Blu Restaurant

[chriswat]

We are travelling on the Summit from NYC on the 21st September in a Sky Suite - we note from the Celebrity site that only Aqua Class guests can dine in Blu......I seem to recall seeing in one of the forums that Suite guests can dine there also and am wondering if that is the case ?

[Northern Aurora]

Passengers booked in a suite can dine in Blu on a space available basis for dinner. Space is generally available at breakfast, so Blu is an option for passengers in suites. Blu is not open for lunch.

[chriswat]

Passengers booked in a suite can dine in Blu on a space available basis for dinner. Space is generally available at breakfast, so Blu is an option for passengers in suites. Blu is not open for lunch.

 

Many thanks for that - we will probably try for breakfast - much appreciate your reply

[Northern Aurora]

chriswat: Please also try Blu for dinner. Just be aware that if you appear at the most popular time those passengers booked in Aqua will be given priority seating, and you may have to wait.

[4774Papa]

BLU is great.

[cmoq]

We were in a Sky Suite last week and ate in Blu every night but one, which we ate in "Q". We usually went about 6:30 to dinner, and it was never crowded. Had a great time there and they only charged for 3 of the nights!

[gracecarmo]

CMOQ: what ship were you on? And what was the charge?

[cmoq]

We were on the Summit and the charge was $5. p/p per day.

[Gonzo70]

There is no charge for suite guests to dine in Blu; there USED to be a $5 per/person surcharge, but this has not been the case for some time now.

[Christine Frances]

There is no charge for suite guests to dine in Blu; there USED to be a $5 per/person surcharge, but this has not been the case for some time now.

 

Apparently this happened last week.

 

 

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[Gonzo70]

Apparently this happened last week.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

The company policy is no charge; there likely are still some individual workers who are not aware the policy changed (even though it was quite some time ago).

[galavant3]

On the 8/4 sailing of the Summit we were told by the maitre d' that the policy for suite guests is that they were requested to make reservations and there was a charge of $5 per person.

[cmoq]

We never made reservations, but we were charged $5. p/p per day for the first three days we ate there, but not on the last three days. It was wonderful! Well worth the $30. we paid for the first three days. We went between 6:00 & 7:00, and it was never close to full.

[jenniebnyc]

We were in a Sky Suite on Summit in January and had dinner in BLU often. We never waited (usually dined around 8pm), always received a banquette and were never charged a fee. The same holds true for our cruise on the Eclipse the prior January.

[bphman]

We just got off the Summit. There was a dinner charge that I interpreted as gratuity of $5 p/p. We had all of our breakfasts there and only one dinner at the insistence of the Maitre d'. Breakfast was great and there was always a table. Blu was crowded at 8 PM and I suspect they may try and limit suite guests in the future. Too many complaints from AQ passengers having to wait. It is only fair that they have priority over suite guests.

[Gonzo70]

On the 8/4 sailing of the Summit we were told by the maitre d' that the policy for suite guests is that they were requested to make reservations and there was a charge of $5 per person.

 

That is a very dated policy - it is no longer the case. The maitre d' was mistaken.

[Cruising89143]

There is a suggested gratuity of $5.00 per person.

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/planAndBook/tabLanding.do?pagename=onboard_dining#onboard_specialty_dining_tab/onboard/asrPanel.do?pagename=onboard_specialty_dining

[galavant3]

That is a very dated policy - it is no longer the case. The maitre d' was mistaken.

 

 

The maitre d' in question was Mazy. It is my understanding that he goes from ship to ship assisting with the operation of Blu dining venues. In fact he is leaving the Summit and heading for Reflection. Perhaps the policy has changed but I find it hard to believe that Mazy was mistaken.

[jenniebnyc]

The policy says it is recommended, not mandatory. They should not automatically assess a fee according to the terms noted in the link attached in the above post.

[ClaudiaB]

You won't be charged, no worries. They'll ask for your stateroom number to confirm you are in the suite. A few years ago we were charged, but just one night. After that, even before the "no cost to suite guests" we weren't charged.

We've sailed in the sky suites a number of times and we always eat in Blu. Never been a problem, not even once, and I estimate we've eaten as suite guests in Blu close to 60 nights. The first night we let them get settled in and go to Tuscan Grill or some other specialty restaurant. It's our tradition I guess. Blu is great, like an upscale main dining room with better food, better service, more personal touch and attention. The difference between large banquet dinner food and atmosphere and nice restaurant food and atmosphere.

The short ribs are wonderful. Their filet mignon is great as is their lobster tail.

Have a great cruise!!

[galavant3]

The policy says it is recommended, not mandatory. They should not automatically assess a fee according to the terms noted in the link attached in the above post.

 

Very good point. Thanks for clarifying that.

[Christine Frances]

I think the reason being that suite guests tips go to the MDR staff not.Blu.

 

 

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[jenniebnyc]

We do not prepay gratuities. We pay for quality of service.

[galavant3]

I think the reason being that suite guests tips go to the MDR staff not.Blu.

 

 

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That makes perfect sense!

[ghstudio]

every night a few aqua class guests dine in the MDR...and every night a few suite guests dine in Blu. That's reasonable and generally it's pretty fair. Now there is a suite guest every so often that eats all or most of their meals in Blu....and that's where I think the $5 pp charge is appropriate.