Just back from Summit - not for us!

Rick-cruiser · July 24, 2009

I posted the below review of my overall cruise on the roll call boards and thought I would post it here as well below. It begins with "Arriving in Venice." However, having read some of your posts, I decided I would give you my insights with respect to the Summit beyond the scope of what I posted on the roll call pages. That said, here goes.

The Summit

I will begin by saying it was not a WOW by any stretch of the imagination. I am not being picky here, just objective. I wouldn't do the ship again because it did not have the sparkle and polish of the much newer cruise ships sailing the seas. I had originally booked the Princess Ruby, however, since I had sailed on the sister ship, Crown Princess, I opted for a new experience and wanted to try Celebrity. If I had to do it again, knowing what I know, I would have gone with the Solstice or the Ruby. I know this may be disappointing to those of you already booked on the Summit, but I can't be honest without saying that.

It was not a bad experience by any means, just not the WOW I expected having heard rave reviews about Celebrity being a notch up...it was not and compared in terms of food and service to any other cruise I have been on. The ship itself is getting old and it doesn't have new amentities. The entertainment was very limited. Many on board complained about the same group playing the same songs in the Rondevous Bar. The Revelations Club had one of the worst DJ's imaginable and even the band members in the club were laughing at the DJs lame attempt at doing karokee. One night there was a violinist, which is not everyone's cup of tea. Another night there was a pianist who tried to be funny and was not. The "shows," dancing and singing, were good. The comedian, however, was EXCELLENT and had our sides hurting. He was the highlight of the entertainment.

The food was good, not excellent. I didn't eat anything that I didn't like, however I dont recall having anything that I thought was absolutely delicious.

I think my biggest disappointment, as I sit here and consider what it is I am trying to convey to you, is that the ship was nothing exciting, Celebrity was not a notch up as many contend, and nothing WOW'd me. The service was excellent, but the food, ship, and entertainment was not.

I hope this elaboration helps. Below is an overview of each port, the ship and my overall experience

Arriving in Venice

Take the bus (3 Euros per person) right outside the airport. The driver will stow your bags under the bus and no tipping is accepted. The bus stops in Piazzle Roma, which will enable you access to either walk to your hotel, if it is nearby, or to take a water taxi to your hotel. Take the "Venezia Air Terminal" direct bus service, you will reach Piazzale Roma in twenty minutes. You may be able to take a vaporetto to your hotel from the Piazzle Roma, but it may be difficult getting directly to your hotel. If you are going to the port, you can simply grab a land taxi from the Piazzale over to the port (about 5 Euros per person). The so-called free shuttle bus does not alway run.

Downside of taking the bus, you will need to get from the Piazzale Roma to your hotel, which if it is not in walking distance, you will need to take a vaporetto to the viciniti of your hotel and then walk from there. Our walk, which was only a three minute walk, included steps and was a little bit of a pain.

Getting Around in Venice

The No 1 vaporetto gives you a tour of the Grand Canal, and is a great way to get a feel for the city. The water buses (vaporetto) are the least expensive and the best way to get around Venice. If you will be in Venice more than one day, you may want to purchase a 2 or 3 day "blue" card. for unlimited use of the water buses. single trip tickets run about 4 to 5 euro so, if you plan to visit Morano, Borano, and the Lido, the "blue card" is the way to go. Additionally, it is a great way to go up and down the Grand Canal were the single ticket fares are most expensive. You can buy them at the tourist office at the venice train station.

I highly advise all of you to be sure you have a map of Venice and an idea as to where your hotel is located.

We had a delicious dinner in Venice at the restaurants located on the Canal in the Rialto Bridge area. It was reasonably priced and had good food. You will see them lined up there in that area.

Let me warn you NOT to eat or drink at St. Marks Square...very pricey!!

Also, be sure to prebook your St. Marks Basilica visit. There is a website where you can do this...I posted it below, however it may be slightly challenging to navigate. Take the time to do it however, as you will wait on a very long line and in August heat. We walked right in with our printed voucher and passed all those on line that did not do this. BTW, what the voucher or site does not tell you is that you go to the front doors where the people are waiting in line to get. Just show your printed voucher and you are in like flint. The website is http://www.venetoinside.com/en/basilica_of_san_marco/

You will love Venice and the gelato.

Embarkation on the Summit

Embarkation was incredibly smooth, as was disembarkation. Be sure to do all of your express pass stuff before boarding to make it even easier. We got to the port at around 11:00 a.m., had a little bit of a wait and were among the first on board.

Don't forget to bring your wine. FYI, a number of people I know brought more than 2 bottles on board by putting some bottles in their suitcase or getting back on the ship later with more wine.

The Ship Itself and Overall Experience

I have sailed with a number of cruise lines, this being my 5th cruise. RCCL, Princess, NCL, Carnival, and, now, Celebrity. The food and service was comparable...I didn't see the notch up that all contend Celebrity is. All other cruises I have taken had comparable food and service. Perhaps the service, if there was a notch up, did seem somewhat better than other cruise ships but not by much.

I wouldn't give the decor of the ship, the food, or the entertainment a WOW. The food was good, not excellent. The entertainment was a huge complaint among other cruisers and was an area that many stated in their guest feedback. The comedian is not to be missed. However, there will be several nights where you will wonder if this is what Celebrity considers as good entertainment.

The ship was okay, but I happen to be one that still walks on board most ships saying it is not the Voyager of the Seas which is my favorite ship. I also liked the Crown Princess, which its sister ship is the Ruby and may have enjoyed that being a newer ship better than the Summit. Just my opinion. Not a disappointment...but not a WOW.

The Normandy was a great experience, if you don't mind spending a few extra bucks. I was not impressed with the way the main dining room and the Normandy prepared their lobster, however. The last formal night was lobster and it was tough as hell. I had to grind my knife against the back end of the lobster to get through it and chew it more vigorously than any other lobster I had. Just an FYI for lobster lovers.

Split

Nice, but not my most favorite port. If you don't have an excursion planned that day, you can do this port in a few hours. We did the Diocletian Palace, sat at the street side tables that overlooked the port for capuccino and pastries and, later, sat at a rather cool bar/ eatery that overlooked the street side cafes that lined the port. If you look up, you will find the bar I am talking about...the balcony to the bar was very narrow but cool to look out into the harbor and people below.

If you are planning a beach day, those by the port are more like a poor man's beach...DON'T DO IT!!

Athens

We did the Acropolis using Rick Steves walking tour, which I am trying to figure out how to attach. After the Acropolis, which was something like 16 euro a person, we went to a restaurant called Sholarhio Ouzeri Kouklis and everyone loved it. The waiter brings a big tray of varous traditional dishes which you choose from instead of a menu. They bring you homemade oozo and wine for the asking, which was farely cheap. We all ate a very hearty lunch, 4 of us, for around 48 euro and it was just a great experience. The restaurant is located fairly close to the Plaka, Greece's shopping district which is quite charming. It is located "under the Acropolist at Tripodon 14 and Lisiou." Locals on the street helped us to find it. The entrance to the Acropolis is somewhat confusing...be sure to ask the best way to get to the main entrance rather than walking, as we did, aimlessly.

After lunch and the Acropolis, we went to the Plaka and stumbled on a wine store that was fantastic. We sipped local wine, ate cheese and great olives while speaking to the wine store owner. I left there half looped but loving the experience. This was the sort of day that we just discovered Athens rather than planned it. I came away deciding that Rick Steves advice is the way to go to find the nuances of any port and highly advise that you do. We would not have found that restaurant if it had not been for the walking tour. BTW, the file is a PDF and the forum is saying that it is too big to upload. If one of you gives me your email address, I will send the walking tour to you so that you can share it with your roll call group.

We took a train to the Acropolis and a cab back from the Plaka. The train is about a twenty minute walk...If you are looking to save money it is doable, if you want convenience, take the cab.

Santorini

Loved it! When you are tendered it you will be right at the cable cars to take you up. They are scary for those that hate heights, but it beats the stinky donkey path or walking up. People who took the donkeys said they stunk for the day and the donkey poop makes matter even worse. My advice, take the cable cars. Once on top, you will have gorgeous panoramic views and be sure to take plenty of pictures. There is shopping and from there you can walk to the buses to go to the beach. We did not go to Oia, pronounced EE AH. We went to a beach called Parissa. The sand is vocano ash which is black and hot by midday. Wear shoes!! You can rent a chair and umbrella for 5 euros. There is a great little beach side eatery with local wines and salads etc at the top of the beach. The water was a little rough FYI.

The gelato here is not as good as Venice, but you will see your fair share of gelaterias. You can rent a scooter or a Quad to get around, but be careful for those that are adventerous...it did not look that safe and I am getting less daring in my 47+ years of age. But, go for it if you are not afraid of breaking something important

Connections Party

This will be at around 10:00 a.m. on your first day at sea at Michael's Club which is from Croatia to Greece. I had to force myself to go, as I was tired that day. FYI, Michaels's Club is a piano bar that often had a sewage stink during the first days of our voyage. Other places on the ship around deck 3, 4 or 5 also had sewage odors...be aware. I was gagging from the smell ..my stomack cant take the stink and when I inhaled through my mouth not to smell it, I could taste the smell. UGH!!

Naples

By far our favorite port and experience. I had prearranged a boat tour and 11 others from the roll call joined my party of four. It was ABSOLUTELY AWESOME.... we went to various grottos around Capri (we avoided the Blue Grotto as the line was long and looked like more of a pain that what it was worth). We swam under caves, through caves and the like. The boat, a 33 footer with a huge deck in front that we laid on like a big couch, took us right into a few caves that could be accessed by boat. We also went for a swim whenever we wanted and at specific locations that they took us to. After going around Capri, we went to Positano and toured this quaint fishing village....was a great little spot. We got a glass of wine and was allowed to take it from the beach front restaurant and walk the charming streets while sipping our wine/ beer. All I had to do was return the glass before I left. While I didn't have it, I heard the pizza was great. After leaving this port, we went to Nerano for a traditional lunch that all are still talking about. We sang and drank wine while eating traditional Italian food. I am Italian, so it had to live up to my standard and that it did. The boat tour also included wine and beer and snacks. It was not served in abundance, but it was there for the asking. If you are interested and there is a boat available, the tour company is Barbarapositano.it

It cost my group 700 euro split between 10 people...so well worth it. A great way to do the Amalfi and Capri. We heard Pompeii was hot as was Herculon (spelling). So, if you want to escape the heat and do something different, definately the way to go. As a final note, anyone that went on that boat tour if asked said that trip was a highlight not only on the trip but in their life. It was beyond a vacation experience, it was a life experience you will always remember and I cant rant and rave about it enough. Post here if you want more info.

Rome and Florence

Been there and did it. Those traveling with us didn't and I went with the flow. It was hot and I would have much preferred finding something else to do in the vicinity rather than Rome itself. I felt the same way about Florence/ Pisa.

Villafranche

We loved France...the French Riviera is both gorgeous and something to be seen. This is what we did. We took a train, stopped at Eze to go to the Eze Village, but never got there because I didn't do my homework on the bus to Eze thing, so we got back on the train and went to Monoco. OMG, absolutely gorgeous. We went to the Casino in Monte Carlo, which was smaller than to be expected and 10 euros pp to get in. Be sure to have your passports with you if you want to go to the Casino. The entire area was lovely. Be sure you go up to the Palace, where there are more charming streets and things to do/visit.

Later, we went to Nice and saw the beaches. Fun, but I loved Monoco the most. Never made it to Cannes, but I would do so next time I am in the Med on a similar itinerary.

Barcelona

I should have researched this port more, as I was somewhat disappointed. Las Ramblas, while hopping, is so crowded and you have to watch to be sure you are not pick pocketed in this environment. We stopped at a cafe along the main walk and what a tourist trap...$32 dollars for 2 coffees a coke and a beer.

We at at one of the plazas and the food was horrible. I didn't get the tapas and sangria I was so much looking forward to. Some of the streets off of Las Ramblas were run down and you had to be on your guard after seeing the element. I was not impressed and feel like it would have been a better experience had I researched this port more than I had. If I had to do it again, I would follow Rick Steves advice for the area.

Cabs in Barcelona from the port to your hotel will run you around 35 euro if you are in the Las Ramblas area and 50 euro to go to the airport from this area. Everything else is walkable...again, do your homework to enjoy this port.

I would be glad to answer any questions.

Gina

Gina,

Thank you for writing such a candid, honest, organized, and comprehensive review of your cruise. It was a pleasure to read....very balanced and refreshingly honest. You write as though you are sitting in a room with us just talking about your experiences.....very easy read. And you gave us a great visual perspective of every aspect of your sailing. Thanks!!

- Rick

Stelladoro · July 24, 2009

We did the TA cruise on the Summit last April, after Drydock and thoroughly enjoyed it. Sorry to hear about your experience.

operafan · July 24, 2009

Hi hcat - it was 6027 - one of the "sweet 16" on the Penthouse Deck - but really the extra balcony space, although nice wasn't much good without suitable furniture to utilise it (we had 3 (unmatched) upright chairs and a very wobbly side table).

Thanks for the heads-up! We've booked 6027 on Connie and Millie 4 times. We'll avoid it on Summit until it's redone......

bobbyleduck · July 24, 2009

We were on Summit in March, and we were very pleased. :)

Yes, but what does that really mean? You're pleased as long as they don't run out of WAFFLES!:)

WWWAMW!

Happy cruising to all!

Bob

bobbyleduck · July 24, 2009

I posted the below review of my overall cruise on the roll call boards and thought I would post it here as well below. It begins with "Arriving in Venice." However, having read some of your posts, I decided I would give you my insights with respect to the Summit beyond the scope of what I posted on the roll call pages. That said, here goes.

The Summit

I will begin by saying it was not a WOW by any stretch of the imagination. I am not being picky here, just objective. I wouldn't do the ship again because it did not have the sparkle and polish of the much newer cruise ships sailing the seas. I had originally booked the Princess Ruby, however, since I had sailed on the sister ship, Crown Princess, I opted for a new experience and wanted to try Celebrity. If I had to do it again, knowing what I know, I would have gone with the Solstice or the Ruby. I know this may be disappointing to those of you already booked on the Summit, but I can't be honest without saying that.

It was not a bad experience by any means, just not the WOW I expected having heard rave reviews about Celebrity being a notch up...it was not and compared in terms of food and service to any other cruise I have been on. The ship itself is getting old and it doesn't have new amentities. The entertainment was very limited. Many on board complained about the same group playing the same songs in the Rondevous Bar. The Revelations Club had one of the worst DJ's imaginable and even the band members in the club were laughing at the DJs lame attempt at doing karokee. One night there was a violinist, which is not everyone's cup of tea. Another night there was a pianist who tried to be funny and was not. The "shows," dancing and singing, were good. The comedian, however, was EXCELLENT and had our sides hurting. He was the highlight of the entertainment.

The food was good, not excellent. I didn't eat anything that I didn't like, however I dont recall having anything that I thought was absolutely delicious.

I think my biggest disappointment, as I sit here and consider what it is I am trying to convey to you, is that the ship was nothing exciting, Celebrity was not a notch up as many contend, and nothing WOW'd me. The service was excellent, but the food, ship, and entertainment was not.

I hope this elaboration helps. Below is an overview of each port, the ship and my overall experience

Arriving in Venice

Take the bus (3 Euros per person) right outside the airport. The driver will stow your bags under the bus and no tipping is accepted. The bus stops in Piazzle Roma, which will enable you access to either walk to your hotel, if it is nearby, or to take a water taxi to your hotel. Take the "Venezia Air Terminal" direct bus service, you will reach Piazzale Roma in twenty minutes. You may be able to take a vaporetto to your hotel from the Piazzle Roma, but it may be difficult getting directly to your hotel. If you are going to the port, you can simply grab a land taxi from the Piazzale over to the port (about 5 Euros per person). The so-called free shuttle bus does not alway run.

Downside of taking the bus, you will need to get from the Piazzale Roma to your hotel, which if it is not in walking distance, you will need to take a vaporetto to the viciniti of your hotel and then walk from there. Our walk, which was only a three minute walk, included steps and was a little bit of a pain.

Getting Around in Venice

The No 1 vaporetto gives you a tour of the Grand Canal, and is a great way to get a feel for the city. The water buses (vaporetto) are the least expensive and the best way to get around Venice. If you will be in Venice more than one day, you may want to purchase a 2 or 3 day "blue" card. for unlimited use of the water buses. single trip tickets run about 4 to 5 euro so, if you plan to visit Morano, Borano, and the Lido, the "blue card" is the way to go. Additionally, it is a great way to go up and down the Grand Canal were the single ticket fares are most expensive. You can buy them at the tourist office at the venice train station.

I highly advise all of you to be sure you have a map of Venice and an idea as to where your hotel is located.

We had a delicious dinner in Venice at the restaurants located on the Canal in the Rialto Bridge area. It was reasonably priced and had good food. You will see them lined up there in that area.

Let me warn you NOT to eat or drink at St. Marks Square...very pricey!!

Also, be sure to prebook your St. Marks Basilica visit. There is a website where you can do this...I posted it below, however it may be slightly challenging to navigate. Take the time to do it however, as you will wait on a very long line and in August heat. We walked right in with our printed voucher and passed all those on line that did not do this. BTW, what the voucher or site does not tell you is that you go to the front doors where the people are waiting in line to get. Just show your printed voucher and you are in like flint. The website is http://www.venetoinside.com/en/basilica_of_san_marco/

You will love Venice and the gelato.

Embarkation on the Summit

Embarkation was incredibly smooth, as was disembarkation. Be sure to do all of your express pass stuff before boarding to make it even easier. We got to the port at around 11:00 a.m., had a little bit of a wait and were among the first on board.

Don't forget to bring your wine. FYI, a number of people I know brought more than 2 bottles on board by putting some bottles in their suitcase or getting back on the ship later with more wine.

The Ship Itself and Overall Experience

I have sailed with a number of cruise lines, this being my 5th cruise. RCCL, Princess, NCL, Carnival, and, now, Celebrity. The food and service was comparable...I didn't see the notch up that all contend Celebrity is. All other cruises I have taken had comparable food and service. Perhaps the service, if there was a notch up, did seem somewhat better than other cruise ships but not by much.

I wouldn't give the decor of the ship, the food, or the entertainment a WOW. The food was good, not excellent. The entertainment was a huge complaint among other cruisers and was an area that many stated in their guest feedback. The comedian is not to be missed. However, there will be several nights where you will wonder if this is what Celebrity considers as good entertainment.

The ship was okay, but I happen to be one that still walks on board most ships saying it is not the Voyager of the Seas which is my favorite ship. I also liked the Crown Princess, which its sister ship is the Ruby and may have enjoyed that being a newer ship better than the Summit. Just my opinion. Not a disappointment...but not a WOW.

The Normandy was a great experience, if you don't mind spending a few extra bucks. I was not impressed with the way the main dining room and the Normandy prepared their lobster, however. The last formal night was lobster and it was tough as hell. I had to grind my knife against the back end of the lobster to get through it and chew it more vigorously than any other lobster I had. Just an FYI for lobster lovers.

Split

Nice, but not my most favorite port. If you don't have an excursion planned that day, you can do this port in a few hours. We did the Diocletian Palace, sat at the street side tables that overlooked the port for capuccino and pastries and, later, sat at a rather cool bar/ eatery that overlooked the street side cafes that lined the port. If you look up, you will find the bar I am talking about...the balcony to the bar was very narrow but cool to look out into the harbor and people below.

If you are planning a beach day, those by the port are more like a poor man's beach...DON'T DO IT!!

Athens

We did the Acropolis using Rick Steves walking tour, which I am trying to figure out how to attach. After the Acropolis, which was something like 16 euro a person, we went to a restaurant called Sholarhio Ouzeri Kouklis and everyone loved it. The waiter brings a big tray of varous traditional dishes which you choose from instead of a menu. They bring you homemade oozo and wine for the asking, which was farely cheap. We all ate a very hearty lunch, 4 of us, for around 48 euro and it was just a great experience. The restaurant is located fairly close to the Plaka, Greece's shopping district which is quite charming. It is located "under the Acropolist at Tripodon 14 and Lisiou." Locals on the street helped us to find it. The entrance to the Acropolis is somewhat confusing...be sure to ask the best way to get to the main entrance rather than walking, as we did, aimlessly.

After lunch and the Acropolis, we went to the Plaka and stumbled on a wine store that was fantastic. We sipped local wine, ate cheese and great olives while speaking to the wine store owner. I left there half looped but loving the experience. This was the sort of day that we just discovered Athens rather than planned it. I came away deciding that Rick Steves advice is the way to go to find the nuances of any port and highly advise that you do. We would not have found that restaurant if it had not been for the walking tour. BTW, the file is a PDF and the forum is saying that it is too big to upload. If one of you gives me your email address, I will send the walking tour to you so that you can share it with your roll call group.

We took a train to the Acropolis and a cab back from the Plaka. The train is about a twenty minute walk...If you are looking to save money it is doable, if you want convenience, take the cab.

Santorini

Loved it! When you are tendered it you will be right at the cable cars to take you up. They are scary for those that hate heights, but it beats the stinky donkey path or walking up. People who took the donkeys said they stunk for the day and the donkey poop makes matter even worse. My advice, take the cable cars. Once on top, you will have gorgeous panoramic views and be sure to take plenty of pictures. There is shopping and from there you can walk to the buses to go to the beach. We did not go to Oia, pronounced EE AH. We went to a beach called Parissa. The sand is vocano ash which is black and hot by midday. Wear shoes!! You can rent a chair and umbrella for 5 euros. There is a great little beach side eatery with local wines and salads etc at the top of the beach. The water was a little rough FYI.

The gelato here is not as good as Venice, but you will see your fair share of gelaterias. You can rent a scooter or a Quad to get around, but be careful for those that are adventerous...it did not look that safe and I am getting less daring in my 47+ years of age. But, go for it if you are not afraid of breaking something important

Connections Party

This will be at around 10:00 a.m. on your first day at sea at Michael's Club which is from Croatia to Greece. I had to force myself to go, as I was tired that day. FYI, Michaels's Club is a piano bar that often had a sewage stink during the first days of our voyage. Other places on the ship around deck 3, 4 or 5 also had sewage odors...be aware. I was gagging from the smell ..my stomack cant take the stink and when I inhaled through my mouth not to smell it, I could taste the smell. UGH!!

Naples

By far our favorite port and experience. I had prearranged a boat tour and 11 others from the roll call joined my party of four. It was ABSOLUTELY AWESOME.... we went to various grottos around Capri (we avoided the Blue Grotto as the line was long and looked like more of a pain that what it was worth). We swam under caves, through caves and the like. The boat, a 33 footer with a huge deck in front that we laid on like a big couch, took us right into a few caves that could be accessed by boat. We also went for a swim whenever we wanted and at specific locations that they took us to. After going around Capri, we went to Positano and toured this quaint fishing village....was a great little spot. We got a glass of wine and was allowed to take it from the beach front restaurant and walk the charming streets while sipping our wine/ beer. All I had to do was return the glass before I left. While I didn't have it, I heard the pizza was great. After leaving this port, we went to Nerano for a traditional lunch that all are still talking about. We sang and drank wine while eating traditional Italian food. I am Italian, so it had to live up to my standard and that it did. The boat tour also included wine and beer and snacks. It was not served in abundance, but it was there for the asking. If you are interested and there is a boat available, the tour company is Barbarapositano.it

It cost my group 700 euro split between 10 people...so well worth it. A great way to do the Amalfi and Capri. We heard Pompeii was hot as was Herculon (spelling). So, if you want to escape the heat and do something different, definately the way to go. As a final note, anyone that went on that boat tour if asked said that trip was a highlight not only on the trip but in their life. It was beyond a vacation experience, it was a life experience you will always remember and I cant rant and rave about it enough. Post here if you want more info.

Rome and Florence

Been there and did it. Those traveling with us didn't and I went with the flow. It was hot and I would have much preferred finding something else to do in the vicinity rather than Rome itself. I felt the same way about Florence/ Pisa.

Villafranche

We loved France...the French Riviera is both gorgeous and something to be seen. This is what we did. We took a train, stopped at Eze to go to the Eze Village, but never got there because I didn't do my homework on the bus to Eze thing, so we got back on the train and went to Monoco. OMG, absolutely gorgeous. We went to the Casino in Monte Carlo, which was smaller than to be expected and 10 euros pp to get in. Be sure to have your passports with you if you want to go to the Casino. The entire area was lovely. Be sure you go up to the Palace, where there are more charming streets and things to do/visit.

Later, we went to Nice and saw the beaches. Fun, but I loved Monoco the most. Never made it to Cannes, but I would do so next time I am in the Med on a similar itinerary.

Barcelona

I should have researched this port more, as I was somewhat disappointed. Las Ramblas, while hopping, is so crowded and you have to watch to be sure you are not pick pocketed in this environment. We stopped at a cafe along the main walk and what a tourist trap...$32 dollars for 2 coffees a coke and a beer.

We at at one of the plazas and the food was horrible. I didn't get the tapas and sangria I was so much looking forward to. Some of the streets off of Las Ramblas were run down and you had to be on your guard after seeing the element. I was not impressed and feel like it would have been a better experience had I researched this port more than I had. If I had to do it again, I would follow Rick Steves advice for the area.

Cabs in Barcelona from the port to your hotel will run you around 35 euro if you are in the Las Ramblas area and 50 euro to go to the airport from this area. Everything else is walkable...again, do your homework to enjoy this port.

I would be glad to answer any questions.

Gina

I appreciated your review, and completely agree with you about Rick Steves.

Happy cruising to all!

Bob

Solstice23 · July 24, 2009

I posted the below review of my overall cruise on the roll call boards and thought I would post it here as well below. It begins with "Arriving in Venice." However, having read some of your posts, I decided I would give you my insights with respect to the Summit beyond the scope of what I posted on the roll call pages. That said, here goes.

The Summit

I will begin by saying it was not a WOW by any stretch of the imagination. I am not being picky here, just objective. I wouldn't do the ship again because it did not have the sparkle and polish of the much newer cruise ships sailing the seas. I had originally booked the Princess Ruby, however, since I had sailed on the sister ship, Crown Princess, I opted for a new experience and wanted to try Celebrity. If I had to do it again, knowing what I know, I would have gone with the Solstice or the Ruby. I know this may be disappointing to those of you already booked on the Summit, but I can't be honest without saying that.

It was not a bad experience by any means, just not the WOW I expected having heard rave reviews about Celebrity being a notch up...it was not and compared in terms of food and service to any other cruise I have been on. The ship itself is getting old and it doesn't have new amentities. The entertainment was very limited. Many on board complained about the same group playing the same songs in the Rondevous Bar. The Revelations Club had one of the worst DJ's imaginable and even the band members in the club were laughing at the DJs lame attempt at doing karokee. One night there was a violinist, which is not everyone's cup of tea. Another night there was a pianist who tried to be funny and was not. The "shows," dancing and singing, were good. The comedian, however, was EXCELLENT and had our sides hurting. He was the highlight of the entertainment.

The food was good, not excellent. I didn't eat anything that I didn't like, however I dont recall having anything that I thought was absolutely delicious.

I think my biggest disappointment, as I sit here and consider what it is I am trying to convey to you, is that the ship was nothing exciting, Celebrity was not a notch up as many contend, and nothing WOW'd me. The service was excellent, but the food, ship, and entertainment was not.

I hope this elaboration helps. Below is an overview of each port, the ship and my overall experience

Arriving in Venice

Take the bus (3 Euros per person) right outside the airport. The driver will stow your bags under the bus and no tipping is accepted. The bus stops in Piazzle Roma, which will enable you access to either walk to your hotel, if it is nearby, or to take a water taxi to your hotel. Take the "Venezia Air Terminal" direct bus service, you will reach Piazzale Roma in twenty minutes. You may be able to take a vaporetto to your hotel from the Piazzle Roma, but it may be difficult getting directly to your hotel. If you are going to the port, you can simply grab a land taxi from the Piazzale over to the port (about 5 Euros per person). The so-called free shuttle bus does not alway run.

Downside of taking the bus, you will need to get from the Piazzale Roma to your hotel, which if it is not in walking distance, you will need to take a vaporetto to the viciniti of your hotel and then walk from there. Our walk, which was only a three minute walk, included steps and was a little bit of a pain.

Getting Around in Venice

The No 1 vaporetto gives you a tour of the Grand Canal, and is a great way to get a feel for the city. The water buses (vaporetto) are the least expensive and the best way to get around Venice. If you will be in Venice more than one day, you may want to purchase a 2 or 3 day "blue" card. for unlimited use of the water buses. single trip tickets run about 4 to 5 euro so, if you plan to visit Morano, Borano, and the Lido, the "blue card" is the way to go. Additionally, it is a great way to go up and down the Grand Canal were the single ticket fares are most expensive. You can buy them at the tourist office at the venice train station.

I highly advise all of you to be sure you have a map of Venice and an idea as to where your hotel is located.

We had a delicious dinner in Venice at the restaurants located on the Canal in the Rialto Bridge area. It was reasonably priced and had good food. You will see them lined up there in that area.

Let me warn you NOT to eat or drink at St. Marks Square...very pricey!!

Also, be sure to prebook your St. Marks Basilica visit. There is a website where you can do this...I posted it below, however it may be slightly challenging to navigate. Take the time to do it however, as you will wait on a very long line and in August heat. We walked right in with our printed voucher and passed all those on line that did not do this. BTW, what the voucher or site does not tell you is that you go to the front doors where the people are waiting in line to get. Just show your printed voucher and you are in like flint. The website is http://www.venetoinside.com/en/basilica_of_san_marco/

You will love Venice and the gelato.

Embarkation on the Summit

Embarkation was incredibly smooth, as was disembarkation. Be sure to do all of your express pass stuff before boarding to make it even easier. We got to the port at around 11:00 a.m., had a little bit of a wait and were among the first on board.

Don't forget to bring your wine. FYI, a number of people I know brought more than 2 bottles on board by putting some bottles in their suitcase or getting back on the ship later with more wine.

The Ship Itself and Overall Experience

I have sailed with a number of cruise lines, this being my 5th cruise. RCCL, Princess, NCL, Carnival, and, now, Celebrity. The food and service was comparable...I didn't see the notch up that all contend Celebrity is. All other cruises I have taken had comparable food and service. Perhaps the service, if there was a notch up, did seem somewhat better than other cruise ships but not by much.

I wouldn't give the decor of the ship, the food, or the entertainment a WOW. The food was good, not excellent. The entertainment was a huge complaint among other cruisers and was an area that many stated in their guest feedback. The comedian is not to be missed. However, there will be several nights where you will wonder if this is what Celebrity considers as good entertainment.

The ship was okay, but I happen to be one that still walks on board most ships saying it is not the Voyager of the Seas which is my favorite ship. I also liked the Crown Princess, which its sister ship is the Ruby and may have enjoyed that being a newer ship better than the Summit. Just my opinion. Not a disappointment...but not a WOW.

The Normandy was a great experience, if you don't mind spending a few extra bucks. I was not impressed with the way the main dining room and the Normandy prepared their lobster, however. The last formal night was lobster and it was tough as hell. I had to grind my knife against the back end of the lobster to get through it and chew it more vigorously than any other lobster I had. Just an FYI for lobster lovers.

Split

Nice, but not my most favorite port. If you don't have an excursion planned that day, you can do this port in a few hours. We did the Diocletian Palace, sat at the street side tables that overlooked the port for capuccino and pastries and, later, sat at a rather cool bar/ eatery that overlooked the street side cafes that lined the port. If you look up, you will find the bar I am talking about...the balcony to the bar was very narrow but cool to look out into the harbor and people below.

If you are planning a beach day, those by the port are more like a poor man's beach...DON'T DO IT!!

Athens

We did the Acropolis using Rick Steves walking tour, which I am trying to figure out how to attach. After the Acropolis, which was something like 16 euro a person, we went to a restaurant called Sholarhio Ouzeri Kouklis and everyone loved it. The waiter brings a big tray of varous traditional dishes which you choose from instead of a menu. They bring you homemade oozo and wine for the asking, which was farely cheap. We all ate a very hearty lunch, 4 of us, for around 48 euro and it was just a great experience. The restaurant is located fairly close to the Plaka, Greece's shopping district which is quite charming. It is located "under the Acropolist at Tripodon 14 and Lisiou." Locals on the street helped us to find it. The entrance to the Acropolis is somewhat confusing...be sure to ask the best way to get to the main entrance rather than walking, as we did, aimlessly.

After lunch and the Acropolis, we went to the Plaka and stumbled on a wine store that was fantastic. We sipped local wine, ate cheese and great olives while speaking to the wine store owner. I left there half looped but loving the experience. This was the sort of day that we just discovered Athens rather than planned it. I came away deciding that Rick Steves advice is the way to go to find the nuances of any port and highly advise that you do. We would not have found that restaurant if it had not been for the walking tour. BTW, the file is a PDF and the forum is saying that it is too big to upload. If one of you gives me your email address, I will send the walking tour to you so that you can share it with your roll call group.

We took a train to the Acropolis and a cab back from the Plaka. The train is about a twenty minute walk...If you are looking to save money it is doable, if you want convenience, take the cab.

Santorini

Loved it! When you are tendered it you will be right at the cable cars to take you up. They are scary for those that hate heights, but it beats the stinky donkey path or walking up. People who took the donkeys said they stunk for the day and the donkey poop makes matter even worse. My advice, take the cable cars. Once on top, you will have gorgeous panoramic views and be sure to take plenty of pictures. There is shopping and from there you can walk to the buses to go to the beach. We did not go to Oia, pronounced EE AH. We went to a beach called Parissa. The sand is vocano ash which is black and hot by midday. Wear shoes!! You can rent a chair and umbrella for 5 euros. There is a great little beach side eatery with local wines and salads etc at the top of the beach. The water was a little rough FYI.

The gelato here is not as good as Venice, but you will see your fair share of gelaterias. You can rent a scooter or a Quad to get around, but be careful for those that are adventerous...it did not look that safe and I am getting less daring in my 47+ years of age. But, go for it if you are not afraid of breaking something important

Connections Party

This will be at around 10:00 a.m. on your first day at sea at Michael's Club which is from Croatia to Greece. I had to force myself to go, as I was tired that day. FYI, Michaels's Club is a piano bar that often had a sewage stink during the first days of our voyage. Other places on the ship around deck 3, 4 or 5 also had sewage odors...be aware. I was gagging from the smell ..my stomack cant take the stink and when I inhaled through my mouth not to smell it, I could taste the smell. UGH!!

Naples

By far our favorite port and experience. I had prearranged a boat tour and 11 others from the roll call joined my party of four. It was ABSOLUTELY AWESOME.... we went to various grottos around Capri (we avoided the Blue Grotto as the line was long and looked like more of a pain that what it was worth). We swam under caves, through caves and the like. The boat, a 33 footer with a huge deck in front that we laid on like a big couch, took us right into a few caves that could be accessed by boat. We also went for a swim whenever we wanted and at specific locations that they took us to. After going around Capri, we went to Positano and toured this quaint fishing village....was a great little spot. We got a glass of wine and was allowed to take it from the beach front restaurant and walk the charming streets while sipping our wine/ beer. All I had to do was return the glass before I left. While I didn't have it, I heard the pizza was great. After leaving this port, we went to Nerano for a traditional lunch that all are still talking about. We sang and drank wine while eating traditional Italian food. I am Italian, so it had to live up to my standard and that it did. The boat tour also included wine and beer and snacks. It was not served in abundance, but it was there for the asking. If you are interested and there is a boat available, the tour company is Barbarapositano.it

It cost my group 700 euro split between 10 people...so well worth it. A great way to do the Amalfi and Capri. We heard Pompeii was hot as was Herculon (spelling). So, if you want to escape the heat and do something different, definately the way to go. As a final note, anyone that went on that boat tour if asked said that trip was a highlight not only on the trip but in their life. It was beyond a vacation experience, it was a life experience you will always remember and I cant rant and rave about it enough. Post here if you want more info.

Rome and Florence

Been there and did it. Those traveling with us didn't and I went with the flow. It was hot and I would have much preferred finding something else to do in the vicinity rather than Rome itself. I felt the same way about Florence/ Pisa.

Villafranche

We loved France...the French Riviera is both gorgeous and something to be seen. This is what we did. We took a train, stopped at Eze to go to the Eze Village, but never got there because I didn't do my homework on the bus to Eze thing, so we got back on the train and went to Monoco. OMG, absolutely gorgeous. We went to the Casino in Monte Carlo, which was smaller than to be expected and 10 euros pp to get in. Be sure to have your passports with you if you want to go to the Casino. The entire area was lovely. Be sure you go up to the Palace, where there are more charming streets and things to do/visit.

Later, we went to Nice and saw the beaches. Fun, but I loved Monoco the most. Never made it to Cannes, but I would do so next time I am in the Med on a similar itinerary.

Barcelona

I should have researched this port more, as I was somewhat disappointed. Las Ramblas, while hopping, is so crowded and you have to watch to be sure you are not pick pocketed in this environment. We stopped at a cafe along the main walk and what a tourist trap...$32 dollars for 2 coffees a coke and a beer.

We at at one of the plazas and the food was horrible. I didn't get the tapas and sangria I was so much looking forward to. Some of the streets off of Las Ramblas were run down and you had to be on your guard after seeing the element. I was not impressed and feel like it would have been a better experience had I researched this port more than I had. If I had to do it again, I would follow Rick Steves advice for the area.

Cabs in Barcelona from the port to your hotel will run you around 35 euro if you are in the Las Ramblas area and 50 euro to go to the airport from this area. Everything else is walkable...again, do your homework to enjoy this port.

I would be glad to answer any questions.

Gina

sorry you feel this way,

but we have sailed many times, and overall all ships these days have less going on with cutbacks, Yes the summit is older but the style is timeless and not tacky. We have been on the Solstice and it is our favorite! But we would go on the Summit any time in the future.

We like celebrity because the events are more low key, Last week we watched some home videos of all our past cruises, we loved the RCCL Mariner and Jewel, and Grand princess was good also, but when we put in the DVD of the Celebrity Infinity cruise ,,,we were like awe ....thats why we love Celebrity Less people...better service!!! food can change from ship to ship in a matter of weeks! so we never go hungry BUT Celebrity overall has always pleased us most with food.

We sailed on the Summit last Summer in Europe and this past March and both cruises were wonderful. We tend to like less flashy ships and prefer overall timeless classic, with a modern twist design.

The Millennium class ships are the same size as some Radiance class RCCL ships and some princess ships, and with way less passengers it really makes it for a better trip for us.

Hope you try the Solstice because no other ship compares that we have seen visually

Happy Sailing!

kitty9 · July 25, 2009

I don't know why knowing what lines we have used in the past would make any difference to our experience, but this was our 9th cruise and we have sailed with P & O, Princess, Costa, Seabourn - and even Ocean Village, so I think we have a fairly good "cross section" of cruising experience to be able to measure the standards we expect and receive (or not!).

It was not my intention in posting here to scaremonger and I apologise to anyone who is worried now about their future cruise. I do believe though that forums like this require all sides to be seen by interested parties, good and bad.

At the end of the day though, of course it is simply my opinion on my particular holiday!

My question was not meant as a bashing of you. I was just curious as to what other lines you've been on. The reason is, before I had cruised on Celebrity for the first time, my most recent cruises were on Seabourn and Crystal. When my sister and mom talked me into trying Celebrity, they were concerned that because of my previous cruise experience, I might hate Celebrity. But that wasn't the case because I had made up my mind to adjust my expectations. I'm not saying you didn't, but that's what I did and found Celebrity to be to my liking for a mass market line---btw, I now have 61 total cruises under my belt. I know many cruisers who've only cruised the luxury lines might dislike what any mass market line offers, so I was just curious as to what other lines you've experienced. Like I said, I'm sorry this cruise did not meet your standards. Not every cruise line will. For me, I won't cruise Costa or NCL ever again, but others love those lines, and that's great for them.

clivep · July 25, 2009

My question was not meant as a bashing of you. I was just curious as to what other lines you've been on. The reason is, before I had cruised on Celebrity for the first time, my most recent cruises were on Seabourn and Crystal. When my sister and mom talked me into trying Celebrity, they were concerned that because of my previous cruise experience, I might hate Celebrity. But that wasn't the case because I had made up my mind to adjust my expectations. I'm not saying you didn't, but that's what I did and found Celebrity to be to my liking for a mass market line---btw, I now have 61 total cruises under my belt. I know many cruisers who've only cruised the luxury lines might dislike what any mass market line offers, so I was just curious as to what other lines you've experienced. Like I said, I'm sorry this cruise did not meet your standards. Not every cruise line will. For me, I won't cruise Costa or NCL ever again, but others love those lines, and that's great for them.

I also thought this a valid question in view of your dislike of the charge for shuttle services. We have sailed with Celebrity, RCI, NCL, Costa and MSC (amongst others) but only Celebrity and RCI have offered ANY shuttle services. The other lines have not provided these at all and left one to get the expensive taxis or navigate the local transport. Sure I would like free shuttles but I can't be annoyed with Celebrity for providing an additional optional chargeable service to the other lines.

We sailed on the Summit last November and found the food in the MDR to be the best we have had on any ship or land restaurant. This discrepancy may well be down to differences in taste. I have plain tastes and love meat. The beef on Celebrity has been excellent... far superior to that of RCI and NCL (even their speciatity restaurant Cagneys) and the even more disappointing Costa and MSC. On the other hand we found very little on the menu for the speciality restaurant that appealed to us so did not go there.

Negma · July 25, 2009

We were on this cruise with 3 of my kids 25, 19, 17. It was the trip of a lifetime. We had a great time. The cabins were perfect, the staff wonderful. The people we met on the ship were as nice as anyone could expect.

The ports are what you make of them and how you prefer to travel, we did both private, ship, and on our own. Reading what is written here will give you a feel for what to expect, but you also have to ask what you want. The food was good, not gourmet, but trust me we never went hungry or had to eat bad food. And about those waffles- I am a believer. entertainment was not great, but we were tired anyway (we won in the casino).

I have travelled many places and stayed in 5 star resorts, and in Red Roof Inns. We would do this again because it worked so well and we are still smiling. Can you you better, probably, can you do worse, yes. If you are booked on this cruise the odds are (not that I gamble) you will be very happy.

To all those we met thank you, especially our Tablemates- you know who you are!! We are still smiling! thank you Celebrity.

rebeccalouise · July 25, 2009

For those doing the Med- I just want to rave about the best shore excursion I did on that cruise....

Do the Cinque Terre excursion out of Livorno. It was fabulous!!! I loved it. No crowds. Beautiful scenery. Absolutely breath-taking.

And I seriously doubt I will ever get back to this region because it is not near a major airport and doing by rail would NOT be a good option.

The commuter trains through there are dirty and you go through tunnels. You do not see the beautiful scenery.

The ship tour was the best!!! And this is coming from someone who hate tours.

kitty9 · July 26, 2009

I also thought this a valid question in view of your dislike of the charge for shuttle services. We have sailed with Celebrity, RCI, NCL, Costa and MSC (amongst others) but only Celebrity and RCI have offered ANY shuttle services. The other lines have not provided these at all and left one to get the expensive taxis or navigate the local transport. Sure I would like free shuttles but I can't be annoyed with Celebrity for providing an additional optional chargeable service to the other lines.

We sailed on the Summit last November and found the food in the MDR to be the best we have had on any ship or land restaurant. This discrepancy may well be down to differences in taste. I have plain tastes and love meat. The beef on Celebrity has been excellent... far superior to that of RCI and NCL (even their speciatity restaurant Cagneys) and the even more disappointing Costa and MSC. On the other hand we found very little on the menu for the speciality restaurant that appealed to us so did not go there.

Lines like Crystal always provide a shuttle from the gangway into the various towns, and it's always free. Just one of the perks for cruising a luxury line. I've been spoiled by the free shuttles provided by Crystal, as they always take passengers to the center of the towns we're visiting. It was quite convenient to have a shuttle take us to the center of Copenhagen, Venice, and all the other ports.

Girly_Girl · July 26, 2009

Gina,

Thank you for writing such a candid, honest, organized, and comprehensive review of your cruise. It was a pleasure to read....very balanced and refreshingly honest. You write as though you are sitting in a room with us just talking about your experiences.....very easy read. And you gave us a great visual perspective of every aspect of your sailing. Thanks!!

- Rick

Thanks, Rick, that was sweet of you to take the time to give me feedback on my feedback :)

Gina

Girly_Girl · July 26, 2009

sorry you feel this way,

but we have sailed many times, and overall all ships these days have less going on with cutbacks, Yes the summit is older but the style is timeless and not tacky. We have been on the Solstice and it is our favorite! But we would go on the Summit any time in the future.

We like celebrity because the events are more low key, Last week we watched some home videos of all our past cruises, we loved the RCCL Mariner and Jewel, and Grand princess was good also, but when we put in the DVD of the Celebrity Infinity cruise ,,,we were like awe ....thats why we love Celebrity Less people...better service!!! food can change from ship to ship in a matter of weeks! so we never go hungry BUT Celebrity overall has always pleased us most with food.

We sailed on the Summit last Summer in Europe and this past March and both cruises were wonderful. We tend to like less flashy ships and prefer overall timeless classic, with a modern twist design.

The Millennium class ships are the same size as some Radiance class RCCL ships and some princess ships, and with way less passengers it really makes it for a better trip for us.

Hope you try the Solstice because no other ship compares that we have seen visually

Happy Sailing!

Thanks for your feedback. I realize some of my disappointment for a lack of a better word is rooted in the fact that I have always sailed on newer ships and should have gone the Soltice route for my first Celebrity experience. This is entirely my fault and I realize that. I believe all of the hype I have heard about Celebrity might have set me up for a slight let down.

Gina

Bridge Maven · July 26, 2009

Lines like Crystal always provide a shuttle from the gangway into the various towns, and it's always free. Just one of the perks for cruising a luxury line. I've been spoiled by the free shuttles provided by Crystal, as they always take passengers to the center of the towns we're visiting. It was quite convenient to have a shuttle take us to the center of Copenhagen, Venice, and all the other ports.

When we booked our June 2006 Baltic Cruise on Constellation in April 2005, Celebrity had free shuttle service between the cruise port and center of town for its Scandinavian ports. Then shortly before our cruise they started charging for that service. It didn't really bother me that much because it was such a minuscule portion of the cost for this cruise. However, there were a lot of very upset passengers on our cruise because of that recent change from free shuttles to pay shuttles.

Dowunder · July 26, 2009

And then again Girly Girl anyone who treats Rome & Florence, two of the great historical, cultural and tourist cities of the world, with such indifference does not deserve to be taken seriously.

pom · July 26, 2009

I posted the below review of my overall cruise on the roll call boards and thought I would post it here as well below. It begins with "Arriving in Venice." However, having read some of your posts, I decided I would give you my insights with respect to the Summit beyond the scope of what I posted on the roll call pages. That said, here goes.

The Summit

I will begin by saying it was not a WOW by any stretch of the imagination. I am not being picky here, just objective. I wouldn't do the ship again because it did not have the sparkle and polish of the much newer cruise ships sailing the seas. I had originally booked the Princess Ruby, however, since I had sailed on the sister ship, Crown Princess, I opted for a new experience and wanted to try Celebrity. If I had to do it again, knowing what I know, I would have gone with the Solstice or the Ruby. I know this may be disappointing to those of you already booked on the Summit, but I can't be honest without saying that.

It was not a bad experience by any means, just not the WOW I expected having heard rave reviews about Celebrity being a notch up...it was not and compared in terms of food and service to any other cruise I have been on. The ship itself is getting old and it doesn't have new amentities. The entertainment was very limited. Many on board complained about the same group playing the same songs in the Rondevous Bar. The Revelations Club had one of the worst DJ's imaginable and even the band members in the club were laughing at the DJs lame attempt at doing karokee. One night there was a violinist, which is not everyone's cup of tea. Another night there was a pianist who tried to be funny and was not. The "shows," dancing and singing, were good. The comedian, however, was EXCELLENT and had our sides hurting. He was the highlight of the entertainment.

The food was good, not excellent. I didn't eat anything that I didn't like, however I dont recall having anything that I thought was absolutely delicious.

I think my biggest disappointment, as I sit here and consider what it is I am trying to convey to you, is that the ship was nothing exciting, Celebrity was not a notch up as many contend, and nothing WOW'd me. The service was excellent, but the food, ship, and entertainment was not.

I hope this elaboration helps. Below is an overview of each port, the ship and my overall experience

Arriving in Venice

Take the bus (3 Euros per person) right outside the airport. The driver will stow your bags under the bus and no tipping is accepted. The bus stops in Piazzle Roma, which will enable you access to either walk to your hotel, if it is nearby, or to take a water taxi to your hotel. Take the "Venezia Air Terminal" direct bus service, you will reach Piazzale Roma in twenty minutes. You may be able to take a vaporetto to your hotel from the Piazzle Roma, but it may be difficult getting directly to your hotel. If you are going to the port, you can simply grab a land taxi from the Piazzale over to the port (about 5 Euros per person). The so-called free shuttle bus does not alway run.

Downside of taking the bus, you will need to get from the Piazzale Roma to your hotel, which if it is not in walking distance, you will need to take a vaporetto to the viciniti of your hotel and then walk from there. Our walk, which was only a three minute walk, included steps and was a little bit of a pain.

Getting Around in Venice

The No 1 vaporetto gives you a tour of the Grand Canal, and is a great way to get a feel for the city. The water buses (vaporetto) are the least expensive and the best way to get around Venice. If you will be in Venice more than one day, you may want to purchase a 2 or 3 day "blue" card. for unlimited use of the water buses. single trip tickets run about 4 to 5 euro so, if you plan to visit Morano, Borano, and the Lido, the "blue card" is the way to go. Additionally, it is a great way to go up and down the Grand Canal were the single ticket fares are most expensive. You can buy them at the tourist office at the venice train station.

I highly advise all of you to be sure you have a map of Venice and an idea as to where your hotel is located.

We had a delicious dinner in Venice at the restaurants located on the Canal in the Rialto Bridge area. It was reasonably priced and had good food. You will see them lined up there in that area.

Let me warn you NOT to eat or drink at St. Marks Square...very pricey!!

Also, be sure to prebook your St. Marks Basilica visit. There is a website where you can do this...I posted it below, however it may be slightly challenging to navigate. Take the time to do it however, as you will wait on a very long line and in August heat. We walked right in with our printed voucher and passed all those on line that did not do this. BTW, what the voucher or site does not tell you is that you go to the front doors where the people are waiting in line to get. Just show your printed voucher and you are in like flint. The website is http://www.venetoinside.com/en/basilica_of_san_marco/

You will love Venice and the gelato.

Embarkation on the Summit

Embarkation was incredibly smooth, as was disembarkation. Be sure to do all of your express pass stuff before boarding to make it even easier. We got to the port at around 11:00 a.m., had a little bit of a wait and were among the first on board.

Don't forget to bring your wine. FYI, a number of people I know brought more than 2 bottles on board by putting some bottles in their suitcase or getting back on the ship later with more wine.

The Ship Itself and Overall Experience

I have sailed with a number of cruise lines, this being my 5th cruise. RCCL, Princess, NCL, Carnival, and, now, Celebrity. The food and service was comparable...I didn't see the notch up that all contend Celebrity is. All other cruises I have taken had comparable food and service. Perhaps the service, if there was a notch up, did seem somewhat better than other cruise ships but not by much.

I wouldn't give the decor of the ship, the food, or the entertainment a WOW. The food was good, not excellent. The entertainment was a huge complaint among other cruisers and was an area that many stated in their guest feedback. The comedian is not to be missed. However, there will be several nights where you will wonder if this is what Celebrity considers as good entertainment.

The ship was okay, but I happen to be one that still walks on board most ships saying it is not the Voyager of the Seas which is my favorite ship. I also liked the Crown Princess, which its sister ship is the Ruby and may have enjoyed that being a newer ship better than the Summit. Just my opinion. Not a disappointment...but not a WOW.

The Normandy was a great experience, if you don't mind spending a few extra bucks. I was not impressed with the way the main dining room and the Normandy prepared their lobster, however. The last formal night was lobster and it was tough as hell. I had to grind my knife against the back end of the lobster to get through it and chew it more vigorously than any other lobster I had. Just an FYI for lobster lovers.

Split

Nice, but not my most favorite port. If you don't have an excursion planned that day, you can do this port in a few hours. We did the Diocletian Palace, sat at the street side tables that overlooked the port for capuccino and pastries and, later, sat at a rather cool bar/ eatery that overlooked the street side cafes that lined the port. If you look up, you will find the bar I am talking about...the balcony to the bar was very narrow but cool to look out into the harbor and people below.

If you are planning a beach day, those by the port are more like a poor man's beach...DON'T DO IT!!

Athens

We did the Acropolis using Rick Steves walking tour, which I am trying to figure out how to attach. After the Acropolis, which was something like 16 euro a person, we went to a restaurant called Sholarhio Ouzeri Kouklis and everyone loved it. The waiter brings a big tray of varous traditional dishes which you choose from instead of a menu. They bring you homemade oozo and wine for the asking, which was farely cheap. We all ate a very hearty lunch, 4 of us, for around 48 euro and it was just a great experience. The restaurant is located fairly close to the Plaka, Greece's shopping district which is quite charming. It is located "under the Acropolist at Tripodon 14 and Lisiou." Locals on the street helped us to find it. The entrance to the Acropolis is somewhat confusing...be sure to ask the best way to get to the main entrance rather than walking, as we did, aimlessly.

After lunch and the Acropolis, we went to the Plaka and stumbled on a wine store that was fantastic. We sipped local wine, ate cheese and great olives while speaking to the wine store owner. I left there half looped but loving the experience. This was the sort of day that we just discovered Athens rather than planned it. I came away deciding that Rick Steves advice is the way to go to find the nuances of any port and highly advise that you do. We would not have found that restaurant if it had not been for the walking tour. BTW, the file is a PDF and the forum is saying that it is too big to upload. If one of you gives me your email address, I will send the walking tour to you so that you can share it with your roll call group.

We took a train to the Acropolis and a cab back from the Plaka. The train is about a twenty minute walk...If you are looking to save money it is doable, if you want convenience, take the cab.

Santorini

Loved it! When you are tendered it you will be right at the cable cars to take you up. They are scary for those that hate heights, but it beats the stinky donkey path or walking up. People who took the donkeys said they stunk for the day and the donkey poop makes matter even worse. My advice, take the cable cars. Once on top, you will have gorgeous panoramic views and be sure to take plenty of pictures. There is shopping and from there you can walk to the buses to go to the beach. We did not go to Oia, pronounced EE AH. We went to a beach called Parissa. The sand is vocano ash which is black and hot by midday. Wear shoes!! You can rent a chair and umbrella for 5 euros. There is a great little beach side eatery with local wines and salads etc at the top of the beach. The water was a little rough FYI.

The gelato here is not as good as Venice, but you will see your fair share of gelaterias. You can rent a scooter or a Quad to get around, but be careful for those that are adventerous...it did not look that safe and I am getting less daring in my 47+ years of age. But, go for it if you are not afraid of breaking something important

Connections Party

This will be at around 10:00 a.m. on your first day at sea at Michael's Club which is from Croatia to Greece. I had to force myself to go, as I was tired that day. FYI, Michaels's Club is a piano bar that often had a sewage stink during the first days of our voyage. Other places on the ship around deck 3, 4 or 5 also had sewage odors...be aware. I was gagging from the smell ..my stomack cant take the stink and when I inhaled through my mouth not to smell it, I could taste the smell. UGH!!

Naples

By far our favorite port and experience. I had prearranged a boat tour and 11 others from the roll call joined my party of four. It was ABSOLUTELY AWESOME.... we went to various grottos around Capri (we avoided the Blue Grotto as the line was long and looked like more of a pain that what it was worth). We swam under caves, through caves and the like. The boat, a 33 footer with a huge deck in front that we laid on like a big couch, took us right into a few caves that could be accessed by boat. We also went for a swim whenever we wanted and at specific locations that they took us to. After going around Capri, we went to Positano and toured this quaint fishing village....was a great little spot. We got a glass of wine and was allowed to take it from the beach front restaurant and walk the charming streets while sipping our wine/ beer. All I had to do was return the glass before I left. While I didn't have it, I heard the pizza was great. After leaving this port, we went to Nerano for a traditional lunch that all are still talking about. We sang and drank wine while eating traditional Italian food. I am Italian, so it had to live up to my standard and that it did. The boat tour also included wine and beer and snacks. It was not served in abundance, but it was there for the asking. If you are interested and there is a boat available, the tour company is Barbarapositano.it

It cost my group 700 euro split between 10 people...so well worth it. A great way to do the Amalfi and Capri. We heard Pompeii was hot as was Herculon (spelling). So, if you want to escape the heat and do something different, definately the way to go. As a final note, anyone that went on that boat tour if asked said that trip was a highlight not only on the trip but in their life. It was beyond a vacation experience, it was a life experience you will always remember and I cant rant and rave about it enough. Post here if you want more info.

Rome and Florence

Been there and did it. Those traveling with us didn't and I went with the flow. It was hot and I would have much preferred finding something else to do in the vicinity rather than Rome itself. I felt the same way about Florence/ Pisa.

Villafranche

We loved France...the French Riviera is both gorgeous and something to be seen. This is what we did. We took a train, stopped at Eze to go to the Eze Village, but never got there because I didn't do my homework on the bus to Eze thing, so we got back on the train and went to Monoco. OMG, absolutely gorgeous. We went to the Casino in Monte Carlo, which was smaller than to be expected and 10 euros pp to get in. Be sure to have your passports with you if you want to go to the Casino. The entire area was lovely. Be sure you go up to the Palace, where there are more charming streets and things to do/visit.

Later, we went to Nice and saw the beaches. Fun, but I loved Monoco the most. Never made it to Cannes, but I would do so next time I am in the Med on a similar itinerary.

Barcelona

I should have researched this port more, as I was somewhat disappointed. Las Ramblas, while hopping, is so crowded and you have to watch to be sure you are not pick pocketed in this environment. We stopped at a cafe along the main walk and what a tourist trap...$32 dollars for 2 coffees a coke and a beer.

We at at one of the plazas and the food was horrible. I didn't get the tapas and sangria I was so much looking forward to. Some of the streets off of Las Ramblas were run down and you had to be on your guard after seeing the element. I was not impressed and feel like it would have been a better experience had I researched this port more than I had. If I had to do it again, I would follow Rick Steves advice for the area.

Cabs in Barcelona from the port to your hotel will run you around 35 euro if you are in the Las Ramblas area and 50 euro to go to the airport from this area. Everything else is walkable...again, do your homework to enjoy this port.

I would be glad to answer any questions.

Gina

Wow I don't know what to think now, first time on here and so far I am reading how there are a lot of bad feelings towards The Summit, I just hope that I am in a good cabin and everything goes ok wow

Lois R · July 26, 2009

Pom, there are many folks who have wonderful cruises too:)

If you go to the "Member Reviews" section and click on SUMMIT,

you will see 4 and 5 star reviews over there as well. Maybe reading

some of those will make you feel better. And they are current too.

Hope you have a wonderful time:)

Solstice23 · July 26, 2009

Wow I don't know what to think now, first time on here and so far I am reading how there are a lot of bad feelings towards The Summit, I just hope that I am in a good cabin and everything goes ok wow

Hello,

We have sailed on her 3 times, it is a wonderful ship and class of ship in the Celebrity Fleet. If you are after more flashy ship but still clean lined and urban then sail on the Solstice Class. But Summit does have the best 7 night Caribbean Celebrity Sailing, and does Bermuda etc, I am sure you will enjoy.

RVfromAZ · July 26, 2009

Hi Girly Girl, Thanks so much for your informative review. We are going next summer(begining of Sept), we were going to do Equinox until the ittin. changed, now we are booked on Brillance.

Would you please Email me your Rick Steves info (RVanlady@aol.com), I would really appreciate it.

Thanks so much,:)

Roberta

Bridge Maven · July 26, 2009

I have just submitted my review of this cruise (Venice-Barcelona, 9th July), so it should be available some time soon.

Apologies to all you Summit fans, but I'm afraid it wasn't a very good experience overall for us.

Will be happy to answer any questions (and I promise I will try to be objective!).

Sorry to hear that you were disappointed with your cruise on Summit. If there weren't so many overly positive reviews on this message board you would have probably had more realistic expectations for this cruise and have enjoyed it more.

While I think it is a good idea to make the most of a cruise, in spite of its weaknesses, and not complain during a cruise to fellow passengers, I think reviews should include both positives and negatives so that people who are new to Celebrity have realistic expectations. In my opinion, people who only post reviews that are unrealistically optimistic hurt Celebrity more than its worst critics do.

joolsb · July 26, 2009

Sorry to hear that you were disappointed with your cruise on Summit. If there weren't so many overly positive reviews on this message board you would have probably had more realistic expectations for this cruise and have enjoyed it more.

While I think it is a good idea to make the most of a cruise, in spite of its weaknesses, and not complain during a cruise to fellow passengers, I think reviews should include both positives and negatives so that people who are new to Celebrity have realistic expectations.

Thank you for your comments - which I entirely agree with. Hopefully when my full Review is uploaded (if ever!), it will be seen as fairly balanced - there are actually a number of positive things about this cruise which we did enjoy, and I have highlighted them ahead of anything which we found as negatives.

eandj · July 26, 2009

I look at all reviews realistically, POM. In life, people you hear from mostly are either complaining or are raving about some experience. You don't hear from the people that had a good experience but don't want to take time to write or review something that met their expectations or needs.

That's how it is.

Altho we haven't been on the Summit,( been on the Galxay a couple times) we are open to the whole experience. I don't think it is necessary to "worry" about what someone else feels about the food, decorating, entertainment etc. All of those are so subjective and too, about what you "expect".

My dh and I expect the Summit to be less glitzy than the new mega ships and we are happy with that. We expect there will be something on the varied menus that we will find good for our taste. And if we choose wrong, we'll just exchange it for something else. Not a problem there. We know that X is not big on entertainment, so we pick and choose what we want to see and entertain ourselves;) on evenings we aren't into seeing a vocalist or pianist. We expect we will feel welcomed as we board and the service will be fine.

We chose the itinerary we wanted and did the research, so we shouldn't have too many surprises there either. And if we do run into something not expected...so be it.

Unless our room is missing a bed, the ship serves creamed beef on toast 24/7, we have to wash the dishes ourselves and clowns are the daily entertainment, I don't think we will be disatisfied. :D

silvercity · July 28, 2009

I just got back from July 9th Summit. Spent another week in Paris & London.

Overall I think the Summit was good. The Service was top notch. Everybody was very helpful and always remembered what you ordered and what you liked. The food was mediocre. Breakfast was the worst and the room service was awful. I will say the service and food in the Normandy was awesome. We ate 3 nights there. I took 5 bottels of wine on board and they decanted each bottle for 4-5 hours for me. If we went back we would have eaten there every night. Its the best $30 you can spend on the ship! Our room was very nice . We had a CC cabin in Aft. Balcony was big but it has no sun. In the back the overhang blocks all the rooms except the outstretch part of the Penthouse suites. Overall it was good but not great. I would not pay anymore for Celebrity over Royal. If it costs more stay on RCL...On last thing that both my wife and I said. The nightly entertainment on the Summit was just plain awful. They had a comedian one night that was great. All the rest we didn't bother.

Best part was we meet some very nice people taht we will deffently keep in touch with.....

Lois R · July 28, 2009

Hi Silvercity:)...sounds like there were good parts and not so good.

You gave it a thumbs down....sorry the cruise was so disappointing.

hcat · July 28, 2009

Did anyone else smell the stinky smell that was referred to previously?

I can never figure out why this occurs on ships & sometimes only in certain spots. Had this in the hallway to out cabin on Century every day ..it was very bad--all the staff did was deodorize the area but not get to the root of it..I think there must have been some type of sewage pipe nearby.. On another trip--same ship diff cabin & hallway--no smell at all!

Just back from Summit - not for us!

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