Photo courtesy of Celebrity Cruises
I went into this cruise convinced the upgrade to The Retreat would be nice, but I honestly wasn’t sure if the extra money would be worth it. My husband and I had each been comped an inside cabin from prior gambling (and together they became an oceanview comp). I decided that this year I would substitute Father’s Day, birthday, and holiday gifts to my husband and instead use the money I’d spend to upgrade to a Sky Suite. Five nights later, I walked off the ship knowing I’d ruined myself for cruising any other way.
I chose a five-night sailing on Celebrity Summit, one of Celebrity’s smaller ships. We had just sailed her over Thanksgiving and really enjoyed not only the size of the ship, but the staff even more. For my husband and me, that already felt like a win. We like ships that are easy to navigate, ships that feel friendly instead of overwhelming, and ships where you don’t need a daily strategy meeting just to get from dinner to a show. Summit delivers all of that. The Retreat took it several steps further.
This wasn’t about being flashy or over-the-top. It was about being taken care of in quiet, thoughtful ways that slowly reset what “normal” travel feels like, including special touches like the one shown above.
The Retreat Experience Starts With Three People Looking After You
One of the first things you notice when staying in The Retreat is that you’re not just assigned staff. You’re known.
We had:
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A butler
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A stateroom attendant
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A concierge
That might sound excessive until you experience how seamlessly it works. There was no awkward hovering, no forced interaction, no sense that you needed to constantly ask for things. Instead, preferences were noticed and remembered.
Our stateroom attendant kept the room spotless and comfortable without ever feeling intrusive. The concierge handled logistics and questions with ease (I spoke with Whitney on the phone and met up with her, and saw just how hard she works while I was getting some of my work done in The Retreat Lounge). And then there was our butler, Tony.
To be fair, we didn’t use him to his full potential. I quickly realized that there wasn’t much that we NEEDED. Like,I didn’t need someone unpacking my suitcase, planning my day, or making dinner reservations; I had already done some of that before boarding, and it’s those types of things that I actually enjoy doing. But what I did appreciate were the small, thoughtful touches.
Every afternoon, he brought a charcuterie board to the room. Not a sad plate of crackers, but a proper spread that felt intentional. When he noticed the drinks I grabbed from the Retreat Lounge when I went there to work, he made sure those exact drinks appeared in our stateroom refrigerator the very next day. No request needed.
That kind of attention changes how you spend your days on board. You stop thinking about logistics and start enjoying the experience.
Of course, I have friends who take full advantage of the pampering that having a staff at your disposal gives them. It’s just not us. We love to travel, and part of the fun is in doing the little things (seriously, I can be a bit of a micro-manager).
The Stateroom: Space to Actually Live In
Photo courtesy of Celebrity Cruises
Yes, the stateroom was larger. That’s the obvious part of being in a suite. But the real difference was how livable it felt.
There was room to spread out. Room to sit and read without feeling like you were perched on the bed. Room to open a suitcase without turning it into an obstacle course. The bathroom didn’t feel like a clever puzzle. There is a full tub, deep enough for soaking. The balcony became a true extension of the room, not just a place to step out for a quick look, with a table and chairs to dine overlooking the ocean and a sofa just the right size for the two of us. Instead of the bed facing a wall, we faced out toward the balcony, with a half wall to the left with a small television, making it perfect for me to look out while my husband streamed the game.
Photo courtesy of Celebrity Cruises
On sea days, and especially on our rainy day in the Bahamas, that balcony became one of my favorite places on the ship. We curled up out there with our books, enjoyed a pot of coffee in the early morning (before breakfast) as we listened to the water and did absolutely nothing. It was perfect.
Luminae: Where Every Day Started (and Often Ended)
Photo courtesy of Celebrity Cruises
If The Retreat has a heart, it’s Luminae.
I never missed a single breakfast there. Not once. When I cruise with Celebrity, I usually order room service (especially because Celebrity offers the continental breakfast via room service free for all classes of staterooms), and in the Retreat, room service is available from breakfast through lunch, dinner, to evening snacks.
At home, breakfast is functional. A smoothie. A bowl of oatmeal. Done. When I travel, breakfast becomes an event, and Luminae leaned all the way into that.
My order rarely changed: eggs Benedict, no English muffin please, paired with a blueberry smoothie. It felt indulgent without being heavy, special without being boring (because I could never master the art of a great Hollandaise sauce). Starting each day that way sets the tone for everything else.
Dinner at Luminae is where things really shine. The menu includes dishes by Daniel Boulud, and while that sounds impressive on paper, what mattered was how consistently good everything was.
What surprised me most was the flexibility. Each evening, we were brought both the Luminae menu and the main dining room menu. If something on the main menu caught our eye, we could order it. There were nights we mixed and matched courses from both. No questions. No hesitation.
That kind of choice makes dinner feel very special, as if you can have it all.
Gambling, Because Relaxation Looks Different for Everyone
For me, relaxing doesn’t mean sitting on a deck chair in the sun. I live in Florida. I have a pool. Sunbathing on a ship holds very little appeal. Because we travel with Celebrity often, we have also seen the shows (if it’s your first trip or two with them, do NOT MISS Rockumentary, it’s an incredible journey through the music you love). But, we had just been on the Summit 2 weeks earlier for Thanksgiving, and I was back AGAIN to do what I love.
What I do love is the casino.
I spent plenty of time going back and forth between my favorite slot machines and the blackjack tables. The Summit casino has an easy, approachable feel, and because the ship is smaller, it never feels chaotic (if you gamble, IYKYK when it comes to casinos). I could wander in, play for a while, the service was great, so I’d wait for my Derwin to bring my drink and entertain with his cute quips, and take a break from the Yeti throwing snowballs to gamble with my favorite dealer at the table without feeling like I was navigating a maze.
That rhythm became part of my evening routine, and it was exactly what I wanted. If you’re a gambler, make sure to introduce yourself to the host and staff. I had met Agui (the host on this voyage) on my previous trip, and she not only remembered me, but she also came to check on me periodically (and to reprint my new Instant Certificate as I had earned a larger freeplay amount and better stateroom for our next trip). The host is there to help you. It’s nice to have someone look over and tell you that you only need X more points to get a better offer. Shout out to my newest bestie, the casino supervisor K., who also checked up on me and gave me some good laughs (he’s a lot of fun).
The Retreat Lounge: A Quiet Bonus You’ll Actually Use
The Retreat Lounge is one of those spaces you don’t fully appreciate until you’ve used it a few times. It’s not flashy. It’s calm, comfortable, and reliably stocked with grab-and-go drinks and light bites.
I always work when I cruise (when you write, you figure you can still earn a living no matter where you are), and The Retreat Lounge was the perfect quiet spot to pull out my computer and grab a Vitamin Water or an espresso, and write an article.
The real magic happened when our butler noticed what I kept picking up there. The next day, those same drinks appeared in our stateroom refrigerator. That kind of attention makes you feel seen without making a production out of it.
Tuscan Restaurant: Worth Leaving Luminae For
Even with Luminae available, we made a point to dine at the Tuscan Grille.
It’s one of the best Italian meals I’ve had on a ship, and honestly, it holds its own against my favorite land-based Italian restaurants. The flavors were bold without being heavy, the pasta was perfectly cooked, and everything felt thoughtfully prepared. The menu was so full of favorites that I had to ask our waiter what he suggested, because I wanted everything (and I figured I’d ask someone who’d actually eaten there). Lasagne it was, and it was worth every bite, and when I told him that it all seemed like a lot of food, he suggested a half portion so that I could enjoy a salad and dessert as well.
Tuscan Grille is the kind of place you leave already thinking about what you’d order next time, and I’m excited to dine there again on my upcoming trip (different ship, same restaurant).
Don’t Skip the Oceanview Cafe (Even if you’re in The Retreat)
There are stations for everyone’s tastes. From a health salad bar to an indulgent pastry display. The pasta station alone is worth the trip. The pasta is cooked to order (yes, cooked to order in a buffet), the sauces are rich and well-seasoned, and there’s a wide selection of vegetables, cheeses, meats, and seafood to customize your dish.
Here’s the insider tip: if you’re not in the mood for the standard Marinara, Bolognese, or Alfredo, ask the cook to make an aglio e olio in her saucepan. She makes an incredible one, completely to order (I had her add a little shrimp to it for a little protein added).
Add in their homemade breads, and I’m happy. Add dessert or the free ice cream at Scoops, and I’m very happy.
Art, Atmosphere, and Why Summit Just Works
One thing Celebrity does exceptionally well is art, and the Summit is no exception. The artwork throughout the ship is genuinely impressive. It adds character without feeling forced and gives the ship a sense of personality that’s often missing on larger vessels. You’ll discover new artists, find old favorites, and start looking around every corner, up every staircase, and down every corridor finding art that belongs in a modern art museum.
Summit’s smaller size also makes everything easier. It’s quicker to get from place to place. You start recognizing faces. There’s a warmth to the experience that we really appreciate. For us, the smaller, more intimate feel of Celebrity’s Solstice and Millennium-class ships is a big plus which is why we go back again and again (we’ll be on the Reflection in a few weeks).
The covered solarium pool deserves a mention too. As I mentioned earlier, I’m not a sun-deck person, but I love that space. It’s calm, protected, and perfect for a quiet swim or just sitting back and relaxing, and yes, you’ll LOVE the artwork, or rather the sculptures (although you’ll want to check out the sculpture on the main pool deck as well).
Ports: Key West and the Bahamas
Our stops were Key West and the Bahamas.
Celebrity makes disembarking so easy, just scan your keycard and walk off. No muss, no fuss, and a day in Key West was exactly what I wanted. I spent the day revisiting favorite spots, eating well, shopping, and popping into galleries. It felt familiar in the best way. It’s one of those spots that I enjoy visiting often (shout out to my friends at the Opal Key West Resort & Marina, of which we had the BEST view of from the ship) I jokingly say that I took the “slow boat to Key West” since it’s a 2-day cruise, but a 5-hour drive for me. Personally, I love having someone else do the driving (like Captain Lillos), and frankly, I enjoyed every bit of the voyage there (vs. arguing with my husband as we end up behind a truck on the 7-mile bridge).
As always, I hopped over to the Eaton Street Seafood Market for lunch. There is NOTHING like enjoying a fish taco made of locally caught Key West shrimp. If I had more time, I would have taken the shuttle over to Sunset Key for lunch at Latitudes and maybe even a spa treatment.
Nassau, on the other hand, was rainy. We talked about renting a golf cart and exploring, but instead chose something better. We stayed on the balcony, read, and let the day unfold slowly.
Later, we headed to Café al Bacio (FYI, Clarar makes the best drinks, and that’s coming from someone who was in the coffee business for years – ME). My husband ordered a cappuccino. I had a cortadito. We split pastries and watched the ship go about its day. It was simple and perfect.
Of course, I had to have my favorite iced Tea Forte (blueberry merlot, please) as it brews over a pitcher of ice (to be poured into the pitcher and then into your glass).
Walking Off Changed
I boarded this cruise convinced the Retreat upgrade wouldn’t be worth what we paid. I walked off knowing it’s now my favorite way to travel.
Not because it was extravagant, but because it removed friction. Because I felt relaxed, well-fed, and genuinely taken care of. Because everything just worked.
For us, The Retreat on Celebrity Summit wasn’t about luxury for luxury’s sake. It was about comfort, ease, and enjoying the trip without constantly thinking about the details.
And that’s what made all the difference.
Want a vacation that feels like the one you’ve always dreamed of? Check out Celebrity Cruises and consider booking the Retreat. In my opinion, it’s definitely worth it.
Notes:
The Retreat not only includes the above but also offers premium Wi-Fi for two, a premium drink package for both of you, a private sundeck (as shown above), as well as everything you’d get on any sailing.
