Just got back from Eclipse... some thoughts.

[emcee207]

Just returned from our 11th cruise with Celebrity since 2004.

 

During that time we had 3 bad experiences with the Spa and staff. The last time the Manager was so rude to me that I went to Guest Relations and told them she should be fired. I met with them for 30 minutes in a private room. I"m not sure whatever became of it.

 

Let me say I wouldn't set foot in the Aqua Spa again even if the comped me. Why can't Celebrity take care of this?? I always read many many complaints on these boards re: this issue.

[Gracie115]

Lois, the MMMM box did look great. I guess having had quite a lot of the real thing, I was less overwhelmed. But like you said, different strokes. :) We thought of ways to improve it, but mainly, we think there were too many things happening at once in the kitchen (and on the table) to get a good balance.

 

I actually agree with you on Qsine...there were many items that I am sure were recycled from the buffet just presented in a different format. I think it would be fun for a group...but with eyes wide open...this is NOT fine dining, it's FUN dining...if done with a group...they don't know how to do two tops properly...just overwhelming you with quantity is NOT the answer

[harry0]

MRX or any other Eclipse former passenger/NFL fan-I do not think there is a "sports bar" but is there any place one might watch the play-offs. We board Saturday and I know there is 2 games Sat. and 2 Sun.

Thanks in advance

Harry

[Gracie115]

MRX or any other Eclipse former passenger/NFL fan-I do not think there is a "sports bar" but is there any place one might watch the play-offs. We board Saturday and I know there is 2 games Sat. and 2 Sun.

Thanks in advance

Harry

 

 

Oh...they will have the games on most TV's in the lounges but will probably have an "NFL Playoff Party" in Celebrity Central with several big screen TV's, bar service and lots of snacks. I watched Brett Favre and the Vikings take out Dallas in January 2010 in the Divisional round....GREAT FUN!!

[librarylady19]

I actually agree with you on Qsine...there were many items that I am sure were recycled from the buffet just presented in a different format. I think it would be fun for a group...but with eyes wide open...this is NOT fine dining, it's FUN dining...if done with a group...they don't know how to do two tops properly...just overwhelming you with quantity is NOT the answer

 

It must depend on the waiter, and the appetite of the couple. We never felt overwhelmed with food. Knowing how many items we wanted to try, we paced ourselves. The other couples seated near us were enjoying their dining also. I really don't think the food can be compared to the buffet, however. What did you eat in Qsine that was also at the buffet? Wish they had those lamb chops n the buffet!!

[Gracie115]

It must depend on the waiter, and the appetite of the couple. We never felt overwhelmed with food. Knowing how many items we wanted to try, we paced ourselves. The other couples seated near us were enjoying their dining also. I really don't think the food can be compared to the buffet, however. What did you eat in Qsine that was also at the buffet? Wish they had those lamb chops n the buffet!!

 

 

 

Well certainly not the lamb chops!! There were a few "Indian" dishes that I KNOW I ate at the buffet.

 

I just wasn't overly impressed with Qsine. I agree with the OP here who said the "sliders" were the best thing they had and they tried to give us SIX of them....which is absurd for two people considering the amount of the other food. I really don't like waste and there was a lot of waste at our table....and TRUST ME I love to eat...this was just too much, and you're right maybe it was the wait person who didn't do the job correctly. As I said I think it could be great fun with a large group but we won't go again just as a couple....

[ClairetoCruise]

Click on the following link and you can see some of the different foods

offered in Murano's:

http://www.celebritycruises.com/onboard/tabLanding.do?pagename=onboard_dining#onboard_specialty_dining_tab/onboard/asrPanel.do%3Fpagename=onboard_specialty_dining_menu&ProductCode=MURADINNER&componentType=3%2BDining&shipCode=EQ

 

 

Thank you for the menu.

 

How many of the items may we order?

 

Claire

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Well certainly not the lamb chops!! There were a few "Indian" dishes that I KNOW I ate at the buffet.

 

I just wasn't overly impressed with Qsine. I agree with the OP here who said the "sliders" were the best thing they had and they tried to give us SIX of them....which is absurd for two people considering the amount of the other food. I really don't like waste and there was a lot of waste at our table....and TRUST ME I love to eat...this was just too much, and you're right maybe it was the wait person who didn't do the job correctly. As I said I think it could be great fun with a large group but we won't go again just as a couple....

 

It was THESE photos from Qsine which set the hook w/regard to the Kobe Sliders! Check out both pages of her photos.

(They were from THIS CC thread.)

 

I will agree that the presentation looks "fun" - I look forward to this!

 

Tom

[lysolqn]

...Q-Sine. Hmmm, how to put this? It was awful. The colors are orange and brown... Halloween. Should have been a warning. There are too many different items on the menu all in competition - they don't do any of them excellently - and several were inedible - my wife (who is Japanese) and I couldn't stomach the sushi lollipops - cute looking, but inedibly hard rice with substandard fish. The sliders were the best prepared items we had (and we tried a lot of items looking for the good stuff), but should a specialty restaurant's best item be a burger? The Chinese food was worse than the average NYC outerboro delivery place... and everything all over the menu was TOO SWEET. The desserts were nicely presented and a bit better, but to say we were disappointed with Q-Sine would be an understatement. This menu would be better at a night club or a disco, but it is not fine dining by a stretch. We thought that it might be fun for families with kids or teens, but it's not for anyone who is going for the food itself.

 

Based on rave reviews here on CC and from people we've spoken to, we were looking forward to trying Qsine on a recent Silhouette cruise. Glad to see we weren't the only ones underwhelmed by the "experience." Once the novelty (quickly) wore off, we found the whole thing gimmicky with far too much emphasis placed on presentation and far too little on taste/quality. Lots of smoke and mirrors to cover for what is at best, mediocre and in some instances like the Chinese selection, barely edible food.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Has anyone tried the:Tian of Peekytoe Crab, Gravlax Salmon & Avocado Mousse - Salmon Pearls & Caviar- Dill Crème Fraîche in Murano? I am a BIG fan of Gravlax, and don't recall seeing this on the menu previously.

 

Thanks,

 

Tom

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Based on rave reviews here on CC and from people we've spoken to, we were looking forward to trying Qsine on a recent Silhouette cruise. Glad to see we weren't the only ones underwhelmed by the "experience." Once the novelty (quickly) wore off, we found the whole thing gimmicky with far too much emphasis placed on presentation and far too little on taste/quality. Lots of smoke and mirrors to cover for what is at best, mediocre and in some instances like the Chinese selection, barely edible food.

 

Note to self: just make a meal out of the lamb chops and sliders, and not take up valuable real estate with the fluff! :D

 

Tom

[Gracie115]

Based on rave reviews here on CC and from people we've spoken to, we were looking forward to trying Qsine on a recent Silhouette cruise. Glad to see we weren't the only ones underwhelmed by the "experience." Once the novelty (quickly) wore off, we found the whole thing gimmicky with far too much emphasis placed on presentation and far too little on taste/quality. Lots of smoke and mirrors to cover for what is at best, mediocre and in some instances like the Chinese selection, barely edible food.

 

 

Yup...that's how we felt too....

[M.R.X.]

Regarding NFL - they had the games on in several areas... the biggest draw being about 30 guys and four or five women at the bar near the casino for Jets/Giants. Monday Night Football was hosted by a former NFL player/announcer...

 

Regarding "recycled" food, I wouldn't go that far, but close... on our cruise the buffet lunches and dinners in the Ocean View cafe had a variety of Mediterranean, Chinese, rolled sushi, and Indian dishes that were EXTREMELY close to what we paid a bit more for at Qsine. They were not necessarily identical, but they were close enough to disappoint. And when I said inedible about some dishes in the original review, I meant inedible (I was shocked by this, usually even at the worst restaurants, say Chucky Cheese, I can find something to eat). Look, if you like Qsine, that's fine, but it wasn't fun enough or good enough for my wife and I, if you like it, great. Next cruise we'll go to either Murano twice or Tuscan twice and skip Q. It'll be easier for others to get their reservation at Q, too.

[M.R.X.]

Has anyone tried the:Tian of Peekytoe Crab, Gravlax Salmon & Avocado Mousse - Salmon Pearls & Caviar- Dill Crème Fraîche in Murano? I am a BIG fan of Gravlax, and don't recall seeing this on the menu previously.

 

Thanks,

 

Tom

Don't recall it on our cruise. My wife likes most of that... but she had foie gras, followed by Mediterranean Sea Bass. I had the lobster, which was great, and I'm a huge lobster fan (my record was 57 last summer, due to trips to Maine, PEI, Connecticut, Boston, and befriending the owners of a lobster pound in our neighborhood) - I know lobster. I host a lobster derby at our home every spring, in fact.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Don't recall it on our cruise. My wife likes most of that... but she had foie gras, followed by Mediterranean Sea Bass. I had the lobster, which was great, and I'm a huge lobster fan (my record was 57 last summer, due to trips to Maine, PEI, Connecticut, Boston, and befriending the owners of a lobster pound in our neighborhood) - I know lobster. I host a lobster derby at our home every spring, in fact.

 

I would say that you DO like lobster! We took a trip to Halifax in July, and probably should have had some while we were there, but did not. I am not a hard core lobster fan, but do prefer cold water crusty's over what's found off the Florida coast!

 

Tom

[M.R.X.]

Just returned from our 11th cruise with Celebrity since 2004.

 

During that time we had 3 bad experiences with the Spa and staff. The last time the Manager was so rude to me that I went to Guest Relations and told them she should be fired. I met with them for 30 minutes in a private room. I"m not sure whatever became of it.

 

Let me say I wouldn't set foot in the Aqua Spa again even if the comped me. Why can't Celebrity take care of this?? I always read many many complaints on these boards re: this issue.

 

We didn't suggest anyone's firing, but we made it clear to GR that the spa manager seemed less than truthful and that the treatment by another staff member went beyond rude, on to hostile. This is really sad, because I don't mind disagreeing about Qsine, and Celebrity can't be completely sure of the staff members hired by excursion companies, and Celebrity isn't responsible for how other guests act on board (within reason), but they should be exercising more control over their vendors and onboard service providers, because the Aqua Spa staff we dealt with were a huge blemish.

 

I'd actually be very curious about how Celebrity handled our situation after the fact. I've fired mangers for purposefully lying to customers when it could be proven.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

...Next cruise we'll go to either Murano twice or Tuscan twice and skip Q. It'll be easier for others to get their reservation at Q, too.

 

Are specialty reservations difficult to get as the cruise progresses? We have always booked prior to sailing, and never gave it much thought.

 

Tom

[ghstudio]

Are specialty reservations difficult to get as the cruise progresses? We have always booked prior to sailing, and never gave it much thought.

 

Tom

 

It varies by cruise. We generally pre-reserve, but our experience is that there would not be a problem booking on board as long as you are flexible in your dinner time.

[shoelover536]

Great review. Thank you for your honest opinions.

 

We are on the Jan 14th cruise and can't wait. Quick question, where did you dine in PR?

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

It varies by cruise. We generally pre-reserve, but our experience is that there would not be a problem booking on board as long as you are flexible in your dinner time.

 

We were able to book all our specialty reservations for 7 PM for our upcoming Eclipse sailing... our "go to" time! :)

 

Tom

[TravlGrl]

Thanks for the review! We are sailing her Feb 11 for our 15-year anniversary and really looking forward to cruising by ourselves for a change, and simply relaxing.

 

Question for all of you foodies -- We have Qsine reserved, and I've read the good and the bad about it. Thanks to everyone for putting in their .02 and more. I'm just going to change my expectations for what it really is. My question is regarding substitutions. Did anyone try to substitute, and will they allow this? For example, subsitute shrimp instead of beef in the tacos. Just curious who closely one is required to stick with the menu as delivered.

 

Thanks for posting the Qsine pics by the way. Very, very mouth-watering as I'm sitting at my desk right now eating my Gardenburger and yogurt. *sigh* :)

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Thanks for the review! We are sailing her Feb 11 for our 15-year anniversary and really looking forward to cruising by ourselves for a change, and simply relaxing.

 

Question for all of you foodies -- We have Qsine reserved, and I've read the good and the bad about it. Thanks to everyone for putting in their .02 and more. I'm just going to change my expectations for what it really is. My question is regarding substitutions. Did anyone try to substitute, and will they allow this? For example, subsitute shrimp instead of beef in the tacos. Just curious who closely one is required to stick with the menu as delivered.

 

Thanks for posting the Qsine pics by the way. Very, very mouth-watering as I'm sitting at my desk right now eating my Gardenburger and yogurt. *sigh* :)

 

I can't speak to the substitutions question - but for your reading pleasure (dessert to go with your Gardenburger) here are a couple good Qsine reviews I located!

REVIEW 1

 

REVEIW 2

 

I wonder if you can order specific items instead of the whole "set" - for example, just getting the lamb and another item from "M's Favorite"?... so that you can enjoy more of what you'd like, rather than being wasteful.

 

Tom

[TravlGrl]

I can't speak to the substitutions question - but for your reading pleasure (dessert to go with your Gardenburger) here are a couple good Qsine reviews I located!

REVIEW 1

 

REVEIW 2

 

I wonder if you can order specific items instead of the whole "set" - for example, just getting the lamb and another item from "M's Favorite"?... so that you can enjoy more of what you'd like, rather than being wasteful.

 

Tom

 

I don't whether to hug you or kick you for sending me more pics and reviews! Apparently, I'm very hungry at the moment. Great pics and reviews!

 

Follow-up question -- do they really deliver the dessert menu via a Rubik's Cube that you must solve in order to make dessert choices? I love that! Review #2 mentions this.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I don't whether to hug you or kick you for sending me more pics and reviews! Apparently, I'm very hungry at the moment. Great pics and reviews!

 

Follow-up question -- do they really deliver the dessert menu via a Rubik's Cube that you must solve in order to make dessert choices? I love that! Review #2 mentions this.

 

I hope not - since I never bothered to learn the trick of solving a REAL Rubik's Cube! LOL

 

I will have to pace myself when I dine there -- I don't want to run out of room (with so-so filler items) before I have tried all the "must have" (in my book anyway) stuff!

 

Tom

[M.R.X.]

Qsine - dessert menu is similar to a rubic's cube - but you don't have to solve it. They also have an iPad as a menu. Hit the menu switch and go to the notes on it, folks have been leaving hidden reviews and messages in the notes. On the two iPads at our table, the notes were about 5:1 negative to positive. Maybe the iPad savvy folks were the ones who didn't like Qsine - or those who liked it didn't leave notes usually.

 

 

Our cruise was very full, and by day two or three all the specialties had been sold out. I'd take advantage of walking around the whole ship and looking into the restaurants (just walk in, no one will stop you - and they will gladly describe the experience to you we found) on your departure day. If you like a place, make the reservation then and there - you can always cancel 24 hrs in advance - or less if it's likely that they have a waiting list.