New to Celebrity: Looking for info on Beyond

[CariBear]

Going on the Beyond in February as a first time Celebrity cruiser. I’ve cruised about 30 times, but feel like a newbie, as my family cruises with Disney and RCCL. This cruise is for a family member’s birthday and we are going with an older crowd. Suffice it to say, I am by no means a spring chicken at 50, but most of our group will be between 70-80. 
 

We are on Deck 7 in an infinite balcony cabin, with anytime dining. From what I have been able to find, we should make dining reservations each night. Is this important? Since we are with a group of 15 people, I would assume it would be hard to be seated together if we go in each night with no reservations. Looks like each complimentary restaurant has signature dishes and then the rest of the menu is the same? 
 

What about shows? Are there set showtimes each night that we should book our dining around? With Disney, we have set showtimes for early and late seating, so it’s easy to plan our days. Even with RCCL, I am a planner and usually go with Traditional Dining (late). 
 

What about quiet places to read? Even with a verandah, I usually spend my time on the outside decks in a lounger, reading. 

 

Excursions seem limited as well. There just doesn’t seem to be as many choices as I am used to. Might need to look outside the cruise line. 
 

I have a feeling this cruise will be very different than what I am used to, but then again, maybe not? 
 

Thanks for your help!
 

 

[jelayne]

Are you reservations linked?  A group of 15 most likely will not be seated together.  You may be seated in a group of 7 and 8.  
 

I would suggest that reservations are made for at least the first 2 or 3 nights.  When you board I recommend going to one of the 4 MDRs and explaining the the MD that you are a group of 15 and if everyone wants to eat in the same dining room at the same time the MD will do their best to accommodate you.  You are correct about the menus, however you can order any of the signature dishes in any of the dining rooms.
 

The shows are normally at 7 and 9, no reservations.

 

There are areas around the pool and a large area up on Deck 15  that you can find a lounger and read.  There is also a area outside of Eden  and the Sunset Bar is large with lots of seating area that is fairly quiet mid day. 
 

Enjoy your cruise.  We love the Beyond.

 

 

[Salt Lifer]

With a group that size it might be in your best interests to switch to a reserved seating time.  Our last cruise we had anytime dining and made our reservations well in advance, and even then it was hard to get the times we wanted (for just the two of us).  If eating together is a priority for your group you will want to have a set time reserved.

[Denny01]

We’ve done cruises with largish groups, and we set up dining for 4 and rotated who sat with whom each night so all dined together, but not all together. It’s just impossible to ‘enjoy’ a large group even of 7 or 8, at one table and it becomes just talking to the person sitting next or across from you anyway. So we set u 4-person dining. That worked for us much better and it’s hard to get a large group to meet up at the same time, and get served decently. 

 

Just an idea. Good input by other poster to set up one of the MDRs and at a set time. You can order the special dishes from the other MDRs in any of the restaurants.

 

Good luck planning it all for that large of a group!

 

Den

[jelayne]

Unless things have changed recently, Beyond stopped traditional dining after our TA and everyone had Select (Anytime) dining.

[Salt Lifer]

29 minutes ago, jelayne said:

Unless things have changed recently, Beyond stopped traditional dining after our TA and everyone had Select (Anytime) dining.

Interesting.  We are booked on Beyond this coming April and have late seating reserved.  We booked this cruise a year ago.  We had three dining options - early, late, or select.  

[CariBear]

Yes, I have read several reports of the dining being changed on this ship, but nothing official. Still trying to figure out show times as well, but haven’t come across anything. Very used to sailing the other lines and knowing where to go for information, but with Celebrity, I just can’t find what I am looking for. 
 

Thanks to all who replied!

[NaplesKnitter]

We just got off the Beyond and really loved it!  There are so many fun, quiet pockets of seating throughout the ship!  Wonderful ,live entertainment, unbelievable theater shows, and many stylish, fun bars .  We are also going back in Feb.

[TravelingCircusof5]

How does one even make reservations for the MDRs? 

[jelayne]

The shows are normally at. 7 and 9.

 

To make dinner reservation to to the Cruise Planner and look under Dining.  Scroll past the specialty restaurants, dining packages and you will find “Complimentary Dining”

The 4  MDRs are listed select which you want for which day and select a time.

[jmdlv1]

There are plenty of public spots inside and out for reading and relaxing.

The inside area around Eden is usually quiet and perfect for reading.

Lot's of seating around the expanded Sunset Bar outside.

 

The shows are all scheduled to last around 45 min . A couple of them lasted 5-10 min over.

Scheduling dinner around them was easy.

 

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

2 hours ago, TravelingCircusof5 said:

How does one even make reservations for the MDRs? 

Under Dining in the Cruise Planner.

[cw2go]

12 hours ago, jelayne said:

Unless things have changed recently, Beyond stopped traditional dining after our TA and everyone had Select (Anytime) dining.

 

This has also been recently reported for The Edge. 

[helen haywood]

I’m currently on Beyond.  There is no Early or Late fixed time dining onboard.  If one wants a set time you must make a reservation.  It does not matter if your invoice, app or Celebrity website tells you you have fixed early or late dining; once onboard it is all Anytime Dining on Beyond.  When I read about this development I tried to make some dinner reservations but it was too close to the sailing and all I was offered was 9:30.

 

So last night, our first night, we walked back to the 4 MDRs a bit before 6 pm (they open at 5:30)…long lines in front of all of them.  I was dismayed but figured we’d get a pager and go to Eden for a drink.  However, no one was given a pager…the lines were just waiting for an escort to a table.  We were seated at around 6 pm, had three courses, and were out at 7:20.

 

Beyond’s shows are currently not the Celebrity norm of 7 and 9; they are at 7:30 and 9:30. 

 

[mtempelaar]

18 hours ago, jelayne said:

 There is also a area outside of Eden  and the Sunset Bar is large with lots of seating area that is fairly quiet mid day. 

 

 

Clarifying to avoid confusion - the area INSIDE the ship outside Eden is quiet.  The area outside Eden that is actually OUTSIDE on deck is the smoking area.  It's quiet but OP should be aware it is one of the 3 smoking areas.  

[RichYak]

30 minutes ago, mtempelaar said:

Clarifying to avoid confusion - the area INSIDE the ship outside Eden is quiet.  The area outside Eden that is actually OUTSIDE on deck is the smoking area.  It's quiet but OP should be aware it is one of the 3 smoking areas.  

I think you may have added confusion--at least for me. I don't know what the bolded section of your text even means. By "outside Eden", do you mean the area across from Blu?

 

Also. there are 2 open air areas outside Eden. The port side is smoking, the starboard side, adjacent to Eden Cafe, is non-smoking.

[mtempelaar]

31 minutes ago, RichYak said:

I think you may have added confusion--at least for me. I don't know what the bolded section of your text even means. By "outside Eden", do you mean the area across from Blu?

 

Also. there are 2 open air areas outside Eden. The port side is smoking, the starboard side, adjacent to Eden Cafe, is non-smoking.

Good point on the port side versus starboard side.  

 

Yes kinda across from Blu but more of across from Mankind and next to La Maison Du Chocolat at the entrance to Eden.  My point was inside in the air conditioned area versus outside in the open air.  

[RedneckBob]

Avoid the elevators. Just kidding but hope they work better than last weeks cruise. 
 

Though already posted there is no more fixed seating on this ship. I would suggest you book now for reservations. If you wait till you get to ship you will be surprised how few times are available. On the 11/13/22 sailing only times available for dinner was after 9 pm a month prior to sailing and this did not change.

[Salt Lifer]

7 hours ago, helen haywood said:

I’m currently on Beyond.  There is no Early or Late fixed time dining onboard.  If one wants a set time you must make a reservation.  It does not matter if your invoice, app or Celebrity website tells you you have fixed early or late dining; once onboard it is all Anytime Dining on Beyond.  When I read about this development I tried to make some dinner reservations but it was too close to the sailing and all I was offered was 9:30.

 

So last night, our first night, we walked back to the 4 MDRs a bit before 6 pm (they open at 5:30)…long lines in front of all of them.  I was dismayed but figured we’d get a pager and go to Eden for a drink.  However, no one was given a pager…the lines were just waiting for an escort to a table.  We were seated at around 6 pm, had three courses, and were out at 7:20.

 

Beyond’s shows are currently not the Celebrity norm of 7 and 9; they are at 7:30 and 9:30. 

 

Can I ask, did you book a set time (early or late) and Celebrity just eliminated it and didn't tell you?  

[kwokpot]

22 minutes ago, Salt Lifer said:

Can I ask, did you book a set time (early or late) and Celebrity just eliminated it and didn't tell you?  

Basically yes, that's how it went. It started with the 10/26th sailing. I made the post here on CC and basically no one believed me. One person thought I was making it up and thought Celebrity would never do something like that, which is EXACTLY what they did. 

[jelayne]

4 hours ago, RedneckBob said:

Avoid the elevators. Just kidding but hope they work better than last weeks cruise. 
 

Though already posted there is no more fixed seating on this ship. I would suggest you book now for reservations. If you wait till you get to ship you will be surprised how few times are available. On the 11/13/22 sailing only times available for dinner was after 9 pm a month prior to sailing and this did not change.

Post #14 indicates that people with no reservations were being seated last night at 6 with no wait.  

[RedneckBob]

11 minutes ago, jelayne said:

Post #14 indicates that people with no reservations were being seated last night at 6 with no wait.  

Thanks. I guess I missed it. On our 11/13/22 sailing I heard that some passengers could get into the MDR without reservations but I also talked to several passengers who did not and wish they had made reservations prior to boarding.

[Denny01]

I don’t think Ive seen this mentioned, but if you are making reservations that include others, especially a very large group, you’ll need the SR#’s for everyone. It’s not the same as a restaurant and you call and tell them the time and number, you’ll need their SR#. 

 

Den

[SbbquilterUT]

Another thought - go to one of the dining rooms after boarding and introduce your group.  It may be easier for them if they seated you in the same area of one restaurant as you can order off any of the menus (shared kitchen).  That way the wait staff would know you.

[helen haywood]

16 hours ago, Salt Lifer said:

Can I ask, did you book a set time (early or late) and Celebrity just eliminated it and didn't tell you?  

No, we had Anytime.  I had not made reservations as we’ve sailed Edge before with no issues…even before covid.  When I found out about the change it was too late for me to get reservations.  We’ve had to adjust and eat earlier than we normally would.  The problem is the number of people who did book Early or Late are now thrown in the pool with the Anytime folks so there are more people lined up.  Also, unlike S Class, there are not separate lines for those with and those without reservations.  So even if you had reservations you’d still be standing in line to get to the hostess…although hopefully you would receive a table and not a pager.

 

I heard some extremely unhappy people who had demanded to speak to an officer on the first night when the hostess had to inform them they did not have a table even though they are holding a Celebrity invoice stating they do.  I feel really sorry for the hostesses.  This certainly is not their fault and yet they have to break the bad news.  Last night there was an officer/manager at the podium with the hostess…hopefully he was there to help with irate passengers.