If you get off a ship and can't wait to get back on, the cruise was a success. Sailing on the Summit has become an anticipated cruising opportunity any time we can make it happen.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
From the time we exited our transportation to the port until we walked onto the ship could not have been longer than 15 minutes. With the ship not leaving until 8:30 that evening, arriving early meant no lines and expedited embarkation. I would leave from San Juan in a heartbeat. we were also impressed to be greeted by the Hotel Director as we walked on which was a very nice gesture.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
We only dined in the main dining room and the Oceanview on deck ten. Our meals in the main dining room were very good and none of us ever left less than perfectly satisfied. The buffet on deck ten had numerous options and I have absolutely nothing to complain about. If you couldn't find something you wanted to eat, you didn't look.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Due to limited sea days we did not engage in many activities other than relaxing in a lounge chair and basking in the sun. The one activity that seemed to be enjoyed by all was the silent disco which always leads to a lot of laughter, dancing and singing. great activity!
Entertainment
3 out of 5
I was not as thrilled with the ships regular dancers, singers and performers as on past cruises on the Summit. The first night comedian never connected with the audience and people were leaving throughout his performance. The acrobatic team was phenomenal. their routine on the floor and ribbons were captivating and exceptional. Two guest groups, 'Knight' and 'NYC3' were very good and thoroughly enjoyed.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The one thing we have found on the Summit every time we have cruised on her is the customer service is above and beyond what I have experienced consistently on other cruise lines. Our room stewards have been exceptional, the dining staff extremely competent and the ship's officers visible and engaging.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
We have cruised on the Summit four times in the last three years because it is easy to get around, is well maintained and is a very comfortable sized ship for us. We will continue to cruise on the Summit for those reasons.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
The cabin was well appointed, had a great window and is in a great location. It is smaller than cabins on some other cruise lines but had enough room for our needs. We had plenty of storage and the bathroom was great. We liked the nightlight on in the restroom as well as having a shower door instead of a curtain. The only thing I wish is different is to have a bit larger safe.
Ship tip
The one piece of advice I would offer is relax. The crew works very hard for you to make your cruise enjoyable. Kindness and expressed appreciation goes a long way.
Again, this was a beach day at Eagle Beach. The beach was wonderful; however, we were there with many folks from another ship in port, the Britannia. Therefore, there were not enough umbrellas and loungers available to meet the demand and the prices charged for them was expensive. The fellows renting them were not the most pleasant fellows considering they were working to serve the folks on the beach. Shopping in Oranjestad is always a delight for my wife as there were many, many shiny, glittering things to behold.
We did an excursion here to see a bit of the island. It was interesting and we ended at Mambo Beach which was very nice. However, since it was Christmas Day, many venues were closed so we got back on the ship early and enjoyed simply hanging out on decks 10 and 11.
The absolute very best thing about Bonaire was the pristine, incredibly crystal clear water. I am sure there are better beaches than the one we went to but the clarity of the water is unsurpassed. We walked around the port area some but felt most things were a bit overpriced compared to other islands in the Caribbean.
Debarkation was not the fastest in the world. Once off the ship, you ahd to stand in a very long line to go through customs unless you used the Mobile Pass app on your phone.
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