St MaartenWe took a water taxi to Philipsburg and walked around. There were over 11,000 folk on ships and the docks were like a giant mild, street party.

St. Maarten

Charlie picked us up after our disembarkation. It took 90 minutes when we left the ship at 8:15. He did an excellent tour showing us the highlights of San Juan forts, rain forrest, art galleries and explaining the politics and history. His van is very comfortable and seats up to 8 in first class comfort.

San Juan

BarbadosWe took a private tour with Elegance, which does feed the fish and turtles and yes the encounters are close. The crew was extraordinarily attentive and food was the best of any snorkel trip we took.

St LuciaThis was the worst described and worst ships tour we have ever purchased. Pitons Cruise and and Snorkel SLC4Sail aboard a 50 ft powerboat to the Soufriere Bay for a spectacular snorkeling experience beneath the Pitons.  Our first clue that the staff was not engaged, was no one asked us to remove shoes to walk on the deck. The correct description for this tour was a taxi service to a very crowded and dirty beach and marine sactuary by the Pitons. The boat dropped us off on a dock and left us for 90 minutes, throwing fish food overboard as it sailed away to where we imagined we would snorkel. Before our drop off the staff gave us bright yellow green vests to wear and they gave out fins and snorkeling equipment. Where we were on the boat there was no safety review of how to snorkel for beginners. There was a review on how to put on a vest. The vest my husband received had water in it. The staff told him to empty the water which he did, but it promptly filled up again while snorkeling. We discovered it had a broken valve, so I can say, no one is checking this equipment. We were never in danger, we are good swimmers. However, I can’t imagine dropping people at a beach without supervision the way they did. I suppose someone with binoculars could have been counting the vests from far away to see if anyone went under, but I doubt it. One of the folks on shore who was selling activities did let us know when our boat returned, but I do not see how he could have been supervising closely.The beach had a dirty diaper and other sanitary products on it. The chairs they told us we could use were filled, however we were graciously given space on one to leave our things. The beach is a marine preserve. Yet people without any info on how to protect themselves or the reef were given fins. I doubt this marine preserve will last being treated the way it is.Despite all that, it was a unique snorkeling experience, but the staff was just calling it in that day and i sent in an Attention to Detail card about it. I received three calls from guest services to see if I had received a call from the shore excursion manager. Guest services discovered our phone did not take messages. On our last day, we connected and I explained what happened and she told me they just couldn’t be everywhere all the time. She seemed surprised we were dropped off at beach. She asked about other excursions we were on and I shared our experiences there. No discount was offered nor was asked for, and I wouldn’t necessarily discount this tour, but just consider it a taxi service with self service. I would not recommend for anyone needing supervision in the water, or a family with many children to watch.

AntiguaANO3 Ships tour Catamaran Sail, Snorkel and Beach Cruise (Notice it says beach)This was the most entertaining, engaging crew I have every sailed with. The fellow who can limbo, completely blew my mind. The staff gave an excellent safety lesson before we got in the water. We were on Paradise Reef, which I heard was three miles long and we snorkeled at a place called bones. Which I wondered later, if it was because of the dead reef. There was not much to see except jelly fish and one as large as a saucer. They apparently are not that much of an issue but they are beautiful.We jumped off the back of the boat rather than go on the beach for the second stop. The water was also clouded and I assume the winter storms had something to do with visibility.The boat was in good shape and if you are not too keen on what you see but want some great rum punch and fun this is a good tour, with staff looking out for you.

St ThomasST97 Turtle Cove Sail and SnorkelOk…We took a pirate ship to St Johns. There we were given an excellent safety instruction and practiced pirate speak. We saw adolescent turtles eating the sea grass on the ocean floor and coming up for air. We were instructed not to feed or touch the turtles. Which was fine, you will get plenty of turtle sightings here. The snorkeling for fish part was ok. The staff was good, the boat clean and in good shape and the humorous sales pitches were rather strong for tips or T-shirt sales at the end. Guests were told the staff only make money by tips the way their waiters are paid on the ship. We enjoyed ourselves and tipped them. But it was the heaviest tip suggestion we encountered. Our temporary pirate tattoos given to us are just now wearing off. The rum punch was also excellent.

CabinFor our second week on the Summit we moved to SS cabin 6145, next to the Penthouse. We made plenty of jokes about the “downgrade.” I will say that it was delightful cabin. The bathroom was roomy and better than the RS, although it did not have a jacuzzi in the bathtub or on the balcony. The room is not sound proof, you can hear the neighbors at breakfast and playing the piano. The balcony is a nice size but is not private from the family cabin on deck seven. The lights on the balcony have a brass cover so the light does not go above the balcony and it is a nice light, not a spotlight light. This was a relief really after the week before and the bright spotlight in our bedroom. The curtains completely black out light, if you need it to. There is a limitation to hang items in closet, however. It was a beautifully appointed cabin and I would book it again. 

Food
This week we ate at Blu, Cosmopolitan, Qsine, Normandie and Bistro on 5
Blu was very good as well as the Cosmopolitan in food and service.Soap Box
If the fish and turtles are fed for encounters with tourists, they are made pets, plus the food is not good for the water or remaining reef.

Celebrity Summit Review

Second Week of B2B

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Sky Suite 1

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