Celebrity Summit returned this week from a multimillion-dollar refurbishment in the Bahamas. Summit is the latest of Celebrity’s ships to receive a dramatic makeover as part of the cruise line’s $500 million fleetwide upgrade.
As part of the refurbishment, which took a total of 31 days, the cruise line made a number of updates and changes, covering everything from staterooms to the sundeck to restaurants to the casino.
Upgraded Accommodations Are the Big News
Celebrity CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo noted that, ‘The big, big, big news is the staterooms.”
The cruise line partnered with international hospitality firm Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA) to transform the cabins. In addition to new design, the guest accommodations feature Celebrity’s eXhale bedding with cashmere mattresses. Stateroom bathrooms were also completely redesigned and updated.
Designer Kelly Hoppen, MBE, provided a fresh look for Summit’s suites, as well as exclusive spaces designed for suite guests. An exclusive new area, known as The Retreat Sundeck, offers suite guests their own space with cabanas, a new hot tub, and loungers. Suites guests also get to enjoy the new Retreat Lounge, which is open 24/7 with complimentary beverages and snacks, as well as a concierge services.
On top of all this, Summit returned from refurbishment with 30 new staterooms, including 13 AquaClass Staterooms, along with a handful of oceanview and inside cabins.
Updated Restaurants and Lounges for Passengers
While the cabins may be the big news, with more than a month of refurbishment, they weren’t the only area that got attention. Celebrity Summit guests can also enjoy enhancements to the ship’s dining options including:
- An updated Oceanview Café, with more seating options in an open-concept space, and “globally inspired” menu options
- Updates to the Main Dining Room featuring an eye-catching ceiling design and lighting
- Updates to Sunset Bar, offering a range of seating options for those wanting to drink or eat outside
Improved Technology, Shopping, Spa and Casino
In what was a full bow to stern makeover, Summit guests can now share pics and updates with friends at home with Xcelerate Wi-Fi throughout the ship. The ship also gained RFID lock technology with digital key — part of the trend of cruise lines going cardless. There are also new stores featuring brands like Shinola, John Hardy, and TAG Heuer.
Summit also now boasts a new design for Canyon Ranch at Sea spa, including an enhanced “Persian Garden” thermal suite, as well as a Turkish bath, infrared sauna, and salt therapy.
The Casino on Summit also received updates, including new slot machines plus a redesigned bar.
Fleetwide Refurbishment Program
Overall, the new refurbishment offers up a design that looks much more clean and modern than most cruise ships out there — fitting to Celebrity’s higher-end brand.
Celebrity Summit is the second of the cruise line’s vessels to undergo “The Celebrity Revolution,” following Celebrity Millennium’s makeover earlier this year. The fleetwide updates will bring Celebrity’s older ships in line to the level of the cruise line’s game-changing new ship Edge. As Lutoff-Perlo explained, the extensive changes to the line’s ships will “elevate the entire fleet so Edge doesn’t get all the attention.”
Celebrity Equinox will enter dry-dock in May 2019. Six more Celebrity vessels are scheduled to for updates by 2023 .
