North to Alaska--And Southbound on Summit--Thoughts

[markeb]

THE SUMMIT

 

This was our first time on an M-Class ship. We've only cruised S-Class before (Reflection and Equinox). There was a familiarity with clear differences. She's a nice sized ship, and I can see why people like the M-Class. There were a few of the "where is that?" moments, of course, and we did miss the Grand Foyer. For the Retreat, it was nice having the lounge and Luminae on the  same deck, although a little weird to walk through the casino between them. This may have been the first cruise we've been on where I don't think we went everywhere. Again, the port heavy itinerary contributed there.

 

Wi-Fi was inconsistent at best. On Equinox there was an access point in our Sky Suite. There wasn't one that I could see on Summit. We had some pretty weak signal in the cabin. 

 

The Sky Lounge was a nice spot for some of the poor weather sail-ins. It was probably the most i've seen the Sky Lounge used on any of our cruises.

[markeb]

THE RETREAT

 

We booked this cruise probably 18 months ago before some of the recent crazy price increases. We had debated on booking Aqua, but we've enjoyed the Retreat experience, and figured we'd probably upgrade the drinks and Wi-Fi, and we wouldn't get the OBC we got at the time. And we booked while gratuities were included. This is probably the cruise (again, so many ports) that we didn't come close to even on the Retreat experience. We had a very good  Butler, very good Luminae staff, and the Retreat concierge was helpful, we just didn't need him much. Do I regret booking the Retreat on this cruise? No. Do I think we would have been equally happy all things considered in Aqua. Yes. But that's after the cruise, not a year and a half ago. 

[Northern Aurora]

On 6/9/2024 at 2:36 PM, markeb said:

Playing around with how I want to break this up, so let's see how this works.

 

DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE

 

It's really worth looking up the history of the park. It's a pretty fascinating mix of preservation and politics and a decision to rename the mountain McKinley to get support from the Ohio congressional delegation and to initially name it McKinley National Park. Mind you, this was I believe 1907, 52 years before Alaska was admitted to statehood.    .......

 

 

Nice review and well organized.

 

I hope that you were not told that what is now Denali National Park was created in 1907.  Sometimes the guides at the park can become a little confused.

 

Judge James Wickersham, who served several terms as Alaska's non-voting delegate to congress, introduced the legislation.  He was elected in 1908 and seated in 1909.  Prior to statehood Alaska residents elected a non-voting delegate who was seated in the US House of Representatives.  They could introduce legislation, but could not vote.  In any event Wickersham, on the urging of the Boone and Crocket Club, introduced the the legislation to create the park in 1916 and it was passed in 1917.

 

Wickersham had an interesting association with Denali.  In 1903 he lead a party of climbers who attempted to scale it.  They were not successful.  I've always suspected their actual interest was to do some prospecting for gold in the Kantishna area.  The Wickersham Wall on Denali is name after him.

 

I also  hope that you were not told that only 3% of visitors to the park see Denali.  There is more hope than that.  Thirty percent of park visitors see the top of Denali.  We can see Denali from the ridges around Fairbanks, and it seems to me that we see it more often in the winter than in the summer.

 

You did well spotting critters while in the park.  With the road closure at Pretty Rocks my favorite part of DNP is not available.  The Polychrome Overlook (mile 46) is above the tree line which makes it much easier to spot wildlife.  The Toklat River Rest Area (mile 53) is a great area for bears -- rare to not spot at least one bear there.  The Stony Hill Overlook (mile 62) offers spectacular views.  And the Eielson Visitor's Center (mile 66) also has great wildlife spotting opportunities as it is across from the base of the mountain well above tree line.

 

 

[markeb]

1 hour ago, Northern Aurora said:

I hope that you were not told that what is now Denali National Park was created in 1907.  Sometimes the guides at the park can become a little confused.

 

Probably means I didn't double check and was off by a decade. I'm from the 46th state initially and we joined the union in 1907. 1917 was the Great War. I had 1907 in my head for whatever reason. Thanks for the correction.

 

1 hour ago, Northern Aurora said:

I also  hope that you were not told that only 3% of visitors to the park see Denali.  There is more hope than that.  Thirty percent of park visitors see the top of Denali.  We can see Denali from the ridges around Fairbanks, and it seems to me that we see it more often in the winter than in the summer.

 

Actually we were. On more than one occasion. That seemed low, but you never know. Of course, you see it more in the winter and most park visitors are during the summer. The mountain was definitely more visible outside the park than inside the park, other than the great shot we got.

 

It would be interesting to go back once the road is repaired. That has to be one really long day, though!

 

Thanks!

Edited June 15 by markeb

[1Virgo]

On 6/11/2024 at 10:16 AM, generichandle said:

I do want to respond to conditions on the Summit. We did up/back 5-24 to 6-7. Let me say the good first. Service at virtually all points was excellent! They went literally 'out of the way' to help with all questions. And service is of much importance to an old man!

 

Food was just mediocre, and I am being generous. Whether we ate in the MD, or in the buffet, NOTHING was done well. We ate in MD a lot 1st leg to meet people, and that worked well, lotsa fun. But no matter what dish we tried, we wished we had tried otherwise. [P.S.: As a Southerner, the abuse of the ham hock was SO disheartening. God's own offering was given into horrible baking and dried so much it was inedible. Shameful, that!]. I have never been on a Celebrity cruise so badly fed.

 

We got sick near the transition of the two cruises, and missed our most desired excursion, Kenai Fjords sailing. This sickness was NOT norovirus, much as Celebrity tried to sell that. It was covid and it was widespread, not 'a few cases', period. Why do they insist on downplaying this. 

 

I have liked Celebrity in the past, but I suspect other lines [even mortal enemy lines] are in my future. Hello Princess.  

 

Thank you for your review and your honesty. Covid is not gone but businesses want to call it anything but Covid. 💰💰💰. i do hope you dont have s severe case and feeling better. 

[Northern Aurora]

2 hours ago, markeb said:

 

......

 

 

Actually we were. On more than one occasion. That seemed low, but you never know. Of course, you see it more in the winter and most park visitors are during the summer. The mountain was definitely more visible outside the park than inside the park, other than the great shot we got.

 

It would be interesting to go back once the road is repaired. That has to be one really long day, though!

 

Thanks!

 

 

Actually -- you can even use google to check the number of visitors who see Denali while in the park.  The answers will range from 30 to 33 percent. Three percent is simply so incorrect to be stunning.  I had assumed you had a typo in your report.  

 

And so many cruisers don't have any understanding regarding the number of tourists we have in the Interior of Alaska in the winter.  The winter tourism "season" is expanding significantly.  These are the visitors who are so much more adventurist than the average cruiser.  DNP is heavily visited by Alaskans during the winter with outdoor activities.

 

The US President who signed the legislation authorizing what is now DNP was Woodrow Wilson.  He was in office from 1913 to 1921.

[mhsqb11butterflya320]

Were there any theme nights on the Celebrity Summit from Seward to Vancouver?  Also were there any formal nights and how formal do people get?

[markeb]

5 minutes ago, mhsqb11butterflya320 said:

Were there any theme nights on the Celebrity Summit from Seward to Vancouver?  Also were there any formal nights and how formal do people get?

No theme nights that I remember. Celebrity doesn’t have formal nights, but there were two evening chic nights. People generally dressed pretty casually, within the dress code. 

[bigbenboys]

On 6/12/2024 at 5:44 PM, haynesra said:

At Icy Point, how much was the Gondola and zipline?

 

Thanks

I paid $413.98 for 2 for ziplining next month. That was with a 5% discount. It is great fun. We have done it once before. 

Edited August 16 by bigbenboys
added info

[MississippiMom]

On 8/15/2024 at 6:49 PM, markeb said:

No theme nights that I remember. Celebrity doesn’t have formal nights, but there were two evening chic nights. People generally dressed pretty casually, within the dress code. 

Happy to read this.  I would hate to waste our limited luggage space on unnecessary formal clothing.

[BeasleysMom66]

For those considering this itinerary:  I did it back in May minus the Denali.  Not enough time off of work to do Denali this trip.  

 

I highly recommend getting to Seward by 11 and taking a whale watch with Major Marine Tours.  They are walking distance on the other side of the marina.  I did their Orca Quest https://majormarine.com/tour/orca-quest-cruise/  and it was FABULOUS.  Not only did we see the resident orca family but they also took us to Spire Cove which is one of National Geographic's Top 10 places to see and photograph.  We also saw endangered Stelar sea lions, harbor seals, and a few sea otters.  Back in plenty of time to board the ship and relax before dinner.

 

 

I did eat in town in Skagway and highly recommend Woadies https://www.woadiesses.com/ for seafood.  I had the king crab leg and was stuffed when done.   

 

 

In Icy Straight Point/Hoonah I did my own excursion with Alaska Whale and Drone Tours.  We found what we though was a new humpback but it turns out it isn't.  Now I am tracking it through Happy Whale and that is added post cruise fun.  

 

I loved my cabin and attendant on the Summit but have to agree that the food on board was meh.  I was not impressed with the MDR and skipped it several nights even if you don't include Skagway port because of the huge late lunch.  The buffet had better quality IMO.  Food aside I would do that itinerary on Summit again but I agree with the OP on their review.

[wcook]

On 6/10/2024 at 2:54 PM, themickeyd98465 said:

One time was at 3 am and my dad had gone to the outhouse and insisted I get out of the tent  and look

🤔