Five Things to Know About Celebrity Cruises' Summit Cruise Ship
Best for: Couples with a foodie bent
Sails: The Caribbean, Bermuda, and New England & Canada
At a Glance: After a multimillion dollar refurbishment in 2016, this 2,158-passenger ship gained new culinary experiences and outdoor spaces, plus a fresh look for the its top-tier suites. Fun fact: Her captain, Kate McCue, is the first American woman to helm a cruise ship.
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Some Cabins Come With Perks
On the Celebrity Summit, cabins range in size from the 170-square-foot Inside, Ocean View, and Veranda Staterooms to the newly redone 1,432 square-foot Penthouse Suites, which are tricked out with a baby grand piano and a whirlpool on the veranda. Some cabins come with other kinds of benefits: Splurge on one of the AquaClass spa staterooms and you’ll have exclusive access to Blu, the healthy-cuisine restaurant, and be able to spend as much time as you’d like in the spa’s Persian Garden relaxation area without having to purchase a pass. Suite passengers have their own lounge, Michael’s Club, to call their own, as well as their own restaurant, Luminae, which has a rotating “modern eclectic” menu with some of the best food on the ship. (Think roasted lamb loin with merguez sausage, marinated cucumbers, and herb yogurt and cauliflower steak with curried yogurt, pepitas, golden raisins, and cilantro gremolata.)
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The Restaurants Are Inventive
Note for oenophiles: The wine lists onboard are excellent, and you’ll see a sommelier in almost every restaurant. As part of the refurbishment, Tuscan Grille, an Italian steakhouse, was added to the lineup. (The antipasti board and creamy burrata are musts, as are the frutti di mare rigatoni and the grilled branzino.) Also new, Sushi on Five, which serves up Kobe beef ramen sliders and hot pots, as well as sushi, sashimi, and nigiri. The quirkiest option, however, is Qsine, where menus come on iPads and meals take unexpected forms, such as sushi lollipops and filet mignon with sauces served on a painter’s palette. Once per cruise, passengers can try the Taste of Film, a multicourse food-and-movie pairing on the new Rooftop Terrace with small plates inspired by a film that plays throughout the dinner.
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It Has a Top Chef Program
Bravo fans rejoice: As part of Celebrity’s partnership with Top Chef, passengers with culinary skills get a chance to face off against other guests during a Quickfire Challenge cooking competition. And on Top Chef Night in the main dining room, guests can geek out over dishes created by past chef-testants, such as Tiffany Derry’s roasted spiced pork tenderloin and Chris Crary’s ginger cake with salted caramel, puffed rice, cereal ice cream, and Thai foam.
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The Entertainment Is Great
After dinner, passengers can check out live music around the ship or one of the standout shows. Don’t miss iMagic, a high-tech magic spectacle featuring lasers, holograms, and other special effects. And once per cruise, the ship puts on Indulgence, a sexy speakeasy-style party filled with dancers, singers, and masked waiters.
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The Spa Impresses
The ship’s Canyon RanchSpa Club has a small fitness room and a serenity-inducing relaxation area fronted by floor-to-ceiling windows. But the real reason to come is the deep list of treatments, everything from Ayurvedic body wraps to reiki to lymphatic massages. And then there are the Take Care of Your Selfie experiences—digital detox services curated by Randi Zuckerberg, such as a facial designed specifically to counteract the effects of too much screen time.