Molecular will be replaced!?

[Tybro]

Swapilot,

I saw your review and noticed you went on a catamaran excursion in Belize. I'm signed up for that one in April and would like some info from you on how it was. I don't know how to email you directly, but my email is grumpygreta@cox.net. Did they pick you up at the ship? How was the catamaran? How was the snorkeling? Which island did you go to and how was it?

Thank you,

GG

[bvocruise]

I'm looking forward to what will come next. Hopefully the Celebrity Representative will have some information to post soon. We sail on the Reflection in about two months and are excited.

[njaloha]

[quote name='Celebrity Cruises']Hi all,

The Molecular Bar is currently operated by a 3rd party vendor - Junior Merino. We have decided to not renew our contract with him, and therefore as the drinks were licensed, we will be unable to serve the same specific drinks in the future. In the next 90 days, we will be migrating to a new, but somewhat similar experience and will continue serving specialty drinks in this venue. At this time, we can't reveal our new partnership, any of the new drinks, or if we will continue to call it "The Molecular Bar."

However, we are confident that guests will enjoy this new and exciting bar that we will be introducing.[/QUOTE]

Excellent response from Celebrity. I appreciate this. I'm glad I read through the posts and saw this. For all of you Junior Merino fans, he has a website where you can get recipes. Liquidchef dot com You can buy ingredients such as the rimmers foams and enhanzers used in the cocktails. We make our own Indulgences at home and have the ingredients for Cazaritas for the summer.

All is not lost. For those who might miss favorite cocktails, make them at home.

Trust Celebrity to come up with something different and equally wonderful.

:D:D

[njaloha]

[quote name='satchiesmom']When we were on the Silhouette in January the Molecular Bar was packed every night. It's my favorite bar and the only reason I get the Premium Package. I hope this is just an unfounded rumor.[/QUOTE]

Unfortunately, it's a fact. Perhaps this explains our special Shot! Secret recipe indeed! I'll bet she was competing for the new menu. ;)

[tonyrocks922]

We sailed the Equinox in January and were at the Molecular bar every day, so this is disappointing.

I must say, while my wife and I loved the cocktails and the bartenders, I did notice it didn't get a lot of business, and this was on a very full sailing. I think the issues a lot of the reason it didn't do well was poor execution:

(1) They didn't open until 5 even on sea days

(2) They didn't serve anything other than the specialty cocktails. If one member of a group wants just a beer, wine, or simple cocktail they had to bring it from a different bar or go without. On my sailing at least, they didn't even have bottled water, which sucked because their tap water was warm.

In general, I hope they keep it a craft cocktail bar, but it would help to keep to throw some beer and wines behind the bar as well, along with some water bottles. Edited March 16, 2015 by tonyrocks922

[SNJCruisers]

[quote name='tonyrocks922']We sailed the Equinox in January and were at the Molecular bar every day, so this is disappointing.

I must say, while my wife and I loved the cocktails and the bartenders, I did notice it didn't get a lot of business, and this was on a very full sailing. I think the issues a lot of the reason it didn't do well was poor execution:

(1) They didn't open until 5 even on sea days

(2) They didn't serve anything other than the specialty cocktails. If one member of a group wants just a beer, wine, or simple cocktail they had to bring it from a different bar or go without. On my sailing at least, they didn't even have bottled water, which sucked because their tap water was warm.

In general, I hope they keep it a craft cocktail bar, but it would help to keep to throw some beer and wines behind the bar as well, along with some water bottles.[/quote]
I hope that they decide to just come up with another third party affiliate or their own craft cocktail menu and keep it exclusive. If you need bottled water all you need to do is walk nearby to Cafe al Bacio. If you want beer, wine or a basic drink, there are many other options bar wise to get what you want. Unless the size of the bar was to increase, it would not be feasible to have it be both a full service bar and a specialty bar at the same time.

[RickT]

Just off the Equinox and we were also informed by the CC hostess that it would be replaced.

Many of you are quick to say this is a Celebrity cost cutting move (and it might be). It is however possible since it was a venture with another company that it was terminated by the other company or perhaps reached the end of the original agreed upon term and they could not negotiate acceptable terms to continue.

Now that the wine bar is being fazed out and replaced with the Gastropub, it might be a great place to put a smaller wine bar so you don't have to run to multiple bars on board to get a variety of wines.

[hulamoon]

[quote name='RickT']Just off the Equinox and we were also informed by the CC hostess that it would be replaced.

Many of you are quick to say this is a Celebrity cost cutting move (and it might be). It is however possible since it was a venture with another company that it was terminated by the other company or perhaps reached the end of the original agreed upon term and they could not negotiate acceptable terms to continue.

Now that the wine bar is being fazed out and replaced with the Gastropub, it might be a great place to put a smaller wine bar so you don't have to run to multiple bars on board to get a variety of wines.[/QUOTE]

There was a thread where it was stated the gastro pub is no longer going to be put on the Eclipse.

[emileg]

[quote name='Patrick IL.']How about taking out the massive watch shop, put in a second bar and a piano bar? It could be a great area and it would be properly staffed.[/quote]
You want to remove my favorite shop on board?

[blueboro]

[quote name='hulamoon']There was a thread where it was stated the gastro pub is no longer going to be put on the Eclipse.[/quote]

It was empty for most of our recent Equinox cruise so they need to re-think that area. Piano Bar?

[chamima]

[quote name='hulamoon']There was a thread where it was stated the gastro pub is no longer going to be put on the Eclipse.[/QUOTE]

[quote name='blueboro']It was empty for most of our recent Equinox cruise so they need to re-think that area. Piano Bar?[/QUOTE]

A piano bar is a great idea but the problem on the Equinox is that they removed most of the walls into the central foyer area and so now the sound bleeds into there from anything they're doing in the foyer.
(Which I know from the experience of trying to listen to the guitarist in there while the Miami DJ was playing downstairs.):(

[hvsteve1]

Just off Silhouette. We went to Molecular every night after dinner and closed the place. Our goal was to try every drink on the menu and I believe we did. On the final night the bartenders volunteered to make off-the menu drinks for us. Some of the other folks were upset the wouldn't do it for them, but I think it was our reward for having spent the week almost exclusively at that bar. Maybe the off-the-menu stuff was a result of them being in the process of asking the trained bartenders to come up with some new stuff.

I think it WAS out of the way and unmarked. The location, in the 5th deck shopping mall and near the future cruise desks, is not a particularly heavily trafficked area. And I don't recall any signage. Indeed, when we took photos the last night, I could find no way to pose there that anybody could see it was any place special.

Our next cruise is on M Class, so we have to wait a while to see what they come up with.

[cle-guy]

[quote name='hvsteve1']
I think it WAS out of the way and unmarked. The location, in the 5th deck shopping mall and near the future cruise desks, is not a particularly heavily trafficked area. And I don't recall any signage. Indeed, when we took photos the last night, I could find no way to pose there that anybody could see it was any place special.

[/QUOTE]

It is sooooo poorly signed for sure. I did a 13 night TA on Eclipse in 2013, and never found it till the last 2 days. And I knew there ws a bar called Molecular Bar somewhere on the ships. I even stopped in one of the sops to ask where it was, and they said there wasn't; such a bar located o that ship - and they were about 100 feet away from it - mid day though when it ant open.

If I was passing by the area and shops, it was early in the day, I saw the space and thought nothing of it. Frankly. I thought it was where people played cards during the day - a game playing area. The bar itself looked no more special than the casino bar while closed.

There is NO signage or directions or notation on the printed onboard maps, that calls it "Molecular Bar". It's always noted as "Galleria Tastings" - which to me sounds like it's a place where they would do special events - wine and liquor tastings etc. from the Duty Free.

However, I do like its placement now that I know where it is. I like to go there get my drink then just take the staircase bring it down to Martini Bar to hang with friends there. Sometimes it's very empty, sometimes its very crowded, like most bars on the ship, Pre dinner as everywhere, is the worst. After dinner, it can be quite calm and relaxing.

[bvocruise]

We sail on the Reflection in two months and are looking forward to having some fancy drinks. Hopefully they have them or we will have wasted $250 to upgrade the beverage backage. Our original plan was to each have two drinks a day from the MB.

Hopefully the Celebrity CC rep will post something here with the next few weeks.

[NLH Arizona]

[quote name='bvocruise']We sail on the Reflection in two months and are looking forward to having some fancy drinks. Hopefully they have them or we will have wasted $250 to upgrade the beverage backage. Our original plan was to each have two drinks a day from the MB.

Hopefully the Celebrity CC rep will post something here with the next few weeks.[/QUOTE]Possibly, as soon as you get onboard, you can check it out and if the new bar isn't up to what you wanted, you can cancel the upgrade.

[cle-guy]

[quote name='NLH Arizona']Possibly, as soon as you get onboard, you can check it out and if the new bar isn't up to what you wanted, you can cancel the upgrade.[/QUOTE]

Good suggestion.

[SNJCruisers]

[quote name='NLH Arizona']Possibly, as soon as you get onboard, you can check it out and if the new bar isn't up to what you wanted, you can cancel the upgrade.[/quote][SIZE=3][FONT=Comic Sans MS]Might be difficult to do as soon as you board if the replacement venue does not open up till 5:00 like the Molecular Bar currently does[/FONT][/SIZE].

[ORV]

[quote name='NLH Arizona']Possibly, as soon as you get onboard, you can check it out and if the new bar isn't up to what you wanted, you can cancel the upgrade.[/QUOTE]

[quote name='cle-guy']Good suggestion.[/QUOTE]

I did not know that you could cancel an upgrade that you had paid in advance. Has anyone reported doing this?

[hulamoon]

[quote name='ORV']I did not know that you could cancel an upgrade that you had paid in advance. Has anyone reported doing this?[/QUOTE]

I have read you could before boarding. And actually I think if that type drink is your only reason to upgrade then I would recommend canceling now
And adding back when you are reassured with the offering onboard. Classic now and upgrade later. You have a couple of months too. It could be someone will report before you leave.

I am not sure if you can cancel after boarding. And because what you hear on shore is so very often different than onboard...save some frustration if you are in big doubt.

My guess is it will be as good or better because they would 't change it if they weren't looking for improvements there.

[NLH Arizona]

[quote name='ORV']I did not know that you could cancel an upgrade that you had paid in advance. Has anyone reported doing this?[/QUOTE]Well, at least they can try or they can try to cancel the upgrade prior to their cruise and then if they are satisfied with the bar when they get onboard, they can upgrade their beverage package at that time. If I were them, I would call Celebrity and see what they can and can not do with regard to the upgrade. Better to do some research and find out what your options are, instead of worrying (or being disappointed) that you won't be able to get what you had hoped to get on your cruise. I always believe in looking for a solution.

[Oxo]

What is replacing the Molecular? Not another GasPub boo boo?

[jackaboo]

Gastropub is still going to be on Eclipse, However it will not replace cellarmasters - but will replace the passport bar

[DYKWIA]

[quote name='jackaboo']Gastropub is still going to be on Eclipse, However it will not replace cellarmasters - but will replace the passport bar[/QUOTE]

Where and when did you hear that? Elsewhere people are reporting Gastropub isn't going ahead on Eclipse

[jackaboo]

Speaking to Celebrity UK. They had lots of questions about it and wern't aware of the rumors so they contacted Miami and that was the response.

[chamima]

[quote name='jackaboo']Gastropub is still going to be on Eclipse, However it will not replace cellarmasters - but will replace the passport bar[/QUOTE]

It would make sense if they just added the beers to the passport bar.
Doesn't make sense if they plan on doing any renovations to that area - it's in a [B][U]main[/U][/B] traffic area!