Jim_Iain Live!!! - B2B Summit New England and Bermuda Jun 5 & 16th

[RodPat]

We just got off Summit today.  Can't wait to see what you think of the changes.  We usually take a suite but this time we took a C 1 aft cabin.  Looking forward to what you think of the Retreat.  It looked much brighter in there than when we were there last. We have about another year to become Zenith so congrats on that accomplishment.  Qsine got fresh Lobsters when we were in Bar Harbor and were selling them for lunch and dinner the next day so be on the look out for that special.

Pat

 

[Fjcpooh17]

26 minutes ago, Oville said:

Any Sky Suite pix?

 

Here is a quick video of the sky suite if I loaded it correctly. Lol

[ecslady]

13 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Thanks Nancy.   Each airport has it's challenges but we survived. 

I use to live in the area, way back when I was in High School.  Lived  in the Watchung Mountains in a little town called Warren, N.J.   Wish we had more time and we might drive over and re-visit the area. 

 

 

Wow!  I know Warren and have been to Watching Mountains many times, especially the look out area, in my  younger days.  You are probably better off keeping your memories, as all of Central Jersey has changed over the years.

Edited June 6, 2019 by ecslady

[SuzeCruz1]

I'm enjoying this blog.  Thank you, and enjoy your trip.  

To revisit the pink sand storyline from earlier, here's a pic from the east end of Horseshoe beach.  This is about as pink as the sand gets and is most noticeable just at the tide line.  

 

[Jim_Iain]

Wow - I’m really behind in getting going. 

 

We got up around 10:00 after a very restful evening.  It is always tough falling to sleep on the first couple of days due to the timezone changes. The hotel gave us a late checkout of 1:00.  We decided just to grab a Danish and Starbuck for Breakfast. 

 

Around 12:30 we decided to head for Summit.  We hailed an Uber which arrived in 4 minutes.   The Uber ran about $26 dollars which included a toll.    The trip to Port Liberty took around 20 minutes.   

 

Checkin was a breeze and we were escorted to The Retreat.   The rooms were available at 1:00.    We grabbed a small lunch at Oceanview. 

 

First observations.    

 

Pulling into the port you could not see Summit until the last minute.  Our driver exclaimed “my goodness she’s huge”.  My first thought was - she is beautiful. 

 

First up are some pictures of the Retreat Lounge (Michaels Club)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I personally love the new lighter look.  As many others have pointed out there are a number of form vs function issues.  An example is the rounded chairs last picture.    I am a bit slender with a 32” waist and no hips.    I was one of if the few that could sit in one - and it was even tight for me.  

 

One woman man was kidding me and said her left cheek wouldn’t fit in one of those chairs. 

 

Alexandra is the MCC Bartender and even with the hustle and bustle of day one was on point and very attentive. 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

We went up to our Room 9077 which is an Aqua Class.   The new rooms are beautiful and look fresh and airy.  

 

Lots of things to like.  Like the new TV, new drapes and fresh fluffy thick towels. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are are a number of misses in my opinion.  The downsized love seat is a prime example.   There is plenty of room for the standard size sofa so can’t understand why. 

 

 

The other miss is there is no coffee table in the room. I think I may use the one on the deck. 

 

 

one new nice change is the brought back the leather seapass holder (I don’t think it’s a perk)

 

 

another weird thing is they have Two Yoga Mats in the closet.   Is this something new!

[goldsmip115]

Glad you arrived safe and sound. We’ll connect soon.  Trish

[FlorenceItaly]

YAY, you're back!  Thank you.   I love the refresh.  Also, I think the Retreat(aka Michaels Club) looks great.  We have only sailed in a suite once, on the Infinity, and I think the refresh is great.  IMO, the M class is long overdue for the refresh.   We have been on the M class many times.  Our most recent was the Summit last October, and Infinity, in December.  This IS a marked improvement.  Are there misses, yes, but, imo, the positive outweighs the negative.    I am very excited to board on the 16th.  

[ecslady]

Great  pics.  The yoga mats must be a new addition.  I haven't seen or heard of  them previously.

 

Is the back of the balcony chair adjustable, and if so, would you be able to take a pic with the back in its most reclined position?  

Edited June 6, 2019 by ecslady

[kirbymuxloe]

lovely to see the pictures of the cabin we are on board on 27th june.  what was the weather like when you boarded?

hope you have a great trip

maggie

[Fjcpooh17]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

Wow - I’m really behind in getting going. 

 

We got up around 10:00 after a very restful evening.  It is always tough falling to sleep on the first couple of days due to the timezone changes. The hotel gave us a late checkout of 1:00.  We decided just to grab a Danish and Starbuck for Breakfast. 

 

Around 12:30 we decided to head for Summit.  We hailed an Uber which arrived in 4 minutes.   The Uber ran about $26 dollars which included a toll.    The trip to Port Liberty took around 20 minutes.   

 

Checkin was a breeze and we were escorted to The Retreat.   The rooms were available at 1:00.    We grabbed a small lunch at Oceanview. 

 

First observations.    

 

Pulling into the port you could not see Summit until the last minute.  Our driver exclaimed “my goodness she’s huge”.  My first thought was - she is beautiful. 

 

First up are some pictures of the Retreat Lounge (Michaels Club)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I personally love the new lighter look.  As many others have pointed out there are a number of form vs function issues.  An example is the rounded chairs last picture.    I am a bit slender with a 32” waist and no hips.    I was one of if the few that could sit in one - and it was even tight for me.  

 

One woman man was kidding me and said her left cheek wouldn’t fit in one of those chairs. 

 

Alexandra is the MCC Bartender and even with the hustle and bustle of day one was on point and very attentive. 

 

 

 

Alexandra in the retreat lounge is awesome, tell her the guy with the no t-shirt on last cruise said hi! My wife and I had her cracking up with a few funny shirts we wore. Having cruise withdrawals already and only been off the Summit one day. Enjoy!!

[irishgal432]

Love that fact that there is a table by the window in the retreat lounge.  On the Millennium they had a small table and the grey barrel chairs like are in the other picture.

 

 

[hcat]

3 hours ago, ecslady said:

Great  pics.  The yoga mats must be a new addition.  I haven't seen or heard of  them previously.

 

Is the back of the balcony chair adjustable, and if so, would you be able to take a pic with the back in its most reclined position?  

We had the mats in AQ on EDGE..kind of a joke because there was not enough floor space to use them and the took up precious closet space in the tall item area. We managed to slide them under the EDGE sofa but no sofa on Summit appparently.

[hcat]

The room looks clean,  bright and refreshed.  How are the mattresses?

 

And is there some type of neon lighting by the balc door?

 

Hope you can catch up on sleep and time zone changes soon!

[Quo Vadis?]

You did not show the numerous munchkin chairs in the Retreat.  They should be sent to the kids zone.

I just noticed that the balcony railings Are now sheathed in metal to avoid frequent painting.

[Jim_Iain]

A couple other "enhancements" that are probably misses is closets seem to be a bit short even for a men's sports coat and dress shirts which bunches up on the bottom of the shelf in the shorter of the two closets.  On other which left me scratching my head is the light on the right side of the bed.   It hangs from the ceiling and the on/off button is on the lamp which requires you to get out of bed to turn on or off. 

 

 

The final head scratching item is the telephone.    Here you have a almost completely new room and they put the Old Telephone's with mismatched colored handsets back in the rooms. 

 

Edited June 6, 2019 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

Daily from Day 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[orchestrapal]

Make sure you request Free Pressing for your crushed jackets.

Who makes the final decisions about some of the ridiculous choices in the cabins? 

Looking forward to your upcoming reports.

ENJOY your cruise!

[Jim_Iain]

Couple shot from day one of Summit and some if her new look. 

 

Actually the new slats provide more filtered shade than originally expected. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

new Internet cafe (small)

 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

There are a number of areas that went unchanged, including Al Bacio 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Our Muster Station turned out to be Retreat.   After Muster we were invited to a heliport sail away.   After waiting for 1/2 hour we were advised we were going to be delayed and departing and we would not be doing a sail away. 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

We met Wanda at Retreat for drinks before dinner.   We met a number of Zenith's while in Retreat which was really nice.  I've heard conflicting numbers but there are approximately 25 Zenith's on the cruise.   Just got a phone call from the Captain's Club Concierge that there would be a Zenith / Senior officer lunch tomorrow..

 

After drinks we went to Blu for Dinner around 8:30.  We ended up being the last to leave the dining room.

 

 

 

Iain and Wanda chose lobster as a starter while I had the poached egg. 

 

 

 

We all chose the braised beef.  We all enjoyed our dinner. 

 

 

 

Edited June 6, 2019 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

Day 2. - Newport

 

We arrived in Newport around 8:30 to dense fog.   It delayed getting tenders going and tendering was slow due to the visibility.  

 

 

Lines were long for those needing tender tickets.  Many tours were cancelled or rescheduled and the Captain announced we would be extending our stay until 7:00. 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

The fog broke around 10:00 and we dropped by the Retreat and were escorted to a tender that was just about loaded.  

 

15 mile minutes later and we were in beautiful Newport. 

 

 

[hcat]

19 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

We met Wanda at Retreat for drinks before dinner.   We met a number of Zenith's while in Retreat which was really nice.  I've heard conflicting numbers but there are approximately 25 Zenith's on the cruise.   Just got a phone call from the Captain's Club Concierge that there would be a Zenith / Senior officer lunch tomorrow..

 

After drinks we went to Blu for Dinner around 8:30.  We ended up being the last to leave the dining room.

 

 

 

Iain and Wanda chose lobster as a starter while I had the poached egg. 

 

 

 

We all chose the braised beef.  We all enjoyed our dinner. 

 

 

 

Do you know if they served Prime Rib in the mdr on Night 1?