Blu BIG disappointment

[KKCruisers]

I'm the poster that mentioned salt....and it makes a HUGE difference to me as I don't use any at home and the MDR food is loaded with it...part of why it tastes good....It was wonderful to find the food in Blu not laden with it....as a result I 1)Gained no weight on the cruise and 2)did not have swollen hands or ankles for the FIRST time ever on a ship....

 

So I like Blu for a multitude of reasons....it's always been so frustrating for me as I work hard in the gym to maintain and a few days on a ship and I feel like a blimp....not so this one and the only difference I know of was the food in Blu!! But I for one AM GLAD that not everyone likes it.....would become too much of a demand, prices would rise, and then it would cost more to cruise at that level...so to each his own..no doubt we can all find SOME venue on a ship to satisfy our respective taste buds!!!:D

 

Hi Gracie, I was wondering if you knew if X takes requests for special diets. I know if you ask the airlines they will give you a salt free diet. I was just wonder what X would do if you requested that. I also have a problem with salt and swelling of my ankles. My doctor has tried some blood pressure pills to relieve it, but I can't take them. She told me to just use the water pills from the health food store when I think I might need them. I usually start off fine walking up and down the stairs and by the end of a cruise I'm just about making it around my ankles are hurting so much. I didn't know about Blu not using so much salt so I just booked the MDR. Do the special dining rooms use a lot of salt too?

Thanks,

[Gracie115]

Hi Gracie, I was wondering if you knew if X took requests for special diets. I know if you ask the airlines they will give you a salt free diet. I was just wonder what X would do if you requested that. I also have a problem with salt and swelling of my ankles. My doctor has tried some blood pressure pills to relieve it, but I can't take them. She told me to just use the water pills from the health food store when I think I might need them. I usually start off fine walking up and down the stairs and by the end of a cruise I'm just about making it around my ankles are hurting so much. I didn't know about Blu not using so much salt so I just booked the MDR. Do they special dining room use a lot of salt too?

 

 

I know you can let X know ahead of time that you would like a low sodium diet and they will do it. The choices are very good.

 

I don't know if Murano's and Tuscan Grill use a lot of sodium, I would guess yes just because the food tends to be richer there, but I don't know.

 

Blu was nice because if you wanted something from the MDR, like escargot they would get it for you, but I stuck with their menu and was very happy.

 

But you don't have to stay in AQ to get lower sodium foods. I know they ask on their website if you need a special diet when making a reservation so your TA should be able to set that up for you if you want. Hope that helps.:)

[Gracie115]

Does that mean I should skip Equinox if I'm not booked in Aqua Class and dining in Blu? Comment please. I'm not really on a cruise for the food.

Thank you in advance.

-Maris

 

 

No, absolutely not!! The Main Dining Food is fine too. If you're on a cruise to relax, with great service, beautiful surroundings, you'll love it. AQ is nice, but I'd be happy being anywhere on one of those ships!!!

[tcher0619]

We were on the Solstice last February and loved every minute, even more after finding out that there was a blizzard at home. This October we are doing a TA on the Equinox in AQ. Looking forward to being able to decide which is best. I know that no matter which is the winner, I am coming out ahead.

[Gunnerpup]

I have heard this from so many people, and not just solstice, but general aqua class/con service...it's just not worth the $200 more for a few bits of fruit and cheese and the spa....anyone else have more intel?

[hcat]

opinions seem quite varied.. we enjoyed the MDr on two Solstice cruises--Carib & Europe... Service was excellent both times!!!

 

although we never tried Blu I did note the menus whenever we went to Silk Harvest or Tuscan Grille (both truly excellent!)...anyhow the BLU offerings seemed much more limited than in the MDR--only the smaller setting & a more personalized service would attract us--maybe!

[FinelyCruising]

Gunnerpup....For CC, there are those including myself that will say there are little extras that are worth it. Its about what one is willing to pay or able to pay for creature comforts and amenities.

 

Right now we had a price reduction today on our cruise, reduce $300 for the same cabin, reduce $540 to go down a notch. I will not give up the footstool on the balcony, I like to read and relax there and the foot stool and afternoon cheese and crackers does it for me along with what I believe to be near butler service. I might actually drink the champagne this time because some said make it into a Mimosa. I usually don't drink for breakfast on the veranda, but hey, why not, we'll call it brunch, and then I have had a Mimosa with my eggs.:o

 

AQ gives you all that and a bit more plus a dining experience too to build on.

[Gracie115]

I have heard this from so many people, and not just solstice, but general aqua class/con service...it's just not worth the $200 more for a few bits of fruit and cheese and the spa....anyone else have more intel?

 

 

It's not just a bit of fruit and cheese...being able to dine in Blu makes the difference for us. I'm sure the main dining room is great, but I like the choices that Blu gives us and I REALLY like the smaller venue, seems to provide better service. But if you don't feel good about it...don't do it because the ship is great no matter what stateroom you're in!!!

[ohiocruisemom56]

We're going on Solstice in 10 days...in AQ....and one of the things we really enjoy on a cruise is meeting people at a large table in the dining room. It's all tables for 2? I'm "stuck" with dh for 7 dinners in a row? Not that I don't love dh....but meeting people is fun! Any chance that they'll put us with some new cruise friends?

 

I'm really looking forward to trying AQ and Blu. We were on Solstice a year ago and absolutely loved it. This year we'd booked a RCI cruise (we like to alternate) but dh had a business meeting and we had to do a last-minute switch. It seemed easiest to do what we knew...but we upgraded to AQ this time (we had a balcony on the hump last time), mostly to get bottled water in the cabin (I went nuts looking for water last time...one of the few things I disliked about Solstice) and to have a different menu and scenery in Blu. I'm trying to lose some weight, and hoping that there will be more healthful choices (and lower sodium too...).

 

Virginia

[Lois R]

Does that mean I should skip Equinox if I'm not booked in Aqua Class and dining in Blu? Comment please. I'm not really on a cruise for the food.

Thank you in advance.

-Maris

 

No, not everyone has AQ cabins. The % of cabins in that class are quite small (as opposed to the rest of the ship)

So most people book regular cabins and eat in the main dining room or they try some of the specialty restaurants or they do both.

And then are those folks who prefer suites or certain other cabins that are not in AQ. And then there are those of us who only book the

regular cabin with regular balcony or even a window or maybe an inside.

It all depends on priorities and what is important to the individual.

[sptrout]

We're going on Solstice in 10 days...in AQ....and one of the things we really enjoy on a cruise is meeting people at a large table in the dining room. It's all tables for 2? I'm "stuck" with dh for 7 dinners in a row? Not that I don't love dh....but meeting people is fun! Any chance that they'll put us with some new cruise friends?

 

Virginia

 

There are some tables that seat more than two, but I am sure that they are "open" in that they will seat unrelated couples/groups together. I did not see that any way.

 

However, most tables for two are set very close together (<2') so it is very easy to start a conversation with the people seated to your left, right, or both. It is also easy to not start a conversation if you do not want to.

 

Of the seven nights that we ate in Blu, the table next to us was occupied most, but not all evenings. So we did meet about 5 couples during our cruise.

[CruiserDoc]

Hello Ohiocruisermom54!! I believe we may be on the same cruise-2/28th?? We are "escorting" our next door neighbors on their first cruise that sailing. It's just the 4 of us in Aqua Class--if you'd be interested, we could get together for dinner? Is there a night early on that you'd want to meet up? You can email me at cruiserdoc at aol dot com. Should be a fun trip!! We've cruised quite a bit; the last was a Panama Canal sailing on the Jewel of the Seas last October---fun time! Let me know if you'd be interested.

Tom

[sptrout]

There are some tables that seat more than two, but I am sure that they are "open" in that they will seat unrelated couples/groups together. I did not see that any way.

 

Sorry to quote myself, but I just saw that I mistyped the sentence above. It should say: There are some tables that seat more than two, but I am NOT sure that they are "open" in that they will seat unrelated couples/groups together.

[librarylady19]

No, not everyone has AQ cabins. The % of cabins in that class are quite small (as opposed to the rest of the ship)

So most people book regular cabins and eat in the main dining room or they try some of the specialty restaurants or they do both.

And then are those folks who prefer suites or certain other cabins that are not in AQ. And then there are those of us who only book the

regular cabin with regular balcony or even a window or maybe an inside.

It all depends on priorities and what is important to the individual.

 

Well said Lois!

[ohiocruisemom56]

Hello Ohiocruisermom54!! I believe we may be on the same cruise-2/28th?? We are "escorting" our next door neighbors on their first cruise that sailing. It's just the 4 of us in Aqua Class--if you'd be interested, we could get together for dinner? Is there a night early on that you'd want to meet up? You can email me at cruiserdoc at aol dot com. Should be a fun trip!! We've cruised quite a bit; the last was a Panama Canal sailing on the Jewel of the Seas last October---fun time! Let me know if you'd be interested.

Tom

Yep. That's our cruise. We were on Jewel for Christmas a couple of years ago with 17 family members...a good time, but very different than this type of vacation with just me and dh. We don't make plans ahead of time...but I really hope that we do meet you!

 

Virginia

[CruiserDoc]

Yep. That's our cruise. We were on Jewel for Christmas a couple of years ago with 17 family members...a good time, but very different than this type of vacation with just me and dh. We don't make plans ahead of time...but I really hope that we do meet you!

 

Virginia

 

Virginia--I don't know what I was thinking; we were actually on the Serenade of the Seas through the Canal (sister ship to the Jewel, you know). Anyway, we are looking forward to the Solstice, and especially the experience in Blu. We haven't sailed Celebrity since a long time ago on the Zenith!! Are you Captains Club Elite by chance? We plan on visiting Michaels Club for the "cocktail hour" in the aft/eve. Maybe we'll meet up there!

Take care & safe travels next week!

Tom

[KKCruisers]

I know you can let X know ahead of time that you would like a low sodium diet and they will do it. The choices are very good.

 

I don't know if Murano's and Tuscan Grill use a lot of sodium, I would guess yes just because the food tends to be richer there, but I don't know.

 

Blu was nice because if you wanted something from the MDR, like escargot they would get it for you, but I stuck with their menu and was very happy.

 

But you don't have to stay in AQ to get lower sodium foods. I know they ask on their website if you need a special diet when making a reservation so your TA should be able to set that up for you if you want. Hope that helps.:)

 

Thanks Gracie, somehow I had a feeling you would know. I will contact my TA and see what she can do. I also took your advise on San Juan and booked Albert for the tour. We are really looking forward to our cruise.

Thanks again,

Katt

[BlackPear]

We sailed Solstice in May 09 in AQ class. Blu was fantastic. One of the highlights of the cruise. Now eight of us are returning this year on Equinox, all in AQ cabins. Blu is one of the great benefits of AQ in my opinion.

[Gracie115]

We sailed Solstice in May 09 in AQ class. Blu was fantastic. One of the highlights of the cruise. Now eight of us are returning this year on Equinox, all in AQ cabins. Blu is one of the great benefits of AQ in my opinion.

 

 

I agree!!

[JDnChristina]

Thanks to all for posting info about Blu. It sounds like a wide array of opinions. Now that I know dessert may not be the best, it sounds like I will be checking out the MDR options and ordering from there if I want!! (I NEVER skip dessert on a cruise. I do enough to control diet/weight every other day of the year. So what if it's a few more body combat classes!!!:eek:)

 

We are dining with two other couples, luckily, and none of us seem to have a problem aquiring friends on a cruise, (we all met on a cruise 4 years ago) so it sounds like we will be ok.:o

 

HAPPY SAILING TO YOU ALL!

[ohiocruisemom56]

Virginia--I don't know what I was thinking; we were actually on the Serenade of the Seas through the Canal (sister ship to the Jewel, you know). Anyway, we are looking forward to the Solstice, and especially the experience in Blu. We haven't sailed Celebrity since a long time ago on the Zenith!! Are you Captains Club Elite by chance? We plan on visiting Michaels Club for the "cocktail hour" in the aft/eve. Maybe we'll meet up there!

Take care & safe travels next week!

Tom

 

We're the middle level, can't remember what it's called. We will probably be at the martini bar before dinner...and like to eat on the later side so that we have time to exercise, relax in the hot tub, get ready and then hit the martini bar (and I don't even drink martinis). Our first cruise was on the Zenith...to Bermuda.

 

See you on the Solstice!

 

Virginia

[cherylterr]

Hello,

 

to all you Blu experts; on formal nights we will probably be eating in our room - is it possible to order off the Blu menu those evenings? We are in aquaclass... or do you have to order from either MDR or rooms service?

This may sound crazy - but can one do "carry out" and get your Blu meal

yourself? (please don't laugh... that sounds weird even to me!)

 

thanks for any help!

[uktog]

Hello,

 

to all you Blu experts; on formal nights we will probably be eating in our room - is it possible to order off the Blu menu those evenings? We are in aquaclass... or do you have to order from either MDR or rooms service?

This may sound crazy - but can one do "carry out" and get your Blu meal

yourself? (please don't laugh... that sounds weird even to me!)

 

thanks for any help!

 

You cannot do Blu room service

I have never seen anyone to a whole meal carry out from any of the "sitting down" restaurants on board - buffet maybe. Most I have seen is a dessert being taken away

[librarylady19]

Hello,

 

to all you Blu experts; on formal nights we will probably be eating in our room - is it possible to order off the Blu menu those evenings? We are in aquaclass... or do you have to order from either MDR or rooms service?

This may sound crazy - but can one do "carry out" and get your Blu meal

yourself? (please don't laugh... that sounds weird even to me!)

 

thanks for any help!

Not sure why you'd want to avoid Blu on formal nights? A tux and long gown are not required attire. A nice short dress and shirt/tie for a man would certainly not be out of place. Only difference (besides everyone being a little more dressed up) was they served rack of lamb - didn't have lobster on the 4 night and didn't care as I'd rather have lamb any day.

[cherylterr]

If we don't look out of place with hubby only have nice shirt and tie we may attend. This cruise is only part of a longer holiday and packing space is precious. But I would sure like to have that rack of lamb!