Top Floor Dining Packages

[tgg]

Heike did exactly this at her table on our recent Baltic cruise on Journey, and it worked out very well.

 

For this and so many other reasons, we will miss Heike when we board the Journey in a few weeks. She is wonderful.

Edited July 22, 2014 by tgg

[marinaro44]

Says who?

"The man in Aqualina [presumably the maitre d']..." See posting #41 in this thread. That's Azamara policy, and it's a fair one.

[BaltiGator]

While I unsderstand it is a perk for suite guests, I have trouble believing that anyone pays the average $1000 extra for that $175 benefit, just as I'm sure the free small bottles of booze in the suite are also not the reason most people book a suite. A suite is worth it for the extra space, and perhaps to some, the Butler service, but deciding to book one or not based on the specialty restaurant availability seems like overkill.

 

I would say you are mostly right. Our decision to book and pay for a suite, as we did on our first Azamara cruise and also have done for our upcoming back-to-back, was largely based on the extra space in the cabin. However, for us at least, the value of a suite isn't entirely based on that one feature. Eating in the specialty restaurants with no upcharge definitely DID influence our decision. So did getting the little bottles of booze, though by a miracle of Biblical proportions we turned ours into bottles of wine. :)

 

The butler service, for us, does not add much. But I'm sure there are others for whom a different combination of suite amenities tips the scale, just as there are people who are not swayed to spend any more of their hard earned bucks on a suite at all.

 

Would we not choose a suite in the future if the specialty restaurant perk becomes harder to take advantage of? I'm not sure. More likely, we would give greater consideration to other lines altogether. Again, this is all about marketing. Azamara needs to decide which customers they are going after and how best to snag and retain them. Then the market will decide if Azamara's strategies are working or not. If it were up to me, suite guests would get at least some kind of priority in the specialty restaurants. But I'm sure that makes me sound like someone who always insists on a suite. ;)

[oddjob16]

There just appear to be a vocal very few here who have expressed concern that they might not have access any time they'd like, and that, in my opinion, is an utterly unrealistic expectation.

 

If Azamara at some point decides to have a private restaurant for suite guests only, a la NCL's Haven, they are free to do so, and should advertise it that way so there is no misunderstanding. But, as of July 22, 2014, the specialty restaurants are open to everyone on a first-come, first-reserved basis. If someone objects to that, there's always NCL.;)

Marinaro: I don't interpret any of these "very few" as wanting access any time they like.

The first come first serve has always worked well, but doesn't seem to be working well now.

Our last cruise was full and the second day into the cruise we put ourselves on the waiting list for any of the specialty restaurants. We never got in. When they sell packages with at least three pre-booked nights it will influence the rest of the passengers,-including suite guests.

IMHO Azamara has "fiddled" with a concept that actually did work well, and now it doesn't anymore.

[uktog]

I am sure Azamara have their eye on it but the introduction of the Suite class, Private Suite only dining room and additional perks on Celebrity may cause some guests who are less concerned about the smaller ports to jump ship if they think based on currently reported experiences that they cannot access the dining they believe has been promised each night

 

That said the pricing on Celebrity for these suites and the small ship experience will keep many of us still with Azamara

Edited July 23, 2014 by uktog

[Spursgirl]

I'm with those that think the introduction of the dining packages has caused issues where none existed before.

 

Having said that I do think suite guests should have the opportunity to dine in the speciality restaurants at least two or three times if they wish.

 

Having created the problem it is for Azamara to sort it out. As the on board team are so guest focused hopefully they will. The last thing they want is unhappy passengers,suite guests or not.

[marinaro44]

Marinaro: I don't interpret any of these "very few" as wanting access any time they like.

You don't? Then read these postings from earlier this thread:

 

How do the new dining packages impact Club Suite occupants who get no cost access to the specialty restaurants? Will the ability to get a table be less if more people take advantage of the packages? One of the things that we really liked was to make an impromptu decision on where to eat. What now?

 

Once again Azamara promise one thing and deliver another.

I agree with Deidre.

 

I quote from 2015 Brochure.

"As our suite guest you will enjoy complimentary dining in Aqualina and Prime C (reservations recommended)"

NOTE not compulsory!!

This to me means that speciality dining is treated as dining in Discoveries i.e. Turn up and eat.

Additionally they also offer what is also almost certainly impossible

 

Quote " plus premium 24 hour service from

restaurant menus"

 

Reading that you could reasonably assume that means that anything on "restaurant menus" should be available 24 hours a day.

[Xport]

Again, this is all about marketing. Azamara needs to decide which customers they are going after and how best to snag and retain them. Then the market will decide if Azamara's strategies are working or not.

 

But to my mind, there is no single answer...

 

I generally travel solo; life suggests that many face that prospect some day and changing attitudes toward marriage/divorce further that demographic... I have no need for the space afforded by traveling in a suite and the other amenities associated with doing so are mostly lost on/unimportant to me... I can count on one hand--and have fingers left over--the number of times I've sailed with a reduced single supplement... I spend generously on ship-sponsored tours, specialty restaurants [in the company of prior and new cruise friends; I'm not taking up a table alone], at the spa, and in the casino... And if Azamara/Celebrity were to have awarded me the same number of Cruise Points--as Royal Caribbean does--in their loyalty programs [which to some extent have always considered level of accommodation but which now place a significant premium on suite travel] as they did to couples with equal spend, I'd be way over the minimum threshold for the highest tier of membership in Captain's Club and Le Club Voyage...

 

And so, I'm not sure if the demographic more worthy of target is the guest who sails within the family of brands for 50/60 days per year--year after year--or if it's the guest, who either by choice or by other commitment, sails in a suite sporadically at a few thousand dollar premium... Both may well be of relatively equal value over the long term to the cruise line but to my mind one group should not benefit, to the exclusion of the other, when it comes to access to the specialty dining venues that have historically been available to all...

 

Azamara's system was not broken in the past; I fail to see why it should seemingly have become broken now... And it occurs to me that Celebrity may have it right... They have long offered suite guests with one or two complimentary meals in their specialty restaurants depending upon cruise length; they now have an initiative in progress to create a more upscale dining experience for suite guests within a section of their Main Dining Rooms...

[oddjob16]

You don't? Then read these postings from earlier this thread:

I stand corrected. :)

[dln929]

Over 80 posts and thus far no suite guest has come on and said "I wanted to eat in Prime C/Aqualina and I couldn't because every seat was taken by (suite or non-suite guests; take your pick)." Until that happens this a lot of talk about theory, not practice.

 

[Grandma Gilly]

Over 80 posts and thus far no suite guest has come on and said "I wanted to eat in Prime C/Aqualina and I couldn't because every seat was taken by (suite or non-suite guests; take your pick)." Until that happens this a lot of talk about theory, not practice.

 

 

As this is a new issue I think your remarks are premature.

[dln929]

As this is a new issue I think your remarks are premature.

I don't think so. It's a lot of conjecture about something that may not come to fruition. We'll see how it pans out though. The packages are already in effect and if there are some slighted guests who have been unable to get reservations because of the popularity of these new packages, this forum will surely hear of it soon enough. ;)

[beachseeker]

Over 80 posts and thus far no suite guest has come on and said "I wanted to eat in Prime C/Aqualina and I couldn't because every seat was taken by (suite or non-suite guests; take your pick)." Until that happens this a lot of talk about theory, not practice.

 

 

We were in a suite for the Quest's San Juan to Miami cruise in December and wanted to eat in Aqualina and were not able to get a reservation. We tried booking on the first full day on board and was told all specialty restaurants were booked for the entire cruise.

[ellbon]

Over 80 posts and thus far no suite guest has come on and said "I wanted to eat in Prime C/Aqualina and I couldn't because every seat was taken by (suite or non-suite guests; take your pick)." Until that happens this a lot of talk about theory, not practice.

 

 

I am a suite guest and prefer dining late in prime C. i always have gotten in but ieat between 8:15 and 9 if i go to the show. I think the problem will be bigger for those who like to eat early.. when i arrive at the dock i will book and i can cancel if i am on land or not hungry..

 

I have been in Prime C when it is empty and also over crowded.

 

Robin

[beachseeker]

I am a suite guest and prefer dining late in prime C. i always have gotten in but ieat between 8:15 and 9 if i go to the show. I think the problem will be bigger for those who like to eat early.. when i arrive at the dock i will book and i can cancel if i am on land or not hungry..

 

I have been in Prime C when it is empty and also over crowded.

 

Robin

 

Robin, I think the itinerary makes a difference. Our Mediterranean cruise was similar to what you described above. Late nights in ports or overnights mean many passengers are eating onshore. Our last cruise was the Caribbean and over the holidays. There were many multi generation families on board and we saw many large groups dining together. One reservation would easily take 4 or 5 tables. Not sure whether we will sail Azamara again, but we definitely will not sail with Azamara for the Caribbean.

[marinaro44]

Over 80 posts and thus far no suite guest has come on and said "I wanted to eat in Prime C/Aqualina and I couldn't because every seat was taken by (suite or non-suite guests; take your pick)." Until that happens this a lot of talk about theory, not practice.

 

Good point.

 

Seems to me that the issue isn't whether just suite guests have difficulty getting a reservation but whether all guests--suite or non-suite--have difficulty. If this difficulty becomes prevalent then either the dining packages need to be stopped or a restriction on the number of reservations that can be made in the specialty reservations must be introduced. The latter approach would stop the practice of people rather selfishly booking a table every night of the cruise upon boarding the ship, which, if enough people do it, severely limits opportunities for everyone else.

[cruisesoho]

We recently returned from the Journey Baltic cruise. On the pier we booked a package of four dinners and had our preferred time of 8:00 p.m. About a week in, we booked another package of three and had our preferred restaurants and preferred dining time as well except for one evening when the time was 8:30 which was close enough. Very seamless. When you think about it they have really just reduced the price by $5.00 pp.

[dln929]

Good point.

 

Seems to me that the issue isn't whether just suite guests have difficulty getting a reservation but whether all guests--suite or non-suite--have difficulty. If this difficulty becomes prevalent then either the dining packages need to be stopped or a restriction on the number of reservations that can be made in the specialty reservations must be introduced. The latter approach would stop the practice of people rather selfishly booking a table every night of the cruise upon boarding the ship, which, if enough people do it, severely limits opportunities for everyone else.

 

Never going to happen here! No way would Rob and I miss Turkish night, Asian night, and French night in Windows. Not even if the specialty restaurants were free. :D

[BaltiGator]

The latter approach would stop the practice of people rather selfishly booking a table every night of the cruise upon boarding the ship, which, if enough people do it, severely limits opportunities for everyone else.

 

IMO there's nothing selfish about this behavior as long as the guest intends to honor the bookings.

 

Now, I agree it's a bit oinkish when people make bookings for every night in the specialty restaurants just so they can decide later which 2 or 3 nights they actually want to eat there, and cancel the rest at their convenience.

 

But personally, every night I can book in the specialty restaurants is a night I will honor my booking, because that's where I prefer to eat. It's not my job to try to calculate how my bookings may affect the overall supply and demand for the cruise. That's the cruise line's responsibility. So as long as Azamara lets me book to my heart's content, I as the paying customer will do so. If you think that makes me selfish, well, you're entitled to your opinion. But that's all it is - your opinion.

[dln929]

Just back from Quest and note they now have Dining Packages - which effectively mean that the specialty restaurants are booked out by lunch on Day 1!! They do represent very good value IMO.

 

3 Table Tour - $60pp

1 night at Aqualina; 1 night at Prime C and 3rd night at either

 

4 Table Tour - $80pp

2 nights at Aqualina; 2 nights at Prime C

 

Chefs Table Plus 2 - $115pp

1 night at Aqualina; 1 night at Prime C; 1 night at Chefs Table

 

Chefs Table Plus 4 - $155pp

2 nights at Aqualina; 2 nights at Prime C; 1 night at Chefs Table

 

Chefs Table Tour $255pp

3 nights at Chefs Table.

 

Ok, here's a question I hadn't thought of before. Can the dining packages be shared? Obviously the first one can't be shared, but how about the others? The $155 package of 1 dinner at the Chef's Table and 2 dinners at Aqualina and 2 dinners at Prime C, for example. If we were to purchase a single reservation at the Chef's Table to pony up with the package, we'd still have 4 dinners left. Would that mean that a couple could dine together one night at both restaurants? Or is the package--like the beverage package--strictly intended for the sole person who buys it? In which case a couple dining together would have to purchase 2 identical packages?

[tgg]

...

Seems to me that the issue isn't whether just suite guests have difficulty getting a reservation but whether all guests--suite or non-suite--have difficulty. If this difficulty becomes prevalent then either the dining packages need to be stopped or a restriction on the number of reservations that can be made in the specialty reservations must be introduced. The latter approach would stop the practice of people rather selfishly booking a table every night of the cruise upon boarding the ship, which, if enough people do it, severely limits opportunities for everyone else.

 

Selfish Al? I think not. I play by the rules. The rules say that people in suites can dine in Prime C or Aqualina every night if they wish at no additional cost. To enjoy the usual peace and quiet and excellent service of these two dining rooms, I make a reservation for every night when I'm in a suite.

 

When the rules change, so will I.;)

[ljk76]

We were on the cruise that Little Britain has reported on, and although we were lucky in booking, many were not. It was a 7 day cruise. Two nights were largely unavailable for specialty dining, between White Night (only Aqualina was available) and the Ana Ruchner concert. I don't think it selfish that suite guests make a number of reservations, it really was part of the package that caused us to go with a suite on our previous cruises. This cruise we planned to book one evening in both, it really is a very reasonable up charge, and the package just had us consider adding the Chefs Table. Very happy we did!

 

But I agree there seems to be a problem in need of fixing, and before the package I assume there was not? Soon Azamara will discover they can charge more for specialty dining...

[BBMacLaird]

I see this thread is gaining momentum, i.e., heating up, so I'll jump in here to say I have not heard on the internal grapevine that there is a problem around Guests getting into the Specialty Restaurants and/or the new Dining Packages.

 

That doesn't mean it isn't so, just that there's no internal buzz that there's a problem - which is one of the reasons I read this CC forum regularly - to see if a problem exists that we didn't know about. Sort of like reading indian smoke signals rising over the distant hills...some smoke means there's trouble brewing and other smoke simply means they're roasting dinner over the spit. What I'm saying in an off-handed way is that I worry this smoke has turned from dinner to trouble.

 

I have sent off an email to the Hotel Dept tonight to get an assessment. I expect I'll have some sort of response in the morning. I'll let you know when I hear.

 

Bonnie

[kiawahdon]

I see this thread is gaining momentum, i.e., heating up, so I'll jump in here to say I have not heard on the internal grapevine that there is a problem around Guests getting into the Specialty Restaurants and/or the new Dining Packages.

 

That doesn't mean it isn't so, just that there's no internal buzz that there's a problem - which is one of the reasons I read this CC forum regularly - to see if a problem exists that we didn't know about. Sort of like reading indian smoke signals rising over the distant hills...some smoke means there's trouble brewing and other smoke simply means they're roasting dinner over the spit. What I'm saying in an off-handed way is that I worry this smoke has turned from dinner to trouble.

 

I have sent off an email to the Hotel Dept tonight to get an assessment. I expect I'll have some sort of response in the morning. I'll let you know when I hear.

 

Bonnie

 

Very proactive and I am sure much appreciated!

[shamansue]

Over 80 posts and thus far no suite guest has come on and said "I wanted to eat in Prime C/Aqualina and I couldn't because every seat was taken by (suite or non-suite guests; take your pick)." Until that happens this a lot of talk about theory, not practice.

 

 

:D Ok,so here she is !

I was unable to book Aqualina AT ALL.

Was offered 2 dates in Prime C (one of which was White night) at 6.00pm & a 9.30pm.

I attempted to book these on the 3rd day of a 7 night on Journey.