Celebrity Summit

Let us be very frank before we enter this classy cruise ship. It surely is not for everyone. Take a look at some of the Celebrity Summit’s guests if you do not believe me. They are mostly wealthy Americans who have already reached their summits whether in business or in calling. You may also come across intercontinental playboys looking for the ultimate luxury offered in an expensive sea voyage where champagne & caviar can be a routine fare.

The passenger list also includes a few world-travelers who have nothing else to do but to seek new source of excitement wherever available. However, this need not dissuade you to join a cruise aboard this 91,000-ton luxury cruise ship which appears to have taken some slices off the legendary liner, SS Normandie, known for her opulence and style. Nevertheless, try to bear in mind that the Celebrity Summit maintains a crew of 999 skilled hands to serve 1,950 passengers when the ship is fully occupied! That’s some remarkable ratio indeed.

Anyway, now that you have boarded the ship, there is no harm keeping your eyes open to see the signs of elegance all around you. The first thing that sure is going to catch your attention is a seven-foot high stunning bronze statue resembling the goddess Athena, created by Leon-Georges Baudry, the noted Art Deco sculptor that forms a part of poise in the two-level Cosmopolitan Restaurant of the ship. Although the restaurant earlier had fixed-time seating arrangement for serving food, passengers currently have the option of having the same anytime within certain hours.

Among some of the upscale restaurants on board the Summit is the Normandie alternative restaurant where they serve you with searing hot food items. Even though it involves a surcharge, the experience of a waiter in white tie preparing flambé entrees table-side can be quite exhilarating. Also, you get special items here that include Rack of Lamb en Croute, Chateaubriand steak and few more. The Lido Café, deck 10 on the other hand, offers casual breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, snacks, pizza and late night munchies right up to midnight. The Summit often lays out themed midnight buffets that attract jubilant crowd. 24-hour Room Service is a standard feature in the ship.

Celebrity Summit cabins include Deluxe Oceanview Staterooms (170 sq, ft.) with verandahs featuring two convertible beds, a sitting area and panoramic view floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors opening out to the balcony. Lower priced Interior Staterooms with sofa-cum-bed having sitting areas, nevertheless, prove quite comfortable too. All cabins, however, have interactive television, phone with voice mail, hair drier, safe and a mini-bar. Use of bathrobes is optional.

Costa Classica

Befitting its classy tagging, The Costa Classica is indeed classic in terms of comfort, style and elegance, not to speak of the delectable dishes like the Grilled lobster with drawn butter that is served in the Tivoli Restaurant. Exquisite murals in the celebrated restaurant transform its bay windows into scenic episodes from the Renaissance and the Roman era, and the tabletops in its Puccini Ballroom mirror sentiments from famed Puccini Operas.

In fact, every aspect of this magnificent cruise ship turns the head of passengers lounging its marvelous decks looking for something that is out of the ordinary. Take for instance, the Costa’s Galileo Disco and Observatory perched high atop the ship that serves as an observatory by the day and turning into a fabulous Disco as the night falls over the high seas.

In short, this luxury liner is a masterpiece of Italian cruise design where nothing was spared to give it the best of everything. Passengers strolling through its Tavernetta can browse through the chick boutiques, dine in its gourmet restaurant, unwind in jacuzzies (4 in number) or spend time in superbly equipped spa and fitness center located in one of its many decks.

While Costa Classica had served as an inspiration for creating its sister ship Costa Romantica, people fondly go for the Classica because of it inherent beauty and classical lines that makes this quite an unique ship.

The 52,926 ton, 723 feet liner with 13 decks can accommodate 1,302 Double Occupancy passengers in its 654 cabins that are served by a retinue of 590 skilled hands. Even though the ship’s maximum speed is rated at 20 knots, she normally cruises at 18.5 knots on calm seas.

Carnival Glory

The 110,000-ton 2,974-passenger Conquest-class cruise ship Carnival Glory operated by Carnival Corporation is a truly colorful ocean liner with each of its public rooms sporting all the vivid colors of the rainbow! The ship is easy to navigate (from the passengers’ point of view) since most of the public rooms that include the Camel Casino, White Heart Dance Club, Burgundy (wine) Bar and the Ultraviolet Teen Disco are centrally located. However, one snug corner boasts of a cluster of hot spots that includes the Sing-along piano bar, Cinn-a-Bar, the Ebony Cabaret beckoning late night dancing partners and the Bar Blue for jazz enthusiasts. The Carnival Glory’s singular Cigar Bar, The Ivory Club is located just below.

Even though the Carnival Glory’s passenger quota mostly comprises of newly married couples, the ship is also much liked by families because of its many activities. This of course often creates overcrowding at the buffet during peak hours, more on sea days and formal nights. Similar is the case with the Colors Bar in the atrium that tends to fill up for pre-dinner cocktails. However, the Green Sports Bar, Ebony Cabaret Lounge and the Ivory Club are where you could head if you wanted to escape the crowds.

The Carnival Glory’s dining options include both traditionally assigned seating arrangement in the Platinum and Golden dining rooms commencing at 6 and 8.15 pm as well as flexible timing system through Carnival’s Your Choice Dining Program that offers dinner in the central dining room where passengers can enjoy their supper anytime between 5.45 and 9.30 in the night. However, it must be admitted that keeping at par with other Conquest-class ships, the quality and selection of food on board the Carnival Glory is quite good, while the daily changing menu also lists the calorie and fat content of each dish for the benefit of the diners.

However, the most impressive part of the Carnival Glory’s exclusive dining deal relates to its reservation-only Emerald Room Supper Club where the elite menu combined with extra attentive service more than compensates its $25 cover charge per person. And the food they serve here is top class too - South African lobster, sizable porterhouse steak and prime-aged beef. What more does a passenger want?