My Cruise on the Celebrity Summit

By Krystal Gavican, Travel & Cruise Consultant
Updated October 2026 · 11 min read

I travelled with my husband on a 5-night cruise to the Bahamas, with stops in Key West, Bimini, and Nassau. It was our first time travelling without the kids for that long—and the first time we had ever left the country without them! It felt like such a treat to enjoy a true adults-only escape, even though the ship itself wasn’t strictly adults only.

Celebrity Cruises® is a luxury cruise line known for its modern ships and relaxed, upscale atmosphere. While it’s not an adults-only line, don’t expect to see many kids onboard. I think I counted about six during our entire trip. There are kids’ and teen clubs available, but overall, most of the onboard experiences are clearly geared toward adults.

Embarkation and Concierge Class

One thing I loved right away was how smooth embarkation was. As soon as we boarded, we were able to head straight to our stateroom and drop off our carry-on bags. I had booked us a Concierge Class Balcony cabin, which comes with a few extra perks: an umbrella, binoculars, a tote bag, a card holder, upgraded bath products, and a pillow menu. I was pleasantly surprised by how much we actually used these items—it really was a nice added touch. Concierge Class also includes a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine in your room, daily canapés, and invitations to select special events throughout the sailing.

Before settling in, we decided to explore the ship a bit and then headed to our special Concierge Class lunch in the main dining room. With full bellies, we continued wandering and eventually found the perfect spot to watch sail-away. Later that evening, we enjoyed dinner and drinks at the beautiful Sunset Bar, located just off the buffet. I loved having the option to eat outside while taking in the ocean views. We wrapped up the night with a comedy show in the spacious theatre, which featured these clever little tables that rotate between every two seats—a small detail, but one that made the experience feel extra comfortable and thoughtful.

Day 2: Key West

We started the morning with a catamaran excursion for some snorkelling. Since we had booked the excursion through Celebrity, everything was incredibly easy. After disembarking the ship, we found our representative waiting nearby with a sign, and we were on our way. It was raining on and off that morning—thankfully, we had our Concierge Class umbrella! The rain cleared up just in time for our snorkeling session, but with the recent storm activity and overcast skies, the visibility wasn’t the best. On the bright side, the sun came out on our way back, and we enjoyed unlimited mimosas while soaking it all in. Our two-woman crew was fantastic and made the experience even better.

After the excursion, we decided to explore Key West on foot. It’s a very walkable town, though there are also hop-on, hop-off buses and the iconic Conch Train if you prefer not to walk. As you wander around, you’ll quickly notice the roosters and chickens roaming freely everywhere. Fun fact: they were released in 1986 after Florida banned cockfighting.

Of course, no visit to Key West would be complete without trying key lime pie! With so many places offering a slice, choosing just one was surprisingly difficult. We ended up going with a frozen slice dipped in chocolate—and oh my goodness, it was so good that I completely forgot to take a photo. It was the perfect refreshing treat to beat the heat.

Our Concierge Class booking also included an invitation to a sail-away party on the helipad. There was music, drinks, and even a few prize giveaways—and I ended up winning a bottle of wine!

That evening, we decided to try the main dining room for dinner. We were seated in a beautiful spot at the back of the ship, where we were treated to stunning sunset views throughout our meal. The main dining room spans two levels, and some areas feature these unique egg-shaped chairs that were surprisingly comfortable. It was the perfect setting to unwind and enjoy the evening as the ship sailed on.

Day 3: Bimini, Bahamas

Here, you can purchase a day pass that gives you access to a resort’s pool and beach, including lounge chairs for the day. Prices vary, but you can expect to pay around $100 per person. Golf carts are also available to rent for the day, though at about $90, we personally found them a bit overpriced. There’s also a charming fisherman’s village nearby with a variety of shops and restaurants worth checking out.

We decided to split our day into two. In the morning, we took a taxi for $5 per person to the south end of the island to spend some beach time at Radio Beach. The area also has a few small shops where you can pick up souvenirs, as well as places to grab food and drinks. We did some snorkeling right off the beach and saw tons of fish—and even an octopus!

We took a taxi back to the ship for lunch, and along the way we admired all the conch restaurants lining the shore. There were conch shells everywhere! You can try conch in several forms, including classic conch fritters or a fresh conch salad.

After a quick lunch onboard, we headed to the beach located right beside the pier. If you’re visiting Bimini and don’t want to venture far, this is an ideal spot. The water was calm and incredibly clear. We did some more snorkeling right under the pier and spotted plenty of fish, along with lots of stingrays. One of them was huge—about four feet in diameter!

Dining on Celebrity Summit

It was always hard deciding between the buffet and the main dining room for dinner because both were so good. On Celebrity—and many other cruise lines—you select your main dining room dinner time when you book. You can choose an early seating (5:30 pm), a late seating (8:30 pm), or anytime dining, which allows you to dine whenever you like. This applies to the main dining room only. We chose anytime dining and never waited more than five minutes to be seated.

The buffet is open throughout the day and features rotating themes that change daily. Some stations are always available, including made-to-order pasta, stir-fry, and panini stations, as well as Indian and Mexican options, pizza, and several carving stations. There was always plenty of variety, no matter what time we stopped in.

There are also specialty restaurants available for an additional fee, such as sushi, a steakhouse, Italian, and French dining, among others. That said, the included dining options were so good—and offered enough variety—that we never felt the need to pay extra.

We chose the main dining room and, once again, weren’t disappointed. We were seated in another prime spot, this time right in front of a porthole. I started with salmon tartare, followed by duck breast for my main, and finished with apple crumble for dessert. It was one of those meals that reminds you just how elevated Celebrity’s dining experience really is.

Entertainment onboard

That night, we headed back to the theatre for a performance called Life. It featured a fantastic mix of song covers, and I was impressed by the performers’ aerobatic skills, not to mention the power of one singer’s voice. On other nights, we also enjoyed a magic show and a “Rockumentary,” which felt like a mini rock concert, so cool.

There’s a wide variety of entertainment happening throughout the ship each day, and it’s easy to keep track of it all using the Celebrity app. It lists the times and locations for everything, from live bands and steel drum performances to bingo and even a silent disco, just to name a few options.

Day 4: Nassau, Bahamas

We started our day with a walk to the Queen’s Staircase. Surrounded by lush vegetation, it was absolutely beautiful and provided a cool, shady respite from the heat.

Afterwards, we made our way toward the beach, taking our time to browse the shops and restaurants along the way. We enjoyed some more beach time before eventually stopping at Margaritaville for a refreshing drink. They have an awesome lazy river on-site, and day passes are available for a fee if you’re looking to spend a little extra time there.

Day 5: Sea day and the ship

This day was all about relaxing and enjoying the ship, which we were really looking forward to after all the walking we’d done over the previous few days. Between exploring the ports and wandering around the ship, we were averaging 15,000–20,000 steps a day. It’s definitely not necessary to walk that much, but we love to explore every corner.

Celebrity Summit was built in 2001 and underwent the “Celebrity Revolution” refurbishment in 2019. Despite her age, the ship felt clean, modern, and well maintained, and it was always easy to find a quiet spot to relax. I spoke with several guests who specifically booked Summit because they had sailed on her before. They love her smaller size, which creates a more relaxed, intimate atmosphere, along with the fantastic crew. Personally, some of my favourite spots onboard were the Solarium and the Rooftop Terrace.

The Solarium

The Solarium is an adults-only area featuring a heated pool—think warm bath temperature—and two hot tubs. The atmosphere is very spa-like and incredibly calming. There are also two in-pool lounge areas where you can relax partially submerged, with bubbles rising from below, as well as four water spouts with a strong, massaging stream. If we had been on a longer cruise, I definitely would have taken advantage of the spa’s thermal circuit (available for an additional fee), which includes access to the sauna and steam rooms. If you book an AquaClass stateroom, you get complimentary daily access to this thermal circuit—a great perk for spa lovers.

Rooftop Terrace

There are plenty of comfy lounge chairs and daybeds at the back of the ship, making it an ideal place to unwind. A large screen plays movies throughout the sailing.

Pools

Besides the Solarium, the main pool deck features two swimming pools and four hot tubs. On our sea day, they hosted some special pool games to celebrate the “Poolest Day Ever,” which added a fun, lively vibe to the deck.

The Martini Bar

The bartenders on board are full of amazing tricks! The bar top itself is actually covered in ice. On our day at sea, we signed up for a mixology class and got to create three cocktails ourselves—such a fun and interactive experience.

Overall, it was a wonderful experience. From the moment you step onboard, it’s all about relaxed luxury—elegant spaces, thoughtful details, and incredible service at every turn. Whether you’re unwinding on the Rooftop Terrace with a cocktail in hand, indulging in delicious main dining or buffet meals, or catching a Broadway-style show at sea, there’s something for every mood. Add in the world-class spa, comfortable ocean-view staterooms, and that signature Celebrity service, and it’s easy to see why this cruise line is known for redefining modern luxury travel.

Planning your own Bahamas cruise

Short Bahamas cruises like Krystal’s are a great way to try cruising, or to sneak away for a few days without the kids. Here’s what we tell clients who are planning one.

• When to go: December to April is the driest, most comfortable time to visit. Hurricane season runs from June to November, so if you sail then, make sure you have good travel insurance.
• Fly in a day early: most Bahamas cruises leave from Florida, so arrive the day before to give yourself a buffer if a flight is delayed.
• Bring your passport: you’ll be stopping in the U.S. and the Bahamas, so bring a passport valid for at least six months past your return date (the safest rule of thumb).
• Consider an upgraded cabin: Concierge Class adds handy perks, and AquaClass includes daily spa access. On a short cruise, little extras like these go a long way.
• Bring snorkel gear and cash: Krystal snorkelled right off the beach in Bimini, and small bills come in handy for taxis and local shops.

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