.

 

Glad you enjoyed your cruise. We love a Summit and the southern itineraries.

We were in aqua suite deck 11 above the sunset bar…never any music. I don't think I heard steel drums once all week, which was a bit of a disappointment. But did not change how awesome the trip was.

Just got off the Summit…wow what a beautiful boat, amazing staff and food! I would cruise it every time if it wasn't for the fear I had of missing cruise because of weather and not getting to San Juan.

It was our 13th cruise and the Summit is so awesome. Best food of all our cruises! Love the ports, the officers are very visible (unique). The staff in Blu was best restaurant staff ever..Mazy the maitre de was amazing, Rambo our waiter amazing, Eren Sommelier was amazing.

Flair bartenders at martini bar were fun. I will be writing a full review in a few days and putting it under the reviews.

Booked our cruise for next year while on board (can't pass up the deal), would have done Summit again, but living in upstate NY…I didn't sleep for days leading up to it for fear of missing cruise from snow.

Thanks Darbs7! I’m SURE that’s what he meant! That didn’t even occur to me! Lol :D

 

Enjoy your cruise on the Summit – I know you will! I’ll try and get as many pictures in today for you before you leave! But soon enough, you’ll be onboard to enjoy yourself! We went to Trunks Bay in St. John on our last cruise (via St. Thomas) and loved it! We’ll probably opt to go back to St. John again on next year’s itinerary. The beaches there are phenomenal!

 

We didn’t find that us (not drinking wine, martini’s or top shelf liquor) needed the premium package – we were quite happy with what was included in our classic package. Although, having the premium package makes sense to a lot of people depending on what you drink. I’m sure you’ll love Celebrity!

Thanks for finishing your review. Hubby and I (43 and 47) are empty nesters (we have one grown daughter) and our celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary this year and we too look for less "family friendly" cruising. I am a teacher so I am going over break so I expect to see kids, but we frequent lounges, martini bar, wine bar, we are aqua so spa, adult only pool, and we will be eating in Blu.

I have plopped my behind in front of the weather channel all day. I am biting nails about this clipper system moving across country. I fly from Albany NY to Baltimore MD at 6:30 am. Albany will be fine, but Baltimore will be having weather at that time. Keep your fingers crossed for me and thank you so much for your awesome review.

You just never know! On my cruise connect board, so many were flying on Thursday and Friday (today) and did not get out and are missing the cruise. I am on a flight tomorrow morning and hoping I get out to catch boat in San Juan by 6pm tomorrow. If not…I will drive to where I have to to catch a flight

First…"by your size" he probably meant small women not big burly man. You are just average size, not chubby.

Second hubby and I sail the Summit tomorrow. Your pictures are getting me all excited. We have done so many excursions (tubing, hiking, biking, falls, zip lining,etc)…we are beaching and relaxing this time.

St. Croix: Cruzan rum factory, walk around, back to boat

St. Kitts: Beach club for the day

Dominica: cooking class and rum tasting (about 12 people total)

Grenada: Grand Anse beach

St. Thomas: St. John (beach)

We are in aqua class with upgrade to premium drink package, this is our first Celebrity. We did Carnival six times, Royal twice, and then NCL 3X in a row (which we loved, but we were in a suite), excited for Celebrity.

Thanks for the review;)

I think this time of year ends up being a crap shoot! So everyone booked today and tomorrow are cancelled and can't get out until the middle of next week.

I am booked Saturday morning…expecting light flurries…I hope I can get out. If not I will start driving south until I can get a flight to San Juan.

I am a teacher about 1 hour north of Albany, NY. I cruise every February break and we are docked pay and given warning if we take time before a vacation. I usually book a Sunday to Sunday so I can fly out Friday night or Saturday morning.

I didn't this year (Sat to Sat)…I couldn't…I am using Southwest points and last flight to San Juan was at 1:30 on Friday…so I am on the 6am Saturday with a layover in Baltimore…I am VERY nervous, but I have plans A…B…C…

plan A….snow on Saturday…drive to Baltimore in a one-way rental to catch connecting flight after work on Friday.

plan B….take the dock in pay and naughty letter in file and switch to fly Thursday after work.

plan C…drive one-way rental to Florida…catch flight to San Juan…if I leave NY at 2:30 on Friday…be in northern Florida…by noon on Saturday…catch flight..boat leaves San Juan at 10 pm.

5 years ago…Friday flight to Orlando through Atlanta…out of Albany(NY) but grounded in Atlanta…told us next flight they could get us on…was TUESDAY (this was Friday night)…one-way rental ($500) to Orlando and no luggage..we made the cruise..with a duffle bag of stuff after stopping at Wal-Mart.

So we cruise in 14 days! Yippppeee

But we booked this cruise last January under 123 with the drink package…we booked an aqua class cabin for 1149 each.

since then the price went up and up and up…my cousins thought about going back in the springtime, but when they went to book it was 1600 per person…ouch!

We are going to book for next February while we are on board to get the 123 (ends February 28th) and get the reduced deposit and the on board credit.

We are booking a regular balcony on Reflection for next February school break at 1099 per person…I do not expect to see that go down

I don't have the answer for you, but from what I have read I think you have summed up correctly. Our plan is to walk to rainbow after we do Cruzan rum tour and then walk back to ship. I would love to hear a response. We will be there two weeks from Sunday if you are going after that, I will let you know when we return.

I checked the cruise insurance thread and nothing. Has anyone ever heard of cruise insurance or flight that covers weather? I always see it as an exclusion.