Whereas Heidi and I are inclined to sail on newer mega-ships, we determined to do one thing totally different this vacation season. We took the household to Puerto Rico for a Southern Caribbean cruise on the 24-year-old Celeb Summit. How did this older, smaller vessel evaluate to the likes of her huge sisters, Celeb Past and Celeb Ascent? Nicely, we’re again and share our trustworthy suggestions on this Celeb Summit ship evaluation.
Our Trustworthy Celeb Summit Ship Evaluation
Informal Eating
Given Celeb Summit is a ship holding simply barely over 2,200 visitors at double occupancy, there are only some choices in the case of informal eating. The Oceanview Café, the ship’s buffet, was open a lot of the day for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner. Fortunately, the Oceanview Café held up when in comparison with different ships within the Celeb fleet.
This buffet included varied cold and warm breakfast picks, a number of customized omelet stations, and breakfast meals from world wide.
For lunch and dinner, the buffet supplied some customary stations, together with Mexican and Asian favorites. Along with different choices like a customized salad bar, sandwiches, and a pasta station, there have been additionally themed Chef’s Alternatives. One thing new was supplied every day, like Caribbean specialties or American classics.
On the final day of our cruise (the one sea day), the buffet featured an extravagant lunch, full with a shrimp cocktail station and chocolate fondue tower.
The Oceanview Cafe additionally had a pizza nook on the very again. This was open into the late evenings for these needing a snack earlier than mattress. Whereas not one of the best pizza at sea, it was nonetheless higher than sister model Royal Caribbean’s Sorrento’s pizza.
As well as, the Pool Grill is exterior on the pool deck. This fast service counter presents hamburgers and scorching canine from about midday to six PM on daily basis. The burgers right here don’t stack as much as the freshly ready choices on Carnival or Holland America, however I do must say that the one burger I attempted was higher than what you sometimes get on a Celeb Cruises’ ship.
Within the Solarium on Celeb Summit, there’s the Spa Café as properly. This more healthy, grab-and-go various supplied small plates for breakfast and lunch. The picks right here ranged from muffins within the morning to small plates of pre-made salads and light-weight bites for lunch. This venue additionally options juices and smoothies, but they had been typically out of components to make them.
One in every of our favourite spots on any Celeb Cruises’ ship is the espresso store, Café al Bacio. Positioned on Deck 5 midship on Celeb Summit, we frequented Café al Bacio a number of occasions every day. Together with serving specialty espresso that’s included within the cruise line’s drink packages, Café al Bacio presents breakfast bakery objects and small pastries all through the day like cookies and slices of cake.
Nonetheless, in contrast to Princess Cruises or Royal Caribbean, Cafe al Bacio doesn’t have a big collection of meals objects like sandwiches.
Whereas there have been fewer eating venues on Celeb Summit than most fashionable mega-ships, we by no means went hungry. The meals high quality and picks had been much like newer ships within the Celeb Cruises’ fleet, and we at all times assume this cruise line has the most effective buffets at sea. Nonetheless, the Oceanview Café did get busy at sure occasions, so discovering a seat did take some work.
Pool Deck
One place Celeb Summit confirmed her age was the pool deck. Whereas many public venues did obtain intensive revitalization in 2019, it didn’t seem that the outside decks acquired many updates.
The principle pool space is midship on Deck 10. But, it felt quite closed off with two smaller swimming pools and 4 whirlpools raised barely above the pool deck. In fact, we’re used to the expansive and chic Resort Pool on the Edge Class ships.
Given this seven-night cruise included 5 ports, we didn’t spend a lot time on the pool deck. On the one sea day, we had no points discovering loungers on Deck 11 subsequent to the Mast Bar and our nephew loved some pool time. When strolling by means of the pool space at different occasions, the house by no means appeared overly busy.
Celeb is a premium cruise line, so one good perk is that you just don’t have to fret about towels. Loads can be found on the pool deck, and also you don’t have to swipe your card to get one like on Royal Caribbean.
Along with the principle swimming pools, the Solarium is ahead on Deck 10. Once more, its design felt lower than rejuvenating. Additional, just one aspect had loungers, because the starboard aspect contained tables with chairs for the close by Spa Café.
Lastly, aft on Deck 12 is the Rooftop Terrace. This space options an outside tv exhibiting films and sporting occasions all through the cruise. There’s additionally quite a lot of seating choices for these trying to soak up a flick or catch the sport. Nonetheless, given the itinerary, and the film schedule, we by no means spent any time right here.
Sports activities Deck
Celeb Summit presents restricted outside sports activities areas and facilities. Granted, Celeb Cruises caters extra to {couples} than households. We wish to say Celeb Cruises is family-friendly, not family-focused.
Nonetheless, the sports activities court docket aft on Deck 12 did provide each organized actions and free play. Common sports activities included basketball and pickleball. Again on the pool deck, there have been two ping pong tables and cornhole, which had been obtainable a lot of the day.
The ship’s health heart is ahead on Deck 10. We felt the health club was a very good dimension for this ship. It housed loads of cardio gear, weight machines, and free weights. Whereas there have been Peloton bikes, they’d indicators saying, “out of order”. So, undecided in the event that they had been obtainable for visitors to make use of.
The Deck 11 sundeck doubled because the jogging monitor as properly, with over 9 laps equaling one mile. Simply watch out, as solely the middle part of the monitor makes a whole loop. The jogging monitor on the aft portion has lifeless ends.
Provided that we had been off the ship a lot of the day, the restricted outside sports activities services didn’t affect our journey.
Onboard Actions
Regardless of the port intensive itinerary, the cruise director Manuel and the actions employees hosted quite a lot of occasions along with different self-led actions.
For example, every day, there have been puzzles and grownup coloring. Plus, board video games and playing cards had been obtainable within the Sky Lounge or Rendezvous Lounge for these staying onboard.
There have been daytime competitions and totally different trivia classes, and there was even axe throwing one afternoon within the Grand Lobby. Be aware that no actual axes had been used within the competitors.
There have been additionally family-friendly sport exhibits and karaoke classes all through the cruise, to not point out bingo classes on a number of days. We couldn’t resist a spherical of Deal or No Deal, however sadly, nobody in our get together walked away with any prizes.
Although, given we had been crusing over Christmas, we might have anticipated a couple of extra holiday-themed occasions all through the week. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, actions ranged from a household bazaar to a go to from Santa Claus and a Christmas-themed silent disco.
Whereas Celeb Summit did provide a number of of the same old cruise actions, we couldn’t assist however really feel just like the onboard environment wasn’t as enjoyable and fascinating as standard.
Nightlife
Being accustomed to the high-energy feeling and dynamic venues on the Edge Class, we had been stunned at how subdued the nightlife was on Celeb Summit.
We scheduled most dinners with Celeb Choose eating for round 6:15 PM. This gave us loads of time for our typical routine of dinner, sport present, fundamental theater efficiency, and a nightcap and/or get together.
The Rendezvous Lounge was the second leisure house and residential to a nightly sport present at 8:15 PM. Whereas these sport exhibits had been typical exhibits like True or False, Sure or No, and 60 Seconds or Much less, they lacked enthusiasm and felt rushed. At occasions, it appeared the employees had been merely going by means of the motions. The exhibits had been nowhere close to as participating as they’re on different cruise traces, like Princess Cruises.
The musical acts on the cruise had been fairly customary. They included a duo, a solo guitarist, and a few bands. These acts rotated by means of venues like Cellar Masters and the Rendezvous Lounge. Typically a band or DJ would additionally play close to the Martini Bar on Deck 4. General, not one of the acts had been memorable although.
There have been a number of events too, just like the Silent Disco and 80s get together. Because of the cruise director, Manuel, these occasions had been a bit extra full of life. Manuel was a terrific cruise director. He was all over the place on the ship, and he wasn’t shy about going all in to get amusing.
Even the Martini Bar, the same old hub of exercise on many Celeb ships, didn’t have its typical vibrance.
Given we had some lengthy days ashore, we had been okay retiring sooner than standard within the evenings. However, if the itinerary had been totally different, we might have been uninterested in the dearth of livelihood on the ship.
Leisure
Like most cruises, we attended a number of of the exhibits in the principle theater. Over our seven nights, there have been three manufacturing exhibits and 4 headliner acts.
General, the manufacturing exhibits had been fairly common cruise revues with a forged of singers, dancers, and aerialists.
On night time two, the manufacturing present Life was a mashup of very literal songs. Most songs had the identify life or demise within the title.
On the final night time, Soundtrack was a present marketed as “redefining movie music”. However the setlist included a number of pop songs with preparations within the model of early Twentieth-century jazz. Plus, we’re fairly certain not all songs had been prominently featured in films.
On Christmas night time, the manufacturing forged placed on a Vacation Spectacluar. The present featured a fairly typical setlist of Christmas songs that positively acquired everybody into the vacation spirit.
On the opposite nights, the headliner acts had been run-of-the-mill.
We’re fairly certain we’ve seen the Welcome Aboard comic on one other cruise. Her first-night set was sufficient for us, so we by no means made it to her adults-only present later within the week.
Moreover, there was Evolution Motown, a trio of singers that performed predictable songs and Zak McAllister, a two-time gold medal juggler within the World Championships of Juggling.
Bars and Lounges
Celeb Summit boasts 9 bars and lounges, lots of which provide signature cocktail menus.
Our go-to on any Celeb ship is the Martini Bar. Whereas the drinks right here had been the identical, the environment wasn’t as full of life and the bartenders weren’t as high-energy. Earlier than you ask, sure, they’d espresso martinis on faucet!
The Rendezvous Lounge was one of many fundamental pre-dinner or post-dinner venues. Subsequently, we couldn’t go up the She’s With the Whiksy and the Candy Berry Smash. One deck above, Cellar Masters typically supplied mild music paired with its customized wine listing.
The cosmically-themed cocktails on the Sky Lounge, just like the Libra or the Most cancers, had been good for sipping throughout one of many nightly events. For these in search of a extra conventional poolside drink, the Mast Bar on Deck 11 combined up frosty concoctions and traditional cocktails.
To not point out, aft on Deck 10, the Sundown Bar paired nice views with refreshing takes on boat drinks, like a Pickford Punch. The resident espresso store, Café al Bacio, additionally supplied dessert cocktails and candy treats all through the day. Even the On line casino Bar supplied some distinctive drinks not discovered on another bar menu.
We by no means waited lengthy for drinks in any of the bars. Though, there weren’t many servers within the venues. Typically, we ordered from the bar and took the drinks again to the desk on our personal.
Important Eating Room
Just like the informal eating, the 2-story Cosmopolitan fundamental eating room on Celeb Summit delivered on a number of fronts.
Our three-course meals had been well-timed, with dinner normally lasting not more than 90 minutes for our group of six. Plus, all of our dishes had been served on the applicable temperature and as requested. With two meals allergic reactions on the desk and a number of other particular requests, the waitstaff had no points making our lodging.
Whereas Celeb Cruises does nonetheless provide conventional eating, we opted for Celeb Choose eating. We made reservations pre-cruise for six:15 PM every night time. All evenings however one, we had been sat on the similar desk with the identical waitstaff.
The service group of waitress, Kim, and assistant waitress, Win, took wonderful care of our group. They had been among the many highlights on the ship when it got here to service. By our third go to to the restaurant, sommelier Elmer knew our desk’s order, which included wine and cocktails.
Among the many stand-out dishes was the signature Celeb Tournedo, a young minimize of beef cooked to a medium uncommon temperature. On night time 1, the Fried Masala Potatoes was a spicy addition to a quite bland welcome aboard dinner lineup.
On Christmas Day, our desk raved in regards to the vacation classics together with the Previous Customary Honey Glazed Virgina Ham, Broiled Lobster Tail, and Gradual Roasted Turkey. Prime rib, a traditional cruiser favourite, was served on the final night time. And, the Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli and the Rigatoni Boscaiola had been decadent pasta dishes with parts that had been simply the proper dimension.
For dessert, we couldn’t go up the apple pie a la mode and the Tiramisu cake, amongst others. However, Heidi was upset that there was no Baked Alaska this crusing.
Specialty Eating places
Celeb Summit has only some specialty eating places. On Deck 11, Le Petit Chef at Qsine presents a dinner and present. This distinctive digital eating expertise is unique to Celeb Cruises. We’ve got dined at Le Petit Chef on different Celeb Cruises ships and loved it. Nonetheless, our 12-year-old nephew was not within the menu.
Likewise, Sushi on 5 presents its namesake Japanese delicacies with a small menu of different Asian specialties. Given our members of the family’ less-than-adventurous palates (Heidi included), we additionally handed on this restaurant.
However, you possibly can’t go flawed with Italian meals! So, on night time two, the six of us settled in to mangia on the Tuscan Grille.
Maybe probably the most difficult a part of eating at this restaurant is discovering it. However after making our manner down the starboard aspect hallway on Deck 3, we had been handled to a culinary feast.
Alongside varied Italian breads, dinner began with hearty appetizers like selfmade meatballs and fried calamari. As anticipated, Heidi couldn’t go up the Rooster Parmesan, and I went with the Quick Rib Pappardelle Ragu. Each had been wealthy meals harking back to the genuine flavors you’d discover in Boston’s North Finish.
Lastly, for dessert, I couldn’t say no to the Limoncello Cheesecake. This citrus-infused, mild, and ethereal cheesecake was the right ending to this satisfying meal.
Staterooms
Celeb Summit obtained a multi-million-dollar refurbishment in 2019, and fortunately, the staterooms had been a part of this main makeover. In reality, we had been very impressed with the furnishings and stylings of our Prime Veranda, stateroom 9023. This class V1 stateroom was on the portside, ahead of the ahead elevators.
In line with the Celeb Cruises web site, this stateroom is 170 sq. toes with a 38-foot veranda. Whereas smaller than the balcony staterooms we sometimes keep in, the structure was acquainted.
Instantly upon getting into the room, the lavatory was on our proper. Likewise, our mattress was additionally on the proper wall, dealing with aft. After the mattress, a small desk and outsized chair had been located close to the balcony.
Close to the doorway to the room was the closet and a wall unit containing some over-head cupboards with cabinets, a sequence of drawers, and the mini-fridge. We had simply sufficient hangers and cabinets to neatly retailer all of our clothes. Utilizing a few of our cruise cabin hacks, we had been capable of get all of our equipment organized as properly.
The toilet on this Celeb Summit cabin was a welcomed shock. It too obtained a serious facelift and truly resembled these on the Edge Class, full with a glass-door bathe and marble finishes.
Our cabin was straight under the pool deck; thus, we had {a partially} obstructed view because of some help beams and roofing. Nonetheless, we had been capable of make the most of the veranda to look at the sail-ins and sail-outs from our ports of name. Awkwardly although, the chairs had been fastened able someplace between upright and reclined, so that they weren’t very comfy.
General, whereas smaller than typical, our Celeb Summit stateroom was a cushty and trendy house away from house for our vacation household cruise.
Our General Celeb Summit Ship Evaluation
Admittedly, it has been some time since we sailed on an older, smaller Celeb Cruises ship. But, Celeb Summit held as much as her huge sisters in a number of methods.
The informal eating and fundamental eating room served up well-prepared and flavorful dishes. Service was additionally well timed and pleasant within the Oceanview Café and the Cosmopolitan Restaurant. Additional, our household dinner on the Tuscan Grille was the most effective eating experiences we had all yr on a cruise ship.
Likewise, a number of bars and lounges supplied distinctive atmospheres and specialty cocktail menus. These venues had been by no means too busy, so we might chill and loosen up with a drink in hand whereas watching a sport present or listening to stay music.
Equally, our renovated stateroom was modern and properly laid out. Whereas the veranda was not splendid, it was a positive place to loosen up after an extended day ashore.
Nonetheless, some areas of the ship did present indicators of growing older, significantly the outside areas. The pool deck had a clumsy structure and felt dated. The sports activities deck and Rooftop Terrace additionally appeared to get little to no updates.
To us, Celeb Summit additionally lacked character. The ship felt like a set of venues and folks, quite than exuding a definite vibe that different cruise ships provide. On different Celeb ships, the Atrium or Grand Lobby are normally full of life spots for actions and occasions. But, there didn’t appear to be a central hub that cruisers gravitated to throughout this voyage.
Nonetheless, with the ports of name being the principle draw for our household throughout this cruise, Celeb Summit was a pleasant backdrop. She supplied lush lodging, scrumptious meals, and sufficient actions and nightlife to maintain us entertained as we sailed from one port of name to the subsequent.
Feedback
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