New Suite Class Restaurant begins April 2015 on ALL ships?

[need2bespoiled]

There's some pretty harsh comments and gross generalizations above. Maybe we like the new suite benefits to escape rude people, whether that means to the extra space we have in our cabin, on our balcony, or to a special lounge.

 

I'd guess that I travel more than Curt now that it seems he travels a bit less, and probably accrue similar points, just use them differently, who knows. We choose suites for various reasons, but who cares, it's our money, what difference does it matter how we spend it, or what benefit entices us?

 

I doubt the food on Celebrity, Suite Restaurant, Specialty Restaurant, Chef's Table, Captain's Table, or wherever will ever rival a line like Seabourn or Regent and that is fine with me. I can eat like that any day I want, in many different cities and countries as I travel. And just the same, those luxury lines won't rival French Laundry, Moto, DW-50, Joel Rubuchon or even some of my hometown favorites like Fore Street, Miyake, or Hugos anytime soon (feel free to google away). Each is unique and different in what they do, and generally do it fresh, brought in and butchered that day. NO ship is able to do that for 400 - 700 passengers as they go from port to port.

 

I am happy to have a big ship like Celebrity to have a bigger cabin after spending more than 150 days in a hotel all year. I simply don't see paying for the room bigger than 300 sq ft on those lines, which ARE significantly more than the suites on Celebrity. We simply prefer a separate bedroom than our living area, and extra space, especially for longer cruises. I am ok to give up for the better food I am missing out on those other lines for a bigger cabin, more choices for activities, more dining options in many cases (even if it is just scenery) more bars to visit and a casino that is bigger with more chance of having others joining me. It's just no fun loosing (or winning as rare as it is) alone. I do wish Celebrity had a bigger Spa with better amenities.

 

I have no doubt we'll eventually sail on those luxury lines. In fact, we've had an B2B Oceania cruise booked and seriously considered a Seaborne itinerary that we loved, but the timing just wasn't right. I have blocks I can cruise in, and that's when I can go, and thankfully for us, it is in the shoulder seasons which are less busy, but harder to find ships we want to sail, where we want to sail. So far we haven't found a better itinerary than I can find for what our value is for Celebrity. Maybe this is because Celebrity can offer many more itineraries, with 9 ships compared to the luxury lines which only have a few each, and while they tend to move around more, they often each have a ship in the same general part of the world in the same seasons. Now that Celebrity is offering plenty of overnights in great ports, some two nights there is even more value. We also like the sea days to relax between long touring days, as opposed to port after port, I'd need a vacation from that! Sure, we miss out on some smaller ports, but it's all a trade-off.

 

For our value proposition, we discount "free" airfare, even if it is business class air as we don't pay when we travel for vacation anyway (plenty of miles is not even close to fair compensation for living in seat 7A on United which is no luxury). The lack of ability to choose flights, or the extra costs for choosing specific flights, are additional downsides to the all inclusive programs on those lines. This doesn't even account for the fact that some airlines don't have the same product/seats on some flights, especially in business class. We also like to book our own excursions, so inclusive excursions aren't our thing. On our last cruise we did one excursion with a group of 9 or 10, but every other trip was just us which was anywhere from 2-4 people. If we're not happy with how it is going, our guides adjust. Try that with a van of 15 (we have). We compared the prices of Celebrity excursions and we pay the same or less for a private tour, go figure. Add it all in for a comparable size cabin, OBC, etc, etc and we still find the cost AND value in Celebrity is better than the luxury lines.

 

With the new suite perks, the scales will likely tip even more in the favor of Celebrity without even counting the (hopefully) improved food offerings which we are excited about, only if means new menus and with more ability to customize meals.

 

Happy sailing, whether you book an inside, balcony, Suite, or sleep in a tent on your sailboat,

Jenna

[Project_gal]

What are we looking for from the new suite restaurant:-

• a better ambiance than the MDR. [This is one of the reasons we have not eaten in the MDR since 2009.]
  

• incredible service. [As we have usually received in the specialty restaurants.]
  

• more space than the MDR. [in the specialty restaurants they are usually able to allocate us a larger that standard-sized table.]
  

• more variety in the menu. [Despite the small tweaks, the specialty dining menus have never really changed.]
  

• some personalisation of the menu. ["The Suite Class chef can provide a tailor made experience to suite guests and prepare dishes to their liking". As the specialty restaurants become busier, they are less and less able to do this. We really get tired of the food by the end of a cruise and crave simpler food.]
  

• a better selection of wines by the glass. [Current offerings are more geared to American tastes than ours and it would be nice to be able make use of the included premium beverage package.]
  

• the option to be able to be seated at a larger table with others. [As I believe you can request in Blu and Select Dining but not in the specialty restaurants - a nice way to meet new people occasionally.]
  

Edited January 7, 2015 by Project_gal

[drarill]

I'm going back to work today after a RCCL cruise on an Owner's suite. We love Royal, but believe me, we did miss Celebrity. We belong to the group that can only cruise once or twice a year. We also cruise with our children during their vacations, which means that we travel during the most expensive weeks. I'm looking forward to try and enjoy Celebrity's new suite dining room. We already experienced Michael's club last summer and loved having concierge and butler services. I found myself last week comparing both suite experiences and Celebrity won by many miles!! Even our children asked to go back to Celebrity this summer. ;)

[Iamcruzin]

I get that. There is extra kitchen capacity.

The issue is that the Celebrity " kitchen staff " as it is, isn't qualified to cook the type of food that a new higher end REAL restaurant would require and what Celebrity is advertising the new restaurant would offer.

Their kitchens " as they are " aren't designed to prepare complex dishes ala minute. I've done the galley tour numerous times. It's a banquet, mass cruise line kitchen.

An upscale single restaurant kitchen is designed differently. It's staffed differently. It's managed differently. It's more than a line cook firing up a steak and throwing some pre cooked vegis and a potato on a plate.

My point is,...this restaurant is being offered as an incitement for the premium cruiseline customer. The suite guests paying $1000 per night. The competing cruiselines in this price category offer a genuine premium high end REAL restaurant dining experience. That's what Celebrity is advertising the new suite restaurant to be yet without a dedicated kitchen and the staff expertise to run it, how can that really be?

 

I agree with you. I think it's going to be all smoke and mirrors and the presentation is going to over shadow the actual cuisine being served. The the average passenger who has never been on one of the high end lines isn't going to know the difference because they have nothing to compare it to. When I read reviews of passenger comparing the main dining room to a 5 star restaurant I know that they have never been to a 5 star restaurant. Their experience may be 5 stars compared to a chain restaurant on land. I think the best we can hope for is an experience equal to a specialty restaurants on board. I look forward the reading reviews on the new suite life.

[chamima]

I agree with you. I think it's going to be all smoke and mirrors and the presentation is going to over shadow the actual cuisine being served. The the average passenger who has never been on one of the high end lines isn't going to know the difference because they have nothing to compare it to. When I read reviews of passenger comparing the main dining room to a 5 star restaurant I know that they have never been to a 5 star restaurant. Their experience may be 5 stars compared to a chain restaurant on land. I think the best we can hope for is an experience equal to a specialty restaurants on board. I look forward the reading reviews on the new suite life.

 

 

Thank you for bringing the discussion back to the Suite Restaurant and not those who will be eating in it.

I am the OP and was about to ask the monitors to close it.

Edited January 7, 2015 by chamima

[vulcan1971]

A restaurant is made up of the physical surrounding, chef/cooks/staff, and the food itself. The other side of the coin is the patrons of the restaurant. One cannot exist without the other.

 

Maybe the thread should be closed as it seems there is much more "speculation" about what the restaurant may be versus what the restaurant can be.

 

I just hope that the turnout to come back and report on the actual facts and first hand experiences of the new suite dining room experience is as strong as the current turnout of the folks that having nothing to contribute but unfounded negative criticism. :confused:

 

 

chamima - thanks for starting the thread. It was fun while it lasted. ;)

[rockdoctor]

I am in agreement with Vulcan1971. The proof is in the pudding. I eagerly await reports of what the suite dining room is like. We have 2 suites booked and enjoy the service and the extra space. For the increases in tariff, the Suite dining room better be nice! But then Celebrity suites still have a lower price point than Princess suites. Not to hijack the thread, but Celebrity needs to update their itineraries if they want to compete in this brave new world of competing for suite guests.

[hulamoon]

I thought I read where the Celebrity expectation was that it would be better than the specialty resturants. I certainly expect it will be made to order with exceptional ingredients as Blu was originally billed as being.

[nps001]

Have been following this post and enjoying the comments. A very reliable inside source told me (I'm paraphrasing) the suite dining experience will be amazing and surpass by far anything we have on the ships.

 

I was to be on the Reflection TA and changed it to the a B2B on Summit. Both cruises depart on April 4 and should have this new venue in place.

 

Like others, I am eagerly awaiting the conceptual drawings and menus that were to be made public by now.

[JFontaine]

I have cruised extensively on Crystal and a bit less so on Regent, and neither ship compares to a good (not great) restaurant experience in NYC. How can it - when it serves 800 or more dinners a night?

 

I expect that the new dining room will be like the Azamara main dining room experience - more room, better service, but most important - better quality ingredients - starting with meat. Three cruises booked in suites coming up, including the first Reflection sailing on April 4. I will report back.

[need2bespoiled]

Have been following this post and enjoying the comments. A very reliable inside source told me (I'm paraphrasing) the suite dining experience will be amazing and surpass by far anything we have on the ships.

 

I was to be on the Reflection TA and changed it to the a B2B on Summit. Both cruises depart on April 4 and should have this new venue in place.

 

Like others, I am eagerly awaiting the conceptual drawings and menus that were to be made public by now.

 

The comments you've been told are similar to what we've heard.

 

At the same time, they can say it is going to be anything they want. Until they purchase the ingredients, and prepare the food, and we get to taste it, we won't know. The proof will be a year or two down the road, after it has been successful, to see if it continues, or if they decide there is room to make more profit, but saving money on costs. Not that this ever happens ;)

 

We'll see you onboard for both of these sailings, and maybe compare notes over a martini :)

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

[Jane2357]

Right now everything about the new suite dining is just good marketing - we are, after all talking about it ;) For us - who are not normal suite cruisers (1 S1 on our last cruise) it is enticement to books suites in the future so the marketing appears to be working.

 

We actually have 2 cruises booked and have made the leap to Celebrity Suites on both. We don't cruise nearly as often as most here so we've decided that the added services of Michael's are worth the extra cost based on the concierge reviews that we've seen. We'll be watching all the reviews as they start to come in regarding the suite dining room and poor reviews would certainly alter any further suite bookings. It is all about cost versus benefit to us.

[Project_gal]

I expect that the new dining room will be like the Azamara main dining room experience - more room, better service, but most important - better quality ingredients - starting with meat. Three cruises booked in suites coming up, including the first Reflection sailing on April 4. I will report back.

 

I sincerely hope not! While we enjoyed the Celebrity MDR for 2 and a bit 14-night cruises, we walked out of the Azamara MDR part way through our first meal - never to return. What we experienced was less room, dreadful service and worse food than Celebrity MDR. Our remaining 37 nights on Azamara we ate in Prime C or Aqualina. By our second Azamara cruise, the specialty dining service and experience had deteriorated so much that we are unlikely to return.

[Adammara]

As said earlier, it is all speculation at the moment. It is nearly a year since the official release of information, and despite saying further information would be released later in the year, we have heard nothing! I would guess that there may be changes to the information already handed out, as they must now hopefully getting the finals details sorted. Perhaps we will soon see the impressions of the restaurant, and some menu's, as promised.

 

I am sure there will be teething problems, just hoping they have sorted some of them out when we board Eclipse on May 9th! We did a maiden cruise on P&O once, never again, area's unfinished and fitting had failed to arrive, coupled with ventilation problems, not what we expected.

 

We should have unlimited internet on this cruise, might even do the odd report!

[uktog]

I have cruised extensively on Crystal and a bit less so on Regent, and neither ship compares to a good (not great) restaurant experience in NYC. How can it - when it serves 800 or more dinners a night?

 

I expect that the new dining room will be like the Azamara main dining room experience - more room, better service, but most important - better quality ingredients - starting with meat. Three cruises booked in suites coming up, including the first Reflection sailing on April 4. I will report back.

 

My expectations are also it will be similar to how the Azamara dining experience now is albeit delivered in a smaller restaurant

[need2bespoiled]

So you're saying the name of this new space is Illuminaté? I had not read this before! I love this name and hope the restaurant is spectacular.

 

We all know what we're told onboard only occasionally comes to fruition. I hate to post unconfirmed information, but I did hint to it above.

 

Here is what happened:

 

The name was shared with me by an officer but it was only partly correct. Then I was having a conversation with a different senior officer but I couldn't remember what I was told. He then wrote it on his business card in a bet with me (I wasn't allowed to look at the card) to find out the name. I only got close, but never looked at the card until after a later conversation. Given he wrote it on a card, I am fairly certain it will be close.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

 

I've been traveling, and just saw the announcement. What I was told was close, but as I suspected not quite right. Can never trust anything you read onboard ;)

 

Is fun to read all about it, and all the comments. I have a lot of catching up to do!

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna