Celebrity Summit - Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships 2017 (Berlitz Cruise Guide) (2016)

Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships 2017 (Berlitz Cruise Guide) (2016)

Celebrity Summit

★★★★

Berlitz’s Ratings

Ship: 388 out of 500

Accommodation: 161 out of 200

Food: 285 out of 400

Service: 290 out of 400

Entertainment: 74 out of 100

Cruise: 288 out of 400

Overall Score: 1486 out of 2000

Celebrity Summit Statistics

Size: Large Resort Ship

Tonnage: 90,940

Lifestyle: Premium

Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises

Former Names: Summit

IMO Number: 9192387

Builder: Chantiers de l’Atlantique (France)

Original Cost: $350 million

Entered Service: Oct 2001

Registry: Malta

Length (ft/m): 964.5/294.0

Beam (ft/m): 105.6/32.2

Draft (ft/m): 26.2/8.0

Propulsion/Propellers: gas turbine (39,000kW)/2 azimuthing pods

Passenger Decks: 11

Total Crew: 999

Passengers (lower beds): 2,158

Passenger Space Ratio (lower beds): 42.1

Passenger/Crew Ratio (lower beds): 2.1

Cabins (total): 1,079

Size Range (sq ft/m): 165.1-2,530.0/15.34-235.0

Cabins (for one person): 0

Cabins (with private balcony): 606

Cabins (wheelchair accessible): 26 (17 with private balcony)

Wheelchair accessibility: Best

Cabin Current: 110 and 220 volts

Elevators: 12

Casino (gaming tables): Yes

Slot Machines: Yes

Swimming Pools: 3 (1 w/ sliding glass dome)

Hot Tubs (on deck): 4

Self-Service Launderette: No

Dedicated Cinema/Seats: Yes/368

Library: Yes

Onboard currency: US$

Celebrity_Summit_03

A premium-quality large resort ship for family-friendly cruising

Overview. Celebrity Summit is a sister ship to Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Infinity and Celebrity Millennium. The accommodation is extremely comfortable in all grades, and only the two sittings for dining and for the nightly shows detract from an otherwise excellent product.

The Ship. Mega-yacht designer Jon Bannenberg was responsible for the exterior, with its royal blue and white hull, but it actually looks rather ungainly. In early 2012, the ship underwent a ‘Solsticizing’ program which added more cabins, more facilities and more dining options to match the newer ships in the fleet.

Inside, the ship has a similar standard of decor and materials, and public rooms that make ships in the fleet so user-friendly. The atrium is three decks high and houses the reception desk, tour operator’s desk, and bank. Four dramatic glass-walled elevators travel through the ship’s exterior (port) side, connecting the atrium with another seven decks, thus traveling through 10 passenger decks, including the tender stations - a nice ride.

Facilities include a combination Cinema/Conference Center, an expansive shopping arcade with 14,447 sq ft (1,300 sq m) of retail store space (with brand name labels such as Fendi, Fossil, Hugo Boss, and Versace), a lavish four-deck-high showlounge with high-tech sound and lighting, a two-level library (one level for English-language books; a second for other languages and reference material), card room, music listening room, and an observation lounge/discotheque with fine views.

Michael’s Club, formerly a cigar smoker’s haven, is now a rather nice lounge/piano bar offering over 50 craft beers plus fine whiskies and cognacs. An Internet café has almost 20 computers and extra-cost Internet connectivity.

Gaming sports include the ship’s overly large Fortunes Casino, with lots of bright lights and action. Families with children will appreciate the Fun Factory (for children) and The Tower (for teenagers). Children’s counselors and youth activities staff provide a wide range of supervised activities.

Accommodation. From suite-grade to non-suite-grade, the choice depends on your preference for the size and location. Almost half feature a ‘private’ balcony; approximately 80 percent are ocean-view suites and cabins, and the rest are interior cabins. All the accommodation is extremely comfortable. Suites, naturally, have more space, butler service (whether you want it or not), more and better amenities and more personal service than standard grades. Note that If you choose a balcony cabin on one of the upper decks, note that could be shaded under the pool deck, which extends over the ship’s side - and many balconies (so, not good for private sunbathing).

Penthouse Suites (2). These Penthouse Deck suites are like apartments. Each occupies one half of the width of the ship, overlooking the stern. Each is a huge 2,530 sq ft (235 sq m): 1,432 sq ft (133 sq m) of living space, plus a huge wraparound balcony of 1,098 sq ft (102 sq m), which includes a wet bar, hot tub, and whirlpool tub (but much of this terrace can be overlooked from other decks above).

Royal Suites (8). These are located towards the aft (four each on the port and starboard sides). Each measures 733 sq ft (68 sq m) and has a separate bedroom, dining and lounge areas (with refrigerator, minibar, and Bang & Olufsen audio system). There are two flat-screen infotainment centers, and a large walk-in closet with vanity desk. The marble-clad bathroom has a whirlpool tub with integral shower, and there are also a separate shower enclosure, two washbasins, and toilet. The teakwood balcony is extensive - large enough for on-deck massage - and has a hot tub.

Celebrity Suites (8). These measure 467 sq ft (44 sq m) and have floor-to-ceiling windows, a separate living room with dining and lounge areas, two entertainment centers with flat-screen TVs in both living room and bedroom, and a walk-in closet with vanity desk. The marble-clad bathroom has a whirlpool tub with integral shower; a window with movable shade lets you look out through the lounge to the ocean-view windows. Balconies were added in a 2011 refit.

Sky Suites (30). Each is 308 sq ft (29 sq m), including the private balcony - some balconies may be larger than others, depending on the location. Although these are designated as suites, they are really just larger cabins that have a marble-clad bathroom with tub/shower combination.

Butler service. Provided in all suite accommodation, this service includes full breakfast, in-suite lunch and dinner (as required), afternoon tea, evening hors d’oeuvres, complimentary espresso and cappuccino, daily news delivery, and shoeshine.

Concierge Class. In 2003, Celebrity Cruises added a third service ‘class’ to the accommodation grades. Positioned between the top grade suite grades and standard cabin grades, Concierge Class offers added value to these ‘middle-class’ cabins, as does a new ‘AquaClass,’ added in 2012, with spa-healthy dining in the exclusive Blu Restaurant, and complimentary access to the Persian Garden (thermal suite) and Relaxation Room in the spa, plus daily delivery of bottled water and herbal teas (infusions), and a host of spa-related personal amenities.

Standard outside-view/interior cabins. All other outside-view and interior cabins have a lounge area with sofa or convertible sofa bed, sleeping area with twin beds that can convert to a double bed, ample closet and drawer space, personal safe, minibar/refrigerator (extra cost), and interactive TV. The cabins are nicely decorated with warm wood-finish furniture, and there is none of the boxy feel of cabins in so many ships, due to the angled placement of vanity and audio-video consoles. Even the smallest cabin has a good-size bathroom and shower.

Wheelchair-accessible accommodation. This is available in various grades and practical locations, close to elevators. All doorways and bathroom doorways and showers are wheelchair-accessible. Some cabins have extra berths for third or third and fourth occupants.

Dining. The Cosmopolitan Restaurant is a 1,170-seat main dining room. It is two decks high and has a grand staircase connecting the two levels, a huge glass wall overlooking the sea at the stern of the ship (electrically operated shades provide several different backdrops), and a musicians’ gallery on the upper level, typically for a string quartet or quintet. As a tribute to the French Line ship Normandie, a statue created by Leon-Georges Baudry, called La Normandie, that once overlooked the ship’s grand staircase and for the past 47 years graced Miami’s Fontainebleau Hotel, was bought for $250,000 and can now be seen here. There are two seatings for dinner (it’s an open seating for breakfast and lunch), at tables for two, four, six, eight, or 10.

Blu, located on the port side of the upper level entrance to the Cosmopolitan dining room, is exclusively for the use of occupants of AquaClass accommodation. Other dining options.The extra-cost, reservations-only specialty dining option is the 134-seat Normandie Restaurant, with gold-lacquered paneling from the smoking room of the original French Line ship.

A team of chefs prepares the cuisine exclusively for this restaurant. Fine tableside preparation is the attraction and both the classic French cuisine and service are good. This is haute cuisine, and for a full dégustation, and not just a dinner, but with just 134 seats, it’s best to book early (there is a cover charge). A dine-in wine cellar is located at one end of the restaurant, and a demonstration galley is at the other.

QSine, which features its menus and wine list on iPads, is another extra-cost, fine-dining venue, and reservations are required.

There are several other options in more casual settings.

The Waterfall Café and Grill is a casual self-serve buffet area, with six principal serving lines, and seating for 754; there is also a grill and pizza bar. For Champagne and caviar lovers, and Martinis, Carlisle’s is the place to see and be seen.

Café al Bacio and Gelateria, on the third level of the atrium lobby, is the place for coffees, pastries, cakes, and gelato, in a trendy setting. Meanwhile, Bistro on Five is a popular French crêperie.

Entertainment. The 900-seat Celebrity Theater is the three-deck-high venue for the ship’s production shows and major cabaret acts. It is located in the forward part of the ship, with seating on main, and two balcony levels. The large stage is equipped with a full fly loft behind its traditional proscenium.

Spa/Fitness. A large Canyon Ranch SpaClub at Sea measures 24,219 sq ft (2,250 sq m). It has a large thalassotherapy pool under a solarium dome, complete with health bar for fresh squeezed fruit and vegetable juices.