Celebrity is a cruise line who certainly knows how to perfect the cruising experience. They realize that treating every guest like a celebrity- no matter if they are in the penthouse, or an interior cabin on the lowest deck builds a loyal following. Lucky 13 cruise was our family's first on Celebrity (having previously sailed on Carnival, Costa, and Royal Caribbean), and I can say with certainty that I will be back again one day. Their legendary attention to detail was plainly evident on board the Celebrity Summit as we were greeted by a glass of champagne as soon as we set foot on the ship, on our way up to deck 10 for the buffet and a view of the Statue of Liberty and the New York City Skyline before departing Bayonne for Bermuda. We took a chance in booking this trip during hurricane season—as the week before a tropical storm brushed the island, and a new one is headed nearby by the end of next week—but it was a gamble well paid out, for our days on shore were sunny (my pink skin would say a bit too sunny), slightly breezy and more than a little humid.

On board, Celebrity prides itself on the whole cruise experience - what they refer to as "Celebrity Life"—which is much, much, more than the usual Newlywed games, limbo contest by the pool and the ubiquitous bingo games that are present on all cruise ships. On this cruise, I was able to: tour the galley where they prepare 9000 meals a day, learn how to make sushi from one of their Sushi chefs, sip high tea in the specialty Normandie dining room, attend a series of guest lectures from one of the Hubble Telescope project managers, participate in a ship docking simulation—with actual video from the bridge of how they maneuver the boat into the tight berths, and talk with the captain and senior officers at the Captain's reception. Some of the events were open to all; others were helped along by my grandmother's membership in the Captain's Club from previous cruises.

In spite of me working out in the large and spacious gym and spa multiple times on the cruise, the food was so exceptional that I still managed to gain 5 pounds. I'd like to blame it all on the buffet, but it was the delicious desserts in the Cova Cafe on deck 5, and the grand dessert buffet with dark and white chocolate waterfall fountains that were my downfall. I did not have one mediocre meal the entire trip. Read more