Cruise Reviews

Beware of Disemarkation Day!

Reviewed By: Leo, wolverhampton on 7th Aug 2008
Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises Times cruised before: 6-10
Cruise Ship: Summit Sailed: July, 2008
Destination: Mediterranean Age: 36-45
I booked a party of 10 people on this cruise 4 adults between the ages of 42-49 one lady of 73 and our children between the ages of 10-18. The ship is spotlessly clean and the food fantastic, the service we received in the Cosmopolitan Resturant was the best we had ever had on a cruise, and really was to be commended. The cabin was cleaned to a high standard, and all the waiting staff and cabin attendants were very polite and curteous. The entertainment however was very poor, there were 4 broadway style shows in the celebrity theatre which were very good and one deck party which we enjoyed, and that was it! This ship is more suited to 65+ but surely during the summer holidays there would of been more of an effort to accomodate a younger audience. This however is not our biggest gripe, we were informed 2 days before disembarkation that all guests had to be off the ship by 9.30am and taken to the airport no matter what time your flight home was. This would of meant that our party would of been abandoned at the airport for 11 hours! This we were informed was 'Company Policy'. After many conversations with guest relations and various managers, we were 'allowed to stay aboard the ship until 4pm, but we had to find our own way to the airport and pay for our luggage to be kept securely at the terminal in Venice. We are very disappointed with Celebrity and having cruised many times before with other companies, this by far, has the worst customer relations, manager and hotel director. We enjoyed our holiday but the hassle and upset of the last 2 days ruined our time aboard and we will not be sailing with Celebrity again. Be warned!
Quality of Food5
Entertainment1
Shore Excursions3
Staff4
Children's Facilities2
Onboard Activities1
Cabins1
Overall Rating1
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Opinion: Agree Comment by morris, manchester (03 Sep 08 19:43) about this REVIEW.
The entertainment was very very poor and even became a laughing point amoungst our conversation. I can say that the entertainment on previous celebrity cruises was a million times better. All the bar, clubs and casino was open after 12pm cannot see a problem there. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the summit pitty about the entertainment.......
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Question by Boulton, Middlewich (26 Aug 08 11:09) about this REVIEW.
Could I ask which airport you flew to from Venice. We have booked to go on this cruise in July 2009. Have already been informed that the flights may not be direct but evidently, that is usual with cruises.
ANSWER
Answer by Leo, Wolverhampton (30 Aug 08 17:30) to a QUESTION by Boulton (26 Aug 08 11:09)
We were made aware that the flights were not direct from our chosen airport, Birmingham, at time of booking and that the only way to guarantee a direct flight was to go from Gatwick, which is what we did.
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Comment by Leo, Wolverhampton (15 Aug 08 07:38) about this REVIEW.
We could of taken a shore excursion, however they dropped people off at the airport at 12.30pm still 8 hours prior to our flights. Another point i should make is that the last call for passengers to leave the ship is 9.30am however the disembakation process is extremley slow and there were still passengers trying to get off the ship at 11am. The new passengers are comming aboard between 11-11.30, not sure what is thought to be involded in 'turning the ship around' but from what we saw nothing different to any other day!
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Opinion: Disagree Comment by Smith, Dubai (14 Aug 08 16:01) about this REVIEW.
We too (oldest 78yrs) had late pm flights and decided to make the most of our time in Barcelona by internet-booking a private tour of the city. This solved the luggage problem (it stayed with us), dropped us at the airport, and gave us a small taste of this fabulous city. With a large group you would have been able to do this quite cheaply. The last thing we would have wanted was to stay on board while the staff were turning the ship around!
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Comment by lo, barnet (13 Aug 08 08:43) about this REVIEW.
This happens on a number of cruise lines...MSC also abandoned their passengers at the airport...you cn not leave as there is nowhere to stowuggage. Isn't it about time the cruise companies did something about this? If you plan on seeing something of the 1st and last cities..no chance!!
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Comment by Leo, Wolverhampton (10 Aug 08 08:30) about this REVIEW.
Thank you for your comments, we have cruised 7 times in the last 2 yrs with different cruise companies and have not experienced this before. We were advised by the guest relations manager on board ship that up until last year they provided courtesy cabins for customers with late flights. I should point out that we were not the only party complaining about this procedure, and there were more unsatisfied guests.
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Comment by Greatrex, solihull (10 Aug 08 17:04) about a COMMENT by Leo (10 Aug 08 08:30)
have you thought about booking an excursion with airport drop off. to kill a few hours,
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Opinion: Disagree Comment by Greatrex, Solihull (09 Aug 08 12:59) about this REVIEW.
i will be crising with celeb for the 6th time september. what planet are these people on who expect to stay aboard until 4pm. what time did you board the ship. you would have obviously been the first people to complain if you had been denied boarding because some idiot expected to stay aboard until late afternoon. you get kicked out of hotels am so mwhy do you think this should be any different
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Comment by Hayes, Ilkeston (04 Sep 08 22:34) about a COMMENT by Greatrex (09 Aug 08 12:59)
Hey,, you always stay on board until your flight with Thomson, P & O and Ocean Village, I know because I have done it 9 times! When we went to the Carribean in Feb with P & o, all flights were delayed frm Britain by 12 hrs or so, so outgoing passengers were allowed to stay on the ship and sunbathe. The ship was not crowded because the incoming passengers were delayed!
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