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Cape Liberty, NJ- At Sea –At
Sea – Kings, Wharf Bermuda – At Sea – Cape Liberty, NJ
It isn’t often that we sail to a destination
for the first time but that is exactly what I did on this inspection of the
Summit to Bermuda. We have chartered the Summit in 2012 and once again have
her chartered for 2016 for the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise. As you know,
Worldwide has worked with Legendary for many years and we have partnered in over
25 charters. With all of those being Caribbean or Mexican charters, we have
pretty much been to every feasible Eastern, Western or Southern Caribbean
port. As we continue to seek new destinations, we both landed on Bermuda.
Neither my client or myself had ever been to Bermuda making this the perfect
opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with the Celebrity Summit and also explore
this new destination.
Sailing from Bayonne in June was very
pleasant. Beautiful weather and pulling out through New York Harbor made for an
excellent sail away with the wonderful views of the city, Statue of Liberty, and
the Staten Island Ferry. The excitement of New York City is undeniable, even
from the deck of a cruise ship across the harbor.
From there, we started our 2 day journey to
Bermuda. The seas were calm and winds minimal and our 2 day sail at just over
12 knots was very smooth. This gave us ample opportunity to take advantage of
Celebrity’s amenities, service and food. The Summit was in good form. The ship
was introduced to the fleet in 2001 and holds just over 2100 guests. In
January 2012, Celebrity Summit emerged from a major Solsticizing dry dock as its
public areas and staterooms were enhanced with the integration of widely
heralded Solstice Class features. From the Martini Bar to the specialty
restaurants Bistro on Five, Normandie and Qsine, the Summit has many choices for
libations and dining. The food was excellent on the Summit. From the main
dining room (Cosmopolitan) and including all specialty dining, we truly enjoyed
the presentations and tastes. The informal buffet was very good as well,
featuring fresh sushi selections each day as well as the expected sandwich,
salad, and pizza stations and let’s not forget the sweets and ice creams.
Service on board was excellent as well.
Our stateroom attendant, Santana, was most attentive and intuitive in our needs
and timing. Speaking of the stateroom, it too was a “thumbs up”. I had a
balcony stateroom on deck 6 just forward of midship. By the placement of my
stateroom, I actually had an extended balcony which was very comfortable. The
bedding was comfortable and the interactive TV in stateroom was a big plus. I
was able to place room service orders, check my account, order shore tours or
premium movies. I also like the bathrooms in this category with a shower that
is larger than most cruise ships.
On the third morning we arrived at King’s
Wharf, Bermuda. With two and a half days to explore this island, we truly had
a stress free feeling to take our time which is a bonus you really don’t think
about. Bermuda was beautiful! From the fabulous beaches to the wonderful
towns, this British colony is truly a gem. We toured the island extensively
and took in every nook and cranny. There are many forts and churches from the
1700s and 1800s. There are no rental cars in Bermuda. The entire island can be
navigated by excellent public transport. Buses and ferry boats are always
running. We decided to hire a local expert for our full tour and it did not
disappoint. We saw the stunning Crystal Caves, all of the cays and beaches and
of course, Michael Douglas’ estate. We were also lucky enough to be in port
over a Wednesday evening and took advantage of “Harbor Nights” celebration in
Hamilton which was just a short ferry ride from King’s Wharf. This is a clean,
beautiful and safe island!
We made our sail back to New Jersey with a
single sea day and it was time to head home. I was particularly impressed with
Celebrity’s port operations in Bayonne. It is very easy on and off the ship. I
also enjoyed Cape Liberty as a home port with the added bonus of New York for a
couple of days pre cruise. The big winner on this inspection to me was
Bermuda. This is a destination that we overlook often when thinking about an
incentive cruise. A cruise with only one port? No, no…, etc. I really think
that it is a great choice now after doing this trip. Being there for two and a
half days really allows you to get relaxed and acquainted. Want to learn
more?
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