Status of "requested $5.00 gratuity" for suite passengers dining in Blu

[uktog]

Hi UKtog, Interesting that you book Suites on Azamara but not on Celebrity, and the reason. I was always surprised and thought Celebrity should have made the small dining venue, BLU, for Suite guests like they do on other ships, but of course that is not what they did. It works for us because we are out of the cabin so much anyway and never even use our Verandas (even when in the owners suite on Azamara).

 

We stayed in a Suite on Millennium before the renovation but never will now because we want to dine in BLU. Whether or not we can get in or not, we don't want the hassle and happy it is the assigned dining room for AQU guests.

 

Typically suites have always worked out as better value in Azamara because of the unlimited access to the speciality restaurants. That said, we do not always book suites on Azamara

[cruisegirl1]

which ship?

 

equinox, med cruise, in April/may 2013. We dined around 8:15 or 8:30 every night. I can't answer for lines or seating process at other dining times.

M

Edited December 26, 2013 by cruisegirl1

[Compass Rose Monica]

Oh er....

Didnt mean to cause so many people angst it being Christmas and all!

 

It was our first time in a suite as it was our Ruby wedding and we were travelling with our adult disabled daughter. We cant travel aqua usually as the rooms are for couples and we travel as a 3 so it was our big chance to try Blu.We didnt know about the $5 - it wasnt the amount, it just seemed to us that we were paying twice as we had already tipped.We were confused and no-one clearly explained the matter to us.

 

When we enquired on the first night about eating in Blu we were told before 6-30 or after 8-30 and not for the first 2 nights. The times were not very convenient for our daughter but on the 3rd night we rolled up following instructions and had to wait till 9-00 for a table. We tried again and met a similar experience.Quite honestly the more limited food rannge and fussy service didnt warrant the hassle we were put to.

 

In constrast the main dining room was excellent in every respect.

 

The suite was a one-off experiece for us - we'll be more than happy to return to our verandah stateroom!

 

It may seem you’re paying twice for tips but if your main dining is in the MDR, why wouldn’t you tip in Blu? They’re different servers. Isn’t the $30-$45 for the specialty dining (and $5 for the Porch and Bistro on Five) for tips and/or cover charge?

Monica

[Tony UK]

Monica

I hear what you are saying! I just think Celebrity could make the whole thing a lot clearer, and have some consistency for guests and crew.

 

Angela

[deise17311]

We thought BLU was nothing special and I always laugh at these debates over this mediocre dining room...JMHO!