Admittedly it’s been a few years since my last cruise using the same cruise line, Celebrity Cruises, but things are apparently different now. I have heard that the Summit is used as a training vessel, and talking with staff this was their first cruise. Everyone has to start somewhere. However, there seemed to be a notable lack of coordination of simple services, like getting a cup of tea, and a certain amount of brusqueness exhibited by some. There is also no excuse for stained sheets and the amount of soliciting by staff to always upgrade, buy restaurant packages and spend, spend, spend was tiresome. The ship is not “user-friendly” with a huge inconvenience of purchasing an Internet package if you want to communicate with family and friends at a cost of 79 cents per minute, $59 for a day or $299 for the week.

Other services and events were satisfactory, with some floorshows being excellent and special kudos to the onboard house band. But what is obviously a no-no was to come across a couple of staff in uniform having a romantic tryst in a public area. One thing any good company should know involved in the tourism/lodging industry is that services and features can always be added, but not taken away. A case in point was a chest of chocolates that was offered in the café on board that is no longer available. This is a small ship as far as modern day cruise vessels go and dated in some areas with noticeable peeling paint, rust and heavy salt deposits in areas and wafts of sewage from time to time. Despite its smallness it is relatively confusing and needs some time to get used to the layout.