BosoxI

There is a thought as the picture shows all the serving pieces laying on the food after being handled, and not knowing if the previous person washed their hands before departing the restroom.

That is an excellent observation and I noticed it happened last week on the Eclipse, too. I'm used to it in the buffet but I would hope people who have cruised enough to be Elite would also have enough sense to handle the serving pieces properly. But then I am a dreamer. I always try to take food from the far side of the server in hopes that some idiot didn't place a serving handle that far back. Celebrity has more than its share of low lifes. (There, I said it and I'm glad!)

This is all very informative and interesting but lots seem to depend on getting to talk to the right agent. I just benefitted when an agent agreed to let me get a price break on a previously booked cabin AND keep my OBC which I had fully expected to lose.

I have a veranda now and am not sure if the perks are worth it.

Only if you are amassing points towards Elite.

It's our first cruise, and we're in AQ. Hearing all sorts of wonderful things about Blu, but...

 

Should we try the MDR? I'm wondering if just for the typical cruise experience???

 

What would YOU do?

There probably will be night(s) when the MDR menu will appeal to you more than Blu's. Don't fall prey to the "I paid for Blu and I'm only going to eat there" mentality. Also, most of the time on the first night of the cruise, Aqua class cruisers can get a 2 for 1 in the specialty restaurants. Well worth it.

We agree with you. We were on the Eclipse for the most recent New Year's cruise. We were in suite and we did go to Blu. The service was good. It was quieter but the food on that occasion was pedestrian at best.

 

We think that a better alternative would be to book the veranda cabin and then eat in the specialty restaurants when you want. I do think that the food in the MDR is by and large as good if not better than that in Blu. However, we opted to buy the ultimate dining package on this last cruise. Thought that it was a great bargain and allowed us to eat the various upcharge restaurants. Also like you we are happy to see =X= to have Blu for AQ passengers who really enjoy this venue.

We'll again be in Blu for the Connie's TA in November but past that point, I think it's going to be verandas and specialty restaurants for us. We're not big fans of Qsine and that's the killer for ultimate dining, but there usually are sufficient opportunities for discounts for other specialty restaurants to satisfy us. We have enjoyed Blu on the Connie in the past, so we hope our luck holds.

I wonder how recently you were on the Eclipse?

We sailed on the Eclipse in February and also had a not so wonderful experience. (Although, the sommelier was OUTSTANDING!)

We had previously sailed several times on the Solstice , also in Aqua, and the food and service in Blu were both wonderful.

I found the taste of some of the meals I had loved on the Solstice (and this was over a three year period) were eh on the Eclipse. Also, there never seemed to be enough servers so everyone was stressed and running around.

I thought (and still hope) that this was a one off on our cruise.

We're giving it a try this next year so I really hope things improve by then .

We disembarked two days ago.

I stand by all my comments. Excellent service, great venue, but the food was average at best. As I originally noted, a balcony cabin plus some nights in specialty restaurant might be a wiser choice.

Allow me to add few more observations. The noise level in Blu is NOT subdued, at times it's virtually impossible to converse. Tables are not that close IMO. Last night the menu in the MDR was far better than that in Blu. And the crayfish (lobster-ha) were so tough s to be inedible and uncuttable, too. Vegetables? You kidding? I had to search for them, eg. my bream with artichokes had one sliver of an artichoke. Other vegetables are so scarce they easily fit under the main item. Very disappointing this trip. As for game, farm raised duck and pheasant are hardly game and incidentally, my wife's pheasant last night surely was chicken.

Just like in the MDR, pitch till you win:D

I don't believe so.

The venue is very nice, the staff is efficient and friendly, but the food itself is pretty standard fare, and I have to wonder if it's any better than the MDR. Several appetizers were different and very good, the sweetbreads being the best. Some salads were also good because in part because they weren't standard fare, and the soups have been excellent every night. But the main course? Very average. My best meals were short ribs and prime ribs. And let me say that I don't order these two dishes except in desperation because nothing else on the menu was even remotely interesting. The desserts were sometimes up and sometimes down, down so much so that on most nights I didn't even bother with them. I am not a picky eater by any stretch, I thrive on offal, but the menu has been quite disappointing. I wonder if the added expense for Aqua is worth it or if I'm better off with a balcony cabin plus a few nights in a specialty restaurant. Something for me to consider for future cruises

On the current Eclipse TA I've had access every time I wanted the internet. We have left the Azores and are en route to S'hampton now. I expected to lose contact but never have, as far as I know.

We were on the cruise right before the TA and were told 1200 Elites & 1800 Captains Club members on the TA. Don't know if 1800 Elites is possible since the ship capacity is 2300-2400. Even at 1200 that is 50% of everyone onboard:)

We're on the Eclipse right now. 800 Elites of whom 250 or so are Elite +. Not a Zenith to be seen.

They are very similar and we like both pretty much equally. We think the food and itineraries are better on Princess, but we like the Solstice class ships more than the Princess ships we've been on. OTH the small Princess ships have always been a major attraction.

It's all a matter of taste and you really have to see for yourself, like most things in life.

As promised, I can report that the bottle of sparkling wine awaited us in our cabin on the Eclipse TA, as did all the previous amenities. Also, the crab bisque in Blu is not to be missed. Ship is crawling with Elites and higher. Murano left something to be desired, as my venison was severely overcooked. DW's lobster was excellent, as usual.

Read the discussion in the "Sparkling Wine???" Thread in CC Celebrity forum. Hope this answers your question.

Thanks. We had a bottle on the Connie's March 8 cruise, and tomorrow we'll board the Eclipse, so I'll have first hand experience in 30 hours or so. 'Twill be interesting to see what's up. We've always traded it in for a still wine and the credit has ranged from $18 t0 $32 depending on the ship and the sommelier.

How would I feed the Queen if I can't take breakfast to her?

I guess my only question for the OP is "Where or from whom did you hear the rumblings of Aqua cutbacks?"

I think Celebrity has enough change and confusion going on for now...but maybe in the future they can poll it or have a contest like they do for ship's names...

 

anything to promote harmony among their customers. Sometimes I feel like there's war going on...

 

The gems and metals are taken by Royal C . I'd love to see them aligned but if not, I am sure something nice is out there..

 

I never hear folks mentioning their levels unless making sure they get their perks and coupons correctly...those internet minutes and free laundry perks are a big plus!!

This is all lost on me. The OP was concerned that people introduce themselves pretentiously by saying " Hi, I'm Elite+ and you are..." so in the future they would say "Hi, I'm Horizon and you are..." What's the difference? Pretentious people will always be pretentious and jealous people will always be jealous. What's new?

So tell me how does one say " I am a Elite plus" without it sounding pretentious? If you were to go up to someone not thoroughly versed in Celebrity cruise language say a first time cruiser and introduced yourself with that statement what would their initial thoughts be?

 

Just wondering. :)

It's very simple and really no problem. I would never introduce myself in such a fashion. In fact I never mention my standing on X, or my education, or my income, or the size of my house, or...or...or...

I love Celebrity but people are people. I saw a lady picking food out of her teeth with her fingernails while sitting in the buffet. She may have sanitized her hands upon entering but once she put her fingers in her mouth her hand sanitizing is worth nothing.

I don't mean to be "picky" but no lady picks her teeth with anything, not in public, at least. I'm sure you meant to say "a woman"...

I'm bracing for the one man band which is sure to come. Looking forward to your post on mdr and drink packages....

We'll be on the TA this weekend and I'm taking my washboard, my kazoo, and a Jew's harp. If I'm well received (and I'm sure I will be), X indicates a long term contract may be in order. Excuse me, but I have to brush up on playing the spoons, as it's been a while:p

Just curious, have you received them yet.....

Sort of. They haven't been added to our accounts, but we have been moved into Elite +, so we're happy.

I do hope that if you order something, you'll finish it, rather than chuck it after one bite. The amount of food wasted on a ship is disgusting. Once I order, consider it eaten unless it is truly fatty, gristly, or poorly prepared

The actual wording relative to the award of the 25 points was always clearly stated and I quote in part"...Bonus Club points will be added within 14 days after conclusion of sailing." How else could it be? Of course the 14 day period is a joke, as many of us have learned

Thought it would work out for you. Enjoy your cruise and your new Elite+ benefits.

Thank you and enjoy your next one which will really be special, I'm sure

A Navy officer told me that soot is caused by a poor fuel mixture. If this is true, it sounds like it could be corrected. Can any of you old salts confirm? The guy was an 06, so he should have known something