A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to preview the reimagined Celebrity Summit. This ship is part of Celebrity Cruises’ $500-million fleet-wide modernization program, and the first ship to be “Revolutionized” since the debut of the Celebrity Edge last fall. The Celebrity team managed to renovate this ship in only 39 days — how amazing is that?
Long story short: my experience on the Celebrity Summit was incredible, and I was in awe the entire time I was on board.
Here are 7 reasons why I think you should book your next cruise on the Celebrity Summit.
The Updated Staterooms
One of the things I loved the most about the new Celebrity Summit were the staterooms: I thought they were chic, modern and pretty spacious for cruise standards. Celebrity partnered with HBA to redesign each stateroom, and renowned designer Kelly Hoppen to refresh their suite designs. The bathrooms in each stateroom were also redesigned with state-of-the-art finishes and fixtures.
With the renovation, they were able to add 30 new staterooms, including 13 new AquaClass Staterooms, seven new Ocean View Staterooms, and ten new Inside Staterooms.
Innovative Dining Options on the Celebrity Summit
One of the most frequently asked questions I get about cruises is “how’s the food?”
You guys know that I’m a foodie — and the dining options on the Celebrity Summit did not disappoint. The menus on all Celebrity Cruises are curated by Michelin-starred chef, Cornelius Gallagher, and are inspired by the many destinations that the ships travel to. The refreshed Main Dining Room on the Celebrity Summit has more seating, updated fixtures, and is one of the most stunning spots on board in my opinion. In addition to the Main Dining Room, they also have seven specialty restaurants on board and five bars and lounges.
We tried out Qsine our first night on board, which offers a large selection of global fare. We loved how inventive the menu was, and enjoyed a wide variety of Asian-fusion dishes. Some of the highlights for us at Qsine were the Sushi Pops and the Lobster Escargot.
American Ballet Theatre Partnership
In case you didn’t know, I took ballet all growing up, and this partnership might have been my favorite thing about this entire experience! Celebrity Cruises partnered with the American Ballet Theatre (one of the best dance companies in the world!) to bring ballet to the seas. With the exclusive ABT Onboard Experience, you can take an intimate ballet class taught by ABT dancers on board during the day, and catch breathtaking performances by the principals/soloists of the company at night. How amazing is that?
During the holidays, the ABT will perform scenes from The Nutcracker on board as well. If you’re a ballet enthusiast, or enjoy classical dance performances, this will be an absolute treat for you. Add this experience to your bucket list!
A Reimagined Spa
The spa on the Celebrity Summit, Canyon Ranch at Sea, also received a major upgrade. Celebrity has implemented a new, wellness-focused spa design that includes brand new modern treatment and locker rooms, and a modernized salon and fitness center. There’s also a new, semi-private meeting area in the fitness center for personal training and consultations — so it is definitely possible to keep up with all of your fitness goals while on vacation (if you want to!)
I had the chance to try out their Aromatherapy Massage while on board and you guys: it was one of the most relaxing spa experiences I’ve had to date (may or may not have fallen asleep for a bit, and I definitely forgot about how stressful work was!) As soon as you embark on the ship, head over to the spa and sign up for a service ASAP — they book up incredibly fast, and you won’t want to miss out.
The Celebrity Summit’s Nightlife
There are five bars and lounges on the Celebrity Summit that you can experience. Wine lovers can enjoy Cellar Masters, a wine bar with a pretty impressive selection of wines from the Old and New World. Rendezvous Lounge was the perfect place to kick off every evening and had some of the best cocktails on board. Plus, we were able to take a mixology class at the lounge and learn all about their extensive beverage program. The revamped Sunset Bar is the perfect place to enjoy alfresco dining or cocktails with a view, and the Martini Bar was one of the liveliest spots on board: the mixologists knew how to put on a show, and whip up an incredible selection of martinis!
If dancing’s your thing, there’s also a pool party after dark and a live DJ at the Sky Lounge after hours. My new travel blog friends and I danced the night away on board, and loved every minute of it!
The Celebrity Summit’s Efforts Toward Sustainability
I think we’re all making more of an effort to reduce our carbon footprint in 2019, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn more about Celebrity Cruises’ sustainability efforts. For starters, Celebrity Cruises will be eliminating plastic straws fleetwide in 2019. Right now, they only offer staws upon request, and this year they’ll be replacing all of their plastic straws with paper straws.
Celebrity will also carry Open Water on the Summit in the coming months — if you’re unfamiliar with this brand, Open Water produces all-aluminum, ocean-friendly alternatives to plastic bottled water. I spotted these bottles on the Edge and thought it was such a brilliant, forward-thinking aspect of the ship.
Not only was this renovation aesthetically pleasing, but it also made the ship a lot more energy efficient as well. They also have an ongoing partnership with the World Wildlife Fund Partnership and offer a variety of onboard activities to help their guests learn more about WWF and become passionate about the organization.
The Celebrity Summit Departs from Puerto Rico
For the Caribbean itineraries, the Celebrity Summit departs from San Juan, Puerto Rico. As much as I love leaving from Miami or Ft. Lauderdale for Caribbean cruises, San Juan is such a charming city that’s full of character and charm, and the perfect place to explore either before or after your cruise.
While the touristy areas of Puerto Rico still look pristine, some parts of the island still have a long way to go in terms of recovering from Hurricane Maria. Spend an extra night or two in San Juan before or after your cruise and help the local economy. It’s a magical destination that’s perfect for every type of traveler — whether you’re a foodie, adventurer, or just looking for a relaxing beach getaway.
What about you? Have you been on a Celebrity Cruise before? Let me know in the comments below!
Thank you to Celebrity Cruises for hosting me on this media preview of the Celebrity Summit! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Photos by Tom McGovern
