Celebrity Summit - Embarcation Day Lunch Options?

[Sci Beach Lover]

Hi all! Extended family group sailing on Summit on 6/22 departure. We'd like to determine what options are available to us for lunch on embarkation day. We are NOT buffet people so were hoping that the MDR was open, but after reading some of the comments within the reviews I'm not so sure that it is. :(

Thanks in advance for your insight!

[CruisingChick]

For most people upon embarkation it's either the buffet on deck 10, the pool grill on Deck 10, or Bistro on 5 on Deck 5 which is $7 per person cover charge. I do not recall if the Aqua Spa Cafe buffet on Deck 10 is open on embarkation day. Maybe some one else can answer that.

 

If you are staying in Aqua Class you will be escorted to Blu where you can have Brunch. If you are in a Suite you will be escorted to Normandie for private lunch.

 

The Main Dining Room is not open on Embarkation day or Port Days for lunch.

Edited June 11, 2014 by CruisingChick

[We're The Groupnors]

Aqua Spa Cafe has always been open on embarkation day when we've sailed. I second the recommendation of Bistro on 5. Great food, relaxed atmosphere, table service, and they have at least one large table that we've used for a group of 8 in the past on embarkation day.

[meatloafsfan]

On the June 1st sailing, Bistro on 5 did not open until 2pm on Embarkation day. I had been hoping to have lunch there but read the "Celebrity Today" we were handed and found out that it was not open until much later than we arrived (we were on the second or third bus due to special needs).

[rebeccalouiseagain]

There is also the outdoor grill, which is by the pool. They have good hamburgers and fries and it's nice to sit out there in my opinion.

[osborne66]

:mad: Bistro on the past several cruises has not been open on embarkation

[CruisingChick]

:mad: Bistro on the past several cruises has not been open on embarkation

 

Wow, I wonder why? That's disappointing.

 

Sent from my Nexus 7

[KirkNC]

Wow, I wonder why? That's disappointing.

 

Sent from my Nexus 7

 

It was open on our Infinity cruise in February.

[meatloafsfan]

There is also the outdoor grill, which is by the pool. They have good hamburgers and fries and it's nice to sit out there in my opinion.

 

The Summit now also has chicken and waffles in little metal buckets at the grill area. These are really good (especially when you get the white meat).

[Wine-O]

When we embark Summit we always head to the Aqua Spa Café and grab a table on the port side overlooking the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan.

 

It's too bad they have done away with the grilled tuna, chicken, and salmon as well as a lot of tables and chairs in the Solarium area. It used to be my favorite place to enjoy breakfast & lunch. Now it's hard to get a place to sit down and have lunch as folks end up reading, playing cards, or playing board games during breakfast and lunch hours.

[Cruise a holic]

Hi all! Extended family group sailing on Summit on 6/22 departure. We'd like to determine what options are available to us for lunch on embarkation day. We are NOT buffet people so were hoping that the MDR was open, but after reading some of the comments within the reviews I'm not so sure that it is. :(

Thanks in advance for your insight!

 

I suggest you all have your Boarding day lunch at Bistro on 5. They will have a comfortable table for the 7 of you, and it is a great way to begin a cruise. You can sit at the table and not be rushed and have a wonderful lunch. That is our boarding day tradition- used to cost $5.00 but now $7.00 pp, but worth the splurge!

 

Enjoy your cruise.

[dkjretired]

You might want to check out this thread, they are trying a new concept out on the Summit in the buffet, seems pretty good.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2055751

[luv2sail7]

On the June 1st sailing, Bistro on 5 did not open until 2pm on Embarkation day. I had been hoping to have lunch there but read the "Celebrity Today" we were handed and found out that it was not open until much later than we arrived (we were on the second or third bus due to special needs).

 

We were also on the June 1st sailing and boarded about noon and Bistro on 5 was open as we had a VERY good lunch there right after boarding. Love Love Love their expanded menu including appetizers! I hope to see this same menu on our next cruise in Sept on the Millie. So I'd say the "Celebrity Today" was incorrect on it's opening time. :confused:

[CruisingChick]

We were also on the June 1st sailing and boarded about noon and Bistro on 5 was open as we had a VERY good lunch there right after boarding. Love Love Love their expanded menu including appetizers! I hope to see this same menu on our next cruise in Sept on the Millie. So I'd say the "Celebrity Today" was incorrect on it's opening time. :confused:

 

I was going to say.....it was just open on our May 25th cruise so I was also confused when the posted it is now closed for lunch. Many people rather go there than the buffet and since the MDR is closed it's a good way to get people into Bistro on 5.

[martiniren]

On the June 1st sailing, Bistro on 5 did not open until 2pm on Embarkation day. I had been hoping to have lunch there but read the "Celebrity Today" we were handed and found out that it was not open until much later than we arrived (we were on the second or third bus due to special needs).

 

 

We were on the June 1 Summit Bermuda cruise, also, and noticed the 2 p.m. opening time in Celebrity Today. We decided to check out the Bistro anyway (it was just before 12 noon), and we were very, very happy to see that Bistro on Five was already open! According to my social media post we were seated and had ordered by 12:15 p.m.

[bigbenboys]

For most people upon embarkation it's either the buffet on deck 10, the pool grill on Deck 10, or Bistro on 5 on Deck 5 which is $7 per person cover charge. I do not recall if the Aqua Spa Cafe buffet on Deck 10 is open on embarkation day. Maybe some one else can answer that.

 

If you are staying in Aqua Class you will be escorted to Blu where you can have Brunch. If you are in a Suite you will be escorted to Normandie for private lunch.

 

The Main Dining Room is not open on Embarkation day or Port Days for lunch.

 

We were in Aqua Class on our June 30 2014 cruise on the Solstice. They did not have Blu open for lunch on embarkation day. It would be nice if it was fleet wide.

[rebeccalouiseagain]

We were in Aqua Class on our June 30 2014 cruise on the Solstice. They did not have Blu open for lunch on embarkation day. It would be nice if it was fleet wide.

 

I assume you meant May 30, 2014 since today in June 12th

[retired067]

We were also on the June 1st sailing and boarded about noon and Bistro on 5 was open as we had a VERY good lunch there right after boarding. Love Love Love their expanded menu including appetizers! I hope to see this same menu on our next cruise in Sept on the Millie. So I'd say the "Celebrity Today" was incorrect on it's opening time. :confused:

 

 

Do you recall what items were on the expanded menu

Thanks

[miched]

I think Celebrity is limiting the options so passengers either book a high price suite, AQ or become Zenith as they providing them with a private lounge/ dining area.

 

 

🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

[cle-guy]

I think Celebrity is limiting the options so passengers either book a high price suite, AQ or become Zenith as they providing them with a private lounge/ dining area.

 

 

🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

 

I think it's more they realize they need (and can) to come more in line with perks other lines offer these groups of passengers.

 

They haven't had a hard time filling these cabins really, so now are adding perks and adding price to the cabins to drive more revenue, not trying to attract passengers to fill those cabins - they have been filling themselves before the new perks.

[Cote d'or]

If you are staying in Aqua Class you will be escorted to Blu where you can have Brunch. If you are in a Suite you will be escorted to Normandie for private lunch.

 

In a few weeks we'll be in a AquaClass Suite on Reflection. I wonder if we will have the choice between Blu and Murano for an embarkation lunch ?

Edited June 14, 2014 by Cote d'or

[cle-guy]

In a few weeks we'll be in a AquaClass Suite on Reflection. I wonder if we will have the choice between Blu and Murano for an embarkation lunch ?

 

As of now, this is a unique benefit found only on Summit. BLU is for Aqua, and Normandie (Murano is the equivalent restaurant on Reflection) is for Suites. It isn't a choice of either one.

 

They are doing many "experiments" on this ship in all areas, Hotel, F&B, entertainment, engineering etc.

 

Given Summit spends a season in Bermuda, I'd say that the roll-out to the rest of the fleet of their best of the best ideas won't happen until Summit moves out of Bermuda in the fall, just my guess as that seems the most logical point in time to make a cutoff and a decision. I know they are working to tweak and perfect everything on Summit before they decide to go anywhere else with the experiments.

Edited June 14, 2014 by cle-guy

[Poohb]

Haven't been on the Summit in MANY years. We are doing Canada/NewEngland, Oct 5th. Does anyone know/thing the outdoor grill area would be open on embarkation day? Thanks for the input.

[luv2sail7]

[/color]

 

 

Do you recall what items were on the expanded menu

Thanks

 

They offered new appetizers and I ordered the Steak Tartare (very good) and DH I believe had a salad. They also have the regular crepes and paninis so we each ordered one of those. They also offered new entrees and I remember seeing a steak entree (with I believe a sauce, maybe bernaise) and a salmon entree. We didn't order any of those entrees since we had the crepe and panini. And they also had the dessert crepes which DH had as well. I had meant to snap a picture of these new offerings/menu before we left, but forgot. Also remember seeing a caprese salad (mozzarella and tomato). Maybe someone can post to the a Summit Roll Call thread for this weeks or next cruise asking one of those posters if they can take a picture of menu and post. I'm surprised we haven't seen it posted yet as I asked our wait staff on June 1st how long this new menu had been offered and she said at least 2 weeks.

[Cote d'or]

As of now, this is a unique benefit found only on Summit. BLU is for Aqua, and Normandie (Murano is the equivalent restaurant on Reflection) is for Suites. It isn't a choice of either one.

 

I was just wondering - in case they would start doing this fleetwide - if there would be a choice between both on Reflection, since AquaClass Suite is Aqua class AND Suite. ;) (that is : until AquaClass suites will turn into Sky Suites next year).

Edited June 14, 2014 by Cote d'or