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Tom and Mary Milano
TomandMaryMilano@Yahoo.com
Ship: Celebrity’s Summit
Departure Date: November 23, 2001 Photos By Ocean Images
Itinerary: 10 Day Ultimate Caribbean www.ocean-images.com
Occupation: Retired Restauranteur
Number of Cruises: 24
Age: 74
Mary & I are romantics. When we were young, we took a great deal of pleasure in doing nice things for
each other. Now that we are in our twilight years we find the things we do for each other are of a more
meaningful, caring nature. We do a lot of hand holding and other little affectionate things that convey the
message, I’m here, I love you. We have been around for quite awhile and our life is getting better and
more fruitful every day. We know the thoughts we carry in our mind and the things we do are the reason
we feel this way and we are not about to change. If you would rather not read about our sentimental and
romantic moments, and how we interacted with the crew, this is not the review for you.
Please remember we all view things from a different perspective, what you are reading is from our
perspective which might be very different from yours. We are unabashedly cruise addicts. We love to
cruise. We have made the following statement in every one of our reviews and we’re going to make it once
again. Mary & I, can’t think of a more intimate, romantic way of spending quality time with the one you love,
than being on a cruise. We have been retired since 1973, and have been fortunate to have traveled all over
the world and in our opinion, there is no land vacation that can compare to cruising. If you have not cruised,
please do yourself a favor and try it. It might help if you read our article, “Why You & Your Spouse Might
Need a Cruise.”
http://www.TomandMarysCruiseReviews.com/SpouseCruise.htm
Our Suggestions on How to Enhance Your Cruise:
We have added some new suggestions to our list. You will find our list of suggestions of things you can do
to enhance your cruise, in a Paragraph at the end of our review. If you see an [S] after a comment, it
signifies you can read more about it in our Suggestions section.
About Our Review: Mary & I write reviews so you can make a valued decision if the ship we are reviewing
is the ship you would like to book. If you have a question you think we can answer, don’t be shy about
writing us, we would be happy to offer our opinion.
We posted a very comprehensive review of our March 25th Millennium, Ultimate Caribbean cruise.
http://www.cruisereviews.com/rci/Millennium8.htm Being the Summit is identical except for a few decor
changes, we are not going to repeat ourselves but instead tell you some of the highlights of our cruise and
some very special moments we experienced with the Celebrity crew.
We had a most memorable cruise aboard the Millennium last spring and we were eagerly looking forward
to our Summit cruise. The Summit is the sister ship of the Millennium, Infinity and soon to be Christened
Constellation. These four ships have the usual sophisticated, stylish European interiors that Celebrity is
noted for and will play an important part in Celebrity’s future.
Some of The Things You Will be Reading:
**Our after Thanksgiving cruise, is always a very special occasion for us. We celebrate my lady Mary’s
birthday and my 36th anniversary as a friend of Bill W. For those who do not know who my friend Bill W. is,
I will explain a little later in our review. I will also tell you a story of one of our Canadian readers who on her
last cruise, got all dressed up and went in search of that incredible man Bill W., who has been on every
one of her cruises.
**We will be telling you about a couple, Dr. Arthur Thompson and his wife Eileen, who we had dinner
with in Celebrity’s magnificent alternative restaurant, the Normandie. They were so impressed with the
food and service they made reservations for seventeen consecutive nights, a Celebrity record. They were
staying on for a back to back--eleven day cruise. We will tell you the everyday routine they went through so
they wouldn’t gain any weight. ( Ha-Ha...lots of ruck...Mary & I dined in the Normandie four times and we
gained ½ lb. every time we crossed the threshold.)
**Renewing our Wedding Vows: A very special moment.
**We will be telling you about a young man, Jean Pierre, an associate of Michelle Roux, who has made his
mark in the food industry and who initiated the concept of Celebrity’s alternative restaurants. A most
interesting and talented young man.
**Why Tom Ogg, the editor of Cruise Reviews, thinks you should buy cruise
insurance.
**We would be happy to give you our opinion on how you can get the best possible price on your next
cruise. [L & R]
We will start our review by telling you about my Friend Bill W., my 36th anniversary and the story I
promised to tell you about that lady from Canada who wanted to meet Bill W.
Bill W. and my 36th Anniversary:
I was a bad boy in my younger days but I was fortunate to come to my senses and realize I didn’t handle
alcohol very well. I owe my life and any good fortune I have, to God’s amazing grace
and to my friend Bill W., who with Dr. Bob, founded the A.A. program. I am happy to say that I have enjoyed
36 years of continuos sobriety. I have received many blessings during this extended period, the greatest
being, in our thirty-three years of marriage Mary has never seen me take a drink. We met 12 fellow
A.A. members at our first Bill W. meeting. It was a special blessing to be able to celebrate my anniversary with
them. Now for the story about our Canadian reader who got dressed up to look for Bill W.
She Got Dressed up to Look for Bill W.
I got an e-mail from a steady reader of our reviews who lives in Canada. She said that she had seen in the
ship’s bulletin that a fellow by the name of Bill W. was meeting a group of his friends. At first she didn’t
give it much thought but when she saw the same notice on her next six cruises, it piqued her curiosity.
When she again saw the Bill W. announcement in the bulletin on her next cruise, she decided this had to
be one very special man and even though she wasn’t invited she was going to look for him and meet him.
Being he was on every ship she sailed on she assumed he was a very wealthy, prominent person. She
took her time and picked out an attractive party dress, took extra care with her make-up, made a few final
adjustments with her hair and off she went. She said she was surprised that Bill W. met his friends in the
oddest place. It was down below on the second deck near the convention center. She saw the sign on the
door, opened it and walked in. She saw a large group of people sitting around a table drinking coffee.
She mustered up her courage, smiled and said, “I am here to meet that popular man Bill W.” With that the
room burst out in laughter and when they quieted down, someone asked her, “Do you know where you
are?” She again repeated, “Yes I know where I am, I’m here to meet Bill W.”...again the room erupted in
laughter...and when they quieted down...someone said, “Young lady, Bill W. is one of the founders of
A.A. and this is an A.A.. meeting”...Our Canadian friend said she was mortified and humiliated as everyone in
the room, once again was having a fit of laughter....but then to make matters worse, she said she was
further humiliated when one of the men stood up and asked if she would like to join them...She said, ‘I have
never in all my life felt so foolish and stupid and I couldn’t get out of there quick enough...I can assure you
our Canadian fiend Marian will never forget our friend Bill W....and I don’t think you will either.
Checking Our Table Assignment & Meeting Ali & Sinisa:
We had a wonderful, unforgettable evening dining at the Olympic restaurant on the Millennium, I was hard
pressed to think the Normandie could equal it. As soon as we boarded, I checked our table assignment
and to our surprise Ali Sahin, who we had met on a previous cruise was at the desk. We got a big hello
and as he looked at his chart he smiled and read us the notation he had next to our name, ’Make sure you
give this couple a romantic table.’ It was a note from our agent. Ali is a gentleman in the finest sense of the
word. We were very taken with Ali and we saw him many times during our cruise and always looked
forward to our next meeting. He is a great credit to the Celebrity line. After checking with Ali, we crossed
over to the other side of the room to make our dinner reservations for the Normandie and to our surprise we
saw Sinisa Galesica, the young Maitre`de we wrote about in our Millennium review. He was the one who
back home was part of a dance troupe and when he came to our table at the evening meal, I would ask
him to give me a little bit of Fred Astaire, then the next evening a little Gene Kelly and then anyone else I
could think of until I ran out of names. He said he had a wonderful surprise for us. He told us soon after we
had cruised with him, he was selected to be one of the four Maitre`des assigned to work the Normandie
restaurant. A wonderful honor for this young man. It didn’t surprise us. Sinisa knows what he is supposed
to do and does it in great style. Coupled with his winning personality it would make it near impossible for
management not to notice him After a lengthy conversation we had Sinisa reserve two nights for us in the
Normandie. We chose one casual night and the last Formal night, the night we chose to celebrate Mary’s
Birthday and my 36th anniversary.
I hope we are not losing you because of our many references to the crew...but bear with us... because part
of this review is going to be about what we find to be the most important aspect of cruising...the crews of
these magnificent vessels. It becomes clearer with every cruise we make that the reason we are so
passionate about cruising is the way we are treated by the personnel of these cruise ships. We admire
these young people, who are estranged from their loved ones for periods of six months or more, many
having to learn our language, who cater to us and pamper us in such ways that make our cruising so
special...I think you will enjoy hearing what we have to say about them...we would like you to join us as we
take an elevator to Celebrity’s luncheon restaurant the ‘Waterfall,’ where you will meet two unusual
members of the crew.
Highlights of the Waterfall Luncheon Restaurant:
The Waterfall restaurant, the Summit lunch room, is very attractive as we stated in our Millennium review but
we want to tell you about a couple of areas in the lunchroom that deserve special mention. First we want to
tell you about two of the Summit servers you will meet as you leave the elevators and enter the Waterfall.
As you leave the elevator on the port side of the entrance to the Waterfall, you will be greeted and I do
mean greeted, by a tall, ruggedly handsome Croatian server. He doesn’t wait for you to get to him, he
comes at you and takes your ladies hand and kisses it, European style and then high fives the man and
then wraps his arms around him and gives him a bear hug. You can count on him being there for
breakfast and lunch and he doesn’t miss anyone. I asked him how he could keep smiling and always look
so happy. He said, in his country Croatia, they have been at war for seven years and you have to learn how
to smile or you couldn’t go on living . . . that remark reminded me of a story I read about the effect a smile
had on a newsboy and a pretty actress . . . it went like this . . .
There is an old story about a ragged little newsboy and a beautiful actress on a bitter winter’s night. “Are
you cold?” she asked him. And he said, “I was until you smiled at me.”
What is this simple movement of human muscles that is able to work such magic? The first thing we watch
for in a new baby; Look, she's smiling! And the one thing that comforts us at life's close; He died with a
smile on his face. Why? We only know that it befriends the lonely, cheers the ill, soothes the angry, flashes
signals of hope and joy. The boss is smiling, looks like we'll have a good day...Dad can't be cross about
the car, he's smiling...Guess what? This boy smiled at me!
A smile is a mystery; nobody knows its biological cause, only its emotional effect. For the person who
smiles feels better himself. His smile is not only light to another's spirit, its curve swings inevitably back to
light his own.
Few of us have the time or money to do as much as we want to for the poor, the sick, the lonely. But this one
gift we can always bestow. Invaluable as it is, it costs nothing, takes no time, requires no sacrifice. A smile
never wears out, and it is impossible to run out of smiles. The more we use them the more we have to give.
Smile today! Smile at a child, smile at a neighbor, smile at a clerk, smile at a stranger on the street. Smile at
the person who looks cross...for it is said nobody needs a smile so much as the person who has none to
give; it may change the world.
As you leave the elevator on the Starboard side, you are likely to hear the beautiful operatic voice of
Bernard, Mario Lanza, Kulovac. As I imagine you have already guessed, he is an ardent fan of Mario
Lanza and if you ask him he will tell you why Mario had a better voice than Pavorotti. He says Pavarotti
sings in a technical way whereas Mario sang from the heart. These two men added something very unique
and special to our luncheon experience.
Mary loves the fact when you go through the buffet line on Celebrity ships, a waiter takes your tray, finds a
table for you, then asks if he can get you a beverage. Mary is standing at my side while I am writing this
and she insisted I add, “Mention that Celebrity is the only line that does this.” My Mary likes all the little
extras that Celebrity does, she said they make her feel very special.
Egg & Pasta Stations:
Toward the back of the lunchroom, on either side is an egg station. The cook makes eggs anyway you like
them. Sunny side, over light, omelets, you name it...he makes it...and he makes it the way you want it. He
does a great job.
At lunch time, they become Pasta stations. Each day they featured a different Pasta dish. Marinara, Pesto,
Puntenesca to just name a few. The cook prepares the ingredients in a large frying pan, tosses it a few
times, adds the pasta and tosses again, and you have a beautiful Pasta dish. Mary & I were steady
customers and we would have the waiter take our plates to a table on the near by aft deck. I had my usual
non alcoholic beer and I ordered burgundy for my Mary. We love pasta under any conditions but to be
able to have our favorite food while looking out at the beautiful tranquil Caribbean is something very
special. We had lunch there most days and after eating, we would sit holding hands, while watching the
churning of the ships propellers create a wake of every conceivable shade of green and blue. We were
mesmerized by the beauty and peacefulness of the setting.
Special Buffet Station at Back of the Waterfall:
Just behind the Pasta stations is a special buffet area that runs across the back section of the lunch room.
They feature a menu of a different country each day. They decorated the food area and the ceilings with
decorations from the country they were featuring. All the entree’s and side dishes were authentic and
tastefully prepared. They even baked the bread of the country they were featuring. One day they featured
Mexican food, another day Oriental food, another day Bavarian food, another day Italian food, another day
French food & etc & etc. This became a very popular area with the guests and was busy every day....you
have been very patient and we think you have waited long enough...we would like to invite you to join us
for dinner at Celebrity’s alternative restaurant, the ‘Normandie’.
The Ultra Elegant Normandie:
Prior to entering the dining room area, is a foyer that displays a variety of memorabilia of the
Normandie. A TV wall unit, shows a continual running narrated video, telling the history of the Normandie Ocean Liner.
Being surrounded by these artifacts evoked a feeling of bygone days. We found the displays very
interesting.
As we approached the Maitre`de stand we were greeted in a very warm manner by Jean Pierre Hervio, the head Maitre`de of the room. Jean Pierre is a very impressive young man. He carries himself in a very fine manner and you immediately sense that you are about to experience something very special. (I later learned that Jean Pierre is a long time associate of Michel Roux and was the one who originated the idea of the specialty restaurant concept adopted by Celebrity.) He seated us at a table that was beautifully appointed. We took notice of the exquisite glassware, the candlelight bouncing off the silver service and the napkins with their silver rings around their centers. Even the salt, pepper and sugar holders were special. They were crystal and they sparkled in the candlelight. On the opposite wall in the middle of the room, are two floor to ceiling gold-lacquered wall panels that once graced the walls of the first class dining room of the Normandie. They are absolutely stunning. Celebrity, not sparing any expense, discovered where the panels were stored and even though they were in very poor condition they purchased them. The panels were crated and shipped to Japan where one of the foremost gold-inlay artists in the world, spent two years restoring them to their original beauty. You can see them in the background of the pictures of the staff.
Directly across from the gold-lacquered wall panels was an area for a trio of string musicians. Again,
wanting to authenticate the music of that period, they played soft Jazz which was the popular music of high
society in the mid thirties. At the far end of the dining room was what is termed a demonstration kitchen
and a dine in wine cellar. We were so busy enjoying the gastronomical delights we never got as far as the
other end of the room....now back to our table for what we’re sure will be a dining experience of a lifetime.
Jean Pierre introduced us to our Maitre D` for the evening, Pedro Diassodi. Pedro was attired in tails and
was a very handsome young man. He engaged us in a conversation about cruising and we were talking
for just a few moments, when he looked at me and said, “I read a cruise review recently and the writer said
many of the things you are saying. I told him that Mary and I had a number of reviews posted on the
Internet. He looked at me in a quizzical way and said, “By chance, can you be the man that hands out $2
bills.” I cross my heart and so help me die, it happened just like that. I took out a $2 bill and showed him
the routine I go through and we had a good laugh.
Pedro explained what he was prepared to do for us, handed us menus and introduced us to Zoltan who
was our Sommelier, ( wine steward) You have to be a little careful when you order wine. Some of the wines
served in this room are the best Chateau wines in the world and are very expensive. A bottle can cost in
the hundreds of dollars and a glass for $75, so be sure you know what your ordering. I ordered a glass of
California Chardonnay for Mary/$11. With the help of Pedro we selected the,
Goat Cheese Souffle as an
appetizer...absolutely delicious, The Creamy Lobster Broth...a delicious broth with tiny pieces of lobster,
ladled from a silver tureen...Caesar Salad for two...tossed table-side,
Châteaubriand with “Foie Gras”
(duck liver) for two, with selected vegetables...it was cooked to perfection, sliced and arranged table side
and served by Jean Pierre, one of the best we have ever had... and the piece de resistance for dessert,
Souffle Au Chocolate...our all time favorite dessert, it was mouth watering delicious,
then a covered Gueridon with assorted cheeses was wheeled to our table...I reached down, let out my belt a notch ...and
selected four different kinds...I missed a few courses...I think I remember being served grapes and thin
slices of yellow apples and after the dessert, a compote of Michael Roux’s special bite sized treats were
placed on the table...the way the food is served added immeasurably to the enjoyment of dinner and
made our evening at the Normandie a memorable experience.
All the dishes are prepared or finished table side. During the course of the evening, five different servers
attended to our table. As we have mentioned, Pedro was our Maitre`de and he was assisted by Paola our
waiter. We were also served by Miro, Dario, and Zoltan during the course of the evening. The way they
serve is called ‘Butterfly’ service. In order to keep the food hot, all the entrees have silver covers. When a
dish is about to be served, servers magically and gracefully appear and at the same exact moment place
the dish before you, step back, then once again step forward and remove the covers in unison. They also
do the same routine when removing plates from the table. It’s fun to watch, it looked like they were
performing some sort of ballet.
I didn’t think we could experience another dinner to compare to our evening at Millennium’s Olympic, but
Michel Roux in conjunction with Jean Pierre, has done it once again. Our evening at the Normandie was a
dining experience that we will long remember and that and Mary’s birthday dinner was the highlight of our
cruise. If you could find a restaurant comparable to the Normandie, it would cost in excess of $100+, the
charge of $25 per person is a small price to pay for dining in this exquisite restaurant. .
I know I have probably told you more than you wanted to know...but being we are former owners and
operators of an award winning restaurant, I felt we would be remiss if we didn’t fully explain what it’s like to
dine at the Normandie.
Renewing our Marriage Vows:
Fr. Timothy Murray, after celebrating morning mass, announced he was going to have a renewal of
wedding vows ceremony. Before he finished mouthing the words, my Mary grabbed my arm and said,
“We’re attending aren’t we? How could I possibly pass up an opportunity to repeat my vows to my Mary? I
answered her by squeezing her hand.
It was a very simple but beautiful ceremony but what Father said after the reading was especially
meaningful. Father first read the love passage from (1-Corinthians-13), you know, the one that starts with, “If
I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging
cymbal.” Then he made some very refreshing, meaningful comments. He said, “It’s a wonderful thing to
be in love and to be affectionate toward one another but it shouldn’t be restricted to just those periods of
time when you’re alone. We need to show our affection and love for each other when we are going about
our everyday life with our fellow human beings. Our society and our world need to see more of the little acts
of love that take place between a husband and wife.”...I’m sure I’m not doing Father Murray justice, but I
think you get the general idea . . . His little talk really lifted our spirits because Mary & I have been doing
what he said we should do, ever since Wimpy disposed of Macho man. Being the good Catholic I am, I
followed Fathers instruction, I embraced Mary and gave her a big kiss.
One of My Morning Rituals:
This might be a good time to tell you about something I do each morning that reminds me that I’m a very
lucky fellow to have such a wonderful, caring wife.
We were owners and operators of a very successful restaurant in the early years of our marriage. For
Mary’s birthday, anniversary, and on a number of other occasions I would give her a piece of jewelry as a
present, and she would do the same for me. Unfortunately the wrong people took notice to this and we
were held at gunpoint in our home for three hours, while they took everything of value that we owned. After
that traumatic incident, we stopped giving jewelry as gifts, and instead we decided we would do
something that was more meaningful and lasting, write each other notes of endearment. Mary has such a
poetic way of expressing her love, I wouldn’t think of discarding any of her cards. At the beginning of each
month I take about thirty of them and shuffle them almost like I would a deck of cards and I put them in a
box on a table next to my recliner. The recliner in my den is where I start my day, with a period of prayer
and meditation. The first thing I do is read my A.A. 24 Hours a Day book and then I reach over and take the
top card of the stack. I read Mary’s love note very slowly, relishing the beautiful thoughts she is expressing.
Then I put that card at the bottom of the pile, ready to take the new one from the top in the morning. I find it
a wonderful way to begin my day. It makes me realize how fortunate I am to have this wonderful women as
my wife and if she thinks I’m so special, I had better shape up and be that husband she thinks I am.
A funny thing happened the other day. I don’t often look in Mary’s drawer, in her night stand by our bed,
but the other day I was looking for a nail clipper and I opened her drawer and saw a stack of notes I had
written her. Could it be that Mary is doing the same thing I’m doing? I wonder.
Spa Pool Area and A Very Special Restaurant:
We want to tell you some things about the Spa area on the Summit that we left out of our Millennium review.
In general
it is the same but it has a more upscale appearance, with a $ 800,000 Fernando Botero bronze
of a reclining women, as its centerpiece. The main feature is the AquaSpa Café that serves a selection of
light dishes for breakfast and lunch. The menu was conceived by Milos Pales, the Chef of the Normandie
and is staffed by the Maitre`des and servers of that room. Our friend Sinisa was the unofficial host of this
area. The menu has some meat dishes but mostly features vegetarian dishes and health f
oods. Their
selection of desserts is outstanding. In keeping with their concept of it being light and healthy, they only
serve Decaffeinated Coffee. The Maitre`des and servers of the Normandie are standing by, ready to help
you make a food selection, then they carry your tray to the table. This is definitely lunch with a touch of
class and if you are serious about eating healthy foods, this is the place for you.
This was definitely the place for Herb and Eileen Thompson. They’re the couple that we told you about,
who dined with us at the Normandie, then made reservations for 17 consecutive nights. Well, this was their
domain. They thoroughly enjoyed the food and they said the gym area was the best they have ever seen.
Remember, I told you they had a routine they did so they wouldn’t gain any weight. Their daily routine was
to spend 2 ½ -3 ½ hours riding what I call a flat bike. If we wanted to see them, all we had to do was scout
the Spa Café area and the gym and we were sure to find them. With the amount of time they spent on those
flat bikes, if they were on land, they could have peddled to Ft. Lauderdale.
We had met the Thompsons on our Thanksgiving cruise aboard RC’s Splendour of the Seas. We met
toward the end of the cruise and didn’t spend that much time together but the time we did spend with them
was very enjoyable. We had mentioned that we cruise every year at this time and they said they also
cruised at that time. We agreed to keep in touch and we both decided to book the Summit. They are a
delightful couple and we look forward to seeing them next Thanksgiving.
The Rendez-Vous Lounge.
The Rendez-Vous Lounge is one of two of our favorite lounges at sea, the other being the Wheelhouse
lounges aboard the Princess ships. They both do the same thing cruise lines in general fail to do. They
feature Combo’s that play the kind of music people want to dance to and they schedule them so you have
time to dance before and after dinner. The Rendez-Vous featured the ‘Family Duo,’ a father and son team
that was fabulous. The father played piano, sax and clarinet and the son played the keyboard and
harmonica. The son is a harmonica virtuoso. He played with a sensitivity that is most unusual for that
instrument. They had a great style and there wasn’t a request they couldn’t play. We thoroughly enjoyed
them. Their music had such a good beat, it made us feel we were much better dances than we are. In
fact, a couple of times when we did a couple of steps we had never done before, I had to look down at my
feet to make sure it was me. Each evening we found ourselves getting ready a little earlier, so we would
have more time to dance before going to dinner. We give high marks to Celebrity for the way they
scheduled their music.
We were served by two very cute beverage servers, Nini and Petra. I did the $2 thing with both of them
early on in the cruise and we became great friends. [S] We looked forward to seeing them and I think they
looked forward to seeing us. The atmosphere of the lounge and the people became warmer and more
friendly each evening. It was a pleasure to be with a group of people who also enjoyed dancing and
listening to those wonderful, memorable ballads of bygone days. By the time the cruise came to an end,
we knew at least a ½ dozen couples by name. The Rendez-Vous Lounge and the Family Duo were added
to our list of highlights of our cruise.
Mary’s Birthday Dinner:
Mary’s birthday dinner was truly a special occasion. It was made possible by the Hotel Manager, Georgios
Traganis and the Food Manager, Zbigniew Lisowski, who are responsible for the two elements that effect
the guests the most, the food and the service. We had the pleasure of being invited to have coffee with
them. During the course of conversation, I casually mentioned that on Saturday we were celebrating Mary’s
birthday and my anniversary. They congratulated us and we continued to have a very enjoyable
conversation. Little did I know what that casual remark would foster.
Saturday was formal night and Mary wore a very pretty, white coat dress. The coat part of the dress was
made of, a see through mesh of glistening spangles. The dress sparkled, her eyes sparkled and Mary
sparkled, she looked absolutely gorgeous. I couldn’t wait to get her on the dance floor and show he off. As
we walked into the Rendez-Vous lounge we got our usual warm greeting from Nini & Petra. They made a
big fuss over Mary and told her how beautiful she looked. It seemed to me that everyone was looking
at her. The women were really giving her the once over. We stepped onto the dance floor as the duo was
playing ‘Unforgettable,’ one of our favorites. I took her in my arms and we began to dance the way we like
to dance, the type dancing that takes up very little space. We had a romantic half hour of our kind of
dancing, then we walked into the magnificent Cosmopolitan and got the surprise of our life.
Our waiter Damir seated us and our Maitre`de Dragan immediately came to our table. He said he was not
going to give us menus, because at the request of Mr. Tragnais and Mr. Lisowski, they were having the
Executive Chef, Thomas Pffennings prepare a special birthday dinner for Mary. Can you imagine our
surprise and delight for what was about to happen? A dining room of a thousand people and the Executive
Chef was preparing a special dinner, just for us.
Nils, our wine steward smiled as he approached us and placed two stemmed champagne glasses on the
table and said the Champagne is the compliments of Mr. Traganis and Mr. Lisowski. I was just about to
say, you know I don’t drink, when he smiled and showed me the label, it was a non alcoholic
Champagne. The thoughtfulness of these men never ceased to amaze me; they didn’t forget that I was
celebrating my 36th A.A. anniversary.
Our first course was Salmon pate in Pastry...very delicate...very delicious, our second course was two small
Beef Filets, with Truffle Sauce...the beef was so tender, it just about melted in our mouth, our next course
was Mushroom Filets Soup...we never heard this term before...but it sure tasted good...then our waiter
brought us a Salad Bouquet... assorted greens standing on end and tied with a cucumber band...it looked
just like the name implies a Bouquet...the waiter ladled the dressing over the salad leaves then cut the
cucumber band and the salad leaves tumbled on the plate...the entree was Broiled Lobster Tails
with
lemon and drawn butter and a garden of fresh vegetables, we didn’t think we could possibly eat them
...but we did...now for Mary’s favorite course, dessert...our waiter appeared with a birthday cake for Mary...it
was a 15 inch Mousse Au Chocolat Cake, beautifully decorated...with large pieces of flaked Chocolate
surrounding the base. Nils then poured Mary a glass of sweet desert wine. All of a sudden a group of
dining room personnel gathered around our table and in a very spirited way, sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to
Mary. It was a wonderful, memorable birthday celebration for Mary and I was so happy she had such a
special night. But the evening wasn’t quite finished. We only ate two small slices of the cake and we didn’t
want it to go to waste. We decided to skip the show and join our friends the Thompsons who were having
dinner in the Normandie. We sent Dragan ahead to the Normandie with the remainder of the cake. We
then completed our night of celebration by joining the Thompsons for coffee and another slice of that
scrumptious cake...a night that will rank very high on our list of all time favorite cruise
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A Pictorial of Some of the Venues: |
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Entertainment:
The first show ‘ Encore’ was excellent and the final act, ‘Les Miserables,’ without a doubt, was the best
single production number we have ever seen at sea. After that it was all down hill. The show and the
single acts were not worthy of Celebrity. We were very disappointed in the entertainment.
The Art Work:
I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder but I can’t imagine anyone would call the art work aboard the
Summit pleasing. What is displayed on the walls of the Summit should be called Photo Works. The art
consists of a series of photos’ that have been enlarged, framed and hung on the walls. The one Mary is
standing in front of is an example of what I’m talking about. It is a series of photos of a man and a women
getting in and out of a car. I would like to meet the design committee that picked the art for this ship.
The only explanation I can think of that makes sense is, when it came time to do the art work the people in
charge were notified that the ship was seriously over budget and they had to drastically cut expenses. I
think they met and discussed matters and someone said, “I’ll tell you what, let’s all go home and look
through our family albums and pick out some pictures we think would be interesting. We’ll enlarge them,
frame them and we’ll say it’s a new art form, that should take care of things. I can’t think of anything else
that makes sense. The company and its ships are of such a high quality that it’s painful to see what has
happened in this very important public area of the Summit . . . our review has been lengthy and I imagine
reading some parts was tedious, but we hope you might have learned something that will enhance your
next cruise . . . if you’re a first time reader, make sure you read our suggestions that follow, you’re sure to
find something that will help you get more enjoyment out of your next cruise.
Our Conclusion:
This was our 25th ‘Honeymoon’ and with God’s grace we hope to continue to have many more. We had a
wonderful time and enjoyed every minute of our cruise and every minute of being with each other.
Celebrity continues to fulfill our expectations to a high degree and we are looking forward to cruising with
them in the near future.
May your next cruise be your best,
Our warmest regards,
Tom & Mary Milano
TomandMaryMilano@Yahoo.com
SUGGESTIONS THAT COULD ENHANCE YOUR CRUISE
All Ships of a Cruise Line Are Not the Same:
Mary & I come from large families. Our siblings have similar characteristics but each one has their own
distinct personality. Cruise lines and their ships are like that. Not all ships of a cruise line are the same.
They differ for many reasons. The age of the ship, the size of the ship (the tonnage), the amenities, the
expertise of the Food Manager/ Executive Chef but the most important difference is how the crew comes
together under the guidance and the direction of the Hotel Manager. The effectiveness of his training is
reflected in the way the crew caters to and pampers their guests.
The point we’re making is, if you want to increase your odds of booking the ship that will best fulfill your
expectations, we suggest you learn as much as possible about the ships of the cruise line your considering
booking. Read as many cruise reviews as you can. A very good source of cruise review links is Ross
Kleins cruise link page. http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~rklein/cruise.html Frequent the cruise message boards;
Google is a very good one, having many seasoned cruisers and TA’s as members. If you have a question
about a specific ship or port, post your question and one of them will answer you. Deck plans at
http://www.cruise.com/pez/ship_deck/decks.asp is a site where you can check the cabin and deck layout
of most ships. You shouldn’t leave every thing to your TA. Do as much research as possible so you can
give your TA the information he/she needs to help you select the right ship and right itinerary for you. The
Internet has a wealth of information about cruising. When you find a good site, either bookmark it or put it
on your desktop, so you can have ready access to it.
A Good Reason For Buying Travel Insurance:
Tom Ogg, editor of Cruisereviews.com: I conduct seminars at sea, escorting 15 to 20 agents and
invariably someone gets hurt or sick once or twice a year. It is always a tragedy and always a financial
strain. At the very least, one’s cruise is ruined and the experience lost to a more trying time. On the
departure evening of the second cruise, one of our group members had chest pains that the ship’s doctor
was afraid may have been a mild heart attack. The gentleman was held in the infirmary for almost 3 days
until we arrived in Puerto Vallarta. Even though he felt fine, he was disembarked in Puerto Vallarta and
transported to the hospital for treatment and the return to their home in the United States. This couple had
purchased a Travel Guard travel insurance program and the entire event was totally covered by their
policy. Had they not had insurance it would have run into the thousands of dollars (potentially, tens of
thousands of dollars) to get home safely. While Cruisereviews.com is a non-commercial web site and does
not accept any advertising…a testimonial is indeed a word of confidence passed on. For what it is worth,
the consensus on the ship and among the travel agents was that Travel Guard Insurance is the best choice
a consumer can make as they pay off when they are needed without question and this is exactly what
happened in this instance. Please, please purchase travel insurance to cover these types of mishaps even
if you believe it could never happen to you.
You Can Greatly Enhance Your Cruise by the Things You do Before Embarkation:
For those of you who are reading our reviews for the first time, we suggest some pre cruise things to do,
that have greatly enhanced our cruise experience. Read: “Before, During and After Your Cruise.
http://www.cruisereviews.com/Things2Do.htm Read: “How to Heighten Your Cruise Experience”
http://www.cruisereviews.com/CruiseExperience.htm
Prepare Envelopes for Tipping Before you Leave for Your Cruise: Many of our readers have tried our
suggestion on tipping with great results. Following are examples of the many e-mails we received.
<<The tipping went very well. I would recommend it for everyone. All in all we had a delightful experience
made even more so by the tipping method. >> Mike & Pat Ball
<< I followed your tip suggestion on our last cruise and had the best service of any cruise thus far>>. Jay
Krueger
<<I’ve been on 18 previous cruises and I never had the service or got the attention like I did after pre
tipping the crew on our last cruise. Your suggestion worked like magic and it didn’t cost any more than I
normally tip. Thanks for a great suggestion.>> Mike Sullivan
Our Tipping Suggestion:
We like to give the suggested tip for the week, to our cabin attendant, waiter and assistant waiter and
Maitre`de, the first evening of our cruise. Tipping at the end of the week is like locking the barn door after
the horse has run away. We make out [3x5] envelopes with a note that reads...This is a down payment on
your services, Thank you, Tom & Mary Milano. On our [24] cruises we have never had service that was poor
enough to warrant us tipping less than the suggested amount. By tipping the suggested amount on the first
night, you let your servers know that you are appreciative of good service and they can expect an
additional stipend at the end of the cruise. [At the end of the cruise we usually give an additional $20 to the
waiter, $10 to the assistant and $10 or $20 to the cabin attendant]. Giving an extra forty dollars for the week,
is a small price to pay to ensure the very best from your servers. Take our word for it. It does make a
difference. Make Out Envelope For Pre Tipping.
Magic of the $2 Bill: If what we hear from our readers is true, banks should start running out of $2 in the
new future. This again is another low-cost way of getting a high return. We start collecting $2 bills weeks
before the cruise. We take with us $20--$30 in $2 bills. I call these our magic potion. I take a $2 bill and
keep folding it until I have a small square, with the large imprint of the $2 covering the surface. I use the $2
a lot in the beginning of the cruise. It's important what you say when you give it, otherwise it doesn't have
much significance. When I give it to a server, I say to them, give me your hand. When they give me their
hand, I take it and with my other hand I show them the folded $2 bill; then I say to them, I want you to know
this is a magic $2 bill and I can promise you that during this coming week something special is going to
happen to you, something that will make you very happy. Very few servers have ever seen a $2 bill and
that alone gets their rapt attention. Then you can see in their quizzical expression that their thinking; it's
crazy but who knows. It might work. Who among us doesn't have some form of a lucky piece. A lucky coin,
a rabbits foot, a religious medal. All we can tell you is, we have had the most amazing, wonderful things
happen as a result of giving out these two dollar bills; not the least is the friendliness and the exceptional
service we have received from our servers. Collect $2 Bills.
Make Your Luggage Easy to Spot: 85% of all luggage is black. It will save you a lot of time and
aggravation if you put a colorful bow or luggage strap on your belongings. It is much easier to identify them
among thousands of pieces of luggage on the terminal floor. Tie Something Colorful On Your Luggage.
The First Hours Aboard Ship Are Important:
Mary and I have found that there are certain things that we can do the first day that will set the tone or our
entire cruise. The first thing we do is check our table assignment. We can’t stress enough the importance of
doing this. It’s important to see if the table assigned you is what you requested. If it isn’t, the Maitre`de has
a chance to make the necessary changes. If after the first evening, you are not happy with whom you’re
seated, speak to the Maitre`de and ask to have your table changed. If he can possibly change it he will, he
wants to make you happy. This is also the time to make your reservation for the ‘Alternative Restaurant’ if
the ship has one. They have very limited seating, so time is of the essence. Check Your Table Assignment
and Then make Reservations For the Alternative Restaurant.
Our Final Suggestion is to ‘Write a Review:’
After you adjust to being back home and you slowly recover from after cruise depression, sit down and
write about all the wonderful things you experienced. You don't have to be a polished writer to write a
review. All you have to do is write as if you were having a conversation with your best friend. The important
thing is to be honest and forthright. Writing a review is a wonderful way to relive your cruise, and at the
same time help fellow cruisers by sharing your thoughts. Tell them your opinion of the ship, the food, the
crew, the entertainment, the ports of call and any special moments you experienced. Also write about the
things that weren't so wonderful so your fellow cruisers can be forewarned. Include your spouse and ask
her/him for suggestions on what you should include. And remember, don't be afraid of writing too much,
longer is better than shorter. People are reading your review to determine if the ship your writing about is
the one they should book. Put yourself in their place and tell them all the things you would like to know. But
whatever you do, the most important thing is for you to have fun and enjoy what your doing. When your
review is finished, Tom Ogg would be happy to post it on his web site, CruiscReviews.com. If you need
help, Mary and I would be glad to assist you.
Loose Ends & Random Thoughts
**How You Can Get the Best Price on Your Next Cruise. If you would like us to suggest the best way to
book a cruise, in order to get the best possible price, let us know and we would be glad to give you our
opinion.
**I find it interesting as I grow older we relegate romance to the young. This comes from thinking
passions cool as we age. It is thought that along with the vitality and attractiveness that is lost, so is the
appetite for love and romance. This is nonsense! Love lasts as long as we can draw a breath. Older lovers
need only smile in forgiveness at the young...Leo Buscaglia
**Love Does Not Come Wrapped in Waxed Paper: For those who are skeptical about love, I would like to
say: “Love works for those who work at it.” We have to work at love. A work of art is first and foremost a
work. Love does not come wrapped in wax paper, fully assembled. Love is a do-it-yourself kit. We have to
work at it, put it together day by day, piece by piece, little by little. We have to work at love. It doesn’t just
happen.
Furthermore, love is not an emotion, a feeling. It is a commitment to another person: “I love you. I am going
to be what you need me to be. I am going to do what you need me to do. I am going to say what you need
me to say. This is what I mean when I say ‘I love you.’ If you succeed I will rejoice with you in success. I will
be in the first row of your cheering section, clapping my hands off for you. If you fail, I will be sitting there
quietly at your side, holding your hand. This is what I mean when I say I am committed to loving you.”
Love is a sweet and beautiful thing. It also will challenge every ounce of determination and courage in us. It
is a gutsy commitment that invites another to “take us for granted.” Take my love as it’s given. Love will
lead us down roads we could not anticipate. I know that your needs will change from day to day. When you
change, I will try to adapt to these changes. I will try to be whatever you need me to be and I know that it
will not always be the same thing. And even if you fail, if you should fail my expectations as well as your
own, be sure of this: I will always love you. I want my love to be true, and true love is forever. I will never
take my love back...Seasons of the Heart, John Powell, S.J.
**A Scottish blessing: May the wood of your coffin, come from the tree I will plant tomorrow,
that will live a hundred years. This was sent to us by a Scottish reader...Julie McPherson
**The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of
everything. *Best friends make the best spouses. *Love is giving more and never keeping score.
**Cruising is Probably the Safest Choice of any vacation plans you can make. If you book a cruise, when
you arrive at the terminal, be patient. You may encounter some lines and it may take a little longer to
board, but remember, all the additional security measures are being done for your safety!
**Mom’s Treehouse, in Mims Fl, in our opinion, is the best and the most unique breakfast, luncheon
restaurant in the state. We have lunch there once a week and breakfast every Sunday after church. It is a
half hour drive from our house but that is a small price to pay for the pleasure we get from entering this
unique dining room and the joy of having Mom, dressed in her Granny outfit wait on us. We warn you,
there is a very good chance you will become addicted to Mom’s as we have. For those in the area that
dine at Mom’s, send us a note and tell us your impression. They don’t accept credit cards...Cash only.
*****************************
A Teaspoon of Spiritual Nourishment
Compiled by Tom & Mary Milano
The Sweet Courtesies Of Life
Before marriage most people are on their good behavior. They do not exhibit their infirmities. Selfishness is
hidden under garments of courtesy and gallantry. Each forgets self in romantic devotion to the other.
Everything is scrupulously put under lock and key.
Why, after the wedding-day, do many of these same people cease to observe all the sweet courtesies, little
refinements and charming amenities of the courtship-days? Why should a man be polite all day to every
one he meets, to the people he works with, to the clerk in the store or the casual acquaintance on the street,
and then he is much less polite to his wife who meets him at his door, waiting with a heart hungry for any
expression of love. Even if things have gone wrong for him all day, why should he carry his gloom to his
home to darken the joy of his wife’s tender heart?
Or why should the woman who used to be all smiles and looked beautiful, with a slight scent of perfume
about her when her lover came home, now meet her husband with uncombed hair, without satisfactory
attention to her dress, and face all frowns? Why should there not be a continuance of the old politeness and
mutual desire to please each other, which made the wooing days so happy?
J. R. Miller
Week Day Religion
If you would like to receive “A Teaspoon of Spiritual Nourishment” Monday-Friday, send us an e-mail.
A Christmas Message,
To our loved ones, our friends, our review readers and the crew members that are receiving
‘A Teaspoon of
Spiritual Nourishment.’
You Have a Very Special
Message to Deliver
There is an old Christian tradition that
God sends each person into this world
With a special message to deliver,
With a special song to sing for others,
With a special act of love to bestow.
No one else can speak my message,
Or sing my song, or offer my act of love.
These have been entrusted to me.
According to this tradition,
The message may be spoken, the song sung,
The act of love delivered only to a few,
Or to all the people in a small town,
Or to all the people in a large city,
Or even to all the people in the whole world,
It all depends on God's unique plan
For each unique person.
So from my heart I want to say to you;
Please believe that
You have an important message to deliver,
You have a beautiful song to sing,
And an unique act of love
To warm this world and to brighten its darkness.
And when the final history of this world is written,
Your message, your song, and your love
Will be recorded gratefully and forever.
John Powell, S. J.
Ever thought of becoming a part time or home based travel agent? Follow this link to see some of the books Tom Ogg has authored.
