Aqua Class/Blu - A different perspective

[Hlitner]

I'm a Blu/AC lover but definitely don't choose it every time we sail. For our May Infinity cruise we chose to dial all the way down to a 2C. AC was over $600 more pp, and we decided to use that $1200 for experiences along the way.

 

I do feel sorry for those who are saddled with a "picky eater" in their travel party. That picky eater is given all the decision-making power of where to dine, and there's a constant stream of dishes being sent back, which I can only imagine really affects the whole dining experience. I would personally jettison that person - well, detach myself from them so I could dine where and when I prefer. I'm just not willing to sacrifice my experience to possibly (but probably not) please someone else. I'm selfish when it comes right down to it.

 

Agree! DW and I are in the category of folks who Live to Eat and dining is an important part of our lives. We are both adventurous eaters and there is little we will not eat or at least try. For this reason (among others) we prefer independent travel and seldom get ourselves involved with groups unless they are good friends that share our love of dining. And the thought of being on excursions that include lunch at a touristy restaurant (often designed to handle large bus crowds) is enough to reinforce our very strong dislike of group excursions.

 

Hank

Edited December 31, 2015 by Hlitner

[ghstudio]

You mention in your post that the Aqua rooms are scented. This might be a deal breaker for my DH. He's highly sensitive to scents. Is it that noticeable?

 

I've never noticed any special scent in aqua rooms...but I have certainly smelled the disinfectant used by cabin attendants in all classes of cabins. Not sure how you get around that...I just take allergy pills if I'm effected and keep going.

[El Crucero]

You mention in your post that the Aqua rooms are scented. This might be a deal breaker for my DH. He's highly sensitive to scents. Is it that noticeable?

 

On our last Aqua experience, there were those stick scent diffusers in the stateroom. The scent is very subtle to the point that some people will not notice. If you don't like the scent, ask your stateroom steward to remove the sticks, open up your veranda slider, go hit a food venue, and when you come back the scent will be gone.

[hulamoon]

The scent is not recognizable most of the time, it needs to be stirred to smell. It also takes up space so many do ask it to be removed.

[ShawninFL]

When we cruise with friends, we always make sure everyone is aware up front that we are not attached at the hips. Everyone should do what they want and eat when and where they want. We always advise everyone what we are doing and let them know they are more than welcome to join us as most do in return. We always meet up for predinner drinks as well as after dinner activities. On sea days many of us lounge at the pool together while others hang out in the casino. We never want to get caught in a situation where we have to make it through a week or even 2 weeks of meals or excursions with someone who can't be satisfied. Done that once. Never again. This way we have one dinner with someone as such and then off to enjoy our meals for the rest of the nights.

[bren51]

I never go in any restaurant with a negative attitude and will experience what Blu offers but just wanted to know who I needed to contact if this isn't for me. I meant being a picky eater for me is that I am not a big veggie or seafood person.

Edited January 2, 2016 by bren51

[bigbenboys]

As to the food in Blu. Over all it is very good. The 2 things that I had that I did not like were the couscous and the Kobe meat loaf. The meat loaf looked like cat food from those small round cans. What Blu seems to like to put on the menus is lamb, game birds (pigeons, pheasants and quail) and veal. This is just my opinion but lambs, pheasants and quail are cute. Veal is a calves under one year of age. Well I just say no to pigeons. If I was at a dinner party and these items were served to me yes I would eat them. I'm just would not choice them for myself. If we all like the same things it would be very boring.

 

As I have said before I can always find something great to eat on the Blu menus. The service is always very good. And yes I try and stay away the grouping of tables of 2 on the S class ships. On the M class the tables of 2 did not seem as bad.

 

The location of Aqua cabins. We have never had a problem with noise from the pool. We love the cabins on deck 11. I like being close to the pool and the buffet.

[Gracie115]

To each his own and that's why we have choices.

 

We love Blu, we've never had a problem finding something to eat.....they have different kinds of entrees from the MDR and we like trying different foods.....

 

But husband has always been able to get escargot anytime, or a shrimp cocktail if that was what he wanted. I don't understand not asking for it...what's the worst that can happen ? They say, "sorry, no"

 

As much as anything we like the ambiance of Blu which is MUCH more like a specialty restaurant than a smaller MDR. It is quieter(most of the time unless you have an unusual crowd, which we did once), I can hear my husband talk without him having to repeat himself continually as he has to in the MDR.

 

But I'm glad not everyone likes it .... that would only make it more expensive than it already is...

 

And on the tea in the room? We just told them not to bother and instead to have a pitcher of ice always available which they did and refreshed for us 2-3 times a day....(something they USED to do in all rooms...but no longer unless requested)....

Edited January 3, 2016 by Gracie115

[Pavovsky]

Thanks to the OP for a honest review. We had a strange experience in Blu but also booked AC again as we liked the general perks and the option of a separate dining room.

 

We had two fairly decent meals in Blu and a few breakfasts, tried the MDR as a break and enjoyed it. Then on night 4 it went downhill fast - the waiter refused to serve my wife a med rare rib eye saying that the cut has to be well done. She insisted as she prefers and it still came on well done - he then insisted that she eat it instead of returning! She did taste and it was dry and after that he ignored us. We went there the next day for breakfast and again he was rude - got the order wrong and would only address me. We decided we would eat at the MDR for the rest of the cruise rather than make a big fuss and indeed we were also stalked.

 

 

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[D C]

So glad that we're not alone!

We did Aqua on the Constellation 5n a year ago for only a slight price difference from a veranda. I would do it again in a heartbeat, but only for the room location on 11 that was fabulous. Aft, and just a quick stairway down to the Oceanview bar.

 

Our impression of the Blu menu was very similar. Simply not to our taste, and the atmosphere was displeasingly cramped. You definitely don't eat alone in Blu, at least not on the Connie. We didn't think of hiding out in the MDR though, and ended up just grabbing something from the buffet on our last night. The service in Blu wasn't to my expectations either. Looking around, the "sommelier" seemed to be directing every table to the same red or white wine. And on one night, the "recommended wine" listed on the menu sounded nice enough. Somehow, they were out of the wine that they recommended for that dinner. Seriously?? I'll add that the MDR stalking is amusing as we never got the impression that they even recognised us one night vs the prior.

 

I'll concur on the room amenities. Meh. The shower body sprays were unpleasant-to-painful. The "tea" was passed up every day. The room was fine, but nothing I would pay extra for in terms of amenities.

 

To do it again, I think I would go Aqua if I felt the room location was better enough, and would likely skip Blu entirely.

Edited January 21, 2016 by D C

[Jetswdo]

The main reason is what Cruise Raider an above poster mentioned:

 

have not seen a screaching baby or toddler on the deck where aqua cabins are located or in Blu when I just want a quiet meal. We have been on the Reflection and the Summit. Both times, we booked A2--- On the Reflection we were near enough to central elevators and UNDER a cabin. Very quiet. On the Summit, which I wasn't crazy about, the aqua locations were not good, but the cabin I chose was under carpeted area of buffet-- heard absolutely no noise. On the Summit there were a lot of little children on board, but no where's near the location we were at. We only ate in Blu for dinner two times and one time for breakfast. Each time we had a very quiet dining experience. Food at dinner was ok- nothing great, but pleasant enough. Didn't see or hear one kid at all!

We ate at specialty restaurants 3 times, the buffet for dinner a couple of times (which was ok, as we ate around 5:30 to avoid crowds- there were a few babies and kids, but we made sure we ate in a mostly empty section ----

 

Dh uses constantly the Spa-- I use the heated tiles a couple of times--

 

We like a variety of eating experiences-- We use the buffet if we are coming back late on an excursion and just want to grab a quick bite before napping in our cabin. We love Qsine, Murano (Normandie) Tuscan Grill, Lawn Club Grill on Reflection and Bistro- So we really are just paying "extra" for the quiet deck area and dining room for a few meals. Worth it to us, for that only.

[HS2BS]

There is a thread that speaks to children in Blu/Aqua, which I do not like the thought. With the tables as close together as they are, mostly twos, the added noise and distractions to the staff and guests would be considerable. There is one poster, Wonders10, who states that his/her eight month will be with them in Blu in March - will be interesting to hear how that goes.

Aqua cabins on the S class ships are not in the greatest locations, Aqua has no longer agua, and Blu needs a new menu. Now are the rules changing?

We have three Aqua cruise booked and it is becoming more apparent that other categories might be more economical and then choose to eat in specialty restaurants. Next month is fourteen days and do not expect there will be many children on board, hopefully none are in Blu during my dinning time, could always have meals with my grandchildren at home.

 

Hal

[minidonuts85]

We sailed a regular Veranda in 2014 and then did AQ recently on the Reflection a week ago.

 

We booked an AQ room for another cruise while on board without hesitation. Same cabin as a matter of fact.

 

Food/Blu:

Our waitstaff in Blu was phenominal (Reymonnd and Bobby). We noticed many of the same people sitting in his section nightly along with us. On night one, they let us know that Shrimp Cocktail, Escargot and Onion Soup were available nightly should we choose. Just ask. We each ordered a main and Reymonnd routinely recommended a third dish for us to share that we may enjoy. We were glad he did! I was unsure about the food portions from what I read about Blu and any concerns were gone after night one. Has we not had OBC to use at specialty dining (ate in Murano and Tuscan) we would have been just fine in Blu every night.

 

Spa: We spent a lot of time in the Persian Gardens. I wasnt sure if my boyfriend was a "spa type" but he sure did love the heated loungers.

 

Tea: We love herbal teas and went through two pitchers a day of the tea provided in the room. Our steward also kept us well stocked with ice.

Edited January 22, 2016 by minidonuts85

[minidonuts85]

Just be careful about being sucked into an upgrade from an A2 to A1....especially on Solstice Class ships. When we book Aqua on these ships we are very specific regarding cabin location. Many of the higher priced A1s are actually in lousy locations directly under the pool areas. Other cabins might be under the gym/spa. And the midship cabins are directly under the huge pool-deck overhang which blocks out much of the sky view. So when we book Aqua we actually prefer the lower cost A2 cabins aft of the pool area (man of these cabins have cabin numbers beginning with "16" such as 1630. These particular cabins have an additional passenger deck above, giving some separation from the overhang and not having a public deck (with moving chairs) above our heads.

 

Hank

 

So true. We moved from an A1 mid to A2 forward on floor 11..right after the lifeboats and but right before being directly under the fitness center. Pefect location with the stairs/elevators to the Solarium and spa right there and no noise from above since we had a deck between us and the Solarium.