New Suite dining and Blu question.

[eby]

When the new suite dining opens up, will suite guest still be able to dine in Blu ?

[cruise kitty]

Hi, according to the Celebrity website, yes, Suite guests still will be able to dine in Blu.

 

I am hoping that they rethink this, & Blu reverts back to more peaceful, private place to dine. Or perhaps they can charge Suite guests a higher mandatory fee, say at least $10 pp for breakfast also. On our cruise last Fall, Blu was a zoo in the mornings.

[koolforkatz]

I'm not sure why suite guests should be allowed to eat in Blu once they have their own dining room. Last time on the Eclipse we waited up to 20 minutes some evenings (around about 8:00) for a table in Blu and I know there were suite guests in there.

 

We have booked a Sky Suite for 2016 just to try out the suite restaurant, and I have no expectations of being able to eat in Blu.

[groryjm]

When the new suite dining opens up, will suite guest still be able to dine in Blu ?

 

Yes

 

this is an extract from the X FAQ re the new suite class perks

 

Will “Suite Class” guests still have the option of dining in Blu on a space-available basis?

Beginning April 2015 all Suite Class guests will have access to a new restaurant - reserved exclusively for Suite Class guests morning, noon and night. Access to Blu will continue to be available on a space available basis to all Suite Class guests.

Will “Suite Class” guests still have to pay the $5 suggested gratuity when admitted to dine in Blu?

Access to Blu will continue to be available on a space available basis to all Suite Class guests. When admitted, “Suite Class” guests may dine in Blu at no charge.

[cruise kitty]

I'm not sure why suite guests should be allowed to eat in Blu once they have their own dining room. Last time on the Eclipse we waited up to 20 minutes some evenings (around about 8:00) for a table in Blu and I know there were suite guests in there.

 

We have booked a Sky Suite for 2016 just to try out the suite restaurant, and I have no expectations of being able to eat in Blu.

 

I agree with this completely. Keep Blu for AQ only, & have the suite guests dine in their dedicated restaurant..., also, I honestly think the MDR should be off limits for AQ & Suites, it would make for a better dining experience for those that enjoy the more traditional dining style. :)

 

Hoping Celebrity takes this opportunity to make everyone's dining experience more enjoyable.

[KW Cruisers]

I don't think Blu will be as busy with suite passengers once the suite restaurant opens in April. It will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner (as opposed to only breakfast and dinner in Blu).

 

Shawn

[ghstudio]

Based on Celebrity's hype, I can't imagine why a suite passenger would want to slum in blu at all...unless they are travelling with someone in aqua or they can't get in to the suite restaurant.

 

Even though the maitre d's vigorously deny allowing suite guests in during prime dining times, I'm going to bet that once the suite restaurant is running, the waits many of us have seen on recent cruises mysteriously go away.

[Gracie115]

Based on Celebrity's hype, I can't imagine why a suite passenger would want to slum in blu at all...unless they are travelling with someone in aqua or they can't get in to the suite restaurant.

 

Even though the maitre d's vigorously deny allowing suite guests in during prime dining times, I'm going to bet that once the suite restaurant is running, the waits many of us have seen on recent cruises mysteriously go away.

 

I agree with you mostly, though I'd never call Blu a "slum" :eek: In our case there are two staterooms in our party one is a suite, the other AQ, booked BEFORE the suite dining room was announced and we want to be able to dine together so hopefully we will be able to do so next April. Yes we could all eat in the new suite dining room, but at $50 per person for dinner that would get pretty expensive for two people over 16 nights!!

 

Someone else mentioned on another thread that perhaps suite guests will be allowed in Blu until such time as all reservations that were made prior to the suite dining room announcement have been filled, which would mean sometime in early 2016. I think that's a possibility, especially all those "Aqua Suites" which are going to find themselves in "Sky Suites" come next April.

 

I guess we'll just have to wait and see!!:)

[cruise kitty]

I agree with you mostly, though I'd never call Blu a "slum" :eek: In our case there are two staterooms in our party one is a suite, the other AQ, booked BEFORE the suite dining room was announced and we want to be able to dine together so hopefully we will be able to do so next April. Yes we could all eat in the new suite dining room, but at $50 per person for dinner that would get pretty expensive for two people over 16 nights!!

 

Someone else mentioned on another thread that perhaps suite guests will be allowed in Blu until such time as all reservations that were made prior to the suite dining room announcement have been filled, which would mean sometime in early 2016. I think that's a possibility, especially all those "Aqua Suites" which are going to find themselves in "Sky Suites" come next April.

 

I guess we'll just have to wait and see!!:)

 

I think what you're suggesting sounds like a fair solution, grandfather in everyone who booked before the Suite class restaurant was announced, & grandfather in the AQ suites that were booked before the Sky Suite announcement was made, that way, everyone would get what they expected when they booked.

[cle-guy]

I think what you're suggesting sounds like a fair solution, grandfather in everyone who booked before the Suite class restaurant was announced, & grandfather in the AQ suites that were booked before the Sky Suite announcement was made, that way, everyone would get what they expected when they booked.

 

Well, 2016-2017 sailings are already being booked, so I guess it's gonna be yet another year, since people booking those are doing so with expectations of BLU access as suite guests already.

[Gracie115]

Well, 2016-2017 sailings are already being booked, so I guess it's gonna be yet another year, since people booking those are doing so with expectations of BLU access as suite guests already.

 

That's true...BUT the difference is they are booking now realizing that suites have their own dining room, when we booked and many others like us, which is what cruise kitty was referring to, that had not been announced yet.

 

I really think the whole question will be moot once the new suite dining room opens, unless it is some kind of horrible failure(which I highly doubt) as I would think the vast majority of suite guests will eat in the suite dining room, There may be situations like ours that will still go to Blu because of the different types of staterooms booked but doubt there will be that many...but who knows I could be wrong.

Edited November 19, 2014 by Gracie115

[MizDemeanor]

Based on Celebrity's hype, I can't imagine why a suite passenger would want to slum in blu at all...unless they are travelling with someone in aqua or they can't get in to the suite restaurant.

 

Even though the maitre d's vigorously deny allowing suite guests in during prime dining times, I'm going to bet that once the suite restaurant is running, the waits many of us have seen on recent cruises mysteriously go away.

 

Breakfasts in Blu will out rival any concept that even Suite Dining in my mind can conjure.

 

Suite dining might lighten the load for breakfast in Blu, but it won't out rival it.

[cle-guy]

That's true...BUT the difference is they are booking now realizing that suites have their own dining room, when we booked and many others like us, which is what cruise kitty was referring to, that had not been announced yet.

 

I really think the whole question will be moot once the new suite dining room opens, unless it is some kind of horrible failure(which I highly doubt) as I would think the vast majority of suite guests will eat in the suite dining room, There may be situations like ours that will still go to Blu because of the different types of staterooms booked but doubt there will be that many...but who knows I could be wrong.

 

But the other side of the coin, is the Suite Perks FAQ specifically says Suite guests get access to BLU, with no cover charge, that's an advertised perk of Suite Perks. Clearly part of the Suite program, is to give Suite guests full access to everything - especially the more premium suites - with the addition of inclusive PREMIUM beverage package, unlimited internet, unlimited specialty dining. Also that BLU has worked all along with Suite guests accessing it, there really is no reason to change the access policy, especially since it will definitely find a few fewer guests with the Suite dining room automatically.

 

But surely BLU will find fewer suite guests wanting to go there, except for those who are in a suite with traveling companions in Aqua class, in which case I imagine the suite guests would rather go there, than the Aqua guests pay $50 per person to go to the Suite dining room.

 

Reflection will find the largest relief in BLU of all ships, in that the AquaSuites that currently have entitlement to BLU, will no longer be entitled, but on available basis as they become SkySuites.

 

So in short, there really is no reason that BLU will anytime soon or within the next several years, find its access policy changed. As you state, it'll largely be moot.

[TWG_ag]

I am not trying to pi$$ people off here, but Aqua Class is a small group that in my mind is paying a premium for nothing. As a high-end suite passenger, I ate there once and that won't happen again. I am fine with letting the AQ's have this place to themselves. On our last cruise, I could not find anyone in the Michael's Club that had eaten their. Maybe the Sky suites are. Just remember, Celebrity is in a fight to attract higher paying customers and that means giving perks to their best paying customers. So if a Royal Suite customer pays for that room, give him access to everything. The new dining room and access to the Premium restaurants are their best draw along with the Michael's experience. So I think once the new dining room is open the AQ's will be left alone. I appreciate Celebrity offering real value to their higher paying customers and it is the only thing that gets me on their ships. If you never intend to book a royal or penthouse, then don't worry about what those people are getting, they paid for it and you opted not to.

[cruise kitty]

Well, from what Shill64 posted on the other Blu/Reflection thread, it sounds like this may have already been decided:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=44770677&postcount=20

 

Of course I realize Celebrity may change their mind (let's face it, left hand often doesn't know what the right is doing ;) )

 

Part of me is applauding this decision, & part of me feels that those who booked before Suite Class announcement should get a pass.

 

Hopefully the transition will go over smoothly for all.

 

I was on board when the new Captain's Club change happened mid cruise, it was a bit of chaos, & they had to do a bit of backtracking, assuring everyone on board that we would be grandfathered in ( that cruise received points under the old system, & then those were converted to the new) People in AQ & below fared better under the old system, & people in sky suites & above, would have been better off under the new system, bottom line, when changes happen usually someone feels a bit short shrifted until things get ironed out.

[cle-guy]

Well, from what Shill64 posted on the other Blu/Reflection thread, it sounds like this may have already been decided:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=44770677&postcount=20

 

.

 

I'd really like to see the literature they speak of. it'd be interesting to see if there is simply just no mention of BLU, and that instead they are pushing Suite Dining and therefore BLU is still an option, or if the literature specifically states that BLU is no longer an option. As I posted in that thread as well, Aqua brochures say nothing about dining in the MDR, yet I was able to do so nightly, never doing in BLU when I sailed in Aqua class. And the FAQ clearly says Suite Perks still provides BLU Access unchanged from current policy.

 

I suspect the brochure they refer to is more about promoting Suite Dining than disallowing BLU.

Edited November 19, 2014 by cle-guy

[cruise kitty]

I'd really like to see the literature they speak of. it'd be interesting to see if there is simply just no mention of BLU, and that instead they are pushing Suite Dining and therefore BLU is still an option, or if the literature specifically states that BLU is no longer an option. As I posted in that thread as well, Aqua brochures say nothing about dining in the MDR, yet I was able to do so nightly, never doing in BLU when I sailed in Aqua class. And the FAQ clearly says Suite Perks still provides BLU Access unchanged from current policy.

 

I suspect the brochure they refer to is more about promoting Suite Dining than disallowing BLU.

 

I think the one thing we can count on, is that whatever the final decision, it'll take 12 to 18 months before every ship is on the same wavelength... when the dress code changed, it took quite a while for all the ships & venues to get on board, so to say. :)

[hayward]

Yes

 

this is an extract from the X FAQ re the new suite class perks

 

Will “Suite Class” guests still have the option of dining in Blu on a space-available basis?

Beginning April 2015 all Suite Class guests will have access to a new restaurant - reserved exclusively for Suite Class guests morning, noon and night. Access to Blu will continue to be available on a space available basis to all Suite Class guests.

Will “Suite Class” guests still have to pay the $5 suggested gratuity when admitted to dine in Blu?

Access to Blu will continue to be available on a space available basis to all Suite Class guests. When admitted, “Suite Class” guests may dine in Blu at no charge.

 

We did the Adriatic cruise in september with Blu many evenings, loud, noisy and really quite an unpleasant experience. Many evenings we would be in blu and watch the suite people escorted by the concierge from Michael's Club walk them into blu and again escorted by the matre de blu.

 

Thinking it was just that cruise, hopefully the transatlantic would be better. No, it was the same in fact even worse. The staff did an amazing job of trying to sit everyone. But chaos did exist, not what Blu was intended, for aqua class guest,

Blu used to be quite a nice experience, never overcrowded and relaxed. Celebrity needs to rethink their attitude about its loyal members who enjoy Blu and not put their Suite people in the drivers seat,

[MizDemeanor]

We did the Adriatic cruise in september with Blu many evenings, loud, noisy and really quite an unpleasant experience. Many evenings we would be in blu and watch the suite people escorted by the concierge from Michael's Club walk them into blu and again escorted by the matre de blu.

 

Thinking it was just that cruise, hopefully the transatlantic would be better. No, it was the same in fact even worse. The staff did an amazing job of trying to sit everyone. But chaos did exist, not what Blu was intended, for aqua class guest,

Blu used to be quite a nice experience, never overcrowded and relaxed. Celebrity needs to rethink their attitude about its loyal members who enjoy Blu and not put their Suite people in the drivers seat,

 

Not what Blu was intended for but any Suite passenger pays at least twice as much as the dirt cheap misunderstood AQ cabin...Why should a Suite Guest paying so much more be penalized for a premium price point and a gated dining experience.

Edited November 19, 2014 by MizDemeanor

[TommyD3]

Breakfasts in Blu will out rival any concept that even Suite Dining in my mind can conjure.

 

Suite dining might lighten the load for breakfast in Blu, but it won't out rival it.

 

I have had breakfast many times in Blu on the Reflection and I found it only slightly better than the MDR.

 

Considering that Celebrity will charge non-suite guests $20 per person per meal for breakfast in the new suite dining room it better be AMAZING !!!

 

At a surcharge of $105 per day (for non suite guests) the suite dining room better be better than Murano:)

[KW Cruisers]

 

Considering that Celebrity will charge non-suite guests $20 per person per meal for breakfast in the new suite dining room it better be AMAZING !!!

 

At a surcharge of $105 per day (for non suite guests) the suite dining room better be better than Murano:)

 

I don't think that's a fair comparison...I doubt the suite restaurant will be like Murano (but elegant and fabulous none the less).

 

If suite passengers want a fine dining experience like Murano, they will go to Murano. I think the up-charge for non-suite passengers to dine in the suite restaurant (who by the way need to be invited by suite passengers) is only to deter them from coming and to avoid wait times and over crowding.

 

The suite dining room is not in competition with the specialty restaurants or Blu for that matter. The higher cover charge and invitation requirements help to ensure this.

 

Shawn

[Gracie115]

I'd really like to see the literature they speak of. it'd be interesting to see if there is simply just no mention of BLU, and that instead they are pushing Suite Dining and therefore BLU is still an option, or if the literature specifically states that BLU is no longer an option. As I posted in that thread as well, Aqua brochures say nothing about dining in the MDR, yet I was able to do so nightly, never doing in BLU when I sailed in Aqua class. And the FAQ clearly says Suite Perks still provides BLU Access unchanged from current policy.

 

I suspect the brochure they refer to is more about promoting Suite Dining than disallowing BLU.

 

I think you're right and NOTHING X has released to the general public supports the statements made on the other thread that suite guests won't be allowed in Blu.

 

It would SERIOUSLY impact our upcoming cruise with sister and brother in law who have never cruised before and the suite/AQ combo was booked prior to any knowledge of a suite dining room.

 

I wish Celebrity Cruises would chime in here and state the policy to clear up all the rumors/speculations.

[dkjretired]

Not what Blu was intended for but any Suite passenger pays at least twice as much as the dirt cheap misunderstood AQ cabin...Why should a Suite Guest paying so much more be penalized for a premium price point and a gated dining experience.

 

Because the concept of Blu was not based upon how much you paid for your cruise. Initially when Blu and AQ cabins were introduced on the Solstice, suite passengers could not eat in Blu.

[MizDemeanor]

I have had breakfast many times in Blu on the Reflection and I found it only slightly better than the MDR.

 

Considering that Celebrity will charge non-suite guests $20 per person per meal for breakfast in the new suite dining room it better be AMAZING !!!

 

At a surcharge of $105 per day (for non suite guests) the suite dining room better be better than Murano:)

 

Those are very tall expectations.;)

 

My expectation is that the service levels are at least even with the service levels found in Murano and in Blu. The service levels in the MDR have been an issue for a very long time, in our opinion. The menu items in any dining venue on board have not been.

[uktog]

I have had breakfast many times in Blu on the Reflection and I found it only slightly better than the MDR.

 

Considering that Celebrity will charge non-suite guests $20 per person per meal for breakfast in the new suite dining room it better be AMAZING !!!

 

At a surcharge of $105 per day (for non suite guests) the suite dining room better be better than Murano:)

 

Define better?

 

I am not expecting it to be better, indeed I hope it is not as rich or OTT in the service, could not stomach (literally) 14 nights of that

 

The surcharge is not about the value of the experience, IMHO it is pitched at a high end level to manage/limit the number of requests from non eligible guests to eat there with friends, it will reflect the fact the cruise line will not want groups having one booked in a suite and the rest of the family in inside cabins but all wanting the suite dining experience

Edited November 19, 2014 by uktog