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 Movie star Summit. How did this older, smaller vessel evaluate to the likes of her huge sisters, Movie star Past and Movie star Ascent? Effectively, we’re again and share our trustworthy suggestions on this Movie star Summit ship evaluate.
Our Trustworthy Movie star Summit Ship Evaluate
Informal Eating
Given Movie star Summit is a ship holding simply barely over 2,200 company at double occupancy, there are just a few choices in relation to 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 Movie star fleet.
This buffet included varied cold and hot 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 Picks. 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 the perfect 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 affords hamburgers and scorching canine from about midday to six PM every single day. 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 usually get on a Movie star Cruises’ ship.
Within the Solarium on Movie star Summit, there’s the Spa Café as effectively. This more healthy, grab-and-go different 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 lightweight bites for lunch. This venue additionally options juices and smoothies, but they have been usually out of substances to make them.
Certainly one of our favourite spots on any Movie star Cruises’ ship is the espresso store, Café al Bacio. Positioned on Deck 5 midship on Movie star Summit, we frequented Café al Bacio a number of instances day by day. Together with serving specialty espresso that’s included within the cruise line’s drink packages, Café al Bacio affords breakfast bakery gadgets and small pastries all through the day like cookies and slices of cake.
Nevertheless, in contrast to Princess Cruises or Royal Caribbean, Cafe al Bacio doesn’t have a big number of meals gadgets like sandwiches.
Whereas there have been fewer eating venues on Movie star Summit than most fashionable mega-ships, we by no means went hungry. The meals high quality and picks have been much like newer ships within the Movie star Cruises’ fleet, and we at all times suppose this cruise line has the most effective buffets at sea. Nonetheless, the Oceanview Café did get busy at sure instances, so discovering a seat did take some work.
Pool Deck
One place Movie star 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 bought many updates.
The primary pool space is midship on Deck 10. But, it felt reasonably closed off with two smaller swimming pools and 4 whirlpools raised barely above the pool deck. After all, we’re used to the expansive and stylish 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 via the pool space at different instances, the area by no means appeared overly busy.
Movie star 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 primary 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 out of doors tv displaying motion pictures 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. Nevertheless, given the itinerary, and the film schedule, we by no means spent any time right here.
Sports activities Deck
Movie star Summit affords restricted outside sports activities areas and facilities. Granted, Movie star Cruises caters extra to {couples} than households. We prefer to say Movie star Cruises is family-friendly, not family-focused.
Nonetheless, the sports activities court docket aft on Deck 12 did supply each organized actions and free play. Standard sports activities included basketball and pickleball. Again on the pool deck, there have been two ping pong tables and cornhole, which have been accessible a lot of the day.
The ship’s health heart is ahead on Deck 10. We felt the fitness center was a great measurement for this ship. It housed loads of cardio tools, weight machines, and free weights. Whereas there have been Peloton bikes, they’d indicators saying, “out of order”. So, unsure in the event that they have been accessible for company to make use of.
The Deck 11 sundeck doubled because the jogging observe as effectively, with over 9 laps equaling one mile. Simply watch out, as solely the middle part of the observe makes a whole loop. The jogging observe on the aft portion has useless ends.
Provided that we have been off the ship a lot of the day, the restricted outside sports activities amenities didn’t impression 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 have been accessible 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. Observe that no actual axes have been used within the competitors.
There have been additionally family-friendly sport reveals 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 social gathering walked away with any prizes.
Although, given we have been crusing over Christmas, we might have anticipated a number 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 Movie star Summit did supply a number of of the standard cruise actions, we couldn’t assist however really feel just like the onboard environment wasn’t as enjoyable and interesting as regular.
Nightlife
Being accustomed to the high-energy feeling and dynamic venues on the Edge Class, we have been shocked at how subdued the nightlife was on Movie star Summit.
We scheduled most dinners with Movie star Choose eating for round 6:15 PM. This gave us loads of time for our typical routine of dinner, sport present, most important theater efficiency, and a nightcap and/or social gathering.
The Rendezvous Lounge was the second leisure area and residential to a nightly sport present at 8:15 PM. Whereas these sport reveals have been typical reveals like True or False, Sure or No, and 60 Seconds or Much less, they lacked enthusiasm and felt rushed. At instances, it appeared the employees have been merely going via the motions. The reveals have been nowhere close to as partaking as they’re on different cruise traces, like Princess Cruises.
The musical acts on the cruise have been fairly customary. They included a duo, a solo guitarist, and a few bands. These acts rotated via venues like Cellar Masters and the Rendezvous Lounge. Typically a band or DJ would additionally play close to the Martini Bar on Deck 4. Total, not one of the acts have been memorable although.
There have been a number of events too, just like the Silent Disco and 80s social gathering. Due to the cruise director, Manuel, these occasions have been a bit extra vigorous. Manuel was an amazing 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 standard hub of exercise on many Movie star ships, didn’t have its typical vibrance.
Given we had some lengthy days ashore, we have been okay retiring sooner than regular within the evenings. However, if the itinerary have been totally different, we might have been uninterested in the shortage of livelihood on the ship.
Leisure
Like most cruises, we attended a number of of the reveals in the primary theater. Over our seven nights, there have been three manufacturing reveals and 4 headliner acts.
Total, the manufacturing reveals have been fairly common cruise revues with a solid of singers, dancers, and aerialists.
On evening two, the manufacturing present Life was a mashup of very literal songs. Most songs had the title life or dying within the title.
On the final evening, Soundtrack was a present marketed as “redefining movie music”. However the setlist included a number of pop songs with preparations within the type of early Twentieth-century jazz. Plus, we’re fairly certain not all songs have been prominently featured in motion pictures.
On Christmas evening, the manufacturing solid placed on a Vacation Spectacluar. The present featured a reasonably typical setlist of Christmas songs that undoubtedly bought everybody into the vacation spirit.
On the opposite nights, the headliner acts have 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
Movie star Summit boasts 9 bars and lounges, lots of which supply signature cocktail menus.
Our go-to on any Movie star ship is the Martini Bar. Whereas the drinks right here have been the identical, the environment wasn’t as vigorous 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 most important pre-dinner or post-dinner venues. Subsequently, we couldn’t cross up the She’s With the Whiksy and the Candy Berry Smash. One deck above, Cellar Masters usually supplied mild music paired with its customized wine checklist.
The cosmically-themed cocktails on the Sky Lounge, just like the Libra or the Most cancers, have been good for sipping throughout one of many nightly events. For these searching for a extra conventional poolside drink, the Mast Bar on Deck 11 blended up frosty concoctions and basic 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 every other 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.
Most important Eating Room
Just like the informal eating, the 2-story Cosmopolitan most important eating room on Movie star Summit delivered on a number of fronts.
Our three-course meals have been well-timed, with dinner often lasting not more than 90 minutes for our group of six. Plus, all of our dishes have been served on the applicable temperature and as requested. With two meals allergy symptoms on the desk and a number of other particular requests, the waitstaff had no points making our lodging.
Whereas Movie star Cruises does nonetheless supply conventional eating, we opted for Movie star Choose eating. We made reservations pre-cruise for six:15 PM every evening. All evenings however one, we have been sat on the similar desk with the identical waitstaff.
The service workforce of waitress, Kim, and assistant waitress, Win, took wonderful care of our group. They have 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 Movie star Tournedo, a young minimize of beef cooked to a medium uncommon temperature. On evening 1, the Fried Masala Potatoes was a spicy addition to a reasonably bland welcome aboard dinner lineup.
On Christmas Day, our desk raved in regards to the vacation classics together with the Previous Original Honey Glazed Virgina Ham, Broiled Lobster Tail, and Gradual Roasted Turkey. Prime rib, a basic cruiser favourite, was served on the final evening. And, the Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli and the Rigatoni Boscaiola have been decadent pasta dishes with parts that have been simply the fitting measurement.
For dessert, we couldn’t cross up the apple pie a la mode and the Tiramisu cake, amongst others. However, Heidi was dissatisfied that there was no Baked Alaska this crusing.
Specialty Eating places
Movie star Summit has just a few specialty eating places. On Deck 11, Le Petit Chef at Qsine affords a dinner and present. This distinctive digital eating expertise is unique to Movie star Cruises. We’ve dined at Le Petit Chef on different Movie star Cruises ships and loved it. Nevertheless, our 12-year-old nephew was not within the menu.
Likewise, Sushi on 5 affords 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’ll be able to’t go incorrect with Italian meals! So, on evening two, the six of us settled in to mangia on the Tuscan Grille.
Maybe essentially the most difficult a part of eating at this restaurant is discovering it. However after making our method down the starboard aspect hallway on Deck 3, we have been handled to a culinary feast.
Alongside varied Italian breads, dinner began with hearty appetizers like do-it-yourself meatballs and fried calamari. As anticipated, Heidi couldn’t cross up the Hen Parmesan, and I went with the Brief Rib Pappardelle Ragu. Each have been wealthy meals paying homage 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 proper ending to this satisfying meal.
Staterooms
Movie star Summit acquired a multi-million-dollar refurbishment in 2019, and fortunately, the staterooms have been a part of this main makeover. In actual fact, we have 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 accordance with the Movie star Cruises web site, this stateroom is 170 sq. ft with a 38-foot veranda. Whereas smaller than the balcony staterooms we usually keep in, the format was acquainted.
Instantly upon getting into the room, the lavatory was on our proper. Likewise, our mattress was additionally on the fitting wall, dealing with aft. After the mattress, a small desk and outsized chair have 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 collection 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 have been in a position to get all of our equipment organized as effectively.
The lavatory on this Movie star Summit cabin was a welcomed shock. It too acquired a significant 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 resulting from some assist beams and roofing. Nonetheless, we have been in a position to make the most of the veranda to observe the sail-ins and sail-outs from our ports of name. Awkwardly although, the chairs have been fastened ready someplace between upright and reclined, so that they weren’t very snug.
Total, whereas smaller than typical, our Movie star Summit stateroom was a cushty and classy house away from house for our vacation household cruise.
Our Total Movie star Summit Ship Evaluate
Admittedly, it has been some time since we sailed on an older, smaller Movie star Cruises ship. But, Movie star Summit held as much as her huge sisters in a number of methods.
The informal eating and most important 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 12 months on a cruise ship.
Likewise, a number of bars and lounges supplied distinctive atmospheres and specialty cocktail menus. These venues have been by no means too busy, so we might chill and chill out with a drink in hand whereas watching a sport present or listening to stay music.
Equally, our renovated stateroom was trendy and effectively laid out. Whereas the veranda was not preferrred, it was a positive place to chill out after a protracted day ashore.
Nevertheless, some areas of the ship did present indicators of ageing, significantly the outside areas. The pool deck had an ungainly format and felt dated. The sports activities deck and Rooftop Terrace additionally appeared to get little to no updates.
To us, Movie star Summit additionally lacked character. The ship felt like a set of venues and other people, reasonably than exuding a definite vibe that different cruise ships supply. On different Movie star ships, the Atrium or Grand Lobby are often vigorous 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 primary draw for our household throughout this cruise, Movie star 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 following.
Feedback
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The submit What It’s Actually Like on a 24-12 months-Previous Movie star Cruises Ship appeared first on EatSleepCruise.com.
