Would greatly appreciate some info on Celebrity Summit

[beachbabie393]

I'm interested in the Celebrity Summit March 2009, leaving San Juan and going to Philipsburg, Netherlands Antilles; Roseau, Dominica; Grenada; Kralendijk, Netherlands Antilles; and Aruba. I just need to know if I will like this cruise line.

 

Some background about us.. I'm 20 and my boyfriend who is going with me is 24. Just us two going. I've been on 6 cruise (2 RCCI, 2 Carnival, Holland America, and Disney). I much prefer Royal Caribbean's service, food, activities, ship layout, etc. Being 20, I'm uncertain if Celebrity is the right line for me. Although, I am traveling during a big college spring break week.

 

During sea days, I'm usually out laying in the sun most of the day. I'm not so much in the pool except to cool off, usually because of wildly splashing kids. While in port, we will be doing snorkeling excursions, shopping, and beach days.

 

We are active in the sense that we like to have things to do. I like to go to every nights' show. He and I will spend time in the casino (more him than me). We will probably go to a night club a couple nights. Based on past cruises, it would be nice if we weren't the only ones on the dance floor...

During a spring break week, will everything be closed up by midnight? We can usually stay out till 2ish, before we go to bed.

 

I also prefer a more elegant ship. Formal nights are my favorite. Service is very important to me, as is food. I know from reading others posts that I can't go wrong with Celebrity's food. I've also always been used to the early dinner seating with my family.

 

All in all, we aren't big partiers, aside from a couple drinks on the islands (much cheaper!). We are much better behaved than the typical college spring breakers. We're just looking for a nice, classy vacation for the two of us to spend time together.

 

Sorry for such a long post, but my top questions:

 

Will all the night clubs/discos and people be asleep by midnight during spring break?

Will we stick out like a sore thumb because the crowd is generally older?

Will a 20 year old be allowed in the casino? Be allowed to play?

Will a 20 year old be allowed in the dance clubs and adults only pool?

What other activities does Celebrity and/or the Summit have on the ship?

 

Thanks for all the help!

[denims]

I'm interested in the Celebrity Summit March 2009, leaving San Juan and going to Philipsburg, Netherlands Antilles; Roseau, Dominica; Grenada; Kralendijk, Netherlands Antilles; and Aruba. I just need to know if I will like this cruise line.

 

Some background about us.. I'm 20 and my boyfriend who is going with me is 24. Just us two going. I've been on 6 cruise (2 RCCI, 2 Carnival, Holland America, and Disney). I much prefer Royal Caribbean's service, food, activities, ship layout, etc. Being 20, I'm uncertain if Celebrity is the right line for me. Although, I am traveling during a big college spring break week.

 

During sea days, I'm usually out laying in the sun most of the day. I'm not so much in the pool except to cool off, usually because of wildly splashing kids. While in port, we will be doing snorkeling excursions, shopping, and beach days.

 

We are active in the sense that we like to have things to do. I like to go to every nights' show. He and I will spend time in the casino (more him than me). We will probably go to a night club a couple nights. Based on past cruises, it would be nice if we weren't the only ones on the dance floor...

During a spring break week, will everything be closed up by midnight? We can usually stay out till 2ish, before we go to bed.

 

I also prefer a more elegant ship. Formal nights are my favorite. Service is very important to me, as is food. I know from reading others posts that I can't go wrong with Celebrity's food. I've also always been used to the early dinner seating with my family.

 

All in all, we aren't big partiers, aside from a couple drinks on the islands (much cheaper!). We are much better behaved than the typical college spring breakers. We're just looking for a nice, classy vacation for the two of us to spend time together.

 

Sorry for such a long post, but my top questions:

 

Will all the night clubs/discos and people be asleep by midnight during spring break?

no

Will we stick out like a sore thumb because the crowd is generally older?

IMPO, no

Will a 20 year old be allowed in the casino? Be allowed to play?

no, no

Will a 20 year old be allowed in the dance clubs and adults only pool?

yes, yes

What other activities does Celebrity and/or the Summit have on the ship?

cooking demo's, triva contest, computer workshops, wine tasting.......

Thanks for all the help!

 

I answered (above) what I could.

I wish I couldn't of started crusing at your age. Good for you!

[Mrs_Tiki]

Hi Beachbabie393,

 

I travelled with my husband on the Summit the first week in March last year, and we plan to sail again this March. (But not the same week as you, because our cruise is visiting Barbados and Tobago.) We are in our 40's, but very active and certainly remember what it was like to be on college break!

 

We just returned from a 4-day on the Navigator of the Seas this week. RCI does offer a more active night-life and seems to be aimed at younger cruisers. But, if you like a more formal atmoshere and more sophisticated cuisine, I think that you will enjoy the offerings on the Summit, too.

 

We saw a lot more tuxes on formal night on the Summit than we did on our cruise on Navigator. However, that could have been because the Nav cruise was only a 4-night. People were generally more casual.

 

Food is really subjective, and I agree with others that Celebrity's has slipped in the past few years. In my opinion, it is still superior to that in the Main Dining Rooms on RCI. If you and your boyfriend really want a treat, make a reservation in the alternative dining venue on the Summit. The food is wonderful, and the service will make you feel like a queen.

 

I will do my best to answer your questions below based on our experience on the Summit last year:

 

Will all the night clubs/discos and people be asleep by midnight during spring break?

 

It all depends on the group onboard that sailing. I don't think that Celebrity probably attracts as much of the college spring break crowd as other lines. Although my husband and I are early to bed on port-intensive itineraries, we heard from many others on our Summit cruise last year that the nightclub was going strong until the wee hours!

 

Will we stick out like a sore thumb because the crowd is generally older?

 

I don't think that you will stick out because of your age, but you can probably anticipate an older crowd than on RCI in general. There have definitely been less children on our Celebrity cruises than on our RCI sailings.

 

Will a 20 year old be allowed in the casino? Be allowed to play?

 

Celebrity website says that those 18 and over are allowed to play.

 

Will a 20 year old be allowed in the dance clubs and adults only pool?

 

I can't find any info on the website, but recall that the minimum age for dance club was 18 after 10:00 or 11:00 at night, and the minimum age for the thallassotherapy pool and adults only solarium area was either 16 or 18. (I think the signs originally said 18, but they had put stickers over changing to 16. Either way, you are fine!)

 

What other activities does Celebrity and/or the Summit have on the ship?

 

Celebrity does not have as much "real estate" dedicted to activities as RCI. You won't find a rock climbing wall, miniature golf, inline skating or ice skating rink. There is a very nice fitness area on the Summit, and daily activities include most of the standard stuff: trivia, bingo, etc. Were you interested in anything specific?

 

To be honest, these are such port-intensive itineraries, that most people seem to chill out by the pool after they get back on the ship after an active day in port.

 

 

Here's a link to the Guest Conduct Policy on Celebrity's website that gives information on the alcohol policy and other limitations applying to guests under 21:

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/beforeyourcruise/heroSingleTxtSub.do;jsessionid=0000KugRJ0ai3Wuofh1CxPhU5TN:12hdebebp?pagename=guest_conduct_policy&cS=SIDENAV

 

If this link doesn't work, try going to http://www.celebritycruises.com, click on "Before You Cruise", then "Guest Conduct Policy."

 

We have had a great time meeting up with folks from the CruiseCritic Roll Call Boards. You might want to look for the Roll Call for your cruise (Under the Celebrity "Connections" message board) and see if there are others close to your age.

 

I hope that you have a great time on your Spring Break!

 

Mary

[kitty9]

Celebrity sounds like it would be perfect for you. But, while March is spring break for many colleges, it's not really spring break for most families with younger kids so that should not be a concern for you. The poster who said you can't gamble on Summit is incorrect. The age to gamble in Celebrity's casino is 18, UNLESS you're cruising in Alaska, where the age goes up to 21. A word of advice, though. I know you wrote about having a drink or two, while in port, which is a smart thing. You are underage to drink on Celebrity, and be careful if you try and imbibe while on board. If you are caught, or if your boyfriend is caught buying you drinks on the ship for you, you both could be thrown off the ship at the next port of call, at your own expense. Your sign and sail card will prove that you're underage for alcohol.

 

I've not found Celebrity ships to be as active late at night as Carnival or RCCI ships, but they're not dead in the lounges. The Bar at the Edge keeps going pretty late as does Michael's Club. Shows are pretty good in the main theater.

 

You are on a very port intensive cruise so activities will be rather limited during the day as nearly everyone will be off the ship on tours or at the beaches.

 

The minimum age for the adult pool is 16, so you're OK there.

[beachbabie393]

Mrs. Tiki

 

You're right. I don't know how I came across those ports of call. St. Maarten, Dominica, Grenada, Tobago, and Barbados are the ones I'm looking at. It's the same cruise date as yours.

[erniesband]

Just got back - wonderful itinerary. 14 cruises on RCI , 1st and last on X. In a nut shell - BORING. Ship was dead after 10 pm, entertainment is great for the geriatric crowd, my recommendation is to stay with Royal.

 

That's my opinion, I may be wrong.

Ernie

[Benjo8]

Just got back - wonderful itinerary. 14 cruises on RCI , 1st and last on X. In a nut shell - BORING. Ship was dead after 10 pm, entertainment is great for the geriatric crowd, my recommendation is to stay with Royal.

 

That's my opinion, I may be wrong.

Ernie

The cruise weeks in January right after New Year's bring a very unpredictable crowd. Several years ago, I cruised Constellation two weeks after New Years (usually cruised in winter in February) and the crowd was strange, a real potpourri, and nothing I would write home about. I would not read too much into Ernie's post. February and March will be peppier. I am cruising Summit March 7 and, given spring break I expect a pretty peppy crowd, never rowdy on X, but a good injection of younger cruisers. My 22 year old daughter, now post college, will be joining us. Having cruised X 10 times I have no worry about the crowd nor does my daughter.

 

Jeffrey