First Night Dinner in Blu?

[AidenL]

On our first cruise last year, in Aqua, we had a note in our cabin on the first night saying to eat in the MDR.

 

It seems we weren't allowed to eat in Blu on the first night. Is that normal?

 

 

Just wondering if it will be the same on our next cruise, or is there any way we can eat in Blu on the first night?

[bbeltmom]

That had to have been a mistake....

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[AidenL]

That had to have been a mistake....

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

I thought it was odd too, seeing as we had paid for access to Blu.

 

Thought it might have been something to do with the first night allocations I had read about but later I discovered that was for the specialist restaurants.

[NantahalaCruiser]

This is not the norm. On each of our four cruises in Aqua Class, we were able to eat in Blu on the first night. We always received a note in our cabin with a suggested seating time (they try to even out the arrivals on the first night.) But it is only a suggestion; you can still go to the Blu at your desired time any evening - including the first.

 

So there must have been some very unusual circumstances that first night on your cruise. Personally, I would have gone to the Blu to find out what was up!

[AidenL]

This is not the norm. On each of our four cruises in Aqua Class, we were able to eat in Blu on the first night. We always received a note in our cabin with a suggested seating time (they try to even out the arrivals on the first night.) But it is only a suggestion; you can still go to the Blu at your desired time any evening - including the first.

 

So there must have been some very unusual circumstances that first night on your cruise. Personally, I would have gone to the Blu to find out what was up!

 

I'll know better next time !

[riclop]

On our first cruise last year, in Aqua, we had a note in our cabin on the first night saying to eat in the MDR.

 

It seems we weren't allowed to eat in Blu on the first night. Is that normal?

 

 

Just wondering if it will be the same on our next cruise, or is there any way we can eat in Blu on the first night?

Never heard of that.

[TommyD3]

On our first cruise last year, in Aqua, we had a note in our cabin on the first night saying to eat in the MDR.

 

It seems we weren't allowed to eat in Blu on the first night. Is that normal?

 

 

Just wondering if it will be the same on our next cruise, or is there any way we can eat in Blu on the first night?

What ship was that on?

Did you go to Select in the MDR?

Were you able to dine in Blu all the other nights?

[dkjretired]

I think you misinterpreted what was in the letter you received probably having to do with the word Select. The first night they have always requested you show up at a certain time however that is routinely ignored.

[AidenL]

What ship was that on?

Did you go to Select in the MDR?

Were you able to dine in Blu all the other nights?

 

It was Equinox and yes, we were Select in the MDR.

 

We ate in Blue every other night, yes.

 

I think you misinterpreted what was in the letter you received probably having to do with the word Select. The first night they have always requested you show up at a certain time however that is routinely ignored.

 

Yeah, as noobies, I guess we took the letter as an instruction - and went to the MDR. Will know better on the next cruise :)

[ivycruise]

On every one of our cruises in Aqua class, on the first night we've received a letter in our cabin with a suggested late dining time in Blu. I think it was at 8 or 830. But it also had a 30% off offer to dine in any of the speciality restaurants. We would ignore it if we dined in Blu on first night but we always take the discount to dine in Murano.

[keesar]

The first night in Blu is often chaotic. They have offered us great discounts at a Specialty Restaurant that first night. We have taken them up on that offer. Our note did encourage us to try a Specialty Restaurant the first night instead of Blu. But it did not say "don't come.".

 

We typically avoid Blu the first night due to unfortunate experiences in the past on that night.

[AidenL]

On every one of our cruises in Aqua class, on the first night we've received a letter in our cabin with a suggested late dining time in Blu. I think it was at 8 or 830. But it also had a 30% off offer to dine in any of the speciality restaurants. We would ignore it if we dined in Blu on first night but we always take the discount to dine in Murano.

 

The first night in Blu is often chaotic. They have offered us great discounts at a Specialty Restaurant that first night. We have taken them up on that offer. Our note did encourage us to try a Specialty Restaurant the first night instead of Blu. But it did not say "don't come.".

 

We typically avoid Blu the first night due to unfortunate experiences in the past on that night.

 

That sounds wise.

 

So in my cruise planner, it says that you avail of up to 45% discount if booking in advance. Is that actually correct, or is it still cheaper to book on board and negotiate a discount?

 

Its showing 98 Euros per person for a three night speciality deal currently.

[miched]

It was Equinox and yes, we were Select in the MDR.

 

We ate in Blue every other night, yes.

 

 

 

Yeah, as noobies, I guess we took the letter as an instruction - and went to the MDR. Will know better on the next cruise :)

 

Something was really wrong. When you went into the MDR they normally or should ask for your Seapass Card, especially on the first night. Seeing that it was AQ they should have directed you to Blu.

 

Happy cruising 🚢🌊🇺🇸🌞

[dkjretired]

It was Equinox and yes, we were Select in the MDR.

 

We ate in Blue every other night, yes.

 

 

 

Yeah, as noobies, I guess we took the letter as an instruction - and went to the MDR. Will know better on the next cruise :)

 

If you are in Aqua, you do not have a seat in the MDR whether it be select or traditional. That is why I say I think you misunderstood the letter.

[keesar]

If you are in Aqua, you do not have a seat in the MDR whether it be select or traditional. That is why I say I think you misunderstood the letter.

 

On your cruise docs, you will have a dinner time in the MDR given to you. That is just a glitch in the system. Your assigned dining room is Blu for dinner. We had a 6 pm dining in the MDR on our reservation but our assigned area was actually Blu if you are in Aqua Class.

[AidenL]

On your cruise docs, you will have a dinner time in the MDR given to you. That is just a glitch in the system. Your assigned dining room is Blu for dinner. We had a 6 pm dining in the MDR on our reservation but our assigned area was actually Blu if you are in Aqua Class.

 

Yep, that was what misled me - I assumed we had to go to the MDR.

 

Oh well, I will know for again.

[Papillon612]

That sounds wise.

 

So in my cruise planner, it says that you avail of up to 45% discount if booking in advance. Is that actually correct, or is it still cheaper to book on board and negotiate a discount?

 

Its showing 98 Euros per person for a three night speciality deal currently.

 

I just rechecked and a 3 night specialty dinner package is $109 US on the website. It was $109 for the same thing when we booked immediately after boarding the Reflection in January 2017. There would be no savings either way on the package.

 

We prefer to book the specialty dinner package upon boarding, rather than in advance. Our reason is that when you pre-book the package prior to boarding, you are assigned your first reservation time and restaurant, which has been made by Celebrity. Then you are able to book the additional nights as you desire. If you book onboard, you are able to better control the restaurant, day and time (if available) of your first reservation. We usually book all 3 nights at the time we purchase the package at one of the Specialty Dining kiosks as soon as we board. We have found that we get a better time for our needs than if Celebrity picks the restaurant and time (for the first dinner) for us.

 

However, like others have said, there is usually a discount for specialty restaurants on the first night, and sometimes on other nights. On the Summit in the Fall of 2015, Qsine had discounts on the last two nights of the cruise as well (30% on the next to last night and 50% on the last night). You have to ask to see if there are discounts other than the first night.

 

I hope this helps!

[Tyler80]

I received a call from Blu (a message left on the phone) saying my first nights suggested arrival time was 6:00pm. We ended up going at 7:00pm, and had to wait 15 minutes. We decided each night to go to the show and then to dinner at Blu around 8:15pm. By then, Blu was mostly empty, and it was a better dining time for us.